Soaringwords 54 West 40th Street, New York, N.Y. 10018 , 917-499-3783, lisa@soaringwords.org

Soaringwords’ Employee-engagement Initiatives

Thank you for your interest in sharing Soaringwords’ employee-engagement initiatives with your

employees. We are excited to provide our signature project: the decoration of SoaringQuilts® and

SoaringPillows® with inspirational messages and artwork to donate to hospitalized children in local

communities where your employees live and work.

Mission

Soaringwords is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to inspire ill children and their families to

take active roles in self-healing. Soaringwords is unique as it is the only organization to motivate ill children

and families to “pay it forward” because when a child does something kind for another child it accelerates

transformational healing.

Program specifics We recommend having a two-hour or three-hour program where your employee volunteers share Soaringwords’ signature event, which includes the decoration of SoaringQuilts® and SoaringPillows® with inspirational messages and artwork and also the creation of SoaringSuperhero® messages and artwork to donate to hospitalized children. The program kicks-off with an Inspirational Talk and ends with a powerful Closing Sharing Circle.

Benefit from our Expertise

To date, Soaringwords has shared programs with more than 140,000 employee volunteers at leading

companies in their offices, at leadership conferences and off-site meetings, and at client cultivation events

around the world. Feedback from employees demonstrates that Soaringwords’ activities deepen

commitment to their companies and strengthens connections between co-workers and the community.

Soaringwords has also shared programs with more than 250,000 inner-city children. Soaringwords’ core

mission and hands-on employee engagement initiatives and workshops build connections and community

while reinforcing the mission and values of your company. Soaringwords can be layered into:

• Learning Programs

• Off-site Retreats

• Connectivity and Community Events

• Team-building Events

• Conferences

Turn-key program management We have several different turn-key Employee-engagement programs: hands-on service experiences as

well as dozens of positive psychology workshops and webinars for future Team Off-sites.

Soaringwords’ proven programs are empirically validated; we provide an Executive Summary with

measurable outcomes from each program participant. In addition, Soaringwords’ programs can be delivered

in-person (anywhere in the world) or digitally. Prior to each event, Soaringwords leads a “Train the Trainer”

session with you and any other team leads (so that they can answer questions prior to the event). All

Soaringwords’ programs are turn-key with the following deliverables: Team Lead Welcome Kit, Minute-by-

Minute Timeline, Script, Presentation for the Opening Session, and Feedback Forms. Soaringwords’ flexible

add-on modules are a proven and popular way to share a 1-hour, 90-minute, 2-hour, or full-day immersive

volunteer member-engagement program into an existing training. We will customize this program to fill the

time requirements.

Best of the Best

Soaringwords is considered a best-practice partner by Diversity and Inclusion Managers, Work/Life

Managers, and Community Relations Managers and its programs have been benchmarked by many Fortune

500 companies including Accenture, American Express, Cisco Systems, Deloitte, Eli Lilly and Company,

Facebook, Google, JetBlue, Johnson & Johnson, JPMorgan Chase, New York Life, Verizon, and Viacom.

Soaringwords has also shared powerful team-building initiatives with dozens of entrepreneurial firms.

Soaringwords’ Vision

Soaringwords’ vision is to de-stigmatize pediatric illness and disabilities and acknowledge that being ill

and/or disabled is a natural part of life. Soaringwords’ interventions are based on positive psychology

concepts that are scientifically valid and empirically measurable. This empirical model is called SOARING

into Strength.

SOARING into Strength. The Positive Psychology Approach to Help Children and Families Heal:

Soaringwords pioneered a new positive psychology model to

enhance well being of patients, their families, and caregivers. This

evidence-based model (Buksbaum, 2013) was called SOAR and has

been tested among hundreds of patients in the U.S. A new study

SOARING into Strength that will be launched in the summer of

2017 will expand the sample beyond the U.S. to assess the impact

among thousands of pediatric patients and their families, and

hospital staff. Each participant will be given a series of questions

(pre and post-event measurement for each intervention) to show the change in well-being. All

Soaringwords’ workshops and trainings are based on the SOARING into Strength Positive Health model

that consists of seven components:

Shifting: you can do something to create a positive shift in your attitude, your body, and overall well-being.

