Hope is not a strategy…except when it is.

I don’t remember when I first heard the saying, “hope is not a strategy,” …but it definitely stuck with me.

This is one of those great, simple statements that makes a strong and memorable point.  It helps drive home the importance of focusing our efforts, living and working with intention and having a clear plan to accomplish important goals.  I’m all for that.

But what about those times when hope is the perfect strategy?

Imagine for a moment, someone living with a feeling of true hopelessness.  Picture…

• the starving, homeless young orphan being chased by thugs;
• the scared and lonely cancer patient who just received more bad news;
• the family returning to find their home and all belongings destroyed by a natural disaster.
• the young victim of child sex trafficking who knows only beatings and… worse.

While making it through circumstances like these takes much more than just hope… surviving and thriving without hope is almost impossible.

Thankfully, there are many great organizations dedicated to helping people facing these terrible circumstances – and they definitely understand the importance of hope.  Here are a few that I have personal experience with through my work at Philanthropegie:

Orchard: Africa – a non-profit organization restoring hope to the vulnerable by creating sustainable change in rural African villages.

Flatwater Foundation – a non-profit organization that provides access to mental health services for those in need affected by cancer.

Team Rubicon – Team Rubicon unites the skills and experiences of military veterans with first responders to rapidly deploy emergency response teams.

Streetlight USA – “Our mission can be summed up in three words: Stop Child Rape”

Organizations like these are making an incredible difference – creating hope and so much more for people in need.  We can make a difference by getting involved, giving back, spreading the word.

Let’s start the year off right…let’s give hope!