“Have you lost your mind?” is a question that I have grown used to hearing. This question was most frequently asked when my husband Kelly and I quit our jobs, sold everything we owned and moved halfway around the globe to start a magazine. The question was repeated when we spent our life savings, borrowed money from friends and family and maxed out our credit cards to publish the premiere issue of NEED magazine. Yet to us, starting NEED was perfectly logical despite the fact that we had no experience in the publishing or humanitarian aid worlds. We believed that NEED would have a positive impact on people around the world, and we were right. Aid organizations highlighted in NEED report increased support, which allows them to better serve people in need. Day after day we hear feedback from readers about how much they appreciate the magazine. Educators share stories of entire classes being inspired by NEED. The feedback we get from everyone proves that we have truly found our niche.

In January 2008 we were riding high. NEED had just won several awards for design, photography and overall excellence. The magazine was also named “One of the 15 Hottest Launches of 2007.” A handful of volunteers working with a shoestring budget had accomplished the goal of any new magazine — survive the first year. Then disaster struck. On January 13, 2008, our office was burglarized and we lost everything. Sitting in our empty office a few days after the burglary, Kelly and I were considering quitting when the phone rang. It was an aid organization calling to inform us of the milestone they had reached because NEED readers supported them. The thought of quitting left our minds. We received hundreds of messages of support and encouragement from readers. In the end, the burglary is one of the best things that could have happened to us because it gave us the opportunity to understand how cherished NEED is to many.

This issue of NEED has been delayed by 8 months and we are honored that all of you have stuck by us throughout this tough time. It is our dream to help people in need, and many have joined us along the way. I want to thank our staff, because without their amazing talents and tireless dedication, NEED would not exist. Thank you to our three investors for believing in us. Thanks to our friends and family for supporting us even when you thought that we had lost our minds. Most of all I want to thank YOU, our readers — because without you NEED would not be possible. The NEED staff, investors and readers all have one thing in common: a sincere desire to make our world a better place for the dignified, hard-working people around the globe who want nothing more than to improve their lives. Thank you for allowing us to help them.

Spread Hope,
Stephanie Kinnunen
Editor in Chief and Co-Founder

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 21st, 2008 at 10:11 am and is filed under NEED Magazine. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.