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Summer kindness in action

kid mow kindness

I know on monday, I asked the question where is the love? I thought today I would share a little piece of inspiration. A friend reached out to me when she saw this and thought of Charity Matters and it made me smile, so my hope is that it does the same for you.

Last week a Minnesota police officer came home to find his front lawn newly mowed and this note taped on his front door. The note was left by the young neighbor and lawn mower, who wanted to show his support of the local police by doing something kind for the officer.  He says, “Because your job is hard enough and I think people like you should know that we are behind you guys. Take the extra hour that it takes to mow and spend time doing what you love.”

A beautiful gesture and a perfect follow-up to Project Giving Kids Summer Kindness Challenge.…as well as the answer to the question…Where is the love? Love is all around us, we just have to look, and to share it all.

Charity Matters.

 

Copyright © 2016 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.

Where is the love?

where-is-the-love

I’m not sure if all the travel has put me in a reflective mood or if it was the amazing book I read on my trip, but regardless I have been thinking a lot about love lately. While we were gone, the terror continued across Europe and here at home watching the news of our Presidential election makes me feel almost as sad. I find myself thinking over and over, where is the love?

The book I read on vacation, The Nightingale, was about the holocaust, the spread of fear and hate.  A period of time that we all say could never happen again. And yet, sadly over and over, with each terrorist attack the hate shows its ugly face…again. I find myself asking the same question reading my book, that I ask myself watching the news….where is the love?

In a world where I am privileged to both teach and witness acts of kindness between middle and high school students daily, I try to remind myself that love and kindness exists in our world….. and more importantly, love always wins.  Something I think we all need to keep reminding ourselves and showing one another daily.

One simply act of love and compassion, goes a long way to making our world better.

 

Charity Matters.

 

Copyright © 2016 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.

Ideas for summer kindness

PGK summer kindness

On Monday, I shared a guest blog post by Molly Yuska, founder of Project Giving Kids. In it, she reflected on the importance of teaching kindness, not only for the healthy development of our children but for our society and our world at large.

This summer, Project Giving Kids is challenging kids and families everywhere to get in on the action to see just how far and wide the message of kindness can be spread. You too can join the #SummerKindnessChallenge.

Any act of kindness, however big or small, will do. Quick, easy, important and the only way to make our world better, one small act of kindness at a time.

 

Charity Matters.

 

Copyright © 2016 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.

 

 

Guest blogger: Molly Yuska Project Giving Kids

Since Charity Matters just celebrated its 5 year anniversary it seems time for some fresh perspectives. So I have invited our first guest blogger, my friend and non-profit founder, Molly Yuska. Molly is not only a mother but founded Project Giving Kids, a place to empower and teach children about philanthropy.

So, without further ado, here is Molly….

molly yuska pic

 

For many of us, the world has started to feel rather scary lately. Almost every week there seems to be a report of some major attack somewhere on our small planet. I can’t help but think how much scarier it must feel to kids who can’t remember a time when the world seemed at peace.

I believe when faced with these kinds of tragedies, we have a choice – to move away in fear and try to hold on even tighter to safeguard our own self-interest in hopes the tighter grip will protect us just a little bit more (or at least make us feel that way) OR to put the fear aside and see it as a call to action, a call to spread kindness and to turn that dark tide back toward the light.

I recently came across an article about kindness and kids. In it, a teacher by the name of Marlem Diaz-Brown states: “I have learned that when you teach kindness and compassion to students and they really understand the concept, everything else falls into place. This should be the first lesson of every teacher.” (Article: http://bit.ly/25IIynS)

Whether the teacher be a parent, an after-school mentor, a grandparent or an actual teacher, I think our children today, perhaps more than any generation that has come before it, need to be reminded of the power of kindness. I want my children to live in a world where they don’t walk the streets in fear of what senseless tragedy may come next. I want them to walk the streets knowing that the power of kindness is stronger than the fear that drives violence. And the sooner we turn them on to their own power to create ripples of kindness, the better off we all will be. After all, kindness is a choice like any other.

