Have you ever felt like you were ahead of God only to find out that He was the one who was waiting on you? When I had the idea for the 626 Foundation it was like stepping into a board room to tell everyone my idea and being surprised to see God already sitting at the head of the table.

I don’t know why it’s that way. I want to feel like I’m right beside Him every step of the process instead of running way far ahead or falling behind.

However, this analogy is wrong because God is not a man. He is all encompassing and He is outside time. He may live inside of me, but He is also outside the container of my mind’s capacity to understand Him.

He was already in the meeting. It was His idea a long time ago. He just waited until that specific day to put it in my heart (though I know the seeds had been planted long ago).

So what is the 626 Foundation?

The 626 Foundation is a 501(c)(3) that offers no-cost interior design services to families affected by life’s unexpected tragedies; including but not limited to divorce, miscarriage, widowhood, illness, and death.

I know first hand what it’s like to have the home become more heartache than refuge. I think we talk superficially about creating an environment in our home that evokes positive feelings. Often times than not, people have great woundings and their houses become prisons or too much to manage.

Our goal is to provide a better quality of life in the aftermath of life’s adversities. It is our desire that our services will help each family have more means and optimism about the future; this in turn would allow members to focus on cultivating love, support, and healing for themselves and their family.

We provide assistance by helping struggling individuals meet basic needs through two service areas. Thanks to your generous support, families chosen by The 626 Foundation are gifted with financial support and/or designed, decorated, and fully furnished space(s) at NO COST.

How did you start?

I think I was always doing this work. It started with our “fluffs”. My grandma taught me a long time ago about how to rework a space with no money. I learned how to best use what people already had and make a space that was beautiful and functional. I have been doing these Design Fluffs for my friends for a long time.

It wasn’t until after my divorce and buying this home décor store that I started to take on real design clients. What I didn’t expect were all the stories that came with each project.

Our Redeemed Reno is the perfect example. This house was their testimony and the work as designer took on a whole new meaning.

I see all of this as stepping stones to get to the birth of this foundation. It took my own heartache and the lessons learned with clients all along the way to realize the need for design with intention and purpose.

How is it funded?

Through products that are part of the 626 Collection on shopfromsusie.com and from donations. We plan to source these projects as best we can. I want to use the sponsorships from my platform for good. We will be counting on volunteers for labor and the design services will be donated by myself and my colleagues who want to help. Our hope is to contract with designers across the country.

We know makers and dealers who want to help and my greatest desire is that we will honor the loss of these people while giving them hope for the future. We do this by listening and by designing with intent and purpose.

I’ve learned to be resourceful and that is just another teaching from above to prepare me for this!

How can someone apply?

We are taking referrals and applications on our website, 626foundation.org! If you or someone you know could use the help, please apply!

If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to email me at susie@626foundation.org.