Holidays and Holiday Giving Archives - Page 5 of 6

Charity Matters Quotes October 30, 2013

Halloween

“When black cats prowl and pumpkins gleam,
May luck be yours on Halloween.”

Author Unknown

Tomorrow it’s here, the day we have all been waiting for, Halloween. A day that is all about giving and the sheer joy that giving brings….not to mention that giving candy is about as fun as it gets! So enjoy those little ghosts and goblins, the sweet treats and the joy of it all.

Happy Halloween!

Charity Matters.

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Holidays and Holiday Giving May 27, 2013

Happy Memorial Day!

And I’m proud to be an American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I won’t forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

Lee Greenwood

While we enjoy this ritual kickoff to summer, let us remember all of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for us to enjoy our day and our precious freedom.

God Bless America and enjoy your holiday!

Charity Matters.

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Holidays and Holiday Giving January 7, 2013

Oh those resolutions!

“May all your troubles last as long as your New Year’s resolutions!”
Joey Adams

Oh, it’s that time of year again. We sit, we toil, we ponder and then the tv ad is over and we abandon the thought of those nagging New Year’s Resolutions. For me, it is a process I have embraced for as long as I could hold a pen. The more tragic part of that is looking back each year at those resolutions that I did not complete or achieve.

However, the flip side is there are usually more achieved than not and each year my goals become a tad more realistic…Ok I confess, last year I did write down an absurd amount of Twitter followers that I had hoped to coax to the nest….but I’m a big dreamer….I think you all know that by now. Looking back, maybe I was a bit too optimistic?

However, if we don’t give ourselves a moment to dream, to really think about what we want then how are we ever to achieve it? This year one resolution that I hope to achieve is to revamp The Charity-Matters web-site. Phew, I said it. Now, for the follow through.

Well, I am so glad you are here to hold my feet to the fire, to complete the resolutions and to enjoy every precious moment of the journey. As Emerson said, “Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” I guess that way regardless of resolution its perfect either way. That is one resolution worth adding to the list this year. What are your resolutions?

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Holidays and Holiday Giving January 2, 2013

Everyone loves a parade, even the day after

Being a Pasadena girl, I love a good parade as much as anyone, its part of my DNA. This year’s Rose Parade was especially meaningful for me for a handful of reasons.
For starters, a dear friend of mine’s daughter made the Rose Court and this year’s Rose Queen, Vanessa Manjarrez, is a senior at my alma mater Mayfield Senior School. A school thats motto “Actions Not Words,” has become a life mantra for us alums.

It was exactly that, action that I saw in the parade. No, not the horses and marching bands but rather a subtle call to action from service organizations such as the Shriners, the Rotary Club, Kiwanis International and the Lions Club. All organizations whose sole purpose is service to help another.

Not to mention floats from non-profit organizations such as the Salvation Army, the Aids Healthcare Foundation, City of Hope and Donate Life. 85 million people watching those colorful floats going down Colorado Blvd and yet, it’s somehow so much more than dried flowers on a float but rather the message of hope and service.

Wells Fargo made my day when they put boys from Verbum Dei High School in Watts inside their stage-coach. They could have chosen anyone and yet, Wells Fargo chose underserved boys who work to put themselves through high school….again the call to action and a personal highlight because I love this school.

The best part of the parade is right here, click for the most moving moment. http://nbclosangeles.com.

However, the real star of this year’s parade was the Eric Pazz on the Canines with Courage float, which honored dogs who served in the military. It was the surprise reunion between this purple heart winner and his wife and son, that took the entire world audience’s breath away. A real moment of action and love that was palpable. At the end of the day and the beginning of a New Year, isn’t love for one another whats it’s all about?

Definitely a parade to remember….

Charity Matters.

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Holidays and Holiday Giving December 31, 2012

New Years Eve

“We spend January 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives… not looking for flaws, but for potential.”

Ellen Goodman

As we close out 2012, I want to thank you for making this year such a remarkable one. You continue to inspire me with your comments, encouragement and compassion for one another. I hope that 2013 brings us all of our potential.

