Charity Matters
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Heidi McNiff Johnson

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Health

A Golfer with Heart

This being National Heart month and heart disease being a big part of my own family. An amazing story of heart was recently brought to my attention and I thought you might be inspired as well.

His name is Erik Compton and he is a professional golfer, not the founder of a non-profit. But a man with a very big heart for life and a person who has lived the story of heart disease since he was 12.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVfI7SonW0M]

Erik gives a face to thousands who wait for heart transplants each year. President Clinton said last month about Erik, “And you think if someone can overcome all the real problems that he’s overcome to live the life that he’s living, then the rest of us ought to do a better job of staying healthy enough that we don’t bankrupt the health care system and we don’t undermine the ability of our children to raise our grandchildren and we don’t raise the first generation of kids to have shorter lifespans than their parents.”

Like many of us Erik has a family and travels for his golf career but can be found volunteering his time for special events and hospital visitations to meet transplant patients and their families in support of organ donation and transplant awareness. That is a true champion.

Charity Matters.

Copyright © 2012 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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Health

Saving Tiny Hearts

There is always that defining moment. We each have them, some bigger than others.  On August 11th, 2005 Francie Paul had that moment when she gave birth to her son, Joshua. Francie’s moment was more than that of a proud new and tired mother but one of concern.  Four hours after his birth, Joshua was rushed from the local hospital where he was quickly diagnosed with Severe Complex Congenital Heart Disease.

It is there is that moment, that small space in time that having a sick child will either destroy you or define you. The Paul family had that moment, frustrated and angry with their son’s condition.

“Like many parents in our position, we became very angry and once the dust settled we considered litigation as a course of action. After meeting with high-profile medical-malpractice attorneys in Chicago we decided that this route was clearly not for us. In the elevator on the way out of one of the attorney’s offices we called Brian’s (my husband) corporate attorney to find out how to start a Public Charity. We felt channeling our energy into something positive instead of something negative (like litigation) would be a much healthier and more fulfilling way for us to focus our efforts.”

The result of that frustration and emotion was channeled into the creation of Saving Tiny Hearts.org  Since 2006, the Saving tiny Hearts Society has been working to fulfill its mission of raising seed money for grossly under-funded, lifesaving research of congenital heart defects. This seed funding acts as a bridge for this research to millions of dollars of extramural funding from the National Institute of Health. To date Saving Tiny Hearts has funded five (5) research projects.

Today, Joshua is thriving and the Paul family’s change of heart from anger to action became that moment that matters. Their heart has helped thousands of tiny hearts. Charity Matters.

Copyright © 2012 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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Health

Go Red!

There is nothing better than a little red dress to perk you up (sorry boys, but I’m sure you appreciate them too). So, since its Heart Month, its February and its almost Valentines Day. Why not Go Red?

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Remember to Go Red, wear that little red dress and most importantly take care of your self and that big heart of yours. Without that heart there wouldn’t be Charity that Matters.

Copyright © 2012 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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Charity Matters Quotes

Quote of the heart

“There is no need for temples, no need for complicated philosophies. My brain and my heart are my temples; my philosophy is kindness.”

Dali Lama

Copyright © 2012 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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Health

Hopeful Hearts Foundation

I recently met an amazing mom at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, who shared with me her son’s journey of Congenital Heart Disease. February being heart month, I wanted to share this story, about her friends the Chez family. A true story of the heart.

Adam and Terra Chez are parents whose three children were all born with Congenital Heart Disease.  Although, 1 out of every 100 babies are born with congenital heart defects, discovering that all your children suffer is an unimaginable and overwhelming experience. The Chez family discovered that their twins, Gracie and Luke had congenital heart disease in utero.

Their twins both had open heart surgeries in their first six months of life. Gracie had a second surgery and then died unexpectedly at age 3 on January 9, 2008. Despite their shock and despair the Chez family was determined  to keep their sweet daughter’s  memory alive.

