Utah County woman 'starts something beautiful'

OREM — Ali Johnson drove to the cemetery. It had been one year since her husband died, and she wanted to tell him what she missed most about him.

As she read over her prepared list, she realized she had written down reasons she was grateful for him.

"The thing I most appreciated and was most valuable to me was that he had recognized who I was," Johnson said. "He gave me my wings."

She had forgotten that, and at that moment she knew she needed to share that gift with others.

Johnson wanted to help other women recognize their potential.

So she founded Start Something Beautiful, an organization dedicated to engaging women of all ages "to give time, talent and treasures, whatever they might be, by starting something beautiful," Johnson said. "It's about holding hands with others and starting good things."

Following her experience at the cemetery, Johnson pitched the idea to officials at Utah Valley University, where she works as a development officer. They loved it, she said.

Johnson had found something to be passionate about, and she felt whole again.

"Women have a lot to contribute but sometimes don't know how," she said.

All women are invited to be a part of the organization and share their thoughts, Johnson said. Together they encourage and help each other put ideas into action.

"It's an amazing dream," said Kristy Gunnell. "We're not just talkers; we're doers."

One woman knitted 17 quilts to give away to UVU's Wee Care Center, and another collected and bought hundreds of children's books for the university's family study room. Some started cooking or computer skills classes.

Johnson recently started working on the Fortunate 500 project. She found out that UVU has 500 fewer female students than male, so she is trying to raise money for 500 women to go to college.

The group's youngest member, Natalie Miller, 16, is working on the Fortunate 500 project and said she is honored to be in the organization.

"I had no idea people cared this much about doing all these things, and it motivates me as a young girl," she said. "I had no idea what I was capable of, and I still don't. But I have seen what is possible and reached some of my goals. To be in the presence of women like these helps me determine what kind of person I want to be."