Education Archives - Page 10 of 12

Childrens' Causes October 29, 2014

Joe Torre

I thought since this week is the World Series, it would be a great time to look at some of the wonderful work that has come out of baseball. Believe it or not, baseball is not just about the Royals and the Giants! There are so many baseball players that continue to use their position to bring attention to causes they care about.

One in particular has created a foundation to do just that, and his name is Joe Torre. A Hall of Fame manager and now MLB’s vice president of baseball operations, Joe grew with a father, who physically abused his mother. In 2002, Joe started his Safe at Home Foundation in the hopes of “educating to end the cycle of domestic violence and save lives.” Joe was determined to help other children avoid this same fate.

At least three million children are affected by parental violence each year. Margaret’s Place was founded by the Joe Torre Foundation to counteract that statistic. It is an after-school program that functions as a safe-haven for children who suffer from a troubled home life. It welcomes children who are affected or have witnessed violence, trauma, or abuse.

Students learn that they are loveable and form bonds with one another and their community. They are taught to be leaders and to believe that they can and will make a difference. Joe founded ,Margaret’s Place, in honor of his mother to give a voice to students who do not believe they have a say. In addition to empowering children, Margaret’s Place brings hope and light to students in order to replace the dark face of violence.

As October comes to an end it, is important to note that it is also Domestic Violence awareness month. Joe Torre has used his position bring light and hope to thousands of children. That is what I call a true home run!

Charity Matters.

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Charity Matters Inspiration October 13, 2014

This I Believe

As I mentioned on friday, I spent the later part of last week at TCU, on a panel, discussing the topic, “How can you better prepare students for lives of meaning?” A question and topic that inspired many amazing discussions about service, faith, and leadership. One segment that stood out as a highlight of the trip, was a piece entitled “This I believe.”

At TCU, they have asked their students to begin their first college essays as freshman writing 500 words on the topic “This I believe.” The goal is to challenge students to think about their values and their core beliefs. There is no right or wrong answer, it is simply your story. The hope is that by articulating your beliefs, that when faced with a difficult life decision, students will know the answer because they understand what it is that guides them. The stories that we heard were inspiring, amazing, full of hope, adversity and perseverance. I wish I could share them all with you here. What I can share is what I learned about This I Believe.

Believe it or not, This I Believe, Inc., is a non-profit! In March 2003, National Public Radio Executive Producer, Dan Geldman came across the original book This I Believe. Dan became intrigued with the history of the 1950s radio program based on the same name, that was hosted by Edward R. Murrow. The original radio show featured compelling essays from cab drivers, secretaries, corporate leaders as well as people such as; Eleanor Roosevelt, Jackie Robinson, Helen Keller, and Harry Truman. Anyone who was able to share a few minutes of the guiding principles by which they lived.

Dan and his co-producer Jay Allison decided to bring the series back to National Public Radio. In reviving This I Believe, Dan Gediman said, “The goal was not to persuade Americans to agree on the same beliefs. Rather, the hope is to encourage people to begin the much more difficult task of developing respect for beliefs different from their own.”

Dan, Jay and their team at NPR brought back the topic, the radio series and then a few best-selling books. The proceeds from all of those went into forming the non-profit This I Believe. Org, which was founded in 2004, to engage youth and adults from all walks of life in writing, sharing, and discussing brief essays about the core values that guide their daily lives.

Today, almost a decade later This I Believe Essays have spread across the globe through universities’ curriculum, in a variety of publications, numerous local public radio stations, newspapers, and magazines all challenging us to ask the simple question. What is it that you believe?

Charity Matters.

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Charity Matters Quotes October 10, 2014

Learning

“The purpose of learning is growth, and our minds, unlike our bodies, can continue growing as we continue to live.”

Mortimer Adler

Today, I am in Texas attending a meeting at TCU where the topic will be “How do we prepare students for lives of meaning?” I feel so blessed to be surrounded by such amazing and inspiring people. I can’t wait to share with you some of the insights from my day. There is nothing better than learning. A new idea, a new approach or even someone’s interesting opinion always leaves me feeling as if I opened a present.

