Charity Matters Inspiration Archives - Page 35 of 37

Charity Matters Inspiration July 17, 2013

Happy Anniversary Charity Matters!

Tomorrow marks the second anniversary of Charity Matters. All anniversaries are something to celebrate but when a dream becomes a reality, it seems like more than an annual recognition. Two years ago, I set out to use my voice to make a difference. To tell the stories of small non-profits and the amazing people behind them.

I had a voice but didn’t know who was there to listen. You were. This second anniversary is as much yours as mine because you are the ones that have read almost 300 posts, you have shared them on Facebook and Twitter and emailed your friends. You stop me on the street and tell me about your favorite cause, which I love to hear. Most importantly you care, share and act.

When I began to write there were a few of you (thanks friends and family) and then there were a few hundred and today there a few thousand. So the love grows, the message spreads and more importantly there is action because of it.

Each of you have so many talents to share with the world. The more stories you read, eventually there is one that spurs you to action. That is the moment I live for. One reader was involved with fashion before being home with her children, a post on Closets for Causes inspired her to use her fashion skills to make a difference for others. Another reader boxed up all his medals to send to Medals 4 Mettle, a non-profit that gives athletes medals to seriously ill patients for inspiration. Those are the moments that show me we are all collectively making a difference, in whatever way we can.

Charity Matters is “a filter for goodness that connects people and causes that matter.” What really matters is that its working and that is because of you. So thank you for two uplifting, inspiring and joyful years. I look forward to making a difference with you and for you for many, many more.

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.

Keep Reading

Charity Matters Inspiration July 15, 2013

Can you hear me now?

The universe works in mysterious ways and I continue to be in awe of how these stories come to my attention. This one is no exception and indeed a story that needs to be heard. I have to admit I know very little about hearing loss and the deaf but I do know the story of Bill Austin and his mission is one worth listening too.

Bill Austin is a doctor who wanted to make a difference in the world and he has certainly done that. What began with making one hearing device for an elderly man turned into a business that is the leader in hearing devices. What is so incredible about this man is that it wasn’t about the business, it was about making a difference.

So, in 1984 Bill Austin and his wife,Tani, began the Starkey Hearing Foundation. Their mission, “So the World May Hear,” is about bringing understanding between people through caring and sharing. They believe caring develops trust and by sharing we find our humanity.

Today the Starkey Hearing foundation has supplied over 1,000,000 hearing devices to people suffering from hearing loss all over the globe. Albert Schweitzer’s quote, “The purpose of human life is to serve and show compassion and the will to help others.” lives thru amazing people like the Starkey’s whose purpose is heard loud and clear.

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.

Keep Reading

Charity Matters Inspiration July 8, 2013

From trash to treasure

I grew up the daughter of a trash man, as my Dad liked to call himself. Actually, my dad was recycling long before it was trendy. He was a paper recycler who started recycling in the mid-sixties until he retired a few years ago. So recycling is actually something I know a little bit about.

However, when I saw this piece, I realized that I actually knew much less about recycling than I thought.

Each week I write about people helping people in the United States. Not the environment or international causes, not because they aren’t important but with 1.7 million non-profits in the U.S. you need to whittle it down a bit. So, this story is a little out of my comfort zone but the beauty, brilliance, simplicity and hope it inspires, is not.

Enjoy….

Recycling, music and hope are universal and The Landfill Philharmonic simply made my day. I hope it does the same for 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.

Keep Reading

Charity Matters Inspiration July 1, 2013

Shark Attack at Childrens Hospital

Did that catch your attention? Well so did the inspiring man who brought his story to the children at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles last week, Paul de Gelder. Paul is an Australian Navy Seal (down under they are called Navy Clearance Divers) who was diving and lost his right arm and leg from a shark attack.

Paul’s life prior to his attack was one of extreme adventure, fun and about Paul. But as he spoke to some teen patients at CHLA. He shared what he has learned from his challenge. He recalled his naval training and the words the words he was taught, “Improvise, adapt and overcome.” How those words and the attack altered him forever.

He learned gratitude for everything, he learned to smile at everyone, he became gracious and giving. So many people had reached out to Paul and helped that he was now compelled to do the same. Paul committed to inspiring others and now his work is primarily motivating and uplifting others.

