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6 Worcester Business Journal • Giving Guide 2016 www.wbjournal.com BY PHYLLIS HANLON Giving Guide Editor Nonprofit Status 2016 So what do painted rocks have to do with non-profit orga- nizations? Quite a bit actually. Much like the Kindness Rocks Project, nonprofit organiza- tions aim to spread kindness – and more – through the pro- grams and services they offer. Nonprofits address everyday issues that impact individuals, families and society as a whole. They provide support, resources and programs that help to improve lives. They help people find jobs and housing, offer hope for those with serious illness and disabilities, prepare youth for life beyond the classroom, introduce and encourage engagement with culture and nature, strive to provide educa- tional and therapeutic services to those who need them and much more. Just as the Kindness Rocks Project has become a network of individuals with a common goal, nonprofit organizations are also part of a system with a shared purpose. And, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicates that nonprofits in Massachusetts occupy 13 industries, including professional and technical services, management, finance and informa- tion. Furthermore, according to Commonwealth Insights, a pub- lication from the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network, the Bay State has one of the strongest nonprofit networks in the coun- try, boasting more than half a million jobs in this sector. The Massachusetts nonprofit industry is ranked #6 in the nation; more than 17 percent of the state's workforce is employed by nonprofit agencies. Nonprofit organizations: spreading kindness and more I n July 2015, Megan Murphy launched a global movement when she began painting colorful designs and inspiring messages on rocks and then leaving them on beaches, bike paths, walking trails and in other public spaces. Intended to spread kindness, these painted stones inspired people from Cape Cod, where she makes her home, to cities and towns across the United States, into Canada, Europe, Australia, Thailand and Puerto Rico to fol- low her example. Her simple act gave birth to the Kindness Rocks Project.