January 2014 – Charity Matters

Charity Matters Quotes January 31, 2014

Charity Matters Quotes

“Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.”

Albert Einstein

As the first month of 2014 comes to a close, I thought Albert Einstein’s words were a great way to say goodbye to January.

I hope this post has been of value to you and that you have a wonderful weekend and fantastic February!

Charity Matters.

Copyright © 2014 Charity Matters. This article may not be reproduced without explicit written permission; if you are not reading this in your newsreader, the site you are viewing is illegally infringing our copyright. We would be grateful if you contact us.

Keep Reading

What Matters? January 29, 2014

The survey says……Americans not as giving.

I have to say, I have a love hate relationship with surveys. Its fun to take them but since I am not a huge statistics expert, I find myself often questioning the research, the sample size, etc.. especially when the survey results are not to my liking. If ever that was the case, it was when I heard the results of the latest survey from the World Giving Index, which stated that out of 135 countries the United States did not even rank in the top 10 for giving to charity.

The global survey was conducted last year by Gallup and polled 155,000 people aged 15 or older and interviewed at least 1,000 people in 135 countries. The survey asked about charitable giving and behavior and the results were mixed for the U.S..

The United States ranked 13th in terms of giving to charity, with 62% of Americans giving. Developing countries such as Indonesia and Thailand (ranked 5th at 70%) outranked us as well. We were significantly behind the United Kingdom at 76% and Myanmar at 85%. Where is Myanmar anyway?

Here is the good news, while we as a nation may not open our wallets as often, we were number one when it came to helping a stranger at 77% and third internationally when it came to volunteering at 45%. More good news is that charitable giving, helping each other out and volunteering were all up globally.

So at the end of the day, I would like to think the survey tells us that regardless of where we come from, it is about being kind to one another and not simply about what we give away. Pat yourself on the back for helping strangers, all those volunteer hours and sharing what you have to help another. Like everything else, there is always room for improvement and next year!

Charity Matters.

Copyright © 2014 Charity Matters. This article may not be reproduced without explicit written permission; if you are not reading this in your newsreader, the site you are viewing is illegally infringing our copyright. We would be grateful if you contact us.

“

Keep Reading

Raising Philanthropic Children January 27, 2014

Senior moment

As parents we live for those moments that stop us in our tracks. The moments that take our breath away, make our heart swell, our eyes water and that we beam with pride that in some way we have been a part of another person who makes this world a better place because they are in it. Last week I sat in our high school auditorium with 322 sets of parents who all experienced that moment.

We were all there to celebrate our son’s Senior service projects. After Christmas break, every member of the senior class spends three weeks working full-time with a partnered non-profit. My oldest son, who has already spent over 700 hours in Watts with inner-city children could not possibly fathom what he would get out of this experience, as he already felt that he knew what it was like to serve.

He was wrong. When he was assigned to work with mentally handicapped children and adults, he had no idea what to do. Three days a week he worked with the children on their play yard, in class, fed them blended food with straws and loved it. He found joy and smiles with the kids and a true appreciation for his health and new understanding that joy can be found with the simplest kindness.

However, the other two days he was with mentally handicapped adults who were simply left in a room with no activities, no inter-action, nothing. He and his friends decided they needed to make this experience fun for their “clients” as they were called. So they broke out the karaoke machine and began to sing (which by the way is not his gift). Yet, bad voice and all, his clients loved it! The more these 18-year-old boys sang, the more smiles and joy they gave and received.

So as we all sat in the auditorium hearing a few of these stories from our sons, each of us had that moment of incredible pride at the amazing young men, we had raised. While every boy’s story was different, every message was the same. The more you give, the more you get and a smile goes a long way in making someone’s day better.

Charity Matters.

Keep Reading

Childrens' Causes January 24, 2014

Lacrosse making a difference

Today I am heading to a lacrosse match in support of my youngest son. They say lacrosse is the fastest growing sport in America and if you have ever been to one of these tournaments you would believe it. Well, like most everything our family is involved with, I like to find a philanthropic twist to things that my children are interested in. I love to see how people combine their passion to improve lives. In my search I came across this wonderful group in Harlem called HarlemLacrosse.org.

