Thursday, September 30, 2010

September 30 (Day 213) Finding Cures. Saving Children.

What a great way to end Childhood Cancer Awareness Month! Celebrating and highlighting the work of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.



St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, located in Memphis, Tennessee, is one of the world’s premier pediatric cancer research centers. Its mission is to find cures for children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases through research and treatment.  St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital opened on February 4, 1962 and was founded by the late entertainer Danny Thomas. Its mission is to find cures for children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. St. Jude has treated children from all 50 states and from around the world.

The mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Consistent with the vision of our founder Danny Thomas, no child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family's ability to pay. St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer research center where families never pay for treatment not covered by insurance.

Our vision is to be the world leader in advancing the treatment and prevention of catastrophic diseases in children. Through these efforts we seek to cure and enhance the quality of life for an increasing proportion of children who come to us for treatment, and by expanding and sharing knowledge, to advance treatment of children with catastrophic diseases worldwide, while developing strategies to prevent catastrophic diseases in children.

In 1962, the survival rate for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most common form of childhood cancer, was 4 percent. Today, the survival rate for this once deadly disease is 94 percent, thanks to research and treatment protocols developed at St. Jude.


The daily operating cost for St. Jude is nearly $1.5 million, which is primarily covered by public contributions.
Won't you consider making a difference in the lives of young cancer warriors! 


Get Involved:

Donate to St. Jude Children's Hospital.

Shop at the St. Jude online store.

Volunteer at a St. Jude regional office in your area.









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Source:  http://www.stjude.org/

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

September 29 (Day 212) Jenny's Light

Today's post is one of those posts that I find difficult to write.  It is difficult because I don't understand it, I don't understand it because I have never experienced it and it seems so foreign to me.  It's easy to be judgemental and place blame, how about showing a little compassion and empathy. 




Jenny's & Graham's Story:
(excerpt of story written by Jenny's father Bob)

When Jenny found out in March that she was pregnant she seemed very happy, and friends and family were so excited too! Unfortunately, Jenny had a difficult pregnancy and she was sick for most of the first seven months, and also developed Bell's palsy that lasted a couple of months. As her due date approached, we made plans to come and stay for the first three weeks after Graham's birth. On Nov. 1st, 2007, Graham Gibbs Bankston was born at St. Vincent's Hospital in Birmingham. Everybody was so proud and excited.

 Jenny was a real champ during delivery, but she struggled a bit with nursing and was reluctant to take Graham from the house for the first few weeks. She was also adjusting to not working, not getting much sleep, and having to care for her newborn. Other than that, things seemed normal and Graham got easier to care for as the weeks went by.


Then, out of the blue, on Dec. 19th, 2007, Jenny purchased a gun at a sporting goods store in Birmingham and at about 7:00 pm, she went to the backyard and took Graham's life and then her own.


We are so devastated and shocked by this tragedy that it was a real struggle to write this story. We hope that somehow it might inspire new mothers to seek help and treatment before something like this happens to them.


We are left with many great memories and the chance to help other families avoid having to go through what we are. With your help, Jenny's Light can make a difference.


Click here to read an in-depth article about Jenny's story.  It is a very worthwhile read.


On December 19, 2007, Jennifer and Graham Gibbs Bankston tragically passed away. Jenny suffered silently with postpartum depression but her symptoms could have been detected and treated. Jenny's Light was created by her family to be a source of information, hope and inspiration. We strive to stop this type of tragedy from happening to others. The mission of Jenny's Light is to improve and save lives by increasing awareness of all perinatal mood disorders including postpartum depression.

Up to 80 percent of women experience minor sadness — the so-called baby blues — after giving birth, and about 10 percent plummet into severe postpartum depression.  New mothers often feel tired and overwhelmed. They may be experiencing "baby blues." Women with baby blues may feel tired, weepy, and have no energy. However, the feelings that go with postpartum depression are stronger and longer lasting. A mother may not want to play with her baby. She may have trouble paying attention to things and may not be able to meet her baby's needs for warmth and affection. She may feel guilty or worthless.

You can't tell someone has postpartum depression by looking at her. A woman may look perfectly "normal" to everyone else. She may even try especially hard to look polished or put together - keeping her makeup done, and her hair styled - to turn attention away from the pain she is feeling on the inside.  Postpartum depression is nobody's fault. There is nothing that a woman with postpartum depression could have done to avoid having this disorder.  Having postpartum depression does not make someone a bad mother.

Postpartum depression can happen any time in the first year after a woman gives birth.  The "baby blues" may last up to 4 weeks but usually goes away on its own. Like many illnesses, postpartum depression almost never goes away without treatment. The good news is that there are available treatments that work.  
 
