Chad Blake with Angel Auctions, Photographer Anne Say and Anna Boulier with Owl Simply Designs

Intro: [00:00:07] Broadcasting live from the Business RadioX studios in Atlanta. It’s time for charitable Georgia, brought to you by Bea’s charitable pursuits and resources. We put the fun in fundraising. For more information, go to Bee’s charitable pursuits dot com. That’s b e. S charitable pursuits dot com. Now here’s your host, Brian Pruitt.

Brian Pruett: [00:00:45] Good Friday morning to everybody out there in the listening world. I’m your host, Brian Pruett. I’ve got three fabulous folks here for a fabulous Friday morning. We’re going to start with our first guest with Anna Christine Boulier , who is with Al Simply Design, who’s just an incredible designer, incredible person. The object of this show, if you don’t know it’s positive, things happen in your community. So you’ll get to listen over the next several weeks. And however long this goes for people doing positive things in the community. So, Anna, tell me a little bit about Al simply design.

Anna Christine Boulier: [00:01:21] Well, thank you, Brian, for your kind words. I’ll simply design was born out of a love for being creative and wanting to be my own boss. So if I want to take a nap in the middle of the day, I can and I do a little bit of everything. I was always told to finish down and instead I did the complete opposite. I do graphic design, branding design. I help authors brand themselves and publish stuff, publish their books, as well as organizing and helping seniors find if their home is still going to work for them as an aging in place specialist.

Brian Pruett: [00:02:03] Awesome. So what did you do first before you get onto this? What made you decide you wanted to start this new venture?

Anna Christine Boulier: [00:02:09] Well, I started off my degrees are actually in interior architecture and I thought I was going to go into health care design focusing on seniors. And then the market crashed and God laughed and said, Move back to Cartersville. And I went kicking and screaming the entire way. And after two years of taking care of my grandmother before she passed, I got a job as a carpet designer. And I basically designed carpet for hotels and country clubs all over the world. But I designed a lot of ugly carpet. No offense, but it was a lot of ugly carpet. And eventually my heart just wasn’t in it. And then the pandemic hit, and I walked away from my job and decided to do an organizing business in the middle of a pandemic, thinking I’m going to go into people’s homes. God laughed again because he and I do that. And then after pivoting and asking God, okay, what do you want me to do? He said, You love to design design stuff. And so I design stuff and help people, especially small businesses, find a way to look professional on a small business budget.

Brian Pruett: [00:03:30] Awesome. So I have to ask, what is with the owl?

Anna Christine Boulier: [00:03:34] So my great grandmother collected owls. She had this huge bookcase in her house that only my sister and I were allowed to play with. And so they were always like in the background. And when my grandmother passed away, we were having an estate sale and there was this ornate owl lamp sitting there to be sold. And this lady picked it up. And as she picked it up, something welled up inside of me to rip that lamp out of that woman’s hands because it was mine and she couldn’t have it. And thankfully for her safety, she set it back down. And I went over and grabbed it and said, This is mine. And my love of owls began at that moment.

Brian Pruett: [00:04:21] So does that mean anything to do with you didn’t go to Kennesaw State. You’re not a fighting owl. You’re just an owl lover.

Anna Christine Boulier: [00:04:26] Yes, I’m an in the closet owl lover. For a long time I went to Agnes Scott College. We were Scottie dogs and then to Georgia State. I don’t remember what the mascot is for Georgia State. Oh, that’s bad. Are they going to kick me out? The Panthers? Yes. They might take back my degree at this point. I’m sorry. Any Georgia State fans Go Panthers.

Brian Pruett: [00:04:54] So I know just you and I have started working together recently and you have a heart for helping people. And I’ll ask you about that in a second. But the other thing that I want to talk to you about, which is really, really cool, is you’re also an author.

Anna Christine Boulier: [00:05:06] Yes, I am.

Brian Pruett: [00:05:08] And so I want to want you to talk a little bit about the books you’ve written, you the ones you’ve got going on, what’s about ready to come out and why are you doing that?

Anna Christine Boulier: [00:05:16] Oh, I’m an author because apparently I did not speak very much as a child. I was very shy and I stored up those words and they just came out on paper instead when I was taking care of my grandmother after she passed in February, I still didn’t have a job and I was like, Lord, what do I do? And he said, Write a book. And I thought, I’ve got the time. I can do that. So I wrote my first novel in. Nine weeks, it was almost 200,000 words. So I had saved up a lot. And then I spent the next four years editing that novel because it took me a while to. Be able to release it enough to cut outwards that weren’t really needed. You have to lose some of that emotional attachment, especially for a first novel. And then I wrote three more and decided to publish all three within three months. Don’t do that, people. That probably the fifth dumbest thing I’ve done in my life was publishing three novels in three months. And once I wrote that first novel, though, the idea is just came. And so I have two series now. The first is the Gray Series. They are contemporary Christian romance novel set in Cartersville and Marietta. I actually mentioned local places landmarks. And then my second series, I published my first one in 2021. It’s a cozy mystery series, and the second one is supposed to come out in April. It’s written. I just need to edit it, find time in my busy schedule to do that. And I have at least ideas for eight more books for that series.

