How To Help So Cal Fires Passion Squared hd

How To Help Those Affected By The So Cal Fires

December 11, 2017Nina KovnerGIVE BACK

As 2017 comes to a close, it seems like it one way it will be remembered will be the year of the natural disaster, and the year of helping those in need and being so grateful for the brave first responders.

With so many of you, your families, animals, loved ones, communities and clients being impacted by this most recent tragedy, I wanted to share some resources with you if you want to help or need help. As with anything, please do your own research and do what speaks to your heart, even it is means simply hitting the share button.

The Lilac Fire in particular hit way too close to home for me as my Stepmom and Brother live inside the mandatory evacuation and my Mom and our best family friends live only a few miles outside of the evacuations. They are all safe, and for that, we are so grateful.

“Look for the helpers.” Mister Rogers

So Cal Fires 12.11.17

Image via Google Crisis Response 

Here is a list of some resources I have vetted, but again, please do your own research and support whatever speaks to your heart…

Professional Beauty Association Disaster Relief Fund
Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation
Human Society of Ventura
Go Fund Me Direct Impact Fund + Fire Related Go Fund Me Campaigns  (for the individual fire related campaigns, swipe left on mobile to see ALL campaigns)
Facebook Crisis Response 
San Luis Rey Training Center Go Fund Me
Kwasney Fire Fund  (this is a specific family of my friend and beauty industry leader Riawna Capri)
Urbane Cafe Adopt A Box
Thomas Fire Fund

As always, if you want to find a way to help, simply Google “ways to help So Cal fire victims”. If you want to create your own fundraiser to help, here is a blog I wrote a few months ago on How To Create A Fundraiser + Give Back 

Our hearts and prayers are with all those suffering.

With love-
Nina @passionsquared

Eden Sassoon Seth Maxwell

A Thirst For Change

July 21, 2014Nina KovnerGIVE BACK, HEROES

“I always wondered why somebody doesn’t do something about that. Then I realized I was somebody.”

Lily Tomlin

 

Thirst Project logoHere is the audio version of this post. Thank you so much for listening.

There are a few times in our lives where we meet someone who touches our soul so deeply. This happened to me when I met Eden Sassoon, and shortly after, Eden introduced me to The Thirst Project. When the Universe speaks, I have learned to listen, and there is no doubt in my mind the Universe brought Eden and I together. That, and Instagram, and our dear friend Winn Claybaugh.

I am not one to jump on bandwagons, so to speak, and I know there are a gazillion humans in need, but Eden and The Thirst Project spoke to my heart so I decided to join my heart and hands with them along with some other awesome humans such as Kaz Amor, Tony Beckerman, Marylle Koken, Anthony Cress, Carrie Balion-McDonald, Erin Short, and Amy Gammon.

Eden Sassoon Seth Maxwell

“As an industry, we use a lot of water.  As an industry, it’s time to give some of it back.”

Eden Sassoon

 

Thirst Project Las Vegas July 2014
A few things that I love about The Thirst Project and why I think you may want to love & support them too…

1. It is one of the most practical efforts to solve a world issue; access to clean, safe drinking water. They build freshwater wells in counties of need. I know for me, I have always taken fresh water for granted. Not anymore.
The Thirst Project well

2. It is lead by some of the most passionate young humans I have ever met. I mean, Seth Maxwell, Founder & CEO of The Thirst Project, was only 19 years old when we was moved to action, only 6 short years ago. I had the honor of meeting Seth, along with Lucas Romick, Ops Manager of The Thirst Project, who is ONLY 20 years old!!! These guys are making shit happen, and are wise beyond their years.

Seth MaxwellEden Sassoon Lucas Romick

3. It is empowered by our youth. This maybe is what inspired me the most. So many people complain about our youth. About laziness, entitlement, you know, you have heard it before. I am one that feels the absolute opposite. Young people today give me hope.

I am inspired daily by the passion and belief that they do not have to accept the status quo. Their rebel with a cause attitude makes my heart smile. And The Thirst Project is fed through these passionate young souls, in middle schools, high schools and colleges around the country. My motto is do not hate that which you do not understand. Take a moment to understand how powerful our youth is. As a business leader, it’s your responsibility to.

What Passion Squared Is Doing…
1. Sharing The Thirst Project story through this blog, The Weekly Dose of Awesome newsletter, Facebook and Instagram.

2. Hosting a live Facebook chat with Eden and Seth on August 7th (time TBD), so you can connect with them, ask questions and learn more about The Thirst Project.

3. Getting my clients involved.

4. Donating $1 from each book (printed, audio book, ebook) I sell on my website.

What You Can Do If You Feel Inspired…
1. Visit The Thirst Project to learn more.

2. Like & follow The Thirst Project on Facebook and Instagram.

3. Donate $1 and ask your friends, family and co-workers to do the same.

4. Spread the word.

It is such an honor & I am so grateful to join with Eden and her amazing team, Seth, Lucas and The Thirst Project to solve a simple yet devastating issue. Click here to join us!

Love + Awesomeness-
Nina

Photo credits: The Thirst Project, Salon Today, Eden Sassoon, Google

Molly Deimeke

Social Good

June 16, 2014Nina KovnerENGAGE, GIVE BACK, HEROES

“We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men; and among those fibers, as sympathetic threads, our actions run as causes, and they come back to us as effects.”

Herman Melville

 

Molly Deimeke

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is the audio version of this post. Thank you so much for listening.

This is a story about social good. And about a beautiful hairdresser I know named Molly. And how some awesome heroes, and Facebook, saved her life.

We have become so jaded it seems, complaining about the platforms we choose to be on, about the ugliness that is shared, about the political rants. But while all of that is going on, something awesome happened. A life was saved.