I couldn’t have said it better myself! If you want quick and easy project ideas your family can use to begin teaching kindness, visit Project Giving Kids.

Charity Matters.

 

 

Copyright © 2016 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.

 

 

Humanity

“When we recognize our love of humanity, we do whatever has to be done to express that love to and with others. That is called service.”

John Roger

humanity

Traveling the past two weeks and seeing how people live, both past and present, was a renewal in my appreciation for humanity. Our creativity, dedication, fortitude and love for one another. The story of love and kindness simply never gets old.

 

Charity Matters.

 

Copyright © 2016 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 gift of perspective

gift of perspcective

Everybody needs a little time away…or so the song says. Time to step away from our everyday routine, the busy rush of our lives and a time to relax…..something we ironically never have time to do.

Once we take that first step out, a whole new world opens up before us. Travel, learning about other people, both past and present, is an endless source of inspiration for me. This recent trip was no exception.

To celebrate some big milestones in life, we celebrated with a big adventure, which started in Venice, Italy.  A city so rich in history, culture and a feast for the senses. In Croatia, seeing remnants from the Bosnian war and learning how the reminder of that war still lingers with so many. Visiting tiny fishing villages in Greece and seeing the beauty of nature and the joy of simplicity. Then in the chaos of Athens, will all the financial uncertainty, the kindest of strangers who saw I was lost, walked me to the store where I was looking for a gift. The couple ordered it in Greek taking 20 minutes from their Sunday to help a lost American.

In all my travels, the reminders of kindness, compassion and humanity are and always will be the most beautiful of all.

Charity Matters.

 

Copyright © 2016 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.

Happy Anniversary Charity Matters!

 

I am a big believer in celebrating milestones. Everything little and big should be celebrated. Life is short and when you have a milestone whether it’s a 25th wedding anniversary or a 5-year blog-a-versary…well they should be revered….and lucky for me this year I have both!

Both anniversaries have taken commitment, love, dedication and hard work. So to acknowledge these milestones, I am taking my first real blogging vacation in 5 years, just a week off, not too worry. I promise to be rested, relaxed and ready to tackle year six, with renewed enthusiasm once I return.

Thank you again for five incredible years of dedication to Charity Matters, for inspiring me to be my best and for sharing ideas, posts, and friends. My heart is full of gratitude to you all.

 

Charity Matters.

 

 

Copyright © 2016 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.

 

 

 

 

One Hope

one hope

A few weeks ago I was at a charity event and was offered a glass of wine. Nothing better than a chilled glass of chardonnay on a warm summer night, after a day of work. The wine was delicious and I asked the woman behind the bar about it. Her reply, was surprising because the wine was made to benefit charity….which just made it that much more delicious.

The story behind it is just as good. In 2007, Jake Kloberdanz  had an idea, 168 cases of wine and eight friends just out of college. No, it was not a party but the beginning of his company, OneHope that’s mission is to make the world a better place through every product they sell.

OneHope‘s core product is wine but they have expanded their brand and their charitable donations along with it. Every product benefits a cause and to date OneHope has donated over one million meals to the cause Why Hunger, 65,000 diapers to help premature infants, planted 52,000 trees, provided clean drinking water and the list goes on.

More than that, OneHope has donated over $1.6 million dollars since its inception. Now that is a cause worth raising your glass for!

 

Charity Matters.

 

Copyright © 2016 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.

Remembering Elie Wiesel

“Once you bring life into the world, you must protect it. We must protect it by changing the world.”

Elie Wiesel

This past week we lost a legend. A Holocaust survivor, a witness to man’s darkest side, and was called a “messenger to mankind” for his observations on humanity.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner and the acclaimed author used his voice to inspire people to remember the atrocities of the Holocaust and to move forward in peace.

In light of this last few weeks events, in Orlando and Dallas, and the growing separation our country is experiencing, never have Elie Wiesel’s words been more relevant and true.