Brian Pruett: [00:07:02] And how can folks find your books?

Anna Christine Boulier: [00:07:04] I am on Amazon. You can find paperback copies there as well as Kindle books and the Nook. All of those audio visual, audio, visuals, e-books.

Brian Pruett: [00:07:19] E-books. Yeah. All right. Awesome. So I mentioned a little bit ago that you have a heart for helping people. And you and I are partnering up. You’re helping me with a lot of my graphics from our events and everything like that. So I want to thank you for that, first of all. But also, you know, in today’s society, there’s a lot of negative happening and that’s another reason I’m doing this show as part of a more positive out in the world. So why is it important for you, especially even as a small business, and share why other small businesses should be involved with? Not necessarily even just charity events, but just community events. Why is that important?

Anna Christine Boulier: [00:07:53] I think it’s very easy to say, I’m not going to help. It’s too big of a problem or it’s not going to make a difference or it’s going to cost me something. The that’s the easy part. Actually doing something, helping being a positive outlook in the community that takes effort, that takes guts, that takes courage. And I want to be known as a raging, courageous, butt kicking small business ninja warrior. And I think helping people, especially in my community, helps me. If people around me are happy, then that gives me an extra reason to smile. And it’s fun to find the positive in someone and the situation. When you start doing it often enough, it becomes natural and a lot easier. But it takes work to get to that point.

Brian Pruett: [00:08:52] And I think your day goes a lot better. Like you said, it’s it is fun. And when you’re around a lot of fun people, it just can’t help but, you know, have a fun atmosphere. Yeah. So real quick, how can folks get a hold of you if they want to talk to you about doing any kind of branding design or anything of that nature.

Anna Christine Boulier: [00:09:12] So they can reach out on our simply designed, oh well design. No w well, simply designed. And then if you’re interested in my books, my writing website is a, c, a b, o, u, e, r. And I’d love to talk to anybody to see if there’s a way to help them, even if it’s not with me.

Brian Pruett: [00:09:37] Awesome. And do you mind sticking around while we talk to these other two fabulous folks?

Anna Christine Boulier: [00:09:41] I would love.

Brian Pruett: [00:09:41] To. Awesome. Well, thanks for coming. All right. We’re moving on now to miss and say, actually, it was fun the other night. I got or the other day I got sing for a ribbon cutting and I Lionel Richie, say you say me. So I was kind of kind of fun. But and actually she does a lot of things, but she’s known now for being a visual storyteller with her photography. But we’ll get into some of the other folks that she does. But Anne so welcome to the show.

Anne Say: [00:10:07] Thank you.

Brian Pruett: [00:10:08] And you’ve said when we were talking before the show started, you’re fairly new to the area. So tell us where you came from and how you got here.

Anne Say: [00:10:16] Oh, I you know, we we’re going to be a year here next week. It’s very exciting. I can’t believe it’s a year already. But we came from the the outreaches of Cobb County Powder Springs area and just very excited to have some space to spread our wings and grow. And what I like to say, make space for life to happen.

Brian Pruett: [00:10:44] Awesome. So as I mentioned, you do a lot of things. You come from a background of being a special ed teacher, right? You’ve also been a speaker, a faith based speaker. You do some health coaching as well and you do your photography and you’re also an author. So and you have a heart for community and helping people as well. So let me start with your photography because that’s what you really gotten into and that seems to be your your passion and your joy at the moment. How did you go from being a special ed teacher to a speaker and now being a photographer?

Anne Say: [00:11:20] Oh, yeah. That’s a circuitous journey, isn’t it? Yeah. So I was a special ed teacher for 20 years and my 20th year I met my current husband. He had heard me speak, and when we knew we were getting married, he made the comment, You need to stop doing that. That’s not what you’re called to do in this season. And he actually wanted me to retire before we got married, and I refused because I thought, Well, the kids are going to just really push back on that, you know? And as it happened, eight weeks into our marriage, my mother passed away. So I did retire at that point and just kind of took some time to grieve and breathe and adjust to being married and living in this huge house that I now had to clean and and just losing my mom. So it was a big life change for me. And so in that process, I kind of just got to explore at a deeper level who I am and what I really wanted to do, what what made me come alive. And in that journey I had written a list of things dreams, you know, places I wanted to go, people I wanted to see, things I wanted to have. And my husband didn’t realize it. But on that list was a digital camera, because as a single mom, my everything went to the kids. You know, they were the ones getting the cameras and they were the ones, you know, exploring their dreams as it should be. And one day he said to me, Why don’t we get you a digital camera? And he did. And my whole world kind of changed and transformed. And and so I started taking pictures and I just would take pictures of anything and everything. And my camera is like my infant. It goes with me wherever I go. And I try not to leave it places, but it really has opened my eyes to the world to seeing people and things. Behind, as Anna and I were sharing earlier, behind the shiny objects. So it helps me to be present, to look deeper, to see farther, and to see differently.