 
If you or someone you know needs help, click here to find resources available to help. 
 
 
 
Get Involved:
 
Donate to Jenny's Light.
 
Volunteer opportunities with Jenny's Light.
 
Shop Jenny's Light online store.









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Source:  Jenny's Light

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

September 28 (Day 211) Building Bridges...Transforming Lives

Flash flooding affects everyone, young and old. Footbridges provide access for children to attend school and return home safely; the sick are able to reach a hospital or clinic for life saving medical attention; villagers can  attend their weekly market centers so their commerce is not interrupted.

Bridging the Gap is dedicated to saving lives and improving the quality of life for marginalized communities across sub-Saharan Africa by constructing pedestrian footbridges to overcome the dangers posed by impassable rivers and ravines that threaten their safety, limit their access to education and healthcare, and restrict economic opportunity.


The approach to building bridges works best by building community Initiative, Participation, and Ownership.
  • Community Initiative is the first step for a successful footbridge project.
  • Community Participation is imperative for true and lasting empowerment.
  • Community Ownership rewards the hard work of everyone involved.


Using materials that are accessible in Kenya, Bridging The Gap  works with community leaders to involve the local men and women in gathering sand and rock for the bridge footings and in raising their portion of the cost to build their footbridge. Then, utilizing local labor and volunteers, BTG provides technical expertise and financial assistance to design and construct a safe and secure pedestrian footbridge. At the completion of the project it’s time to celebrate! Speeches are given, a meal is shared; the bridge is formally commissioned to the receiving and grateful community.


The hanging footbridges are simple in design, with an average length of 120 feet and an average cost of about $6,000. They are built using basic materials and local tools so villagers can maintain them and make repairs when needed.  There is high demand for Bridging The Gap's  help. But because of limited financing, they are able to organize only five or six projects a year.


Please consider supporting this amazing project!  What an awesome way to make a difference in someone else's life! 



Get Involved:

Donate to Bridging the Gap.










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Source:  Bridging The Gap

Monday, September 27, 2010

September 27 (Day 210) Kids Kicking Cancer




September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month


Kids Kicking Cancer (KKC) was founded by Rabbi/Professor Elimelech Goldberg, who is both a black belt in the martial arts and a father who lost his first child to cancer in 1983. He is also a Clinical Asst. Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Wayne State University Medical School. Rabbi G (as he is fondly called by his students) created the Kids Kicking Cancer program after serving for 12 years as the Director of a New York based summer camp for children with cancer. His experience in the martial arts, as a spiritual leader and as a parent who can identify with other parents facing serious disease, has provided him with remarkable insight into issues facing children and families with a diagnosis of cancer.


Children with cancer typically feel a tremendous loss of autonomy, control and personal identity. They are required to endure treatments that cause them to feel sick in order to heal. They are confronted with multiple fears, including mortality, hair loss, falling behind academically and socially, as well as many other issues that affect how they view their bodies, their lives and their destinies. Rather than allowing children to view themselves as victims of disease, KKC trains pediatric cancer patients to see themselves as capable and important participants in their own healing. The impact of this change in perception on the psychological and emotional outlook of the children is dramatic.


By focusing its program around the healing themes of martial arts training, KKC not only strengthens children physically, but also teaches them to tap into the inner light of their spiritual self – a focus that generates incredible power, energy and internal strength. The inner spirit or soul of each child is viewed as the defining element of the child, rather than the body or the tumor that has invaded the child’s body.  Instead of emphasizing all the things that pediatric cancer patients cannot do, KKC focuses on all the things they can do. The goal of KKC is to help children with serious disease to heal, while empowering them physically, spiritually and emotionally.


Kids Kicking Cancer is a non-profit 501© 3 organization that provides weekly classes for children, both inpatient and outpatient, in the mind-body techniques found in the martial arts.  We emphasize relaxation and mental imagery, and skill each student according to his or her capabilities to engage in breathing, meditation, and active karate exercises. We also instruct the parents, siblings and the medical personnel in these methods. Our instructors are invited to accompany their students and further assist them in the hospital rooms and clinics as they undergo painful procedures such as spinal taps and bone marrow aspirations. Our mantra: “Pain is a message one does not have to accept.”


 
Get Involved:
 
Donate to Kids Kicking Cancer.








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Source:  Kids Kicking Cancer.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

September 26 (Day 209) Troopons™ -- Coupons for Troops

I am always amazed by those people who go to the grocery store with coupons in hand and walk out of the store having saved large amounts of money!  My sister was like that.  She had a cupboard full of things she had gotten "free" through smart shopping and couponing!  I have tried... I cut out the coupons and then I forget to take them to the store!   Sunday is the big day for coupons, so here is a great and easy way you can make a difference.....by clipping coupons! 