Optimism: you can choose to find good things to notice and celebrate even when times are difficult or

painful.

Altruism: you can gain a sense of control, calm, and purpose by sharing your creativity, kindness, character

strengths, and hope with others.

Resiliency: you have the capacity to flourish in the face of difficulty.

Imagery: you can tap into your inner knowledge to heal.

Narrative: you can heal though the power of storytelling, writing, and reading.

Gratitude: you can choose to experience moments of appreciation, even in the midst of challenges.

The SOARING interventions, workshops and trainings do not employ medical jargon and can be enjoyed by

children and adults, inviting everyone to take active roles in healing and developing their own sense of self-

worth and belonging.

All aspects of this program – from the Keynote, Community Service Project, to the Closing Circle –

reinforce the values of passion and service in action for employees. After the hands-on employee volunteer

program is finished, a small delegation (5 to 10 people from your team) can go to the local hospital to

deliver the gifts to hospitalized children or you can ship the gifts to the hospitals in the local communities.

The Soaringwords’ program generates high visibility, goodwill among employees, interns and your local

communities, and if desired can generate positive press coverage.

Soaringwords Recommended two-hour Program Schedule

Activity Time

Welcome remarks from Soaringwords’ CEO & Founder 15 minutes

Hands-on SoaringQuilts® and SoaringPillows® service project 60 minutes

Including creation of SoaringSuperhero messages and artwork to

put inside pillow pockets

Optional: High-energy Soaringwords Zumba dance celebration 60 minutes

(friendly competition to celebrate health and movement, Soaringwords

shares dance programs in hospitals around the world, employees get a

taste of this experience)

Closing Sharing Circle with employees and inner-city students 40 minutes

(Bringing in local students is optional, Soaringwords helps you arrange

for this additional benefit)

Team photo of all participants 3 minutes

All participants complete feedback forms 2 minutes

Project Deliverables

Project Management

Creation Employee Welcome Kit

SoaringQuilts® and SoaringPillows®, boxes of special fabric markers

Instruction sheets for quilts and pillows, instructions and Borders for Superhero pillow

pocket messages for hospitalized children

Orchestrate hospital logistics for on-site program and patient donations

Follow up with team captains, Executive Summary, thank you letters, photos

Next steps, budgets and timing:

We can discuss budgets with you depending on the number of participants. Please take a moment to

watch the Soaringwords the Power to Heal video in “About” on Soaringwords.org to experience the

energy and excitement of the program in action. Below are some case studies, my professional

biography, and FAQs.

Many thanks and warm regards,

Lisa Honig Buksbaum, CEO & Founder, Soaringwords. Cell: 917-499-3783 lisa@soaringwords.org

Lisa Honig Buksbaum, CEO & Founder, Soaringwords. MAPP, MBA. Professional biography:

Lisa Honig Buksbaum is a passionary (a visionary driven by great passion and

action). Three experiences with death and illness inspired her to launch

Soaringwords, a not-for-profit organization that has embraced more than

250,000 children and families. Soaringwords’ mission is to lessen the negative

impact of serious illness by embracing hospitalized children, families and staff,

and encouraging positive health and healing. Soaringwords provides fun,

creative and educational activities both in person and online based on positive

psychology concepts that enhance well-being in the midst of illness.

Soaringwords is unique because it is the only organization that motivates ill children and their families to

“pay it forward” which fosters altruism, reciprocity, empathy, well being and resilience.

Lisa has been the inspirational/keynote speaker, moderator, and panelist at many professional conferences

and events including the opening keynote for 2,000 people for Cisco’s CEO John Chambers Town Hall

meeting; the keynote at the MGM Grand’s Women of Color Conference; Verizon National Leadership

Conference; Cigna’s Global IT conference; Johnson & Johnson Global IT Town Hall and Accenture’s

largest global meeting as well as many national meetings.