Brian Pruett: [00:13:40] Awesome. One of the things that Anne talks about is how being able to help you look good. Now she’s taking a lot of pictures of me. Stone But I don’t know that I’m still that Tom Cruise looking in the picture, so I don’t know if we’ve got some work to do with me on that.

Speaker5: [00:13:52] Well, whatever can be done, Miss Anna can.

Chad Blake: [00:13:54] Get it done. I know.

Brian Pruett: [00:13:55] That. Right? So. And you were sharing earlier. There’s not probably a picture that you can’t do or have done. I know you like doing family portraits and headshots and stuff, and you came out and photography or photography. That’s a new word in photo mode. The golf tournament that we did with Mr. Chad over here and we’ll talk to you in a minute and stuff like that. But you were sharing earlier if something that you wanted to do. I think that’s a cool story and kind of funny with your your dog. Sure. Sure. You wanted to be a dog photographer, but share why you’re not doing that.

Anne Say: [00:14:29] Yes. So I love dogs. I don’t currently have a dog. I don’t have any plans to get a dog. But what I like to photograph are scroll stopping images which help entrepreneurs get more traction online and dogs are scroll stoppers. And so I thought, well, this would be a great niche for me. And so I borrowed a friend’s dog and I went over, They have an adorable Boston terrier that, you know, I’m at their house and the dog’s sweet. She likes to, you know, be with people. I thought, this is going to be a piece of cake. So I sat down on the floor and put my camera up to my eye and the dog leaped. I’m sure it was like 15 feet, landed in front of me, licked my lens and slammed my whole camera into my face, cut my nose. I went home crying with my tail between my legs and thought, Maybe this isn’t the market for me. What I didn’t know was Molly’s pet sitter does that. She gets on the floor and she plays and wrestles with Molly. So when I got on the floor, she thought it was playtime. So I learned my lesson.

Brian Pruett: [00:15:43] There you go. There you go. What kind of photography, if you had to choose one, is your favorite at the moment that you’re doing.

Anne Say: [00:15:50] People. I just I love people, whether it’s entrepreneurs or families. I just I love photographing people. And I think it’s because most of my life I was sort of emotionally disconnected for other reasons. And when that part of my heart got healed and I started connecting with people and actually liking people. So when I photograph people, I like the connection, I like seeing them. I do feel like I make people look good. I’m sorry, Brian. If I’ve let you down, I will work.

Brian Pruett: [00:16:32] I don’t think it’s you. It’s. I’m sure it’s the person you’re taking the picture of. So.

Anne Say: [00:16:38] So I really you know, if it’s people I love, I’m involved with a photo group out of Rome, Georgia. And when we take photo walks each month, and no matter where we are or whether it’s Jackson Hill or, you know, walking downtown on the river, I am more inclined to photograph them taking pictures than I am of what we’re supposed to be taking pictures of. And and I love the story. I think that’s why I’m I call myself a visual storyteller because I love the story that pictures can speak to.

Brian Pruett: [00:17:14] Awesome. So I’m assuming this time of year you’re also doing some family portraits for Christmas cards and things of that nature. Yeah. Do you have anything special that you’re doing for that that you can let people know about?

Anne Say: [00:17:25] I do. I actually have two spaces left the week before Christmas for family sessions, and other than that, I’m booked up for the month. So if you’re in North Georgia, give me a shout.

Brian Pruett: [00:17:39] Awesome. Well, let people know how they do that here in a minute. But a couple other things I want to touch on. The other thing I didn’t mention earlier is you’re also an artist. You do have some canvas paintings and and things of that nature as well, right?

Anne Say: [00:17:51] You did not tell me we were going to go there.

Brian Pruett: [00:17:54] Surprise.

Anne Say: [00:17:56] I have. Yeah. That’s actually how Anna and I met was in an art over art. Yeah.

Brian Pruett: [00:18:03] Awesome. The other really cool thing that I want to talk about is again, you’re also an author, but I think it’s really cool that you’ve written some children’s books and you’ve written them with your granddaughter. And first of all, how old is your granddaughter?

