As many of you know, I was in Antigua, Guatemala Dec 26-Jan 1. I took a trip down with one of the most influential people in my life, my friend and favorite author- Keith Ferrazzi. I wrote up some of my thoughts on the trip which he just posted to his website. Thus, I thought I’d share the link- http://www.keithferrazzi.com/philanthropy/max-lyons-the-transformational-impact-of-service/

Also, here is a pic of Liza- the young girl I sponsored in one of the villages. My $200 is paying for education and healthcare for one year. With many families bringing home less than $3 per day, these kids will not be able to break the cycle of poverty without substantial change in their life.

Let me know if you are interested in contributing or go to Keith’s page to donate- http://www.keithferrazzi.com/about/charity/

Hi All,

It’s been WAY too long since my last post… I apologize for the delay and would like to highlight “Restore NYC,” a VERY INSPIRING non-profit that is doing big things for survivors of Sex Trafficking here in the U.S. It’s hard to believe that brothels and sexual slavery establishments exist INSIDE THE BORDERS OF THE UNITED STATES, but it is happening on our streets and in our neighborhoods. Restore opened up NYC’s first long-term safehouse for foreign born survivors of sex trafficking and has played a critical role in the lives of so many women already.

Below is a great video highlighting the mission and heartbeat of Restore NYC:

Also, here is a link to Restore NYC’s New Year’s Eve Benefit Bash in case you’re interested: http://restorenyc.org/events/

“Restore NYC is a nonprofit dedicated to restoring freedom, safety and hope for foreign-born survivors of sex trafficking by providing long-term, holistic aftercare services. We work with local and federal officials and other organizations to facilitate the prosecution of traffickers and empower survivors.”

Hi All,

An article came out in the Huffington Post this week titled “Being Practical in Creating Change”- written by Diana Mao. The story features my friend Jonathan Walton (who did the first ever “guest perspective” on this blog) and me. The topic focused on… you guessed it- GENEROSITY. Thus, I wanted to share it with you all.

My hope is NOT that we read the article and think “Wow! Jonathan and Max are such amazing people!” 1. That’s not even true, and 2. I think that cuts the article far short of its true impact.

My hope & prayer is that we read this article, and it inspires us to think “I want to develop a deeper heart of GENEROSITY- What can I do in my community to serve selflessly? How can I help others?”
I am always amazed how small examples of GENEROSITY connect with people in powerful ways.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/diana-mao/christian-homeless_b_916540.html?ref=tw

Hope you enjoy the read!

Max

Hi All,

By now I’m sure many of you have heard about Rachel Beckwith and her unbelievable heart of GENEROSITY. After tragically passing away from a car crash last weekend, her story has now been told by CNN, MSNBC, Yahoo, the Huffington Post, and many more.

Rachel attended Eastlake Community Church, where I used to attend/volunteer when I lived in Seattle (many of my good friends are still very involved there). After hearing Scott Harrison (CEO of Charity: Water) speak at church, Rachel told her family/friends that she wanted no presents for her 9th birthday. Instead, she asked everyone to give donations to fund clean water projects in developing countries. With a goal of $300, she fell $80 short.

When she was tragically killed, the Eastlake CC community picked up the tab, and the incredible story of Rachel’s generosity spread. The articles and videos below give a far better perspective than I am able to, so I’ve provided a few links. I also inserted a link to Rachel’s Charity: Water donation page. Her total donations have now passed $580,000. It’s my hope that we can all learn from and be motivated by Rachel’s story.

“I am in awe of the overwhelming love to take my daughters dream and make it a reality. In the face of unexplainable pain you have provided undeniable hope. Thank you for your generosity!
I know Rachel is smiling!”
- Rachel’s Mom

News Story:
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7375193n

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Charity-wish-from-dying-girl-from-I-90-accident–126049933.html

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/07/24/girl-dies-after-crash-selfless-act-inspires-thousands-in-donations/

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43898825/ns/us_news-giving

Rachel’s Donation Page:
http://mycharitywater.org/p/campaign?campaign_id=16396

A minimal effort to be conscious of the products we buy can have a HUGE impact on the lives of many! The Nomi Network in NYC is helping move women from Forced Labor and Sexual Slavery to freedom. A small act of generosity in being aware of what we buy (and making sure we buy from forced labor-free vendors) can make all the difference in so many lives around the world.

Below is a video on the Nomi Network’s mission. Check out their website (www.nominetwork.org) for more information on how you can help.  

A few months ago, I had the opportunity to hear Scott Harrison, the founder of charity: water, share his life story with Hillsong- NYC. Scott’s life has been radically transformed over the past few years, and he has created a non-profit company focused on getting clean water to the world’s most deprived areas. Scott is an amazing example of generosity and devotes his entire life to the service of others around the world. In his own words, “we will NOT stop until every single person on the planet has clean and safe water to drink.” Celebrities like Will Smith, Justin Bieber, Jessica Biel, Adam Lambert, and others have already taken proactive roles in helping.

Below is a video from a campaign they did back in 2009:

Also, here is a link to an extended video on Scott’s story.

http://www.charitywater.org/about/scotts_story.php

To get involved, visit http://www.charitywater.org

Sara, a friend of mine here in NYC, is doing amazing things in the South Bronx. The word GENEROSITY only scratches the surface of her life journey.

Her story is too good not to share.

Hi All,

We are very fortunate to have Steve Saccone, one of my friends in LA, share his “Guest Perspective” on GENEROSITY. Steve serves with multiple organizations including his primary work being with The Leadership Connection, where he serves next generation leaders, empowers their creativity and focus, and strives to facilitate transformation and overall spiritual health and vibrancy. Steve also works with the Gallup Organization and has published a book, “Relational Intelligence.” Steve is so generous in every aspect of his life. Here is his “Perspective on Generosity.”

For more on Steve, check out his website- SteveSaccone.com.

Also, here’s a link to the video for his book- Video for Relational Intelligence.

I hope this has challenged us all to grow and develop a heart of gratitude.

Max

Hi All,

I am very excited to have Jonathan Walton, one of my good friends here in NYC, share his “Guest Perspective” on GENEROSITY. Jonathan works for InterVarsity as the Director of the New York City Urban Project (NYCUP). He is a published author, urban poet, and motivational speaker. Jonathan has devoted his life to caring for the homeless, mentoring underprivileged children, and helping fight sex trafficking & modern day slavery. He is an amazing example of GENEROSITY, and I am very excited to learn from him.

For more on Jonathan Walton and NYCUP, visit nycurbanproject.com

I hope this has challenged all of us to live more generously. Thank you for your time.

Max