Friday's Mark

I'm thrilled to welcome Brooke Shigley for the inaugural Friday's Mark guest post. I'd planned to get this up earlier so there would be plenty of time for the giveaway, but nothing has gone as planned this week!

I first met Brooke when she reached out to me after reading one of my novels. Over the past year, I've come to admire Brooke as a person, a mother, and as someone who uses her specific talents to make the world a better place.

Hello, all of you wonderful, giving individuals! My name is Brooke Shigley, and this is the story of how I "Leave My Mark" on the world. To tell you a little bit about myself, I am a professional Photographer, Graphic Artist and Marketing student. Growing up, things weren't exactly the norm for me. Motherhood at age 15 was a repercussion of the rocky decisions I made as an adolescent. My daughter, on the other hand, was a blessing and renewed inspiration in my life. She replaced the negative influences around me with hopes and goals for our future.

As a teen mom, finishing high school and going on to college became a mission. Each day, my daughter went to school with me and was in my arms at graduation. During my first year of college, she tagged along and was cared for at the campus daycare. Throughout the years, I taught her the importance of caring for others, to never bully and to prevent others from bullying. I also taught her the importance of giving, even when we were less fortunate half the time.

Today, I have two children who both are upstanding, compassionate individuals. And, because of my continued ambition, I have reached an amazing place in my life where I'm able to give back and make a difference. As a volunteer designer for Nebraska Children's Home Society I offer my design services to create invites, postcards, flyers and other pieces to raise awareness. Thousands of donors attend the events to show their support and to make their mark. A large portion of the proceeds go to the financing of NCHS for the assistance and training they provide.

Nebraska Children's Home Society is a nonprofit organization that exists for the sole purpose of raising funds to provide free, confidential support and education on the option of parenting or adoption. They provide foster care for children of all ages placed in their care by agencies, the court, or voluntarily by the child's parents. NCHS also provides an early childhood program teaching children appropriate academic, social and life skills.

I am so proud to be part of such an exceptional organization. Each day I give back, it gives more meaning to my life. This is how I "Leave My Mark", how about you?

To find out more about NCHS visit: http://www.nchs.org/about-us/ or to view my work, please visit me at: www.BrookeShigley.com or www.ShigleyPhotography.com.

Brooke has kindly offered up design services as a prize for our inaugural Friday's Mark contest. The winner can choose between a free logo design or web banner by Brooke Shigley, to be redeemed in the next six months. To enter the contest, tweet what your Friday's Mark is. For example, my entry would look like this:

I write books that raise awareness and funds to fight #humantrafficking. #FridaysMark

Using the #FridaysMark hashtag will enter you in the contest. I'll use random.org to select a winner from the entrants, and I'll notify you via a direct message on Twitter by Monday. Entries will be accepted through 11:59 p.m. (PT) 1/20/12.

Please help spread the word! (And go easy on me – this is my first crack at running a contest. )