Forward Emphasis: Rooted in Community, Driven by People
Giving Back Is Part of Who We Are At Forward…
September 2024. I was sitting at my laptop, cursor blinking in an empty email, trying to find the courage to hit send.
I was part of the Ambition Programme through LEO Donegal at the time – a business accelerator that pushes you to reach out to people in your industry who inspire you. People who might offer guidance, advice, maybe even mentorship. The idea was simple enough: find someone doing what you want to do, and ask if they’ll share what they know.
Simple. Terrifying.
I’d heard Evelyn McGlynn’s name more than once in Donegal marketing circles. She had the kind of reputation that made me think: right, she’s the one. But I was also painfully aware of where I stood. My husband Johan and I had just started Crintus & Co – a digital solutions business helping other companies grow online – and I was still very much in that early stage of entrepreneurship where everything feels shaky. I didn’t know what I didn’t know, and that’s a scary place to be.
The worst she could say was no, I reminded myself. So I wrote the email. Asked if we could sit down for a chat. And pressed send before I could second-guess it.
She replied almost immediately. No hesitation. We booked a call.
From the first minute of our Zoom meeting, I could sense what kind of person Evelyn was. Open. Giving. Friendly. Completely without barriers. There was no sense of hierarchy, no “I’m too busy for this” energy. Just genuine interest and warmth.
What was meant to be a quick 30-minute chat turned into well over an hour. By the end, we’d already arranged to meet in person for coffee.
I came away from that conversation feeling something I hadn’t felt in months: okay, I can do this. I just need support. I need to be willing to ask for help. And I need to surround myself with people who actually want to give it.
Because here’s the thing – I loved what Johan and I were building. But I had no real idea what it meant to start a business. Evelyn became the guiding light in those early days. She was foundational in helping us create a vision for Crintus & Co. She was an incredible sounding board. I could call her, WhatsApp her, send her an email – and there wasn’t one she didn’t reply to. She’d always respond. Always listen. Always offer advice or connect me with someone who could help.
And she never asked for anything in return. She just wanted to give.
It didn’t take long before Evelyn started talking about this idea she’d been carrying with her – not fully formed yet, but growing. She kept coming back to it: she had knowledge, experience, connections, and she wanted to share them. Not in a transactional way. Not for recognition. Just because she believed that’s how communities thrive.
She told me about Donegal Giving – this vision of creating a culture where sharing what you know becomes second nature. Where businesses mentor young people, where retirees pass on skills, where everyone gives what they can. Time, wisdom, lived experience, opportunity. Not money. Just showing up.
Over the past year, I’ve watched this notion become a full-fledged thing. But here’s what struck me: this isn’t new for Evelyn. It’s just that now there’s finally a name for what she’s been doing naturally throughout her entire career. She hosts these brilliant “Let’s Meet for Coffee” events – free online webinars where she invites experts and friends to come on and chat. No cost. No agenda other than learning from each other. She’s built this incredible community around herself, and it’s all rooted in one simple belief: giving makes us stronger.
I can say with absolute certainty that Crintus & Co wouldn’t be where it is today without her willingness to give so freely. A year on, we’re not just surviving – we’re growing. And so much of that is down to the guidance, support, and sheer generosity of someone who saw potential in a nervous email from a stranger.
So when Evelyn asked if we could help bring the Donegal Giving website to life, there wasn’t a moment’s hesitation. Johan and I designed it with the same spirit she’d shown us: this is what we can give back.
It’s been one of the most meaningful projects we’ve worked on – not just because we believe in what Donegal Giving stands for, but because it felt like closing a circle. Someone gave to us when we needed it most. Now we get to be part of something that helps others do the same.
Evelyn hates when people make a fuss about her. She’d probably tell me this blog is too much. But I wanted to share this story because I experienced firsthand what Donegal Giving really means. It’s not abstract. It’s not theoretical. It’s a woman replying to an email from someone she’s never met. It’s an hour-long conversation that was supposed to be 30 minutes. It’s advice given freely, connections made willingly, and belief extended without question.
That’s the culture Evelyn is building across Donegal. And if my experience is anything to go by, it has the power to change everything.
If you’ve ever wanted to reach out to someone and didn’t – do it. Send the email. The worst they can say is no. But they might just say yes. And that yes might change the entire trajectory of what you’re building.
Carla Roets is co-founder of Crintus & Co, a digital solutions business based in Donegal. She and her husband Johan help businesses grow through smart, strategic digital tools. Learn more at www.crintusandco.com
