Today we’d like to introduce you to Krys Midgett.
Hi Krys, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
If you had told me years ago that I’d end up wearing this many hats, I probably would’ve asked where I was supposed to store them all.
These days, I’m the owner and editor of Life Between The Lakes magazine, where I get to tell the stories of the incredible people, businesses, and nonprofits that make our community shine. It’s an annual publication. I’m also the founder of Give A Little Christmas, a charity that’s helped bring Christmas gifts to more than 8,000 children. It’s a labor of love, and this year we’re adding another adventure by producing a Christmas album because apparently running a charity wasn’t keeping me busy enough! Thankfully, I’m also a songwriter, so this project lets me combine two of my biggest passions.
I am a freelance writer, and Food Critic for Good News Magazine -Lebanon.
I also own GALpr, a public relations company that helps authors, musicians, nonprofits, and businesses get their stories in front of the right audiences.
I’m the Marketing Director for Huntington Learning Center in Mt. Juliet, where I also tutor students. Watching a child finally understand something they’ve been struggling with is one of the best feelings in the world. Marketing is fun, but seeing a student’s face light up when they “get it” is even better.
And when I’m not doing all of that, I’m a wife, mom, and proud Nana, my favorite hats of all. My family keeps me humble, keeps me laughing, and occasionally reminds me where I left my keys.
At the end of the day, everything I do comes down to the same thing: helping people. Whether it’s through writing, teaching, music, public relations, or charity work, I love connecting people, encouraging them, and making my little corner of the world a bit brighter. I stay busy… but I wouldn’t know what to do with free time anyway!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Life has definitely thrown me a few curveballs. I lost my dad when I was 13 years old, and that changed the course of my life. Later, I found myself as a single mom while working toward my college degree. There were plenty of days when I wasn’t sure how I was going to juggle school, work, and raising a child, but I was determined to create a better future.
Then, while I was in college, I met my amazing husband. We were married just four months after we met, and somehow that crazy decision turned out to be the best impulse decision I’ve ever made! We’ve now been together for 29 years, have three wonderful grown children, and two grandchildren who completely stole our hearts. My husband has supported every dream, every new adventure, and every “I have an idea…” conversation, and I honestly couldn’t have done any of this without him.
In 2008, I also lost my brother. That was one of the hardest seasons of my life. Losing the people you love changes your perspective. It reminds you that time is precious and that people matter far more than things.
Professionally, there have been challenges too. I started Life Between The Lakes magazine because I love telling stories and highlighting the incredible people who make our community special. As Give A Little Christmas continued to grow, I realized something had to give. The charity needed more of my time than ever before, so I transitioned the magazine into an annual coffee-table edition. It was the right decision. Besides, I’d much rather spend my day writing an article than trying to sell advertising!
Give A Little Christmas has grown beyond anything I ever imagined. We’re now helping thousands of children, and one of our biggest projects is renovating Santa’s Workshop. It is a year-round home for volunteers, toy storage, donations, and community projects. It’s a huge undertaking, and there are days when the to-do list feels larger than the building itself, but seeing it come to life makes every challenge worth it.
Then there’s everything else! On any given day I might be tutoring students at Huntington Learning Center, working with a PR client, writing songs for our upcoming Give A Little Christmas album, planning a fundraiser, or organizing volunteers. Somewhere in there, I’m usually trying to remember why I walked into the kitchen.
Looking back, I certainly wouldn’t choose the losses or the difficult seasons. Losing my dad and my brother are heartaches I’ll always carry. But I can choose what I do with those experiences. They gave me a deeper appreciation for family, greater compassion for people who are hurting, and a desire to spend my time doing work that truly matters.
Whether I’m tutoring a student, writing a story, helping a client, renovating Santa’s Workshop, or helping Santa make sure a child has presents under the tree on Christmas morning, I want to leave people a little better than I found them. Life hasn’t always been easy, but it’s been full of purpose, wonderful people, and plenty of stories and thankfully, most of them have happy endings.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
People often ask me how I manage to do so many different things, but to me they’re all connected. Whether I’m writing an article, tutoring a struggling student, promoting a business, organizing a fundraiser, or writing a song, I’m really doing the same thing—helping people tell their stories and reach their potential.
