This August 23rd will be 31 years since our first date. 31 years ago, at a dinner for work, Jim and I had just started at the same company, and that night, destiny had a special plan for us. We found ourselves seated next to each other at our dinner and from the moment we started talking, it was as if we were truly the only two people there… so much so that we didn’t know that everybody got up and left the table! Everthing but us melted away.

That day is forever etched in my mind. We had just married, bought our home within 90 days, and felt so proud of our new beginning. A few weeks later, we went to “just look at dogs,” and sat on the floor together, feeling that warm, loving connection. We rescued our first dog that day, sharing a moment of pure joy and commitment, to all of us. It marked the start of a journey, filled with hope, companionship, and endless love.

What would I do with $20,000… If I had $20,000 for my family, I’d use it to create more meaningful memories—a special trip or just the gift of time together that we struggle to have…growing our love and connection. For us this would also be tied to giving back to those in need. We support various organizations in our community and one that is very near and dear to our hearts is Suncoast Animal League which is a not-for-profit animal rescue shelter that we have supported for over 2 decades.