Full Story
One Mission. Three Chapters. A Growing Wave of Good.
Chapter Three · Today
The Next Wave: Matteo's Story
Matteo Naman | CEO, Waves of Welldoing
When my sisters Mia and Madison started Waves of Welldoing during the pandemic, I don’t think any of us imagined how far their idea would go. What began as a way to help families in our Indiana community has become something that each of us has had the opportunity to carry forward.
First, my brother Mason took over when our family moved to New Jersey. Now, it’s my turn.
As the current CEO of Waves of Welldoing, I’m proud to continue what my siblings started while finding new ways to grow our impact here in South Jersey.
I’ve expanded our efforts to include food, clothing, and toiletries drives, collecting everyday essentials for people and families who need a helping hand. I’ve also partnered with Angels in Motion, an organization that works directly with people facing difficult circumstances in our communities, helping us get much-needed supplies into the hands of those who need them.
One of my favorite parts of leading Waves of Welldoing has been getting my friends involved. I’ve reached out to classmates and teammates from both my current school and my former school, bringing people together who might not otherwise have had the opportunity to work alongside one another. Whether it’s collecting donations, spreading the word, or helping organize a drive, I’ve learned that people are usually willing to help. Sometimes all it takes is someone asking.
That’s what Waves of Welldoing means to me. You don’t have to be an adult, have a lot of money, or do something extraordinary to make a difference. You just have to be willing to do something.
My sisters started the first wave. Mason kept it moving. Now I get to help it grow.
And hopefully, along the way, I can inspire a few more people to start waves of their own.
Chapter Two · The Transition
A New State. New Faces. Same Mission
Mason Naman | Continuing the Wave in New Jersey
When our family moved from Indiana to New Jersey, Waves of Welldoing came with us.
My sisters had started something special, and I didn’t want their work to end just because we were leaving the community where it all began. I saw our move as an opportunity to bring that same mission to a new place, with new people and new opportunities to help.
Starting over in a new state meant making new friends and finding my place in a new community. Theater became a big part of that experience, and through the friendships I built there, I found people who were excited to get involved.
Together, we helped introduce Waves of Welldoing to our new community, bringing more people into the mission and continuing the work my sisters had started.
What I learned is that kindness isn’t tied to one place. The people you help may change, the volunteers may change, and the needs of a community may be different, but the reason for doing it stays the same.
When it was time for my younger brother Matteo to take over, I was excited to see where he would take it next.
New state. New friends. New communities to help. Same mission.
And the waves kept moving.
Chapter One · 2020 · Indiana
A New State. New Faces. Same Mission
Mia & Madison Naman | Founders, Waves of Welldoing
When our family moved from Indiana to New Jersey, Waves of Welldoing came with us.
My sisters had started something special, and I didn’t want their work to end just because we were leaving the community where it all began. I saw our move as an opportunity to bring that same mission to a new place, with new people and new opportunities to help.
Starting over in a new state meant making new friends and finding my place in a new community. Theater became a big part of that experience, and through the friendships I built there, I found people who were excited to get involved.
Together, we helped introduce Waves of Welldoing to our new community, bringing more people into the mission and continuing the work my sisters had started.
What I learned is that kindness isn’t tied to one place. The people you help may change, the volunteers may change, and the needs of a community may be different, but the reason for doing it stays the same.
When it was time for my younger brother Matteo to take over, I was excited to see where he would take it next.
New state. New friends. New communities to help. Same mission.
And the waves kept moving.