David Markham recently bought six boxes—300 copies—of YES! Magazine to give away. That caught our attention! What did he plan to do with so many copies? It turns out David’s been giving away YES! issues for years. When he learned he could buy whole boxes of back issues, he saw a chance to expand his “seeding” project.

Why do you give away YES! issues?

To spread good news! So much good is being done in the world but most of what we see in the media is negative. YES! is different and deserves broader exposure. 

I fancy myself the Johnny Appleseed of positive journalism.

What prompted that?

I am a psychiatric social worker in private practice. People come to see me who are anxious and depressed. Many have lost a sense of meaning and purpose in their lives. When their symptoms start to lift, I ask if they’ve thought of volunteering. Most draw a blank. 

With YES! I can say, “Maybe you’d want to check out this magazine. There are a lot of good ideas in here about how we can make the world a better place by working together.” It allows me to move beyond pie-in-the-sky psychobabble and give them real-life examples of how people are finding meaning and purpose in their lives by working with others in practical and concrete ways. 

How will you distribute 300 copies? 

I’m leaving copies in my local coffee shop, putting them in Little Free Libraries, putting them in office waiting rooms, giving them to people who might be interested in the topic covered in that issue. I’m making it up as I go!

Why do you support YES! as a monthly donor?

I see YES! Magazine on the cutting edge of human evolution—facilitating the development of a more positive world through mutual problem solving and by lifting up great ideas at the local level. The world needs that work and that vision. I want to help however I can.   

You might even want to start “seeding” YES! Magazine throughout your world.

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Who Will Carry on Your Values?

Throughout your life you’ve worked to make this world better—a world where all people live in dignity and Earth’s vitality is preserved for generations to come. That’s the world you want to leave for our children and grandchildren.

There’s much to be done to bring about that world. Who will carry your work into the future?

One of the best ways to make sure your work continues is to include YES! in your estate plan. By making a Legacy gift, you’ll ensure that YES! inspires people long into the future, and that others continue to build the world you’ve worked so hard to achieve.

You don’t need to be wealthy. You don’t need to write a check now. Just let me know that you’d like more information about joining our YES! Legacy Circle.

You can contact me at [email protected] or 206-842-0216 ext. 203, or go to yesmagazine.org/legacy.

Robin Simons, YES! Development Manager