The moment that made Wednesday so powerful was when a young patient came up to Paul and shared that he had just found out he was going to lose his kidney. He told Paul, ” I am going on a donor transplant list and dialysis and before you spoke, I was having a very bad day. But if you can improvise, adapt and overcome, than so can I. I am going to be fine.”

It was a beautiful moment and a perfect reminder of the power we all have to shift and impact someone’s life when we open ourselves up to give.

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.

Keep Reading

Charity Matters Inspiration June 19, 2013

The Lulu and Leo Fund

I am forever inspired by people’s ability to funnel their pain into good. It’s like being an alchemist, someone who can turn metal to gold. This story is just that. Turning pain into joy.

The Krim family were a happy family with three young children when tragedy took two of their children away. Lulu (6) and Leo (20 months) were killed by their nanny while their parents were at work. A loss so huge, violent and beyond any comprehension, it seemed beyond unbearable for any parent to survive.

Yet, rather than turn to the sadness, the Krim family has decided to turn towards the light and honor the beautiful lives of their son and daughter by creating the LuluandLeoFund. Their children loved their art classes at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and when the Krim’s realized that many children didn’t have access to such programs they decided to act.

“We created the Lulu & Leo Fund to help more children benefit from these education experiences in art and science. ”

May 28th would have been Lulu’s 7th birthday and the Krim family has just announced that they are expecting a baby boy in the fall. It is pure alchemy. Metal to gold and pain into joy.

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.

Keep Reading

Charity Matters Inspiration June 12, 2013

Just one more..

Trust me, I know graduation week is a long one. So many speeches, so many ceremonies and so much celebration. So when a friend of mine sent this to me…I thought I can’t do it..not one more speech…..but then when I heard this little boy speak, he opened my heart with his words.

A week ago I asked each of you to give yourself the gift of listening to Steve Job’s speech and thousands of you did. So today, I will ask you to do the same….just one more. His message is a gift.

In the wise words of young Winston Churchill, what have you learned today? More importantly, who have you helped?

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.

Keep Reading

Charity Matters Inspiration June 3, 2013

A message from the grave

In the spirit of the season, with graduations everywhere, I decided to take a stroll through some epic commencement addresses, a journey longer than most graduation ceremonies I might add. Of all the speeches I listened to the one that I simply could not walk away from, fast forward or forget was Steve Job’s speech at Stanford.

I have written and delivered many speeches in my lifetime but never a graduation speech. Steve Job’s words, ideas and stories spoke to me from the grave. So, I know it isn’t short but if you give your self a gift today, a small moment. Make it this.

As Steve Jobs said, “Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.” Using your time to do what you love and make a difference for the world is a choice and a gift.

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.

Keep Reading

Charity Matters Inspiration May 29, 2013

A little inspiration

I am a communicator, connector and doer. I’ll admit some of these traits are good to have, but truthfully, none of them in excess is fantastic. So, when I was invited to an amazing event at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles on Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. I was excited to be able to use of few of these traits in one place.

No, I don’t possess any math or science skills but I wanted to connect some high school girls from my alma mater to a place I love, CHLA. These five women panelist were everything from MIT robot inventors, researchers studying the impact of pollution on Autism and even non-profit founders. Each woman on her own was beyond impressive but collectively, they were remarkable.

They were not remarkable because of their science, educations, impressive resumes or their White House honors. The reason each speaker was so impressive was that they all independently had the same message. The message was, “Do something that matters. Have a purpose and make a difference. Find your gifts and use them towards the greater good.”

Now, it doesn’t take a scientist to figure out just how brilliant that advice is? Simply genius.

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.

Keep Reading

Charity Matters Inspiration May 15, 2013

The Gangsta Gardener

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.

Keep Reading

Charity Matters Inspiration May 13, 2013

The Chocolate Bar Book

Sometimes inspiration comes from the craziest places. Yet, I continue to revel and delight when I am touched and inspired by loving acts of kindness and friendship. This story is as sweet as its name and the angels who created it. This is the story of The Chocolate Bar Book.

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.

Keep Reading

Charity Matters Inspiration May 3, 2013

And the Medal goes to….

On Wednesday, I shared the beautiful story of Brent Cunningham’s giving his Boston Marathon medal to a stranger who hadn’t finished due to the terrorist attack. That story lead me to this and it seems that medals bring out the best in everyone.

