June 7 (Day 99) Letters for Lyrics

Today's post features a FREE & easy way to make a difference to those serving in the military! The Zac Brown Band has teamed up with Ram Trucks to create Letters for Lyrics and together they are hoping to send 1 million letters to U.S. troops stationed overseas.


All you have to do is write a letter to a military service person and drop it off at a RAM dealer in your area. You can find your nearest RAM dealer here. In return for writing the letter you will recieve a cool gift... the country band is thanking you with a "Southern Ground Compilation" CD. The CD, which is not sold in stores, features three new songs from Zac Brown Band and songs from artists Sonia Leigh, Nic Cowan and Levi Lowrey.



In addition to handing out the free CD for every letter turned in. U.S. Ram Truck dealerships are providing special “Letters for Lyrics” stationary.  The non-profit organization Soldier’s Angels will help by making sure the letters are delivered to the U.S. troops. But that is not all, there is an exclusive live version of the band’s latest single “Free” available for download for the first 100,000 fans through RamTrucks.com. For each download of this single, Ram Truck will make a donation to Soldier’s Angels, which provides “aid and comfort to the men and women of the United States Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, veterans and their families.”



Watch the exclusive documentary film "For Those Who Serve" following Zac Brown Band on their April USO Tour in the Persian Gulf. The film features the band performing for the troops, meeting individually with our men and women in uniform stationed far from home and sharing their thoughts on the experience. The documentary will be released in multiple segments and is available on the Ram Trucks website.


Please help us reach our goal of sending one million letters.





Source: Ram Trucks - Letters for Lyrics

June 6 (Day 98) Have a Garage Sale for Charity!

It's that time of year again--Garage Sale Season! If you have decided that it's time to get rid of your excess stuff, having a garage sale is a great way to accomplish that.  How about taking it one step further and making a difference.  Become part of the new grass roots movement taking off across the country and raise funds for charity by holding a Garage Sale for Charity!  In the past couple weeks in the area in which I live, I have come across 2 charity garage sales... one benefitting ACS Relay for Life and the other Susan G. Komen.   What a great way to make a difference.  

One person, one garage sale can make a difference. This is grass roots at its best. The potential over the next several months is huge! Effortless fund raising for charities during the slow summer months when donations are down -  money local charities would have otherwise never seen, during the months they may need it the most. Sell, donate, feel good! Saving the world one garage sale at a time.

 
How to hold a Charity Garage Sale:

Step 1... Pick a Date.  Most garage sales Thursday - Saturday, but whichever days work for you is fine!   Advertise! Advertise! Advertise!  Get the word out by posting it on Craig List and in your local paper. Enlist the help of your family and friends to make up flyers and posters and put them up around town. If your community has public access TV ask them to publicize your garage sale.  Make sure to let your customer's know which charity you are helping! 

Step 2... You need something to sell.  Ask friends, family, and neighbors to clean out their closets, garages and basements for this worthy cause. Have them bring them to your house so that you can sort and price.

Step 3... Set up.  You will need as many folding tables and table cloths as you can get.  Organize the goods on the tables.

Step 4... Additional Fundraising ideas.   Ask your friends and family to supply baked goods and beverages to sell at the garage sale. This will help you raise more money.

Step 5... Get Help.  Ask your friends for help during the sale.  At the end of the sale you can pack up unsold items and donate them to a local charity.



source: ehow.com

June 5 (Day 97) Helping the Gulf - Part 2

The images from the BP Oil Spill are horrifying.  We are now starting to see the animals covered in oil or floating dead in the oil filled water.  It is a very sad sight and it makes you feel like you want to be able to do more!  I have already posted on ways to help, but I wanted to revisit this tragedy because the affects are so great and grow greater everyday. 



Did you know that Dawn Dish Soap has been involved in helping wildlife for many years?  When rescue crews remove the slick black oily film from wildlife affected by oil spills they use Dawn dishwashing liquid.  They’ve been doing it for more than 30 years and for almost that long Dawn’s corporate parent, P&G, has been donating money and product to help animals hurt by disaster. But it is only recently that P&G began to involve its consumers. Through its “Dawn Saves Wildlife” campaign, shoppers can go online to activate a $1 donation from P&G with every bottle of Dawn they purchase.  It is estimated that Dawn detergent has helped save more than 75,000 animals.


Other ways to get involved:

Check out the information below from the Louisiana Gulf Response website and check out each of the organizations websites...you will find many you can assist in this effort:

In the wake of the BP Oil Spill that is threatening our coast, local, regional and national conservation organizations are coordinating volunteers to assist in local, state and federal recovery efforts in Louisiana.

Our organizations - including the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program, the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, the National Audubon Society, and The Nature Conservancy - are established, active advocates for the preservation and restoration of coastal Louisiana.

We are organizations with a history of on-the-ground work in Louisiana, and we are combining efforts and experience to implement an effective volunteer response and make a real difference in the BP Oil Spill recovery efforts.

Click here to read my earlier post to see other ways to assist with the Gulf Oil spill effort.



Sources:  ctpboston.com
               www.lagulfresponse.org

June 4 (Day 96) Lupus Foundation of America

Today's post is especially meaningful to my family because we have a family member who has been diagnosed with Lupus.  Lupus is one of those diseases that most people don't really know much about.  Please take a few minutes to read the post and learn about Lupus and check out the ways you can get involved in helping to find a cure for Lupus. 