The Support Our Troops® coupon program enhances the welfare of overseas military families by sending them food and non-food manufacturer coupons to make their dollar go farther.

What are Troopons?
Troopons™ are what you can do with coupons you don’t use!  Send them to the troops overseas!  It’s an easy way to make a difference in their lives.

Here at home,  it’s easy -- our newspaper arrives full of coupons. Overseas, for military families, it doesn't.
But the military stores on their base where they shop accept manufacturer coupons from here – even expired ones.

So we can all pitch in to help these amazing man and women and families reduce their grocery bills. This is especially helpful when they are living in countries with currency exchange rates off bases that are better than the dollar, meaning their money does not go as far as it would at home. For example, off base, a military family’s dollar is worth following:

  • England: 65¢
  • Germany: 72¢
  • Japan: 90¢
So every dollar you can help them save in their on-base store, makes their American dollar worth more to them for things off-base.

How do our military families get these coupons? From you! They’re there for us, let’s be there for them.

Send us coupons you won’t use. We'll send them over. Just mail your clipped coupons to:

Support Our Troops®
P. O. Box 70
Daytona Beach, FL 32115-0070



FAQs

  • This is patriotic, but not tax deductible.  (Your reward is the joy of helping others!) 
  • There is no minimum donation size.
  • Expired Coupons Are Accepted Until They Are Two Months Old. Coupons older than two (2) months expired on the date of mailing are no good. People at the base must have time to process them there, and families need time to use them in their budget stream.


How does this work....

Clip Your Coupons   
Don't send unclipped, We can’t do it. You will save people at the base time. You save yourself money on postage.

Good Coupons:
Only “Manufacturer’s Coupons” can be used. They can be from the newspaper, dispensers in grocery stores, tear-pads, internet and elsewhere as long as they state "Manufacturer's Coupon" on them.
Bad Coupons.:
No Assistance Vouchers. No Food Stamps or the like. No Store Coupons. No restaurant coupons.

Sort the Coupons

Bases usually have a grocery store, and a department store. Put food coupons in one bag and non-food coupons in another bag. This helps the base volunteers and personnel send them to the right store. Don’t use rubber bands, paper clips, or the like.


Mark the Bags

Write “food” or “non-food” on the outside of the bag. Write the approximate value on the outside of the bag.  Use the maximum value printed on any "buy one, get one free" offers. If none is printed, estimate.
  • What is "Food"? Food can be eaten or drank by humans for nourishment.Chewing gum and mints are considered food.  
  • What is Non-Food? Housewares, animal food, vitamins, are not food.  
Why Total the Value of Coupons on the Bag?
We can allocate the amounts among the various bases according to their sizes and needs. We can track how much good is happening by all us little people.

Where to Send Your Bundles.

Send us coupons you won’t use. We'll send them over. Just mail your clipped coupons to:

Support Our Troops®
P. O. Box 70
Daytona Beach, FL 32115-0070








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Source:  Support Our Troops

Saturday, September 25, 2010

September 25 (Day 208) No Arms, No Legs.... No Worries!

I hope today's post inspires you... Inspires you to believe in yourself and your abilities.  Inspires you to know that nothing can keep you down if you don't allow it to.  Inspires you to follow your dreams and be the person that you can be.  Inspires you to reach deep inside to overcome any obstacles you may find in your path.  We are all valuable...we are all worthwhile... we are all wonderfully made! 


Imagine being born without arms. No arms to wrap around a friend ; no hands to hold the ones you love; no fingers to experience touch ; no way to lift or carry things. How much more difficult would life be if you were living without arms and hands? Or what about legs? Imagine if instead of no arms, you had no legs. No ability to dance, walk, run, or even stand. Now put both of those scenarios together… no arms and no legs. What would you do? How would that affect your everyday life?


Nick Vujicic, was born in 1982 in Brisbane, Australia. Without any medical explanation or warning, Nicholas Vujicic came into the world with neither arms nor legs. Throughout his childhood, Nick dealt not only with the typical challenges of school and adolescence such as bullying and self-esteem issues; but also struggled with depression and loneliness.  He constantly questioned why he was different than all the other kids surrounding him; why he was the one born without arms and legs. He wondered what the purpose behind his life was, or if he even had a purpose. According to Nick, the victory over his struggles throughout his journey, as well as the strength and passion he has for life can be credited to his faith in God. His family, friends and the many people he has encountered along the way have also encouraged him.


