Will [ YOU ] DARE to CARE?

'Tis the Season to GIVE!

2009-12-05T16:09:00.000-08:00

When asked "what is your favorite month?" 43% of Americans chose December. It is a time of year when we come together with our families and friends, enjoy good food, and indulge in some well deserved gifts! But unfortunately, this is not what December represents for all families. For some it is the time of year when they have to struggle most to provide their children with a memorable Holiday experience.

Instead of spending loads of money on your loved ones (or yourself) this year I urge you to cut back by at least $5 on each gift and use that money to help those in need.

Below are my top three charity ideas for this Holiday season; but of course follow your heart and find the one that means the most to you!

And remember if you don't have any extra cash laying around this year you can always volunteer your time instead, you can even make it a family affair.

Samaritan's Purse: Operation Christmas Child : This donation idea may require a bit more money and time, but if you're looking to score some points with Santa it's definitely a great one! The charity asks that you donate and ship a shoe box (specific instructions are on site) filled with toys for a special boy or girl. It might get a bit costly with shipping charges, but think of all the fun the child will have opening your gift! Also remember that you can find doll sets or G.I Joes at cheap places like Big Lots or even the Dollar Store. Get creative with your box, I guarantee the feeling you will get from sending it will be worth the money.

Charity Checks: Another great idea is to donate in the name of a loved one. By using Charity Checks you can choose a charity in the name of someone or let them choose a charity of their own. For example, you can make a donation for a charity in your family's birthplace or one dedicated to their passion; like the environment (after all Mother Nature does lose a lot of trees this time of year!).

Give a gift that give backs! If you must buy something, at least buy something that donates a portion of your money back to charity. Some great sites to shop for gifts that give back are Seventeen Magazine and (RED). These services are provided by just about any site (including Amazon) for a wide range of products.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

GO GREEN

2008-04-08T18:40:00.000-07:00

Today I read the headline "It is Easy Being Green" and I thought to myself: is it really?

Buying a hybrid is a bit out my league, and turning off the air conditioner in Miami is simply out of the question. Let's not even get started with giving up burgers. I simply can't do it.

But that is the misconception. The idea that going 'green' means driving a prius, popping open windows and never eating anything that's not, well...green. There are other ways to be environmentally friendly that can do just as much good without requiring much effort.

Here are a few ideas:

Plant trees
Take shorter showers
Use less hot water (showers/laundry)
Turn off the water while your brushing
Don't wash your car until it is necessary
Wash your car on your front lawn (it waters the plants at the same time)
Turn off electronics/lights when not using
Recycle your trash properly
Plant trees
Install fans (lessens the work for your AC)
Unsubscribe to magazines your do not read (save the trees!)
Wait until your dishwasher is full before you run it
Take your own mug to your favorite coffee stop
Take your own bags to the grocery store
Try to buy less canned foods (go fresh)
Recycle/Refill your water bottles
Buy recycled products (i.e.: paper)
Plant trees

Did I mention plant trees? We are kind of running out of those...

If you follow these tips not only will you be saving our environment, but you will also be saving a pretty penny.

So what are you waiting for? GO GREEN!

Here are more ideas to 'green' any situation or space.

Got (RED)?

2008-04-08T05:22:00.000-07:00

Have you downloaded from iTunes lately? Or bought a hoodie at the GAP? How about a birthday card from Hallmark?

Well if you have, did you know that if you had purchased one of their (RED) products you would have donated a portion of your purchase to women and children suffering from HIV/AIDS in Africa?

(RED) was created by Bono and Bobby Shriver in order to raise money and awareness for the Global Fund. The organization teamed up with an array of brand names in order to create “RED” products. Don’t worry this doesn’t mean that all the products must be red, although in most cases (like with Apple) it is. But what it does mean is that by buying a product marked with the (PRODUCT) RED logo you are donating to the Global Fund. We all already love shopping; we might as well give a little while we’re at it. The products are no different than the non-RED products (except that RED products save lives!) so it is exactly like buying what you normally would. And actually, in order to attract costumers to buying these products the designs tend to be more fashionable and eye-catching than the ordinary line. One my favorites is GAP’s RED product line. They got a little creative and instead of simply displaying the RED logo their products read: INSPI (RED). Among the brand names that have gone (RED) are also Windows, Dell, Motorola, American Express, Emporio Armani, Converse, and Hallmark.

