Today we’d like to introduce you to Tiffany Blair Wright.
Hi Tiffany, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I love to spread joy and share my talents to help others. From a young age, I have been the kind of person to recognize a need and find a way to help. Growing up, I could be found volunteering in adapted education classrooms or teaching after-school dance classes at St. Rita’s School for the Deaf. Kids have always had a special place in my heart, and I have taught gymnastics for many years. It is very rewarding to help youth learn, encourage them to do their best, and remind them to laugh! In my role as a real estate professional, I have been committed to serving my clients and fellow agents through various roles and committees. Some of my most cherished memories have been the conversations and shared resources to help agents support their families or go on a dream vacations, helping them think of creative solutions for tough deals, and watching them accept awards after a big year. I have had the incredible opportunity to train, encourage, and work alongside some of the most talented people. And those people, along with family and friends, encouraged me to follow my dreams.
In 2018, we welcomed a beautiful baby girl into our family. It had been a difficult journey- one where we didn’t know if she was even coming home with us until the last minute. Regardless of what the outcome would be, the moment I held her, she was loved. She was family. This little girl is the most courageous, spirited, and brightest ray of sunshine you will ever meet! Despite the obstacles she faced to get strong enough to come home and the challenges we tackled head-on as fast as we could, all the pieces kept falling into place. Friends, family, co-workers all helped us bring her home. Setting up the nursery, coverage at work, bringing us clothes and supplies to bring our unexpected baby home. Our family is now built on love- not blood- and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Once baby girl was healthy and thriving, I had an idea to start a nonprofit to support other children and families experiencing what we had. Every adoption and living situation is different, but I kept finding that it was hard to get resources, and many organizations made it too complicated to get support. The Magnolia Resource was founded in 2020 with the commitment to helping spread joy and build vibrant futures for those experiencing foster/kinship care and adoption. Using my real estate background, I went to work building bridges and connections within the community to help these kids and families in our local communities.
Each season, we strive to put out our Bloom Box care packages- specially curated for each child- filled with clothes, toys, hygiene, school supplies, and more. We also put on multiple events throughout the year that are designed to bring families together. Some events have included a picnic with craft boat races, family photoshoots, curbside meals with board game + dessert, winter boredom kits with craft + science experiment + and something to bake. And the most amazing part— it’s all free! Our outreach is possible by our generous community. I’m so proud to be a part of building something that our community supports so much. I like to say we are built by our community for our community.
What’s next? The plan is to expand our outreach and become more rooted in surrounding counties. Based in Warren County, we have started to expand into Butler, Hamilton, and Clermont counties as well. The ultimate goal is to build a model that can be replicated in other cities to meet to the needs of children and families across the country–and with over 600,000 kids passing through the foster care system in the US in 2021 we have some work to do.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’m a firm believer that anything worth doing or having doesn’t come easily– or in the time frame we think it should sometimes. I pour my heart into everything that I do- coaching gymnastics, real estate, and The Magnolia Resource. Mastery of anything takes time, takes mentors, takes help from others, takes understanding yourself and your abilities.
Sure, there have been struggles– experiences I have learned from and somewhere I have had to lead the charge against the struggle. The Magnolia Resource received its 501(c)(3) status just as the pandemic was shutting everything down in lockdown mode. What were we going to do now? Work. Build. Get creative. Have grace.
The pandemic slowed down my plans- it was frustrating. Coming out of the pandemic, I was now a mom of two and life was in ‘reset’ mode- slowed down my plans again. Every time I would feel frustrated, I would open the mail to find a sweet little thank you note from one of the kids that received a Bloom Box or a message from a mom saying: “Just wanted to follow up and say THANK YOU SO SO SO MUCH! We weren’t opening our home up because six kids is already overwhelming but they begged us. Knowing there is support like the magnolia resource means everything to us and takes a load off of our shoulders. The boxes and backpacks were packed with so much love, and I could tell you spent a lot of time putting the most perfect items together. “
Little reminders that every little thing we do is making a difference to someone. And suddenly, I’m welcoming the challenges and obstacles again– another opportunity to do more and another opportunity to be a role model for my kids.
We’ve been impressed with The Magnolia Resource, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The Magnolia Resource is committed to helping spread joy and building vibrant futures for children and families experiencing foster/kinship care and adoption. We support those we serve through seasonal Bloom Box care packages and family-friendly events. Our organization is different than others because of the talents and perspectives we bring together to support those we serve.
When I was forming TMR, I wanted to create something that would build bridges between the community, private nonprofits, and government organizations. My experience thus far has been that there was a serious disconnect between these groups and it was creating barriers for families who would like to get involved. There needed to be some kind of source of resources. Which is exactly what I was to my real estate clients. So, I took my experience and set out to do this with TMR, too. This allows children and families to:
1. Get connected to readily available resources.
2. Receive well-rounded support by organizations working together towards an event or goal.
3. Educate and give the community an opportunity to support kids and families in our local communities.
I’m so incredibly proud to be built by our community for our community. We have great relationships with local businesses, people in our community, other non-profits in the area, and the support of our local government agencies— and that’s why we are able to do what we do.
Want to get involved? Check out our website at themagnoliaresource.org for ways to donate and volunteer. We are always open to hearing ideas about new ways we can give back or events ideas.
Are you a foster or adoptive parent that wants to sign up for one or more of our services? Head over to our website at themagnoliaresource.org and click contact us. You can also reach out through our Facebook page also.
How do you think about luck?
I’m not much of a believer in luck. I’m a firm believer in faith. I still get nervous just before we send out signups for Bloom Boxes– what if no one signs up? What if we have way too many people sign up? etc etc… It’s almost like stage fright as soon as I hit the send button. Then faith sets in- what we do is important to these kids. It’s more than just ‘stuff’– it’s a reminder to each kid that they matter, are being thought of, and are loved by their community. We try to give these kids a handwritten note to make sure they know they are loved in each box and event we host.
I know without a doubt that if I am being true to myself, doing good things to help others, and spreading joy then everything is going to work out. It is my faith that grounds me in life and business ventures.
Contact Info:
- Website: themagnoliaresource.org
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/tiffany-wright-a8230297
Image Credits
One Shot At A Time