The Lupus Foundation of America, Inc. (LFA) is the foremost national nonprofit voluntary health organization dedicated to finding the causes of and cure for lupus and providing support, services and hope to all people affected by lupus.  The LFA was established in 1977 when local lupus organizations came together to bring national attention and resources to lupus. Since that time, the LFA has evolved into the field’s preeminent nonprofit lupus organization with nearly 300 chapters and support groups nationwide.

 

What is Lupus? 

Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease that can damage any part of the body (skin, joints, and/or organs inside the body). Chronic means that the signs and symptoms tend to last longer than six weeks and often for many years. In lupus, something goes wrong with your immune system, which is the part of the body that fights off viruses, bacteria, and germs ("foreign invaders," like the flu). Normally our immune system produces proteins called antibodies that protect the body from these invaders. Autoimmune means your immune system cannot tell the difference between these foreign invaders and your body’s healthy tissues ("auto" means "self") and creates autoantibodies that attack and destroy healthy tissue. These autoantibodies cause inflammation, pain, and damage in various parts of the body.

Lupus is also a disease of flares (the symptoms worsen and you feel ill) and remissions (the symptoms improve and you feel better). Lupus can range from mild to life-threatening and should always be treated by a doctor. With good medical care, most people with lupus can lead a full life. Lupus is not contagious, not even through sexual contact. You cannot "catch" lupus from someone or "give" lupus to someone.

Lupus is not like or related to cancer. Cancer is a condition of malignant, abnormal tissues that grow rapidly and spread into surrounding tissues. Lupus is an autoimmune disease, as described above. Lupus is not like or related to HIV (Human Immune Deficiency Virus) or AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). In HIV or AIDS the immune system is underactive; in lupus, the immune system is overactive.

Our research estimates that at least 1.5 million Americans have lupus. The actual number may be higher; however, there have been no large-scale studies to show the actual number of people in the U.S. living with lupus.

• It is believed that 5 million people throughout the world have a form of lupus.
• Lupus strikes mostly women of childbearing age (15-44). However, men, children, and teenagers develop lupus, too.
• Women of color are 2-3 times more likely to develop lupus.
• People of all races and ethnic groups can develop lupus.
• More than 16,000 new cases of lupus are reported annually across the country.

Get Involved:

Join the Lupus Foundation of America in June as we Walk for Lupus Now®. Thousands of walkers will participate in nearly 70 cities across the nation to raise funds to bring an end to this life-diminishing and life-threatening disease. Many participants have lupus, or are family, friends or caregivers to someone who has lupus. So come out and show your support and give hope for a better quality of life. Click here to find the Walk for Lupus Now location nearest you.

Donate to the Lupus Foundation of America.

Volunteer opportunities available with Lupus Foundation of America.

Find a Lupus Foundation Chapter near you.



Source:  Lupus Foundation of America

June 3 (Day 95) - KaBOOM! Saving Play!

KaBOOM! is a national non-profit dedicated to saving play for America's children. Our mission is to create great playspaces through the participation and leadership of communities. Ultimately, we envision a place to play within walking distance of every child in America.

Play is on the decline throughout America. Not enough playspaces are being built, and those that exist are often in disrepair. Fears surrounding lawsuits and safety are trumping common sense, resulting in sterile, uninspired play environments. Recess is being eliminated from our nation’s schools. Kids are overscheduled, and in their free time, many choose to stay indoors, lulled by television, computers and video games.
 
   
 

The deficit of child’s play is sad, since it means a world with less laughter and joy. And it has grave implications for our society and our future. The decline of play is closely linked to:

• Childhood obesity
• Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity, anxiety disorders and depression
• Violence and other behavioral problems
• Stunted social, cognitive, and creative development
• Lack of green spaces in cities and suburbs
• Fragmented communities
• Failing schools 

We fight this troubling play deficit, and its many related problems, through three central strategies:

• Constructing innovative, kid-inspired playspaces, using a community-build model that improves the   well-being of the children we serve as well as the neighborhoods in which they live.
• Sharing the knowledge and tools needed for anyone to find, improve, and/or build playgrounds on their own.
• Building a broad movement driven by research, analysis, policy, and community engagement.

In saving play, we are creating:

• Healthier, happier, and smarter children
• Greener cities
• Better schools
• Stronger neighborhoods 

To date, KaBOOM! has built over 1750 playgrounds, saving play for nearly 3.5 million children. 
Check out this time lapse video of a playground build.

Start or Join a Project in your community.

Donate:  Your contribution will help to give a child a place to play.

Donate to KaBOOM! with Your Mobile Phone.  You can now give a one-time, $5 donation to KaBOOM! through your mobile phone!  Text SAVEPLAY to 40579.

Kaboom on Facebook.

Source:  KaBOOM

June 2 (Day 94) What One Cup of Coffee Can Do...

Today's opportunity to make a difference is so easy... and it tastes great too!  Just get yourself over to your local Tim Horton's Store and buy a cup of coffee.  All of today's proceeds from coffee sales go to help send children to camp!  So enjoy a cup of coffee and know you are helping young people in your community!

Wednesday, June 2, 2010 is a special day for Tim Hortons Store Owners, staff and customers. It's Camp Day! Camp Day is the one day a year when Tim Hortons Store Owners across Canada and the United States donate every penny from coffee sales to the Tim Horton Children's Foundation. In 2009, Camp Day raised more than $8.5 million U.S.