* By the way the parenthesis around the word RED is a symbol for embracing the cause. Thus any company that teams up with the organization places their logo within the parenthesis.

WANT TO LEARN MORE? WATCH THIS VIDEO
(RED) on Youtube.com

WHY?

2008-04-07T22:24:00.000-07:00

Lately I have been thinking about the origins of this blog. It is true that I have exposed many charities and hopefully given readers some inspiration to go out there and make a difference. But still, the questions which initially drove to me to creating ‘Will YOU Dare to Care?’ remain unanswered. I recently messaged a few students attempting to raise funds through facebook, myspace, and other modern mediums and asked them how effective this method had proven to be. Much like my own experience, these ‘social networks’ were of no help. And I guess that is the keyword I failed to see: ‘social.’ While groups dedicated to Paris Hilton and Britney Spears grow by the millions (yes, millions), groups dedicated to raising money for the less fortunate merely make it to the hundreds. Why? While students spend more and more on alcohol, new gadgets, and designer clothes, charities receive fewer and fewer donations. Why? We are quick to pull out a dollar to buy our favorite candy bar, but think twice when pulling it out to donate it to starving children. Why?

I refuse to believe I live in a vain and selfish society. But I cannot help be bothered by the fact that students who actually use facebook and myspace to impact the world (rather than show off their latest outfit or crazy weekend adventures) struggle to find support.

The last time you rejected someones call for help, someones call for a mere $1 donation – why did you?

If you have any answers for me, please share.

Traveling - but volunteering, not touring

2008-04-06T21:43:00.000-07:00

At the end of this month I will board a plane and be on my way to Europe for the summer. Nothing in this world excites me more. The roar of the engine, the view of the clouds, the cheap triangular shaped sandwiches, even the passengers that tell you way too much – I love it all.

Being that my blog is dedicated to combining your interests with charities I started to wonder if there was an organization out there that gave you the opportunity to see the world (my personal passion) while volunteering. After some research, I found a program that I have heard of many times but never really knew about: The Peace Corps

The Peace Corps was established in 1960 and currently has over 8,000 volunteers. The average age of their volunteers is 25-27 years old, only 7% are married, and over 95% have at least an undergraduate degree. These facts show that volunteers tend to be recent college graduates that have not started a family. Reading this definitely struck a cord, since that is precisely who I will be in a few years. Will going to the Peace Corps be my next step upon graduation?

The more I read the more I realized that this is a realistic option – but it is one that requires much thought. In the Peace Corps volunteers do in fact get to see the world – from Central America to Asia to Europe. But they are certainly not there to sightsee. Volunteers work in a range of programs depending on their interests and which country they are located in. The programs available also vary widely – from business development to education to HIV/AIDS awareness. In order to complete their mission volunteers are often sent to some of the most impoverished and dangerous areas of the world. That is why Peace Corps volunteers must go through training that prepares them to survive in these remote areas.

On the other hand, volunteers are given two vacation days per month to visit local attractions or even nearby countries; and their expenses are covered by the program. Volunteers also receive monetary benefits upon completing their mission in order to readjust to life in the states. Students in particular can benefit from the Peace Corps through deferment of student loans or reduced tuition in certain graduate programs. But above all, the greatest benefit of the Peace Corps is the immense impact these volunteers make in developing countries and how much you grow as an individual during the process.

Nonetheless, it is needless to say that deciding to enter the Peace Corps is no joke. It is a decision that takes careful consideration and a commitment that once made you must follow through. To be honest, my passion for traveling is definitely not enough to push me to do it. But if combined with my passion for service, it might just be the perfect mix.

Regardless of what I may think, it is an option everyone should consider and few often know about. I encourage you to do your research and see if the Peace Corps (or another charitable organization) might be part of your future plans.