Anne Say: [00:18:14] She’s currently nine. She was five when we published our first one and six with the second one.

Brian Pruett: [00:18:20] That’s awesome. So can you share how that process worked and how you got her involved in doing the books?

Anne Say: [00:18:25] Yes, my that particular set of grandchildren has no screen time, so books are their life 24 seven play and imaginative play. And so when I decided I wanted to write a children’s book and I’m looking at the blank screen thinking, I don’t know how to do this, I thought, Well, I’ll just call her. And so I called her up and I said, Would you like to write a story with me? Me? And she said, Yes. And I said, What should it be about? She said, Pirates, which interestingly enough, when you look on Amazon, pirates are like top of the list for kids books. So they’re very popular. So out of my mouth comes this suggested title. How about we write about the peculiar Pirates of Okefenokee? And she loved it. So I asked her some questions. You know, who are the main characters? What’s the big problem? How does the big problem get solved? And she answered them brilliantly. There’s five kid pirates. The boys, every time they fight and get angry, they turn into crocodiles and the girls help them find their way back. So I’m thinking this whole story is, you know, girls rule, boys rule, you know, we’re going to do this. And so I sent her some more questions, you know, a little bit more about the kids and what makes them laugh and what’s in their book bags and tell me about their families.

Anne Say: [00:19:48] And and then I typed it because she would tell you she wrote it. I just typed it. So I typed it out. It was a lot of fun. I got a friend to to do the artwork and and we really enjoyed that. And then I, I was on the phone with her and we were celebrating the sales and some things that were happening. And my daughter said to her, Why don’t you tell me, me your inspiration for the book? And I said, Inspiration, You’re five and she’s a good little girl. And she sat in her chair and she sat up straight and tall and she looked at the face time screen and she recited a scripture verse. And that verse says, Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other as God has forgiven you in Christ Jesus. And then she gave the reference and I said, Oh, my goodness. I mean, she was brilliant. She knew how to take a truth and transform it into a story. And then the next. Last year, we published a second one. The peculiar Pirates have a talent show.

Brian Pruett: [00:20:54] Oh, that’s awesome. That just goes to show you. First of all, I love it when kids put you and teach you things.

Speaker5: [00:21:02] And it happens a lot more than I ever would have anticipated.

Brian Pruett: [00:21:05] Yeah, right. So that’s that’s really awesome. Do you have any other plans to do any any other books with her?

Anne Say: [00:21:12] We are we’re talking about a chapter book where each chapter is like a different perspective on the story.

Brian Pruett: [00:21:20] Awesome. One last thing we’ll touch on. We mentioned it briefly, but you also are a health coach. Coach, You like helping people kind of feel better. Touch on that just for a minute.

Anne Say: [00:21:30] Well, I was struggling in my own health for years, not sleeping well, gaining weight. Instead of losing, I could think about food and gain a couple pounds and I found low glycemic meal plans, which are easy to do. They kind of work with your body instead of making a diet approach, really kind of changing how you think about food and. And I lost £30 in three months and started sleeping through the night. I think on night four, it really changed my life. But what it really did transformational was made me aware of of unhealthy relationships I had with food and how I use food as a coping when I’m overwhelmed and just continue to let that part of my heart heal. So I like helping other people. I like including their health in the way they in that.

Brian Pruett: [00:22:30] Awesome. So we just talked with Anne about a lot of things that she does for folks. Why is it important to you to be involved in the community and helping others?

Anne Say: [00:22:41] The biggest reason why it’s important to me is, as I mentioned, I was so emotionally disconnected for decades. And you really you can’t live a thriving life apart from community. And the freedom that I have found in finding passions, finding the joy in relationships, I want to give back and help others. And I feel like at the grassroots level, in local community is the way to do that.

Brian Pruett: [00:23:11] Awesome. So if folks want to get a hold of you about any of the things that you can do for them, whether it’s art, whether it’s photography, whether it’s the health. How can they do that?

Anne Say: [00:23:21] I hang out on Facebook and Instagram predominantly, so my name makes it really easy. And B say. Or simply an say is really the best way to reach me. But if you’re looking for photography and say photography dot com is where I hang out with my pictures.

Brian Pruett: [00:23:43] And where can they find your your books.

Anne Say: [00:23:45] On Amazon. Yep. Awesome. And be safe.

Brian Pruett: [00:23:49] Awesome. Well and thank you for for being here as well and everything that you do do you mind hanging out while we talk to this this next fellow?

Anne Say: [00:23:55] I’d be glad to.