Now at 27 years old, this limbless young man has accomplished more than most people accomplish in a lifetime. Nick recently made the massive move from Brisbane, Australia to California, USA, where he is the President of an international non-profit organization; Life Without Limbs.  Since his first speaking engagement back when he was 19, Nick has traveled around the world, sharing his story with millions of people, speaking to a range of different groups such as students, teachers, youth, businessmen and women, entrepreneurs, and church congregations of all sizes. He has also told his story and been interviewed on various televised programs worldwide. “If God can use a man without arms and legs to be His hands and feet, then He will certainly use any willing heart!”   Watch this short video is you want to be inspired!!






Get Involved:

Donate to Life Without Limbs.

Volunteer opportunities with Life Without Limbs.

Shop the Life Without Limbs online store.









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Source:  Life Without Limbs

Friday, September 24, 2010

September 24 (Day 207) Children of the Night



Children of the Night is a private, non-profit, tax-exempt organization founded in 1979. We are dedicated to assisting children between the ages of 11 and 17 who are forced to prostitute on the streets for food to eat and a place to sleep. Since 1979 we have rescued girls and boys from prostitution and the domination of vicious pimps. And we provide all programs with the support of private donations.


We are making a difference in the lives of hundreds of children each year. Our commitment to rescuing these children from the ravages of prostitution is shared with a small but committed group of detectives, FBI agents, and prosecutors in Los Angeles, Hollywood, Santa Ana, Anaheim, San Diego, other areas of California, Las Vegas, Portland, Billings, Montana; Seattle, Washington; Miami, New York, Minneapolis, Atlanta, Phoenix, Hawaii and Washington D.C. — all stops on the child prostitution circuit. And our numbers keep growing as more and more dedicated individuals become concerned about the welfare of these desperate children.


Child prostitutes require specialized care for effective intervention. Most of the children victimized by prostitution were first victimized by a parent or early caregiver. Most have been tortured by treacherous pimps, and many testify in lengthy court proceedings against the pimps who have forced them to work as prostitutes.



In most cases these children do not have appropriate homes to return to, and the only relative who is a suitable guardian may live far away from the child’s hometown. For many the only option is an out of home placement, college dorm, maternity home or mental health program.




Child prostitution is international in scope. Pimps have become more sophisticated in recruiting and harboring the children they force to prostitute, moving their victims from state to state, often forcing them to work as prostitutes outside the larger cities and in small towns where police are unfamiliar with the operations of child prostitution rings.


Children are recruited by pimps in arcades, malls, entertainment centers, at tourist attractions and concerts. The pimp seduces a new recruit with the lure of wealth and the luxury of designer clothes, fancy cars, and exclusive nightclubs. Pimps move from city to city looking for children who are easy prey: alone, desperate, and alienated. Once he moves a child from her hometown into a strange city, the pimp can easily force her to work as a prostitute. Thousands of children are victimized by this horrible con game every year. Child prostitution is an immense and devastating problem that nobody wants to recognize, nobody wants to talk about, and everyone wants to cover up. Child prostitutes are not only abandoned by their parents, but by the social services system as well.



Child prostitutes are typically victims of incest at an early age. Without intervention, these children run to the street during adolescence to escape the terrifying sexual exploitation by a trusted caretaker.



Sexually abused children respond differently than children abused in other ways. They are defenseless and lack the aggression required for survival on the streets. They are more vulnerable to the manipulations and skillful con games of pimps.  

 
The Children of the Night home is open to American child prostitutes (ages 11-17) throughout the United States, and the Children of the Night hotline is ready and able to rescue these children 24 hours a day. Our hotline staff works closely with law enforcement to rescue children from vile, dominating pimps.
 


Our home features an on-site school and college placement program. After youngsters complete our rigorous and comprehensive program of academic and life-skills education, caseworkers are available to provide ongoing case management to hundreds of graduates.



Get Involved:

Donate to Children of the Night.

Children of the Night Wish List.

Volunteer opportunities with Children of the Night.









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Source: Children of the Night

Thursday, September 23, 2010

September 23 (Day 206) Explore the World...Cover to Cover

Her love of books and reading was inspired by her grandmother, Bess O'Keefe and now Jennifer Frances is 'paying it forward.' Hoping to inspire that same love of books and reading to the next generation.  Jennifer has created Bess The Book Bus as the vehicle (literally, I mean vehicle) for passing on that love of reading and the legacy of Grandma Bess! 




