Positive Somebody Wins Most Inspirational Video of the Year at the 14th Annual Deucey Awards
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Some stories start with a business plan. Others start with a personal experience that sparks a mission. For Jenny, founder of Positive Somebody, that mission grew out of her own childhood.

At the 14th Annual Deucey Awards, Positive Somebody was recognized with the Most Inspirational Video of the Year Award, a reflection of both the organization’s impact and the story behind it. But the award is only part of the story. The real story is about helping children understand their emotions, build healthy coping skills, and discover that their feelings matter.

It’s a mission rooted in experience, fueled by compassion, and growing across Michigan.
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Turning Personal Challenges Into Purpose

Jenny openly shares that growing up wasn’t always easy. As a child, she struggled with emotional regulation and undiagnosed ADHD. School was often difficult, and many of the tools available today simply weren’t part of the conversation.

“I struggled in school. I had ADHD and I struggled with that and I was undiagnosed ADHD as a child,” Jenny explained.

Like many children, she wasn’t taught how to identify emotions or develop healthy coping skills. Looking back, she realized how much of a difference those lessons could have made.

When she became a parent, she made a decision. She wanted her children to have the tools she never had. As she taught her children about emotional regulation, she found herself learning alongside them.

“I wanted to make sure that I taught them how to regulate their emotions, and I kind of learned alongside them.”

That experience eventually grew into Positive Somebody, a nonprofit dedicated to helping children develop emotional awareness, resilience, and positive coping strategies.

What started around one family’s kitchen table has now expanded into classrooms and communities across Michigan.
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Teaching Emotional Skills Before They’re Needed

The work Positive Somebody does is simple in concept but powerful in practice. The organization helps children understand what they’re feeling, why they’re feeling it, and what they can do when emotions become overwhelming.

Rather than waiting until a child is in crisis, Positive Somebody focuses on prevention and education. Their programs equip children with practical tools they can use every day—whether they’re experiencing anxiety, frustration, sadness, excitement, or uncertainty.

In a world where mental health conversations are becoming increasingly important, Positive Somebody is helping young people build skills that can serve them for a lifetime.
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The Award-Winning Video

When Positive Somebody earned the opportunity to create a professional video, the goal wasn’t simply to make something that looked good.

The goal was to tell the story. As a smaller nonprofit, communicating their mission quickly and effectively can often be a challenge. The finished video became a powerful tool that helps supporters, sponsors, educators, and community members understand exactly why the work matters.

Today, the video is featured on their website, shared through social media, and included in sponsorship outreach efforts.

“Having that video just explains to people what we do, and then they get more excited, and we get more sponsorships because of it.”

The impact has been tangible. Businesses and supporters who watch the video gain a clearer understanding of the organization’s mission, often leading to additional sponsorships and support for Positive Somebody programs.

The video didn’t just win an award. It became a tool that helps fuel the organization’s future.
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A Collaborative Effort

Like many nonprofit success stories, the video was the result of teamwork. Jenny credits the entire production process for creating an environment where everyone felt comfortable sharing their stories. One standout contributor was Harper, a Michigan State University psychology student who interned with Positive Somebody.

While stepping in front of the camera can be intimidating, Harper embraced the challenge and grew throughout the process. The experience became more than a video shoot. It became an opportunity to build confidence, develop new skills, and contribute to a project with lasting impact.

For Jenny, one of the biggest takeaways was seeing how supportive collaboration can transform an intimidating process into an empowering one.
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Growing Across Michigan

While the award is exciting, Positive Somebody’s focus remains on the future. The organization continues to expand programs designed to help children build emotional resilience and healthy coping skills.

One of those initiatives is the Positive Pack Program, which has now reached dozens of schools across Michigan. The program provides resources and tools that help students develop emotional awareness and practical coping strategies.

Another growing initiative is the Weather Within Program, a social-emotional learning curriculum that helps children connect emotions to weather patterns. Sunny might represent happiness. Rainy could represent sadness. Windy might represent anxiety. Stormy could represent frustration or anger. Using familiar concepts helps children identify emotions and understand that feelings naturally change over time.

“You don’t want to be upset, like stormy or anxious, like windy or sad, like rainy all the time. So we really do teach tools to make sure that they’re feeling sunny.” The approach is relatable, accessible, and effective—meeting children where they are and giving them language to describe what they’re experiencing.
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More Than an Award

Winning the Most Inspirational Video of the Year Award is an incredible accomplishment, but the recognition reflects something larger. It highlights a nonprofit that is helping children navigate life’s challenges with confidence and resilience. It recognizes a founder who transformed personal struggles into meaningful action. And it celebrates a growing movement focused on emotional wellness, positive coping skills, and creating brighter futures for young people.

Positive Somebody’s story is proof that when people share authentic experiences, powerful things happen. Communities rally behind important work. Children gain access to resources they need. And a mission that began with one person’s determination can grow into something that impacts thousands.

That’s what makes this award special. It’s not just recognition for a video.