Every time a customer buys a coffee at Tim Hortons on Camp Day they will help send more than 14,000 kids - who could otherwise not afford it - on the camping adventure of a lifetime. All children who attend one of the Foundation's six camps are selected from within the communities where Tim Hortons stores are located. Tim Hortons Store Owners work closely with local youth organizations and schools to select children, between the ages of nine and 12, to attend a 10-day summer camp session or seven day winter camp session.  During their stay at one of the Foundation's six camps, campers participate in a wide range of first-class programs and activities designed to increase self-confidence, self-esteem and teach leadership skills that will continue to benefit them for years to come.

"By purchasing a coffee on Camp Day, our customers give kids, who live in their very own community, an opportunity to experience a camping adventure that will inspire them for years to come," says Bill Moir, President, Tim Horton Children's Foundation. "Together we can continue to foster within thousands of children the quest for a brighter future."

The Tim Horton Children's Foundation, a non-profit charitable organization founded in 1974, is committed to providing an enriched and memorable camp experience for children, who would otherwise not have the opportunity. Funding for the Foundation comes from year-round public donations collected through counter and drive-thru coin boxes located at more than 3,400 Tim Hortons stores, Tim Hortons Camp Day, as well as other special events and donations. Since 1975, more than 120,000 children and youth have attended a Foundation camp.



Source:  Tim Horton's
              www.timhortons.com

June 1 (Day 93) When life hands you lemons....

MAKE  LEMONADE ! 

Nothing tastes better on a hot summer day than a nice tall glass of icey cold lemonade !

Help Put the Squeeze on Childhood Cancer

 

 

Stir up some fun as you raise money to help find a cure for pediatric cancer by taking part in our 7th Annual Lemonade Days, on the weekend of June 11, 12, and 13, 2010. Host an Alex's Lemonade Stand fundraising event along with more than 10,000 volunteers across the country. Our Lemonade Days goal this year? $1 million raised for childhood cancer research… And YOU can help us get there!

 

To take part in our Lemonade Days, hold your Alex's Lemonade Stand fundraising event anytime during this year’s three designated days—June 11, 12, and 13. You can set up in your front yard, at your school, at your workplace, church, temple, community center or anywhere you like!

 

Find out all you need to know, register to participate, and download materials right here to make your Lemonade Days Fundraiser a success.

 

Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) shares the vision of our founder and creator, Alexandra “Alex” Scott—a cure for all children with cancer. 

 

When Alex, who was diagnosed with childhood cancer just before her first birthday, was four, she told her parents she wanted to set up a front-yard lemonade stand. Her plan: to give the money to doctors to help them find a cure. Her first “Alex’s Lemonade Stand” raised an astonishing $2,000 in one day. While bravely fighting her own cancer, Alex continued to set up lemonade stands every year. As news spread of the remarkable girl so dedicated to helping other sick children, people everywhere were inspired to start their own lemonade stands—donating the proceeds to her cause.

 

In 2004 when Alex passed away at the age of eight—her stand and inspiration had raised over $1 million towards finding a cure for the disease that took her life. Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation was started by her parents in 2005 to continue the work that Alex began. Our mission is simple: to raise money for and awareness of childhood cancer causes—especially research into new treatments and cures—and to encourage and educate others, especially children, to get involved and make a difference for children with cancer.

 

Since Alex set up her first lemonade stand in 2000—truly exemplifying the saying “When life hands you lemons, make lemonade”—we have raised more than $30 million, with more than $12 million of those dollars coming from lemonade stands. That money has helped to: 


• fund more than 125 cutting-edge research projects

• create a travel program to help support families of children receiving treatment

• develop resources to help people everywhere touched by childhood cancer

 

Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation is the living embodiment of Alex’s spirit of determination and hope. Like Alex, we believe that every person can make a difference. Together, we can bring about a cure. Please join us in “making lemonade” today!


Donate to Alex's Lemonade Stand.  -For Mobile Donations, text Lemonade to 85944.
Click here to find a Lemonade Stand / Fundraiser in your area.



Alex's Lemonade Stand on Facebook.
Read / Subscribe to the Lemonade Blog.



Source:  Alex's Lemonade Stand

 

 

 

May 31 (Day 92) ReMIND - Donate $5.31 on 5/31

Happy Memorial Day to all who have served this country so bravely!  We thank you for your service and admire your love of country.  You are our HEROES!  

I know everyone is busy celebrating the day with friends and family - but sometime today, please take a moment to remember what today is all about!  Honoring the sacrifices made by the brave men and women who have given their all for our freedom. 

If you feel so inclined - I have a very easy way to pay it forward today.  The idea is not original to me, but I don't remember where I saw it.... I would like to give credit where it is due.  Anyways, please consider taking  a couple minutes today (5/31) and donating $5.31 to ReMIND.   It is a very simple way to honor our heroes - and you will help make a difference in someone's life. 

Find our more about ReMIND.

Donate $5.31 to ReMIND. 

ReMIND on Facebook.

Source:  www.remind.org

May 30 (Day 91) - Love Versus Cancer

Today is a special day to our family, it is my sister Sherry's birthday! We each celebrate Sherry's life in our own individual ways - but on this day, we will all remember with love, how lucky we are to have had her in our lives.  One of the ways I celebrate Sherry's life is by blogging... this blog was inspired by and is dedicated to Sherry.  Check out "My Inspiration."

We lost Sherry to Inflammatory Breast Cancer on December 4, 2009.  Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC) is a truly awful disease and in honor and celebration of Sherry's life, I hope to shine a small light and create awareness of this disease.

