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Helice Bridges
 Imagine kids and adults growing up in a community where all people are built up, encouraged to live their dreams and are passionate about making the world a better place.
Helice Bridges had this dream and dedicated her life to finding a way for all people to feel appreciated, respected and loved so that they would know that Who They Are Makes A Difference.
In 1980, at the age of 38, Helice Bridges, co-chair of the San Diego Hunger Project, discovered that people were literally staving for recognition. It was then she decided that people of every age, race, religion, nationality and economic status deserved to be appreciated, respected and loved. As a result, she created a "One Minute Acknowledgement" process and began to teach children and adults how to show their appreciation, respect and love for one another. People were shocked at how simple, powerful and moving this process was.
To help eradicate emotional hunger, Helice purchased 1,000 "Who I Am Makes A Difference®" buttons and began honoring people everywhere. With a handful of youth and adults, 1,000 people were honored in less than two weeks. The spirit of the acknowledgment message began to ripple throughout communities. People told stories of how this "One Minute Acknowledgment" healed broken marriages, stopped fights, increased grades and raised self-esteem. Helice dreamed that her "One Minute Acknowledgment" would ripple throughout communities, healing broken relationships, raising self-esteem and making dreams come true for everyone.
Between 1983 and 1993, Helice taught youth and adults how to present self-esteem programs in elementary, junior and senior high schools. She trained thousands of children, teachers and parents how to appreciate, encourage and respect one another. In 1988, a teacher in New York honored every one of her high school students with verbal acknowledgment. Then she invited her students to start a class project by honoring people throughout their community. Students honored their friends, family members, teachers - everyone.
One of these blue ribbon Acknowledgments actually saved a 14 year-old boy from committing suicide. In 1993, the "Who You Are Makes A Difference" story about the 14 year-old boy who did not commit suicide was published in the first "Chicken Soup for the Soul" book. In the year 2000, this story was made into a television movie that aired nationwide. Helice also co-wrote the "Who I Am Makes A Difference®" song which was introduced by school children on ABC’s 20/20. Soon children and adults were honoring one another, creating a rippling effect. The combination of these events made it possible for millions of people throughout the world to see how a simple gesture of love and acknowledgment could change a life forever.
In a minute or less, you can change the world! |
