From Gratitude to Action: My Journey in Philanthropy

By Catherine Curry-Williams

Gratitude has always been my north star, my guiding light.

It isn’t some passive, polite feeling; it’s electric. Gratitude makes me vibrate. I can feel it move through me, alive, luminous, colorful, the way Dougall Fraser describes in My Life in Color. When I’m in that state, it’s like I’m glowing in technicolor, radiating something bigger than myself.

At this point, it’s probably clear: I take gratitude seriously. It’s not a buzzword; it’s a way of being. Because when life hands you those rare, quiet moments of kindness or support, when someone shows up, believes in you, or lifts you when you’re down, the most powerful thing you can offer in return is simple, radiant gratitude.

My story begins with loss. After losing my son Shane, my world shifted forever. In that unimaginable darkness, I found comfort in the people who showed up, friends, family, strangers, holding me up when I couldn’t stand. Their compassion sparked something in me: an overwhelming need to give back.

That became Inclusion Matters by Shane’s Inspiration, a nonprofit I founded with my friend Tiffany Harris. Our mission was simple: to build inclusive playgrounds where children of all abilities could play side by side. What began as a single park in Los Angeles has now grown into more than 90 playgrounds on five continents, along with education programs in over 30 countries.

Years later, another imbalance caught my attention. Despite leading some of the most innovative, compassionate, and community-changing organizations, women receive only 1.8% of all U.S. charitable giving. That statistic stopped me in my tracks. I realized that women were doing the work, changing lives, raising families, building communities, but weren’t being funded to keep going.

So, I co-founded the She Angels Foundation, a collective giving movement that brings women together to support women-led grassroots nonprofits. Our grants have helped organizations like Bella Abzug Leadership Institute, which mentors young women in civic engagement; DemocraShe, which inspires young women to use their voices; SheTek and Women in STEM, which open doors for women in technology and science; Women in Media, promoting gender balance in the entertainment industry through networking, professional development, and advocacy; and Bottomless Closet, helping women step into confidence and economic independence through career readiness.

Each of these organizations reminds me that when women lift women, everyone rises. Gratitude, again, was the catalyst. I’m grateful for the women who came before me, those who fought for rights they didn’t get to enjoy, and for the women beside me, who continue to show up with fire, creativity, and grace.

My latest book, Philanthropy on a Shoestring: How to Make a Difference on $1.40 a Day, carries that same message. You don’t need millions to make an impact. You just need intention. Whether it’s time, resources, or kindness, small acts compound into movements.

Over the years, I’ve learned that gratitude changes the chemistry of a room, a community, a life. When you act from gratitude, people want to join you. They feel it. They see it. And together, you start a ripple effect that can move mountains.

Every project I’ve ever started, from Shane’s playgrounds to She Angels, has been my way of saying thank you to the people who lifted me up when I needed it most. My heroes are the women and men I meet every day who turn compassion into action.

Gratitude didn’t just change my life; it gave it direction. And if I’ve learned anything, it’s this: when we act from gratitude, we don’t just rebuild what was lost, we create something better, together.

Connect With Catherine

www.catherinecurrywilliams.com

www.linkedin.com/in/catherinecurrywilliams