We asked some of the most generous entrepreneurs, artists and creatives we know to talk to us about where they think their generosity comes from.
Lestia Wiggins
Growing up, my family was not rich. I’m from a small town in south Jersey where poverty and crime rates are still high to this date but my parents always made sure we were well taken care of while also making sure others were. If we were getting food from the food bank, we were also volunteering at the food bank. Read More>>
Raven-Janay Hadnot
Where My Generosity Comes From — My Voyage Story Generosity wasn’t something I decided to adopt — it was something I survived into. In high school, I craved acceptance, but I chased it in the wrong places. I surrounded myself with people who valued attention over alignment, popularity over purpose, and image over identity. That mindset followed me into college. Read More>>
Em Denney
Since starting my concert photography journey, I have surrounded myself with a variety of local talent. Whether it be bands, other photographers, and even digital artists, there are so many local talents that are dying for a chance to get their big break. I always try to support any local business. Read More>>
Kristie Marie Jacobs-Staples-Franks
My generosity comes from the best friend I ever had: Patricia Ann Griffin Jacobs, my mother. She was a single mom as my father died from Agent Orange in Vietnam. She didn’t always have much, but she would share what she did have with anyone who needed help. Read More>>
Mike Phelan
My generosity comes from a few different places one might never have expected. The first place I learned generosity and compassion was growing up in an abusive household, I was always dropped off at my grandparent’s house. I would travel around and work with my grandfather. My grandfather was a hard World War II, Great Depression, survivor that mentored me during my adolescent years. Read More>>
Trey Bower
My generosity comes from my childhood, growing up with my granny, who always looked out for everyone around her. She had a natural way of caring—whether it was family, neighbors, or even strangers—and she did it without expecting anything in return. Watching her showed me, at a young age, that taking care of others is not a burden but a gift. Read More>>
Jennifer Sutherland
My generosity comes from the idea of being the person I needed in times of stress and loneliness. Example: my first day of school was really disappointing because my parents had been gassing me up for weeks about how it was going to be to make new friends to play and learn with. Read More>>
Neka Smith
My generosity comes from my faith, my experiences, and the people who believed in me before I believed in myself. I’ve faced moments where I had nothing — losing my first investment property, facing homelessness, and rebuilding from scratch more times than I can count — and I remember the support, guidance, and encouragement that carried me through. Read More>>
Candance Taylor
My generosity comes from who I am at my core. I’ve always been someone who willingly shares what I know and what I have, especially if it can improve someone else’s life. I’ve never been careless or given away what I needed to sustain myself, but I’ve also never been a stingy person. Over the years, I’ve learned the true value of giving. Read More>>
