Ways to make a difference Archives - Page 27 of 29

Holidays and Holiday Giving December 2, 2013

Giving Tuesday

What is Giving Tuesday and why is everyone talking about it? First of all, you might want to mark your calendars because its tomorrow. GivingTuesday™ is a national day of giving at the start of the holiday season. The purpose is to celebrate and encourage charitable activities in support of non-profits.

This day and now movement began as something to counter Black friday and Cyber monday, It was started by New York’s 92nd Street Y, which has 139 years of fundraising experience. They reached out to the United Nations Foundation and joined as partners. Soon after, big corporations and non-profits signed on to help spread the word and the rest is history, as they say.

While Giving Tuesday is just a few years old, it is definitely not going away. Last year alone, over $10 million dollars in online donations was processed, which was a 53% increase compared to the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, the year before.

We all love holiday shopping but really the point is to give. So tomorrow, think about what cause moves your heart, who you can help? Maybe giving to that cause is the gift you give to someone else or perhaps just one you give for yourself.

Charity Matters.

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Holidays and Holiday Giving November 25, 2013

The opposite of full

The week of Thanksgiving seems to be a week about food and eating. What is the opposite of eating? Not eating or hunger. So it seems only natural that Thanksgiving and feeding the hungry always go hand in hand. The fact is that 1 in 6 people in this country are suffering from hunger.

I have to confess, I have fed the homeless, on more than a few occasions, but never on Thanksgiving. I applaud those that do. I can only imagine how much more grateful you are, for what you are lucky enough to have, after you have witnessed someone without.

I think the most beautiful part of the tradition that many families have, is showing children compassion and gratitude. Any time you give of yourself for another, it is a gift. When you teach and show compassion and kindness it is much, much more.

As you begin to plan for this Thursday’s meal, the arrival of relatives, hustling to the market, think about ways your family can impact another. Here are a few simple ways to get started and make sure to include your kids in the process:

1. Go to Great Non-Profits website, type in your zip code, “feeding the homeless” and find local organizations in your community that you can help.

2. Consider donating a few dollars to a local food bank, ours here in LA, can make $1.00 buy 4 Thanksgiving meals. Here is the web for LA Regional Food Bank.

3. Think big and get involved in a big or little way with Feed America.Org, an organization designed to support the network of food banks across the country.

One last tip, Thanksgiving is more than a day but rather a spirit, that lasts much longer. Consider putting some of these thoughts into action, the day after Thanksgiving on Black Friday, to show your family that giving is more than seasonal. Showing your children the reality that being full is just not just about our stomachs is a Thanksgiving legacy.

Charity Matters.

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Technology that Matters November 20, 2013

Charity Miles, running with purpose

I never thought I would say this, but I love technology. Ok, I love technology that makes a difference. I also love running and today when my husband stumbled upon this amazing new app, I simply had to share. There is now a way for my run to earn money for causes I care about and its called Charity Miles.

Only a year and a half ago, Gene Gurkoff had a brilliant idea. He wanted to make a difference, more specifically to help his grandfather who suffers from Parkinson’s. Gene’s idea was to reach out to corporate sponsors and ask them to support us, the general public, every time we run, walk or ride. Making our every day workouts a charity race, that turns those miles into donations benefiting 25 amazing non-profit organizations. You can choose where each workout gets donated, with organizations that range from Autism Speaks, (Red), DoSomething.Org, Feed America, Soles 4 Souls and many more.

So, when I ran today (that’s my phone after the run above) a whopping 3 miles, I donated my run to The Wounded Warrior Project, in honor of Veterans Day. Charity Miles saying is,” Every Step Counts.” Since June 2012, runners, walkers and riders have logged enough miles from Charity Miles to go from earth to the moon and back….three times.

I think Charity Miles is onto something great. So download their app, put on your shoes and hit the road to make your life and someone else’s, that much better. They are right at Charity Miles, “Changing the world is a team sport.” That is my kind of team.

Charity Matters.

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Holidays and Holiday Giving November 18, 2013

A new way to smile

While most of us are getting ready for turkey, the stores, catalogs and malls are gearing up for some serious holiday shopping. If you want to avoid the crowds this holiday season, Amazon is giving us a new reason to smile, that reason is called Amazon Smile.

