At the top of the year, The Mabee Foundation became a client of the agency. The Mabee Foundation was founded in 1948 by John E. and Lottie E. Mabee. John Mabee was a hard worker, innovative entrepreneur, and shrewd investor who found his fortune in the oil and gas business. Named “Oklahoma’s Mr. Philanthropy,” Mabee was incredibly generous in giving back to the communities that were important to his success: Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arkansas, Missouri, and Kansas.

The Mabees created the foundation in 1948 to help fund new construction, building renovations, and the purchase of major medical equipment for organizations via challenge grants, granting over $1.5 billion to date.

That’s why Senior Account Executive Caitlyn Pobee assembled a playlist of riveting music with Spire on Spotify Playlist, Vol. 41: Building Strong Legacies.

Caitlyn, what is the name of your album?

Building Strong Legacies is a mix of songs about building—figuratively and literally.

How would you describe this mix?

It’s a playlist that includes a mix of genres, spanning different time periods and filled with metaphors; from songs about building structures and actual buildings to songs about building, fixing, and repairing relationships.

What was the inspiration behind it?

The inspiration behind this playlist is our client, The Mabee Foundation, which has a charitable mission to improve lives; and the resilient couple who started it all—childhood sweethearts, John and Lottie Mabee. I’m a sucker for a love story—there’s nothing more beautiful to me than a hardworking couple who loved each other through times of struggle … then built a legacy with a foundation that’s donated $1.5 billion dollars to other charitable organizations.

What is your favorite song, and why?

My favorite song on this playlist is “The Bones” by Maren Morris. I love the metaphor she uses here of an unwavering bond by way of a strong foundation. That correlates perfectly with the Mabee story: “Yeah, life sure can try to put love through it, but we built this right, so nothing’s ever gonna move it.” They had a strong foundation in each other, and they used it to create The Mabee Foundation.

If your playlist was a brand, what would it be and why?

If my playlist was a brand, it would be Habitat for Humanity. An organization that believes that everyone, everywhere should have a healthy, affordable place to call home. The mission statement of Habitat for Humanity is "Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope.” It’s an inspiring message and good reminder to be a blessing to others, creating one happy, healthy community.

Any specific memory that comes to mind when you listen?

One memory that comes to mind is when I used to volunteer at senior living homes in high school. At that time, I did not have any money to donate, but what I did have was time. And just chatting and playing games with the elder folks that lived there truly brightened their day and made a world of difference to them. I know sometimes when life gets busy and overwhelming, it’s hard to think beyond personal needs, but organizations like The Mabee Foundation are good reminders of what a huge impact hard work and donations of money and time can make on this world.

What makes your playlist unique?

My playlist is unique because of the meaning behind how things we build inspire: Inspire others, inspire love, and in the case of The Mabee Foundation, how their grants inspire organizations to keep doing what they’re doing for their communities. The Foundation awards “challenge grants,” meaning that organizations that receive a grant must raise the remaining funds required to finish the project within one year. This inspires organizations to be strategic and think outside the box to figure out how to raise their remaining funds, helping to ensure longevity.

Thanks, Caitlyn. This playlist was built to perfection. Stay tuned to the Spire Blog and Spotify Channel for the release of our next playlist.

Caitlyn Pobee is a Senior Account Executive at Spire, one of the country’s most-awarded B2B branding agencies.

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