“I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again."
These are the words on a calligraphy that hangs on a wall in Lee Lemke’s mother’s apartment. It’s a sentiment that motivated Lee, a 1981 Lakeland graduate, to launch a new organization that is turning those words into action.
“I have looked at it many times over the years,” says Lee of the gift his late sister, Beth, gave their mother. “Recently, it really struck me when I was sitting down with my mom. It helped me focus on a new career path.”
Lee left his 30-year career as a training specialist for a large nonprofit organization in Minnesota and started his own business, World Nice, that is dedicated to helping people who are doing good things for others. His mission statement: “To help make the world nice by acquiring and distributing funds to those doing good in the world.”
“I am looking forward to World Nice having a positive impact on the world, one good deed at a time,” says Lee, who recently received 501c3 accreditation and official nonprofit organization status.
Lee’s new company works like this: He relies on people all over the world to share with him stories about folks doing good deeds. World Nice acquires funding to help support those good citizens’ initiatives. The company is brand new, but it’s already making an impact. He has given gas cards to women who, as a result of domestic violence, make frequent visits to court but have trouble affording gas. He also provided Petco gift cards to a woman who has fostered more than 250 dogs from a last-chance humane society center.
“It’s an incredible feeling to help out like that,” he says. “It is so much appreciated. You hear about so much bad stuff in our society; I want people to hear about the good people, the good stories. There is a lot of good happening.”
Lee arrived at Lakeland in 1977, following in the footsteps of Beth, who attended Lakeland in the late 1970s. He fell in love with the sociology program and the powerful teaching style of Keith Striggow, faculty emeritus who retired in 2005 after 32 years as a Lakeland teacher and administrator.
“Professor Striggow was such a big influence on my life,” Lee says. “I love Lakeland College. I had a lot of good friends while I was there, and all of the many things I was involved with were awesome.”
So is the thing he’s involved with now. Sure, he’s received some skepticism from friends about the viability of a company that’s focused on helping people doing nice things. But he is undeterred.
“It’s a huge leap of faith, but my wife supports me and I’m going to give it a shot,” he says.
To learn more about World Nice, visit the website at https://www.worldnice.org.