The Purpose Awards! Honorees Geena Davis, Lilly Singh, Hannah Hart and Lizzie Velásquez.
The Purpose Awards, even the name is spectacular! After leaving the Purpose Awards, I walked away knowing what I truly feel is validated. Place your heart, mind, and soul into even your smallest acts. Today I choose life. Every morning when I wake up I can choose joy, happiness or negativity and pain, but choosing happiness is a little harder, but much more rewarding in and healthier. To feel the freedom that comes from being able to continue to make mistakes is path and not a failure, knowing everything that you do leads you up to something bigger than imagined. Today I choose to feel life, not to deny my humanity but embrace it. It’s said that forgiving others for their wrong doings is healthier for you, I believe this. Forgive for yourself and move forward, you’ll allow yourself to live the life you envision, you hope to desire and most important to leave a footprint that is long lasting.
I recently interviewed Olivia Munn and she made a statement regarding character that she voices that resonated with me, “ She was a hero to all but she choose to be a hero to one.” This, right here, should be all of our goals, to be a hero to at least one person. If we can change just one person's life we will start a ripple effect. An effect of goodness, humanity and compassion. Instead of disconnecting from reality because of our technology, lets use it to our advantage. You have a platform, you have voice and let the words of love resonate throughout your posts, challenge your followers (even if they are family members) to do good.
The Purpose Awards recognize individuals and organizations making a difference in their communities and positively impacting humankind. The show expands the previous years' Streamy Awards Social Good category, with six awards honoring companies and brands, creators and influencers, and nonprofits and NGOs who use online video and social media to amplify their message, foster engagement and participation, and make a greater, more meaningful impact.
This year’s honorees include Lilly Singh, Lizzie Velásquez, and Hannah Hart for the Creator Award, Activision Blizzard, Bank of America and Ford for the Company or Brand Award, Global Citizen, Make-A-Wish and Meals on Wheels for the Non-profit or NGO Award, Karlie Kloss, LOVE ARMY and Omaze for the Uniter Award and the The Ad Council receiving the Legacy Award.
In addition to honoring individuals and organizations for their social impact work, the award show platform will be a catalyst to inspire all attendees and fans around the world to embrace social good. Putting purpose into practice, highlights include a focus on gender equality with a female led production team staffed by Backlot Productions and a commitment to having the lunch be a zero waste event aided by Zero Waste Co. All attendees were asked to bring a used electronic and Homeboy Recycling will have bins collecting them to be recycled and the original art for the inaugural event has been created by autistic artist Jimmy Reagan whose piece “Girl from Italia” was on display and the programs.