IBC is not a new type of breast cancer, but it is very important to distinguish IBC from other types of breast cancer because there are major differences in its symptoms, prognosis, and treatment.  IBC probably accounts for about 1% of all breast cancers diagnosed in the United States but the disease is often misdiagnosed, since there is no consensus on the real incidence of IBC.

Symptoms

Diagnosing inflammatory breast cancer at an early stage can possibly save your life. IBC causes symptoms that are often different from those of more common breast cancers. It rarely causes a breast lump, and it may not show up on a mammogram. Because it doesn't look like a typical breast cancer, it can be harder to diagnose. IBC can present in a number of ways, and each patient's symptoms are unique, but a common feature is that those symptoms typically progress very rapidly, often within a matter of weeks. Inflammatory breast cancer symptoms may include all or a combination of the following signs and symptoms:

• Breast swelling, which appears suddenly with one breast much larger than the other  
• Itching  
• Pink, red, or dark colored area, sometimes with a dimpling of the breast skin that looks like an orange peel (peau d'orange)  
• Ridges and thickened areas of the skin  
• Breast that feels warm to the touch  
• Flattened or retracted nipple  
• Breast pain

You do not need to have all of these symptoms to be concerned about inflammatory breast cancer. Since inflammatory breast cancer symptoms are very similar to those of an infection (mastitis), your doctor may prescribe a round of antibiotics. If the symptoms have not improved or have grown worse, breast imaging (mammogram, ultrasound, breast MRI) and a biopsy are strongly recommended. These are simple screening procedures for cancer. MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is the most sensitive imaging test for IBC. It can find any breast mass that looks like it could be invasive cancer. More importantly, MRI allows the skin changes that are typical of IBC to be measured precisely. Diagnosing inflammatory breast cancer at an early stage can possibly save your life.

Love Versus Cancer™ aims to honor and promote the strength and hope that love brings to the challenge of confronting cancer. Love unites us all in our efforts to end cancer. Medicine provides the all-important clinical tools to treat cancer – but love bolsters the heart and spirit to help us rise above the disease. Join Love Versus Cancer and connect with those who also recognize the power of love.  

"Love Versus Cancer" does not promise that love will defeat cancer -- not every "fight" will be won.  Love bolsters the spirit and help us rise above the disease. Wherever cancer may take us, love abides and offers strength and hope to confront the disease.

Send an E-Card to someone you love.

Donate to Love Versus Cancer. (Fox Chase Cancer Center Inflammatory Breast Cancer Clinic)

Source: www.fccc.edu

May 29 (Day 90) Coats For Cubs

Donate your old furs to wildlife!

Do you have an old fur coat in your closet? Is your grandmother's mink stole stored in the attic? Many of us have fur apparel that we no longer want or that was left to us by a family member. Some of us aren't comfortable selling it or giving it to charity, because we feel people should not wear animal fur. And storing, cleaning, and remodeling old fur coats are highly profitable services for furriers and helps keep them in the fur business. So what should people do with it?


Give it back to the animals. If you would like to see that old fur put to a good use, donate it to The Humane Society of the United States' Coats for Cubs program. The fur will aid and comfort wildlife.


Where Do the Furs Go?
All of the furs received by The HSUS are sent to wildlife rehabilitators, who use the furs to warm and comfort orphaned and injured wildlife. More than 200 rehabilitators from across the United States and Canada now participate in the program.


How Do the Furs Help Wildlife?
The furs are cut into an appropriate size for the animal, whether it be a bobcat, fox, raccoon, squirrel, or rabbit, and placed inside the animal's enclosure. The furry blanket becomes a surrogate mother to orphaned animals, reducing stress and giving comfort.  The HSUS accepts all fur apparel, fur trims, and fur accessories (such as hats, gloves, and muffs).


One rehabilitator related a story about a restless orphaned river otter who chirped constantly. Once she was given a fur blanket, she settled right down. Turning the sleeve of a fur coat inside out, a rehabilitator can also create a warm nest for a burrowing animal such as an opossum. Some animals adopt a piece of fur as a playmate, jumping on it and wrestling with it.


How Do I Donate?
Donating is easy: Place your fur in a sturdy box (a large padded envelope is fine for small items) and mail it to The HSUS at the following address:

          The Humane Society of the United States
          2100 L St., NW
          Washington, D.C. 20037
          Attn: Coats for Cubs




Need More Info? Click here.
Donate to HSUS programs.



Source:  Humane Society of the United States.
Website: hsus.org 

May 28 (Day 89) Slip, Slop, Slap & Wrap

Today's post highlights something that each of us can do for ourselves and our loved ones!  Make sure you pass this information to everyone you know... you may save a life! 

The National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention Encourages Everyone to Protect Your Skin Today and Every Day.  The Friday before Memorial Day is declared “Don’t Fry Day" as a way to encourage Sun Safety Awareness.  Here is a great way to remember to protect your skin....“Slip! Slop! Slap!…and Wrap” — slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher, slap on a hat, and wrap on sunglasses.


Did you know that there are more cases of skin cancer each year than cases of breast, colon, lung and prostrate cancers combined! That adds up to more than one million Americans getting skin cancer annually.
The statistics show one American dies every hour from skin cancer.  That is a very sobering statistic!


To help reduce the rising rates of skin cancer, the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention has designated the Friday before Memorial Day as Don't Fry Day. The Council's goal is to encourage sun safety awareness by reminding everyone to protect their skin while enjoying the outdoors on Don't Fry Day and every day.