Amazon Smile gives shoppers the chance to donate 0.5% of their purchase to over one million charities of choice. So instead of shopping at regular old Amazon, go onto Amazon Smile, pick your favorite cause and shop away. Almost all of Amazon’s products are eligible with some exceptions. What is really incredible is that Amazon doesn’t have a limit on what they will give, so the more you shop…the more they donate!

While these donations won’t help your tax write off, they will help Amazon’s and more importantly, help people in need. What could possibly be better during the season of giving? So happy shopping and don’t forget to smile!

Charity Matters.

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Ways to make a difference November 15, 2013

National Philanthropy Day

I know, I know it seems that every week I am posting today is volunteer day, or service day or some sort of volunteer related holiday that you have never heard of….I promise I don’t make this stuff up! Today really is National Philanthropy Day, I promise it is not an ask but simply a celebration of you.

The Association of Fundraising Professionals put together this day to recognize you for making our communities and world better because of your service. Each year billions of dollars and volunteer hours are given to countless non-profit organizations around the world because of you and your commitment to your causes.

The goal of today is for charities from around the world to simply say thank you for your support, your time, you’re giving. So, if you don’t hear from your favorite cause, don’t get grumpy, consider yourself recognized and thanked right here and now.

Thank you for all you do, give and share. You make our world better simply by being in it. Enjoy your day!

Charity Matters.

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Charity Matters Inspiration November 1, 2013

Movember: Changing the face of men’s health

Photo curtesy of Movember.Com — Photo courtesy of Movember.Com

Today is November 1st and the beginning of Movember. No, this isn’t a typo but rather a movement. You may recall that last November there seemed to be an unusual amount of facial hair and beards. Those beards and unshaven faces were not by accident, but rather a statement for men’s health.

A statement that all began in 2003, when two mates in a bar ( Travis Garone and Luke Slattery) were having a simple conversation about whatever happened to the moustache or the Mo, as they called it, and a joke about bringing it back. These buddies from Melbourne, Australia decided to talk their friends into growing a Mo for a purpose. They were inspired by a friend’s mom who was raising funds for breast cancer and decided to direct their efforts towards men’s health and prostate cancer. They sent an email titled Are you man enough to be my man? The result was 30 guys willing to take up the challenge and pay ten dollars each, towards their cause and the beginning of Movember.

Their goal started small but never wavered. These four friends wanted to recruit men who would support Movember, who by the way are called MoBros. The Mo Bros, would begin by registering at Movember.Com and start Movember 1st clean-shaven, then grow and groom their Mo, for the rest of the month, raising money along the way. In addition, these men become walking, talking billboards for their cause. Not to exclude the girls, they also started Mo Sistas, who champion their Mo by registering and supporting the Mo Bros in their life.

What started as a fun bar conversation in 2003 and 30 MoBros in Melbourne, Australia has morphed into 3 million participants globally, who have raised more than $446 million to date. Movember, is more than a month but rather through the power of the moustache, it has truly become a global movement that is changing the face of men’s health.

Charity Matters.

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Technology that Matters October 28, 2013

What’s Sevenly?

A few weeks back I wrote about The Tipping Point of kindness that is currently happening all around us. The signs of great change, just continue to grow. I recently heard about a perfect example of that change, a new organization called Sevenly.Org . Their goal is just that, to make the world a better place.

It all began in January of 2011 when two young entrepreneurs named Dale Partridge and Adam Chavez got together with the mission of leading a “generation towards generosity.” Their belief was simply that people mattered and their goal was to create weekly cause campaigns where customers could purchase products that gave $7 to a weekly charity. They wanted to both “unlock a way to crowd-fund for causes, but to drive massive social awareness as well.” On June 13th, 2011 they began to do just that.

They refer to their model as a” funnel.” The approach begins with targeting the millions of people who have never given to charity before, they wisely asked for the gift of social influence first. Then they showcase cool products to buy, with each item purchased a $7 donation goes to the cause that is highlighted that week. Lastly, they are encouraging their customers/donors to connect on a deeper level with these causes.

