Today we’d like to introduce you to Rianne Sykes-Wenske.
Rianne, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
That’s a long story, but we will stick to the cliff notes. (Did I just age myself!?) I took the scenic route in life. I dropped out of high school and left home at 17 years old. I found myself on the wrong side of the road many times. I was 22 years old when my brother died by suicide and that only escalated the destructive behavior. By sheer grace , I woke up one morning and I found myself wanting more out of life. I have been in recovery since 2012. Turning my life around ignited a deep sense of gratitude and service that I had been seeking my whole life. I pursued a Social Work degree from Texas State University and graduated Magna Cum Laude at the age of 31 years old. Throughout my college career I worked full time and that included a few different opportunities to work with youth. I knew that my opportunity to serve was using my story from the chapter of my life I struggled with the most.
Fast forward and I made the jump from program management to fundraising. When I first started fundraising, everyone that I asked told me that it was all about relationships. I knew that it was the relationships in my life that allowed me to see the good in myself and so I just created that space in all my interactions with donors and soon realized that I am REALLY GOOD at engaging donors. I know that everyone in this world wants to feel seen and heard. If I can hold that space for people, then I am making a difference in their lives and the lives of the youth my organization serves. I honor people’s legacies and give them the vehicle to make a difference in other people’s lives. I currently work at Connections Individual and Family Services fundraising to strengthening communities, one youth and one family at a time.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has been a treacherous journey, no doubt! But most of the hardships have been of my own making. I have an uncanny ability to self-sabotage when life is getting good – a survival mechanism that has taken a back seat in life lately. I have become much more aware of the moments my brain is creating chaos, and I am less likely to act on it nowadays. The core issue really has always been a lack of belief in myself and those around me. If I don’t believe that I am worthy of something, then why should anyone else. The more work I have done internally to grow in my self-confidence, love, and efficacy, the more faith I have in myself and those around me. Life isn’t easy today, but the greatest gift of recovery has been my deepened sense of purpose and faith in that purpose. The struggles along the way have always set me up for success later in life – with every dark chapter, I have a choice to grow closer to light or farther into the darkness. Luckily, I continue to choose love and light. Many loved ones around me have died prematurely but those painful losses have allowed me to choose joy and gratitude even amidst pain. My hardships today are high quality problems that I am grateful to have. I no longer worry about having a roof over my head, surviving to the next day, keeping my job, or even getting there in a reliable car. I get to worry about plumbing issues in my beautiful hill country home and whining about not getting my mudroom or pool (yet).
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am in fundraising at Connections Individual and Family Services in New Braunfels. We serve 16 counties in south central Texas down to the coast. We have a residential facility for runaway/homeless and foster youth, including kids aging out of foster care can stay with us until they’re 23. We provide free and affordable rate counseling for youth and their families – anyone else eligible. And we facilitate substance-use prevention and healthy life skills programming in schools. We are truly changing lives now and for future generations. What sets us apart is the culture we have created in our agency. We walk the walk and really practice our values, Connection, Commitment, Compassion, in everything we do. I am most proud of the collaboration across the community. We have a food pantry, Little Locker (books/crafts), and community cabinet with everyday needs that are available for anyone in the community.
What is so special for me personally, is the trust that the agency has in me. It has become clear that I am exceptionally skilled in bringing people together, igniting strengths and coaching people to do great things. I facilitate a group of fundraisers learning alongside each other – creating professional development workshops and networking opportunities. I get to serve on the board of the Association of Fundraising Professionals San Antonio Chapter and the New Braunfels Jaycees philanthropy committee. These commitments have led me to also start my own small business coaching small organizations and fundraisers to overcome fear and cultivate authentic relationships through emotional transformation combined with practical strategy. Working at Connections has empowered me to step into my strengths and have faith in my ability to serve at a greater capacity. My raw authenticity is something that sets me apart from others. People know that integrity is very important to me and you will always get the raw truth from me and I can honor that in you.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
In my younger years the risks I took were life threatening. I love adrenaline and chaos and through life I have learned how to channel that in a much more productive way (and still working on it). I have survived so many experiences that I shouldn’t have that I really believe that the only real risk in life is not taking a risk. So, when we take life and death decisions out of the equation (because I believe if it’s my time, it’s my time), then the answer is always no if you don’t ask, and it will never happen if you don’t try. I believe in abundance in this world and there is plenty to go around so if it is meant for me then it will be. Life is too short to not take chances.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.connectionsifs.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Connectionsifs
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rsw88
