A Year as the Beautifully Flawed Foundation
Wow, what an incredible year 2021 was! I know that might not be the thinking most of us have about 2021, but I truly believe perspective is everything!
In 2020, our organization took a leap of faith to rebrand the organization and launch as the Beautifully Flawed Foundation in 2021. The vision behind the rebranding was to open up the opportunity of highlighting the incredible stories of those we work with. Bethany did not want their stories to be hidden behind her name. I love the selflessness of her heart, and how elevating others was most important. A perspective that seems foreign in our culture today!
Change can be hard for many of us. I had hoped that others would rally behind this change, and support the heart of what we felt called to do. Sometimes change means stepping out in faith, even when it might seem far fetched to others. I always think of Peter who when seeing Jesus walking on water, and everyone in the boat feared it was a ghost, Peter went against the grain of fear and said, “Lord if that is you, command me to step out of the boat to come to you,” (Matthew 14:28). Jesus responded in such a way as if it was an open invitation to everyone in the boat that night. He simply said, “Come.” Fear crippled all except Peter, who not only stepped out of the boat, but amazingly walked on water!
Sometimes in order to experience the extraordinary, we must first be willing to step into foreign territory. Rebranding was just that for us! It was hard and scary, but we knew God had given us an open invitation to seeing Him do something amazing! In the past year we were stretched in ways that did not always feel pleasant, but in the end it was all so very worth it!
2021 would prove to be our biggest year yet as far as retreats go. We were so blessed in executing three amazing retreats: a Beautifully Flawed Retreat in Kauai; a Beautifully Flawed Retreat in Del Mar, CA; and a Forge Retreat for men in Del Mar, CA! With each one, we saw incredible stories of trauma turn to triumph. We had those who faced the reality of their trauma alone in a hospital room due to covid restrictions, find joy and healing in the community of our retreats. Story after story, smile after smile, we were reminded how beautiful it is to highlight others.
I think what moved our team most was all the love and support each of you gave to us in 2021. Not only through the sweet emails of how excited you were of the new name and look of the organization, but also of how you rallied behind us to make each retreat possible. Because of you, not one attendee was turned away because they were unable to afford to come! We have had the most incredible support through the giving platforms, and each of you were able to donate towards the areas you love, and make the retreats so special and beautiful. We saw time selflessly given as you served alongside us, and so many took time to help with our surf days, our kitchen crew, craft opportunities, cleaning crews, workouts, lei making, luau, sponsoring special meals, banquet dinners, storing and organizing donations, helping get amazing companies to donate to each retreat, through endless prayers, and so much more! As the Executive Director, I am always so cautious to not over ask, or to ever have someone not know how much their donation has meant to our organization. I have felt each of you take every opportunity to give again and again, because you see the important healing work we are doing. I am not only so very humbled by each of you and all the love and support you have given, but I want you to know that each of you had a huge role in the lives changed through Beautifully Flawed in 2021.
Coming into the end of the year, on December 3 as we assessed our finances for the end of the year and realized it looked like we were going to be $10,000 short of where we had hoped to be as an organization. I was nervous to ask for more, as we had seen our donors step up like never before in our existence as an organization. Our team decided we would just make the need known and so on December 15 we launched one last giving campaign for 2021. Within a week we hit the $10k needed to put us where we had projected to be as an organization. You all didn’t stop there though, you just kept giving, and within two weeks of the giving campaign, we received $46,525. You didn’t stop there either, within three weeks of launching the campaign you had donated a total of $121,525. I hope your mouths are dropped as mine was. You have all blown us away!! Never in the existence of our organization have we seen this kind of giving.
This all brings me back to stepping out of the boat. I feel 2021 has been our walking on water year. We have experienced something we never dreamed possible in taking this leap of faith, and with our generous funding from our community, we are so excited for what we have in store for 2022:
- For 2022, our Forge Retreat and Beautifully Flawed Retreat for young men and women with limb difference will be returning to Del Mar, CA in October with fully revamped programs. New activities and more specialized experts, but same incredible, once-in-a-lifetime experience. Last year we held the two retreats simultaneously to best maximizes schedules and funds in the ever-changing COVID environment. But for 2022, the retreats will be held in the same location but back-to back, allowing our team to give each retreat the time, energy, and devotion each one deserves.
- Also returning to 2022 is our community event, Shine Forth. A one-night event highlighting the inspiring stories of our retreat attendees, this event is especially important to us as we strive to lift up more voices in the community. It is truly beautiful to watch our attendees own their story, showing that with Christ in our life, our trials and pain can lead to healing and purpose on a scale beyond what we could imagine!
- Lastly we will rollout a brand-new, young women’s conference and bring it to a new state beyond California. For so many years, most of our events have taken place in either California and Hawaii, and it is exciting to see the demand for our programs grow into new areas. Our online community is truly amazing, but we can’t wait to connect with more of you in person.
I am truly so grateful for all of you and whatever capacity you have given, all are valued and important. Together we have done amazing work, and I am so excited as we begin to roll out what we have in store for 2022. You all have only fanned the flame for us to continue to expand our territory and reach, and we look forward to having you all be a part of that! Thank you for loving us well in 2021, and for being willing to step out in faith with us. You are all so valued and loved!
Aloha,
Executive Director
Beautifully Flawed Foundation
Make Incredible Things Happen
Help further our mission and programs that support young people living with limb difference or those who’ve experienced traumatic limb loss by making a tax-deductible donation.