Take the First Step

2008-04-06T20:07:00.000-07:00

A few weeks from now National Volunteer Week will take place (April 27 – May 3). If you commit yourself to volunteering this week, since after all it is 'National Volunteer Week,' you might just find the perfect charity and stick around.

Here are some tips to get you started:

Write these down…

Three causes that are important to you
Three things you are good at (i.e.: writing, planting, communicating, etc.)
Three skills you would like to be good at
The days/times you are free each week
The people/environment you like to surround yourself with (i.e.: children, nature, intellectuals etc.)

Now combine your answers and find a pattern.

This exercise will clear up what your interests and/or passions are – what you care about. Then all you have to do is find a charity that relates to it and fits you just right. Remember if you need some extra help finding one you can always visit the site I highlighted a few posts ago: Charity Navigator.

Once you have found the perfect charity, pick the date during National Volunteer Week that you will commit your time to said charity. Now grab your agenda, Google calendar, blackberry or any other gadget you use to organize yourself and add this event. If you can, call or e-mail the charity and let them know when you will be coming. By making the extra commitment you make it a bit harder on yourself to change your mind when the day comes and say you will do it "later" (which often means "never"). Another idea is to call up a friend with similar interests and invite them to volunteer with you on that date. That way not only will you have someone to remind you of your commitment, but also you will be more willing to go.

I urge all of you to volunteer at least one day during National Volunteer Week and share your stories on this blog.

Live to Give

2008-04-02T18:27:00.000-07:00

If you read my last post you know that lately I have been trying to find easy, quick, and effective ways to be charitable. I have been searching the net, reading the paper, and asking around. But I was blind to the fact that charity was starring me in the face all along. More than about volunteering my blog is about daring to care. While it is great that you care and react to global issues, it is equally important that you care about the person sitting next to you.

This week for one of my classes I was asked to give out three ‘happiness ribbons’ – which consisted of blue paper with a happy face sticker and a golden pin. I gave out these ribbons to three people whom I wanted to give ‘happiness’ to and then they e-mailed my professor their reactions. All three appreciated the ribbon and expressed that it brightened their entire day.

That is when I realized that a small act can go a long way. It is okay if you don’t have the time or money to give to charity. If you still want to dare to care, then encompass giving to your everyday living.

Some ideas (and note these are just some) :

Hold the door for the person behind you
Give up your seat to a stranger in the bus
Smile at a stranger in the street
Greet the people with you in the elevator
Ask “How are you?” and wait for the reply
Send an e-card to a friend
Use the magic words (please and thank you)
Give someone a compliment
Offer to pay for the person behind you at a toll booth
Offer to pay for the person behind you at a vending machine
Make happiness ribbons and pass them out!

*Please share other ideas you may have for giving on a daily basis

CLICK! You're a Superhero

2008-04-02T17:56:00.000-07:00

In the last couple of weeks between midterms, papers and the matters of daily I have barely had time to be an active volunteer. And I know this is a problem that each of you encounters as well. While you may like some of my ideas for volunteering you simply do not have time to go out there and do it. Even if it’s donating money, going to the site and filling out the forms does take a good 30 minutes.

Well I’ve found a way for you to be charitable that takes less than a minute and does not cost you a penny. Below are a list of sites that donate a certain amount to a cause each time you click. What I’ve done is add these pages to my personal Google homepage so that each day when I go on the internet I have it easily accessible. I click it, smile, and carry on with my day. If you don’t have a homepage you can customize then you can make one of these sites your homepage or add it under your bookmarks – anywhere where you are sure to see it when you sign on to the internet on a daily basis.

Now get out there and get clicking!

Doctor, what is wrong with me?

2008-03-14T21:37:00.000-07:00

A while back ago when I visited Atlanta I returned with a bit more than just souvenirs for the family. I developed a rather frightening rash on both of my legs. Having never gotten the chicken pox I immediately freaked out and swore I would not even be allowed on the plane. Since then I have been battling with it off and on. No one really knows what I have and the only diagnosis I have received thus far is that my skin reacts to extreme changes in weather. Go figure! I guess that rules out my dreams of going to Alaska anytime soon.

