"...and dammit be proud!" Over the years, I've had a lot to be Proud of. Today, I'm proud to release this collection to you with no intent of reaping any of the monetary benefits it may have to offer. With 100% of the net profits going to the American Red Cross Foundation, I plan to happily see others pick up a book, knowing the value in it designed to help others, and hopefully help themselves in the process as well. To say Proud is simply designed from other's experience would be a lie. Proud shines an in depth life to some of my deepest emotions, and I plan to use the therapy the collection handed me to do something worthwhile - help those in need. This collection started out as a simple poetry collection, but as I fanned through my past, I knew it needed more. In addition to poetry, not all written by me, there are essays, excerpts and even fabulous artwork by others willing to join the cause to help others. Unfortunately I learned years ago no act is completely selfless, so the selfish side is revealed in my dark and enlightening therapy word by word. However, I also find it humbling to know I can take my enlightenment and help people with it - perhaps the humbling aura this collection is giving me is another selfish characteristic I need to reveal in my intent to the collection. The simplest definition Merriam-Webster offered for the word Proud states, "much pleased," and I find it very fitting in this collection. At times, I wanted to rip my hair out in the process as I thought I would never have enough to fill as many pages as I hoped to fill, but overall I am "much pleased" with each and every word that made its way to the collection. To those who donated, thank you. In the pages of the book you are recognized, your art has helped shaped me and Proud to something greater. Proud is a collection offered as an extension of an outstretched palm to those in need. We all live for better tomorrows and today, better moments and memories, new beginnings and happy endings. Whatever it is, we hope to look at the pages of our stories and say we're proud of ourselves. And you should be proud. I'm proud of you too.