Wellington Welcomes Sara Lahey and Love’n Aid Project!

Wellington Welcomes Sara Lahey and Love’n Aid Project!

The city of Wellington receives a wealth of inspiration and an opportunity to deliver a message of love with the world.

Just after New Zealand's biggest sporting event hits, with thousands of fans embracing the passion and energy of Sevens rugby and just days after celebrations for Waitangi Day… a new celebration is in town!

Hunting Happiness Project founder, Sara Lahey has a gift for Welly! This Saturday, February 9th from 11am-2pm, during an otherwise typical Saturday, a team of volunteers will be delivering a maximum dose of fun, love and kindness to the community and visitors of the Cuba Street Mall. Find their “Love’n Aid” stand with cheerful volunteers in signature shirts, near the bucket fountain, ready to let you know how wonderful you are, give hugs, high fives, and give away free gifts and services donated by local businesses. People of all ages welcome! It’s all done in the spirit of setting an example for a happier more peaceful world.

Lahey’s Hunting Happiness Project has been inspiring happiness, helping those in need and building sustainable community cultures in her native USA since 2010. “It was time to take Love’n Aid on tour.” Lahey says she was inspired to start this first international tour of Love’n Aid in Wellington. “I’ve never been to New Zealand, but I often feel I belong in the shire,” says Lahey smiling.

A bit too tall to be of hobbit stature, but certainly a spirit to match, Lahey will tour through Australia and finish the tour in Brisbane in March. “This is the first tour of many. We are being invited to inspire communities all over the world. I am honored and excited to launch the first international tour in Wellington.”

Lahey was so inspired by the warm welcome from the community of Wellington, she added another event. Sunday, February 10th Lahey has organized the production of a short video called “With Love From Wellington.” People will line up to express their wishes for the world on paper and then all stand together to create a massive heart shape. “Everybody has a wish for the world. Everybody has the power to help make it happen.”

Hunting Happiness Project USA-based organization is entirely volunteer-based. Gifts are generously donated by businesses that have taken the opportunity to express their values and give back to their community. Volunteers from many walks of life line up to be a part of these event. Volunteers are also on call to help people get the aid they may need: homeless shelters, food banks, and employment assistance and more.

These Love’n Aid events are supporting individuals in need, creating opportunities for community members to come together and inspiring individuals to step up and participate in creating stronger, happier community culture.

Lahey says, “There are two kinds of sufferings. Suffering that is easy to see and suffering that isn’t as obvious. We’re here to serve everyone!” A few months ago, Lahey was awarded Hero of Forgiveness by the Worldwide Forgiveness Alliance and presented at TEDx on the topic of ‘The Art and Science of Happiness’ at Yale University, where she shared the stage with fellow happiness experts including Gretchen Rubin, author of the best selling book The Happiness Project, MIT professor Rosalind Picard, advisor to the King of Bhutan and others. For more information: www.tedxnewhaven.com

Sara says she only hopes that people “will remember what it feels like and give back to someone else.” She calls her mission “A World Happiness Movement.”

About The Hunting Happiness Project

From a desire to bring profound healing to the world, Sara Lahey founded the Hunting Happiness Project in 2010.

The organization has established a number of initiatives, which include short films intended to inspire and world famous Love’n Aid stands, which are modeled after a child’s lemonade stand, but instead of lemonade are serving refreshing doses of Love and Aid for people in need.

Lahey’s signature “Love’n Aid” stands are known for encouraging people to engage in acts of kindness. A popular menu item is writing and receiving anonymous letters of friendship.

The Hunting Happiness Project’s Love’n Aid stand was selected to participate in the 2011 Pepsi Challenge, where the Hunting Happiness Project began their “vote for love” campaign. Love’n Aid has been seen on Kickstarter and shared on NPR and is now raising funds for their first international tour through Indiegogo.

A recent film project “The Magic of Happiness” with interviews of magicians and their ideas on the topic of happiness will become available soon. The Love’n Aid stand will be touring New Zealand, Australia and Taiwan in January of 2013.

This inspirational initiative is contributing to a kinder, happier, and more peaceful world.

About TEDx

TEDx was created in the spirit of TED’s mission: “ideas worth spreading.” The program is designed to give communities, organizations and individuals the opportunity to stimulate dialogue through TED-like experiences at more local levels.

TED’s celebrated format is a suite of short, carefully prepared talks, demonstrations and performances on a wide range of subjects to foster learning, inspiration and wonder — and to provoke conversations that matter.

TEDx events are meant to spark deep conversation and connections. TED is also known for bias-free programming, lacking of any commercial, religious or political agenda.

About Sara Lahey

California resident, Sara Lahey founded the Hunting Happiness Project in 2010 and is celebrated for inspiring happiness and acts of kindness among the communities of the greater San Francisco bay area and west coast.

Sharp, funny, and vivacious, Sara Lahey won’t give up until she puts a smile on your face. Since founding the Hunting Happiness Project in 2010, she has pioneered what she calls a “World Happiness Movement.”

Sara’s aspiration to create happiness started with childhood reflections on the human condition.

Sara studied nursing and political science before discovering her true calling in fostering global happiness.

Lahey recently presented at TEDx on the topic of ‘The Art and Science of Happiness’ at Yale University. She shared the stage with fellow happiness experts including Gretchen Rubin, author of the best selling book The Happiness Project, MIT professor Rosalind Picard, advisor to the King of Bhutan and others.

Lahey was also one of four people honored this year by the Worldwide Forgiveness Alliance as a “Hero of Forgiveness, Reconciliation and Peace.” This award is bestowed upon those who have courageously and dramatically stepped forward to demonstrate and exemplify the concept of forgiveness, reconciliation and peace.

ENDS

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