Now you are probably wondering why on earth I am sharing this story with you. Don’t worry, I am not going to ask for donations for my overly priced medical bill. What I will do though is direct you to people who do need just that. My mysterious rash got me thinking about the millions of rare diseases there must be in this world. There seems to be a charity for everything nowadays, but what about the minorities, what about the people who suffer from a disease only 1% of the population has but need just as much help as a Cancer patient.

Well after some research I discovered there is in fact a charity out there for them too. It is called NORD (National Organization for Rare Diseases). This organization focuses on helping those who suffer from a disease which less than 200,000 of the population suffers from (there are currently 6,000 diseases that fall under this category). NORD is a non-profit organization that relies solely on volunteer aid and focuses not only on funding treatment, but also research, advocacy, and education.

Among the disorders that NORD treats are: Adie, a disorder in which your pupil dilates larger than normal and your eye cannot react to light; Gordon Syndrome, a disease that causes your joints to remain in a fixed position or bend in an abnormal manner; Whipple, a bacterial infection that causes your intestine to not properly absorb necessary nutrients.

These are all serious diseases and only three of thousands. So if you can’t find one cause you truly care about, then perhaps you’ll find your niche in NORD; a place not dedicated to one cause, but all the causes most people don’t even know about.

HONK! HONK! What happened to the butterflies?

2008-03-11T20:58:00.000-07:00

This weekend I drove three hours north of Miami to find the perfect nature spot. I’m talking about deer grazing, wild hogs chasing bunnies, wind riffling through an evergreen landscape, and a night sky filled with stars because the last city light you saw was 40 miles away. But apparently I did not drive far enough. Now sure, I did see more green than usual and I needed two hands to count all the stars, but to say it was the perfect nature spot would be a down right lie.

Colorful specs caught my eye as I hiked through the trails and unfortunately they were not butterflies. Instead I found an array of worn-out wrappers from Coca-Cola to Doritos to Nature Valley granola bars (hey at least that has something to do with nature right?).When the sun went down and I resided back to my tent I was surrounded by colorful specs once again. Red and yellow lights stemming from in between the trees that reminded me I had school on Monday. Had I known I would be so closely accompanied by dozens of speeding cars I would not have packed my super-size flashlight.

That’s when I realized, Mother Nature needs some definite help. I was in the ‘primitive’ campgrounds of a State Park and I still couldn’t get away from the chaos of city life. That is simply unacceptable. I am not even addressing greater issues such as global warming; I am only talking about the right to be able to fully and truly enjoy nature at its best. So if you feel like I do take a look at what you can do to ensure that our natural areas are conserved. All of these charities are top-rated and include various methods of helping - from volunteering to monetary donations.

South Florida:

General:

CARE

2008-03-06T20:29:00.000-08:00

Don’t worry I am not positing another introduction to my blog. CARE is actually the name of one of the leading charities in the United States. Its mission is to fight against global poverty. Now I am sure you’ve heard of many other charities that focus on poverty, but what is unique about CARE is the way in which they impact impoverished areas. CARE places women at the heart of their organization because they believe this is the strongest root to pull at. They educate women on crucial issues such as Planned Parenthood, so that they do not have many children and at an early age. Women in impoverished areas also tend to be the community’s care givers and thus CARE teaches them sanitation methods and how to use and protect natural resources so that entire communities can prosper on their own. More than simply giving people aid, CARE volunteers take the time to educate communities so the people themselves can carry on CARE's mission. For example, instead of only delivering packets of food, CARE brings in seeds and tools to teach the people how to properly crop the land. Also, CARE does not accept any material donations because they use the monetary donations to buy (if available) items from the impoverished towns so that economic opportunities expand. Above all, CARE stands out in that they do not focus in one area, but rather in all impoverished areas of the world, thus helping tens of millions of people.

Here is a VIDEO on what CARE is all about.

