Proof Positivity: Validation

“Are you still blogging?” My husband would ask with a sneer.  For almost a year he has been asking me this question with a negative attitude.  Last night was different.  “Are you still doing that blog?”  He asked with genuine intrest.  “Proof Positivity?  Yes, I do my personnal blog when ever and Proof Positivity Monday- Friday except today because it’s Thanksgiving.”  I said.  “I want you to keep doing that.”  I looked at him in shock and asked if he was ok.  I have gone all this time without my husband’s support.  He says “Nothing’s wrong with me.  You are doing a good thing and the world doesn’t have enough of that.”  My husband has a tendency to think negative first so this was a real surprise to me that he suggest PP goes on.  It made me feel good that finally, he acknowledges what I do.

Anyhow, I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I most certainly did.  Last night I watched a special presentation of “The Incredibles”  on NBC.  It seems to me that things like that used to begin at a decent hour like 6:00 PM and end at the latest 9:00.  No, this started at 8PM and ended at 10:30 PM.  I wanted to send my kids to bed and there was no way I could they would have gone kicking and screaming.

Hoop Dreams

2,057  Children are orphaned by the AIDS epidemic every day.  Nine year old Austin Gutwein wanted to play on a basketball team.  He didn’t make the team.

Austin had a pen pal from Africa and decided to learn as much as he could about Africa.  This includes educating himself about AIDS.

“I know it is a disease that when it gets to parents it kills them,” says Austin.

“I really started to think about what it would be like if I lost my parents,” he says.

He began to shoot basketball for charity.  On his first go he earned $3,000.

“I was shocked,” says his father Dan Gutwein. “People donated that we never met before.”

Austin got in touch with World Vision and he and 1,000 other children raised $38,000.  One person can make a difference.  It has to start with one before more can help.

Proof Positivity: The Day Before

 Time to make the cheesecake, potato salad, pistachio pie, and mashed potatoes!  Turkey goes in the oven tonight!  Special breakfast this morning no school today pancakes with cherry pie filling!  The kids need milk I need coffee.   This is going to be a busy day for me.  I have a lot of work to do and little time to do it in.  I may need to go to my brothers to help my mom with the meal.  I have house cleaning and outfits to wear.  We dress up for the holidays.  In a few years Thanksgiving will change for us.  When my children are old enough we will be working in a kitchen for the holidays.  I feel that it’s important to teach my kids how to help others and even though we live below the poverty level for the United States we aren’t so bad off.  In a perfect society we would all be good neighbors and work together and help one another regardless of monetary status.   

 

If you wish to volunteer in a kitchen go here.  Go to the Yellow Pages and click on your state. 

 

Maybe you’re like me and your kids just aren’t old enough to go to a soup kitchen but they are old enough to send a card to our troops. 

Holiday Mail for Heroes
PO Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456

It doesn’t matter what you think about the war.  These people need our support.

 

Know how to crochet?  How about making a nest for misplaced animals.

You can be tested to see if you would be a suitable kidney donor for a young girl.

You can say No! to violence against women.

Like to sew?  You can make a quilt for a newborn and send it to your local hospital.

 

The possibilities are endless. My family will be making the cards to send to our troops.  I think it’s a nice new tradition.

Proof Positivity: Healthy Food

I saw something very interesting this morning on The Today Show.  I saw health food or rather food getting healthy.  No, really.  I saw a shrimp getting a workout on a treadmill.  Since I only watch 45 minutes of news I missed what it was all about.  I couldn’t help but laugh and I thought hey that’s positive.  Now, if the shrimp looked like Richard Simmons that would really be something.   Nothing wrong with getting a little physically fit before you hit someones plate.   So, now you’ve discovered me. I do have a sense of humor.  I’m not all community service I’m only human.  My sense of humor is part of that. 

I think having a sense of humor helps to keep me positive.  There are times when you need to keep your mouth shut and humor isn’t appropriate,  not a problem for me.    Laughter is good for your health.  So, if you’re coming to this blog for the first time feel free to laugh or smile.  Take a load off, voice your opinion.  When you leave a valid comment I do comment back and if you are unfamiliar to me I do visit your site.  I love talking so don’t be suprised if before too long there’s a conversation.  The only stipualation is I think you can only leave a link to your blog once or my spam catcher will get you.

 

$2.5 Million Raised For AIDS Prevention

 

  A new grant program from the M*A*C AIDS Fund has gifted $2.5 million to fight HIV and AIDS in South Africa.  The grant will go to UNICEF South Africa and Nurturing Orphans of AIDS for Humanity (NOAH) to fund testing and treatment for pregnant women and strengthen the community infrastructure to care for children orphaned by AIDS.

“It is our responsibility as a global company to invest in integrated and sustainable HIV/AIDS initiatives and programs,” said Nancy Mahon, Senior Vice President of M*A*C Cosmetics and Executive Director of the M*A*C AIDS Fund.  “This collaboration will have a significant impact on addressing the alarming and rising rates of HIV/AIDS in South Africa, working in partnership with two important local grassroots organizations that are on the frontlines and have a deep and vast understanding of the issue.”

The new M*A*C AIDS Fund grant will provide $2 million to UNICEF to give HIV testing and treatment to pregnant women and to children in the provinces of Kwazulu Natal, North West and Limpopo.

The $500,000 grant to NOAH will help provide basic needs and services for AIDS orphans, with a population total around  1.4 million in South Africa where adoption rates are down nearly 13 percent from last year.  NOAH’s 107 community “Arks” will provide food, clothing and basic health, hygiene and sanitation supplies for an estimated 5,000 children.

“The partnership between UNICEF and the M*A*C AIDS Fund will help improve access to treatment for mothers and children as these services will be brought closer to where those in greatest need reside, in rural and remote areas,” said Ngashi Ngongo, UNICEF Chief of Health in South Africa.  “This initiative will help reduce the number of new HIV infections in children, keep mothers alive and reduce the number of orphans.”

 

Subaru ‘Shares the Love’

Subaru of America, Inc.  announced a  marketing campaign based on the love Subaru owners have for their vehicles and their desire to help worthy causes.  Called “Share the Love”, the campaign will run from November 24 to January 2 and will allow  new Subaru vehicle customers to select one of five charities to receive a $250 donation from Subaru of America, following the purchase or lease of a new Subaru vehicle.

Extending the automaker’s, “Love. It’s What Makes a Subaru, a Subaru” campaign, the program is expected to raise up to $5 million for the charities during its duration.  The five charities participating in the program are; Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Habitat for Humanity International, Meals On Wheels Association of America, the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) and The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). 

Kevin Mayer, director of marketing communications for Subaru of America, said, “We wanted to create a program that not only stands out from the crowd, but is also relevant to our customer’s value system – that of giving back to the community.  The program is also timely in that many charities are feeling the effects of the recent economic troubles. So we are pleased to be helping charities during this difficult period.”

 

PR Newswire

Proof Positivity: Thanksgiving Around The Corner

Thanksgiving is on Thursday.  My family will have turkey, stuffing, green beans, and who knows what else.  My mom’s turkey is the best.  This isn’t just my personal opinion this is fact.  My mom’s turkey is so moist it melts in your mouth.  We don’t carve the turkey it falls off the bone.  The turkey cooks all night and by 12:00 PM perfection.  It may not be the most beautiful but it makes up for that in taste.  Anyhow if this is your fist time with the meal there is help for you.

