Today we’d like to introduce you to Sara Springer and Amanda Bollenbach.
Hi Sara and Amanda, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
Amanda and I started shortly after the 2016 election. Social media was incredibly polarizing, and that was being reflected in hate crimes. She owned a t-shirt boutique, and I was a blogger, and we decided to use our talents to share a message of #stophate on a t-shirt. We sold the t-shirts and donated the profits to Pacer’s National Bullying Prevention Center. We had requests to make shirts for kids and decided on a softer message of #kindnessmatters. Those t-shirt proceeds were donated to the Megan Meier Foundation. After that campaign, we continued our efforts and collected supplies for Project Safe Space for Kindness Matters bags. We were able to donate 58 bags. We then decided to continue our efforts and focus on mental health resources and formed the Love Will Foundation. Our mission at Love Will Foundation is to provide free counseling for eligible individuals, build a center of hope and compassion through community engagements, and educate them to stand against the mental health stigma. We support our mission through donations, fundraisers, community events, Love Will Voices, and Shop Love Will. All of the profits from Shop Love Will are donated back to the Love Will Foundation to fund our mission. Our organization is volunteer-based and operates solely on the support of our community.
Can you tell us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, has it been easy or smooth?
Not! Our struggles have been finding a way to balance our personal lives with our philanthropic ones. There is only so much time, energy, and volunteers to run an organization. It is also challenging to spread awareness for our cause. We rely heavily on word of mouth as we have been unable to crack the online algorithms. COVID was also a massive challenge for us as we could not do our annual fundraisers that essentially fund our mission for the entire year. We had to become creative and find virtual ways to raise money.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Sara: Professionally, I work as a nurse practitioner. I began at a pulmonary practice and transitioned into nephrology last year. Creatively, I am working on building a writing career. I have a book about coping with mental illness and trauma in the works and a blog at Rebel Housewife. My work has been shared on Her View From Home, Filter Free Parents, The Mighty, Scary Mommy, and Sammiches & Psych Meds.
Amanda: I work at my local library and love being able to serve my community through books and other resources! I work with middle schoolers weekly for an after-school program at my branch, and knowing we provide them with a safe and fun space brings me so much joy. Everyone needs that feeling of acceptance and connection, which I am most called to do.
How do you define success?
Sara: Helping one person who can then help another, who can then help another, and so on. We cannot change the world, but if we can help one person who can help one person who can then help one person, then that is enough for us. Success is found in the ripple of our actions.
Amanda: Success to me is helping bring people to a place where they feel loved and worthy when they are struggling. Life is ebb and flow and can be just as ugly as beautiful. Pulling people from those low places and being that support without judgment is an incredible thing we can do for one another.
Pricing:
- $25 donation= approx 1 counseling session
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lovewillfoundation.org
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/lovewillfoundation
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/lovewillfoundation
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@lovewillfoundation7250
- Other: https://m.facebook.com/groups/1170286643138216?ref=share
Image Credits
Brittany Lynn Imagery