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.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sj_WeXtK5XM]

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.

Keep Reading

Charity Matters Inspiration May 1, 2013

Love always wins, especially in Boston

As I have mentioned before my husband is both a tri-athlete and a marathon runner. He has never run the Boston Marathon but when he saw this story on Facebook, as many of you did, he shared it.

This was Laura Wellington’s Facebook post, about her experience moments from the finish line in the Boston Marathon.

As some of you know, I was 1/2 mile from the finish line when the explosion went off. I had no idea what was going on until I finally stopped and asked someone. Knowing that my family was at the finish line waiting for me, I started panicking, trying to call them. I started walking down Mass Ave towards Symphony Hall still not knowing where my family was.

I was able to get in touch with Bryan and found out he was with my family and they were safe. I was just so happy to hear his voice that I sat down and started crying. Just couldn’t hold it back. At that moment, a couple walking by stopped. The woman took the space tent off her husband, who had finished the marathon, and wrapped it around me.

She asked me if I was okay, if I knew where my family was. I reassured her I knew where they were and I would be ok. The man then asked me if I finished to which I nodded “no.” He then proceeded to take the medal off from around his neck and placed it around mine. He told me “you are a finisher in my eyes.” I was barely able to choke out a “thank you” between my tears.

Odds are I will never see this couple again, but I’m reaching out with the slim chance that I will be able to express to them just what this gesture meant to me. I was so in need of a familiar face at that point in time. This couple reassured me that even though such a terrible thing had happened, everything was going to be ok.

That couple was Brent Cunningham and his wife, from Sitka, Alaska. After Laura’s post went viral, ABC News tracked him down and Brent flew back to Boston to meet the stranger once again. Brent gave a tearful Laura a huge hug and said, “Evil may have won the battle but they’re not gonna win the war. Love wins. Game over.”

Charity Matters.

http://abcnews.go.com/2020/video/boston-marathon-bombing-evil-win-19006669

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.

Keep Reading

Charity Matters Inspiration April 10, 2013

Prom night

You remember your prom don’t you? The big hair, cheap tux, taffeta and a whole lot of memories. This is my pic and memory above, both are fuzzy. Well, my oldest son has his prom this weekend and the expense of the whole shindig got me thinking. How do families do this?

My quest lead me to many amazing organizations that help assist with prom but one in particular really spoke to me and that was Becca’s Closet. The person behind this non-profit was then 16-year-old Rebecca Kirtman. Becca, had heard about kids who had started a prom dress drive at another school and she wanted to bring it to her high school, as a freshman. By her sophomore year Becca had already provided over 250 dresses for girls less fortunate.

Then on August 20, 2003 a tragic car accident took Becca’s life at just 16. It became clear that keeping Becca’s dream alive would become her legacy.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYX_y9sWt8g]

Today, Becca’s Closet has over 81 chapters across the country and their mission has expanded to offer additional opportunities for deserving young people. Becca’s Closet also awards educational scholarships to young men and women who demonstrate Becca’s spirit of generosity in their own communities.

Prom season may come and go but just like our memories of those fun-filled days, Becca Kirtman’s spirit lives on in all those lives she continues to touch with her legacy of compassion.

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.

Keep Reading

Charity Matters Inspiration April 5, 2013

Anne Frank

I am sometimes haunted by certain things that simply stay with me. Reading about Anne Frank’s tree the other day did just that, haunted me. Perhaps, haunted is too strong of a word but stayed with me, nonetheless.

So, as a result I found myself going back to some of the amazing, beautiful and yes, haunting writings of Anne Frank. For such a young girl, she was wise beyond her years. I came across this and thought I would leave you with this thought for your weekend.

“It’s a wonder I haven’t abandoned all my ideals, they seem so absurd and impractical. Yet I cling to them because I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart.
It’s utterly impossible for me to build my life on a foundation of chaos, suffering and death. I see the world being slowly transformed into a wilderness, I hear the approaching thunder that, one day, will destroy us too, I feel the suffering of millions. And yet, when I look up at the sky, I somehow feel that everything will change for the better, that this cruelty too shall end, that peace and tranquility will return once more”

– July 15, 1944

I hope this weekend gives you cause to look up at the sky and feel that everything will change for the better. I know I will.

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.

Keep Reading