Harlem and lacrosse sound like an unusual combination, until you take a look at how providing a few sticks, training and a little round ball can transform lives.

I am surprised when people say they want to get involved with something but really don’t know how to start. My advice is find something you love and start there. Changing lives and making someone else’s life better really begins with where your passion lies. What is it that you love to do?

I know that once you answer that question you will know the next step from there….for my son this just might be that step.

Charity Matters.

Copyright © 2014 Charity Matters. This article may not be reproduced without explicit written permission; if you are not reading this in your newsreader, the site you are viewing is illegally infringing our copyright. We would be grateful if you contact us.

Keep Reading

Technology that Matters January 22, 2014

LinkedIn and Volunteering, a perfect match

Everyday it seems there is a new technological way to get involved and it looks like today is no exception. Last week LinkedIn announced their latest tool, called Volunteer.linkedin.com, as a platform for volunteers to search for a volunteer fit by a variety of keywords such as; non-profits name, location,field of interest, etc…..For those of you not familiar with LinkedIn, it is best known as a corporate job networking site. In the past few years, I have to say it has become so much more and this is a perfect example.

I went to take a peak at some of the opportunities on LinkedIn and I immediately saw something for my husband. A non-profit organization called Bike and Build is looking for a board member who can help them 5-10 hours a month with marketing. My husband is a triathlete, avid cyclist, MBA and has been a VP of Marketing and is currently launching a product for the cycling/athletic market….so this seemed like a great fit.

What makes LinkedIn’s platform different from others is that LinkedIn realizes that your volunteering enhances your employment in a multitude of ways and that by volunteering in an industry that you area already involved with, such as cycling….you only enhance your resume, contacts and do the same for the organization that you are trying to help.

LinkedIn claims that,”41% of hiring managers consider volunteer work equally as valuable as paid work experience when evaluating candidates and unemployed people who volunteer are 27 % more likely to be hired than people who do not volunteer.”

So whether you are looking for a job or a way to use your skills to help someone else, this just might be the place to go to find that connection to make your life and someone else’s that much better.

Charity Matters.

Copyright © 2014 Charity Matters. This article may not be reproduced without explicit written permission; if you are not reading this in your newsreader, the site you are viewing is illegally infringing our copyright. We would be grateful if you contact us.

Keep Reading

Charity Matters Inspiration January 20, 2014

Martin Luther King Jr.

“Not everybody can be famous but everybody can be great, because greatness is determined by service.”

Dr. Martin Luther King Junior

As you know, today is the day we honor and celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King. I wanted to find one quote that spoke about service and discovered myself being inspired by so many of Dr. King’s incredible words, that have become his legacy.

As we celebrate this day off, in memory of someone who believed we should live our life in service of others…perhaps it should be a day on, rather than a day off? A day to serve in whatever way that speaks to you.

So enjoy your day on and remember Dr. King’s words.

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’

Charity Matters.

Copyright © 2014 Charity Matters. This article may not be reproduced without explicit written permission; if you are not reading this in your newsreader, the site you are viewing is illegally infringing our copyright. We would be grateful if you contact us.

Keep Reading

Charity Matters Quotes January 17, 2014

Charity Matters Quotes

“The best day of your life is the one on which you decide your life is your own. No apologies or excuses. No one to lean on, rely on, or blame. The gift is yours – it is an amazing journey – and you alone are responsible for the quality of it. This is the day your life really begins.”

Bob Moawad

In the spirit of keeping those New Years resolutions, or perhaps just beginning to pencil them, I thought this was the perfect quote to begin your weekend, your year and perhaps even your life. It is up to each of us to create the world in which we want to live and our journey begins with each new day. So make this moment, this day and this year the best you possibly can.

The gift is yours, what are you going to do with it?

Charity Matters.

Copyright © 2014 Charity Matters. This article may not be reproduced without explicit written permission; if you are not reading this in your newsreader, the site you are viewing is illegally infringing our copyright. We would be grateful if you contact us.