 

If you could spend $20 on water for the rest of your life would you do it?  With Universal Giving you can do just that.  You can donate $20 and it will go for safe drinking water. You could give a month of care to five orphaned babies or give health back to a child.  the possibilities are endless. “UniversalGiving allows you to shop for gifts in a meaningful way this holiday season.”

 

Stumbleupon has given me the opportunity to view new sites that I would not otherwise view.  I read a story about two high school boys that sold junk food at school and donated the profit to a hospital.  The person who “discovered” the site had it listed as strange/ bizarre.  Is it truly strange that kids would want to do more to help others?   All I have ever seen in my lifetime is young people wanting to make a difference.    When I was in City Year there were 1,000 City Year members that is only a small fraction of the young people who do Americorps programs.  Since 1993, more than 540000 people have served in Americorps programs.   That group of people don’t include those who do it without the chance of getting a living stipend of a college scholarship.  It’s true that it all starts out as a one sided kind of deal.  When I was involved I went soley for the scholarship.  I didn’t care about the rest so much.  By the end of my two years serving I fell in love with community service and making a difference.  The fact that someone young wants to change the world doesn’t surprise me.  The fact that someone would find it bizarre surprises me. 

 

Community service has been getting more and more popular among youth.   When my own children reach an appropriate age I hope to be bringing them to soup kitchen during the holidays.  It’s important that the young has an opportunity to make a difference.  Leaders are born this way.  I want them to have the opportunity to find that they don’t have it so bad and they can help someone else by giving them the support they may need.  I do want to make this a family event so I need to be patient and wait until the youngest is 5 or 6.

 

More opportunities to give:

KIVA ”The people you see on Kiva’s site are real individuals in need of funding – not marketing material. When you browse entrepreneurs’ profiles on the site, choose someone to lend to, and then make a loan, you are helping a real person make great strides towards economic independence and improve life for themselves, their family, and their community. Throughout the course of the loan (usually 6-12 months), you can receive email journal updates and track repayments. Then, when you get your loan money back, you can relend to someone else in need.”

City Year for those a little more well off you can sponsor a team to make a difference.  When I was a member the price tag was $100,000.   This pays for the living stipend and a whole lot of other things that an executive director would do a lot better job of explaining.  You could even get a team together to fund raise.

 

Making a difference doesn’t have to be an organization such as what’s listed above.  What if you really like art.  Go to your local art museum or one that you really enjoy and become a sponsor.  The money will go toward educating children about Monet, Georgia O’Keefe, and Picasso.

 

Go to a small community theatre and become a sponsor or make costumes.  Community theatres get very little money for what they do.

 

Read to a child. If you have no books there are a few sites you can go to:  at Big Universe you can read books for free.   You can read stories at Reading is Fundamental.  You can go to Starfall to learn how to read. 

 

Making a difference doesn’t have to cost a lot it just takes the kindness and giving of your heart.

Proof Positivity: Under The Sea

“…scientists described apparently productive ecosystems in two places where life was not known before, under the Antarctic ice sheet, and above concentrated salt lakes beneath the Mediterranean. In both cases, innumerable tiny microbes are fixing or holding onto quantities of organic carbon large enough to be significant in the global carbon cycle…”

I really can’t say I’m surprised they have found life in an ice world.  I’d be more surprised if they found life on the sun.  All this time and only now they are finding life in Antarctica.  I wonder if it has anything to do with global warning.  We’ve had scientists there for some time and you would think a find like this would come sooner unless it is a recent change in the environment that has made it easier to find life.

ScienceDaily. Retrieved November 21, 2008, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2008/11/081117103653.htm

Are Crocks That Ugly?

I admit to having a pair of crocks and I love them.  They are comfortable and because they are black they match every thing.  There are things I won’t wear with them and you can’t go wrong with recycled.  Not only recycled but also given to poor children in Guatemala.  For some of these kids it’s their first pair of new shoes.

Children International Received 10,000 Crocs to give to the children.

Brother’s Brother Foundation and Crocs(TM) Soles United donated 10,000 pairs of Crocs(TM) comfort clogs to impoverished children supported by Children International, a Kansas City-based humanitarian organization. The gift, valued at $100,000, will provide children and their families in Guatemala City, Guatemala, with shoes made from recycled materials. The foundation also paid to ship the shoes to Guatemala.

Luke Hingson, the president of Brother’s Brother Foundation, said, “We have a history of success collaborating with Children International. They have the ability to persevere through the obstacles of distance and poor infrastructure in developing countries. We know there is success at the end of the day with Children International delivering shoes to children who need help.”

Wal-Mart On The Road to Green

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE:WMT), announced its first substantial purchase of wind energy in the U.S. The wind power will supply up to 15 percent of the retailer’s total energy load in approximately 360 Texas stores and other facilities.

The energy will come from Duke Energy wind farm under construction in Notrees, Texas, and is expected to begin making electricity for Wal-Mart by April of 2009.

The project will provide approximately 226 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of renewable power each year or the equivalent of washing 108 million loads of laundry — enough for every household in Austin, Texas to do laundry for a year. Wal-Mart will avoid producing more than 139,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per year. This is equal to taking approximately 25,000 cars off the road or eliminating the CO2 produced by 18,000 homes annually.

“Wal-Mart’s action shows that low-carbon technology is increasingly competitive and long-term sustainability is a winning business strategy,” said Andrew Aulisi, director of the markets & enterprise program at the World Resources Institute. “Wal-Mart’s smart and innovative approach should be used more widely.”

PR Newswire

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Proof Positivity: What Are Your Plans?

Next week those of us who are American will be celebrating Thanksgiving.  On Wednesday night my mom and I usuallt stay up all night to cook.  The turkey cooks all night long and buy the time we pull it out on Thanksgiving day the thing falls off the bone and it is so moist it almost melts in your mouth.  There is no turkey better than my mom’s  turkey.  I’ve had turkey from various resteraunts and even a fancy hotel at the beginning of the week.  It’s ok but not great.  My mom’s turkey is great I’m happy we eat it on Christmas too. 

I’m running late aggg!  I need to get on with some positive news and stop talking!

Charity Highlights Tis The Season

Toys for Tots gets toys out to kids in need.  “The mission of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community in which the campaign is conducted.”

Coats for Kids Some kids need coats for those colder months the mission for Coats for Kids is “To ensure that every child that needs a winter coat recieves one.”

Salvation Army There is a lot more going on with The Salvation Army than the buckets at Christmas.  They have a charity for missing children, disaster relief, and drug rehabilitation.

Charity Navigator rates you favorite charities and it is a good idea to check here to make sure the charity is ligitamate as well.

You can be an elf and give gift to kids.

You can Make A Wish come true.  This is a charity for kids that may not have a chance.  You can volunteer your time or donate money.  It takes more than money to run a charity.

Proof Positivity: I Had No Clue

I had no clue I recieved so much spam.  When this site was on blogger I hardly saw anything.  Now my dohickey has caught 10 spam.  I must be reaching a wider audience.  I need to go through and get rid of some of my catagories and stuff so I’m not a spammy Sammy too.  All this blogging stuff is a pain when you switch platforms.  I didn’t even know I had so many catagories or tags. 

We have another award!   This is a meme and I’m not real found of those but this does come from Kat at Candles, crafts, and Whatnot   Sorry Kat, I won’t be doing the meme part.  What this award means to me is another opportunity to make a difference.  If you take a look at Alex’s Lemonade Stand you will understand what I mean.  Alex was a little girl who was very ill with cancer.  When life hands you lemons you make lemonade.  That is exactly what Alex did.  She created a lemonade stand to fund cancer research and her parents continues with her dream.  Alex knew that even if she didn’t survive she may be able to help another.  Alex passed away because of the cancer but her dream and memory lives on forever. 