“The time must come. It’s enough — enough to go to cemeteries, enough to weep for oceans. It’s enough,” he said. “There must come a moment — a moment of bringing people together.”

We must never forget.

Charity Matters.

Copyright © 2016 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.

Drops.la

drops la

All of you who know me, know that I am technically challenged. From the TV remote and beyond, technology and I continue to struggle to work together. And yet, every once and awhile, something comes along that inspires me to take on my tech challenges.

This past week, a friend of mine, a USC student, reached out to share a new app called drops.la Not being much of an app person, I was a bit unsure. However, I love what they are doing. They are dropping the change into a non-profit/charity/cause of your choice every time you shop.

Not being a big fan of extra change myself, I am the first person to add my quarters to the tip jar at the coffee counter. Well, that’s what drops does by rounding up your purchase and giving the change to a cause. It is all done with your credit or debit card. You pick the causes, you can give your drops for a few  days, weeks or more….and stop when you want.

A simple, brilliant and easy way to create change for others, one drop at a time. Now that is a tech challenge worth taking.

 

Charity Matters.

 

Copyright © 2016 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.

Happy Happy 4th of July!

“From every mountain side
Let Freedom ring.”


Samuel F. Smith, “America”

Happy happy 4th of july

The 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays, everyone is happy. There are no gifts to buy or wrap, no fancy meals to make, a barbecue and watermelon is enough and of course, its summertime.

More than any of that, the 4th is a time to celebrate our great nation, to feel that pride and love of country. Right now in a world and country divided over so many issues, this is a day when we are all one…we are simply and proudly Americans.

I hope your 4th is filled with fireworks, family, fun and a moment to feel grateful to live in this remarkable country.

Let freedom ring!

Happy 4th of July!

Charity Matters.

Copyright © 2016 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.

July

“It’s July and I have hope in who I am becoming.”

Charlotte Erikkson

july

 Well hello July!

I have never been so happy to see a month.

July first means summer, fireworks, sun, fun, friends and vacation……

all such happy things!

I hope this finds you planning your long holiday weekend and looking forward to some fun.

Here is to a wonderful and very happy July!

Charity Matters.

Copyright © 2016 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.

A privilege

a priveledge

Do you remember going to camp as a kid? I never did and maybe that’s how I am fulfilling my childhood dream as an adult. This past week we had 150 sixth, seventh and eighth graders singing songs, playing games and learning about leadership.

While running a summer leadership camp can be challenging at times, there are not words to describe the privilege it is to plant the seeds of compassion in hundreds of middle school students. Our students not only learn about leadership but they learn you can not lead unless you serve others…..my favorite part of the job for sure!

So for those of you who didn’t get to go to leadership camp this week, here is what our kids thought.

I am blessed and privileged to be a part of an organization that inspires true goodness in so many. You just have to love camp, summer and service….a perfect pairing. I may have gotten to camp later in life but it was so worth the wait!

Charity Matters.

 

Copyright © 2016 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.

 

700….how did that happen?

700

Next month will be Charity Matters five-year old birthday, hard to believe. I had planned on writing this  post to you then, however, when I saw the 700 posts appear on my screen I had to stop and acknowledge this milestone.

Five years ago, I set out to share stories of amazing people who make our world better, share a few of my own and inspire people to serve. I didn’t have a plan other than that. I had never blogged, was and am still tech challenged and thought if I could inspire just one person than it would be worth it.

Today, seven hundred posts later with thousands of new friends and regular subscribers, I am in awe. There are not words to express my gratitude to you. You wake up, read this, share, reach out to me with ideas and inspiration and keep me going. You make me a better person. Because of you, I strive to give my best, share what I have, always want to learn and grow and for that I thank you.

Life is a journey and I am so grateful you have included me in yours. Thank you, thank you for all you do to inspire me and for your friendship and loyalty. My heart is full of gratitude. So here is to the next 700….thank you all for knowing and believing that….

 

Charity Matters.

 

 

Copyright © 2016 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.