When her neighbor's husband passed away unexpectedly last July, Diane didn't just offer condolences. She saw a widow struggling to move forward, a beautiful motorcycle collecting dust in a garage, and a nonprofit she loves trying to raise funds for its mission.

And she did what Diane always does - she fixed it.

A Lesson Learned Early

"My love for helping others came at an early age," Diane explains. "My Mother was always willing to help anyone and taught me and my siblings to do the same."

But it wasn't until her daughter was born with special needs that Diane truly understood what it means when a community shows up.

"It took me a while to get my head wrapped around what life was going to be like," she admits with characteristic honesty. "Once I did, she taught me that life is about helping everyone to get through this journey so the next one will be beautiful."

That lesson - that we're all on this journey together, and that helping each other matters - became the foundation of everything Diane does.

The Fixer

Ask anyone who knows Diane, and they'll tell you: she's a fixer.

"If I see something wrong, broke, or in need of help, my 'fixer' mode kicks in," she says with a laugh.

Five years ago, when IMPACT needed fundraising support, Diane didn't just write a check. She bought a golf cart, cleaned it up, and sold raffle tickets. That single act of creative generosity raised $10,000 for the organization.

So when Diane's neighbor Lois found herself trying to sell her late husband's 2003 Harley-Davidson Sportster - a pristine 100th Anniversary Edition he'd cherished - Diane's fixer mode kicked in again.

"One morning, I was thinking about my neighbor and what she was going through. I really wanted to help her, then it hit me!" Diane recalls. "So I called her and told her that I could purchase the bike and donate it to IMPACT to do a raffle. She was so excited that she also included a pair of Harley leather chaps!"

Two Birds, One Harley

What Diane created was elegant in its simplicity:

• Help a widow find closure and peace.

• Raise critical funds for IMPACT's mission.

• Turn grief into generosity.

• Transform a motorcycle into hope.

The bike - a one-owner Sportster with just over 12,000 miles, the larger 1200cc motor, and all the special 100th Anniversary colors and badges - will be raffled off this [season], with 100% of proceeds supporting IMPACT's programs.

But Diane's generosity isn't just about the money.

"The clients of IMPACT are my Church," she says, and you can hear the reverence in her voice. "I believe these folks can teach me like Jesus taught the disciples - love one another, take care of one another, see the joy in everything. The simplest things in life can be some of the most wonderful experiences you can have."

What Board Leadership Looks Like

Diane has served on IMPACT's board for many years, but her service goes far beyond attending meetings.

When the organization needed a Fundraising Committee, Diane was one of the first to raise her hand. When they needed creative fundraising ideas, she brought a track record - that golf cart raffle proved she knows how to turn vision into results.

And when they needed someone to believe in the mission so deeply that they'd buy a motorcycle from a grieving widow and donate it to a cause? Diane showed up.

"These folks teach us about joy," Diane says of the adults IMPACT serves. "They show us what really matters. Supporting them isn't charity - it's an honor."

A Legacy of Love

• Diane's mother taught her to help others. Her daughter taught her what community truly means. And now, Diane is teaching the rest of us what it looks like to see a need and create a solution.

• The 2003 Harley-Davidson Sportster sitting in IMPACT's care isn't just a prize - it's a testament to what happens when compassion meets creativity. It's proof that one person, seeing a problem and choosing to act, can change lives.

• Lois got to move forward with her healing, knowing her husband's beloved motorcycle would help others.

• IMPACT will receive thousands of dollars to support adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

• And one lucky raffle winner will ride away on a piece of Harley-Davidson history.

• But the real winner? The community that gets to witness what happens when someone like Diane Wallace decides to fix what's broken and build what's possible.

Enter the Raffle

Harley Davidson Motorcycle

The 2003 Harley-Davidson Sportster 883 (100th Anniversary Edition), plus $500 Harley leather chaps, will be raffled (date to be announced). Tickets are $25 each, or 5 for $100.

100% of proceeds support IMPACT of the Piedmont's mission to create dignity and belonging for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Pledge to Buy

You don't have to ride to enter - many winners gift the bike to a family member or friend who does. You just have to believe, like Diane does, that every person deserves a place to belong.

About Diane Wallace

Diane Wallace serves on IMPACT's Board of Directors and is a member of the newly formed Fundraising Committee. She is a longtime advocate for adults with disabilities, inspired by her own daughter's journey and her belief that "the simplest things in life can be some of the most wonderful experiences you can have." She lives in [City], where she continues to look for problems to fix and lives to change.

About IMPACT of the Piedmont

Since 1978, IMPACT of the Piedmont has provided 24/7 caring homes and comprehensive support services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Davie and Yadkin Counties. Our mission is simple: create dignity and belonging for every person we serve. Learn more at impactpiedmont.org.