 

Disney Magic And NASA Join Forces

 

NASA is looking for a new name for it’s new Mars space rover and NASA is looking to children to name it.  Mars Science Laboratory rover  is scheduled for launch in 2009.

 

The contest began on November 18th and will end Jan. 25, 2009.  It is open to students 5 to 18 years old who attend a U.S. school and are enrolled in the current academic year. To enter the contest, students will submit essays explaining why their suggested name for the rover should be chosen.

 

Disney will provide prizes to students submitting winning essays, including a trip to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., where the rover is under construction. The grand prize winner will have an opportunity to place a signature on the spacecraft and take part in the history of space exploration.

“Mars exploration has always captured the public imagination,” said Mark Dahl, program executive for the Mars Science Laboratory at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “This contest will expand our ability to inspire students’ interest in science and give the public a chance to participate in NASA’s next expedition to Mars.”

Disney Pixar’s Wall-E will appear in conjunction with NASA online.

“All of us at Disney are delighted to be working with NASA in its educational and public outreach efforts to teach school children about space exploration, robot technology and the universe in which they live,” said Mark Zoradi, president of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Group. “WALL-E is one of the most lovable and entertaining characters that Pixar has ever created, and he is the perfect spokes-robot for this program.” 

Contest information

Proof Positivity: If You Were Rich

If you were rich what would you do?  If I were rich I know what I would do.  First, I would live in a home that fits my family.  Not an over sized thing that should be a hotel.  We only need four or five rooms not 30.  Thirty is a bit excessive.  Second, I would put domestic violence shelters in some part of West Virginia.  Third, I would hire a team to get Proof Positivity where I want it.  I would love to have it on TV.  As a one woman show even just in print sometimes this site isn’t as easy to get out to you.  There are slow positive news days and this does get written right after I send my son off to school.  I do try to makes sure the news is fresh and relevant for the day. 

 

There are a few chairatable causes and sites I want to point out to you. “ActionAidis a unique partnership of people who are campaigning for a better world. Find out what we do and how we work.”   ActionAid focuses on HIV & AIDS, food and hunger, women’s rights, the right to education, the right to human security and the right to just governance. 

Save The Elephants works on building a future where man and elephant coexist.  Here is a video explaining the danger these animals are in I need to warn you about how graphic it is if you don’t have a strong stomach.

Habitat For Humanity

 

 Home for the holidays brings new meaning this year for nine families in Dallas. Starting today, Whirlpool brand, Habitat for Humanity International, Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity, and volunteers from across the country will build nine new homes by Friday as part of the third annual Whirlpool brand Building Blocks program.

According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition and Habitat for Humanity, substandard housing affects 95 million people nationwide. The Whirlpool(R) Building Blocks program was created to raise awareness of unaffordable housing in the United States and to support Habitat’s mission to eliminate substandard housing. The program brings together approximately 250 volunteers from across the country, working hand-in-hand to raise walls, construct roofs and create homes with Habitat partner families.

“The holidays are a reminder to give thanks for what matters most in our lives,” said Ellen Taaffe, vice president, Mass Brands, Whirlpool Corporation. “Since 1999, Whirlpool has supported Habitat in its mission to provide simple, decent housing. Together with Habitat for Humanity International and the local Habitat affiliate, we’re proud to bring the Whirlpool(R) Building Blocks program to Dallas to help achieve that mission.”

This year’s Whirlpool(R) Building Blocks program will take place in the West Dallas community of Greenleaf Village II. On average, the median household income in West Dallas is $25,790 and an estimated one out of every three families in the community lives below the federal poverty level. The city has a need for more than 30,000 affordable housing units, according to the Mayor’s Taskforce report of 2002, the last year on record.

“The Greenleaf Village II neighborhood is a 71 unit mixed-income community which will be home to 13 hard-working Habitat families. The nine Whirlpool(R) Building Blocks homes will transform this new community and continue the revitalization of the West Dallas area,” said Scott Begin, chief executive officer of Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity. “This exciting partnership builds more than homes — it changes lives and demonstrates the powerful impact that visionary brands like Whirlpool can have in communities across the nation.”

Dallas is the third city to be chosen for the program, which kicked off in Nashville in 2006 and moved to Phoenix in 2007. Each year, the Whirlpool(R) Building Blocks program recognizes an outstanding Habitat for Humanity affiliate in the United States by organizing a week long building blitz. Whirlpool Corporation is one of Habitat for Humanity’s largest corporate partners, donating a range and ENERGY STAR(R) qualified refrigerator to every new Habitat home built in North America. Every year, thousands of Whirlpool employees volunteer their own time to Habitat builds around the country. Whirlpool Corporation plans to support every new Habitat home built globally by 2011, through product donations, cash or home sponsorship.

Whirlpool’s partnership with Habitat for Humanity provides each sponsor family in the United States with a refridgerator and stove.  Habitat for Humanity International is an ecumenical Christian ministry that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat has built nearly 300,000 houses worldwide, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 1 million people. 

Very few companies are so giving.  As a sponsor family we are grateful for the gift Whirlpool will be giving us.

NeuStar and Loudoun Habitat for Humanity Dedicate Newly-Built Home

NeuStar (NYSE:NSR) and Loudoun Habitat for Humanity (LHFH) today announced that they have successfully completed the construction of their second sponsored home in the Mary Jane Jackson subdivision of Saint Louis, Virginia. 

The dedication ceremony was held on Saturday, November 15, with NeuStar Chairman and CEO Jeff Ganek and Alta Jones, President of Loudoun Habitat attending along with the new residents Jeffrey and Donna Miller and their four sons and nephew, who cut the ribbon.

Dozens of NeuStar employees who volunteered at the job site, beginning in early May of this year, also were on hand to congratulate the family as house keys were presented. The Miller family was selected as a Partner family for the Habitat for Humanity program after completing a thorough qualification process based on factors such as financial solvency, commitment to help with construction, and need.

Speaking after the ceremony, Ganek said, “This is the day toward which the Miller family and the NeuStar family have worked together since last spring. NeuStar has invested time and money, but what we have gotten in return — the pride and satisfaction of helping to create a new home for people who truly deserve it — is beyond measure. On behalf of NeuStar, I wish the Millers many happy years here, and I praise the outstanding and noble work of the Loudoun Habitat for Humanity organization.” Jones added, “The relationship we have with NeuStar in sponsoring Habitat homes is unprecedented in our history as an organization here in Loudoun and we hope it serves as a model that other area businesses might wish to emulate. We are truly indebted to their continued support and look forward to working with them again.”

Besides NeuStar CEO Ganek and Alta Jones, attending were NeuStar Senior Vice President of Numbering Services Ray Saulino, Mary Lou Marshall, financial associate advisor, Dulles Chapter Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Bud Green, construction manager for Loudoun Habitat for Humanity.

As the first ever “Corporate Dream Builder” sponsor of a Loudoun Habitat home, NeuStar originally pledged $100,000 to LHFH in order to fully fund the construction. NeuStar’s initial contribution was augmented by NeuStar partners including Advanced Computer Concepts, Bank of America, Delta Dental, Fidelity Engineering, Godfrey & Alexander, JP’s Deli, Merritt Properties, PowerSolutions, Proforma, Santini’s, and The Staubach Companies. Hundreds of employees based at NeuStar’s Sterling, Va. headquarters — together with the NeuStar partners listed above, LHFH volunteers, and the Miller family — began construction on the new home in May 2008.

