One day after work I was driving home thinking about this non-profit idea and I was feeling overwhelmed and a little discouraged. As I was driving over the loop 101 bridge going north on my home from work I had a conversation with God, I'm sure people driving next to me thought I was crazy but that's how sort things out in my head, I talk to God. I said "God please guide me, I know this is what I'm supposed to be doing but I don't know what to do next". The next day I had reached out to my dear friends Mama Cathy and Heather. (Mother and daughter) We ended up having lunch and by the end of this lunch Wings of Hope was born. God had answered my prayers in a big way. I decided to change the name from Mia's Dream Team to Wings Of Hope and before I knew it we had already planned a benefit and been approved to have it in the main auditorium at our church. We already started a fundraiser to raise money, and booked vendors. I know Mariah would be so proud of us.
Heather and Mama Cathy have been there for me, Allen and Mariah at the peek of their decline. It's been almost two years since they have walked along side me breathing life into me and giving hope to me and to my two addicted love ones. It seems fitting that God would put us together on this project. I do believe he was shaping us the entire time.
I already filed for our LLC and once we earn enough funds I plan to file for our 501c.
Wings of Hope founding board....
Ana M. Counts - Chief Executive Director
Cathy Clegg - Chief Development Director / Treasure
Allen Counts - Board Chair / Peer Commination / Speaker
Heather Massey - Vice Chair 1 / Head of Social Media / Secretary
Our mission:
To spread awareness on the growing epidemic of addiction. Our goal is to walk alongside families of addicts, provide helpful resources and to provide essentials to those in recovery and eventually God willing, to be able to provide scholarships to those who need a little help getting into a treatment center.
What started out as one person building a library in memory of Mia turned into a crew building a non-profit. www.wingsofhope914.com
I love you Mariah, and I'l never forget you! And i'm keeping my promise to never let your struggle be in vain!