While I purchased many keys and randomly (and appropriately) gave them as gifts last year, the one for myself was a "hope" necklace. "Hope" has been my security word since my boyfriend died in 2000. I have since met and married a wonderful man, but I have always known hope needs to be near.

When my brother died suddenly June 2011, his friends were my security as well as hope for myself. In addition, my mother passed this October.

One friend was Cameron, who no longer lives in Memphis, but has kept near - especially since my brother passed. She was in town last year, sadly for a funeral. The second day I saw her I knew - she needed hope. I explained what and who The Giving Keys were. When you know you know. And Cameron knew too. She needed hope more than I did that day.

-Karen