WHAT DOES “A NETWORK
FOR GRATEFUL LIVING” (ANG*L) DO? 

We support people and organizations who are interested in learning more about the practice of grateful living as a global ethic and its potential to increase happiness, inspire generosity, and restore Earth’s social and ecological fabric through reverence for nature, intergenerational respect, interfaith dialogue, and awareness of opportunities to be of service.  

I. Current ANG*L Services

Historically, ANG*L has been primarily a virtual service organization and has been extraordinarily successful in providing support services via its interactive website:  Gratefulness.org. Our online services reach more than 24,500 people daily.  More than 32,500 people subscribe to the monthly ANG*L Newsletter, and well over eleven million virtual candles have been lit from 243 countries and territories.  The website offers, free of charge, twelve teaching modules or “topics” which illustrate how gratefulness can impact our lives and how it permeates and informs all experience. Each “topic” contains an introduction, “practice sessions,” links to special “features” which invite people to experience gratefulness in various ways, and links to resources on other websites.

        A. Topics

To sample the website teaching modules, follow these links:

        B. Practice Sessions

Everyone knows what it means to be grateful...or do we? There's a certain kind of knowing that comes only from doing. Through each practice session, website visitors deepen their understanding of gratefulness and, better yet, send it out in ripples, transforming the world. For example, Strengthening Your Inner Child is a practice that shows people step-by-step how to look at familiar things with fresh eyes. During each practice they have an opportunity to read and share their experiences with others through one of our Message Boards.  Follow these links to try out these sessions yourself:

• Grief and Gratefulness
• Gratefulness for Water
• Finding Guidance through the Labyrinth
• Count Your Blessings
• Being Grateful for Your Uniqueness
• Deepening Your Sense of Belonging
• Practicing gratefulness in all circumstances
• Exploring the Heart of Your Spiritual Journey
• Strengthening Your Inner Child Through Gratefulness
• How can I find inner peace through gratefulness?
• The Practice of Using Your Nose
• Harvesting the Past Gratefully
• How can I create peace in our world through gratefulness?
• How do animals teach gratefulness?
• How can I practice awareness of angels?
• Practicing gratitude for the marvels of the body 
  

        C. Features:

Features, our main interactive presentations, invite people to experience gratefulness in a variety of ways:  through art, music, literature, ritual, and history.  You may follow the links below to explore each feature.

D.  In addition to the comprehensive online grateful-living resources above, ANG*L currently offers the following services:

• Responding to on-line questions about how the practice of grateful living affects personal and global concerns and a variety of other topics.

• Designing and leading workshops and retreats that increase people's awareness of gratefulness as a tool for personal healing and compassion towards others while learning a lifelong practice.

• Coordinating ANG*L events which feature Br. David Steindl-Rast and other highly regarded presenters.

• Partnering with other organizations and institutions that want to explore how gratefulness can transform and energize their own work and mission.

• Supporting local groups studying the practice of grateful living.

• Promoting public awareness of gratefulness as a power for change in areas such as ecology, religious tolerance, and intergenerational respect via radio and TV interviews, newspapers and magazines.

• Providing logistical support for Br. David’s teaching and travel which includes: Preparing personal responses to inquiries from around the world, addressing questions about Br. David’s availability for interviews, speaking engagements, and writing projects.

• Assisting Brother David with publications, maintenance of his audio and video archives, and his personal and professional correspondence.

• Assuring ANG*L’s fiscal sustainability via fundraising campaigns, a major donor program, an endowment program, and grant funding for aide in jump-starting certain initiatives.

• Managing, supporting and mentoring more than 30 volunteers who regularly contribute their time and energy to ANG*L’s work.

II.  The following is a list of initiatives that are an integral part of ANG*L’s plans for the future:

• Establishment of ANG*L major donor and endowment programs within the context of a ten-year overarching fund-raising strategy.

• Creation of a signature multimedia “The World of ANG*L” presentation which would succinctly tell the story of what ANG*L does and the value of grateful living. The presentation would be designed for educational, public relations and fundraising purposes. 

• A comprehensive evaluation of the website to make sure we are as effective as possible in our outreach.
• Further exploration of the relationship between the environment and the practice of grateful living
• Development of an on-going “Gratefulness in Business” project which explores the prospects and potential benefits of incorporating the practice of grateful living into the business arena.
• Development of an on-going “Youth and Gratefulness” program for introducing grateful-living principles to young people in grades K-12.

10/27/2010