What you can do

We invite you to get involved in raising sun safety awareness. Every voice, action, and effort is another step towards preventing skin cancer. Join the Don't Fry Day campaign to encourage your friends, students, neighbors, relatives, colleagues, and everyone to be safe in the sun.

The American Academy of Dermatology has a great resource available that includes instructions on how to do a Skin Cancer Self-examination and body mole mapping.  Click here for .pdf  file. It also includes tips for sun safety. Print it out (it's only 2 pages) and give a copy to your family and friends or forward them the link to the file and they can print it out for themselves. 



 To minimize your risk of skin cancer, the Academy recommends that everyone Be Sun Smart®:

◦Generously apply a broad-spectrum water-resistant sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 30 to all exposed skin. “Broad-spectrum” provides protection from both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. Re-apply approximately every two hours, even on cloudy days, and after swimming or sweating.

◦Wear protective clothing, such as a long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, where possible.

◦Seek shade when appropriate, remembering that the sun's rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. If your shadow is shorter than you are, seek shade.

◦Protect children from sun exposure by playing in the shade, using protective clothing, and applying sunscreen.

◦Use extra caution near water, snow and sand as they reflect the damaging rays of the sun which can increase your chance of sunburn.

◦Get vitamin D safely through a healthy diet that may include vitamin supplements. Don't seek the sun.

◦Avoid tanning beds. Ultraviolet light from the sun and tanning beds can cause skin cancer and wrinkling. If you want to look like you've been in the sun, consider using a sunless self-tanning product, but continue to use sunscreen with it.

◦Check your birthday suit. If you notice anything changing, growing, or bleeding on your skin, see a dermatologist. Skin cancer is very treatable when caught early.

 
Don't Fry Day on Facebook.
 

 
Sources:  American Academy of Dermatology
               http://www.skincancerprevention.org/

May 27 (Day 88) Sea to Shining Sea

Can you imagine riding a bike across the country, more than 4,000 miles, in 63 days? Probably not, but starting May 22, a team of exceptional athletes, most of whom are wounded veterans, will take on that daunting journey and demonstrate the strength of the American spirit.

A team of exceptional athletes, many of whom are wounded Iraq and Afghanistan veterans representing all military branches, departed from the Golden Gate Bridge today, Saturday, May 22, for World T.E.A.M. Sports’ inaugural bike trek across America called the State Farm Sea to Shining Sea. The goal of the ride is to honor the courage of our service men and women, recognize the strength of the American spirit and challenge perceptions of how we view athletes. The ride will conclude in Virginia Beach on July 24.

Spanning 63 days and 4,000 miles, the cyclists will test their physical limits and inspire people, disabled or not, to live active and enriched lives. The group will cycle through deserts, mountain passes and historical landmarks providing dramatic proof that disabled Americans can lead productive lives and accomplish feats most people only dream about. Several riders have specially-designed bikes that make it possible for them to participate.

Sea to Shining Sea (S2SS) is a 4000 mile bicycle ride across the United States by a group of wounded warriors. Hosted by leading not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, World T.E.A.M. Sports. The event will honor the courage of our military and the strength of the American spirit. Since most of the riders will be disabled American veterans, the ride will provide dramatic proof that disabled Americans can lead productive lives and accomplish feats most people only dream of. All funds raised after costs will go to other athletic events World T.E.A.M. Sports runs for disabled Americans and Soldiers’ Angels, a leading support organization for United States service personnel.

View Ride Itinerary.
Follow on Facebook.
Donate to S2SS.
Check  out volunteer opportunities.



Source: Sea to Shining Sea

May 26 (Day 87) Give A Child A Voice

May is National Foster Care Month.  On May 1st, I posted about opportunities to help foster children.  I highlighted the programs of www.fostercaremonth.org and encourage you to take another look and help in those ways that you can.  There are many opportunities to help, but if you are one of those special people who can - please consider becoming a foster parent!  YOU WILL CHANGE A LIFE!  (see earlier post)

I wanted to revisit Foster Care before the month's end because the needs are so great... Today's post is another great way to get involved and help young people in the foster care system.  Today's post is a little longer than usual, please take a few minutes to read this post and check out the links for additional information and thoughtfully consider how you might be able to help.

Each year, approximately 780,000 children in the US are caught up in the court and child welfare maze because they are unable to live safely at home. Imagine what it would be like to lose your parents, not because of something you did, but because they can’t—or won’t—take care of you. Now, into these children’s lives come dozens of strangers: police, foster parents, therapists, social workers, judges, lawyers, and more. Hopefully, one of these strangers is a CASA volunteer.
CASA volunteers are appointed by judges to watch over and advocate for abused and neglected children, to make sure they don’t get lost in the overburdened legal and social service system or languish in an inappropriate group or foster home. They stay with each case until it is closed and the child is placed in a safe, permanent home. For many abused children, their CASA volunteer will be the one constant adult presence—the one adult who cares only for them.

Volunteers get to know the child and meet with the people who are important in that child's life: family members, teachers, medical professionals and others. Their research informs the decisions of the judge and ultimately helps the child to find a safe, permanent home.

Being a CASA volunteer does not require any special education or background, simply the desire to help abused and neglected children find safe, permanent homes.

So what does it take to become a CASA volunteer?

•The first step: Every volunteer passes a background check and participates in a 30-hour training course.
•After successfully completing the training, the volunteer is assigned his first case. A volunteer's average time commitment to a case is approximately 10 hours per month.
•Volunteer advocates are asked to dedicate themselves to a case until it is closed. The average case lasts about a year and a half.
•Advocates are supervised every step of the way and always have resources readily available.

