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Her name is Kelsey, she recently turned 7 and at some point last year a few grey hairs appeared above her eyes. In a few short months it moved down her face towards her snout but thats okay I don’t care. She leaves hair every where she goes but thats okay I’ll just clean it up, she’s the most loving animal I have ever known. She doesn’t care about my flaws, insecurities or shortcomings; her love for me is unconditional. We have driven thousands of miles together, climbed mountains, waded through the emotional turbulence of life only to discover brighter days and survived near death experiences. She’s a therapy dog that works with patients in hospitals and the best swimmer you’ve ever seen. She’s my best friend!

Another image from my recent trip to Austin, TX for the LIVESTRONG event.  Willie preformed at a private dinner in what amounted to someone’s backyard.  I can say without a doubt this was one of the coolest things I’ve ever been a part of. 

In a world that has become much more take than give it’s rare to find stories of true inspiration, kindness and generosity that force you stop and think about your own life and the context in which you live it.  This happened to me recently when I received a phone call from my close friend Brandon Russell who started a non-profit called Fix It Forward™.  His vision was to create a social movement that evokes positive change within a given community built around neighbors helping neighbors.  Brandon asked if I would give a couple hours of my time to document something very special and without hesitation I agreed.  I had no idea of what I was about to witness.  The Fix It Forward™ movement has begun!

Joy McGuire, founder of an outreach ministry called, With Love from Jesus was selected as the first beneficiary of Fix It Forward™.  Her relentless dedication to helping others is nothing less than a miracle.  Each month her ministry provides nourishment for 4500 people alongside seasonal outreach programs that include home cooked Thanksgiving dinners and a family Christmas program offering gifts, trees and lights to deserving families who are unable to provide for themselves.  One would imagine a large facility, huge staff and endless cash flow but nothing is further from the truth.  Joy has sacrificed her home, personal property and privacy so that she can serve the needs of others often at the expense of herself and family. Approximately 12,000 square feet of temporary tents and various storage buildings located on her property serve as a depot for donated items that are eventually distributed at no cost to individuals, families and children.  Many of her personal items are stored outside under a tent because her home has become overrun with donated goods.  Fix it Forward™ quickly recognized the opportunity to engage the local community in an effort to help someone that is helping so many other people on a daily basis.    It was announced at her recent fall/winter outreach that Fix It Forward™ would be building her a new home and purchasing property so that she can continue to expand her ministry.  Helping Joy regain a sense of separation and privacy is key so that she can continue her work for years to come with a renewed sense of vigor and determination.

Below you will find just a small sample of the images that will be used to tell the story of Fix It Forward™ and it’s passionate mission to engage one community at a time for the greater good. Please stay tuned for updates and in-depth information regarding Joy’s journey.     

He’s one cool kid but I think that’s pretty obvious from that smile of his. Here are a few pics from our recent session.