In 2013, Lisa earned a Master in Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) at the University of Pennsylvania, in

a program founded by Dr. Martin Seligman, the founder of the field of positive psychology. She is a student

at the American Institute for Mental Imagery under the direction of Dr. Gerald Epstein. She is the author of

SOARING into Strength. The Positive Psychology Approach to Help Children Heal. Lisa has spoken at

several scientific conferences including The International Positive Psychology Association Conference in

2012 and 2014; the MAPP Summit, 2013; the European Positive Psychology Conference in 2016; and the

Canadian Positive Psychology Conference in 2014 and 2016; and the first-ever International Positive

Education gathering in 2016. Lisa graduated with honors from the University of Pennsylvania with a BA

and earned an MBA in Marketing from Columbia University. She is also a Graduate of Columbia’s

Graduate School of Business' Institute for Non-Profit Management program and a graduate of the Birthing

of Giants program run by M.I.T., Inc. Magazine, and Young Entrepreneurs Organization (YEO).

Lisa was awarded the Lives that Make A Difference Award from A&E Networks; Cisco’s National

Growing with Technology Award; “Focus on Philanthropy” featured CEO, Chronicle of Philanthropy;

National Partner, Make a Difference Day, the largest day of volunteering in the U.S. Featured subject

content expert in healthcare, wellness, entrepreneurship, non-profit leadership on ABC News, in USA

Weekend, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, Fortune Small Business, Delta Sky Magazine, Working Mother,

Success Magazine and Nickelodeon.

Prior to founding Soaringwords, Lisa founded and ran Boxtree Communications, a successful marketing

firm, for 11 years. Boxtree managed marketing and branding projects for leading firms including NTT,

Equitable, Chase, Scholastic, Colgate, and Dannon. She also had a successful career at international

advertising agencies including Young & Rubicam, Ogilvy and Mather, and Lintas. She was an online

columnist for Inc. Magazine and writes a Soaringwords blog for the Huffington Post. She lives in Manhattan

with her husband Jacob and has two sons, Jonathan and Joshua. She gains her positive energy from

swimming each morning and connecting with people in meaningful ways.

2016 Accenture DC Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service

I enjoyed having the opportunity to bring comfort, warmth, hope and inspiration to ill children via the

decorated quilts and pillows because it was uplifting and special. Having the common goal of helping

others produced excitement and team spirit to work together. The children will feel: Happy! Loved!

Friendship! Encouraged! Motivated! Hopeful! It reminded me that my life isn’t but lived for myself – but

lived by helping others. Caitlin Sillone

Today I got in touch with the child within myself while decorating. It is great to know that what we did together

with my team will make a difference. The impact of these quilts and pillows will be great because in hospitals

people feel vulnerable and these will make kids feel safe. As a father of a child who has been in a hospital, I

understand the impact and help this provides. The event changed me in a way. I see better the path to happiness

is thinking and acting positive. Peter McDonnell

Soaringwords Accenture LMD Meeting: Chicago

131 Accenture professionals and 75 high school students from the local Boys & Girls Club

in Elgin decorated 100 SoaringQuilts® and 100 SoaringPillows® with inspirational

messages and artwork to donate to patients and families at St. Alexis Children’s Hospital

and the Ronald McDonald House

This was a great way of helping the ill children. I have kids myself and have had experience with illness so I

appreciate a lot of these initiatives. The kids on my team spoke Spanish, like I do. It was a great activity to

do with the kids. Our team worked really well, we all did parts of the drawings together. I think the

hospitalized children will feel fantastic, some time to not be thinking about their bad situations. Today

changed the way I think about myself as I was able to take a step back from the high speed we live in and be

part of a great initiative. - Hendrik J. Van Vliet, Accenture employee

2014 Accenture Day of Service: Washington, DC

150 Accenture employees mentored students from KIPP, Montgomery Community College,

and On-Ramps, decorating SoaringQuilts® and SoaringPillows® for neonatal patients and

families at Howard University Hospital.

Today made me realize that I can do anything for change and whatever I did today makes a person feel

loved and special. I enjoyed decorating the quilt and pillow because I got to work with people of different

experiences and I enjoyed working with every team member. I think the kids in the hospital will feel great

and loved when they get our quilts and pillows. I had fun and enjoyed the Zumba dance. – Priscah,

Montgomery Community College Student

This was a great way of helping the ill children. I have kids myself and have had experience with illness so I

appreciate a lot of these initiatives. The kids on my team spoke Spanish, like I do. It was a great activity to

do with the kids. Our team worked really well, we all did parts of the drawings together. I think the

hospitalized children will feel fantastic, some time to not be thinking about their bad situations. Today

changed the way I think about myself as I was able to take a step back from the high speed we live in and be

part of a great initiative. - Hendrik J. Van Vliet, Senior Manager, Madrid

Accenture Skills to Succeed Initiative: Philadelphia

20 Accenture employees mentored 20 students from KIPP DuBois Collegiate Academy in

Philadelphia, decorating SoaringQuilts® and SoaringPillows® for patients at St.