Keep Reading

Homelessness and Hunger January 15, 2014

FEED

I promise I am not really the jealous type. That being said, every once in a while I come across a person that really seems to have it all going on and perhaps I get a small pang. Its human right? From the outside their life looks perfect. The person I’m talking about was a super model, the president’s granddaughter and niece and is now married to Ralph Lauren’s son and her name is Lauren Bush. Doesn’t sound too bad does it?

When you look a little closer, you realize that with all of that, it would be easy to simply be beautiful. However, that is exactly what makes Lauren Bush Lauren so striking. Her beauty comes from what she has done for others.

In 2004, Lauren started her work as an Honorary spokesperson for the World Food Program, when she helped to launch their Universities Fighting Hunger initiative. Inspired by her travels all over the globe she began to learn about the realities of hunger and poverty firsthand. In 2005, she created the first FEED 1 bag, which feeds one child in school for one year through the World Food Program. The following year she graduated from Princeton and then in 2007, she started FEED Projects. By 2008, Lauren co-founded the FEED Foundation to increase FEED’s impact in the fight against hunger.

To date, FEED has partnered with companies like Whole Foods Market, Barnes & Noble, the Gap, Lord & Taylor, Pottery Barn, Harrods, and many more. Since its beginnings, FEED has donated over $6 million dollars to the World Food Program through the sale of their FEED bags and with their FEED Foundation. That donation works out to be over 60 million meals to school children.

Now that is something to be jealous of….just a little.

Charity Matters.

Copyright © 2014 Charity Matters. This article may not be reproduced without explicit written permission; if you are not reading this in your newsreader, the site you are viewing is illegally infringing our copyright. We would be grateful if you contact us.

Keep Reading

Charity Matters Inspiration January 13, 2014

Look great, feel better

Its January and there isn’t a spin bike available at the gym or even a parking place for that matter. Everyone is busy beginning their New Year’s resolutions to look great and feel better after the past month of gluttony and before Super Bowl Sunday gets here. Last month, I came across an article that might help you out with that New Year’s resolution about being healthy and taking care of your health…and guess what? It doesn’t involve a gym or a diet!

The article in the Wall Street Journal by Arthur Brooks was about a new study on how giving to charity affects our health and happiness and how others view us. The author is the president of the American Enterprise Institute, which is a non-profit think tank that performs research in the non-profit sector. He cited several studies that showed people who volunteer or donate money report greater satisfaction with their lives than those who do not give. In addition, these same studies even indicated that donors live longer and that giving makes people appear more physically attractive.

Brooks ended his article by saying (jokingly), “So, on behalf of my colleagues in America’s millions of nonprofits, voluntary organizations and houses of worship, I want you to know we’re here for you. We want to help you become healthier, happier, and better looking.” Maybe the gym isn’t all it’s cracked up to be and volunteering should be added to that New Years resolution? It sure couldn’t hurt.

Charity Matters.

Copyright © 2014 Charity Matters. This article may not be reproduced without explicit written permission; if you are not reading this in your newsreader, the site you are viewing is illegally infringing our copyright. We would be grateful if you contact us.

Keep Reading

Charity Matters Quotes January 10, 2014

Charity Matters Quotes

“The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes.”

William James

This made me smile and I hope it does the same for you.

Wishing you a weekend full of smiles!

Charity Matters.

Copyright © 2014 Charity Matters. This article may not be reproduced without explicit written permission; if you are not reading this in your newsreader, the site you are viewing is illegally infringing our copyright. We would be grateful if you contact us.

Keep Reading

Cancer January 8, 2014

If only for a moment

Being carefree, something all of us remember in our youth and sadly long for, when our life’s responsibilities get in the way. A new video, from cancer survivor and founder of the Mimi Foundation, Myrian Ullens de Schooten, offers this gift of spontaneity to cancer patients. Myrian founded the Mimi Foundation, “Because of this experience my conviction has grown that cancer must be fought not only on the medical front, but on all fronts. Using this principle I want to ensure that all those who have to face this disease receive support, help and comfort.” This project accomplishes just that.