It's so Easy, YOU can do it

2008-03-02T20:23:00.000-08:00

In the last couple of posts I have tried to address a few of the questions that concern people when considering charity work. I’ve explored the reasons why we care, and why sometimes it’s a bit difficult to. I have also taken you along for the ride on some of my very own charitable adventures. Hopefully by now, you are eager to find the charity that best suits you, so let me introduce you to a site that will pave the road to giving.

Charity Navigator is “your guide to intelligent giving.” In other words, it is a free on-line database of millions of charities world-wide. Not only does it list charities for every possible area you may be interested in, but it also rates the charities and gives you a breakdown of its impact, expenses, mission and much more. By using Charity Navigator you can find a charity you trust and then check back on its progress to ensure that your money is being put to use the right way. The site also offers you with various methods of helping – from donations to hands-on volunteering. And it allows you to create your own ‘my charities’ list so that you can easily receive up-to-date information on your favorite charities. If you’re feeling extra curious you can check out some of the many articles the site includes on top rated charities and hot topics like human trafficking and current natural disasters.

I encourage you to visit the site right now and either use the search bar at the top or scroll through the list of categories provided for you. If you find a charity you were not aware of or learn some interesting facts using the site share it on the blog so that we can all learn from each other.

For the KIDS!

2008-03-01T16:09:00.000-08:00

This weekend Florida International University took part on the largest student run philanthropy in the nation: Dance Marathon. Sure, this event is occurring at FIU, but did you know there is one occurring a couple miles of you as well? Over 90 schools around the nation host Dance Marathon competitions each year. Basically students raise money year-round and on a selected date (usually during the month of March) they dance for 25 hours in honor of diseased children. DM is particularly known for its line dance. Each year students organizing DM choreograph a unique line dance that combines various genres of music and then teach it part by part through the night.

The event was created over 30 years ago at Penn State University by a small group of students who wanted to do something more for local children’s hospitals. Each organization designates a hospital they will be donating the funds to, for example at FIU we choose Miami Children’s Hospital. In total Dance Marathon raises over $12 million for the kids. Those three words are precisely what define the spirit of DM. Every dollar that is raised, every hour that is spent, every pain you feel in your body when you finally see the sun come up is for the kids.

So if this sounds like the event for you – the perfect combination of music, dancing, and charity. Then simply Google search “Dance Marathon” and your state name and you’ll be sure to find all the locations where DM is taking place near you.

More about 'What is DM?' from the people who created it:

Give and Save, at the same time!

2008-02-23T12:16:00.000-08:00

This week while attending a business conference in Atlanta I realized that charity is everywhere. I know I’ve said this before, but if you truly care about something, you have the power to impact it in your very hands. Although the lectures I attended were geared towards businesses many of the ideas given could be easily applied toward humanitarian deeds. One of the ideas that truly caught my eye addresses an issue I wrote about earlier on my blog: money. We often have the want to help a certain cause but we don’t have the money or the time to do so. So then what do you do? Well there are ways to practice being thrifty while also aiding the less fortunate. Our financial planning speaker introduced us to The Coupon Mom, a great site where you find tons of coupons for grocery items. But more specifically the site posts coupons for canned foods, as low as 39 cents. Donating canned foods is one of the most beneficial charitable deeds out there and it can be done year-round. Not only is it used in shelters to feed the homeless or in orphanages for kids, but also during the holidays and when natural catastrophes occur. And hey while you’re on the site you might even find a couple coupons for yourself.

... and in the end it's worth it!

2008-02-17T12:24:00.000-08:00

This weekend was Relay for Life! For those of you considering being part of it I have to say it was an amazing experience. I am not going to lie there were moments I felt extremely stressed and questioned whether it was all worth it. The week leading to it I seemed to care about nothing else but Relay (and to make matters worse it was the week of Valentines as well). I had to make sure the tent preparations were set, that the pay orders had gone through, that we had decorations and t-shirts, and that all our team members knew what was going on. It all seemed overwhelming! When Friday finally came I felt relieved, but the truth was it had just started. We began setting up at 1pm and did not leave our tents until 8am the next morning! There were times the hours flew by and times I couldn’t wait to see the sun come up. But when the sun did rise it all seemed to come together. It was so gratifying to watch the survivors walk around our tents and see people trying to raise money with such enthusiasm. It also felt good to know that my team stayed up and kept our tent alive from beginning to end. Doing good will often require great sacrifice – but in the end I guarantee it will be worth it!