In the meantime, I hope that each of you has an incredible weekend and that perhaps you have the chance to learn something new. Learning is a gift you should give yourself. You deserve it!

Happy Friday!

Charity Matters.

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Education October 8, 2014

Send Silence Packing

Last week at TCU the main part of campus was littered with backpacks. It wasn’t a fraternity prank or lazy students but rather a nationally recognized traveling exhibit called Send Silence packing which is used to bring attention to the 1,100 students who die from suicide each year.

Each backpack has a personal story that represents and honors the memory of loved ones impacted by suicide. The hope is that by displaying backpacks with personal stories, Send Silence Packing will put a “face” to lives lost to suicide and carries the message that preventing suicide is not just about improving statistics, but also about saving the lives of daughters, sons, brothers, sisters and friends.

These backpacks are the brain child of Alison Malmon, whose brother, Brian, committed suicide in March 2000, when Alison was a Freshman at the University of Pennsylvania. Following the suicide of her brother, Alison learned that Brian had been experiencing depression and psychosis for three years but had concealed his symptoms from everyone around him.

Recognizing that few Penn students were talking about mental health issues, though many were affected, Alison was motivated to change that culture on her campus. She wanted to combat the stigma of mental illness, encourage students who needed help to seek it early, and prevent future tragedies like the one that took her brother’s life. After searching unsuccessfully for existing groups that she could simply bring to her campus, Alison created her own and formed the non-profit Active Minds, Inc.

Today, eleven years later Active Minds, Inc. has grown with more than 400 campus chapters, hundreds of thousands of young adults all across the country are benefiting from the Active Minds model. As Alison says, “The work is never done.” Alison has started and continued a conversation about mental health that is a beautiful legacy to her brother.

Charity Matters.

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Charity Matters Quotes October 6, 2014

Charity Matters Quotes

“A mind is like a parachute. It doesn’t work if it is not open.”

Frank Zappa

I find myself regularly telling my sons that I want them to “open their minds.” This week, as I head to a college campus for meetings, learning and being open in on my mind. I talked with a friend, a while back, and left our conversation thinking that he had really aged. What I realized after some thought, was that he had not aged physically but rather mentally….all because of a closed mind.

That conversation, made me sad. It wasn’t that he and I did not agree on a topic but rather that he refused to be open to anything but his own view. I remind myself of that conversation regularly so that I do not fall prey to the same path.

The people who I profile here each week all have many things in common. One trait that I find over and over in non-profit founders is their ability to be open. Their experience motivates them to create a better path for the next person to come along. It is their openness to that enables them to achieve so much for so many.

Charity Matters.

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Charity Profile September 17, 2014

Getting rid of Mean Girls: The Kind Campaign

photo via: USA Today

The other day I had lunch with a girlfriend and we began talking about mean girls. No, not the movie but how cruel girls can be to one another, especially young girls. As the mother of sons, I was saddened by this and came upon an amazing and inspiring campaign….one that makes me proud to be a girl and its called The Kind Campaign.

It all began in 2009 when two college girl friends, Lauren Parsekian and Molly Thompson, who were both affected by female bullying decided to create a documentary, a non-profit, a school program and a movement towards kindness and away from bullying. Their movement is based upon their powerful belief that kindness brings healing to the negative and lasting effects of girl-against-girl “crime.” Their mission to stop and change this behavior, was a very personal one to both of them.

Molly was bullied in high school, ostracized by a group of girls and felt an incredible loneliness. The bullying Lauren experienced in 7th and 8th grade lead her to avoiding school, failing grades, depression and an eventually a suicide attempt. When Molly and Lauren met at Pepperdine University and began sharing their experiences they knew they were not alone and decided to start with a documentary on the topic, Finding Kind. That film lead to the national tour, the non-profit and now the movement.

