Two weeks ago, Hillary Clinton was in Minneapolis to stump for Al Franken. But before she headed off to the massive crowds at the Franken rally, she made a stop at a small fundraising event of her own to help her pay off her campaign debt. My mom and I were fortunate to attend.

Now, I know Hillary brings out strong emotions in people. You love her or you hate her. I happen to fall into the former category. As she came into Sam and Sylvia Kaplan’s gracious house, the crowd grew hushed. The excitement was palpable. The crowd was a who’s who in Minnesota politics from both parties, along with a lot of regular people like my mom and me who admire and respect her. Applause went on for many minutes before Hillary was able to speak. She spoke about her campaign, her work and her gratitude. She talked about the importance of electing change in these turbulent times. She was genuine and real.

After she spoke, I had the chance to brave the crowd and meet her. My mom told her we were two generations of supporters and fans, and that we had left a third generation (my daughter) at home. I had brought her an Empoword gift: a gratitude tee shirt. As I gave it to her, I told her it was a token of my appreciation for all she has done for the country and for women in particular. I also gave her a real tee shirt for Chelsea, because that woman really does keep it real. As we talked, she glanced at my Empoword gratitude button. “I like your button,” she said. “Gratitude is my word!” Wow. Gratitude is my word too!

- Wendy Lutter
Empoword Co-CEO (Chief Empowerment Officer)