Today we’d like to introduce you to Frank Miniaci.
Hi Frank, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
In 2018, I was introduced to Paula Anne at a business meeting in Las Vegas. While we were both there for other reasons, Paula shared what SOS stood for – Standup Ownup Speakup – and more about the foundation and its’ mission to save at-risk youth. I was so overcome by her passion to help young minds and those in need that I was compelled to get involved. I, too was abused and had issues in my childhood so I identified with the organization and the rest is history. I had to be a part of this amazing Foundation.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
SOS4Life is a 501 C3. And it is a business. A non-profit. But still a business that cannot succeed without the support and efforts of a team of people, who donate their time, but also those that donate money or sponsor SOS and its operations. It has been a tough road as it can be with any startup. Our grassroots efforts of getting our message out has really started to move things forward this past year. Even while being challenged with Covid, believers are jumping onboard and several amazing events are taking shape.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about SOS4Life?
The SOS4Life Foundation’s Mission is to reach at-risk youth and communicate a message of hope and inclusion for all while combating the current epidemic of violence, drug and alcohol abuse, bullying & cyber-bullying, homicide and suicide. The Foundations hopes to reach specific individuals in need of mental health counseling and provide assistance with the goal: Save A Life. The Foundation utilizes numerous fundraising efforts in order to fund our Save A Life Fund. The Foundation has created a National Concert Tour that utilizes emerging artists who have overcome a version of the hardships of our target youths and can communicate the message of perseverance and serve as a beacon of hope for such youths.
In order to maximize our efforts, our team works with international superstars who support our mission and offer their appeal to our concerts. We work with local communities and commit our foundation’s success back to each community in order that services are available to individuals on the local level, but our impact is derived from our peer to peer approach. While the SOS4LifeFoundation’s crown jewel is our S.O.S. Tour (#StandupOwnupSpeakup), our foundation works a number of small concerts, auctions, and other fund-raising efforts in order that we can develop our Save A Life Fund and eventually provide at-risk youths, otherwise unable to pay for mental health services, Just $500 and give a youth ten therapy sessions and assistance they would not be able to receive in most cases. That way, he/she may work through obstacles, find his/her potential and most importantly: SAVE A LIFE!!!
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
Duane Newall is the founder. His partner Paula Anne makes up the solid foundation of the SOS4Life organization. They live and breathe the day-to-day efforts and Paula drives the message home. Their combined passion made me want to be apart of the vision. Actions is more powerful than words. It’s because of them that I find myself right in the middle of this amazing cause. There are other members of the team like Kieu, who wears his heart on his sleeve. I could go on and on but, there is not one single person that doesn’t feel the same, right down to our young talented Ambassadors and supporters. The power of music is one element of performance that we use to show support and each and every member of the SOS family has had a story that they have had to overcome and works hard to bring hope to those whose lives they touch.
Contact Info:
- Email: frank@sos4life.org
- Website: sos4life.org
- Instagram: sos4lifeofficial
- Facebook: sos4lifeofficial
- Twitter: sos4life_
- Youtube: sos4life #standupownupspeakup
Image Credits:
All credits are exclusive to the sos4life foundation.
