Genevieve's entrepreneurial spirit was fueled by her earlier company, Genevieve Unlimited, which she created in 1993 to service entertainment companies in their efforts to gain a competitive edge in the world of promotion.
In 2001, after having spent many years in the corporate world, Genevieve reflected on her experience volunteering in numerous shelters across New York City, where she learned of the number of forgotten children in the United States and around the world who are waiting to be adopted. For many underprivileged children, nighttime often means a hard end to an equally hard day. Many go to bed wearing their street clothes"or wearing nothing at all. These youngsters have no one to read them a bedtime story, no pajamas to sleep in and no one to tuck them into a cozy bed at night. This experience inspired her to establish the Pajama Program, and since its founding in 2001, more than 70 Pajama Program Chapters have been established throughout the United States providing new pajamas and new books to children. The Pajama Program has sent pajamas to needy children in countries around the world including Armenia, Bosnia, Brazil, Columbia and Greece " among many others.
In 2005 the program established their first Reading Center in Westchester County, NY to provide a safe haven for children to read, or to be read to, and to receive a new pair of warm pajamas and a book to keep. Pajama Program nowoperates three Reading Centers: New York, NY, Yonkers, (Westchester) NY and Red Bank, NJ., andhas now provided more than 2 million new pajamas and new books to children in need nationwide since its inception.
One child in four grows up not knowing how to read. This is the reality for children who are growing up in poverty. A new book along with a pair of pajamas can change a child’s life. Genevieve imparts lessons she’s learned about how the simple concept of adding books with the pajamas eleven years ago has impacted thousands of children nationwide. Her small gesture has led to gigantic results.
Whatever it is you want to do, begin it. Now. The steadfast energy of one person and singular focus can be dynamic. Believing – and pursuing – is hard work when you’re just One. The trick is to not let your fear trump your conviction. Genevieve shares with audiences, through her own life’s lessons, that when you are determined – and working to achieve a goal to help many – solutions will arrive – often from places and people we may least expect. Plans, with dedication, can often take on a life of their own and the seemingly impossible becomes possible. Others are drawn to your cause and purpose and will step up to share the vision and help turn the power of One into a tremendous force. When you are making a difference, magic happens and the Power of One becomes multiplied exponentially!
Inspiration comes in many forms. It shows up while you’re sitting still, in silence, or it can just as readily manifest itself when you’re on a moving train, as it did for Genevieve. Inspiration delivers your AHA moment and when it does, it is a revelation. Then you must embrace it. Often times it is fear of the unknown that prevents people from initiating change. Fear happens to entrepreneurs and career changers all the time. Now is your moment to commit to your truth. In this presentation, Genevieve relates her own personal experiences to audiences and shows them ways to embrace the AHA moment, overcome the fear and the naysayers, and allow your inspiration and goals to guide you on a path that just might change lives – including your own.
In this presentation, Genevieve discusses how finding your purpose? can happen to anyone – not just iconic game-changers like DaVinci, Einstein, Martin Luther King, Jr., or the Dalai Lama. When you are open to finding your purpose, you will recognize it. Sometimes your purpose finds you, rather than the other way around. The important thing is then to take action and, if you do, you’ll find the courage to believe in yourself, in miracles, and in the unlimited power that is your purpose. Life takes unexpected turns and if you are on your true path you’ll get through the rocky roads. Your purpose can come to you at any age, even if you think it’s too late!
