After much deliberation and thought, we recently began to cap our free night offer to a maximum of 3 nights per family per year.

This has already begun to impact our returning families, which really sucks.

I was sharing this impact with a friend of Friday Harbour’s during dinner the other evening…and she looked me in the eye and asked how can she help. Well I told her that I received an email from a patient we helped a few months ago. I told her that they were having a tough time finding alternative housing, but I had made it clear that our program change was best longterm. 

She quickly interrupted and said, I’ll be the difference maker. Christie said she’d personally sponsor this patients expenses during their holiday-week appointment. When the news was shared with the family, they could only say…what a Christmas miracle. 

It’s imperative that Friday Harbour maintains a clear process that our patients both understand and appreciate. That will not change. But there is no real process for individual generosity. Only sincere appreciation.

It’s pretty tough doing what we do here at Friday Harbour. But I continue to get those reminders that we never have to  handle it alone! 

Christy, thanks for your Christmastime random act of kindness!

It was in 2009, during the annual United Way campaign that I was first exposed to the campaign tagline “Do Something About It”. I remember thinking how do I internalize this. Then I recall asking myself if just simply completing a United Way pledge form could be considered as just simply doing something about it? After carefully considering my internal argument, I quickly admitted that making a donation is definitely “doing something”. But in my opinion, it’s short of doing something “About It”.

Fast forward to today, it’s election evening in Houston Texas and I find myself at election headquarters of Laurie A. Robinson; City Council candidate. We are watching election results together with family, friends, college roommates and colleagues. Oh, and a ton of great food and drink. 
As I watch our candidate pace the floor, flashing her smart smile, all while trying to hide her useful characteristic…impatience. Trust me, that is a compliment!!

You see, it was only a few short months ago when Laurie gave great pause to the thought of running for public office. Things for Laurie seemed to aligned with the moon and the stars. She had significant career momentum, spreading her financial regulatory skills from The Energy Capital to the Nation’s Capital. She had peace in her personal life and was in control of everything she touched. But you know, she was clearly concerned about the way Houston politics was being toyed with. 

So with the swift presence of her impatient tenacity, Laurie decided to put her calm life to the test, and make a charge for City Hall.

Laurie, you have in fact “Done Something About It!”
Win or loose tonight…we couldn’t be more proud of you!!

Brian Hall

As many of you know, I drew inspiration for starting Friday Harbour from my awesome older brother who had a valiant battle with cancer. “Tank” as we affectionately called him was, was a kind, funny and yes sometimes quirky older brother. We never really fought, and never really had that brother-to-brother “Leave it to Beaver” kinda moment either. As I recall, he was just so imply my big brother, who from time to time convince my mother that I didn’t really deserve that butt whippin, that I knew I did.

As the years went on, we slipped in and out of closeness, mainly because we lived 5 states away from each other. But whenever I saw him, he always had a reason to smile.

This week, I drew inspiration from a business colleague, turned friend. You see, she received the terrible news this past July and has been in her very own “valiant” fight. As we sat down for a glass of wine this week in Atlanta, I couldn’t help but see her inner faith, hope, promise and believe it or not, her true belief that she is blessed, even under the circumstances.

I’m sure that there were moments of pain and shear discomfort as we sat there and sipped wine and talked about her experience thus far. But what is amazing, is that this friend took every moment to praise, encourage and even challenge me to stay the course with Friday Harbour and “take it to the next level!”

I’m looking forward to her inspiration for many years to come!! Where will you find your inspiration?

My hat goes off to Scot Chisolm and Pat Walsh for a StayClassy.org event to remember. The 3rd Annual Classy Awards weekend in San Diego was perhaps the best NonProfit experience of in my life.

The environment was electric with do-gooders, life-changers and worldly thinkers. It warms my heart to know that so many Americans are using their talents, connections and dreams to hel ease the pain, struggle and burdens that face so many fellow Americans and people all over the world. 

I’m especially proud to now have Friday Harbour be a part of the event. Dubbed the “Emmy’s” of the NonProfit world.

Last night I took in a midnight stroll around the newly opened Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial.
Wow!
During the week and day prior to my visit, all I heard were the echoes of controversy surrounding everything from the position of the statue, the sculptors nationality, the script on the side and even the timing of it’s unveiling.

When you arrive at The Mall site, all I can say is that if you place your mind and consciousness in that moment, a brisk 1963 morning, you can’t help but to be taken to that moment where a nation and the world witnessed the dream of a people, shared through the poignant words of a man larger than life. Larger than life, yet grounded in the fight for justice. 

As I internalized the scripted granite walls, stretched to see the mountaintop, I took more than a moment to to remember a time in America when “Human Rights” were fought for.

As I quietly departed the larger than life monument to a fallen hero, I made a solemn promise to dedicate my life to leaving a lasting mark on this world. Will you join me? There’s plenty of room.

The funding from this program will go directly to our short-term housing program, where we provide 1-3 nights lodging to cancer patients in need at both MD Anderson and Texas Children’s Cancer Centers.

Friday Beacon donors may can have their donation withdrawn directly from their checking or savings accounts, charged to their credit or debit cards, or send payment monthly by check.
While other donations, gifts and services are welcome, this Friday Beacon program will provide Friday Harbour with the consistent monthly funding necessary to house hundreds of families throughout the year.
We invite you to become a Friday Beacon donor by either clicking the DONATE button above or contacting Brian Hall at 713-504-9557 or brian.hall@fridayharbour.org.

Sandy Olson, Director presented several eye opening statistics concerning recovery activities and needs right here in the City of Houston. Of the many takeaways, this one really stuck with me. “I think that recovery, and the impact of those recovering, is the greatest untold story in America.”

For those who are on their recovery journey, we’d love to help you tell your story.

As we continue our work towards impacting the recovery of visiting cancer patients, we will look for ways to collaborate with organizations with like CBHS Houston.

Winston Churchill

However I’m concerned that my immediate circle of friends might find it difficult to actually name their own representatives that have offices located right in their very own neighborhoods.

This is a subject that I will focus on in a future blog installment.

When I find myself numbingly connected to one of those shows, angrily listening to those Washi-tonians go on and on about how they care so much about the American people, as they argue over services and programs like they are there toys in the sandbox, I wonder just how close they are to the reality that you and live with, or without every day?

I have struggled with finding the right way to equalize the lives, passion and plight of these humbled elected officials. They are obviously crying out for help in keeping them connected with the “public” that they so honestly serve.

I’m talking Congressional Reform.

Here are some thoughts you should share with your elected official the next time you drop in to check-up on their sincerity:

1. No Tenure / No Pension – no more collecting a salary when they are out of office.

2. All past/present/future members participate in Social Security. All of their Congressional retirement fund moves into Social Security immediately.

3. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan. I have a contact at Fidelity.

4. Congress is no longer able to vote themselves a pay raise. Tie raises to CPI.

5. Congress must go to market for their healthcare programs.

6. Congress must abide by the same laws as the American people.

7. All contracts with Congressman, past and present will become null and void effective 1/1/12. It is a honor and a privilege to serve this country. Serve your term with, by and for the people. And then come back home and GET A JOB!

Winston Churchill