 

Let Me Tell You About My Best Friend

 

Robert Doll was diagnosed with kidney cancer at age 41. As he battled the cancer, Doll felt the need to share love and life with a canine companion. So Doll got a puppy, a pit bull-boxer mix, and named her Coco. Doll and Coco’s love for each other blossomed. As Doll’s health continued to be monitored, he thought about the implications his cancer’s return might have for Coco. What if he died of the disease?

Doll became fearful that if he died of cancer, Coco would have no one. Doll was her only family. Without Doll, Coco would go to an uncertain fate in a shelter.

According to Doll, the realization that Coco’s life and happiness depended on his health fueled a relentless determination for him to beat cancer.   Coco was exactly the kind of medicine Doll needed to recover. The power of love for a dog had a profound impact on Doll’s physical well-being.

Then a cruel irony struck. The following year Coco was diagnosed with an extremely aggressive cancer. Coco had two biopsies and ongoing treatments. During the treatment ordeal, Doll was there for Coco.  Because of his own experience with cancer, Doll knew exactly the kind of love and comfort Coco needed.

Doll and Coco won their battles with cancer and spent many more years together, sharing companionship and affection. Coco lived with Doll until just a week shy of her 14th birthday, when she passed from this life due to heart failure. Today, Doll is 63. “I firmly believe that I survived the cancer because of Coco’s presence in my life,” he says. “We faced and fought cancer together, as best friends.”

This is why Doll contacted MAFand became a canine cancer campaign donor. In fact, the theme of MAF’s Canine Cancer Campaign is “Best Friends Helping Best Friends.” This is exactly what Doll and Coco did for each other.

PR Newswire

Proof Positivity: Today Show Goes Green

The Today Show and the NBC network are going green this week with tips and ideas on how you can go green.  Here are a few of my tips:

→ Buy canvas bags.  Instead of using the plastic bags at the store hand the bagger your canvas bag.  Plastic bags take a very long time to biodegrade and they just aren’t good for the envioroment.  The canvas bag will also save some trees if your other otion is a paper bag.

→Reduce, reuse, recycle.  Glass, aluminum, plastic, magazines, newspaper, and even your phonebook are all recyclable.  Look in either the front or back of your phonebook for the nearest recycling center.

→Use cold water in your wash.  This will save electricity.

→Save trees by stopping junk mail. 

→Many newspapers and magazines are online even the Sports Illistrated Swimsuit Edition I know you guys are excited about that.  Go on I dare you to Goolgle your favorite magazine or newspaper.

→Go to a library for a book or check out a book online from sites like Project Gutenburg, Bartleby.com, and Online books.

→If you’re afraid of missing your morning crossword puzzle there’s a site for that too.  You can get you comic fix too. 

 

U.S. Carbon Nuetral Zone

 

The green movement took a large step forward as the first “Carbon Neutral Zone” in the United States was announced in Atlanta. By purchasing carbon offsets, an entire retail community known as The Corner-Virginia Highland, effectively offset its residual greenhouse gas emissions using an innovative collective approach that will set the standard for American companies looking to adopt sustainable business practices and reduce their carbon footprints.

The zone, established at The Corner-Virginia Highland shopping district, was pushed forward by Verus Carbon Neutral, and spearheaded by Antje Kingma, founder of Eco-Bella.  “Many of us have taken steps to run environmentally friendly companies for years,” said Ms. Kingma, “this zone gave us all a chance to come together for our community.”

Verus specializes in auditing individual and corporate footprints and providing carbon offsets from the Chicago Climate Exchange. Sponsored by the Meddin Company, each of the 18 businesses on The Corner submitted to a carbon footprint audit.  Verus Carbon Neutral completed all audits and calculated the metric tons of carbon emissions that needed to be offset.  The businesses volunteered to purchase the required offsets to create this first-of-its-kind Carbon Neutral Zone.

“Climate change is the number one issue of our time, and it is critical for our leaders to be committed to addressing these issues on a local level and to lead by example,” said Mandy Schmitt, director of sustainability for the city of Atlanta.  “Today’s announcement is an exciting and important step in the right direction and is representative of our overall efforts to green our city.”

 

Great Green Sites

The Earth Day network

Kids for Saving Earth

World Watch

Planet Green Game which taught me that you gould use recycled denim to insulate your home.

 

 

Proof Positivity: Hillary Clinton Considered

 Hillary Clinton, my candidate, is being considered for Secretary of State.  Yay!  Why did I want Hillary to be president?  I have to admit a good portion of that was Bill Clintons doing.  Bill Clinton as president took time out of his busy schedule for a group of people doing community service.  He could have lounged around in an antique chair in that big old house but he took time out for us.  He also, on that day, went to a run down school in a bad neighborhood.  The fact that Hillary is a woman was an added bonus.  I always went with the possibility that she might not win the primaries.  Which would mean my support of Barack Obama.  I’m a democrat to the end and I refuse to vote for a republican regardless of my candidate not being “the candidate.”   The last time we had a good economy Bill Clinton was in office and Headstart teachers were getting pay raises (Headstart is federally funded).  Under a republican government programs like this get cuts which means those teachers funded by the government barely make enough to survive.  No Child Left Behind leaves teachers behind.  This is not a sill accusation.  This is an accusation from someone whose mother was a Headstart teacher.  My mom loved her job and loved being with the kids  but as a manager at a fast food resteraunt I made far more money than she did. 

A few sites that I want to point out to you:  ImaNicePerson.com  has a whole lot of happy, positive stories.  When I first started on blogcatalog ImaNicePerson was one of the first to mark me as a friend.  The site is great and has a lot of uplifting stories and links.

I invite you to The Kindness Cure where being kind is the main goal.   The video does a far better job than I ever could.

Reality TV With A Heart

 

 Virgin Mobile announces a new reality television network,  Homeless Youth TV Network.
A new online campaign with programs like "Meal or No Meal," "American Idle,"
 "My Street 16," and "Project Runaway." Focused on raising awareness of the plight
of more than one million youth living on the streets, HYTV delivers a new type of reality
designed to raise awareness in November for National Homeless Youth Awareness Month,
designated by the U.S. Senate.
"The personal drama found on HYTV is far more moving than your average episode of reality
television," says Ron Faris, Director, Brand Development & Partnerships, Virgin Mobile USA.
"Youth homelessness is not something that runs for a season and then goes off the air. 
 Virgin Mobile USA is committed to getting people to pay attention to this important issue."
You can sponsor your favorite program at Homeless Youth TV.  Proceeds will go to different
Virgin Mobile USA charity partners supporting homeless youth, such as Green Chimneys and
StandUp For Kids.
If you sponsor a show your name will be in the credits and  Virgin Mobile USA
will match the first $10,000 in total donations.
HYTV is the latest project of Virgin Mobile USA's The RE*Generation, an ongoing
 effort in conjunction with Virgin Unite to empower a generation to help its own
by connecting non-profit organizations to people and businesses who want to help.
Since 2006, Virgin Mobile USA has donated over $3.5 million and nearly 200,000
articles of new clothing to help homeless youth. Last year, The RE*Generation effort,
in partnership with singer/songwriter Jewel, achieved the designation of November as
National  Homeless Youth Awareness Month by Congress with the aim of drawing attention
to this critical issue.
"Like any network, we want people to watch our programming. The main agenda, of course,
is to raise awareness and involvement with this invisible issue," added Faris.
"We hope our shows motivate people to get off the couch and get involved."

