MISSION STATEMENT: The DON'T WAIT Project® (DWP) is a 501c3 non profit organization committed to raising community awareness about how positive life choices can impact the health and welfare of individuals, organizations and communities. 

The idea for The DON'T WAIT Project® came when founder Lisa Bradshaw sought happiness in the midst of the hardships she'd faced in her own life after the death of her husband and while writing her second book, Big Shoes: A Young Widowed Mother's Memoir. As a widowed single mom by age 32 and a 24-year cancer survivor, Bradshaw has learned firsthand about living a DON'T WAIT life.

"Over the past 10 years, I've interviewed more than 1,000 people, and I've discovered that our values help determine our priorities and our priorities help tell our story. I call these DON'T WAIT stories, the nouns in life: the people, places, things and ideas that we give up on along the way sometimes⏤for whatever reason. We get too tired, too busy, too sad or even too comfortable. The DON'T WAIT Project® is a reminder to live the nouns, no matter the obstacles," Bradshaw says.

What began as a hope and a dream for helping others discover their own fulfillment has become a vehicle for storytelling and sharing the many ways that DON'T WAIT applies to everyday life.

The Project has launched multiple programs, including a film project developed and directed by Mike Feurstein for students grade 4-12, DON'T WAIT to UnMake programs; exhibits featuring stories from cancer survivors, DON'T WAIT Project Tour interviews; and seniors who have fought in wars, were pioneers in education and offer wisdom to the young people of today.

In 2018 and 2019, the Project launched national tours when Bradshaw traveled the country with a cinematographer in two teardrop campers while conducting interviews with people who are living DON'T WAIT lives, no matter the obstacles.

The Project launches its third U.S. tour on March 13, 2022 when Bradshaw travels 9 Northeastern states along this unique storytelling adventure.

In 2020, The DON'T WAIT Project® and DONATE LIFE AMERICA partnered for the release of the song, This Beautiful Life, written by Lisa Bradshaw and David Santos. Follow the link to listen. 

What's your DON'T WAIT Story? Everyone has one.