I don’t think I’m known for just one title. Some people know me as the magazine editor, others know me through Give A Little Christmas, Huntington Learning Center, GALpr, or songwriting. I hope what people remember isn’t what I do, but how I make them feel. I want people to know that if I say I’m going to help, I’ll show up and give it everything I’ve got.
The accomplishment I’m most proud of is Give A Little Christmas. Watching it grow from a simple idea into an organization that has helped more than 8,000 children is something I’ll always treasure. Seeing Santa’s Workshop become a reality is another dream coming to life. I know it’s just a building, but to me it represents hundreds of volunteers, countless acts of kindness, and years of believing that a community can accomplish incredible things when people work together.
What sets me apart is that I don’t really believe in staying in one lane. If I see a need, I naturally start thinking, “How can we solve this?” Sometimes that solution is writing an article. Sometimes it’s tutoring a child. Sometimes it’s creating a charity, launching a PR campaign, organizing an event, or even writing a song. I’m happiest when I’m creating something that helps someone else.
I’ve also learned that success isn’t about how many awards you win or how many titles you have. It’s about whether people are better off because you were in their lives. If a family has Christmas because of our charity, a student gains confidence, a business grows, an author reaches readers, or someone feels seen because I shared their story, then I consider that a successful day.
:At Give A Little Christmas, there are so many ways to get involved and make a difference. Throughout the year, we host community events including our annual Cocktails With Santa Gala .This year, it’s November 12 at the Capitol Theatre in Lebanon, we also do Murder Mystery Dinners and a Christmas market during and after the MJ Christmas Parade, in conjunction with the City of Mt Juliet. The market is called A Very Mt. Juliet Christmas Market. Every event helps provide Christmas gifts for children experiencing temporary hardships. Businesses can make a lasting impact by becoming a Cocktails With Santa sponsor, while individuals can sponsor a child or family, become a monthly $7 for Santa donor, volunteer as one of Santa’s elves, donate toys or auction items, or help with the renovation of Santa’s Workshop. We also have two year-round toy donation drop-off locations at Huntington Learning Center in Mt. Juliet and Shiloh Music Center in Mt. Juliet. Students who need community service hours are always welcome to volunteer. Whether you share your time, talents, or financial support, every act of kindness helps us continue spreading Christmas cheer all through the year.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I’m a big believer that some of the best education doesn’t happen in a classroom, it happens through relationships and conversations.
Networking has been one of the greatest resources in both my personal and professional life. I’m active in Greater Airport Networking Group, BNI, the Mt. Juliet Chamber Networks group, the Nonprofit Councils for both the Lebanon and Mt. Juliet Chambers, and Nashville Connect. Those organizations have connected me with incredible business leaders, nonprofit professionals, mentors, and friends who constantly inspire me and challenge me to grow.
I’m also an Ambassador for the MJ Chamber, involved in the Kiwanis Club of Mt Juliet, and I’m sure there are a few other things I’ll think of after I submit this.
I’m also a huge fan of one-to-one meetings. Sitting down over coffee with someone and learning about their business, their goals, and how we can help each other has led to some of my best ideas, partnerships, referrals, and lifelong friendships. I think genuine relationships are still the most valuable business tool we have.
One resource I use regularly is the BNI app. It offers educational content, networking tools, podcasts, business training, and resources that help members become stronger referral partners. I also enjoy the online courses from Simplified Social. Social media is always evolving, and I appreciate learning practical strategies that I can apply to my businesses, clients, and nonprofit.
If I had to choose the resource that’s made the biggest difference in my career, though, it would still be the people I’ve met through networking. Every conversation teaches me something new. Every referral is built on trust. Every relationship has the potential to create opportunities, not just for me, but for the people and organizations I’m passionate about serving.
I’ve learned that success isn’t about collecting business cards. It’s about building genuine relationships, showing up consistently, finding ways to help others first, and never stopping learning. That’s a philosophy that’s served me well both in business and in life.
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Pricing:
- Seven For Santa Campaign $7 monthly
- Magazine ads $100-$1400
- GALpr $1500-$2500 monthly
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.givealittlechristmas.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/givealittlechristmas
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1J734nAUuy/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Other: https://www.lifebetweenthelakes.com