The result is brilliant. In the past few years Sevenly has had millions of people donate their social influence, and hundreds of thousands buy awareness products for the causes they support. In addition, they have raised over 2 million dollars and counting for these causes. More importantly, they are living proof that the Tipping point of kindness is a reality. That Tipping point is doing exactly what they set out to do…move a generation towards generosity and make the world realize that people matter. Now that is Sevenly!

Charity Matters.

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Ways to make a difference October 23, 2013

Make a Difference Day

This Saturday is Make a Difference Day, who knew? Yes, I know its time for Halloween festivals and parties but wouldn’t it feel great to join in and lend a hand with your kids doing something that you care about?

Make a Difference Day is the largest national day of community service where millions of volunteers, from around the world, come together with the common goal of improving the lives of others. It is a day where neighbors help neighbors and people come together for projects that range from helping an individual, a community, a non-profit or even an entire state.

Over twenty years ago USA Weekend and Points of Light joined forces to create a day to show that anyone, regardless of age, location or resources can accomplish incredible things when they come together with a single purpose to improve the lives of others. If your not sure how to get started or need some ideas, just click here and take a look.

So, in addition to the pumpkin festivals, Halloween parties and fall football, think about getting together with your children, family, neighbors or community to Make a Difference. You will be so glad you did!

Charity Matters.

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Homelessness and Hunger October 21, 2013

Food for thought

A few weeks ago I received an invitation from a friend, to volunteer at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. I jumped at the chance, not only to see this incredible place, but more importantly to show my youngest son how easy it is to make a difference. I wanted him to realize how the small gift of time can have a huge impact.

I did a post on the history of the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank last spring and in the process learned about this incredible facility that provides 42 million meals a year to the 1 out of 6 people who suffer from hunger in Los Angeles County. However, this was different, this was an opportunity to spend time with my youngest son and show him by example how great it feels to help.

We arrived, watched a video about hunger in Los Angels and learned that children, who suffer from hunger, receive their only meal each day at school. As a result, they have no food over the weekends. Hunger is a foreign concept to my son and yet, I could see him trying to process the facts. The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, packs and prepares weekend backpacks filled with food so that children will not be hungry.

The “I Love Lucy” assembly line began and about 15 of us started to fill the backpacks. An hour and a half later we were told that we had fed 711 children. My 12-year-old beamed, and asked when he could come back to help. I had wanted to show him by example but he actually showed me. Our small gift of time working together to make a difference for others was actually a gift for us.

We gained way more than we gave, which for my son, was food for thought.

Charity Matters.

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Charity Matters Inspiration October 14, 2013

Goodness is contagious

I received an email the other day from a lacrosse store that my youngest son loves called Adrenaline. The email just made my day and got me thinking about just how contagious goodness is. The note came from the lacrosse store owner, Ian and told the story of a 13-year-old boy, named Jack. Jack had been volunteering with his dad in a underserved part of town teaching lacrosse as a community service project, in association with his father’s company.

The father and son put on a lacrosse clinic for about 75 children. The equipment was donated to use during the clinic. The kids loved the sport and wanted to learn more and play, however did not have the financial resources to afford the equipment to do so.

Which brings us back to Jack, who now wants to provide equipment for all of these kids. So, Jack approached Ian and asked if he could put a used equipment collection box in his store, which of course he did. Here comes the contagious part. Ian was so inspired by this 13 year olds big heart that he then emailed the entire Southern California lacrosse community to ask if we could all help Jack out with his mission. He has now put collection boxes in all of the Adrenaline stores and at practice locations.

Goodness is so easy to catch and truly contagious. Sometimes we are so busy that we forget to stop and realize all the beautiful miracles around us each and every day. It is the simple acts of kindness for another. I hope what Jack is spreading is as contagious to you as it was to me, because this is something worth catching!

Charity Matters.

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Charity Matters Inspiration October 9, 2013

Keeping the Dream Alive

As you already know, I spend a lot of time talking about ways to use your gifts to make others’ lives better. What is a little less comfortable is talking about my own time and what gifts I use to share with others. So today, I thought I would let you know that I do practice what I preach, or at least try my best….