Christopher's Hospital for Children. The volunteers participated in the high-energy Zumba

dance to celebrate health and wellness.

I truly enjoyed this opportunity because it’s not only changing my life but also someone else’s. The

best part is knowing that hospitalized kids will see that people actually do care. I really enjoyed

working with Sam because he had so much to talk about. I think the kids in the hospital will feel

thankful and happy just knowing that they inspired people to send them quilts and pillows. The best

part was performing our team dance. Today changed the way I think about myself because I now know

that I can make a change in someone’s life. Today was inspiring and a one of a kind opportunity!

Loved it! - Ishonae, KIPP Student

Soaringwords at Verizon National Leadership Conference

“Our exposure to Soaringwords was inspirational and for many, the

highlight of our conference. On behalf of our 150 Network Engineering

management employees, I wanted to thank you for the outstanding keynote

speech you gave at the Verizon Leadership Conferences. Our team was

greatly impacted by your personal story of heroism, success and dedication.

You are both an excellent speaker and role model. Your facilitation of the

conference community service activity of decorating pillows and quilts, with

hundreds of children from the Boys and Girls Clubs, allowed our managers

to experience leadership at a new level. (In our telecommunications

engineering work, we typically don't receive such immediate or tangible feedback!) Our Verizon employees

were very rewarded by the kids' smiles and [the knowledge] that our handiwork will bring comfort and joy

to hospitalized children. The employees loved seeing the Soaringwords Verizon Program on TV and in the

full-page article in the Herald Tribune. It was wonderful to allow smaller delegations to bring the

conference back home with visits to hospitals in their markets.”

-Anne Cortissoz, Director of Network Engineering, Verizon

JPMorgan Chase Collaboration

“Chase employees in 112 locations throughout New Jersey had a truly amazing experience with

Soaringwords this past year. It is so great to work for a company that engages in these activities and makes

such a difference in the lives of others, I have never been so proud to work for a company.”

-Shannon K. Lazare, Vice President Relationship Manager at JPMorgan

Chase, NJ

• Volunteer Leadership Groups in 12 markets shared Soaringwords hands-on

employee service programs in Indianapolis, IN; Springfield, MO; Northern

NJ; Jersey City, NJ; Garden City, NY; Elgin, IL; Dallas/Lewisville, TX;

Fort Worth, TX; Chatsworth/Los Angeles, CA; Louisville, KY; Seattle,

WA, and Chicago, IL.

• In Chicago, JPMorgan Chase Women’s Initiative (WIN) shared three team-

building events where employees decorated SoaringQuilts® and SoaringPillows® for children at Sinai

Children’s Hospital.

• Passport to Leadership program for 150 girls at Young Women’s Leadership Academy in Queens, NY,

sponsored by JPMorgan Chase. • Indianapolis and Dallas invited children of employees to participate in the program. Dallas and Chicago

led three-hour programs mentoring inner-city children from a local school. Employees in 112 Chase

branches in Northern NJ decorated SoaringQuilts® as an employee team-building initiative.

• Employee volunteers decorated 3,584 SoaringQuilts® and SoaringPillows® with inspirational messages

and artwork to donate to hospitalized children in local communities.

Johnson & Johnson Collaboration

Global conference for Pharmaceutical

Research and Development team of 250

professionals in the U.K., Belgium, N.J. and

P.A. locations, Using Telepresence, Lisa

delivered the inspirational talk that launched

the three-hour service project in the local markets. Later in the day, small employee delegations in each

country delivered the SoaringQuilts® and SoaringPillows® to hospitalized children in local hospitals.