Proof Positivity: Things Will Get Better

 

The auto industry is in trouble.  If it goes under that means a whole lot of people are out of jobs.  I do know what’s going on in the world even though I don’t typically blog it.  I am probably more aware of what is going on than most people.  I do blog positive and I do give solutions to the negative and even when something bad is happening I can honestly say it will get better.  It may not be now or a week from now but eventually things will get better.  In the words of Little Orphan Annie ” The sun’ll come out tomorrow, bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow they’ll be sun!”

 

People seem to think that when you want to surround yourself withpositive that you have blinders on to all that goes on my own husband thinks this way.  My husband made me sit down and watch a video on something negative I can’t remember what though.  He said “You’re too happy and positive.  You don’t know what’s going on with the world.”  Hmmmm… this is awful funny since I can think of at least one organization that has a solution to the problem that I was forced to view. 

 

After a long conversation on the videos I view away from my husband he began to realize that I do know what’s going on probably far more than he does.  Blogging about the positive makes me more aware of everything.  You cannot have an organization that fights against slavery without having slavery in the world.  You cannot have medical relief without a natural disaster.  You cannot have the positive side of it unless the negative happens first.  When our world becomes the perfect world I will have less to blog.  Since us humans are made to be competitive and some of us take it to the extreme I think I will have to keep blogging.  On with the news…

 

Trees for Troops Program Approaches 50,000 Milestone

 

 For the fourth  year in a row, FedEx Corp and the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation are teaming up for Trees for Troops. 

 

“Trees for Troops delivers much-needed cheer to those families whose loved ones are serving our country and will not be home for the holidays,” said Douglas G. Duncan, president and chief executive officer, FedEx Freight. “This program gives us a chance to say thanks to the men, women and families who give so much to protect our freedom.”

National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA) members will donate the trees, while FedEx Corp. is donating transportation and logistical services to the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation, the NCTA’s philanthropic branch.

This even kick off on November 12th in Columbus , Ohio with the pick up of 300 trees to be delivered to activated service members stationed in Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan.

The  Trees for Troops program has grown rapidly since it began in 2005, when 4,300 trees were delivered to troops and military families at five bases in the U.S. and overseas.  Last year, more than 750 tree growers in 29 states donated 17,000 trees that were delivered by FedEx to 40-plus military bases.  Combined over 34,000 real Christmas trees have been distributed to families in every branch of the military at 40-plus bases in 17 countries.  In the U.S., FedEx Freight trucks have traveled an estimated 90,000 over-the-road miles to pick up and deliver the trees during the past three years.

 

How Do You Use The Internet?

 

The Olive Garden is asking students in first through the twelfth grade to answer the question “”How would you use the Internet to change your community for the better?”

The annual Pasta Tales contest winner will receive a $2500 savings bond and a trip to New York City.  The essay must be 50-250 words long and this will be for United States and Canadian students.  you can get an entry form and rules here.

 

Inspiring Stories About How To Make a Difference

 

Designer and activist Kenneth Cole released a book today that celebrates the heritage of Kenneth Cole Productions, marrying his long term social mission with his new AWEARNESS initiative for empowering, encouraging and supporting acts of service, volunteerism and social change.

  Cole said about the occasion, “I’ve said for 25 years that ‘What you stand for is more important than what you stand in.’ I have been fortunate in my life to have been given an opportunity and a forum through which to deliver a message of activism and awareness. I wanted to commemorate the 25th anniversary of my company by celebrating the people and the stories that have inspired me — people who have achieved extraordinary change often through ordinary acts or resources.  We’re launching the AWEARNESSbook and initiative with the hope that we can encourage everyone to get involved to help make a difference.”

This book tells you how and where to get involved

Exerpts from the book:

Robert Redford on keeping speech free:  “Change is going to come from the ground up, not from the top down. We’ll have a better movement from the grass roots — where the public is, where the voices of America are.”

Jacqueline Murekatete on genocide prevention: “After I learned about the Armenian genocide, the Holocaust, the Cambodian genocide, and the Bosnian genocide, it became clear to me that what had happened in Rwanda in 1994 was not unique to Rwanda, that genocide had happened before and could happen anywhere. I realized it was a cycle that would continue to repeat itself for as long as we permitted it by our silence, our indifference, and lack of actions to prevent it.”
Martin Luther King III on community building: “Nonviolence teaches us how to live on a higher level with higher standards. The nonviolent principles of service and love are the bricks and mortar that we need in order to build the “beloved community” and realize my father’s dream.”

Chris Gardner on giving and getting second chances: “I’m proud to have put a face on homelessness — and it’s not the face of a drug addict or a convict.”

Feel free to visit the AWEARNESS BLOG

A few appearances Kenneth Cole will make to promote the book:

Cole will support the launch of the book with these events and appearances:

San Francisco, November 17 — Hosted by Kenneth Cole and Mayor Gavin Newsom

Boston, November 20 — Hosted by Kenneth Cole and Service Nation founder Alan Khazei (Woo-Hoo also a City Year Founder that I have met!)

New York, November 24 — Kenneth Cole will make a public appearance at Barnes&Noble Tribeca

 

I’m getting excited about this book!  I need to go to Books-A-Million and find it!

 

PR Newswire

Proof Positivity: Do I Gotta

 What a rough morning for me!  The baby was up screaming on and off through out the night, my little girl got up in the middle of the night, my husband was snoring all night.  I just want to go back to bed.

 

I do have a few things for you this morning.  Always looking for something positive for you!  Can you imagine your fiance goes off to war and you wanted a gorgeous wedding dress but just couldn’t afford it?  Now you Can!  Brides Across America gives free wedding dresses to the bride.  “Brides Across America was born on a  realization that our country needs to do more to support our troops and their families.”

 

Lately, there has been a lot of buzz on going green.  My family can’t afford to do something like this overnite so we have started little by little.  We have started to purchase canvas bags to do our grocery shopping.  We only have 3 we are probably going to purchase more though.  When we go shopping we do it for the entire month.  You can go to nearly any store and get these bags everyone is starting to go green.  You can go to Oriental Trading Company and get them too.

 

Million Dollar Shoe Give Away

 

Payless Shoes will be giving underprivledge children shoes.  65,000 shoes in the first of its kind shoe campaign.  Payless Gives Shoes 4 Kids program will form a partnership network of local non-profit organizations across the nation.

 

“With the economic challenges in America today, the underprivileged are hurt more than any other group. Now more than ever, it’s important to step up and help out,” said Matthew E. Rubel, Chairman and CEO of Collective Brands, Inc., which owns Payless ShoeSource. “Footwear is a basic need that many of us take for granted. Yet a significant portion of children across America need shoes.

“A great pair of shoes can lift spirits, bolster self confidence and bring a huge smile to a child’s face. We are happy to help families across America with the Payless Gives Shoes 4 Kids program this holiday season.”

 

Thre is also a call to non-profits.  Those wanting involvement can visit Payless Shoes site.  Selection criteria for non-profit participation includes IRC 501(c)(3) status, as well as direct access to underprivileged children in local communities during December. The application process for non-profit partners of the Payless Gives Shoes 4 Kids program starts today and ends Nov. 21. Selected partners will be notified and the shoe gift coupons will be distributed in various quantities to the partners based on the number of constituents they serve.