Brian Pruett: [00:23:56] All right. So my next guest is Chad Blake. Chad and I’ve known each other for can you believe it’s been almost 15 years? Yeah. But that could be good or bad. I mean, depending on how you look at it. So.

Chad Blake: [00:24:07] Yeah, it has its moments.

Brian Pruett: [00:24:09] Right, Right. So real quick, Chad and I met I was working for a little sports marketing company called Score Atlanta, and Chad was helping with a big Toys for Tots event that they do this this group put on every year. And so we got involved, and that’s how Chad and I met. So Chad is another person who just really loves getting involved in the community and helping others. And he does that several different ways. But two of the ways that I want to touch on, first of all, is your angel auctions. You know, you you provide nonprofits with this other way for helping raise money. And just first of all, share what Angel Auctions does specifically and then how you got really involved doing that.

Chad Blake: [00:24:59] Yeah, I appreciate it, Brian. First off, two amazing women that came before me so thinks you guys are involved with. I just I got up and showered this morning. I felt like that was an acknowledgment.

Brian Pruett: [00:25:11] We appreciate that too.

Chad Blake: [00:25:12] Yeah. I mean, you know, smaller room in here.

Anne Say: [00:25:15] You know, we’re grateful.

Chad Blake: [00:25:16] Yeah, absolutely. You know, one of the things and it has been it’s been almost 20 years since I started this, at least on a part time basis. And it just it came from a passion that I was fortunate enough that my parents started me with special needs and Special Olympics and really being inclusive before it was kind of popular, whether it was individuals through the church, everybody, you know, just because they were different didn’t mean that there was something necessarily wrong with them. And that was something that was instilled in me from a young age. So working with nonprofits was something I always loved doing. I did a lot in my high school with our church and our outreach outreach, whether it was up in the mountains, helping build homes up there, underneath homes with rocks and stones on the side of a mountain is a little scary thinking about it now when I was 15 to 16, But even on to college, I did a program called Best Buddies, which was helping special needs. Still one of my favorite charities. I actually just got a couple of shirts to the kids to help support their efforts, but it’s just it kind of spawned. Right after I graduated college, 911 happened, so it was not the best time to be going into the market, especially building secondary homes. I come from a real estate construction background. It’s something my father was always real big and helping Habitat for Humanity and stuff like that. So it was kind of an easy transition to help on the side. But finally, when the market crashed again, you know, sometimes it just happens and you know, it’s out of your control.

Chad Blake: [00:26:57] I saw somebody was helping charities. He actually owned a card shop, which is far and few between nowadays. And I kind of saw an opening to help with charity events and work with nonprofits as well. I love sports. One of the Falcons we were actually helping build for, she kind of opened my eyes, Hey, I know you like sports. Do you have something? Maybe you can help us add to it? I said, Yeah, we can do something. And I kind of saw there was a market there. Nobody was actually doing the true fundraising. In fact, nobody but us. The range of auctions is specifically just for fundraising. I don’t have a store. We don’t sell anything outright except for maybe helping with a gift or two. You can look at my garage and my basement and you can see exactly where everything is. The wife doesn’t always like it, but, you know, it’s something that I’ve created a big passion for and it’s been awesome. The way it’s expanded. My biggest client is actually turned into the Braze foundation. We do about 40 events a year with them through the Gwinnett Stripers run Braves other events that they have, plus different nonprofits, whether it’s a small nonprofit around town. We just helped an individual and I know we’re going to get experiences to. They had ALS and unfortunately he’s going downhill fast and it was something that we brought him to Georgia game. Then we did an auction for him with the polar bear plunge and that was a local thing and we were able to raise about 1500 dollars for the family. And and that’s huge for something like that.

Chad Blake: [00:28:38] You know, they just got helped with the wheelchair, motorized wheelchair. They just got a vehicle donated. It’s going to help create some of the expenses there that they’ve had. And so whether it’s small, whether it’s a big group like the Braves or, you know, a lot of the various cancer charities that we help with. You know, it’s if it’s a good cause, I always say we’re going to do our best to help out. We do provide free auction items for the nonprofits. We bring everything out, we from bedsheets. And it’s a lot of sports stuff. Sports and experiences are always some of the most popular. We’ll have tickets depending on the time of year as well that we auction off jewelry. Nothing too crazy. We’re in Georgia, not New York. So a lot of our stuff, the majority of our stuff starts under $100 with the bid. So it’s something that everybody can bid on. We also do fossils and relics and really just anything you can’t walk into Wal Mart and find. So it’s unique stuff this time of year and of our auctions. It’s a lot of Christmas gifts, which is always kind of fun. You know it’s again, it’s stuff that they usually can’t get their hands on. The autographs are getting harder and harder and harder to get. So, you know, I’m able through some of my sources, sometimes I stay in the line like everybody else or raise season ticket holders and, you know, had to pay for the autographs there, too. But, you know, it’s something that I love doing. It keeps me around sports, keeps me around people and, you know, helping a good cause.

