Over the years, we have consistently been blown away by the examples of generosity we’ve witnessed from our community of creatives and entrepreneurs. We asked some of them to open up to us about where they think their generosity comes from.
Christina McMahon
My generosity comes first from my mother, who is the most generous and giving person I know, and also the strongest. She always led by example, showing me to give more than you take and to offer unconditional generosity to everyone around you. Read More>>
Giovanni Moretti
In the restaurant business, generosity is what defines true hospitality. You notice when someone needs something before they ask, you make space for them even when it’s inconvenient, that is simply the standard. I didn’t learn generosity from restaurants, I learned it at home. Read More>>
Renata Laria
My generosity comes from my relationship with God. I believe everything I have—my strength, my time, and my resources—comes from Him, so giving is something I’m called to do, not just something I choose. There have been times when I didn’t have much, but I still felt led to give. Read More>>
Erin Merkley
My generosity was instilled in me by my mom from a very young age. She is the true queen of hospitality and giving. No one ever leaves her presence empty-handed—whether it’s a thoughtful gift, a homemade meal, or something they may need. Read More>>
Mel West
Generosity was modeled for me from the very beginning. My parents gave freely no matter what they had—always extending invites to barbecues and Thanksgiving dinners, sometimes to relative strangers, because they couldn’t bear the thought of anyone feeling alone or without. I remember one particularly tight year when they invited two strangers to our Thanksgiving table. I was 12 or 13, and honestly? Read More>>
Sara Misisco
My mom has always been someone I have seen go out of her way to help and do more for others than herself, so growing up with that example has shown me to do the same and being generous and kind will never go out of style! Read More>>
Tamiko Nesbitt
My generosity was shaped by my parents. They showed kindness to each other, to their six children, to our extended family, friends, and anyone in need. They taught us that we were blessed and that we should help others. Through their example of selfless service, it was my desire to model their example and be a blessing to others. Read More>>
Collin O
Anything generous about me can be attributed to a few different things. First and foremost, I can sympathize with not having your desires and needs met, especially when they have been withheld. So if I ever have the means, I’m happy to share what I have. Read More>>
Essence Love
My generosity didn’t start as something I tried to become it was something I had to understand. For a long time, giving was instinctual for me. I gave my time, my energy, my presence, my care. I gave because I could feel people deeply. I could sense what wasn’t being said, what wasn’t being held, what wasn’t being nurtured. Read More>>
Jem Lundy
My generosity comes from witnessing God’s constant provision in my life. Even in seasons when we had little, I watched my family give freely and help others with whatever they had. That taught me that generosity is not defined only by money, but also by love, sacrifice, and a willing heart. Read More>>
Nathaniel Hney II
I believe my generosity comes from growing up in a family of six and watching my mom work very hard to take care of us. There were times when she would make sure we ate, even if it meant she went without. Being the second oldest of my siblings also taught me to look out for my younger sisters and to share what I had. Read More>>
Le’Mia Mindingall
My generosity comes from the embodiment of abundance. Though I feel as if I grew up having an authentically generous spirit, I quickly took note of how the pattern of generosity would pair with fostering meaningful relationships. Giving, to me, coincided with kindness and I’ve always been instilled with the desire to be kind also. Read More>>
Rome Davis
My generosity really comes from my family. It started with my grandparents, John and Mable Dew, then my Aunt Karen Dew, and of course my parents, Jerome and Deborah Davis. They raised me to be courteous, humble, and kind—not just when it’s easy, but all the time. And one thing they always taught me is that being blessed isn’t just about money. Read More>>
Dr. Crystal D Woods
My generosity comes from both what I was taught… and what I had to unlearn. I learned generosity early—from my mother and from spiritual principles that honored giving as an act of love, even worship. Giving your time, your resources, your presence—freely and without expectation. That became a part of who I am. Read More>>
Bri Haswell
My generosity comes from leading with emotional connection, being attuned to what someone might need beyond what they’re able to say out loud. I’ve always felt that the smallest moments of care carry the most weight. A sense of being seen, considered, understood, those are the things that stay with people. Read More>>
Ryann Morris
My generosity comes from my mom. She raised my brother and me to share, no matter how little or how much we had. It wasn’t just something she said, it was something she lived. Read More>>
Trey Carswell
My generosity comes from both my heart and my upbringing. It’s rooted in the way I naturally care for people, but also in the values that were poured into me early on, showing kindness, giving without expecting anything in return, and always being willing to help others. It’s a reflection of who I am at my core and the environment that shaped me. Read More>>
Michele Brindle
I didn’t grow up with much, but I grew up with enough—and more importantly, I grew up watching what people chose to do with what little they had. My parents worked hard earning a modest income that covered the basics and not much beyond that. There weren’t extras lying around, no careless spending, no abundance in the material sense. Read More>>
Clottee Hammons
Because I grew up in a Redlined section of Phoenix Arizona, I believe that generosity comes naturally to me. Those areas had to be self-sustaining and supporting each other in times of need came naturally. I saw my grandparents and neighbors taking food through the neighborhood to people in need, and sometimes my sisters and I would make the deliveries. Read More>>
Linda Napoli
My generosity comes from the values my grandparents instilled. I don’t have parents, but my grandparents generously took me in and cared for me as though I was their own. My grandparents showed me that you can quietly be generous when you see a need. When I was younger, I didn’t always understand the quiet part. Read More>>