Today, Lauren and Molly continue their mission. Their Kind Campaign has been implemented in hundreds of schools across the country. They have Kind Clubs, a Kind Magazine that features powerful stories of Kindness and even a place on their site to apologize or spread some Kindness. Two girls who took their pain and turned it into kindness. The result has changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people across America, simply being KIND.

Charity Matters.

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Education August 27, 2014

Back to school: Philanthrophy

Today was my sons first day back to school. Along with the traditional photo-op on the front porch, the new shoes and sharpened pencils comes another opportunity. One more year to think about how to plant the seeds of compassion in my sons. What are a few ways to get them thinking this school year about ways to help another?

1. The first suggestion is to ask your children what they think they can do. You will be shocked and inspired by their ideas. When I asked my high school son his plans for philanthropy this year, he responded that he was going to continue reading to low-income students who struggle at Reading Partners, his adopted cause. It is a wonderful organization where you commit to one or two students a couple of times a week and make real one and one impact.

2. For my younger son, he prefers the team approach. Like all good ideas, especially involving kids, they are usually best involving friends. Get a group together and make a plan. It can be as big as adopting a low-income school with your school or as small as creating a back to school backpack stuffing party for the local family homeless shelter in your neighborhood. He will do anything if it involves a team effort.

3. Find out what the school has planned and encourage your kids to get involved. If the school doesn’t have a philanthropy, suggest one. One of my favorites is Grades of Green. Grades of Green is an amazing organization that teaches children how to make their schools greener and be environmentally aware of simple things that make a universal impact. In addition to being a great organization for any school or team, they also have a new Youth Corp for future environmental leaders.

There are so many ways to plant the seed of compassion in your student. Once that seeds takes root, it is up to us to nurture and develop all the wonderful possibilities that go along with new pencils and a new year of possibilities.

Charity Matters.

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Charity Matters Quotes August 25, 2014

Charity Matters Quotes: Education

“Education’s purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one.”

Malcolm S. Forbes

It is here, back to school. Sadly Labor Day has not yet arrived and yet summer is over. I’m not sure how or who changed that rule but I officially do not approve.

So as another new year begins, here is to the beautiful gift of education. The ultimate gift that we take for granted. Wishing everyone a year of learning and the gift of an open mind!

Charity Matters.

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Childrens' Causes June 25, 2014

Time for Camp!

I am back from a much-needed vacation and re-energized for the busy summer ahead. As most of you know by now, I took a new position last November running non-profit that provides a Summer Leadership Conference for middle school students, called TACSC. Today, I feel like a nervous camper because it’s my first day of Summer Camp or Summer Conference, as we call it.

All year, we have worked, planned, fundraised and organized for this moment. It is exciting, terrifying and fun all at once. Just like the 200 students who will show up today, spending their first week away from home, in a college dorm…I can empathize with their nerves because its my first time too!

This moment is the reason I took this job. No, not to relive my childhood and run off to camp but because of what we do and have been doing for 32 years. That is teaching our students how to lead and inspire others. Planting the seed of compassion by teaching service, having our students learn how to use their voice and stand up for what they believe in and how to lead from behind and by example.

Oh don’t get me wrong, this is still camp….with talent shows, line dances, movie nights, games and all the fun that comes with camp. This is camp with a difference and a purpose.

Last night as I packed up my own 7th grader to attend our program, I realized that he was excited, happy and really looking forward to this experience and I can say proudly, I am too!

Charity Matters.

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Education June 16, 2014

Schools out for summer!

“In school, you’re taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you’re given a test that teaches you a lesson.”

Tom Bodett

It’s here! It’s here! Summertime is here!

No more homework, making lunches, studying or school. Phew.

Whether a student, a teacher or a parent there is simply something wonderful that happens once school is out.

A weight is lifted, the load a little lighter and the excitement of a relaxing summer looms ahead.

A time to slow down, relax and enjoy.

Happy Summer!

Charity Matters.

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Charity Matters Inspiration June 4, 2014

To the graduate

Since I have brought all of you along for this journey, it seems only fitting that we have inspiring closing remarks, as all graduations do. Charity Matters has nothing to do with graduation you say? Yes, you have a point. However, Charity Matters is about making a difference, food for thought, a little nourishment for the soul. In looking for that, I came across this. A graduation speech viewed by millions, entitled, “You are not special.”

