With Frances Foundation’s first community event fast approaching, I have been reflecting on what the words service and community mean to me. The two terms have been intertwined since my childhood. I grew up in Balltown and remember being surrounded by a group of adults that possessed a strong bias toward action and the desire to make things better. Our community had a need and they went to work to meet that need. They formed a civic group, raised money to buy land, and built a park in Balltown. There are many people that remember the Helsinki Jams, but it’s sometimes forgotten that they funded the creation of the park. I remember the set up for the jams, but I was too young to attend. What I remember most is helping pick-out park equipment and once it was built, playing and attending events at the park. My childhood was filled with summer concerts, birthdays at the park, Easter egg hunts, and visits with Santa. Behind the scenes there was a group organizing these efforts and bringing folks together. I became more involved in the organization of events and developed a deep appreciation for being involved in my community, especially through acts of service. Seeing families come together and know that I was a small part of that was very rewarding. The intersection of service and community where people come together to benefit those around them is beautiful.
Frances Foundation was formed with the mission of helping others. Specifically the youth in our communities. While we are in our infancy our immediate goal is to get out into the community and let folks know who we are and what we hope to accomplish. To make impactful changes we need the support of those around us. Balltown Park represents what is possible when a community comes together to support a goal. It is truly a special place to hold our first community event. Through future events across communities we hope to continue to bring folks together and inspire them to make positive impacts that can be happy memories for the next generation of kids.