Stand up for foster children so that they can stand a chance.
Your local CASA program offers a volunteer opportunity like no other. As officers of the court, CASA volunteers, also known in some areas as volunteer guardians ad litem (GALs), are empowered to make a lifelong difference in the lives of abused and neglected children.
Last year, our 68,000+ CASA and GAL volunteers advocated for 240,000 children—an impressive number yet just a third of the children who pass through the child welfare system each year. Our volunteers are an amazing force for good, but we need more of them. Our vision is that every child who needs a volunteer will have one. With your help, we can reach that goal.
There are more than 1,000 CASA and guardian ad litem program offices training volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children across the country.


Ways to Help:
Volunteer - find a program in your community and read volunteers' stories.
Read what Judges are saying about the impact of CASA volunteers. 
Donate online to CASA & other ways to give.

Connect with CASA on Facebook.



Source:  www.casaforchildren.org

May 25 (Day 86) National Kidney Foundation

The National Kidney Foundation is dedicated to preventing kidney and urinary tract diseases, improving the health and well-being of individuals and families affected by these diseases and increasing the availability of all organs for transplantation.
Through its more than 50 local offices nationwide,the NKF provides vital patient and community services, conducts extensive public and professional education, advocates for patients through legislative action, and supports kidney research to identify new treatments.


Kidney disease is a major health problem in the United States and around the world. Over 340,000 Americans rely on a dialysis machine to keep them alive, and nearly 75,000 are on the waiting list for a lifesaving kidney transplant. Recent studies indicate that kidney disease is on the rise and as many as 26 million Americans have chronic kidney disease (CKD). Because symptoms may not appear until the kidneys are actually failing, many people with kidney damage remain unaware and do not take steps to protect the health of their kidneys.

THE FACTS:

26 million Americans have CKD and millions more are at increased risk.

Kidney disease is common, harmful and treatable.

High risk groups include those with diabetes, hypertension and a family history of kidney disease.

African Americans, Hispanics, Asian or Pacific Islanders, Native Americans and seniors are at increased risk.

Once kidneys fail, patients need dialysis or a transplant to survive.

Early detection can slow the progression of kidney disease.

The NKF relies on individual and corporate donations, business partnerships, foundation and government
grants, and revenue from special events. More than 81cents of each dollar donated to NKF goes directly to
support its programs and services.

How you Can Help

Get Tested—If you have diabetes, high blood pressure, or a family history of kidney disease, you are at risk. Get tested.

Volunteer—The foundation welcomes volunteers of all ages and interests. Contact your local NKF office today. Click here to locate your local office.

Support NKF—You can help by participating in a Kidney Walk - you can start your own team or join as an individual walker.  You can even be a "virtual' walker!   or NKF golf tournament in your community, donating a car or golf clubs, making a direct donation or memorial gift, or including the NKF as part of your planned giving.

Make a mobile donation - Text KIDNEY to 50555 and a $5.00 donation will be added to your mobile phone bill.   Click here for more details.

Be a Donor - Many people who need transplants of organs and tissues cannot get them because of a shortage of donations. Every month, more than 2,000 new names are added to the national waiting list for organ transplants, and about 18 people die every day while waiting for an organ transplant in the U.S. Organ and tissue donation helps others by giving them a second chance at life.  It's so simple, find out more here.


Check out NCF on Facebook.



Source:  www.kidney.org

May 24 (Day 85) Chicago in July...

If you have some vacation time available, here is a great way to spend your time.  Many volunteers are needed to fill a variety of positions July 17-24, 2010.    Can You Help?

The NJDC -National Junior Disability Championships-  began in July 1984 as a small meet sanctioned by Wheelchair Sports USA, for wheelchair athletes ages 7-21. Since that time, the NJDC has grown to include over 300 athletes with cerebral palsy, visual impairments, amputations, spinal injuries, and limb deficiencies from across the United States and several foreign countries. The 2010 Games span 8 days, and 7 different athletic competitions. Some of these amazing young competitors will qualify for the U.S. Paralympic Team in the next few years.

The National Junior Disability Championships are held every year (usually in July) in the United States. It is an Olympic-style sports competition for physically disabled youth, including (but not limited to) those with spina bifida, cerebral palsy, amputees, visually impaired/blind, dwarfism, and any other similar physical disabilities that impede movement/the ability to participate in non-adapted sports.

Competitions are held in track, field events (javelin, shotput, discus, club, softball throw), weightlifting, table tennis, archery, swimming, and 3-on-3 basketball. Athletes can be from 7 - 21 years of age. Several Paralympic athletes started their career as competitors at the NJDC.

The National Junior Disability Championships were first held in July, 1984 with only 3 events. Since then, the NJDC has been held in various states.  This year they will be held at Deerfield High School and  Lake Forest High School in Illinois via GLASA - Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association.

Ways to get involved:

Donate cash or items from their "wish list."

Adopt an Athlete program.

Volunteer - for one day or for the whole week - there are many positions available so check out their volunteer sign up sheet and see how you can help. We need many, many community volunteers to work during the eight days of Games, July 17-24, in a variety of fun and interesting roles! Work just one shift on one day... or volunteer to help out all week!   If you live in the area, or might consider taking a vacation to the area at that time, this is a great opportunity to get involved. 

Source:  www.njdc2010.org

May 23 (Day 84) You Choose 1

I had a different post ready for today, but I decided to make a quick change and will highlight that cause at a later date. I decided to go with today's post because it totally exemplifies what this blog is all about -  "Do what you can, where you are, with what you have!"

