Editor’s Note: Millie McCoy, co-founder of the executive search firm of Gould.McCoy.Chadick.Ellig, retired in 2005 to enjoy riding and training her dressage horses, as well as time with her two grandsons.

I learned recently how something small can make a big difference and really make your day.

Since I have been very fortunate in my life, after I retired, I begin to look for ways to make a difference. I did not find it personally satisfying to be on boards or committees, especially where the focus was fund-raising.  I wanted to make a difference on a personal level.  One of the ways I have found to do that was sponsoring promising and deserving students.

Several years ago, I began to become aware of and concerned about the plight of women in Afghanistan, which has been at war for close to three decades. Through my reading and research, I was able to make contact with Charity Help International, which led to sponsoring Sitzia, a young woman in a Kabul, Afghanistan, orphanage. I look forward to and enjoy my regular e-mail communication with Sitzia, especially since she is very bright and a talented artist. Her art adorns all her letters to me.

I am proud of Sitzia. As one of the orphanage’s top students, she aspires to becoming a doctor to help the people of Afghanistan. Watching her growing proficiency in English and her enthusiasm for her studies is a reward all in itself. However this week there was another real eye-opener reward.

Andeisha Farid, the 26-year-old entrepreneur and founder of the original orphanage in 2001, was visiting the United States. The visit was part of her program as a recent graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 women project, a business education program. During her visit, Andeisha briefed me on my student. I asked her if there was anything they needed that I could help with. (I sent books last year, but it was unclear if they were really useful.) Andeisha responded by saying that winter was coming. Donations were down due to the worldwide economy, so they had no money to purchase firewood. If they bought it now, it would be much cheaper. She said $50 would do, so I sent the money. A few weeks later, these photos and a letter arrived:

Dear Ms. Millington McCoy,

I am pleased to update you on the donation of amount $50 you made for firewood on 09-19-2009.

We used your donation to purchase in winter season firewood for orphanages. I attached the photos.

Thanks once again from your donation.

Best Regards,

Mohammad Aimal Azizi
Accountant for AFCECO

Click here to see the photos that accompanied this letter.

Click here to learn more about AFCECO.