Three years ago, on what would turn out to be merely the cusp of a game-changing Recession, I got a phone call from David Kunz, executive director of The Cooperative Ministry. I did not know David at the time, but I heard something in his voice that prompted me (against all sense and reason), to take the request he made of me to my business partners.

“The Cooperative Ministry serves the working poor in this community,” he said,”and the economy has dealt us a double blow.” Financial support for TCM was way down at a time when more people than ever were desperate for the kind of help they provide.

Would you be willing to develop a television spot to run during the holidays? David had delicately asked.

But there was more to the story. The Cooperative Ministry had been gifted a performance of the Hootie and the Blowfish megahit “Hold My Hand,” sung by the incredible Benedict College Gospel Choir. Perhaps the song could be a powerful soundtrack for the spot, he offered.

Interesting, I thought. But still there were a thousand reasons to graciously decline.

(1) No Production Budget DOES NOT = Powerful TV.

(2) We were already in work overload, doing our best to support clients in a crippling economic downturn.

(3) We had an event in place to support nonprofits, and we had held it just two months prior to this phone call. CreateAthon allows us to focus our pro bono efforts into one concentrated time period—and we hadn’t quite wrapped up that work yet.

And yet I felt compelled to approach my partners with the possibility of helping The Cooperative Ministry. They really need us, and right now, I said. With no hesitation, there was a unanimous partner vote. Yes, they said.

It was not an easy assignment. We were committed to creating television, yes. But we also believed there was a larger story to share about the gifting of the song. We brought in volunteer creative teams to help craft what ultimately became a movement, With A Little Love. The team built a website. Keely Saye oversaw an inbound program. Ryan Cockrell produced a phenomenal video. Mad Monkey created TV magic:

Many on the team also developed a heart connection with David Kunz; his phenomenal deputy, Courtney Thomas; and the starter of this movement, Hootie and the Blowfish drummer Jim “Soni” Sonefeld.  Each of those light-filled souls gave way more than they took, and they introduced us to other heart connections that have filled these three years with so many grace-filled moments the power of Doing Good simply cannot be denied.

So it is quite the understatement to say we were humbled when CreateAthon was honored by The Cooperative Ministry at their oh-so-swell gala, The GOOD Night. We thank them from way deep down for their generosity. And we thank every volunteer who has been a part of Riggs CreateAthon since its inception in 1998, as well as the nonprofits who have supported us and cheered us on all these years. We especially thank David Kunz, Courtney Thomas, and all the folks at The Cooperative Ministry who worked so hard to make The GOOD Night sparkle so brightly.

You have, do doubt, been a gift to us.

David Kunz and Courtney Thomas, celebrating The GOOD Night

CreateAthon Crew, in part

Teresa Coles and Cathy Monetti

Kerry Fulton and Ryon Edwards

Jay Coles and George Fulton

Teresa Coles, Pam Plowden and Kevin Smith. Now what's so funny?

It happened today. I was intently working away, took a quick break to check my email inbox and there it was. A message from my RP partner and friend, Kevin, sent to each of us who has worked on With A Little Love, an initiative to raise money to support the working poor in our community.

“Hello all. Just wanted to share some exciting news. A man walked into The Cooperative Ministry today and stroked a check for $15,000 because he ‘was so moved by the TV spot that aired during the holidays.’

That $15,000 is preventing homelessness for many families, and it’s because of the work you all have done. I hope that this inspires your day. It certainly does mine.” (See the spot at the end of this post.)

My heart leapt. (Yes, wildly.) And for so many reasons, but here’s the one that occurred to me first, in that magical moment. This is what happens when your heart is in the right place.

Fifteen months ago, Kevin, Teresa, Ryon, Tom and I made the decision to focus our efforts on doing work for socially conscious companies and nonprofit organizations. It was (quite literally) a leap of faith, and I have not regretted that decision for one single second. There are so many people doing important work in this world, and we come to work every day fired up, ready to do what we can to move their causes forward.

Soni, Darryl, David

And so the $15k gift is highly symbolic to me. There are many people whose work and generosity led to it (and the countless other donations made by those who have donated online, texted donations, and downloaded the Hold My Hand single): songwriter and Hootie & the Blowfish drummer Jim “Soni” Sonefeld—the true heart of this movement—who made the song happen and who, along with his Hootie bandmates, donated all artist proceeds from the song to the working poor; Darryl Izzard and the Benedict College Gospel Choir for a divinely-inspired performance; our friends at Mad Monkey, who created the TV spot; Ryan Cockrell, who brought the vision of this movement to life in video; David Kunz, executive director of The Cooperative Ministry and all-around prince of a guy, who enriches every life he touches; the entire creative team.

I will long remember, and be grateful for, my involvement on this initiative. It is proof positive that good things come to those who serve.