Happy New Year!

Charity Matters.

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Holidays and Holiday Giving November 23, 2012

Gratitude continues

“Thanksgiving was never meant to be shut up in a single day.”

Robert Caspar Lintner

Whether this post finds you still full from a grand feast yesterday, waiting in line at the malls for Black friday or on the sofa with football, all of the above are gifts to be grateful for. My wish for you is that the feeling of gratitude stays with you throughout this holiday season.

Today I am grateful for a day off. I hope you are enjoying yours, you deserve it!

Charity Matters.

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Holidays and Holiday Giving September 3, 2012

Labor Day

Its Labor Day and I hope this finds you enjoying those last precious moments of rest and relaxation as we celebrate the opposite today, hard work and labor.

I saw these notes from Katie Couric and thought they were well put. So enjoy your holiday and here is to our great nation and all of us who have worked so hard to make it that way.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYSU2fkTitA&feature=fvst]

Happy Labor Day!

Charity Matters.

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Holidays and Holiday Giving August 31, 2012

Happy Labor Day Weekend!

“Labor Day is a glorious holiday because your child will be going back to school the next day. It would have been called Independence Day, but that name was already taken.”

Bill Dodds

Wishing you all a wonderful Labor Day Weekend!

Charity Matters.

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Holidays and Holiday Giving January 2, 2012

How Do You Eat an Elephant?

“How do you an eat an elephant?” One of my husband’s favorite phrases. The answer, “One bite at a time, of course.” As a triathlete, he is accustomed to breaking down his goals and resolutions into small steps or bites. Something particularly relevant as we all set our plans in motion for the New Year.

I recently read about a girl from London, Alexis Liming, who has created a large New Years resolution called 2012 for 2012. Alexis is planning on running 2,012 miles this year for charity. Her motivation, giving back to the hospital that helped her little brother during his battle with neuroblastoma. Her little brother didn’t survive his battle but his older sister, Alexis will run for him and others with the disease. A resolution as big as an elephant.

As we all set goals, big and small, its important to celebrate each step, each mile or each bite of our accomplishment. Whether you run 2012 miles, enter a charity race, give more time at your child’s school or just support something that touches your heart. Celebrate each moment, each step and every bite. Before you know it in 2012 you might be able to eat an elephant and make Charity Matter for something you care about.

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Holidays and Holiday Giving December 23, 2011

Attention K Mart Shoppers!

“Attention, K Mart Shoppers! It’s almost here! We are just two days til Christmas.” Whats really happening at K Mart? It is much more than holiday chaos, it’s giving.

Hundreds of stories of holiday giving have been spreading across our country the past few weeks at K Mart stores. K Mart shoppers who have been putting their children’s Christmas gifts on lay away, due to these difficult economic times, have been showing up to find their accounts have been paid in full by anonymous donors.

The executives at K Mart said it appears that this mystery giving began in Michigan and has now spread across 7 states according to the retail chain. Salima Yala, the Vice President of the company’s lay away division said, “It is honestly being driven by people wanting to do a good deed at this time of year.” These “Secret Santa’s” have been targeting lay away items that are specifically toys or children’s clothing.

So as you stop and drop money in the red buckets to ringing bells, send a little something extra to your favorite cause or even buy a sweater for that relative you rarely speak to, remember that giving is a wonderful feeling.

“So attention K Mart Shoppers, be on the look out for generous souls trying to spread holiday cheer. They could be in line behind you or the person in the parking lot. Goodness is everywhere and beware, its contagious too!”

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and thank you for making Charity Matter!

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Holidays and Holiday Giving December 21, 2011

My Two Front Teeth. Org

When I heard the name of this great organization, My Two Front Teeth.Org I was so excited to share it with you all this holiday season. This Bay Area non-profit organization reached out to needy children during the holidays to fulfill Christmas wishes. However, I received a present and a true symbol of the season when I discovered that this small non-profit merged with a bigger non-profit called The Family Giving Tree. The selfless reason, is that by merging and combining resources they would be able to reach even more children in need during the holidays.

