“Empowering Youth and Educators with Mindful Life Skills and Nutrition Curriculum”
November 11, 2021
Dear Friends,
It has been 15 years since we first rolled out our yoga mats, and it has been such a positive experience for all of us - Sean’s family, our teachers and volunteers, and all of the young people we’ve reached with our programs. Honoring our son by bringing his vision of yoga for at-risk kids to life has been a project far greater then we could have ever dreamed.
To give you an idea of our impact, the Sean O’Shea Foundation has served more than 75,000 children,
500 educators, over 150 schools and organizations. Our programs have also helped hundreds of children with cancer and eating disorders at Rady Children’s Hospital; hundreds of teens in juvenile detention; and taught hundreds of educator’s ways to incorporate mindfulness practices in their classrooms.
Our impact goes far beyond these statistics, but we share them today with you, who made them possible, because we have decided to step aside as a foundation to make room for a new generation of teachers ready and eager to teach mindfulness to those in greatest need. Sean was a true pioneer in bringing yoga & mindfulness to disadvantaged schools and at-risk kids. Fifteen years ago, it was not easy to find qualified and experienced yoga teachers to teach mindful yoga programs for youth, but that is not the case today. Today the field of mindful programs and yoga teachers has grown immeasurably.
Our hope is for Sean’s vision to continue through these teachers. Today, because of pioneers like Sean, many school districts offer mindfulness programs and trainings for their teachers, many classrooms and schools offer their students mindfulness rooms to de-stress. Hospitals recommend and offer mindfulness videos on their websites for their clients and for better staff health. The yoga and mindfulness field has grown by leaps and bounds over the past 15 years and science is finally recognizing it as an essential practice for thriving in mind, body and soul.
Thank you, Sean, for sharing your vision with your community and thanks to all our volunteers, Board members (Past and Present), yoga teachers, family, friends and donors. Because of your support, The Sean O’Shea Foundation was a huge success and accomplished its goal to fulfill Sean O’Shea’s vision. Now I challenge all those trained in mindfulness practices to reach out to those in greatest need and make a difference! We are true believers that one person can make a difference.
The Sean O’Shea Foundation will be officially dissolved before the end of the year but we will still offer free videos on our website, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube for you to use and share with students, family, friends, co-workers and anyone interested in practicing.
Thank you all for your incredible support. Thank you for believing in Sean’s vision. Thank you for believing in the Sean O’Shea Foundation.
Sincerely,
Gloria O’Shea & The SOSF Board of Directors
www.seanosheafoundation.org
