Meet Beth Thorp | Philanthropist/Author/Speaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Beth Thorp and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Beth, how does your business help the community?

We make a positive social impact through the Mitchell Thorp Foundation a public 501c3 organization. Whose mission is to; Support families whose children suffer from life-threatening illnesses, diseases, and disorders by providing financial, emotional, and resources to their desperate situation.

We support children and families with different ethnic backgrounds, with different income levels, with different unique illnesses and diseases. No two children or families are alike. We customize the service of help to what would bring the most relief to them. Bills do not stop when the child gets a diagnosis. Often one parent has to leave their job to care for the child which ultimately affects their income. Ongoing financial assistance helps families keep their head above water and are able to focus their attention on their child during these difficult times.

Philanthropy may be the best way to introduce positive social impact. Your business can donate to the social causes which it supports. By developing a culture of “giving back”, businesses can not only build a strong sense of community but they can also increase their own visibility in the community by partnering with a non-profit. Mitchell Thorp Foundation was awarded 2022 Community Impact Award by the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?

As Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Mitchell Thorp Foundation, I wear many hats. I’m a philanthropist, leader, author, faith influencer and speaker. The world of philanthropy came to me through the tragedy of losing my precious son Mitchell to an undiagnosed mysterious illness that took me and my husband across the United States in and out of hospitals and doctors’ offices looking for answers. After five hard long years, and still with no understanding of the cause, Mitchell passed away.

I have such strong faith in God, but at the time my faith was tested. It was in my deepest pain of grief that the Lord spoke to my spirit saying, “this is not the end only the beginning.” At the time I did not know what He meant by that until my husband came home with a similar message as he sat in church one day. I felt such a strong fire within my spirit that the enemy messed with the wrong mama and papa bear that fueled me to do something. I finally came too from my pain of grief and told my husband that I don’t want to do anything else in this world unless it has eternal significance.

You could say that this was my transformational life-changing moment. What the enemy meant to steal and destroy God had another plan. See God knows how to take a tragedy and turn it for good to Glorify Him in the end. My husband and I both knew that there must be many other families struggling and children who are fighting for their tomorrows.

So, what I am most proud of in August 2009 the Mitchell Thorp Foundation was born as a public 501(c)3 organization. The mission is to, support families whose children suffer from life-threatening illnesses, diseases, and disorders, by providing financial, emotional, and resource support to their desperate situation.

Here we are thirteen years later the foundation has given back over $2.6 million dollars back into the community to help children and families in crisis. We accomplish this through our four programs: Medical and Home Assistance, Healing and Rehabilitation, Wheelchair Conversion Vans, and Youth Leadership Council, training student’s 8th-12th grade in servant leadership skills and learning to give back to those less fortunate.

Our foundation is set apart from others as we make a larger grant donation to help ease the financial burden plus each family knows that once their application is accepted, they become a part of our Mitchell Thorp Foundation family. Which means they will get lots of love and support along with a foundation approved grant for the family to use toward their bills under our programs, In addition a fundraising platform to help raise even more dollars if their situation is long term. To learn more: www.mitchellthorp.org

Getting to where I am today, takes a lot of perseverance and determination. It’s also by surrounding myself with great people who believe in the mission. I’m humbled that the Foundation has been recognized nationwide for its impact and I for my leadership, with multiple awards. Among the most recent, Community Impact Award 2022 in addition in 2020 Non-Profit of the Year by the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce. Distinguished Humanitarian award presented by Marquis Who’s Who in America. Leadership award by ABC 10 News and Lead San Diego. Starfish Leadership Award given to those who inspire, engage, and lead, presented by City of Carlsbad. Professional Woman of the Year from National Association of Professional Women. It inspires me and my team to know that what we are doing is truly making an impact.

