Sunday Spotlight: Just b.Cause

I’m really excited to share today’s cause with you. It is not a charity or a non-profit organization like I generally post on Sundays, but rather a philanthropy in itself. I have the honor and privilege of introducing you to Rachel Smith, the mind and heart behind Just b. CAUSE Design Services. I met Rachel via her blog, her other blog, which highlights her wedding planning process. Rachel is getting married later this year and came across my blog because she also wanted to incorporate a bit of good will into her big day. When I noticed that people were visiting my blog because of her site, I decided to pay it a visit. She always had such nice things to say about my blog but what really attracted me what that she too was completely dedicated to others and really wanted to make an impact. When she launched Just b. CAUSE Designs, I was even more smitten with her.

The About section of her website says: “I’ve realized that someone like me… can, in fact, make a difference. I can leave a small imprint on this thing called life, b. cause I can take action…I no longer want my passion for community service to be limited to extra-curricular activities…I want it to be my career.”

So with that mindset she launched Just b.CAUSE which serves to help bloggers get a fresh and custom look for their blog. However her true goal is to encourage philanthropy. For small blog projects i.e. new headers or badges, she asks the blog owner to make a donation of their choosing, to any charity they are passionate about. More than just being a company that supports charity, she wants to be a company that encourages others to give back. She wants her clients to get involved and feel the satisfaction and joy that comes from giving back, in hopes that it inspires them to continue.  Pretty incredible, right?

I asked Rachel a few questions so you could get to know her a little better.

Why did you decide to start doing this? I’ve always been passionate about getting involved in my community and giving back. I realized, once I graduated college, that it’s harder to do when you’re not in school anymore. Schools provide easy outlets to get involved, and a lot of people are (unfortunately) eager to get involved to pad their resumes. Post-college, you’re limited by time constraints, unmanageable circumstances, and a lack of resources. I didn’t want any of that to prevent me from helping out. I really do believe in the quote “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”

When/How did you start doing this? Honestly, I don’t remember an exact moment when I decided to start this…it’s been an evolving process. For about a year, I had a personal blog, called Just Another Smith, where I took a few days every week to spotlight featured volunteer opportunities. While I enjoyed it, something was missing. I wanted a blog that would be entirely devoted to nonprofits. One of my last projects before I graduated college involved creating a fake business website. For my project, I chose to create a fake business, Lose Yourself Designs. The “design company” focused solely on working for nonprofits. As I was building this fake business website, something started to click. I found the motivation to finally start that blog (one focused on nonprofit causes). I graduated college and almost instantaneously became bored. I wanted a way to combine the skills I had learned in college with my passion for nonprofit organizations. That’s when I met Brandi of Dose and Honey and offered to make her a blog header. After that, I decided to go out on a whim and start offering design services in exchange for donations to charities (see the launch post here)

What causes in particular are you especially passionate about? Homeless people and homeless pets. The fiance and I regularly volunteered for the local Habitat for Humanity and Humane Society groups all through college.

Why are those causes important to you? Growing up without a real place to call home (my parents rented a trailer at first), I know personally the benefits that home ownership can bring to a child. There’s never been a moment in my life where I wasn’t housing a dog, be it my own family pet or a stray. I love dogs, but more than that, I love what dogs can do for people. I’ve seen dogs–once “strays”–rehabilitate actions, improve health, and provide comfort to people.

Where do you  hope to see this go: …wherever it takes me! I have a wedding in June and I enter law school in August, but I plan on staying committed to just b.CAUSE. Naturally, I hope to continue having the opportunity to work on blog designs. But I also hope to encourage people to give back whenever they can…not just when I’m offering a design.

People like Rachel bring me so much hope and inspiration. I got emotional just putting this post together due to all the love and generosity this girl has. Imagine if everyone had just a bit more of a desire to serve others, what the results would be. One person can change the world and Rachel is setting the example.

Any bloggers out there, if you are looking for a little help to tweak your site, Rachel would be glad to help! Just be sure to do a little research on your favorite non-profit organization first!

Show Rachel some love and “Like” her Facebook Page. Spread the word and help Rachel change the world.