Jessica became acquainted with Reese through her husband and has known her for the past five years. From a distance, Reese designed the first logo and one-page website for DfD. “She was incredibly sweet and generous with her time,” Jessica recalls. Jessica was able to finally meet Reese a year or so ago when Reese had a layover in Denver. Jessica knew they had a great connection before, but after meeting in person, it was even greater! Reese and Jessica are much more than businesses partners. Reese does the DfD website and she and Jessica have become good friends. Jessica feels truly blessed to know Reese and have her acting from behind scenes for the DfD new website and bear logo design.
Isn’t that the best of both worlds, when business partners can create relationships that are about much more than the work—when they can develop a deep connection as well? Thanks Reese, for all you do for DfD!
1. Why did you decide to offer support to Dolls for Daughters®? (this might have been an in-kind or monetary donation)
I had the privilege of working with Jessica Bachus on her Colorado beauty and spa review site, Pamper Yourself Denver, before she founded Dolls for Daughters®. One day, she wrote to me about her vision for the organization and shared the story of the loss of her daughter Kenzi. Jessica’s passion for Dolls for Daughters® and her long-term vision for it inspired me to begin offering design services for Dolls for Daughters®, starting with a simple website, which has evolved to the website you see today.
Grassroots organizations that offer support to needy people on a local scale need our support and often can do more direct good than the larger organizations that run big PR campaigns. My design company tends to work with small- and medium-sized businesses, so to donate design services to Dolls for Daughters® is in line with my philosophy on work and life: change in the world starts at a small scale, with consistent and focused steps toward a bigger vision for the world.
2. How long has your business supported Dolls for Daughters®?
Since 2008.
3. What is your most memorable experience supporting Dolls for Daughters®?
Meeting Jessica at the Denver airport was a lovely experience. I was en-route to another destination (I live in Malaysia), and it was an opportunity to get to know the woman behind this organization better. What I suspected over years of email was reinforced in that meeting: there’s a warmth, dedication, and significant humanity in Jessica that permeates the entire organization and outreach for Dolls for Daughters®.
Last year, we worked on a brochure together. The opportunity to do print work (I usually do more web-based work) was fulfilling, and I worked with some gorgeous photos of one of the families that Kenzi’s Kidz supported. It drove home the impact of how Dolls for Daughters® helps on an individual scale.
4. Have you participated in any fundraising events that Dolls for Daughters® has held?
Not really 
I help with logos and promotions as needed, and this year I contributed a website review to the silent auction fundraiser.
5. Have you or your staff volunteered at the Dolls for Daughters® and Toys for Boys® Toy Shop? If so what was your experience?
No, but I would LOVE to do this some day, if I can make the timing work out the next time I visit the United States.
6. With so many organizations in need of support, what suggestions or advice do you have for other organizations? How might they choose an organization as well as the way(s) in which they will help?
Think deeply about your values. This might take awhile. Sometimes we may think our values are more surface level, such as “eradicating poverty,” but dig more deeply for the value behind that value. What motivates that? Why is it important to you?
Then, do your homework to find an organization whose values and vision fit yours as closely as possible. I do not have children, so my values are not motivated necessarily by identification with Dolls for Daughters® as a parent. But my values surrounding work ethic, charity beginning as close to home as possible, and local outreach were in close alignment with the Dolls for Daughters® mission.The goal to put a smile on the faces of needy children also fits some of my values as a designer: that sometimes the smallest experiences can bring a person joy, and in those moments, the best of the human spirit shines.
So when you consider organizations to support, weigh what’s really important to you. What would you fight for? What beliefs would you not compromise? How does the organization, its founder, and its long-term vision line up with those values?
Finally, I’d gently nudge people to consider smaller organizations, such as Dolls for Daughters®, over some of the big national names. Usually, the financial management is better, which means any monetary or in-kind donations you make will have a larger amount go directly to the end recipient instead of split into marketing, advertising, and administrative expenses. Look to your local area, too. There’s something fulfilling about having your donation or help go directly into your local community: in helping the people closest to you, you also help your community grow stronger. When you can see the fruits of your efforts in that way, you feel a part of something bigger than yourself, instead of just a cash contributor.