Brian Pruett: [00:30:09] So over what you said, almost 20 years doing the auctions, right?

Chad Blake: [00:30:13] Correct.

Brian Pruett: [00:30:14] How many nonprofits do you think you’ve worked with in that time period?

Chad Blake: [00:30:19] Last count was just over 500.

Brian Pruett: [00:30:22] Awesome. So so because of that, you decided in 2017, I believe that because of doing this, you had an idea that starts your own nonprofit. I know we talked a little bit this when we were on Stones Show back in September, but share about Experiences Foundation, why you started it and what you do.

Chad Blake: [00:30:47] Yeah, it was something that we officially, I guess got our 501c3 in 2018. Which I highly recommend if anybody starting a nonprofit use a nonprofit attorney that costs about $400 or the best $400 I ever spent, I filled out two pages. They handled the rest, and we got our number back in six weeks, which is great to give people for write offs. And it was just one of those things that we had been doing it. Another nonprofit that kind of sparked this idea of helping with Experiences Foundation or her quote. I said, What’s your goal? She said that I don’t come out of pocket any more from personal. And I was like, You know what? That’s because we were spending a lot of money out of our own pocket, which is great. But I wanted to be able to do more. And so we came up with the idea a couple of different things that happened with my family and friends that spawned the idea. In fact, one of them is so crazy we could spend an hour. You may just have to bring her on. She’s out of Alabama and the craziness of her family. But long story short, we brought her and her three kids to a game and I went down. I was getting the kid some swag and came back up and she’s crying. And my wife and I’m looking at her going, What did you do? And, you know, she was she said, this is the first time that I felt safe.

Chad Blake: [00:32:17] And there’s a big background I don’t want to get into. I mean, she is seriously going to write a book, but her husband was had gone a little crazy and she was kind of on the run and had two different Facebooks. So it was again, it’s a much bigger story, but it was the first time that she really felt that they were safe. Her kids were having fun. They didn’t have to worry about anything. And it was that idea of creating that experience to just take somebody’s mind off, even if it’s just for a day. You know, I’ve always said whether it’s we bring them fishing, we did one the mom was going through, Dad went back there. A Hispanic family went back to Mexico to work there, ironically, and she was left. She had cancer and was raised in three kids on her own. All she wanted to do was go bowling with their family. So that was an easy thing. When problem starters and strikes had a great day up there, had fun doing that. So sometimes our experiences are small like that, sometimes like the one we did with the ALS family. You know, that was something that was brought to me through actually my ex. So we’re not always on the greatest of terms, but this has actually been a good thing and it was something I worked with UGA and we do actually auctions for them and their baseball program as well.

Chad Blake: [00:33:36] But I was able to get in, They were able to get us on the field before the game. You know, he’s in a wheelchair, so to get down there and he is a huge Dogs fan, whether you agree with it or not. But you know, they’re having an awesome season. We got him there for the Georgia Georgia Tech game and he was on the field and he broke down in tears when the coach came by Kirby Smart and fist bumped them. And it Kirby I’ll give him credit. He spent a couple of seconds the best he could with every single fan on that row. He started crying. The family started crying. I started to tear it up and laugh because I’m like, oh, my gosh, you know, But what if I get happy tears? I’m okay, you know? And then we ended up enjoying the game. And something that was ironic, there was one of the security guys that was there. He’s in a wheelchair as well at a room. And we actually did an experience for him. He lost his father. He was a big Georgia and Braves fan. He works the run Braves. That’s how I connected to him. He was actually working there, that gate. And so we walked in and right next to the the family were at the Griffin family was his best friend. So it was just it was a small world and it was amazing how everything came together.

Brian Pruett: [00:34:47] There’s no such thing as coincidences.

