The Millisecond

Giving-Back Initiative

We are setting out to make better experiences for local Dog Rescues, Seniors in living homes with a focus on those with Alzheimer’s & Dementia, and finally students & start-up entrepreneurs who need further guidance on Continuous Improvement, focusing on use of CI & Lean Six Sigma methodologies to support both their personal and business lives!

The “Why” Behind The Millisecond Giving Back Initiative

There are several meaningful reasons why Christie and Jason started The Millisecond Giving Back Initiative. As we recently entered retirement, we began reflecting on how we could best use our time, experience, and resources to positively impact others.

While we are fortunate that our financial situation allows us to retire comfortably, it may not be enough on its own to fully support the level of giving back we hope to achieve during the next decade or more. Because of that, we are inviting others who share a passion for improving lives and communities to partner with us in expanding this initiative.

Our Giving Back Initiative focuses on three areas that are especially meaningful to us: rescue dogs, seniors living with Alzheimer’s and dementia, and students & entrepreneurs who can benefit from learning Continuous Improvement principles.

1. Supporting Rescue Dogs

Dogs have always been an important part of our lives. After retiring, we heard that many people begin volunteering at dog rescues, so in the summer of 2025 we decided to do exactly that. We began volunteering weekly at Great Lakes Dog Rescue, where we spend several hours each week walking dogs, taking them to outdoor runs, playing with them, and simply giving them the attention they desperately need.  We even adopted one in November!

For many rescue dogs, living in a kennel environment can be extremely overwhelming. The constant noise, limited movement, and uncertainty can create high levels of anxiety and stress.

Through our time volunteering and the shared experiences we show below, we realized that one of the greatest needs is simply more opportunities for dogs to get out, interact with people, and experience the world beyond the kennel.

Our vision is to help create:

  • More socialization opportunities for rescue dogs
  • Community events where dogs can interact with people
  • Fundraising and awareness events to support rescue organizations

For example, we envision events such as community dog outings, outdoor meet-and-greet events, or even silent auctions where rescue dogs are brought to a location for people to meet them in a relaxed environment.

These types of events can help dogs become more comfortable around people and increase their chances of adoption.

2. Supporting Seniors Living with Alzheimer’s and Dementia

Our second focus area is very personal to our family.

Christie’s father suffered from Alzheimer’s and frontotemporal dementia. His final year was extremely difficult for everyone involved. As his condition progressed, he experienced severe sundowning and behavioral changes that made it impossible for him to remain safely at home.

Eventually, Christie’s mother could no longer care for him alone. Over a relatively short period of time he transitioned between multiple facilities, including care homes, hospital stays, and memory care units. Unfortunately, many of those transitions were traumatic and resulted in some of the injuries and emotional distress we show below.

Watching a loved one go through that experience leaves a lasting impression.

Through this experience, we realized how limited the daily lives of many seniors in care facilities can become. Many spend the majority of their time inside the same environment, with very few opportunities for meaningful interaction or uplifting experiences.

Our goal is to help create better socialization and engagement opportunities for seniors, particularly those living with Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Some of our ideas include:

  • Organizing outings and events that allow seniors to get out of their facilities for positive experiences
  • Creating opportunities for seniors to interact with rescue dogs, which can bring joy, comfort, and therapeutic benefits
  • Developing improved training resources for caregivers, staff members, and families supporting individuals with dementia

Christie has already volunteers with the Alzheimer’s Association and has begun discussions to explore ways these ideas could be developed further. With charitable funding, we would like to expand these efforts and build meaningful programs that improve the daily experiences of seniors living with memory-related conditions.

One of the most exciting possibilities is combining this initiative with our dog rescue efforts, creating events where seniors and rescue dogs interact together. These experiences can bring joy to seniors while also helping dogs become more comfortable with people—creating a powerful win-win for both.

3. Supporting Students and Entrepreneurs Through Continuous Improvement

Our third focus area centers on education and personal development, particularly for students and entrepreneurs navigating an increasingly complex and uncertain job market.

Over the past several years, Jason & Christie has seen firsthand the dramatic changes taking place in the workforce. Between 2025 and 2026, job markets across many industries have experienced significant disruption due to rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, automation, robotics, and agentic AI systems.

These technological advancements will undoubtedly create new opportunities, but they will also eliminate or transform many traditional roles.  We have seen this first-hand with our 3 young adults finishing high school, going through college and internships and finally, entrance to the job world.

Recognizing this shift, Jason spent several years writing the book:

“Can Change Enhance Your Life?! Using Lean Six Sigma & Continuous Improvement Methodologies to Better You & Your Life!”

The book applies principles from Lean Six Sigma and Continuous Improvement, methods Jason spent more than 15 years leading globally at 3M, to both personal and professional growth.

Our goal is to use charitable funding to purchase and distribute this book to:

  • Business school students
  • Entrepreneurial students
  • Start-up founders
  • Early-stage entrepreneurs

Jason is currently mentoring students at the Mike Ilitch School of Business at Wayne State University in Detroit (below), where he has already begun introducing these ideas.

We believe these concepts can give young professionals and entrepreneurs an “edge-up”—helping them think differently about problem solving, personal growth, adaptability, and innovation in an AI-driven world.

Ultimately, we want to help these students and entrepreneurs develop the mindset and tools necessary to thrive in a rapidly changing future.

Partnering to Create Meaningful Impact

Through The Millisecond Giving Back Initiative, we are committed to dedicating our time, energy, and experience to improving the lives of rescue dogs, seniors living with Alzheimer’s & dementia, and students & entrepreneurs seeking guidance.

We have already developed plans and budgets for many of the activities described above. What we are seeking now are philanthropic partners who believe in this mission and would like to help accelerate its impact.

With your charitable investment and our time, effort, and planning, we believe we can create meaningful improvements in the lives of many people—and many animals—over the years ahead.

Together, we can make a real difference.

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Let’s make a Difference together!!

Please email Jason directly to partner: Jason@TheMillisecond.com