Perhaps the title is deceiving but the message is outstanding. Like all great commencement speeches it is full of inspiring comments about “dreaming big, working hard, get up, get out, explore.” But the overall message (spoiler alert here) is that “selflessness is the best thing you can do for yourself.”

So whether or not you watched all twelve minutes, like millions have, or simply skipped to the end…congratulations. You walked away with the message that selflessness is the best thing you can do for yourself. As a result, you walked away a little bit better and wiser, than when you arrived, just like our graduates. So, congratulations to you. As our speaker so eloquently shared, “Wisdom is the chief element of happiness.”

Wiser and selflessness, I feel happier already.

Charity Matters.

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Charity Matters Inspiration June 2, 2014

A gift.

Education is on my mind. It usually is, but this week especially. I have been thinking about how education shapes, molds and can transform a life. When this video was sent to me, I knew it was not by coincidence. It is truly one of the most inspiring beautiful stories I have ever shared. It is a story of education, hope and purpose.

This Verbum Dei graduate from Watts, Caylin Moore, shares his journey from poverty to college and now as the recipient of the Fulbright scholarship. If ever the expression dream big fits, it is here. I was only going to watch 2 minutes but was so enthralled by this young man’s message of hope I watched it all. Caylin, his story and message are a gift.

Caylin’s message of who he plays football for, his purpose, his struggles and his faith are humbling. This young man is a walking example of what the gift of an education and dreaming big can accomplish…..anything.

Charity Matters.

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Education May 15, 2014

Teacher Appreciation Week

Do you remember a teacher that changed your life? Did you ever tell them the impact they had? Sometimes we don’t realize until it’s too late. Truth be told, it’s never too late to say thank you and your appreciated. I think most schools celebrated teacher appreciation week last week, our school is a little behind….so we will be saying our thank you later but the impact is still the same.

Since my son is at a new school, I thought I would go straight to the experts on the topic of Teacher Appreciation. Those experts are none other than the nonprofit PTA., otherwise known as the Parent Teacher Association.

Here are a few ideas from the PTA ‘s website, just in case you didn’t remember to thank your teacher or your child’s teacher:

Write letters and cards of appreciation to your students’ teachers throughout the week and ask you students’ teachers how you can support them throughout the year.
Show your support for the tremendous work teachers do by volunteering in your students’ classrooms.
Nominate your students’ teachers for local and national awards.
Pick up the April/May edition of Our Children magazine, which is devoted to teachers’ perspectives and offers parents great advice for building a strong relationship with their students’ educators.
Give the gift of PTA membership to a teacher in your life.

Thank you may seem insignificant but just the simplest kindness and acknowledgement can go a very long way in the life of a teacher. I may not have told all my teachers what they meant to me but I am sure my sons will tell theirs. Since it is never too late….to all my teachers, Thank You!!

Charity Matters.

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Education May 5, 2014

The Verb

Last friday was Commitment Day at Verbum Dei High School in Watts. It is one of the most magical days of the year in South Central Los Angeles. It is a day of pride, accomplishment , celebration and pure joy. These young men, from one of the roughest neighborhoods in Los Angeles, beat the odds of most in their environment. They will not be going into gangs or to prison but rather 100% of these students will be going to college in the fall.

These young men come from poverty, they are often a behind national averages in school when they arrive at The Verb. In addition to overcoming poverty, family issues, grades and gang pressures these students 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 students are proud to tell their family and friends that they are heading to a place most have never been, college.

Last friday as I watched the boy’s pride in themselves and in each other, as they announced where they would be going to college, tears streamed down my face with joy . Verbum Dei Class of 2014 students will be attending schools such as Stanford, Georgetown, UC Berkeley, USC, UCLA, and Cal States to name a few.

The Commitment and the day was theirs but the joy and pride belonged to all.

Charity Matters.

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