Chad Blake: [00:34:50] It was just but, you know, again, it’s just I had a smile on my face, you know, even though the jackets were getting beat down that day, you know, But it was just such a great, great event, you know, stuff like that. I just I love doing again. It’s something that they’re going to remember for the rest of their lives. I brought over pictures. I had canvases done for them to hang in their family. I brought them to him yesterday, presented him actually with a $500 check from the auction we did as well. And he cried again. And, you know, we all teared up and, you know, had a good laugh about it. But, you know, it’s it’s those things that, you know, he’s got a wonderful family and just love doing it again, whether it’s something small or something big like that. You know, this time of year, we’re helping a lot of families who do a lot of stocking stuffer stuff. Santa For seniors, I always say, you know, a lot of people kind of forget about them. Just all they really want typically stuff to stay warm. So whether it’s socks or blankets, you know, we’re always helping take donations. Again, what we spoke about on our golf turn, it was very successful this year. Teaming up with Asia’s youth home, which is a foster group up in Jasper. But we’re able to raise a lot of money. I set a $1,000 check over to the Birmingham area, and the young lady I was speaking about at the Braves game, and they’re expanding kind of efforts through experiences. They have their own focus that they’re trying to do, but we’re going to help create some Christmas gifts for a few families over there that otherwise wouldn’t have it. So, you know, I was I was thrilled to do that. You know, she’s working on get me pictures and everything. And they got the family. They already know who they’re going to help. So, you know, I always say if we got it, we’ll we’ll do that and we’ll do our best to help out.

Brian Pruett: [00:36:35] That’s awesome. Yeah, we can have a whole show just on some of the other experiences you’ve done. Can you brief? There’s two of that I do want you to highlight as well. Can you briefly talk about the young man did with the Atlanta United as well as the kind of the. The person who kind of kind of puts you over the edge. The young man who was the Braves fan that wound up passing.

Chad Blake: [00:36:55] Oh, okay. Yeah. I mean, obviously, when you’re helping certain causes, you know, the end result is not always the best, you know, And that’s something that’s tough, you know, when you get close to certain people. Fortunately to you know, we have the good outcomes. The Atlanta United game was actually a young man here in Cherokee County. His family were they were missionaries overseas, and he grew up there like he was used to living over there. I can’t remember which it was. It was an Asian country and obviously it was a poor section, but that was his life. He knew it. So coming back to the States for him, even as a citizen, was all treatment for his cancer brain tumor in his head. And he just he hated it. So and everything kind of reminded him. So I actually met his mom and long story short, huge soccer fan. And I was able to get again, it’s it’s getting good connections and to the right people. I was trying to get in with Atlanta United to do something for him. It was actually one of the players I met at the time who passed it on and passed my card on. So, I mean, again, not necessarily a coincidence. You know, sometimes God has his own plan and I was able to get a call from the right person and said, hey, we’re actually doing a group of cancer survivors and young men and women for games specifically.

Chad Blake: [00:38:25] That was what they were doing. And they had a focus up on the big screen. But what they are able to do was they got this young man and I told him, I said, when you come out of this tunnel, you’re going to look up and you’re going to go, Oh, my gosh, this place is huge. And that was the first thing. He looked around and he smiled at me because this place is huge. And I was like I said, yeah, I it’s going to keep filling up. But we were able to get on the field beforehand, literally sit where the players sat while they were warming up. And then he was at the time and I don’t know if it’s happened since, but he was the first non official to flip the coin before a game and he was nervous as all get out. We had to find a coin. Nobody carries change like they used to for him to practice at a time because he was sweating. But long story short, you know, he did it. It was awesome. I mean, it was just a great, great experience. The players came up, talk to him, you know, again, he got swag. Then we got to stay at the game and, you know, watch the game. He is he’s in remission, full remission. He’s graduated high school. Now, the family, funny enough, lives like five, not even 5 minutes away from me now because they got a home close to where we moved a couple of years ago.

Chad Blake: [00:39:36] So, you know, it’s again, when she came out to our first golf tournament and spoke very highly about what we did and that that always makes me feel good because obviously it made an impact. And then one or the others, this one is not necessarily as positive in some ways, but this is one thing that really it breaks my heart talking about it. But it was a young man who was a hard worker, blue collar, lived in a trailer. That’s how he grew up, you know, just straight from high school to working. He ended up in the job that he did, they believe ended up giving him cancer. And it spread completely to his body. He was, I think, late twenties when he was diagnosed and he was brought to Emory because it was the only place that had treatment because he was out of Augusta and they brought him there. Sorry. And it was just we had teamed up with another nonprofit at the time. This is before experiences. And, you know, we took them to the movies one time and literally just walking through the parking lot, his skin was on fire because the sun was out because of the medicine. He was a diehard Braves gang fan, never been to a game. We’re able to bring him. And the other founder of the other nonprofit and his wife to the game gave him a Braves hat.

