As Mia learns to trust God with her problems and feelings, she is encouraging others to do their best so they can succeed. At a young age, she is igniting the Power of One movement that Chicago needs and starting a fundraising event for By The Hand like Ravi did unleashes that Power of One.
After a summer of “doing what she can’t do during the school year,” Mia is excited to return to school and By The Hand. She likes learning about Jesus and is looking forward to another year of chapel programming at By The Hand.
“I am learning that when I trust God with my problems and sad feelings, I can be calm and happy. Once when I was crying but didn’t know why By The Hand helped me think about how much God loves me. I felt God’s comfort right away and ended up having a good day knowing God was with me.”
Mia has experienced God’s love through By The Hand, and this care has helped her overcome challenges. It has also helped her grow and advance in the classroom and life.
In 2017, Ravi, a consultant with By The Hand, was captivated by the mission to love and nurture children like Mia—mind, body and soul. “This holistic approach to programming is what I believe makes them unique and enables By The Hand to have a positive impact on our communities of color in Chicago.”
After consulting with By The Hand for a year in areas of strategic planning, curriculum design, professional learning and evaluation, Ravi decided to pledge her birthday celebration as a fundraiser for By The Hand—something she continues to do every year as part of her annual plan for giving. Why? “Because By The Hand has three things I look for when planning my yearly giving: a strong mission, a responsible and dynamic leader, and being fiscally responsible.”
It’s a mission that helps Mia and other children who live in under-resourced neighborhoods have abundant life. “Last year I was a part of the Bible Bowl and took a trip to the Creation Museum and the Ark Encounter in Kentucky. This year I am learning to be The Solution, and want to be part of bridging the gap with police. I believe that we should all be treated equally.”
One day, Mia would like to be an engineer who builds robots to help people with communication. “I want people to know that I love them and to encourage them to do their best so they will succeed.”
Mia is the Power of One. And fundraising for us makes it possible.
Our students have the power to impact Chicago’s greatest needs. You have the power to show these young men and women abundant life—mind, body and soul.