You Choose 1 is not your typical charity.  Why is that? Well, You Choose 1 was started by Ann Arbor Pioneer High School junior, Damian McGlothlin and his friend Brandon Pederson.  The premise of You Choose 1 is similar to Modest Needs (see earlier post) allowing visitors the ability to choose the need they would like to fulfill. 

Damian is working with 2 local agencies, The Hope Clinic and Friends in Deed, to identify and screen applicants needing assistance to be be featured on the website.  Currently the website features 6 profiles of individuals needing assistance - the requests are relatively small and help families resolve emergency situations in their lives.   Of the 6 original requests for assistance, 4 have already been fully funded!  That is awesome.

Currently those being helped are in the Washtenaw County area, but McGlothlin has plans to expand the reach of You Choose 1 and assist others as the project grows.  You Choose 1 was highlighted in a recent AnnArbor.com article. Read the article here.

I hope this post inspires everyone to make a difference!  Big or Small... it doesn't matter, just find a need and fill it!  When I hear of stories like this I am amazed! Here are 2 high school boys, living normal high school lives -  yet making a huge difference in the lives of others around them.    Thank you Damien & Brandon for making a difference.  I am sure You Choose 1 will grow and continue to help others and I look forward to following your progress!   

Sources:  youchoose1.org

               annarbornews.com

May 22 (Day 83) 48 by 48

Today's Post is not so much a call to a specific cause or charity, but an INSPIRATION to a "Service to Others" lifestyle.   Drew Johnson set out on an adventure to travel to the forty-eight contiguous United States in forty-eight weeks doing a variety of volunteer/service work in each state to make a difference and inspire others!    Drew, you inspire us! 


What's the Mission of 48by48?

To lend a hand to people and organizations of all ages, backgrounds, and affiliations while promoting a “Service to Others” lifestyle.

What are the Primary Goals of 48by48?

1.Travel to all 48 contiguous states in 48 weeks.
2.Serve / Volunteer in each state for a minimum of 5 days or 25 hours.
3.Lead by example in the “Service to Others” (STO) lifestyle.
4.Connect people to local organizations and connect organizations to local people (needs).
5.Promote the STO lifestyle.
6.Create a variety of resources to help others accomplish the STO lifestyle.

What does the “Service to Others” lifestyle look like? The identifying marks of a person who exemplifies the STO lifestyle is one who:

1.Cares deeply about the needs of others.
2.Actively looks for ways to serve others.
3.Has a good balance of realism and creativity when helping to meet the needs of others.
4.Spends ones thoughts thinking about how to see others succeed.
5.Using their influence to bring about positive outcomes in the people and organizations they serve.

Why does the world need 48by48?

48by48 is meant to be more than just a year-long trek that canvases the U.S. of A., showcasing its beauty and wonder. It is meant to be the start of a movement. To see people raise their hands and say, “I'll help out.” Just imagine if the spirit of serving others was the norm in America. Think of what could be accomplished. Closer communities, better public services, lower crime rates, superior educational systems, and the list would go on and on! It's an exciting world to imagine, but until those dreams are put into action, everything remains the same. I do not know about you, but I want a better world. That is why I'm going to try and make it that way by serving others.

As simplistic as it sounds, you really are needed to make 48 by 48 a success. If you believe in Drew's mission and would like to support him, here are a few of the ways you can help:

Provide a roof over Drew's head. (Anywhere from 1-6 nights.)
Provide a meal or two.
Provide laundry facilities.
Provide auto repair.
Provide financial support. (Money, gift cards, coupons, etc.)
Promote 48 by 48 to others.
Connect Drew with others who can help.
Connect Drew with others who need help.
Click here to join Drew's backpack... the pack that has Drew's back.
 
 
Track Drew's Progress here. Find out when Drew will be in town near you!
Check out 48by48 on Facebook.
 
 
Source:  48by48

May 21 (Day 82) A Father's Promise

As the father of 2 children, today's post had me very emotional.  I so admire this family for their strength and fortitude to carry on and make it their mission to take their tragedy and use it to help others! Scott, Katey and family ... you inspire me! 

A father's promise is the mission behind Abbey's Hope Charitable Foundation, a nonprofit advocacy organization launched by Scott and his wife, Katey, in memory of Abbey, who died in March 2008. The accident in the kiddie pool at the Minneapolis Golf Club in St. Louis Park that disemboweled Abbey left her in need of a triple organ transplant. She received a new liver, small bowel and pancreas in January 2008 but developed a rare transplant-related cancer that eventually caused her death.

Scott Taylor made a pledge to his daughter that he intends to keep. After 6-year old  Abbey, was critically injured in a pool drain accident in June 2007, she asked her dad to promise that "what happened to her would never happen to another child."

"Those were Abbey's words," Scott said. "I told her I would do everything I could to let people know how to keep their kids safe. I promised I would talk to as many people as I could." In the hospital, we made a promise to Abbey—a promise to make sure this kind of injury never happens again. And so, with that goal in mind, we created this Foundation. We want to prevent the preventable and keep kids safe. For her. 

Our Mission:

-Promote awareness of and education related to child safety issues, including educating pool owners, operators, inspectors, and the general public about the dangers of pool entrapment, evisceration and drowning and the need for physical inspections of pool equipment.

-Work with the pool and spa industry to improve the design of their products, packaging and warning labels, and assist in the development of product safety standards related to such products.

