EXPERTS LANE n SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
the grill. Than people started showing up!
Within half an hour we had a full-blown
event with dozens of people painting
stars, eating hot dogs and hamburgers,
and awaiting the announcement of the
raffle winners. We had participants of ev-
ery age, race, and gender out in force for
the cause and it melted my heart.
HOPE
By Malaya Dantzler-Bryan, Principal
Small Business Contracting Source
A
s the leaves turn color and we set
our clocks back in preparation for
the holiday season, it is important
to realize how good we really do
have it. Though we all experience trials
and tribulations as small business own-
ers, these problems are miniscule when
compared to what others have suffered
through. We know where our next meal
is coming from, we all have roofs over
us, and even if times are tough there are
plenty of gifts under our Christmas trees.
I recently had the pleasure of partner-
ing with the Stars of Hope organization
to host my first charity event, Give Back
Hope. Stars of Hope is an international
charity that sends inspirational “stars” to
areas that have been affected by disaster
and tragedy. My local chapter received
national attention three years ago when
it plastered the downtown Orlando area
with inspirational stars after the Pulse
shooting. The local Stars of Hope or-
ganizer was, in fact, a manager at Pulse
during the shooting, and he shared with
me how seeing all the inspirational mes-
sages around the nightclub helped pull
the community together and inspire
hope for a better future.
8
IBA Success Magazine
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VOL 5, Issue 5
The philosophy of Stars of Hope is sim-
ple. Volunteers paint wooden stars with
inspirational images and messages. The
organization then sends these stars to ar-
eas where a hurricane, shooting, or oth-
er disaster occurred with the hope that
it will brighten the community, show the
victims that they are not forgotten, and
that we are all praying for a better future.
I organized the local Give Back Hope
event in conjunction with one of my cli-
ents and associates, Paloma Technolo-
gies, LLC. It was more work than either of
us bargained for! From trying to tie down
a location, to securing volunteers and
funding, this quickly became a full time
job. Even on the morning of the event,
I was unsure if it was going to come to-
gether. Was there going to be enough
food? Did we raise enough money? Was
it going to rain all day? Would anybody
even show up?
My heart was in my stomach as I pulled
up to the event space, but my fears were
soon alleviated as one of my clients
showed up with several tables and be-
gan setting up. Shortly after, another one
of my volunteer clients came and fired up
For more information on Stars of Hope,
please visit www.starsofhopeusa.org.
Malaya Bryan
Principal
Small Business
Contracting Source
1-833-ASK-SBCS
www.SBCSinc.com
https://www.facebook.com/sbcsinc
https://www.instagram.com/sbcs_inc
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TOP:
GIVING
BACK
Watching my daughter paint one of
the stars brought a smile to my face as
I had rallied our family and community
to give back. I put as much work into this
charity event as I would a major project,
and it was so rewarding. It reminded me
that our world is bigger than us, and
we don’t just do this for the money. Part
of our responsibility, as small business
owners, is to know our community and
improve it. To make this a better place
for our children and grandchildren. To
bring a small ray of hope into the dark-
ness and remember how fortunate we
really are. So, my business tip for you this
month is simple: give back. Pay it for-
ward. Remember how fortunate that you
are and don’t forget those who do not
have the same luxuries that we do. We
all struggle. It’s part of owning a small
business. But our troubles are tiny when
compared to those who have just been
through a life-changing tragedy.