Jennifer cashed out a 401K account, bought a used van that she dubbed Bess the Book Bus and began visiting libraries and Boys & Girls Clubs to let each child pick several books. This summer, she expanded her route to 35 states. Jennifer, who has two buses, funds her program with donations and waitressing. (Did you catch that... she believes in her mission so strongly that she has put up her own money.)  Recently one young recipient told her, "You're going to give a lot of kids a book habit." And that, says Jennifer, "sums up my mission statement better than anything."




Bess The Book Bus, Inc. is a charitable, tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) mobile literacy outreach. We travel to schools, shelters, and after school programs, where we read stories and give away books. Bess' mission is to open new worlds to those in need by promoting literacy. There is a direct correlation between the number of books in a child's home and their literacy skills. People with higher literacy skills have greater success in life.  We build a passion for literacy through the interactive reading experience. 


Bess the Book Bus is dedicated to reading to children, promoting literacy, and getting books in to the homes of underprivileged children and families in the Tampa area. While our offices are located in South Tampa, the program itself is mobile. This year we have increased our services to include twenty-five Head Start programs, ten summer programs, The Spring, Metropolitan Ministries, Redland Christian Migrant Association, and an after school program. We also support three school libraries that do not have enough books to serve their population.  Bess the Book Bus Drives 11,000 Miles and Delivers 11,000 New Books to Children in Need Across the U.S.


Way to Go, Jennifer!  You inspire us to make a difference! 
 
 
 
Get Involved:
 
Donate to Bess The Book Bus.










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Source: http://www.bessthebookbus.org/

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

September 22 (Day 205) The Gentle Barn




The Mission:   To rescue, rehabilitate and give sanctuary to abused animals. Through the interaction with our animals children learn reverence for all life.


The Gentle Barn Foundation is a nonprofit organization that was founded in 1999 as a safe haven and place of recovery for abused farm animals and children. We are home to over 120 rescued animals and we are host to at-risk, inner-city and special needs kids.


Our unique treatment philosophy rehabilitates animals and connects their stories of survival and healing to the personal experiences of at-risk and special needs children who have suffered physical, mental or emotional trauma.  The Gentle Barn is host to abused children, kids recovering from substance abuse, kids on probation, foster kids, and children and adults with mental, emotional, and physical challenges.


Through the interaction with animals, the children learn forgiveness, courage, strength, leadership skills, trust, empathy, and kindness. The healing that takes place when the kids get together with the animals is miraculous.


The Gentle Barn  is run by Ellie Laks and her partner, Jay Weiner.  Ellie and Jay had similar childhoods where they both felt alone, unseen and misunderstood. For both of them it was from animals that they received their attention, friendship, and unconditional love. Having been saved by animals it was their dream to have a place that allows children to be supported and healed by animals like they had been.


Ellie and Jay see their 120 rescued farm animals as teachers, healers, friends and hero's. Every animal at their place has been rescued from horrible abuse, neglect, and loneliness, and yet they have all survived using forgiveness, trust, love, and courage. These are the qualities that Ellie and Jay strive for on a daily basis, and that they teach the children that visit The Gentle Barn.


Our at-risk program works by bringing inner city kids and at-risk youth to our facility to build self-esteem, learn positive values, heal their pasts, discover their inner selves, and reach out for bright futures. We do this by uniting the children with our 100 rescued animals. Since children naturally identify with animals, and because animals are living beings like us, we can use our interactions with them to teach children how to behave towards other people.


Incorporating the simple concepts of kindness and respect into their lives, and teaching the children to respect and protect even the smallest and weakest among us, will help them value themselves and one another.


We believe that our animals are particularly healing with these children. First of all, the animals have all been abused before coming to The Gentle Barn. Relaying their stories to the children allows them to identify and relate to the pain of the animals. Often times the children share similar pasts. Secondly, as they see that the animals are safe here with us, the children begin to open up, as they too feel safe. Finally, we believe that animals, with their unconditional love and non-judgmental attitude, can often times reach kids more deeply and effectively than people can. As the children learn to love the animals, they simultaneously learn to love a part of themselves. As they learn to understand the animals, they learn to understand a part of themselves.


Identifying with the animals at The Gentle Barn helps the children feel safe. When we explore how our abused animals have learned to forgive and overcome their pasts, the animals become role models helping the children reach their goals of surpassing their pain and reaching for their bright futures. Often times when children are abused they turn their hurt around to abuse others, smaller than themselves. By teaching empathy and uniting kids with all life, we turn them into protectors instead of abusers.



About the animals...
Bonsai lived with an alcoholic woman for the first 6 years of his life. When she was sober all was good, but when she was drunk Bonsai would get punched in the face. At 6 years old, he decided he would never trust humans again. It took us two and half years to get him to change his mind. He now works with autistic kids and gives them all the gentleness and kindness he wishes he could have had when he was a baby.



