One woman who lived the nightmare of two service men knocking on her door was then 22-year-old Taryn Davis. It was 2007 and she was told that her young husband, Michael had been killed in Iraq. Taryn’s life was shattered.  She felt alone, devastated and didn’t know where to turn.

She decided to travel the country and interview other military widows and the result was both her healing and a documentary she entitled ”The American Widow Project.” A few short months later she founded a non-profit with the same name, The American Widows Project.

Taryn’s goal was simply to ensure that no military widow should feel alone in her grief. She believes that each military widow deserves the opportunity and tools to help rebuild her life. When a widow reaches out to The American Widow Project they immediately receive Taryn’s film, a phone call from another widow and thousands of online supporters as well as local support groups. In addition there are monthly activities such as sky diving, zip-linning or surfing, to help these women feel alive again.

To date The American Widow Project has reached out to over 800 widows and counting. Since 2001,over 6,600 U.S. service members have lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. This number doesn’t include the thousands more that have lost their lives due to sudden illness, accident, homicide or those that have taken their own lives due to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

This Memorial Day, lets take a moment to remember not just those who we lost but also those left behind.

Charity Matters.

Copyright © 2013 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.

They are neighbors helping neighbors, survivors helping strangers, first responders digging through schools and hospitals that were destroyed by the massive tornado. They are organized.

In a matter of minutes, thousands of lives were forever altered, homes destroyed, a life’s worth of work simply wiped away with the wind. Yet, when you hear the people of Moore, Oklahoma speak, they are resilient, they are caring for one another and they are determined to begin again.

The definition of charity is an organization set up to provide help, volunteering and giving of help and lastly, kindness and tolerance. All of these matter, now Moore than ever.

Charity Matters.

Copyright © 2013 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.

I suppose most of you already figured this out but when I look back it all sort of starts to make sense. I began volunteering in 6th for the local boys and girls club and I was the same age as the kids in the program. What I had to offer then, I’m not really sure but I volunteered hundreds of hours all through middle school.

By high school, I was volunteering at a local thrift shop. Now that I think about it, shopping was pretty high on the list back then. By college, I worked with my sorority volunteering for a variety of projects involving education, as I struggled to focus on my own.

The early years of my career in sales and marketing brought a lot of travel and sadly little giving of time but more resources. Those were the days…. double incomes, no kids.

Once my sons arrived and the career took a back seat, I found a drive to help build a local children’s’ museum, which focused on children….surprise as the same age as mine. My parents car accident, mother’s death and father’s time in a coma lead me to hospitals and the need one has for faith in the face of adversity. The result was a collaborative effort and the formation of the non-profit, Spiritual Care Guild at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles.

A decade of working to provide Chaplains, that care for young families and children, while leaving my own family, felt odd but weirdly right. Which brings me back to the mirror and this moment. I just returned home from board meetings for two amazing high schools (neither which my children attend). The light bulb went off, while my work at these schools does not help my children, it serves children the same ages as my own.  Once again a perfect reflection of where I am in my life.

It makes me wonder, what causes are next? I know I’m not ready to help the elderly just yet. Wondering what does your mirror say about you?

Charity Matters.

Copyright © 2013 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.

 Marcel Proust

Wishing you a beautiful spring weekend surrounded by those whose make you happy!

Charity Matters.

Copyright © 2013 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.

]]> http://charity-matters.com/2013/05/17/charity-matters-quotes-14/feed/ 0 http://charity-matters.com/2013/05/15/the-gangsta-gardener/ http://charity-matters.com/2013/05/15/the-gangsta-gardener/#comments Wed, 15 May 2013 11:00:14 +0000 charitymatters http://charity-matters.com/?p=5578

I know what your thinking, did I read the title of this correctly? Isn’t that an oxy moron? Gangsters and gardeners are usually not lumped into one category, until now. That is until you meet the renaissance man of South Central Los Angeles, Ron Finely.

Ron, a native of South Los Angeles, was tired of seeing what was happening in his community. Not only the violence and crime but illness due to disease like childhood obesity and diabetes. He decided it was time to change that and founded the non-profit, LA Green Grounds. They are a volunteer group in South Los Angeles that builds gardens to serve low-income residents and others with scarce access to fresh, affordable food.

Founder, Ron Finely says, ” Gardening is gangsta because you are empowering yourself. Growing your own food is like printing your own money.”

In addition to growing gardens in South Central, LA Green Grounds is expanding to other low-income areas of Los Angeles. They are on a mission to advocate for the underserved in the communities by promoting gardens, open spaces and general wellness. LA Green Grounds wants to help eliminate the crime and disease by bringing the community together planting the seeds of love. There is nothing Gangsta about that!

Charity Matters.

Copyright © 2013 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.

