An Open Letter to the Community at House of Shine:

Thank you.  One year ago this week I asked you to send a letter in a yellow envelope to a woman named Pat.  The idea seemed fun and harmless and in keeping with our website’s goal of spreading shine.  We did not realize on that Saturday in October the Yellow Envelope Project would be born and, a year later, that we would be celebrating what is now a cornerstone initiative for the House of Shine.

This week we celebrate one year of yellow envelopes.  One year of doing our part to Power the Planet with Shine.

This small and intimate community stumbled on a big and unmet need - recognition of everyday citizens who make their corners of the world better and brighter places to live.  Not famous people or rich people or people in positions of power; everyday people, employed in average jobs, but committed to doing extraordinary things.

There would be no ornate trophy, no red carpet, and no unveiling of a monument.  Instead, we went the other direction.  We put our money on something simple and personal - anonymous, handwritten letters of gratitude.  Letters delivered from all over the country, in yellow envelopes, and for only the price of a first class stamp.

Of course, the success of our weekly award has – and always will - depend on each of you.  When one letter is delivered, the gesture is thoughtful.  But, when we ban together and send fifty or sixty letters, our gesture is concerted and unmistakable. I believe at my core, there is no more thoughtful a way to honor citizens who shine than to find them and then, for an entire week, to flood them with fan mail.

Here is why you shine.

No one asks if you’ve mailed a letter each week or rewards you when you have.  Our program is 100% volunteer and depends strictly on the good will of people like you.  You mail your weekly yellow envelopes for the same reason our nominees earn their recognition: because you shine… even when no one is watching.

And though I don’t thank you weekly, I appreciate, deeply, your participation in the Yellow Envelope Project. In fact, this week I would like to fill your mailbox with a little shine.  If you have been a loyal participant of our program this year – meaning you have participated by sending a yellow envelope more weeks than you have not – then please, send an email to shine@houseofshine.com and tell us who you are and the address to which we can mail our token of appreciation.

Here is to another year of doing good.

With Gratitude,

Claudia K. Beeny