A portion of all revenue will go to the following organizations as a spiritual offering: Black Women's Blueprint In 2008, a group of Black women organized to create a blueprint for liberation of Black women and girls. By centering and amplifying the experiences of Black women and girls across platforms from the United Nations to media to public policy, BWB is changing the discourse around power. BWB provides sexual assault trauma counseling and healing services, reproductive justice and maternal wellness, and convened the first Truth and Reconciliation Commission ever to focus on Black women and sexual violence. Now BWB is expanding its vision for truth, justice, healing, and reconciliation by building a Reconciliation Center to "create paths to peace, restoration, social, economic and environmental justice."
Why we support: Black Women's Blueprint says, "Healing and reconciliation has always required truth, accountability and action," and it is in this spirit that Druid Rising supports BWB. This is reparations - Catherine's spiritual program demands personal responsibility, including for the harms of white supremacy. Moreover, as a survivor of multiple traumas, supporting the healing of women and girls is central to Catherine's personal mission. By centering the healing of Black women and girls, who face extreme injustice in this arena, and following the vision and leadership of Black women, such as the founders of BWB, is foundational to global healing.
Toby Merrill Scholarship Toby Merrill had a vision to help change the lives of children and to make a difference through education. As a graduate of Franklin & Marshall College, where he served as a student athlete, Toby understood how his college experiences played a significant role in building his personal foundation. As the father of two children, he valued empowering young people to reach their full potential. Toby's 21-month journey with gastric cancer clarified his vision, which took the shape of this scholarship fund. Providing $9,700 year renewable over four years, The Toby Merrill Scholarship will be awarded to students who "excel in academics, athletics, leadership" and who "demonstrate high character traits as kindness and strength during times of adversity" with special consideration made for candidates experiencing "personal or family issues related to cancer or bereavement." In short, the scholarship supports young people who exemplify the values of Toby's life.
Why we support: As a financial services executive, Catherine was not accustomed to sharing her spiritual work in a public way and certainly not with colleagues like Toby. When his cancer recurred, Catherine's Guides demanded she show up for Toby in a full and authentic way. For many months, Catherine accompanied Toby as he engaged in deep spiritual work, wrestling with life's profound challenges as he prepared for his death and opening up to a transcendent understanding of his soul's work. Walking Toby to the edge of the river is one of the greatest privileges of Catherine's life. His gracious acceptance of her presence and intuitive guidance, lights the way for Catherine to show up authentically now as Druid Rising. Toby L. Merrill May 12, 1975 - August 12, 2016
The City of Portsmouth is on the homelands of the Abenaki people, who have ongoing cultural and spiritual connections to this area. According to Tribal oral tradition, Abenaki people have lived in the place now called New Hampshire for more than 12,000 years—since before Tribal memory. The Abenaki are part of a larger group of Indigenous people who called themselves Wabanaki or “People of the Dawn,” and form one of many communities connected by a common language family.