-->
|
|||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
by Karyn Reagan
Ten years ago, Karen and Curt Waisath, Co-Founders of Chandler, Ariz.-based Gold Canyon, were struggling for business survival. The Waisaths had just adopted their second child. "After that intense process, we decided that Curt would quit his job as a CPA and we would really try to make a go at this little candle business," Karen says. "And we vowed that if we were successful, we would give back to the community and try to make a difference in others' lives." Two years later, while enjoying success in their business, they remembered their promise and determined that the best way to help others was through a nonprofit foundation to help needy children. In 2000 they formed the Prayer Child Foundation with Karen as President. "Everywhere we looked we saw children in need and felt like we were being guided to assist as many of them as we could," Karen says. Curt and Karen encouraged all of their independent distributors, called Gold Canyon Demonstrators, to submit applications for any child they knew in physical or emotional need. They brought the needs before a committee that decided how to help the child, whether in a large or small way.Reaching Individual Families
Helping individual children sets the Prayer Child Foundation apart. "We've given to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the Children's Cancer Society, but our focus is to give to the families of specific needy children," Karen says. "We love giving to charities, but it's so rewarding to reach the individual children. We often get letters from the parents thanking us for giving them much needed relief from the pain and struggles they are facing." The foundation receives many requests every month, but one request that touched Karen deeply was for a 17-month-old boy named Alex. She related closely to the things this family had been through because Alex was adopted; his parents had endured many fertility treatments and miscarriages before finally adopting him. Alex came to this family from Guatemala, and within a week of bringing him home his mother noticed a small spot on his foot that started to swell. After many medical tests, they were told that their precious new son had a rare form of leukemia. "Instead of feeling as though their dreams are crushed, the family feels blessed that they are able to help this little one in his struggle," Karen says. "If he had remained in Guatemala, he probably wouldn't have had any hope of recovery. Unfortunately, the costs of chemotherapy treatments, doctors' bills and travel expenses to visit specialists have put the family in an overwhelming financial situation. Prayer Child Foundation was able to step in and relieve some of the burden this family was feeling." There are only two qualifications a child must meet to receive help from the foundation-they must be living and they must be 18 years or younger. "We help them if they have physical or emotional problems that are no fault of their own. We have never turned down a needy child who meets those two criteria. We've been able to help every single request that we've received over the past six years." Karen says. The Gold Canyon Demonstrators are the foundation's biggest promoters. They offer the Gold Canyon Candles for Kids line at every home party. Every penny of profit from these candles goes to the Prayer Child Foundation. There are four Candles for Kids fragrances, which are changed annually to ensure variety. This line of candles gives the demonstrators an added benefit to their business. "Demonstrators are also able to nominate any child they know who might be in need." Karen says. "Each year at convention, the demonstrator who participated the most or made the biggest difference in the life of a child is given a special award." Gold Canyon also demonstrated its compassion after the 2005 tsunami. The company joined with its vendors to create a candle called Restore Hope. Demonstrators around the country sold the candle at home parties and raised more than $150,000, which Gold Canyon donated to the Save the Children charity.Helping Others Help Others
One of the unique features of the Prayer Child Foundation is that it has grown into more than just a foundation for Gold Canyon. "It has become a foundation for other businesses, including other direct sales companies," says Curt, President and CEO of Gold Canyon. "Any company can use our foundation as a way to give to children in need in their own communities. They simply identify a need, raise the funds they would like to give, and use Prayer Child Foundation as the conduit for their donations. The foundation will give the money directly to the designated child or family, and the donation is tax-deductible." Many small direct selling companies do not have the funds to start a foundation. Curt and Karen invite them to join with the Prayer Child Foundation in helping meet the needs of children and their families. "It's important to understand that we don't have any administrative overhead," Curt says. "Currently, our staff members at the foundation are all volunteers. Our goal is to always keep the overhead low so that all money donated can go directly to the children and their families."A Major Accomplishment
Gold Canyon and the Prayer Child Foundation have demonstrated genuine concern for the plight of needy children and their families and have expanded their efforts by enabling other companies with heart help those in need. In January 2006, the Prayer Child Foundation hit a major milestone: the $1 million mark in donations to needy children. Because of people like Curt and Karen and the Gold Canyon Demonstrators the wheel of caring keeps turning.