“At the 2010 Working Mother Best Companies for Multicultural Women Conference, I met Lisa Honig

Buksbaum, CEO and Founder of Soaringwords. Lisa and I hit it off instantly during a break and we

exchanged business cards. Her passion for her organization was contagious and I knew I wanted to find

some way to work with her in the future. Post meeting, we spoke periodically and when the time came for

me to plan a networking event for my Finance/Program Management/Global Procurement department this

May, I felt that there was nothing that would be more meaningful than having the department bond over

creating beautiful quilts and pillows to bring to ill children in local hospitals. We held this event on May 17,

2011 and 250 colleagues together with the help of the Soaringwords team created 150 quilts and 150

pillows working together at four sites globally (Raritan, NJ, Spring House, PA, Beerse, Belgium and High

Wycombe, UK). We have since made hospital visits to deliver these to the children, which as a mother both

broke and touched my heart. My colleagues and I have enormously benefitted from this experience and one

that I will continue to treasure.”

-Andrea Rose-Legatt, MBA, PMP, Sr. Director, Business Solutions, Johnson and Johnson

Pharmaceutical Research and Development, LLC

Soaringwords’ Workshops & Webinars

Soaringwords has best-in-class employee webinar programs. Soaringwords is considered a leading content provider and strategic partner from Diversity and Inclusion Managers, Work/Life Managers, and Community Relations Managers. Soaringwords’ programs have been benchmarked by dozens of Fortune 500 companies including Accenture, American Express, CVS, Eli Lilly and Company, Facebook, Google, JetBlue, Johnson & Johnson JPMorgan Chase, Viacom, and Verizon.

Workshops build connections and community through strengths-based leadership strategies.

Each participant receives a Soaringwords’ Workbook for each workshop with immersive learning and hands-on exercises throughout the training.

Easy to understand/no medical jargon. Each workshop lasts 1 hour.

Soaringwords Workshops/Webinars are based on the SOARING into Strength Positive Psychology Model of Healing. This model has been published and presented at 7 international scientific conferences. Topics include:

Shifting: Creating Positive Transformations in Your Attitude, Body, and Overall Well-being

Optimism: Finding Good Things To Notice and Celebrate, Even When Times Are Difficult

Altruism: Gaining A Sense Of Control, Calm, and Purpose by Sharing Your Creativity, Kindness, and Hope With Others

Resilience: Overcoming the Seven Thinking Traps

Imagery: Tap Into Your Inner Knowledge to Heal

Narrative: The Power of Storytelling, Writing, & Reading

Gratitude: Building a Gratitude Fortress

Character Strengths: Discover and Amplify Your Unique Strengths

What to Say and Do to Support Families of Seriously Ill Children or Special Needs Children

Caring for Yourself as a Caregiver

Positive Psychology Master Class: Tools You Can Use

Post Traumatic Growth

SoaringNutrition® Give me a call to discuss how we can bring Soaringwords’ Workshops/webinars to your employees at Conferences, ERG meetings and off-sites throughout 2018 and beyond.

Lisa Honig Buksbaum, CEO & Founder, Soaringwords 917-499-3783 lisa@soaringwords.org

SOARINGWORDS’ MISSION is to inspire ill children and their families to take active roles in self-healing. Soaringwords is unique as it is the only organization that motivates ill children and their families to “pay it forward” because when an ill child does something kind for another child it accelerates radical healing.

Dr. Catherine Lord and Lisa Buksbaum present Caring for Yourself as a Parent

with a Special Needs Child at the 92ndStreet Y

On behalf of the hundreds of employees who attended the Soaringwords webinar, please accept our sincere thanks for an outstanding learning experience for all participants. I have received many positive comments from attendees and the relevance of the content to both their professional and personal lives. It has been heartwarming to hear how employees applied the perspectives provided during the session. Debbie Edwards Veihdeffer, Director, Work-Life, Northrop Grumman The Soaringwords’ webinar was a big success with 100% of participants giving it the highest ratings. You provided practical insights that will help employees support co-workers, friends, and their own families. Wendy Breiterman, Director, Global Work/Life Strategies, Global Diversity & Inclusion, Johnson & Johnson

Soaringwords’ Hands on team-building activity at Take Your Child to Work Day

Soaringwords’ Employee Engagement Programs

Soaringwords is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to lessen the negative impact of serious illness by embracing hospitalized children, families and staff, encouraging positive health and healing. Soaringwords provides fun, creative and educational activities both in person and online based on positive psychology concepts that enhance well-being. Soaringwords is unique because it is the only organization that invites everyone to “pay it forward” which fosters altruism, reciprocity, empathy, well-being and resilience. www.soaringwords.org

Cisco Volunteers at I.S.528 in Washington Heights.