For the past few months I have been working on a new video for the non-profit, Spiritual Care Guild, which ten of us founded a decade ago, to provide chaplains at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. As a story-teller (I am Irish after all) telling the story of our non-profit was challenging, fun and at the end rewarding. So please, take a look….

When we began our group, the first benefit was Field of Dreams, an outdoor movie night set on a baseball field. Our hope was to “build it and they would come.” A decade later, I am so proud to say they did. Ten years ago, we could never have imagined all this group has accomplished. Today, our dream continues as we continue to support and provide chaplains to thousands of families and children at CHLA.

Charity Matters.

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Charity Matters Inspiration October 2, 2013

Be More Heroic

With October comes the beginning of fall, the crunch of leaves, football and anti-bullying month. Who knew? When we grew up, there were bullies on the playground and in our neighborhoods but there were few solutions. Well there is a great new non-profit called Be More Heroic.Org that is taking a fresh new approach to the age-old problem of bullying.

Be More Heroic all began when six friends, hatched an idea in Justin Haulbrook’s living room. Their mission was to inspire individuals and communities to stimulate positive, proactive and courageous action in their daily lives. In order to make that happen Be More Heroic visits schools (elementary through colleges) and begins their program with a huge interactive assembly that empowers students with music, media and personal stories.

After their assembly, the Be more Heroic team creates a student team that sustains the message of the assembly throughout the year. The student team then creates and completes three service projects that involve, school, home and community. The result is a group of children who now become student advocates against bullying as well as inspiration to other kids, their communities and themselves.

Now thats what I call heroic!

Charity Matters.

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Technology that Matters September 30, 2013

Swap Serve

As most of you know I am a big believer in volunteering. Simply giving any talent, skill or time you have to a cause you care about and expecting nothing in return….except the great feeling you get from giving.

Well, it seems all of that is about to change. There is a new game in town and its called Swap Serve. Swap Serve has a little different approach to volunteering. They are trying to align non-profits with volunteers. Here is what makes this different, in exchange for your time, local businesses reward you with free stuff, such as coffee, donuts, movie tickets, etc.

Here is how it works:

I’m not sure if this is the way of the future, a win-win or defeating the point of volunteering? Regardless, anything that gets people out helping one another is a success in my book. So check it out and see if Swap Serve has come to your town yet. Do me a favor, if they haven’t, just keep on giving your time. There is no greater gift to give.

Charity Matters.

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Education September 16, 2013

More than making the grade..Grades of Green

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” That infamous Margaret Mead quote is what came to mind after my inspiring conversation with Grades of Green’s Kim Martin

Six and a half years ago, Kim Martin was an environmental attorney with young children in elementary school. She befriended 3 other like-minded mom’s; Lisa Coppedge, Shaya Kirkpatrick and Suzanne Kretschmer, who had been deeply impacted by Al Gore’s environmental movie, An Inconvenient Truth. The four of them began working together to find creative ways to green their school. Before long, these savvy moms and their school were winning national awards for their efforts and making an amazing impact on their youth, school and community.

They realized that they were truly onto something much bigger as their initial students moved onto middle school and began asking questions about where were the recycling containers and why was the school using styrofoam? Moments like these prompted the four women to take their extraordinary volunteer efforts to the next level and three years ago they founded the non-profit, Grades of Green.

Their mission is simply to inspire and empower kids and the broader school community to care for the environment. The vision of Grades of Green is to make environmental protection second nature in young minds.

Their website breaks down initiatives for individuals and schools to make small and simple changes that have big impacts. Things such as Walk to School Wednesdays, (de)Tox Thursdays, Campus composting and Electricity Challenges. All these activities are free, simple, easy and impact full. The kids learn by doing, not by lecture. The founders’ dream is that this next generation lives in harmony with the earth and that all their decisions big and small reference that point.

What started as a small thoughtful group of committed citizens has already begun to change our world. Today, Grades of Green is in more than 209 schools, in 30 states and has worked with over 130,268 children and counting. That small thoughtful group has become a large one and as their motto says, “Every shade makes a difference.”

Charity Matters.

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