Just that moment of joy, silliness, freedom and the unpredictable. The video is in French with sub-titles, but the language of joy is universal. Take a moment and treat yourself to a small slice.

It simply doesn’t matter what language you speak or what you look like when you are suffering from cancer. What matters is the smiles, the fun, the joy and the moment that each of these people gave to another.

Charity Matters.

Copyright © 2014 Charity Matters. This article may not be reproduced without explicit written permission; if you are not reading this in your newsreader, the site you are viewing is illegally infringing our copyright. We would be grateful if you contact us.

Keep Reading

Technology that Matters January 6, 2014

One Today

Once upon a time it seemed like a little company called Microsoft was taking over the world, then one called Apple, and now it seems to be Google. As you all know, I have a love hate relationship with technology. Try, try as I do, I simply can not seem to keep up and adapt as quickly as I should. Just when I get frustrated, someone like Google comes along with a wonderful new way to use technology to help others, and that is when I simply love technology.

Google’s new app is called One Today. It is a mobile app for your phone that brings together people and nonprofits through the simple act of giving $1. This app is available only in the U.S. and lets people learn about different nonprofits every day, donate to projects that inspire them, and amplify their impact by matching their friends’ donations.

So, it is up to the non-profits you love to sign up for One Today and if they meet Gooogle’s requirements then you can share the project you care about with friends. One Today will also learn what types of causes matter most to you based on the projects you have donated to in the past. The more projects you give to on One Today, the better the app will become at presenting you with projects that are tailored to your interests.

So think about adding One Today to your phone and you can start finding ways to make $1 go to a cause you care about. A little love can go a long way.

Charity Matters.

Copyright © 2014 Charity Matters. This article may not be reproduced without explicit written permission; if you are not reading this in your newsreader, the site you are viewing is illegally infringing our copyright. We would be grateful if you contact us.

Keep Reading

Charity Matters Inspiration January 3, 2014

Its time for New Years Resolutions

It has been a fun-filled few weeks and now it is that time of year to look back at last year’s resolutions, before making this years. I made many resolutions last year and I am proud to say that many of the big ones I achieved. I did re-do the Charity-Matters web site, we did remodel our kitchen and while I had toyed for many years with “officially going back to work,” this past month I did…more on that later. Looking back for me, is more than checking items off my list, but rather a time to ask myself the real questions:

Was I present and in the moment with my children and family?
Was I a good spouse, daughter, friend?
Did I use my gifts and skills to help others?

These are the questions that define me, my life, and these are the items that matter, to me. So while I love making list, setting goals and proudly checking some items off the list…….the reality is that if I don’t ask the real questions to myself regularly, than nothing on list really matters.

So, as I bound into 2014 with excitement for my new job as an Executive Director of a non-profit, I cherish these last few months with my oldest son home and dream of travel and home renovation projects to accomplish….I am mindful that a resolution is simply something to strive for. Being the best person you can be, for yourself and the ones you love is truly the goal.

Charity Matters.

Copyright © 2014 Charity Matters. This article may not be reproduced without explicit written permission; if you are not reading this in your newsreader, the site you are viewing is illegally infringing our copyright. We would be grateful if you contact us.

Keep Reading

Charity Matters Quotes January 1, 2014

Happy New Years!

“Approach the New Year with resolve to find the opportunities hidden in each new day.”

Michael Josephson

Happy 2014!

I hope this New Year finds you brimming with hope and excitement for each new day and possibility.

As an eternal optimist, I think New Years is an exciting time to open a new chapter in our lives. It is a time to look back at the good you have done this past year and to look ahead at all of the wonderful possibilities that await you.

So here is too you! To 2014 and to making this year the best it can be for you and all the lives you touch!

Happy New Year!

Charity Matters.

Copyright © 2014 Charity Matters. This article may not be reproduced without explicit written permission; if you are not reading this in your newsreader, the site you are viewing is illegally infringing our copyright. We would be grateful if you contact us.

Keep Reading