“My team worked exceptionally well together and I think the children in the hospital are going to feel great and have fun when they get our quilts and pillows. Our division has chosen Soaringwords as our charitable partner, so we can build on continuity. -Bernhard Brouwer, Global Digital IT Director, Johnson & Johnson “This project is “soaring” here in the Louisville Market. Our Retail Banking centers are totally plugged into this project due to the flexibility it offers to their work day. We LOVE this project!!! No doubt this is a keeper.” -Karen M. Hodge, JPMorgan Chase, Acquisition Services, Louisville, KY Join Soaringwords Community: www.facebook.com/soaringwords www.linkedin.com/in/lisabuksbaum

Lisa Honig Buksbaum CEO & Founder, Soaringwords

Soaringwords 54 West 40th Street, New York, N.Y. 10018 , 917-499-3783, lisa@soaringwords.org

Soaringwords has the best-in-class employee engagement programs that are consistently rated “the most satisfying positive psychology based initiatives foster personal growth for participants. Soaringwords is considered a best-practice partner by C-suite executive, Diversity and Inclusion, Work/Life, and Community Relations Managers. Its programs have been benchmarked by many Fortune 500 companies including Accenture, American Express, Deloitte, Eli Lily & Company, Facebook, Google, JetBlue, Johnson & Johnson, JPMorgan Chase, New York Life and Viacom Soaringwords Corporate Programs:

Company-Wide Service Days

Diversity Initiatives

Team-Building Initiatives (national & global meetings)

Webinars for employees and families

Conference keynote and team-building activity

Take Your Child to Work Day/Make A Difference Day

Summer Associate/New Hire Programs/Holiday Celebrations

Benefits of Soaringwords programs:

Tangible opportunities for volunteer participants to make a difference in the local community

Turn-key, with little preparation time required of your staff. Train-the-trainer modules for team leads

High visibility: can generate press coverage and goodwill for your company and community partners.

Proven educational modules: lesson plans, hand-out materials, and educational videos.

Soaringwords’ content was developed in collaboration with top educators at Bank Street College of Education and Teacher’s College at Columbia University.

52 comprehensive activities e.g. SoaringHaikus®.

SoaringSuperheroes®, SoaringNutrition®

Flexible modules from 30-90 minutes, 1-6 hours, daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, annually.

Soaringwords’ Hands on team-building activity

Frequently Asked Questions

I can’t draw or sew! Is this a problem?

Not at all! The SoaringQuilts® and SoaringPillows® are already assembled, so

there is no sewing involved. Employees and the children they are mentoring

simply use fabric markers to create inspirational messages and artwork. If you

can’t draw, no problem—you can write a message!

I see the program is turnkey, but what kind of time is required of the project leaders?

Soaringwords makes the event turn-key by providing you with a Welcome Package that includes

everything you need for a successful program. This includes a flyer, instructions for running the

program, a recommended script and minute-by-minute program guide, as well as a Soaringwords

Welcome Video to kick-off the program. Soaringwords ships the materials to the location.

Will our employees be going to the hospital to donate the gifts to the ill children?

Most hospitals allow visitors. Soaringwords can arrange the hospital visit so

a small delegation of your employee volunteers can personally donate the

gifts to the children a few days after the event. Many volunteers find this to

be the most moving part of their Soaringwords experience. Hospital

visitation is completely voluntary. If a particular hospital does not allow

visitors, Soaringwords will provide the information for you to ship the gifts

to the hospital for delivery.

Are there other activities employee volunteers can do with Soaringwords? Soaringwords has many programs from which to choose, including SoaringHaikus® -personalized

poetry with healing messages, SoaringMurals® -inspirational messages and artwork to create a

warm and welcoming hospital environment, and SoaringSuperheroes® -fun and unique messages of

courage and resiliency. All of these programs were developed in collaboration with top educators at

The Bank Street College of Education and Teacher’s College at Columbia University.