The Virtual Barn Read the stories of the Animals rescued by Gentle Barn.
 
 
Get Involved:
 
Donate to The Gentle Barn.
 
Share the message of The Gentle Barn.
 
Other ways to get involved.











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Source:  http://www.gentlebarn.com/

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

September 21 (Day 204) Prostate Cancer Foundation

The month of September has been designated as National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, bringing prostate cancer into focus. With that goal in mind,  it is time to increase public understanding of the disease, including its prevalence, approaches to screening and prevention, treatment options, and resources that offer updated prostate cancer information throughout the year.




That is where The Prostate Cancer Foundation comes in.  PCF was founded to give men and their families hope. They set out to harness more resources—both financial and human—to accelerate the development of new breakthroughs and find a cure as quickly as possible.


Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in men and is a leading cause of cancer death in men, second only to lung cancer. Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in America, affecting 1 in 6 men.


In 2010, nearly 218,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, and more than 32,000 men will die from the disease. One new case occurs every 2.4 minutes and a man dies from prostate cancer every 16.4 minutes.


It is estimated that there are more than 2 million American men currently living with prostate cancer. Staying informed with the latest news on prevention and screening is an important step in reducing your risk of developing prostate cancer. And, should a diagnosis occur, access to current, in-depth treatment information can help you find the best care.


A non-smoking man is more likely to develop prostate cancer than he is to develop colon, bladder, melanoma, lymphoma and kidney cancers combined. In fact, a man is 35% more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than a woman is to be diagnosed with breast cancer.



Learn more about Prostate Cancer.



Get Involved: 

Donate to The Prostate Cancer Foundation. -  Give to the Safeway Foundation $1. Million Matching Grant Challenge and your donation will be doubled. 

Other Ways to give to PCF.

Shop the PCF Store.

Athletes for a Cure  -   Help raise funds for PCF.










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Source:  http://www.pcf.org/

Monday, September 20, 2010

September 20 (Day 203) Restoring Hope One Home at a Time




For 20 years,  Paint Your Heart Out has been helping out elderly, disabled, or low-income homeowners by giving their properties a facelift at no cost to the homeowner.  Paint Your Heart Out, Inc is a volunteer driven non profit organization that helps low income, senior, disabled, and veteran homeowners maintain their dignity, safety and connections to the community by painting and providing homeowners with essential repairs and upkeep to their homes.



A private, non-profit organization, Paint Your Heart Out recruits volunteers from the community and uses donated supplies and materials or those bought with donations to repair, and refurbish homes for low income, senior or disabled Anaheim homeowners.The organization gives minor exterior repairs, yard cleanup, and paint jobs to qualified homeowners, free of charge.



Criteria for the recipients includes: low income according to HUD guidelines, owns their home, has an Anaheim address and is either over 65 years old or receiving disability. Since 1991, over 1000 homes have been refurbished, a value of 7.5 million dollars in neighborhood improvements.



Neighbors coming together to help neighbors... that is what I really love about this concept! Everyone needs a little help sometimes and we can be that help.  Maybe we cannot volunteer to paint houses in Anaheim, CA , but we can make a donation.   How about taking the example and starting a similar project in your area.  Or how about getting a group of friends together and helping someone in your area who needs help. 
 




Get Involved:

Donate to Paint Your Heart Out.

Volunteer with Paint Your Heart Out.

Become a PYHO Sponsor.











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Source:  http://www.pyho.org/

Sunday, September 19, 2010

September 19 (Day 202) Mustard Seed Communities



Mustard Seed Communities (MSC) began in 1978 as a home for abandoned and handicapped children on the outskirts of Kingston, Jamaica and now cares for over 600 children in 14 communities. Through the years Mustard Seed Communities have spread across the Caribbean nations and recently into Africa, building additional facilities in Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic and Zimbabwe. Committed to providing not just for our children but uplifting the marginalized and forgotten of society as well, MSC has involved itself in numerous outreach programs. The majority of communities are dedicated to the care of children with serious physical and mental disabilities such as Down’s syndrome, hydrocephalus, cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy. MSC also cares for children affected by HIV/AIDS and pregnant teenagers.


In addition to the care of children, MSC is dedicated to the improvement of the communities in which they are based. MSC employs over 300 local workers, offering jobs, training and economic viability to people who would otherwise have no opportunity to break out of the cycle of poverty which grips their lives. MSC strives to introduce skills into the community and to empower its people to become more self-sufficient. When we build each of our new MSC facilities the local community has to be involved in building the home, furnishing it and eventually working in it as caregivers. The home then belongs to the community and the community derives a sense of pride and satisfaction knowing that it can look after its own children with disabilities.


