by Dawn Franks | Feb 20, 2024 | Dawn's Blogs, Family, Giving, Next Generation
Tiny stacks of 35-millimeter slides covered the dining room table. One by one I passed them through the slide viewer. The story of my parents’ earliest years together unfolded from Okinawa to North Carolina to Colorado and Texas. Pictures are only part of the story. ...
by Dawn Franks | Feb 7, 2024 | Dawn's Blogs, Donors, Family, Giving
My date and I headed to the zoo for a fun afternoon. With curiosity as a guide, I expected to enjoy the animals and maybe answer a few questions about a guy I found interesting and thought I might like to keep around for a while. The zoo had areas designed to see the...
by Dawn Franks | Jan 24, 2024 | Dawn's Blogs, Donors, Giving
When you hear a suggestion to share your stories with your children and grandchildren, do you hear a voice say, “They’re not interested, don’t have time, and don’t care about my stories?” In conversation with my friend, Joe McIlhaney, M.D., he said what he’d been...
by Dawn Franks | Dec 12, 2023 | Donors, Family, Giving, Millennials, Next Generation
I’ve shared this story before, but the message remains important to the heart of giving. Take a moment to learn why ladders matter on Christmas morning and all year round. At six years old, I was sure I needed one, and today, I’m as committed as ever to working my way...
by Dawn Franks | Oct 30, 2023 | Dawn's Blogs, Donors, Giving, Nonprofits
When I was about three or so years old, my family went for a drive in the Colorado mountains. I think we went for a picnic, but what I remember is jumping out of the car, barefooted, heading for a patch of wildflowers. My mother called out to stop, but all I saw were...
by Craig Hammon — Guest Blog | Oct 3, 2023 | Donors, Giving, Guest Blogs, Nonprofits
Dawn Franks has significantly impacted my thinking (and acting) about the ideas of legacy and generosity. When she asked me to consider writing some personal thoughts about these things, I saw it as a great opportunity for reflection. The concept of “legacy” always...