The Special Olympics, P&G and all of Us
Over the course of the last month I’ve spoken to everyone I know about the Special Olympics. I’ve found facts about it that I hadn’t before known, I’ve been moved by stories of success and sat at my desk cheering GO TEAM KNOX.
Through my work with Procter and Gamble and their Thank You Mom campaign I’ve had opportunities to talk to large audiences online and in conference rooms what giving back can mean. I was able (just yesterday) to tell a group of bloggers that P&G asked the athlete’s moms what they wanted and that they wanted P&G to donate money to the Special Olympics.
I learned to ask questions kindly and gently. I’m still not sure that I’m as comfortable as I’d like to be, but I think that’s okay. I think it’s important to be a little extra sensitive, because we all know I can pop off at the mouth and it never leads to anything good.
We see the world through Mom Colored Glasses, and here at 41 I look at the athletes and I see a family. I can’t help it, I imagine myself cheering Jane or Alexander over hurdles and through long swims. I imagine the Moms of the Special Olympics cheer just the same. I see the world a little differently.
I’m glad the folks at P&G do too. They’ve hit their interactive goal and $250,000 has been donated to the Special Olympics to honor the Moms. I want to thank all of you who have joined the Thank You Mom facebook page, and if you haven’t yet, I’d encourage you to do so.
So the next time you hear “Thank You Mom” maybe you’ll be like me, and think ooh that’s for