40 charities for my 40th
And your invitation to my Ask Me Anything
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Hello Not So Secret Agent readers!
Last week I shared how improv has profoundly changed my life personally and professionally. I really appreciate you indulging me as I geek out about this passion.
One reader even went so far as to sign up for improv classes near where they live. So fun!!
Heading into my 40th birthday later this month (the 27th!), I have been doing a LOT of reflecting. How did I get here?
What does “here” even mean?
Literary Agent.
Childhood cancer survivor.
Marathoner (okay, that life actually feels like it happened to a different person).
Improvisor.
Sister.
Taco enthusiast.
Best friend.
Mother.
And a million other things that shape my identity.
There are so many parts of us.
One thread that has been a constant in my life is charitable giving. Since I was a four-year-old selling homemade cookies to raise money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, fundraising has been very important to me.
Shoutout to all those long-time clients and friends who helped me bring home the title of LLS Woman of the Year back in 2017!
Okay, are you starting to see where this is headed? Stick with me, please!
My improv community has become family. I have been professionally playing with the same five wonderful humans for over seven years now. We have a mainstage show at Happier Valley Comedy here in Western Mass on the third Saturday of every month. We just took the stage last Saturday for our November show in front of a sold out crowd.
Everyone stayed after for an early 40th birthday party including a surprise taco cake with 40 candles!
(omg, I have always wanted a novelty cake!)
Our troupe is affectionally named Not in Charge; we are all Type-A leaders by day who happily defer to being not in charge in our improv life by night.
If you look closely you will see everyone wearing t-shirts with the many faces of Sally characters on them as a surprise for my birthday themed show!
We have played together, laughed together, and cried together. My troupe mates were some of the first people who visited me when Maybelline was born.
They visited me at the hospital when I was recovering from surgery this summer.
Recently, Happier Valley Comedy received news that we (I say “we” because I sit on the board) were awarded the Massachusetts Cultural Council Matching Grant for $115,000.
We now need to raise $115,000 to unlock the grant and receive the funds.
We are going to build our dream theater.
The Dream Theater Project is multifaceted, but the initiative I love most is that our new theater will have a fully accessible stage that welcomes people of all abilities.
Now, more than ever, it feels important to invest time and energy into community spaces that offer safe, inclusive, and welcoming sanctuary for all people.
This is where you come in.
We are all getting a LOT of asks right now. Heading into the holidays, we are also approaching the national day of giving, Giving Tuesday, which is on December 3rd.
Shout out to Zack Linkow for the video!
So, if you have the means to give this year, would you consider donating $40 for my 40th?! Or whatever amount is meaningful to you.
Our goal is to raise $115,000 by the end of 2024. We have about $35,000 left to go!
I will not be asking for donations for Happier Valley Comedy’s capital campaign again. We will only build our dream theater ONCE, and this is your chance to help.
Your donation supports a space that operates according to these core values:
Follow the Joy and Ease
Assume Good Will
Be of Service
Redefine and Disempower Failure
Play More
You can make a donation here. If you do so, please include my name when entering information so I can send you a proper THANK YOU!
If you do not have the means to give in dollars, would you consider sharing this post instead?
Now, if you are someone who is motivated to give out of the goodness of your heart, that’s awesome. But for those of you who like to maximize your impact, oh boy do I have something for you.
In honor of my 40th birthday, I want to help spread the word about other charities that are meaningful to you, my readers.
Please leave a comment below with the charity that is important to YOU and why. If you comment before this Friday your charity will be included in recap post that will publish on my birthday week! Which also happens to be a week of giving thanks.
I want to feature at least 40 charities!
The goal is to take our personal spheres of influence and share them with people who may not otherwise know about the work of each organization.
40 charities for my 40th!
Thank you. Truly. It is hard to try to encapsulate the feels I am having heading into the season of charitable giving and this big birthday.
Whether you choose to give to HVC or not, I am so grateful that you are here reading and engaging in this newsletter.
THANK YOU.
~Sally~
AMA logistics:
WHEN: Thursday November 21st 1-2pmET
WHERE: Zoom
WHO should attend: people who have questions about cookbook publishing (and people who want to hang with fellow NSSA readers!).
· I will be giving out a ONE subscription to Publisher’s Marketplace to one lucky attendee (yes, you need to be in the live seminar to be eligible to win).
· All subscribers (free and paid) will get the Zoom info via email. Check your spam folders!
· Yes, this will be recorded and made available to subscribers!
· Yes, you can come with your questions about cookbook publishing.
· No, you cannot pitch me for representation, but you CAN get feedback on a working concept.
See you on Thursday!
Happy 40th, Sally! I remember reaching that milestone...many years ago. It seemed so daunting, so big, so scary! I am just impressed that you are only now reaching that milestone, because that means you were in your twenties when I started working with you -- which is just incredible! Your professionalism at such a young age was truly impressive.
In any case, I think you know what charity I am suggesting -- https://www.ranchocompasion.org/ -- the one I started almost 10 years ago and provides the backbone of my life in so many ways. We've grown as an organization from just rescuing farmed animals to creating a robust youth program for kids from kindergarten on up -- after school care, summer camp, field trips -- where kids connect with animals and get their hands in the soil in our organic garden. We are open to all kids, but put extra effort into kids with special needs and from underserved communities, giving them an opportunity to connect with nature and animals that they would not have otherwise, and which they find very therapeutic. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak about it!
Cookies For Kids Cancer. Such an amazing organization that has changed and saved lives. Happy Birthday! Xoxox