“Use your money to make your life count.” – Chris Brady
On October 14th, 2017, LIFE completed its largest charitable Life on Life Initiative to date. Thousands of LIFE Members gathered in Louisville, Kentucky to participate in a push-up contest to raise money for Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R.), a non-profit organization that rescues and rehabilitates children from sex trafficking.
The Life on Life project began in July of 2017, when All Grace Outreach spokesman, Chris Swanson, teamed up with O.U.R. Founder, Tim Ballard, and announced LIFE’s mission to raise $100,000 over the next 3 months. Despite being the fastest growing criminal enterprise in the world, child sex trafficking has received little attention in the media and public eye. That all changed when Ballard exposed the evils of this disgusting enterprise to thousands of caring and determined LIFE Members. After the announcement, it didn’t take long for LIFE Chairman of the Board, Orrin Woodward, to personally commit to supporting this cause and propose a fundraising challenge to the entire LIFE community to (instead) raise $1,000,000 for Operation Underground Railroad!
“LIFE has moved beyond building a business on purpose into building our purpose on business. Just as Christ came to earth to set the captives free, we have focused on setting people free financially. After hearing Tim Ballard’s heart-wrenching testimony, we knew the cause was worthy and righteous because it’s setting captive children free!” – Orrin Woodward
The Woodward Foundation committed to matching all funds raised dollar per dollar up to $500K, and the Brady Foundation committed to matching all funds raised by the LIFE Corporate Office employees. As expected, LIFE Members and corporate staff enthusiastically accepted the challenge and spent the next several months practicing their push-ups and securing pledges from friends and family for the October competition.
If you attended the event in October, you would have witnessed people from all walks of life, all ages, and all physical abilities participating in a push-up challenge with one goal in mind: to raise money in order to save helpless children who are being exploited and sold into sex slavery. The outpouring of support from everyone involved was truly inspiring.
Following the contest, on Saturday evening of the convention, LIFE announced the push-up contest winners in each of the below categories. Congratulations once again to all of these winners!
Most Money Raised
Male – Terry Szymanski
Female – Sia Mallios
Most Push-Ups Completed
Male – Adam York
Female – Kayla Hempe
Overall Winners
(won an all-expense paid mission trip with Chris Swanson in 2018)
Male – Kirk Birtles and Terry Szymanski
Female – Sia Mallios
The highlight of the evening was when LIFE CEO, Chris Brady, LIFE Chairman of the Board, Orrin Woodward, and AGO Spokesman, Chris Swanson, presented a check totaling $737,976 to O.U.R. representative, Matt Osborne, which was the current fundraising total at the time of the presentation.
“I was so blown away by the sheer goodness and generosity of everyone associated with LIFE and All Grace Outreach. It was amazing to see people from all walks of life and backgrounds, and representing many faiths, come together to do push-ups and raise funding and awareness for Operation Underground Railroad. Our operatives go into the deepest, darkest corners of the world and confront the worst of humanity to save exploited children. It was such an honor and pleasure to be with the best of humanity in Louisville, Kentucky.” – Matt Osborne (O.U.R. Senior Vice President for Rescue and Rehabilitation)
To date, LIFE has raised $811,540 for Operation Underground Railroad!
Here is what LIFE’s CEO and Creative Director, Chris Brady, had to say:
“This project has been an extreme contrast between ultimate evil and heartwarming good. The way the LIFE community united to help vanquish something as heinous as human trafficking truly embodies the ‘Making a Difference’ part of what we do. May the high profile of this project never fade, and may we never forget that there are people out there who desperately need our help.”
LIFE would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who was involved in making this Life on Life Initiative an overwhelming success! Whether you completed push-ups, pledged a participant, volunteered at the event, raised money, raised awareness, or generously donated, your support is saving the lives of children all over the world.
Brandon Perry says
This was one of the most amazing experiences in my time with Life
Sally Krammes says
It was just great to be a part of something that would help save kids, and a lot of fun!
Andrea Klubertanz says
What an awesome event and worthy cause! It really opens our eyes to the dangers around us and convicts us to do more and see more. Good people do great things with money!
Proud to contribute and challenge myself with 55 push-ups too. The energy in the crowd was infectious and so encouraging.
Sharon Hoffman says
PRAISE GOD!!!!
Trystan Willems says
This was amazing. i love helping people. i couldn’t do push ups, but i compromised and did sit ups in my wheelchair. i did 20 of them. i got really tired at 17, but the crowd cheered me on and told me i could do it. These are the most caring people I know. i raised over 1000.00.to help get these kids back. get out there and start helping people. You can do so much more. I love giving back. Life is the most rewarding company. It has also helped me become a better person with their information. Get involved.. .i am so thankful to be involved.
Kenny Brown says
I took part in the push up contest, but none of my pledgers got contacted. How do we resolve this?
Kristen Seidl says
Thanks for your participation Kenny! It was the responsibility of each Member to follow up with their pledgers with the number of push-ups they completed and direct them to where they can donate. You can still do this until December 15th. Thanks again for your support!
Greg says
Life giving Life to Children!
What greater feeling than to lay down your life for others, especially children in need. Many laid down their energy, their fears, their money, their time, their commitment, and showed the power of a community that comes together to do good.
This is a larger example of the Life on Life Initiatives that occur on an ongoing basis across the world. I am so proud to be a part of a team of people who are bringing Light into a many Dark parts of the world.
Chris Brady says
Thank you to everyone who has participated to this point. We truly appreciate all you are doing to help set these captives free. And may God bless our ongoing work to continue doing so together.
Chris Brady
Margaret Morris says
In Australia in November, we did our own Life on Life push up competition at our Centurions DOWNUNDER function and raised $4000 which was made as a donation to OUR. It was great fun and a priviledge to be part of such a worthwhile cause.
Dave Chatmon says
Outstanding!
I am so proud to be a part of this organization!
Keep Leading
Joe Neumann says
I also took part in the push-ups challenge I got in 22, and raised 472 dollars! Best thing I have ever done in my life! My mom was so proud of me as well saying your grandpa is smiling down on you right now!