In 2012, Mary Latham was sitting at her desk in NYC reading the news on the Sandy Hook School shooting when a co-worker told her about an act of kindness that had happened to him. A random man had bought a $100 gift card at the Starbucks across the street and asked the barista to run it out on the line behind him.
Mary's co-worker was in that line. He had been having a horrible year and the expression on his face as he told her this made her realize how much of an impact this act of kindness had on him. Mary spoke to her mother about the story later that morning, and then had quickly switched over to the shooting. She had politely interrupted, saying...
"You have to focus on that other story you just told me. Think about that man who just made so many people's day by buying them a coffee. There is always going to be horrible and tragic things that happen but there will always be more good out there, you just have to look for it."
That conversation sparked a project. A friend and Mary would compile stories like these and highlight them on Facebook. They called it The GrAttitude Project. Eleven days after that launch Mary's mother would go to the hospital for surgery related to her cancer. She would be told that she had a few hours, maybe days, left to live. That would begin the worst week of Mary's life. A week spent in a hospital waiting room surrounded by hopelessness. She would pass away that Friday 3.1.13, at 12:21 a.m.
It was on that day that Mary would decide to create something in her honor. A type of book. Stories of hope. Inspiration. Something beautiful she could put in these hospital waiting rooms to help others who would wait after me. A book to show them that even though there was so much sadness, so much heartbreak, so much bad...there would always be more good.
We just had to look for it.
So on October 29, 2016, Mary packed up her mother's old blue Subaru, and took off on a 50 state road trip to compile stories of human kindness.
Currently, Mary has traveled to 43 states, 136 homes, and over 38,000 miles.
Follow Mary Latham and More Good here:
https://www.moregood.today/
More Good on Facebook
@moregoodtoday on Instagram
@MaryLath on Twitter
Leigh Mansberg, President & CEO of Junior Achievement of Memphis and the Mid-South - Every Child. World Ready.
Alma McLemore, Executive Director, African American Heritage Society - Preserving History and Building Community in Franklin, Tennessee
Tammy Alvarez from Career Winners Circle - Love every Monday by becoming the CEO of your career
Zach Montroy – Building Brave Workplace and Healthy Teams
Mike Berry - President of Hillwood, the developer of AllianceTexas: Transforming Fort Worth, Texas into an Economic Powerhouse
Jeremy C. Park - CEO, cityCURRENT: How Becoming a SPARK to Power The GOOD Can Transform Your Life and Community
Dr. Sarah Petschonek - Founder & CEO, Volunteer Odyssey: Creating New Pathways for Corporate Engagement & Meaningful Volunteer Experiences
Traci Schubert Barrett - How to Navigate the Journey & Find Significance Beyond Success
Marcus Walker Executive Director, Daily Bread Ministries - A Collaborative Approach to Fighting Hunger, Fostering Faith and Strengthening Community
Matt Kripke CEO of Kripke Enterprises, Inc., Mid South Aluminum - Building a Corporate Culture of Caring
Justin Levy of Conscious Alliance - Awakening Compassion
Mark Melson of Gladney Center for Adoption - The Power and Magic of Adoption
Tom and Ellen Harris of The Jordan Elizabeth Harris Foundation – Shining a Light on Depression and Suicide
Michael Graber, Managing Partner of Epic Pivot - Conscious Capitalism and the Entrepreneurial Spirit
Beverly Robertson, President and CEO of The Greater Memphis Chamber - Creating Economic Prosperity Through Opportunity, Equity and Inclusion
Elizabeth R. Brands, President & CEO of The Morris Foundation - Removing Barriers and Creating Pathways for the Vulnerable Populations
Kris Intress, Founder and CEO of Rock Springs Retreat Center - From Hospitality to Health, Finding Balance and Hope
Deborah Macfarlan Enright, Ed.D. - Improving the World Through Skillful Disruption of the Status Quo
Dwania Kyles, Co-Founder of The Memphis 13 Foundation - Approaching Healing and Leading with Love
Jared Barnett, CEO of Slingshot Memphis, Inc. - Promoting a Results-Driven Poverty-Fighting Ecosystem
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