We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Diane B. Nutz. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Diane B. below.
Diane B. , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s kick things off with talking about how you serve the underserved, because in our view this is one of the most important things the small business community does for society – by serving those who the giant corporations ignore, small business helps create a more inclusive and just world for all of us.
After working with families who had children/adults with unique needs for 35 years, the pandemic gave me the realization that struggling parents are usually ignored. My husband and I had retired and went on a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Midland, Texas. We hit eleven months on our mission of working with young single adults, teaching classes on strengthening marriage and family lessons, prison ministry, teaching institute, and I even got to lead Zumba as a certified instructor. We were busy and enjoying the rewards of our service when the pandemic hit. After numerous calls and notifications from parents who had children with special needs regarding their struggles of not having any “me time” at all, I checked many resources searching for something that would assist them. I did not come up with much and knew there lacked a service for these inspiring parents. I had zero experience running a nonprofit or even helping with one. The last 40 years of my life had been focused on working to help support our family with eight children, and I have no regrets of those fulfilling and rewarding times! I sure love being a wife and mother. My time was more open now after my husband, Dan and I had retired and became empty nesters. Thus began my journey of forming an essential nonprofit, Pamper Our Parents-Uplift those who uplift. It has evolved over the past three years. Not only have we gifted the struggling parents (all over U.S.) of children with special needs, but also other parents who have dire challenges going on in their lives. Sometimes parents will apply on our website but most often friends or family nominate the struggling parents https://www.pamperourparent.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
As a young child my father was an operational manager of three thrift stores in Southern California where profits went to “the retarded.” Thankfully, terminology has changed. When visiting his business with him I would have opportunities to get to talk with these “unique” individuals. They were quite amusing to me! Some were a lot smarter than they appeared, as I judged on appearance specifically as a child and teen. One thing I noticed is they were content, always seemingly happy. Some would tell stories I knew were not true, but whatever they made up in their minds was actuality to them! I thought that would be a fun way to live life. As a young child my father was an operational manager of three thrift stores in Southern California where profits went to “the retarded.” Thankfully, terminology has changed. When visiting his business with him I would have opportunities to get to talk with these “unique” individuals. They were quite amusing to me! Some were a lot smarter than they appeared, as I judged on appearance specifically as a child and teen. One thing I noticed is they were content, always seemingly happy. Some would tell stories I knew were not true, but whatever they made up in their minds was actuality to them! I thought that would be a fun way to live life.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
One of our most successful social media fund raisers was at the start of POP. A young mother of two was diagnosed with terminal cancer for the second time. Of course, this happened during the two months her husband was unemployed, so they had no health insurance. Physical therapy would only accept them if they had cash. We posted a need on our home personal page as well as Pamper Our Parents-Uplift those who uplift page on Facebook. With the beautiful pictures of her family and encouraging all to share the essential need to help them, I was blown away by the many who joined in assisting! Within six days we raised over $6,000. People from around the U.S. joined, and it brought tears to my eyes. Our nonprofit has always given the entire amount for a specific cause that people donate to. My husband and I use our personal funds often and we have no paid staff.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
After working with unique individuals for 35 years, I began writing my first book “Look IN Me-A life shaped by the most overlooked.” Finding that publishing was pricey I decided to self-publish. I had amusing and inspiring stories to share. With no technical schooling I was becoming discouraged after one year. Even our children with experience, at times, could not help. But most of the time they did attempt to figure things out for me. I could sense a tinge of frustration now and then. I appreciated their willingness even though mom was relentless. Then I hit a wall. I was done. But there was Dan, my best friend forever. He laughed at me when I vented to him. “You know you can’t quit, Diane! You will figure it out, again. You need to.” He calls it tenacity. Or sometimes he calls it being stubborn. Without his support, I may have quit. That first book, to write and self-publish, took 18 months. I was not done though. (I had mentioned to Dan I was.) Then…a title came into my head, and I was writing again. “The UP-side of Down-Unlocking Hidden Gifts” was written and self-published in five months. Many families who raised children with Down syndrome were interviewed for this book. After these two books is when I started my nonprofit. Since that time, I have written (almost) two books, using a pen name. These are about personal experiences I have had in my almost 70 years of life. My desire is to give others struggling with trials I went through, hope. There is always hope because of our loving Savior’s Atonement.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.pamperourparents.info/
- Facebook: POP:Pamper Our Parents-Uplift those who uplift
Image Credits
Dan Nutz took photos