 

A Friend That Can Relate

You are new to a country.  You need to learn a new language, gain new friends, and new customs will be an every day thing.  Maru has been honored with The 2008 Greatest Products iParenting Award.  The iParenting Award program recognizes the best products in the children’s media and juvenile product industries.  The Maru doll is based on the life of a young girl who journeys to the United States. Living in an unfamiliar place, learning a new language and making new friends are all events recounted through the eyes of an 8-year-old girl in “Maru and Friends,” a storybook that comes with the doll.  Tanya and Jamie, Maru’s newest friends, help the young girl through her journey while celebrating the ethnic and cultural diversity characterized by today’s youth. The dolls have unique child-like facial features that are representative of their ethnic culture.

 

In Rememberance

 

Joanne H. Alter, who broke the gender barrier in Chicago area politics, died on Sunday, November 9, in her Near North Side home after a long illness. She was 81. 

 

Alter, a “lakefront liberal” reformer, was the first woman Democrat elected to public office in Cook County, and a pioneer for women interested in social action and public service. She later co-founded Working in the Schools (WITS), the largest tutoring program for at-risk youth in Chicago.

Alter “was a gale force of nature,” said her son Jonathan, a Newsweek columnist. “At a time when most women took a back seat to men in politics and civic life, she was usually in the front row or up on the stage directing the action.”

Describing her as “the Jackie Robinson of women in Chicago politics” her son noted that her last act was casting her vote on Nov. 4 for Barack Obama.

“Long before ‘glass ceiling’ made it into the lexicon, she showed by example how to smash it,” said her daughter, Jennifer Alter Warden, president of Baird & Warner Residential Sales. “While she was an inspiration to women, the truth is she believed in merit, and would help anyone with potential to fulfill their dreams.”

 

Before the 1972 election, Alter went before the late Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley, and told him it was time he opened the Democratic Party to women. As founder of the Illinois Women’s Political Caucus, she offered him a list of 32 qualified women candidates that did not include herself. Daley, moving to defuse the gender issue, responded by slating Alter to run for Trustee of the Metropolitan Sanitary District (now Commissioner of the Water Reclamation District).

 

I have said it before, women, it wasn’t so long ago that we were able to vote.  We need to remember those that came before. 

 

 

PR newswire

Proof Positivity: Last Chance

 Good Morning!  Coffee in  hand and a few neat things for you to know.  This is the last opportunity you will have to email President elect Obama before he has an email address change.   Also Congress.org lets you know or find out what is going on in America.

 

For all of my readers who have today to celebrate those who serve I hope your veteran’s day is a wonderful one.  “Lincoln’s words became the VA motto in 1959
with the words, “To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and orphan.” President Lincoln stated the government’s duty to care for those who are hurt or died defending our Country.”  Being a mommy is very educational.  My son’s homework forces me to learn things I would not have otherwise looked for.  The fact that my son gets far better grades than I did makes it all worth while.

Want to get a new cell phone but don’t know what to do with the old one?  Why not donate it?  What will happen with your phone? It will be wiped clean of everything but one number 911.  This is a domestic violence organization and your phone will not be used for social calls only emergency calls.

Is you coffee pot ready?  It is time for the morning news.

I Believe I Can Fly

 

What would it be like to be a child in a wheelchair?  On November 16 Nickelodeon will premier “The View From My Chair.”  

 

Four kids invite you to their world.  At at 9:00 p.m. (ET/PT) you also get to see the kids with Emmy Award winning journalist Linda Ellerbee as they go on a Zero-Gravity flight in which they achieve weightlessness.

 

“A friend of mine who has used a wheelchair for many years reminded me that the problem is not the chair — it’s gravity.  So we thought it might be fun to go on an adventure where we could leave gravity behind,” said Ellerbee.”

Juan, from Tampa, Fla., who has muscular dystrophy, says of his life, “When I first started to be in the chair … people started staring at me.  I started to feel kind of weird and I said, ‘Why are they staring at me?’ But I’ve never been ashamed of being in a wheelchair.”

Nia, from Bridgeport, Conn., who’s in a wheelchair because of a spinal cord injury suffered in a car accident when she was four-years-old, has a love-hate relationship with her chair.  “My chair is both my friend and my enemy.  It is one, my friend because it’s helping me get around and it helps me do things; and two, it is my enemy because it just like taunts me there saying, ‘Ha ha, you can’t stand.’”  She added, “I do believe that there is going to be a cure for me, and if there’s not, then there really is a reason why I’m in this chair and I’m just gonna live my life in this chair.”

Chase, from Smyrna, Tenn., who has Cerebral Palsy, says, “I go bowling, I go out to eat, I go to the movies, I go to the mall.  I can get around as much as regular people can get around, just in a different way … Sometimes I imagine what it would be like to walk, when people say they pray for me, and I think about going to heaven and being able to walk.”

Wensday, from Dover, Arkansas, who was diagnosed with Spina Bifida, says, “I’m the only kid in my school that’s in a wheelchair, and when there’s a new student at my school, I always try to talk to them so that way they don’t jump to conclusions before they can really think about what’s wrong with me.  And then they see me with my friends and they see, ‘Oh, she’s regular.’”

Also, I would like to highlight a few organizations who deal with wheelchair donation. 

National Council for Support of Disability Issues 

Wheelchair Foundation

Free Wheelchair Mission

Proof Positivity: Blogger’s Unite

 Today blogger’s all over the world are gathering to write about refugees.  Here is my post on my personnal blog.  I will warn you it will be a real slow load up it has nearly 50 minutes of video.  I’m running a little late this morning so let’s see what I can do for your news today!

 

One Day I’ll Send You To The Moon

 

NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. invites elementary school students and their families to its Visitor Center on Sunday, November 16 from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. for a free afternoon of  hands-on activities that will help you experience what it’s like to be a NASA engineer.

 

Students will get a chance to earn a NASA engineering certificate by building three types of small rockets — pop rockets, straw rockets, and foam rockets.  They will even get to meet a real NASA engineer.

 

This event is held the third Sunday of each month from September through May.

 

“The Sunday Experiment is a place where children and adults alike can discover the excitement of Goddard through fun and easy hands-on activities,” said Emilie Drobnes, founder of Sunday Experiment. “You get to act like scientists and engineers while building all types of little rockets and hover-crafts, designing your own planets and stars, and even trying your hand at being part of the manned spaced program. At The Sunday Experiment we energize the public about NASA and the science we do here and we aren’t afraid to get our hands dirty in the process!”

 

PR Newswire

Proof Positivity: North Dakota Has Snow

  North Dakota has snow and I’m kind of envious.  In southern West Virginia we don’t really get  enough snow to build a snowman let alone going sledding.  In fact my own kids are going out without jackets.  It’s been 75 degrees here.  I used to live near Lake Erie and boy did it snow!  Very cold too.  Frostbite, if you didn’t dress right, was possible.  Dressing right meant putting three layers of clothes on and then when you reached your destination pealing them off.  Here it’s a single layer of clothing once it gets cold.  Cold to West Virginians usually means warm to me.  I think about some of the times my fingers were so cold they hurt when they warm up and I’ve never really had that happen here.

 

This is usually what winter looks like around here.  Not much snow to worry about and this will close all the schools and put them on delays.  In Cleveland, OH it better be a blizzard before they close schools.

 

 

Just Roll With It 

 

Stater Bros. Charities, KFRG Radio Stations and Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital Will Present More Than 1,100 Brand-New Bikes to 4th Grade Students on the field of the Arrowhead Credit Union Stadium in San Bernardino, California.  The 4th grade students who will receive the bikes were nominated by their school teachers for being outstanding role models in their classrooms as well as being children who might be in need this holiday season.

The annual Radiothon also raised more than $482,000 for Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital.  With every $200 donation that a radio listener made, Stater Bros. Charities and its business partners donated a brand new bike to a 4th grade student.