Was it easy? Starting a non-profit organization like any business has many learning and growth curves. It truly takes an entrepreneurial spirit and a strong passion for the mission. Starting with nothing but a God given vision. I got busy writing a business plan, with our mission, vision, and value statement. Next, I needed to recruit talented people to sit on my Board, so I began searching for like- minded professionals who were talented in different gifting’s than myself. We can’t be good in everything so align yourself with people who are strong in areas that you are not. The Board of Directors need a strong belief in the mission and the impact it will make in the lives of children and families in the community.

Thirdly like any non-profit you’re in the business of raising money to support the cause. My team and I get busy organizing and putting on our events, and asking for corporate and individual donations. In honor of Mitchell’s legacy, we continued with the Warrior Spirt 5K Run/Walk and Family Festival that we hold every year on the first Saturday in February. Followed by the Grand Slam 4 Mitchell baseball tournament, since this was Mitchell’s favorite sport. We hold this every September since this is childhood cancer awareness month.

Overcoming challenges are a part of life, instead of letting difficulties draw me into worry, I bring God into every situation. The more extreme my circumstances, the more likely I am to see God’s Power and Glory at work in and through it. One thing about running a business is that it is always changing and revolving, so it is good to be flexible and pivot when needed. I’m always viewing the foundation from the 30,000-foot level, this is the WHY vision, seeing the big picture as I stepped out in faith to take the risks for the Mitchell Thorp Foundation to grow and prosper.

When Covid-19 took over the world, it devastated many businesses, and nonprofits. Our 5K Run/Walk was the last event to take place before everything was shut down and all events had to be canceled. Talk about pivoting, business as we knew it changed and we had to accept the Virtual Zoom call world. I did not panic, as I knew I could use this time of solitude to finally write our story that has been in my spirit for so long.

Being the faithful woman that I am, I heard God speak to my spirit again telling me, “Daughter it’s time to write our story.” When God speaks, I move. I was amazed as every day before I sat down to write, I would pray asking the Holy Spirit to speak through me. It began to pour out of me like living water, from my heart to my mind to my fingers as I wrote this beautiful inspirational story, titled ANEW Creation.

It took me 15 months to write the manuscript. With my very first book proposal in hand, I submitted it to a big New York publishing house, who wrote me a letter congratulating me that my manuscript proposal “ANEW Creation” been accepted by Morgan James Publishing. Proceeds from the book go back to the Mitchell Thorp Foundation to help more and more children. Wow! God does work in awe inspiring ways.

Book is released worldwide wherever books are sold on June 21, 2022. To get an autographed copy order your book through www.anewcreation.org.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

After living in this region for 28 years, family and friends love to visit as there is so much to do in the finest city I know. Our first stop after we pick people up at the airport is to eat lunch or dinner at C-Level restaurant as the food is excellent and you cannot beat the view of the water looking at the beautiful city of San Diego.

Some of the highlights I always offer our guests is to take advantage of our beaches and board walks to take a walk on or bring beach chairs and umbrella and enjoy the beaches in Carlsbad or Coronado Island.

If it’s baseball season, being married to an ex-pro ballplayer we make a point to take guests to a San Diego Padre Game to explore America’s #1 ballpark, plus the food and drink options are spectacular.

Because I love the water, I would take my guests on a sunset sailing experience on the San Diego Bay. Afterward, take them to Little Italy in San Diego for dinner and drinks.

If our guests have children, well the options are plentiful. A day pass to explore San Diego Zoo, or Safari Park and of course Legoland and Sea World.

If relaxation and pampering is what my guests needed I would suggest taking them for a day spa treatment at either Omni LaCosta Resort and Spa or the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Golf Club & Spa.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Mitchell Thorp

Website: www.mitchellthorp.org

Instagram: mitchellthorpfoundation

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mitchell-thorp-foundation/

Twitter: beth@mitchellthorp.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mitchellthorpfoundation/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6EoVP0tQZhYY7_Ai_WROjw

Other: www.anewcreation.org https://www.instagram.com/beth.thorp.author/ https://www.facebook.com/beth.thorp.31

Image Credits
Images provided by Mitchell Thorp Foundation