Last week we received a touching story from one of our clients, Jason Fabio, owner of Ispiri, a design-build firm in Minneapolis.  Long story short, a young boy, named Drew, 14 years old, having had over 60 medical procedures and surgeries in his young life, was given the chance to Make-A-Wish by the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a nonprofit foundation that grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical condition. Drew’s wish was unusual and his mother doubted it could be fulfilled.

Drew’s wish was to have a backyard hangout space where he, his friends and family could enjoy. You see Drew had spent more time in hospitals than in his home and so when he was home, he envisioned a gathering space where he could hang out.  The Make-A-Wish Foundation was a little worried because this was not the usual wish for a trip, swing set, playhouse; it was a wish that required resources they did not have or know.

Jason’s wife, Stacey, was friends with Drew’s mom and heard about the wish. She talked to Jason and before you know it Jason had rallied his construction community in Minneapolis to build the hangout space.  The designers sat with Drew to create the design, which would cost over $20,000 if done the way Drew wanted it.  The Make-A-Wish Foundation’s budget was $6,000. The community rallied with the funds and workers and Drew’s hangout space was built.

Jason sent us the newspaper article about Drew’s story. The subject line of his email to us was, “This is what Ispiri is all about!”

From the outside, Ispiri is described as a design-build firm but from the inside, its passion and purpose is to create living spaces that inspire beauty and relaxation. This very special project was not only a way of giving back to the community and doing something for someone very special but it was a way for the employees of Ispiri to put into action its real raison d’être (sole or ultimate purpose).

What’s your Company’s raison d’être?  Do you get to do it every day? If not, why not? How can you bring a little bit of it into everything you do, every day?

“What’s your Personal raison d’être?  Are you doing it every day? If not, why not? How can you bring a little bit of it into everything you do, every day?

Do what you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.”

Confucius