“God showed us simply how much we are not in control of anyone’s destiny, not even our children, nothing can change the ultimate plan God has for us.  Our hearts began to feel the need to help others; it was then that we decided to pour our hearts into a foundation and give back. In April of 2008, Hopeful Hearts was established.”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vc5HIDQuNnc]

Hopeful Hearts goal has been to help build both awareness and support for all families that have been affected by congenital heart disease. The Chez are committed to helping fund research for heart valve replacement and for the care involved from the corrective surgery through the healing and recovery process.

The following year, in August 2009, Adam and Terra were blessed with another child, Abigail, who also suffered from the disease.

Now with renewed determination to help families like their own, Adam and Terra have committed to promoting the health of children with congenital heart defects and cardiac disease, while honoring their children Luke and Abbey who live with Tetralogy of Fallot and the memory of their daughter Gracie. ” Our hearts are filled with the loving memory of our daughter and hope for the future of Luke, Abbey and all children who confront congenital heart disease with courageous hearts.”

“Our life was forever changed after finding out about our children’s heart conditions.  Our hope was to possibly find a way to bring families together and support those who were going through the same devastating experience we ourselves had been through. We wanted to be able to give back for all that we felt was given to us, through God’s Grace.”

A true story of love and making a difference for others from the heart.

Charity Matters.

Copyright © 2012 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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Poverty

The Free Wheelchair Mission

I am so intrigued by that moment, that light bulb, that overtakes someone and springs them into action. What happens that touches their soul and compels them to do something to help someone else? In the case of Don Schoendorfer, it was witnessing a handicapped woman dragging herself across a dirt road while others simply looked away.

For this M.I.T. graduate and Orange County dad, this was unacceptable. This was his moment, his light bulb. He was going to use his talents as an engineer to create an inexpensive wheelchair for handicapped people in third world countries. That moment, nine years ago became FreeWheelchairMission.org.

Don knew that his mission was not going to be scientific but rather a “push of passion and compassion.” He knew he had hit the mark, after creating his first wheelchair out of bike tires and a plastic resin chair.  It simply took seeing the look on a mother’s face who had carried her 70 pound son for miles to know that he had made an impact. That is when Don knew his life would be different forever.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4NPYkxF6mw&feature=related]

Don quit his day job and devoted himself to helping the over 100 million people around this planet who are in need of a wheelchair. So far, Don has donated over 600,000 wheelchairs and for $63.48 he says anyone can change a life.

Those moments, those light bulbs and seeds of compassion are really what matters. Charity Matters.

Copyright © 2012 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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Uncategorized

Three Jars

These past few weeks I have been looking at new and different ways for my children to give. In my research, I came across another great resource for parents to help show their children the power of giving. That resource is a great site called ThreeJars.Com

Three jars is an online tool that basically takes the philosophy of a jar for saving, a jar for spending and a jar for giving to others. It makes allowance a powerful tool for planting the seeds of compassion in our children.

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

So while technology isn’t always my friend. I really believe that it can be a powerful way for us to teach our children valuable lessons on compassion and finance. Both are keys to making Charity Matter!

Copyright © 2012 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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Technology that Matters

The Snoball Effect

I know its January and in parts of the world it is snowing but now regardless of where you live you can create a snowball effect of giving thru the incredible new website called Snoball.

Snoball is a new social media concept that lets you donate to over 1.6 million nonprofits through customizable micro-donations or one-time gifts. Share your causes with friends, and watch your snoball effect grow! Here is how it works.

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

Once you’ve created your account, you can interact with other users and nonprofits via Your Story. From there you can share new Snoballs you’ve created, let your friends know about new charities you’ve discovered, and share stories and anything else that crosses your mind.

My son is already planning his football season, with each touchdown he scores he will create a Snoball for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Now that is a snoball fight that I welcome, any day!

Charity Matters.

