We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Victoria Marie Malone. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Victoria Marie below.
Victoria Marie, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
My purpose has always found me. When I have been guided by ego or my own thoughts of purpose and accomplishment I have fallen short.
And for a long time I tried doing it that way, over and over again. I “thought” I could logically and strategically find my purpose. I “thought” if I earnestly sought my purpose I would be enlightened by this
stream and purpose would illuminate through me. Well, after several decades of this misleading thought process I continued to pursue, I realized I was falling short and creating more doubt about myself, my talents and honestly if I even had a purpose. Was I fooling myself, or where my tactics and approach not fulfilling this quest? I could not understand why I was still in the same place. Slowly, after so much “work” and many classes, I heard a statement once again but this time it hit me to my core. “ The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results” – Albert Einstein
Ahh haa! I was insanely trying to garner different results, but exercising the same tactics. Of course the outcome was always the same…falling short.
I decided to let go. To just let it be. To stop trying to navigate my way to purpose. I continued to seek and learn of life and our connection and oneness. I continued to volunteer and do community service. I continued my job and continued to find my own pov. Again, very slowly things would start to find me. One of the most poignant purposes that found me: Life Coaching. A customer at my boutique at the time asked me to help her with some life situations she wanted to change. I told what I knew about Life Coaching and how that could possibly be an avenue by which she could learn, practice and adjust some of her situations. Her response: “great, let’s start Saturday”. I was not a coach. I had never had the thought to be a coach. Yet, here it was, PURPOSE, finding me and asking me to join. And I did.
Several years later, another customer of the boutique who knew I was coaching suggested I go work for our local chamber of commerce. They needed structure, they needed coaching. Why me? But, I said yes. That “yes” lead me to learn operations, skills and networking I had not known at that level. I learned that my joy to be of service could reach new levels through this work. There again was PUPOSE, finding me.
This work went on for a few years and I loved every minute of it, including the hard and sometimes belittling efforts to garner funds to run this non-profit for the community. Then Covid struck and we all needed to find new ways to offer services and our purpose whether that be individually or collectively.
I set up all the virtual aspects of community connection, including offering businesses virtual ribbon cuttings. The organization could not survive if my salary position continued on. I decided to offer the board of directors my resignation and suggested they go part-time with one of the part-time employees.
At the time I was not sure what the purpose of that suggestion was for my own personal career? I knew it was best for the chamber and best for the community which supported it.
That decision gave me the opportunity to go back to emphasis with the Life Coaching and to find my own connection to my higher self. I began to garden and had several successful little harvest that I would share with others in my family and community. This was a wonderful way to purposely support others in a safe and positive way during Covid.
Then on 1.02.21, the most tragic event of my life happened. I lost my 27 year old son, Chace Taylor Malone, to an accidental overdose from a pill tainted with Fentanyl. Devastated. Anguished. I became depressed and felt lost. The part of my person, my purpose, my heart of being a mother to two amazing human beings was gone. Part of me was gone. I spent days, weeks and months in gut-wrenching tears, foggy brain and questioning my own reason for being. While I was living this existence, my son’s friends presented that we do something in honor of Chace Taylor Malone. “Not just a scholarship. But, something that makes an impact on people’s lives like Chace made on ours”. And that was the seedling for The Impact Foundation LA INC. Collectively we submitted for non-profit status, and not only were granted non-profit but we were deemed a public charity. Our Mission is to serve individuals and their families in our community who suffer from anxiety, depression and/or isolation which leads to self-medicating with substances. The foundation accomplishes this by connecting individuals with treatment options and services through a network of established partnerships. The focus of the foundation is to offer individuals a comprehensive plan to effect meaningful change and save lives. This wraparound approach is vital to address the complex needs of individuals suffering from addiction, often exacerbated by mental health and social issues. Our vision is a safe and healthy community, free from the tragedy of addiction.
I was not looking for any of this, I would have traded it all to have my son back here in the physical. That could not happen. And PURPOSE found me again. I was not only a co-founder to our 501c3 & 509a2, but I was put into the position of Executive Director. All the years of Life Coaching and guiding, the chamber of commerce events, fundraising and networking with the community and my personal desire to see people cared for, respected and feeling worthy were all culminating to increase through this platform. My greatest career PURPOSE FOUND ME. To work in the name of my Chace Taylor Malone, and to give way to resources and support on behalf of my eldest son Blake Tyler Malone and all of our family and friends.
I was not looking nor did I ever think I would be running a non-profit that exemplifies that empowerment and self-determination are the foundation to reducing the social and psychological effects of stress and trauma. Yet, here I am on purpose. Choosing to allow purpose to find and utilize me.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
This work is really my life. It is to reflect to others that their life matters in this world. The world is what it is right now in this moment because each one of us is here in this moment.