“Stater Bros. Charities is pleased to be a part of an event that gives our kids the incentive to work harder and do well in school,” stated Jack H. Brown, Chairman and CEO of Stater Bros. Markets.  “Everyone remembers their first bike and with hard times around the corner these children deserve a happy memory, too.”

McDonald’s(R) Encourages Kids to Take One

 Minute to Move It

 

McDonald

If you had one minute of fun each day to help make a difference in your world, what would you do? That’s the question McDonald’s is asking kids and families as it launches One Minute to Move It — a global children’s well-being program designed to encourage kids to see what a difference a minute can make. The program launches in conjunction with McDonald’s global “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa” Happy Meal promotion in participating restaurants worldwide. Featuring the  characters from the DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc.’s (NYSE:DWA) film, One Minute to Move It empowers kids to take an active role in their own well-being by creating a minute of joyful self-expression.

McDonald’s will get kids and families involved around the world with  family events in key markets; an interactive digital community for kids; specially designed, motion-activated Happy Meal toys; and in-restaurant displays. Movie characters will be featured on a variety of food choices worldwide, including fruit, vegetables and milk products to reach kids in a fun and responsible way. The countdown begins in North America on November 7 and rolls out around the globe through the first quarter of next year.

“One Minute to Move It encourages kids to take the first step — one minute — to do something they love like dancing, planting a flower, reading or writing, with the hope that it will provide inspiration for many more minutes to come,” said Mary Dillon, Global Chief Marketing Officer, McDonald’s. “This ‘fun-with-a-purpose’ program represents a fresh new approach to our ongoing commitment to children’s well-being.”

 

Sources:  PRNewswire

 

 

Proof Positivity: Most Meaningful Moments

  In my life I have had more than one moment that means so much to me.  The birth of my three children is something words can’t begin to express how I feel about them.  My husband means the world to me and the day he told me those three simple words “I love you” is a day I won’t soon forget.  The day I graduated high school was a pretty big deal because I was very close to not graduating.

I asked a group of bloggers what is your most meaningful moment and this is what they said:

Please use parental discresion with some of the links provided

SailboaterRobstated “I’m hoping it hasn’t happened,,, yet. Still waiting… LOL”

ThriftShopRomanticreplied ”I may not have had it yet. I suppose on 9/11 when I was also having the inspection and walk through of my new house, that was meaningful– strangely poignant, happy and sad all at the same time.

Another meaningful moment was when I found out my article had been accepted in a national home decorating magazine. That was almost impossible to believe.”

Aprincess4ever83“I hope that mine hasn’t happened yet either lol buuuut to date? The birth of my nephew/god son. I was BORN to be an aunt to a little boy and I all by flew the day i found out my sister was preggers =)”

lotusb  “I think so far, when I decided to get back together with my ex. Now looking forward to marriage and a new life. I can’t wait and I’m glad we got through all the things we got through together.”

morgantj, who by the way is extremely analytical, “When I realized there is no objective meaning or purpose to life.”  Then afterwards he stated, “When my first child was born, when he came out from his mother, I immediate went into tears. I don’t know if they were tears of happiness or what, it seemed to be something more elevated then even that. That moment was quite touching in a way I don’t know how to describe. We have had three more children since, and while each birth was special, there was nothing like the first experience.”

MadameX  ”I really can’t compare anything else to my daughter’s birth. I was just about to turn thirty and I’d desperately wanted a child since I was in my teens and had come to believe that I couldn’t have them. But even with all that build-up, I was completely unprepared for the way I’d be swept away when they put her in my arms–I hadn’t ever imagined that it was possible to love anyone or anything so deeply and completely.”

GrimlyFiendish “Same for me with the birth of my daughter. Still cant find the right words to describe it.” 

 

freeatlast  “this is going to sound cliche… but a car accident.”

Here are my questions to you What is your most meaningful moment?  How did you feel at that moment in your life?  Feel free to answer below. 

Now, Today’s news!

New York Comes to Minnesota

 

Santa will be at the  Mall of America(R)with the world famous Radio City Rockettes to begin taking holiday wishes from good girls and boys. 

 Once they arrived at the Mall of America, the Radio City Rockettes joined Santa for a ride on the Pepsi Orange Streak roller coaster at Nickelodeon Universe(R), a seven-acre amusement park located in the center of Mall of America, to kick off the holiday season.  The Rockettes  lead a group of Santa-seekers to Santa’s arrival with a “countdown kick” welcoming Santa Claus to The Santa Experience at Mall of America(R).

 

Presidential Puppy Hopeful

 

President elect Barack Obama upon winning the election promised his family a puppy.  In August, more than 42,000 Americans cast their vote in the AKC(R)’s poll to determine the right breed of dog for the Obamas. The Poodle was chosen from a list of five hypoallergenic breeds, each with distinct characteristics that made them uniquely suited for Obama’s daughter, who suffers from allergies.  This is great!  They just chose our pet too.  I had no clue poodles were hypoallergenic.

“We hope the Obamas consider the survey results,” said AKC Spokesperson Lisa Peterson. “This poodle is a breed that doesn’t always get the respect it deserves, but it is truly an ideal family pet.  They are currently the eighth most popular breed in the U.S., according to 2007 AKC registration statistics, and the breed spent more than two decades in the top spot — a true testament to its suitability as a family pet.  And while Poodles require frequent grooming, their consistent and predictable coat is crucial for Obama’s daughter and all who suffer from allergies.”

If you are interested in a poodle too there is an organization that does poodle rescue.

 

Photos from PR Newswire

 

Proof Positivity: American President Announced

  What a night!  I was up until 12:00 AM last night watching the election.  I’m sad to say my state voted for John McCain but I am happy to say my country voted for Barack Obama.  That’s right Barack Obamais America’s first African American president!  What this means to me is first, I’m hoping this will give young African Americans a positive role model.  You can do anything in America if you put your mind to it.  You can be president with hard work and persistence.  Secondly, I am big on volunteerism and community service.  A large portion of the non-profits are government funded and don’t get enough funding when the environmentis trickle down.  Trickle down is when they hope the wealthy will donate to charities.  I don’t agree with trickle down economics.  My mom’s pay got cut during this kind of economy and she is a teacher.  Yes, even teachers who are funded by the government get pay cuts especially when trickle down is the way they want things to go.  What this also means for volunteerism and serving my country is that programs like City Yearwill have tons of support.  Serving my country doesn’t just mean going off to war it means tutoring a child, teaching a person with disabilities how to paint, painting an elderly woman’s fingernails and listening to her stories of attending the march in which Dr. Martin Luther King gave his “I had a dream speech.”  

 

Barack Obama as president means foreign oil will eventually be a thing of the past.  Maybe our cars will be run on water.  When it evaporates it doesn’t harm the environment or maybe we could tank upat our local McDonald’s.   This new president doesn’t have family that could potentially profit from oil so the sky is the limit.

In America there is a feel good atmosphere.  I watch the journalists of the Today Show Matt Lauer and Al Roker look happier than usual.  It is indeed a “new day.”  If only we can get a woman in office next one that isn’t into moose or wolf hunting preferably.  A woman that is a little more into politics enough to know what Roe vs. Wade is.  One that will consider some women were abused or could die if they have a baby.

On with non-political news…

The Gift That Keeps Giving

The Family Giving Tree program 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 Christmas gifts to 300 children in East Palo Alto, California.   Encouraged by the success of the first year, Jennifer decided to continue the program. In the 16th year of the program’s existence, the number of gifts donated had swelled to 63,000, making The Family Giving Tree the largest gift donation program in California.