The Family Giving Tree began in 1990 as a San Jose State University MBA class project. Jennifer Cullenbine and Todd Yoshida were asked to “create a program that adds value to someone else’s life.” They created the Family Giving Tree with the hope of providing holiday gifts to 300 children in East Palo Alto. Encouraged by the success of the first year, Jennifer decided to continue and expand the organization. In the 20th year of the program’s existence, the total number of gifts and backpacks donated had grown to over 700,000, making the Family Giving Tree the largest gift and backpack donation program in California.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRy96OTM_o4&feature=related]

So, whether its your two front teeth or a giving tree this holiday, it all gives to the magic of the season. Smiles on children’s faces is Charity that Matters!

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Childrens' Causes December 14, 2011

A Little Christmas Cheer

I love that everyone is in the spirit of giving this time of year. I thought I would share with you Jack Johnson’s latest Christmas Album, This Warm December.

Twenty-five percent of the proceeds from this album benefit Little Kids Rock.Org which is a national nonprofit that transforms children’s lives by restoring and revitalizing music education in disadvantaged public schools.

In 1996, an elementary school teacher, David Wish, grew frustrated with the lack of funding for music education at his school. Realizing that he would have to take it upon himself to make sure his kids got a chance to explore music, David began offering an after-school guitar class to interested students. The classes became wildly popular, and as more kids sought to enroll, he decided to take the program national.

In 2002, with initial support from musical luminaries BB King and John Lee Hooker, Little Kids Rock was born. What began as an informal project led by a single school teacher and a handful of volunteers has since evolved into a nationally recognized not-for-profit organization that has served tens of thousands of students across the country.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qu_U-YV4yA8]

So buy a little Christmas cheer and in the process make Charity Matter for thousands of children across this country with the gift of music.

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Holidays and Holiday Giving December 12, 2011

Holiday Goodspotting

The Case Foundation is asking people who witness random acts of kindness this holiday season to capture those moments in photos and post them on their favorite social network. They may get a nice reward for that good deed: up to $500 for themselves and up to $5,000 for their favorite charity.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=–bkjUPrje4]

So do some good, spot others doing good and spread some good, its all good Charity that Matters!

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Holidays and Holiday Giving December 7, 2011

Charitable Ideas for the Holidays

Since starting Charity Matters a few months back, I have had a number of requests for charitable ideas for the holidays.

It’s never too early to show and share and power of giving and isn’t that what the season is all about?

Here are some ideas that matter:

For The Art Connoisseur- Give them the gift of their favorite museum membership for the year. All are non-profits that survive by donations so a great gift. Here are a few; Moca, The Huntington Library, and The Getty.

The Animal Lover- Giving an animal lover a gift that takes care of animals like The American Humane Society is a gift that keeps giving.

The Finance Guy- Kiva is a non-profit that connects people worldwide through small micro finance loans. You select who you want to loan money too in order to change a life. They pay you back in ways bigger than money.

The Teen Activist-The Hole in the Wall Camps where terminally ill and very ill children get a chance to “be normal” and have a real camp experience. Teach your teens how to give and be grateful for their health.

The Reading Enthusiast- First Books is a non-profit that has distributed more than 85 million books and educational resources to schools serving children from low-income families throughout the United States.

The Adventurer- Outward Bound is a non-profit educational organization and expedition school that serves people of all ages and backgrounds through learning expeditions that inspire character development, self-discovery and service both in and out of the classroom.

The Person With Everything- We all know that person that is impossible to buy for and here is the solution. Charity Gift Certificates. Org this website will give you a list of over 250 non-profit organizations and one is sure to fit your person with everything. You donate an amount and they can select who to give it too.

So whoever you may find on your list this season, share with them the true meaning of the holidays….giving. Know that your Charity Matters! Happy Shopping.

Copyright © 2011 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.

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