-Identify and provide support and assistance to organizations and programs that (i) provide support, resources, opportunities and outreach programs to children and families coping with serious childhood injuries or disease, and/or (ii) focus on improving the overall health, education and well-being of children by promoting healthy lifestyles, family resiliency, the arts, education, and social and civic awareness.

-Provide education related to and increase awareness of the overwhelming need for organ donation and to promote the necessity for people to become organ donors.  (See our previous post on Organ donation.)

Summer will soon be upon us - Let's honor this beautiful life by learning all we can about water safety and sharing what we learn with others.  Check out the resource page for links and tips on water and pool safety and other helpful information. 

Did You Know? 

• 
  
  In children ages 1 to 14, drowning is the second-leading cause of accidental death? 
• 
  
  Every year, approximately 760 children (14 and under) die as a result of accidental drowning. And more than 60% of those children are under age 5.

Some Facts:

-Drowning occurs quickly and silently.

-A child can drown in seconds. And they cannot cry out for help.

-They lose consciousness within two minutes under water. Permanent brain damage occurs  after four to six minutes.

-For every child who drowns, two are hospitalized for near-drowning.

-Up to 20% of survivors suffer permanent brain damage.

-And 15% of those children hospitalized for near-drowning die in the hospital.

-Each year in the U.S., over 200 children under age 5 drown in home swimming pools. 

Most children who drown in these swimming pools were:

• 
  
  -last seen inside the home, or had been out of sight for less than five minutes. 
• 
  
  -in the care of one or both parents at the time of the drowning. 

The suction of a pool or spa drain can trap people underwater. The suction force is too strong for anyone to free themselves.Even several onlookers may not be able to lift a child off a drain. To break that suction would be like lifting more than 500 pounds.

Donate to Abbey's Hope.

Read the inspirational Dragonfly Story!  It's a Heart grabber! 

Source:  Abbey's Hope

May 20 (Day 81) Love in simple ways...

Today's post highlights a group of people who saw a need in their community and decided to do something

to meet that need. That is what this blog is all about; Find a need... then fill that need!  It inspires me to see that there are people out there who are making a difference in so many ways.  They are meeting simple needs and having a huge impact in their community.... How about you, what can you do to impact your community?     “We can do no great things, only small things with great love” Mother Theresa

Project 680 is a grassroots team effort led by local residents to do something about the problem of student homelessness. This all started with a sock drive in December 2008. After learning of the “680″ (680 documented cases of “homeless” students in 2008) from the District Liaison for Homeless Services, and that having new socks were a felt need among these students, it became our goal to collect 680 pairs of socks. Well, we were overwhelmed with generosity from the community and we saw 3,144 pairs of socks come in (on a similar note, a future underwear drive then saw 3,198 pairs of underwear). Local residents, neighborhoods, organizations, churches, and businesses all teamed up to make this happen.

WHAT IS A HOMELESS STUDENT? “Homeless” is defined as “an individual who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate residence.” The students that the school district serves in Folsom and Rancho Cordova are living in unstable places like motels, in homes without a parent or legal guardian, in homes without power or water, in RVs in parking lots, in cars, in tents, on the streets, and more. Being a kid or teenager these days is difficult enough without adding the struggle of instability in living arrangements.

Advocating for local homeless students does not require a degree in rocket science, but only a willing heart to love in simple ways.

Ways you can get involved:

• 
  
  If you live in the Folsom Cordova Unified School District area you can get involved in one of their projects.
• 
  
  If you live outside the area, you can participate in the "One Cap-One Shoe" campaign and help supply homeless students with shoes. 
• 
  
  Take a few minutes and really think about this cause and how they are making a difference and be inspired to make a difference in your community. 

Check out the Project 680 Facebook page.

Source:  Project 680

May 19 (Day 80) May is For Miracles

Children's Miracle Network saves the lives of children by raising funds and awareness for children's hospitals and foundations throughout the world.

Children’s Miracle Network is a non-profit organization that raises funds for more than 170 children’s hospitals. Countless individuals, organizations and media partners unite with Children’s Miracle Network hospitals to help sick and injured kids in local communities. Donations to Children’s Miracle Network create miracles by funding medical care, research and education that saves and improves the lives of 17 million children each year.

Every child deserves the hope and healing of children’s hospitals. With the help of a Children’s Miracle Network hospital in their community, children of all ages and backgrounds can receive treatment for every imaginable disease and injury—from asthma and broken bones to cancer and heart defects. Children’s hospitals are also on the front lines of research, education and outreach programs that keep millions of kids out of the hospital each year.
This year alone, Children’s Miracle Network hospitals will provide charity care worth billions, yet these children’s hospitals depend on community support to help fund their vital services.

To ensure children’s hospitals have the resources they need, Children’s Miracle Network’s partners conduct thousands of special events and grassroots fundraisers year-round. Corporate partners sell Miracle Balloons, radio and television stations broadcast stories of medical miracles, and college students hold Dance Marathons—just a few of the programs generating millions of dollars each year to provide the life-saving care and crucial services kids need.

Through its continuous efforts to help kids, Children’s Miracle Network has raised more than $3.4 billion to date, most of which is donated a dollar or two at a time by caring individuals. Children’s Miracle Network has grown dramatically since its founding in 1983, from a televised fundraiser in a small studio to one of the world’s leading children’s charities helping million of kids each year.


How Can I Help?

Donate to Children's Miracle Network.
Get Involved.
Volunteer at your local CMN Hospital.
Click here to see real Miracle Stories.


Source:  Children's Miracle Network