Copyright © 2012 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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Uncategorized

I Have a Dream

Since this week was Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday I thought it only fitting to share with you my “I have dream” post.

I have always been labeled a big dreamer and as the years roll by, it is a label that I am increasingly proud of.  My dream is to continue to share with you inspiring stories of people that have taken their tragedy and turned into something much bigger. In many cases, it is the story of the small non-profit that began from someone’s pain.

I am familiar with this story and this journey because it it also my own. When life hands you a tragedy you are given a choice, to let it destroy you or to define you. I hope my life is used doing the latter. In these moments you realize just how little time it is that you have on this planet to really make a difference. As Dr. King said, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

Silent is not my strong suit. There is much that matters. There is much to do.  The non-profit that sprouted from my tragedy (created with an incredible group of people) is called The Spiritual Care Guild at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. Being a part of building a non-profit and being able to provide chaplains to children and families at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles has been a defining moment and a dream that has become a reality.

Like all big dreamers, somehow the dreams become bigger. That big dream is to help to give a voice to these stories with Charity Matters.  There are 1.7 million non-profits in the United States and many of them started from a tragedy, as mine did. These stories need to be told.

Dr. King used his voice to spread a message of hope. It is my dream to use my voice to continue to spread the message of these non-profits and the bigger message that Charity Matters. I think its a dream that Dr. King would approve.

Copyright © 2012 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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Health

Donate Life, Jessica Melore’s story

I was recently reading Glamour magazine and came across the amazing story of Jessica Melore. She is so inspiring that I needed to share it with you.

Jessica was 16 when she suffered a massive heart attack. She waited 9 months for a miracle, a heart transplant.

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Today, Jessica is 30 and due to the gift of life she has attended Princeton University, interned at Good Morning America, Sesame Street, and New York City’s Lincoln Center.  She is an advocate for youth with disabilities and a beacon of hope for the 110,000 people waiting for an organ donation today.

Jessica is working with Donate Life America on their 20 Million in 2012 campaign, to increase donor registration in state registries.  “I am so proud to be part of Donate Life America’s 20 Million in 2012 campaign.  Real life stories like mine can inspire people to sign up to be organ, eye and tissue donors, and provide hope to the more than 110,000 men, women and children on the organ transplant waiting list.”

Jessica is committed to giving every person waiting for a transplant a second chance at life.  Will you? I just did.

Charity Matters.

Copyright © 2012 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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Ways to make a difference

Martin Luther King Day of Service

Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, What are you doing for others?
–Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The 17th annual Global Citizen/Greater Philadelphia King Day of Service is expected to be the largest MLK Day event in the nation. Approximately 80,000 volunteers of all ages and backgrounds from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware will participate in more than 1,200 community projects, resulting in breaking down barriers, building ongoing partnerships and promoting a realization that we have more in common than our differences.  Regardless of politics, this message of service is the message Dr. King wanted our country to spread.

So, if you have a little extra time on this holiday, perhaps you can answer Dr. King’s question, “What are you doing for others?” I’m sure the answer is creating a legacy of service that would make Dr. King proud.

Charity Matters.

Copyright © 2012 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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Uncategorized

All For Good

In the past few months since the launch of Charity Matters I have been asked by a number of people for resources to get involved. So many people want to help but just don’t know where to start.

There is a great resource called All For Good that is about a year old.  All for Good’s mission is to bring together volunteerism and community service. In order to do that they developed a custom volunteer opportunity oriented search engine that is powered by the largest database of volunteer opportunities on the Internet.

Translation: you can just plug in a date or a zip code and they can connect you with non-profits looking for help.

I think its All for Good and Charity that Matters!

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Uncategorized

The Power of One

Can one person really make a difference? Take a look and see. Click below and enjoy!

http://www.bkconnection.com/stepping-up/steppingup.swf

We can all make the difference together or as one.

Charity Matters.

Copyright © 2012 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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