The story begins  with two best friends, named Dylan and Jonah. These six-year-old boys are not exactly like average little boys because Jonah suffers from a very rare liver condition called Glycogen Storage Disease 1b. Dylan wanted to help his best friend find a cure for the rare disease and had an idea to write a book as a fundraiser.  He wrote The Chocolate Bar Book in hopes of raising one million dollars to help find a cure. “Chocolate Bar” is Dylan’s and Jonah’s code word for awesome, which is exactly what these two are.

To date these two pint sized wonders have raised over $200,000 and counting. Dylan’s hope is that his words and pictures will help change the world, one book at a time. I think he has already accomplished that goal. How sweet is that?

Charity Matters.

Copyright © 2013 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.

Author Unknown

This weekend is Mother’s Day and its my 10th Mother’s Day without my mom. While it gets easier each year, it is still a bitter-sweet day for me. Our mothers are our life anchors, they root us in ways we never imagine until the roots are pulled up and we must find new roots within ourselves.

This is the sweet part of Mother’s Day, being a mother. The attention is nice, as is the luxury of sleeping in, but more than that is the pride in looking at my sons and the amazing men they are becoming. A day to revel in the decades of work, love, lunches and laundry. This is a day we celebrate love. The love I still have for my mother and the amazing love I receive from being one.

Whichever side of this day you fall, I hope that you are celebrating the love we all share in being a family. There is no greater love than that.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Charity Matters.

Copyright © 2013 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.

That single purpose was to provide disposable diapers for low-income mothers, which Food Stamps do not provide for. Mothers can not take their children to daycare or school without providing disposable diapers. Since these diapers can cost up to $100- per month, many struggling mothers were jeopardizing their children’s health by trying to stretch their diaper supply.

So in May 2009, two friends from the Bay Area, Lisa Truong and Rachel Fudge had an idea after seeing reports of families struggling during the recession. As a young mothers, they called some local shelters and asked what was needed and the answer was diapers.

On Mother’s Day 2009, the two decided to hold their first diaper drive and gathered over 15,000 diapers. Today, Help A Mother Out has provided over 1,000,000 diapers! They are a non-profit organization based in San Francisco with chapters in Southern California and work on diaper drives in other states like Washington and Arizona.

As we all know motherhood can be a dirty business but with organizations like Help A Mother Out women and children will all be sitting pretty this Mother’s Day.

Charity Matters.

Copyright © 2013 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.

This might not seem like a big deal to many but for these boys of South Central Los Angeles, this is a game changer. A moment that will alter their life course forever. These boys live in one of the most dangerous, poor and crime ridden neighborhoods of Los Angeles. Yet, 100% will be leaving because they are going to college, against all odds.

What makes their journey more special and unique than any other high school student? The obstacles that these young men must overcome are simply staggering. First, they must apply (if their parents allow them to or understand) to this amazing boy’s school and be accepted. Then, often times they are behind academically and students must catch up quickly.  While other boys in these neighborhoods are joining gangs, the boys of Verbum Dei are putting on dress shirts and ties. Each and everyday these young men dress for success and then head into a corporate office one day a week to work.

Yes, in addition to overcoming poverty, family issues, grades and gang pressures these young men are trained to work in corporate America. One day a week they board a van to their job where they work to help subsidize their education and more importantly see who they can become.

After four years of studying, working, doing sports and becoming “Men for Others” these young men are proud to tell their family and friends that they are heading to a place most have never been, college.

Last friday, was Commitment Day at Verbum Dei. Here is the video from last year’s to give you an idea (fast forward for the tears).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGRm_72NWNE

The teachers, staff, parents and corporate sponsors have made commitments to these young men and now these young men are committing to the world that they are leaving the life they know and heading to incredible futures full of promise. This is Commitment day.

Charity Matters.

Copyright © 2013 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.

Something that Dr. Steven Isenberg realized the day after he finished the 2003 Chicago Marathon, and went to visit a friend who was hospitalized. Unsure of what to say, even as a surgeon, Dr. Isenberg pulled his finishers’ medal from his pocket and placed it around his friend’s neck. “I want you to have this,” he said. “You are running a much more difficult marathon than the one I completed.”

Sadly, his friend didn’t win his race but had told Dr. Isenberg how much he treasured the medal. Those words were the inspiration to start Medals4Mettle.  So in 2005, Dr. Isenberg formed the non-profit, to collect runner’s medals which could be donated to those who are battling serious illnesses and who have demonstrated courage and mettle in fighting their battle.

Today, Medals4Mettle had awarded over 18,000 medals to recipients across the world. Medals have been awarded by Indy 500 race car drivers, Olympic athletes and individuals who want to experience the incredible joy of giving their hard-earned finisher’s medals to courageous human beings.

Currently, Medals4Mettle is humbly accepting donations of Boston Marathon finishers’ medals from this year, or past years, to be sent to their Boston area chapters. They will then place Medals4Mettle ribbons on them and award them to the courageous victims of the 2013 Boston Marathon and the first responders that raced to help them while respecting the privacy of all victims and family members.

I think everyone is a winner in this race.

Charity Matters.

Copyright © 2013 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.