Examples of the programs that serve these populations include: the Dare to Care program, providing homes, education and medical care for 100 orphans with HIV/AIDS; the Christ in the Garbage Ministry, in both Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic, which encompasses a feeding program, a sewing and baking center to teach life skills and a school; and sustainable living communities for children and young adults with physical and mental disabilities.


As a non-profit organization, Mustard Seed Communities relies on the incredible support that we receive from our volunteers, friends, donors, missionaries and so many others. The work of Mustard Seed would not be possible without the generosity and help that we receive. Thank you for considering ways to help Mustard Seed!


Mustard Seed operates under the principals of caring, sharing and training. Caring is a little understood resource. It is quite limitless and has the miraculous ability to increase in direct proportion to the extent to which it is expended. In addition, its infinite value lies in the almost magical effect of its sincere employment in every human situation. Every society and every community in our global village has within itself, reserves of CARING. Most do not recognize and few ever exploit these resources.


CARING energizes and inspires a limitless range of endeavors.
  • It adds value to every element of human expression.
  • Its presence is a critical ingredient in human interaction.
  • Its absence contributes to conflict.
  • Its presence shows, as when a listener is intently following a speaker.
  • It is an essential prerequisite in the pursuit of happiness.

Guided by our Mission Statement, Mustard Seed Communities cares for the most vulnerable. As the number of children that Mustard Seed Communities serves continues to grow, so do our needs. Your gifts allow us to carry out our mission as we strive to lift up the most vulnerable members of society. With your generosity, we are able to continue to meet the many needs to the children and families that we serve.



Get Involved:

Donate to Mustard Seed Communities.

Volunteer opportunities with MSC.










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Source:  http://www.mustardseed.com/

Saturday, September 18, 2010

September 18 (Day 202) Huddle to Fight Hunger

Did you know that 1 in 6 Americans and nearly 1 in 4 children struggle with hunger... September is Hunger Action Month and here is a quick and easy way to help alleviate hunger in your area.

49 million Americans and 16.7 million children are affected.  There are 27% more Americans struggling with hunger now, than 4 years ago.  Feeding America's network of food banks feed 37 million Americans every year, including 14 million children and 3 million seniors.




Kraft Foods' Huddle to Fight Hunger program is designed to reach the goal of giving away 20 million meals to Feeding America. The program runs from August 22nd 2010, through January 9th, 2011 and encompasses many ways for consumers to get involved. For all components of the program, the monetary equivalent of meals will be donated by Kraft Foods. $1 donated = 7 meals secured by Feeding America on behalf of local food banks.

Together with your help we hope to reach our goal of giving away 20 million meals.


The Playbook -  ( Ways you can help)

The Join the Huddle Draw
Just for joining, Kraft Foods will help donate a meal to Feeding America (Look for the 'Join the Huddle' sign up on the website).


The Facebook Like Button Hook
Click the Like Button on the Kraft Foods Facebook Page and a meal gets donated.

The Coupon Cut Route
Take on hunger with up to $5 in coupons. 1 coupon redeemed = 1 meal for Feeding America.

The Twitter Twackle
Tweet with the #KraftFightsHunger hashtag and we'll donate a meal.

The YouTube Toss  
Watch a video from our YouTube Playlist and for every view, we’ll donate a meal.

The Facebook Photo Flea Flicker
Post a photo to the Kraft Foods Facebook Wall and a meal will be donated.









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Source:  Kraft Foods / Huddle to fight Hunger.

Friday, September 17, 2010

September 17 (Day 201) Charity just got more daring....

Would you shave your head? Kiss A Pig? Walk around the zoo in a Penguin costume? How about giving piggy-back rides to strangers?




MyDunkTank is bringing the FUN back to FUNdraising.  MyDunkTank makes fundraising more fun and lighthearted by making it into a dare. MyDunkTank is a humorous twist on non-profit fundraising. It allows you to do a fundraising dare in support of whatever cause you choose. 


It works like this: You go to the MyDunkTank website and name the charity you want to raise money for and how much money you want to raise, then make a short list of dares that you’re willing to do. Tell your friends, family and colleagues about it, and they’ll each vote with donations on which dare they’d like to see you do.





Recent dares include a guy named Nicolas Warren who promises to "juggle flaming nunchucks at a Boston startup event to the tune of the song 'Philly State of Mind'" for the National MS Society and Jameson Detweiler will run the Rocky steps wearing only sneakers, a diaper and boxing gloves for a full hour on a Saturday afternoon. After the dare is completed, photographic evidence is posted to the mydunktank website.


