From Grief to Global Impact with Cat Curry-Williams: Why It’s Time to Rethink How We Give
Inspired by my conversation with Cat Curry-Williams on Carrie On!
When I learned that only 1.8% of all U.S. charitable giving goes to organizations supporting women and girls, I had to read that number twice. Less than two percent. That’s less than what’s donated to animal causes.
And as Cat Curry-Williams says — “I love animals. But come on, we deserve more.”
Cat’s story is one of those rare examples that stops you in your tracks and makes you ask: What am I doing with what I’ve been given?
After losing her firstborn son, Shane, to a rare genetic disorder, Cat could have folded under the weight of grief. Instead, she turned heartbreak into a movement. She founded Shane’s Inspiration, an organization that has built nearly 100 inclusive playgrounds across five continents, where children of all abilities can play side by side. Later, she co-founded the She Angels Foundation, which has awarded more than $350,000 in grants to grassroots organizations uplifting women and girls.
That’s what resilience looks like.
That’s what purpose looks like.
That’s what impact looks like — one small, brave act that ripples outward.
Redefining Philanthropy
Most people hear the word philanthropy and think of million-dollar checks and black-tie galas. But Cat is rewriting that definition.
Her book, Philanthropy on a Shoestring, challenges us to see giving as something anyone can do — not someday, not when it’s convenient, but today.
Her formula is simple: $1.40 a day.
If ten friends each committed $1.40 a day for a year, that’s over $5,000 — enough to fund a nonprofit grant, keep the lights on for a women’s shelter, or provide meals for hundreds of families.
You don’t need a foundation to be a philanthropist.
You just need heart, intention, and a permission slip — one you write for yourself.
The Power of the Ripple Effect
When we show up for others, we don’t just change their lives — we change our own.
Cat said it best on Carrie On!:
“The solution to pain is not to divide and separate, but to join and include.”
Whether you’re volunteering your time, donating a few dollars, or amplifying a mission you believe in, you are part of the ripple. You are helping close that 1.8% gap.
You are reminding the world that generosity doesn’t belong to the wealthy — it belongs to the willing
Cat Curry-Williams of She Angels Foundation awarding a grant to SheTV Media at WOTR 2023
How You Can Start Today
Pick one cause that moves you. Maybe it’s women’s health, education, or local food insecurity. Start there.
Set a daily giving goal. $1.40, $5, whatever works for you. It’s not about the amount — it’s about the habit.
Rally your friends. Turn your next book club or dinner into a micro-giving circle.
Support women-led nonprofits. Visit She Angels Foundationto see who’s doing the work and how you can help.
Share the message. Post, talk, text, tell — the ripple grows when you do.
Why It Matters
Every time we give, we’re casting a vote for the kind of world we want to live in.
A world where playgrounds are built for every child.
Where women’s voices are funded and heard.
Where grief becomes fuel for good.
So today, don’t wait for “someday.”
Write your own permission slip.
Join a giving circle.
Give what you can — even if it’s just $1.40.
Because philanthropy isn’t about the size of your wallet.
It’s about the size of your why.
Watch our full conversation on YouTube.
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Connect with Cat on LinkedIn and Instagram.
Watch her TEDx Talk, From Pain to Passion
Visit her website at catherinecurrywilliams.com
Until next time, keep your head above the chaos and carry on.
xo,
Carrie
