By: Joanne Donaghue, Director of Development and Communications at reSET

“World peace and an end to hunger ― or a bike” was my brother’s classic line when my mom would ask him what he wanted for Christmas. As a baby boomer, I remember all the toys under the tree: Slinkies, Tinker Toys, Chop Sticks, the magic boxes that made pennies disappear. Toys that we came to think of, much later, as iconic.

My mom ― mother of five and the original super woman ― worked hard every year to give us an exciting and memorable Christmas. Presents, literally mounds of presents. Turkey with all the trimmings. Only as an adult did I understand the planning and time and expense involved. And only as an adult did I understand the joy that came from giving.

And so this is Christmas, and I’m the grown-up, and I want to give to my mother a present that conveys all the emotion, all the joy, all the thoughtfulness that she gave us and so much deserves.

Perfume? A blender? Concert tickets? Not even close to what she wants and deserves, which is a lot closer to my brother’s smart-ass reply about what he wanted for Christmas.

My mom, never a stranger to hard work, cherishes opportunity for everyone. She wants every child to have what she was able to give to her kids, and every parent to have the opportunity to give it. She is a true believer in the American dream.

[ctt title=”And so my mom is getting social entrepreneurs for Christmas.” tweet=”And so my mom is getting social entrepreneurs for Christmas. @SocEntTrust #give” coverup=”63evG”] I just sent through authorization for monthly payments to reSET in her name. She is going to help people test and start new businesses and expand existing ones. Businesses with more than a profit motive, businesses that are working to solve social and environmental problems.

My mom is getting Keshia Ashe for Christmas. Keshia is the founder of Many Mentors, and is helping young people to expand their interest in science, technology, engineering and math by providing them with mentors. These will be the problem solvers and innovators of the future.

My mom is getting Arati Sureddi for Christmas. Arati is the founder of the LOTUS Alliance, which is helping to make new lives for victims of human trafficking through employment in sustainable tourism.

My mom is getting Evan Dobos for Christmas. Evan is the founder of the CivicLift, which is stimulating community-driven economic development, encouraging civic engagement and neighborhood connectivity.

Keshia, Arati and Evan are three of 125 social entrepreneurs that reSET has worked with in the past two years, all of whom are harnessing the enormous power of business to tackle problems, make a profit and make the world a better place.

So now my mom is nurturing social entrepreneurs. That is a gift worthy of her.

I just don’t know how we’re going to fit them all in her stocking…

By Joanne Donaghue, in honor of Ann LeBrun

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