Founder’s Story

BeCAUSE Community started with a simple, unplanned idea—a response to an extremely challenging chapter in my life that ultimately transformed my purpose. In the summer of 2015, I found myself struggling. I’d been on a journey to “fix” myself for six months, investing time in journaling, meditation, diet, exercise, and more, hoping to break through the weight I felt inside. But, despite all the work, I came to the conclusion that I would not be able to fix myself. I reached a pivotal question: if I couldn’t fix myself, then what was I meant to do with my life?

From that moment, I made a decision— I would shift my focus towards how I can add the most value to others. Somehow, the idea of heading to Balboa Park in San Diego to hand out free flowers and hugs emerged. I didn’t believe it would help me, and I certainly didn’t expect it to change my life. It felt like a very personal thing I had to do out of desperation. To be honest, part of it felt like I was giving up on myself in order to attempt to be useful to others..

I shared my plan with a friend, who, to my surprise, wanted to join. By the next day, he’d even gathered a few more people, and together, we found ourselves at the park with a sign, a bucket of flowers, and an openness to whatever might happen. We approached strangers, offering a flower, and, if they accepted, a hug. None of us had any expectations, but what happened was extraordinary. As we shared these small moments with strangers, something beautiful and powerful emerged, something larger than ourselves. We all felt it, this unspoken connection and warmth that transformed the space around us. It was clear by the end of the day that this wasn’t just a one-time event. It felt like a calling.

Over the next few months, we organized more Free Flowers and Hugs events, each one unique, each one full of fleeting yet lasting connections. We met people who, like us, were often yearning for connection and kindness, and these simple gestures became a bridge to something profoundly meaningful. For me, the experience was a revelation. I realized that while I had been trying so hard to “fix” myself to escape the weight of what I was feeling, shifting my focus to others somehow seemed to help me address the very thing I’d been struggling with all along.

The impact of these events wasn’t limited to me. One friend who initially didn’t understand my interest in hugging strangers agreed to come observe, but with a strict “no hugs” rule. Yet, at the first flower she handed out, she spontaneously offered a hug. By the end of the day, she’d embraced every person she met. Months later, she confided that these events had helped her manage her anxiety and depression to a point where, under her doctors’ guidance, she’d come off most of her medications. While we couldn’t credit everything to the events, it was a powerful reminder of how deeply these small gestures could resonate and heal.

As the years passed, I realized this was more than a series of gatherings. The core of what we were doing—engaging with others, contributing personally, and embracing the discomfort of vulnerability—held values that could benefit so many more people. I dedicated the next eight years to exploring the impact of these moments, and eventually, BeCAUSE Community was born. This organization is the result of years of discovery, connection, and an unshakable belief that when we step outside our own needs and contribute to others, we uncover the essence of belonging and purpose. 

​

-Jason Frederick, DC