Turning Passion into Action with Forrestall Consulting

Kind Business #16

Forrestall Consulting is a successful social media marketing firm in Pasadena, CA. Led by Shanna Forrestall, the company has been incredibly successful, producing digital content for major TV networks, from TruTV to the History Channel. Shanna brings a special energy to her work. In all of the content she produces, she works to highlight the humanity in others. Her company has even created projects that work to humanize social media marketing, including her presentation on “Finding the HUMANity in Social Media & Marketing.”

Shanna has made it her mission to make Forrestall Consulting a force for social good.  Most notably, Shanna has involved her company in a number of domestic disaster relief efforts in Southern Louisiana and Texas.  Born and raised in Louisiana, Shanna has a special place in her heart for those affected by natural disasters.

By partnering with organizations like Crowd Relief, the Texas Navy and the Cajun Relief Foundation, Forrestall Consulting has been able to gather supplies, solicit corporate donations, and create films targeted at motivating potential volunteers.  Shanna’s ability to see the humanity in others has allowed her to create moving content from these disaster situations. Her videos have been integral in recruiting on-the-ground volunteers and necessary aid for these disasters.

Between September 2016 and December 2016, Forrestall Consulting raised $150,000 in resources and cash donations to assist flood victims with recovery though Launch Louisiana due to the 2016 floods.  

During a natural disaster, Shanna feels that it’s important to focus on low-income areas first, as the people living in these areas can sadly be the first to be forgotten. Shanna explained to Envision Kindness that she tries to mobilize her team and others to work with special needs individuals, the elderly and veterans when doing her on-the-ground disaster relief efforts.   Shanna also frequently hires her camera crew from Actors for Autism, an organization that works to empower those who are on the autistic spectrum.

On top of their disaster relief efforts, Forrestall Consulting is constantly looking for new projects to get involved in. After taking a trip to Honduras with her father as a young girl, and seeing poverty up close, Shanna has made it a priority to help those in need.  Shanna recently organized a large art sale donation with international artists and she serves as the Glendale Hills Launch charity events coordinator.

Inspired by the work of Forrestall Consulting?  Think about how you can turn your passion into action. You can be the difference you want to see in the world.

Cultivating Local Kindness with We Olive Pasadena

Kind Business #17

Nice Work! When entering We Olive Pasadena, customers are greeted by the welcoming smiles of We Olive staff and the intoxicating aromas of locally sourced olive oil, vinaigrettes and wines. Owner Ervin Galvan is extremely passionate about the company’s quality products and providing local residents with healthy and delicious foods. But these products are not the only thing Galvan is passionate about; he is also dedicated to supporting the flourishing community around him. The company is constantly working to engage the residents of Pasadena and doing what they can to provide support. To Galvan, doing well and going good go hand in hand.

Galvan expresses in the “Our Neighborhood” blog that “Pasadena is an excellent home for We Olive because our values directly reflect what this city is all about. We focus on being involved in the community, providing a comfortable and educational atmosphere for shoppers, and an experience that is unique and exciting.” We Olive of Pasadena translates this community passion into initiatives that strengthen the city as a whole. One such event is We Olive’s Sunday Yoga and Mimosas. This initiative, put on in partnership with Lili yoga, donates proceeds once a month to homeless children in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). This program supports 13,000 homeless students in in the LA area and works to maximize access to educational, social and enrichment programs for students.

The company also works to support organizations doing good work in Pasadena. Galvan has made it his mission to support those most in need of kindness. He frequently donates goods to local organizations including the Pasadena Humane Society, Outward Bound Adventures, and Friends in Deed which provides supportive services to homeless and at-risk Pasadena residents. Galvan is always on the lookout for new opportunities to get involved in the community.

Though Pasadena is their focus, the company also gets involved in national disaster relief causes outside of the community. We Olive Pasadena contributed to the Louisiana Flood relief efforts last year. They held an incredibly successful Mardi-Gras event in 2016 to aid those heavily impacted by the flooding in that region.  Most recently, Galvan held a fundraiser weekend in response to the growers who were affected by the devastating fires in Northern California.

Businesses like We Olive Pasadena are leading examples of Capitalism with a Conscious. Be it large initiatives responding to natural disasters or involvement with local nonprofits such as Actors for Autism, We Olive Pasadena is an agent of positive change.

If you or those you love are in the Los Angeles/Pasadena area, stop on by and experience the kindness of We Olive first hand. Not in Southern California? Cultivate kindness within your communities and nominate other Kind Businesses supporting local development!