Molly decided to follow her heart and travel the world. Something many dream of, but she had the courage to do it. I have been following her adventures via Facebook, as her family and friends had been too. To watch her have so much joy and freedom, so much adventure and happiness was so inspiring.

Then something happened. She had an accident. In Laos. She had no ID on her. She was going to die.

A few brave and selfless heroes saved her life. They needed to find her family. Find out her last name. Find her belongings. Find treatment. And it was done via Facebook.

Dianna Sholomon

You see, the social web is what we make it. Just like anything. We can find it empowering, for ourselves, our communities and our businesses, or we can be mad at it. We can choose to add value to the conversation, or muddy it up with ugliness and TMI. We can choose to let it connect us, or push us away. It’s a choice. I am so grateful Molly, her family, her friends and the heroes that saved her life chose to use Facebook as a way to connect and share. As a way to stay in touch. A way in which it is meant to be used.

Molly has a long road to recovery ahead of her. If you feel inspired to share this story, share. If you feel inspired to donate to Molly’s recovery, click here Molly Deimeke GoFundMe.

To learn more about Molly’s story and the heroes who saved her life, click here. And bring the tissues. You will need it.

Love + Awesomeness-
Nina

Give

Three Wishes

October 7, 2013Nina KovnerGIVE BACK, MY TRUTH

“It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.”

Mother Teresa

Give (image via last.fm)

Here is the audio version of this post. Thanks so much for listening. Enjoy.

This week I celebrate my 47th birthday. For me, birthdays give us an opportunity to reflect on the past year and set intentions for the coming year. I also see birthdays as a way to give back, both to ourselves and others. To close our eyes and make a wish as we blow out our candles.

This year, I have three wishes both for me and for you. These are not wishes of material goods, I have long lost my desire to collect things, but wishes of empowerment, awesomeness and self-love. When I wake up Wednesday morning, I will be setting my intentions for the coming year, and making my three wishes, will you join me?

Wish #1
Do Something Awesome For You
This is the one I want most for you. As givers and healers, you spend countless hours each week helping others look and feel beautiful. It is imperative that you feed your own soul in order to feed others. Just like the lovely flight attendant tell us every single time we get on the airplane, “Put your mask on before assisting others”. Take a day off, get a massage, go to the beach, read a book, watch the entire season of Orange Is The New Black, whatever, just please do something awesome for you this week.

Wish #2
Do Something Awesome For A Teammate
It is so easy for us to get so wrapped up in our own stuff, drama, family, life, whatever, that we many times forget that part of our purpose on this planet is to help each other. There is nothing more beautiful than being helpful, particularly when it’s unexpected. Sweep their hair, clean their bowls, hand them foils, bring them their favorite Starbucks, whatever you can do to help lift the burden of another, do that. When you do this, you will be filling two hearts with joy, not just one.

Wish #3
Do Something Awesome For A Stranger
We have all heard the amazing stories of people helping strangers. You know, paying it forward and stuff. And it’s something we can do every day. All three of these wishes we can do every day. How awesome is that? Whether it’s a smile, opening the door, paying for a meal, a cup of coffee, a pack of smokes, allowing a car to pull in front of you, whatever, the feeling of random acts of kindness is one of the best feelings in the world.

So those are my birthday wishes and I hope you join me this week as we create awesome in our world. I would love to hear about your wishes so please share them with me via email or on Facebook, Twitter, whatever, I will be sharing mine throughout the week as well.

(shared with LOVE from Nina)

Hairdressers Helping Hairdressers

Hairdressers Helping Hairdressers

November 30, 2012Nina KovnerGIVE BACK

“No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.”

Charles Dickens

 

Hairdressers Helping Hairdressers

As all of you know, Hurricane Sandy was an incredibly devastating event that destroyed many lives, homes and businesses.  And even though the nightly news has moved on, we have not.

There is still so much to be done to help our own.  As we first wrote about on October 31, there is a fund in our industry to help beauty professionals during disasters.  It’s called the NCA Disaster Relief Fund.

While the Fund has been around since 1955, our very own passionista Gordon Miller, former Director of the NCA, lead the effort to raise over one million dollars during Hurricane Katrina.  Now with the devastation of Sandy, it’s time to step up again and give back.

We are so honored to be supporting a fundraising event on December 9 in NYC called Hairdressers Helping Hairdressers.  We are asking each of you to get involved any way you can.

How you can help:

ATTEND
Purchase a ticket and hang out with some of the coolest in the biz. While you are there, please consider bidding on some of items being offered in the Silent Auction.  One of those items is a Month of One-On-One Mentoring with us. Yay!

DONATE
Donate whatever you can to the Disaster Relief Fund.  A day of tips possibly? Every penny counts.

SHARE
Post, tweet, share, comment, like, re-tweet, pin, repin to spread the word.  Be sure to use the hashtag #hhh on Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest.

A great big shout out of awesomeness to all the people and companies helping make this event come to life. We heart you.

behindthechair.com
Betty Dain Creations / Colortrak
Canoe Studios
DePasquale Companies
Goldwell / KMS
Hairbrained
InSync
Joico / Zotos International
Kerastasse
L’Oreal Professionnel
Matrix
Modern Salon
NickEd
Oribe
Passion Squared
PBA
Pivot Point International
Pureology
Redken
Sally Beauty Holdings
Salon Centric
Sassoon
Ted Gibson
The Temple: A Paul Mitchell Partner School
TIGI
Wella
Zotos

While we are only two passionate people with a new baby company, we are doing what we can.  Will you join us?  Click here to get involved.

(shared with LOVE from your passionistas Nina + Gordon)