The Family Giving Tree is a four star, rated 501c(3) nonprofit, by charity navigator.

 

You Lean On My Big Shoulders

 

In light of the election I thought I should probably highlight a few charities in the Chicago area. 

 ”The mission of the Big Shoulders Fund is to provide support to the Catholic schools in the neediest areas of inner-city Chicago. 100% of the funds raised by the Big Shoulders Fund are used to support children through scholarships, special education programs, instructional equipment, much needed school facility improvements, faculty support, and operating grants.  The Big Shoulders Fund is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. “

The schools supported by the Big Shoulders Fund are the most poor and oldest Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Chicago. The criteria that are used to designate a Big Shoulders Fund supported school include:

• The school is located in the City of Chicago;

• Title I eligibility and participation; and

• School has 20 percent or more of its students receiving free and reduced luncheons through the school’s lunch program.

Over half of the students who attend these schools are living at or below the poverty level.  Through education an opportunity to break the cycle arrises.

Proof Positivity: Election Day!

 Good Morning!  Today is Election Day.  This is the final time you will be able to vote for the next President of the United States of America.  So, if you haven’t done it yet go out and do it.  No one can speak for you and if you don’t speak you won’t get heard. 

I invite you to watch John F. Kennedy’s inaugural speech and Dr. Martin  Luther King’s I have a dream speech.   I think it’s also important that us girls remember that it wasn’t so long ago that we obtained the right to vote.   Voting is what our ancestors intended.  It is our civic duty to vote. 

I invite you to read the words of President Abraham Lincoln:

“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate — we can not consecrate — we can not hallow — this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

I tried to give you the most inspirational speeches I could think of.  What happens in this country is your business.  Barack Obama and John McCain aren’t running for president.  They are applying for a job.  You are giving the interview.  They are supposed to work for you.  They will be getting paychecks from us.  It is time to start looking at the election as a long job interview these people work for us not the other way around.

 

Iron Against Breast Cancer

 

 –  In 2008, 40,480 women and men will die from the disease.
 –  Over 75% of women diagnosed with breast cancer are age 50 or older.
 –  Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women.
 –  In the U.S., a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, on average,
     every 2 1/2 minutes.
 –  In 2008, 1,990 new cases of breast cancer in men are expected in the
     U.S.

On the lighter side of things at the Houston Quilt Festival people from all walks of life got together to raise money for the fight against breast cancer.  Each quilter donated $5 to be eligible to prove his/her ironing skills as they took on a fellow opponent and ironed a pink shirt in less than two minutes.  More than 200 aspiring winners participated in the event. 

 

Rowenta is selling its specially designed Pink Iron at the Houston Quilt Festival with 100% of the profits going directly to BCRF.  This is the third year that Rowenta has partnered with BCRF; last year, over $114,000 was donated by the company to BCRF through fundraising efforts.

Rowenta USA, headquartered in West Orange, NJ, is the leading manufacturer of high-performance irons.

 

 

Author Royalties To Go To Autism Research

Paul Offit, MD, announced today that all author royalties earned from the sale of his new book, “Autism’s False Prophets: Bad Science, Risky Medicine, and the Search for a Cure,” will be donated to the Center for Autism Research at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

 

“We are very pleased to partner with Dr. Offit, and to accept the royalties of his book for the work done here at the Center for Autism Research (CAR) at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia,” said Dr. Bob Schultz, director of the Center for Autism Research at Children’s Hospital.  “CAR is dedicated to helping children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families. CAR’s mission is to identify the causes of ASD, and from that knowledge devise effective treatments.  By donating profits from his book, Dr. Offit is helping to push science forward for the good of all.”

Proof Positivity: Time Change

  I hope everyone got through the time change ok this morning.  My family was so thrown off.  I think my husband set our clocks two hours behind and when we woke up he said “it’s 5:45.  That’s weird it’s bright outside.”  I knew that couldn’t be right so I turned on the news because they put the time on tv and there it was it was 6:45 and my son and husband were running late.  They left on time and that’s what is important. 

 

Tomorrow is election day for us Americans.  If you haven’t had a chance to do the early vote make sure you go out and vote tomorrow.  Tomorrow will decide who our next president is and this is very important.  Again, I will not tell you who to vote for but go out and do it and keep in mind that our vote will effect the world.

 

Henkel Helps

 

A school in Parkersburg, Iowa was the grand prize winner in the Henkel Helpscontest.  Aplington-Parkersburg High School was affected by a F-5 tornado which destroyed a third of the community.  High schoolers will be attending school at the middle school in the area.

 

The Henkel Helps Schools Contest asked parents, teachers, students and community members from around the country to nominate a deserving school to win $25,000 for enhancements.  The runners-up schools, Donegan Elementary School in Bethlehem, Pa., and J.B. Atkinson Elementary School in Louisville, Ky., each won $2,500.

 

“It is wonderful to see how the communities – and the public in general – rallied around the top 10 schools during the voting period,” said Henkel spokesperson Natalie Violi. “Henkel is dedicated to lending a helping hand to children and improving our local communities, and we are proud to award these three prizes in the Henkel Helps Schools Contest to three very deserving schools.”

 

Henkel believes in social responsibility, and in addition to a number of other programs, Henkel has developed the Henkel Smile program.  This program provides financial contributions to organizations in which Henkel employees and retirees volunteer their time. Sometimes Henkel offers paid time off to employees to additionally support their volunteer efforts. Since 2001, Henkel has annually set aside one million euro especially to support children and young people. More than 2,000 volunteer programs have been supported to date and over 45,000 children worldwide in 105 countries have been helped.

 

Award Winners For Improving Health and Health Care

 The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF)announced the 2008 recipients of its Community Health Leaders (CHL) Award at its Annual Meeting in San Diego.  The CHL Award honors unrecognized individuals who overcome large obstacles to improve the health and quality of life for  men, women and children in communities across the United States.

 

 The CHL awardees represent the geographical, cultural, ethnic, social and economic diversity of America. They have helped provide deaf patients better access to medical care with interpreters, low-income children a fair start on their education with eye exams,  violence prevention programs for teens, the awardees have dedicated themselves to tackling some of the most intractable problems affecting the health of their communities.

 

 

“The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is proud to recognize and honor these courageous individuals who are leading and shaping health care practice and health policy through local action,” said Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, M.D., M.B.A., president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.  “These Community Health Leaders are truly unsung heroes who have stopped at nothing to help the people of their communities live healthier, better lives.”

 
1)  STEPHEN BLACK, President & Founder of Impact Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama

2)  ANITA BUEL, Director, Deaf Community Health Worker Project, Inner Grove Heights,  Minnesota

3)  DEANN CANUTESON, President of the Full Life Corporation, Kealakekua, Hawaii

4)  SCOTT CHARLES, Trauma Outreach Coordinator, Temple University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

5)  JONATHAN DELMAN, Executive Director, Consumer Quality Initiatives, Roxbury, Massachusetts

6)  DONENE FEIST, State Director, Family Voices of North Dakota, Edgeley, North Dakota

7)  ZAID GAYLE, Executive Director, Peace4Kids, Compton, California

8)  JUDI HILMAN, Executive Director, Utah Health Policy Project, Salt Lake City, Utah

9)  RAY LOPEZ, Environmental Program Manager, Little Sisters of the Assumption (LSA) Family Health Service, Inc., New York, New York

10)  MARIA RAMOS, Network Associate Director, Generations +/Northwestern Manhattan Health Network, New York, New York