Chad Blake: [00:41:04] And he wore I mean, every time since then, he actually goes home in remission. And a couple of days later, while I was in Augusta passes out, they rushed him back to Emory. It was really complications from the medicines and everything that he was on had just unfortunately tore up his insides. And he was basically given three days at most. And he laid there. He actually had the hat on the whole time he was in there. My wife took the kids out at the time. They were elementary age and brought them, you know, just helps them buy gifts because just something fun again, take their mind off of what was going on. They never got that experience. You know, as my kids are so spoiled that it’s ridiculous. In fact, they’re not even getting a toy this year because I’m like, y’all have too many you don’t play with. We’re doing experiences through the nonprofit, but, you know, just something they’ll remember, you know, which I think is more meaningful. But, you know, it’s something. You know, the other thing was his mom and dad were there and they didn’t have money to pay for a hotel. And my wife said, You’re not going anywhere. She booked him a hotel right next door. They were able to stay there. Got up the next morning. He passed that morning. And if and if we hadn’t done that with the hotel, they wouldn’t have seen him.

Chad Blake: [00:42:28] And I was in the room there. That was the first time. Really had kind of witnessed something like that. And obviously, that stays with you. But to think back, we stayed in touch with the family. The kids have graduated were always makes me feel old. Well, that is true. You know, the gray and white will tell you that. But yeah, it’s it’s something that spawned again, helped with that idea of sometimes you just do the smallest things. That may not mean a ton at the time, but again, just that stuff that they’ve appreciated. I mean, the kids still remember us, you know. Talk to us again. Social media is great for that kind of stuff. Not for everything, but definitely for that kind of stuff. And keep it up with pictures. And, you know, it’s it’s those two stories are really what started it. And obviously, not all of them were that extreme. But again, it’s we love doing it, you know, and we’re looking forward to now that we’re past the pandemic stuff that we can get out there and do more stuff and, you know, really give back, finally able to get into like the senior centers this year, because obviously that was a big no no before, because half the time they just want somebody to talk to for a couple of minutes. You know, kids sing. We’ve done that in the past, too, and hang out the stocking. So definitely some fun things.

Brian Pruett: [00:43:51] What I think is really cool to with with experiences is you can partner with other nonprofits and help them with experiences, which is which is really cool. Two other things that I’ll touch on real quick that you don’t really promote or advertise very much, but it’s a way you can help other people as well as you’re also a realtor.

Chad Blake: [00:44:09] I am.

Brian Pruett: [00:44:11] And you’re also an ordained minister.

Chad Blake: [00:44:15] Minister Yeah, I’ve married a handful of people. In fact, just did one about a month ago on the lake. And funny enough, I didn’t realize at first, but he was the son again. I knew him when he was an elementary school kid, but he was the son. Now he’s a police officer with a kid and ended up marrying them. But it was the friend of the son of a friend of ours. So, yeah, I mean, it’s, you know, stuff like that. Again, I just love doing, you know.

Brian Pruett: [00:44:47] That’s awesome. So real quick, how can folks how can a nonprofit get a hold of you if you want to talk to you about an auction, how can somebody get ahold of you for an experience? Or if they need a person to officiate a wedding and if they need help getting a house, how can folks get hold of you?

Chad Blake: [00:45:03] Well, maybe I do a lot more of I’m right here with the women. I’ll just have Brian come in here. But now anybody wants a free auction again, they’re 100% free. And we do all the work and just write you a check at the end. But my angel auctions dot com or dot org. And then through experience, experiences foundation, if you have anybody or you’re looking for help, you know, I’d love to talk to you. So whether it’s through again our social media mainly Facebook but you can also find this experience, this foundation dot org and then real estate’s through Blake Realty and Tin Roof Realty here locally. Again, it’s something I love helping people, especially first time buyers or people who are confused. I’ve you know, I’ve been on the mortgage side, the real estate side, you know, even the construction side. So I understand enough probably to be dangerous. But at the same point, I do have the knowledge because if I don’t know it, I’m going to put you to the right people to do. And that’s it’s great to have a team, people that support you like Brian, you know, and I’m sure we’ll do something together too. But you know it’s and then what was oh and anything on angel weddings as well if you need help and you know we do a lot of the kind of quick sometimes it’s just me and the other two people but you know it’s again it’s it’s kind of a way to help and get out there. And I just love to help in the community.

Brian Pruett: [00:46:31] So awesome. I appreciate you being here. So I’m excited because 2023 I do obviously fundraising and I’ve got a lot of events and all three of these folks are partnering with me doing something at the events. So this is pretty exciting. So I don’t know about Houston, but I’m pretty pumped and inspired by the three folks we just talked to.

Speaker5: [00:46:51] Well, so am I. This is a fantastic show. I can’t wait to keep doing this. This is going to be marvelous and I’m looking forward to participating in all these activities that are coming up.

Brian Pruett: [00:47:01] Man. Yeah, it’s, you know, so a lot of exciting guests coming up over the next several episodes. Yeah. Um, but I just appreciate the three of you taking your time this morning to come out, and I look forward to doing stuff with you guys. So all of you out there listening, let’s remember, it’s a fabulous Friday. Go out and be positive and charitable.