At the end of September, 2010, Janine was interviewed by Tamara Matthews-Stephenson for the blog Nest. From the article:

Flawless brings a sense of home and healing to children with serious behavioral challenges due to mental health and neurodevelopmental issues. She brings her expertise, light and joy and shines it in very dark places. At-risk youth, foster children, and teens in juvenile detention are difficult issues to handle, yet she brings a dynamic and generous energy to her work. What a force for good and beauty in the world – we need more dedicated and talented professionals like Janine to help these kids!

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“Tales of Reinvention: Janine Francolini.” This September, Janine was interviewed by blogger Joanne Tombrakos of One Woman’s Eye about the Flawless Foundation, making a difference and the idea of reinvention. From the article:

Q. What has been the biggest surprise concerning your reinvention?
A. It was two years in May and I am still astounded by how easy it has been. It is 24/7 work and involvement but it has been effortless in coming together

Q. What has been the biggest obstacle?
A. Like any working mom, managing work and family life is always a challenge

Q. What has come the easiest?
A. Everything.

Q. Everything?
A. I really stand by that. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t. More has come to me and the organization than I ever dreamed. It holds true that if you are truly following your passion everything you need and then some shows up.

On August 9, Flawless was featured on Neighborhood Notes in the article “The Flawless Foundation: Portland Nonprofit Sees the Perfection in Every Child.” From the article:

Since Flawless’s founding just over two years ago under the modestly simple yet ambitious motto, “Seeing the Perfection in Every Child,” Francolini has initiated several programs at schools and treatment programs aimed at not only enriching the educational landscape for these children—yoga, gardening, music and arts programs among them—but for staff, as well (who also often participate in yoga and meditation classes). Through Flawless, she has also spearheaded efforts to solicit in-kind donations to replace worn and frayed sofas and chairs and outdated tech tools, like televisions and computers. But that, she admits, is only scratching at the surface of Flawless’s ambitions.

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Flawless was awarded the 2009-2010 Excellence in Special Education Award from The National Association of Special Education Teachers’ (NASET). This is their highest organizational honor and is open to an organization, association or foundation that has made a commitment to educate and/or advocate for children with disabilities and their families.

NASET was thoroughly impressed with [Flawless'] vision of creating and supporting programs that accomplish the mission of “seeing, discovering, and nurturing the perfection in every child.” It is evident that the Flawless Foundation is very much “inspired from a place of gratitude and passion for children.”  The work follows its dedication of being “creative, hands-on and proactive to enrich the lives of children who courageously face challenges of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders on a daily basis.” Finally, the Flawless Foundation’s commitment to “advocacy and eliminating the stigma around mental illness in children” is both inspiring and truly admirable.

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Local winemaker Bob Lynde donates 10% of his profits to charity, and this month, he is donating to Flawless! Find out more about the wine he makes in a recent Oregon Live article.