This is about having fun, and no one has to do a dare that makes them uncomfortable. Daretakers have the option of choosing their dares or letting their friends suggest new dares. Daretakers can always edit or remove dares for any reason. You agree to perform the dare that gets the most votes. Donations from all votes are sent to your cause, even for dares that do not win. You share photos and videos of their dare performance on your fundraising page. 


MyDunkTank was launched in June by Philadelphia entrepreneurs Blake Jennelle and Chap Ambrose. The site charges a 9 percent fee for the service, which goes to cover website costs and plans for a future expansion.


What a fun, clever way to raise money for those causes that you care about!  How about it?  You brave enough?   Remember, b ehind every great cause is a person willing to dance the macarena.

 MyDunkTank on Facebook.









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Source:  www.mydunktank.com

Thursday, September 16, 2010

September 16 (Day 200) beyond the face is a heart


Children's Craniofacial Association envisions a world where all people are accepted for who they are, not how they look.




This year marks the sixth year Children's Craniofacial Association (CCA) will observe September as Craniofacial Acceptance Month across the nation. CCA families, friends, volunteers and related support groups will be widening the circle of acceptance for individuals with facial differences. The goal is to create awareness that beyond the face is a heart and the true person within.



Children's Craniofacial Association is a national, 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with facial differences and their families. Nationally and internationally, CCA addresses the medical, financial, psychosocial, emotional, and educational concerns relating to craniofacial conditions. CCA's mission is to empower and give hope to individuals and families affected by facial differences.


CCA disseminates information to educate craniofacial patients and their families, health care providers and the general public regarding craniofacial conditions.  CCA also promotes public awareness of craniofacial conditions and social acceptance of individuals with facial disfigurement.  Craniofacial patient families often call CCA seeking emotional support and to discuss problems, and to identify resources. 


Since there are relatively few quality craniofacial centers in the United States, many families must travel to receive this quality care. The treatment of craniofacial patients may require from one to as many as twenty or more surgeries. Therefore, even families with insurance are often unable to meet the financial requirements to travel to receive quality care for their children. CCA offers these families funds for food, travel, and lodging through its financial assistance program. CCA also helps families locate discounted hotel rates as well as donated airfare.


One of the most important goals of CCA is to promote social acceptance of children and adults with facial disfigurement. We believe that in order for the general public to accept these and any differences, they must see and understand them.



Get Involved:


Donate to Children's Craniofacial Association.

Other ways to help CCA.

Shop the CCA online store.










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Source:  www.ccakids.org

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

September 15 (Day 199) Donors Choose

It's hard to believe...another school year is underway.  Summer flies by much too quickly!   How about making a difference for a kid this school year?  How about a whole classroom of kids?!  I know a great way to do just that....    Donors Choose


Did you know.... A teacher spends $40 every month on classroom essentials.  Teachers spend an average of $458 of their own cash each year on their students: $275 on basics like notebooks, paper, and pencils; $183 on "extras" like novels, calculators, and art supplies. Teachers do this because they can't bear to see their students go without the resources they deserve.


DonorsChoose.org is an online charity that makes it easy for anyone to help students in need.
Here's how it works: public school teachers from every corner of America post classroom project requests on DonorsChoose.org.   Requests range from pencils for a poetry writing unit, to violins for a school recital, to microscope slides for a biology class.

Then, you can browse project requests and give any amount to the one that inspires you. Once a project reaches its funding goal, we deliver the materials to the school.

You'll get photos of your project taking place, a thank-you letter from the teacher, and a cost report showing how each dollar was spent. If you give over $100, you'll also receive hand-written thank-you letters from the students.

At DonorsChoose.org, you can give as little as $1 and get the same level of choice, transparency, and feedback that is traditionally reserved for someone who gives millions. We call it citizen philanthropy.


DonorsChoose.org grew out of a Bronx high school where teachers experienced first-hand the scarcity of learning materials in our public schools.

Charles Best, then a social studies teacher, sensed that many people would like to help distressed public schools, but were frustrated by a lack of influence over their donations. He created DonorsChoose.org in 2000 so that individuals could connect directly with classrooms in need.

Our mission is to improve public education by empowering every teacher to be a change-maker and enabling any citizen to be a philanthropist.  Our vision is a nation where students in every community have the resources they need to learn.

Be No. 1... Give to Public Schools in Need! - Go to DonorsChoose.org
 
 
Get Involved:
 
Help fund a project!  Search for a project by location, urgency, subject, cost or other criteria.
 
Check out the gift options page.  Give a gift to honor someone or set up a personal page for a birthday or wedding.

Do More!  Other ways you can get involved.












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Source:  www.hua.org
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