The Impact Foundation LA is a resource for those who are struggling. We know, especially after Covid, that everyone of us struggles in one way or another. Either with exasperating mental wellbeing, our work, our family and friend situation, sometimes our own self-defeating thoughts and actions. So many people have experienced a trauma that they exist each day under its weight. As a human being none of us are immune to struggle, tragedy or trauma. We do get to choose to stay under it or seek help.
When a client comes to IFLA they are aware that their struggles and actions have not provided a healthy and productive lifestyle that is necessary to thrive. We provide a catalog of resource professionals & their services to work with those who struggle. With the support of therapy, coaching, and a designated personal steward, the client will receive guidance and tools to create a set path for their continued wellbeing.
This is why our foundation works in part to assist in supplementing cost, known as “benevolent aide”.
We do this via a consensual agreement between both parties, while on the journey of life restoration for clients who are struggling and may even be suffering from addiction. Our process walks alongside you/your loved one and family. Offering a steward, professional resources, and where needed, financial support.
We offer a process with actionable steps catered to the individual’s journey of wellness and even sobriety, sponsored (where applicable) by The Impact Foundation. We advocate for the individual by managing their process through each step:
Identification, Analysis, Recovery, Sobriety, Wellness, to then Create Sustainable Lifestyle Choices.
This is EVERYTHING to me. I believe in dignified care, accessibility to all and reasonable fees for this care.
Because our focus is to offer individuals a comprehensive plan to effect meaningful change and save lives. This wraparound approach is vital to address the complex needs of individuals suffering from addiction, often exacerbated by mental health and social issues. Our vision is a safe and healthy community, free from the tragedy of addiction. In this last year we have connected with several other amazing organizations and local services to support mutual efforts. We advocate and participate in platforms and initiatives that will enhance communities and support to those who struggle.
One of my personal prides is our continued connection and support to the local high school WellNEST.
A room on campus in which students who are struggling, feeling anxious, overwhelmed or any mental wellbeing issues can come and find peace and support. We have hosted several guest speakers and events for the students. Including a speaker/impactor on the topic of Self-Love and Positive Self-Talk.
This month we will be on the campus with our IFLA booth along side one of our Resource Partners to kick off the schools Suicide Prevention week.
We know if we can offer this information and support to students, we can make an impact on detouring possible self-medicating and sometimes situations a person cannot come back from. We are looking to be proactive rather than reactive. And THAT is empowering and that is ON PURPOSE.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey:
1) Understanding we individually are apart of the whole. Like a water drop of the ocean.
2) To let purpose find you. Knowing what you love, what you desire to see in the world, and allow it to present itself to you. When it does, dance with it. Love on it. And continue to feed and nourish it.
3) Keep learning. Never think you know it all that it keeps your stagnant. Keep honing your craft & talents. Things continue to evolve. Evolve with the changing tide. And be excited to keep learning rather than seeing it as a dreaded task. You can be a teacher and a student simultaneously. Relish in the process to keep expanding.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
We are continually growing and expanding our efforts. We are looking for people and organizations who possess high ideals of service, care and empathy.
People who are go-getters and do-gooders.
People who understand the true value of helping others, which in turn helps you and your community.
The Impact Foundation LA is looking for:
Program funding:
Funds that will help us support clients who need the financial support to do the work they want to do. It is disappointing to know that a person is willing to do the work, but cannot afford the astronomical fees to do so.
Stewardship:
The Impact Foundation is familiar with the Alcoholics/Narcotics anonymous model of sponsors and sponsees. We have re-imagined this relationship between our client and a professional steward. Instead of just calling one’s steward when a client needs support, the steward will be proactive about communicating and planning with each client and their family.
The steward walks alongside the client connecting them to resources and professionals through their sobriety and wellness journey. Our goal is to form a continued care bond between our steward and clients.”
Student Ambassadors:
Student Ambassadors will help propose ideas for fundraising events and help run these events. They will provide support and assistance at these events, which might include working fair booths or talking at charity functions.
Ambassadors strive for representation. They will work to identify and execute in setting up clubs at their schools.
Ambassadors advocate for awareness among their fellow students to make sure they’re conscious of the help that is available through IFLA.
Ambassadors propose ideas for student-events, centered around school stress. This would also include fun, de-stressing activities (ex: movie nights, spa nights, game nights). LGBTQ+ Ambassadors could do events centered around LGBTQ youth and wellness.
Ambassadors will speak at local school events and other IFLA activities.
Ambassadors may work with the Coalition Ambassador Program, assisting and leading the way. Community Service hours can be awarded via our coalition sector partner: Prom Plus.
Volunteers:
Provide service and support to our nonprofit organization, to include brining value to the community and general public.
Advocate our mission and goals in the community and surrounding areas.
Promote our events and funding efforts.
Bring awareness about the opportunities to volunteer and garner more.
Board Members:
Give & Get members.
Provide input, insight and support to IFLA.
Help us to serve the community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://theimpactfoundationla.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimpactfoundation_la/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheImpactFoundationLA/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/the-impact-foundation-la-701454270/
Image Credits
CV Weekly & Victoria Malone
