I had the chance to chat with Brenda Novak, bestselling author and we’ve chosen to highlight her as a Celebrity Mom that Gives Back. She is totally proof that one person can make a difference. The online auction for diabetes research that she holds on her website every May raised over $150,000 last year. Her goal for 2008 is to raise over $300,000. Wow! Read all about her efforts and perspective on giving back below.
Classy Mommy: I find having children inspires many Moms to better themselves as we all want to be role models for our kids and make the world a better place for them to grow up in. Since having a child, how has your perspective on giving back changed?
Having a child definitely changes the focus of your life’s efforts. Suddenly, there is someone you care about more than yourself and you begin to realize how your actions, and the actions of others in the same sphere of influence, affect this little person. But I can’t say that merely “having” children gave me a burning desire to make a difference in the world. I definitely wanted to be a good role model, but I didn’t feel the need for a tremendous amount of extra effort until the safety and well-being of one of my children was threatened by diabetes. Then I kicked into gear and made the decision that I would fight to make a positive difference in the world, not only for “my” children, but for all children.
Classy Mommy: What are some of your favorite causes?
Diabetes research is first on my list. So many suffer from this disease and yet I feel, with more effort, attention and research dollars, we can beat it. Multiple Schlerosis research is another cause that’s close to my heart. My mother was diagnosed with MS when I was eight years old, so she’s been handicapped almost my whole life, and my sister was just diagnosed two years ago. When I was young, I watched yet another relative die from MS in a very short time. Going to see him when he couldn’t see, speak or move definitely left an impact.
Classy Mommy: Why are they important to you?
My son is eleven years old. He was diagnosed with diabetes when he was five. My father died from a diabetes-related heart attack at 64. I can’t help but feel I’m working against a ticking time bomb. When my father passed, I was only 19. He’s never met any of my children, hasn’t been around to give them the unconditional love that has always provided the core of my happiness. I don’t want to see my son suffer from complications and die early (or anyone else’s child).
Classy Mommy: Are you involved with any specific organizations? Amongst all the worthy causes, how did you decide?
When my son was first diagnosed, I wanted to get involved in fundraising for a cure, but he was the youngest of five children, and I was just launching my fiction-writing career. I was so terribly busy and stressed with the adjustments and constant care he now required, I had no idea where I’d find the time to become an advocate, but I kept looking for opportunities. Then, one day, I went to a silent auction at his elementary school. The committee who put it together had done a fabulous job, but they didn’t get much of a turn out for the event. I remember standing there, looking at all the amazing items up for bid, thinking there had to be a way to reach more people and generate more support. And then it hit me. Because of my books, I’d already established a great deal of traffic at my web site, and I’d made some fabulous contacts in the world of publishing. I decided to take advantage of that established traffic, and to utilize my contacts, by doing my own on-line auction for diabetes research at my Web site every May (in honor of Mother’s Day). The first year (2005), I raised $35,000, the next year, nearly $70,000. The third year, we hit $153,700. Now I’m facing Year 4, and have added a beneficiary – the Diabetes Research Institute, a place I have come to know as the best hope for a cure. I’m very excited to see if we’ll double again. We have nearly 100% more items, some of which can’t be found anywhere else, so I’m definitely hopeful that we will. It’s become a real labor of love–and an obvious choice for me.”
Classy Mommy: Why is this particular cause special to you?
Brenda Novak’s On-line Auction has become a second job for me, if you will. It’s something I work on year-round in an attempt to make more and more of an impact. I started it for my son, but after hearing from so many who face the same struggles we do, I’m doing it for everyone who has a connection to diabetes. I guess you could say I’m on a crusade to see a cure in my lifetime.
Classy Mommy: How can others get involved?
There are a lot of ways to help with my event. I can always use volunteers to gather more items to put up for auction, and I can use help publicizing the event. It helps just to have people shop at the event, and to encourage their friends and family to do the same. This is a grass-roots effort, a coming together of hundreds of writers, editors, agents, and diabetes sympathizers and, as I watch it grow, I’m seeing just how much of an impact we can make. I can also use clerical help, as loading the items and following up on every donation is very time intensive, and I have more pressing deadlines with my novel writing career than ever before. Readers can visit http://www.brendanovak.com/ for more information.
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