Setting up our tent

Walking laps sometime in the night

'Making It Through the Night' Award!

Other 24-hour events for charity:

Charity says – I love you!

2008-02-11T18:17:00.000-08:00

So are you stressing out because Valentine’s is only two days away and you have yet to find the perfect gift? Well here is a fresh idea I am sure you’re loved one will adore: give charity! I don’t mean be charitable to your Valentine (although I am sure they’d appreciate that as well), but incorporate a charity in your gift. This can be done in numerous ways:

Participate in a charity together

There are many charity events that occur on the day of Valentines, anything from reading to children to feeding the homeless. Participating in a charity allows you and your loved one to spend some quality time together, and avoid those pesky restaurant lines! Plus, it is proven that helping others causes the release of endorphins in the helper – which basically means it makes you feel good. I am sure your date will be all smiles and impressed that you came up with such a unique heart-warming idea. Make sure you pick a charity that you both will enjoy. For example, if your date hates dirt I wouldn’t recommend a beautification project. So do your research and find the perfect charity event for the both of you. And remember you can always choose a short event so that you still have time to dine, watch a movie, or just relax and talk about how good it felt to help! To find events occurring on Valentines Day check out: Volunteer Match

Donate to a charity he/she cares about!

A great way to express your love is by showing your significant other you acknowledge what they care about. For example, if your loved one loves puppies make a donation to The Animal Rescue Site in their name. Trust me, no matter what your loved one cares about, there is a corresponding charity out there that needs your help! If you are dating an aspiring musician or simply a music fan then donate to the Save the Music Foundation. Another great idea is to donate to their favorite Celebrity’s charity. Most charities provide donors with a certificate of donation or thank-you notice that you can then place in a decorated envelope and present to your sweetheart.

3. Buy your gift from a charity!

The final way you can incorporate charity into your Valentine’s celebrations is by simply buying a gift that gives back to charity. Many people buy clothing, purses, accessories, shoes etc. for their loved ones – why not buy something worn by a celebrity? That is precisely the concept of Clothes Off Our Back, which in turn donates the money you spent to children’s charities. Another great site is Gift Back, which gives 10% of your expenses back to charity.

This year I donated $43.00 (my sweetheart’s favorite number doubled) to the Rainforest Alliance since he’s big on saving the environment. I can’t wait until I see his expression upon receiving the beautifully decorated certificate (made of recycled paper of course) with his name imprinted in bold gold letters!

They need YOU at home!

2008-02-07T10:41:00.000-08:00

When disaster hits home our hearts open to the world and we get a sudden fire within us that screams: I want to help! Well, if you've turned on the news today. Disaster has hit home. In the last couple of days tornadoes have struck Tennessee, Arkansas, Kentucky, Alabama and Florida.
I won’t go into details since that’s what cnn.com is for, but here are some quick facts:

50 tornadoes ripped across these 5 states
Total injuries are ranging well over 200 people.
More than 350 people in Tennessee had to move to shelters due to loss of home.
The University in Jackson, Tennessee has reported damages close to $40 million.

Death Tolls:

Tennessee: 24 dead
Lady Lake, Florida: 19 dead
Arkansas: 13 dead
Kentucky: 7 dead
Alabama: 4 dead

These are students, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, cousins, friends – people just like you who have lost their lives and left behind loved ones in need. If you are touched by any of them – please do something!

Want to know how?
The Red Cross is now accepting monetary donations specifically for the Tornado Victims through: www.redcross.org or call 1-800- HELP NOW. Their assistance is free and thus their effectiveness thrives on donations from the public.

Collections of clothing, canned foods, personal sanitation items etc. will begin soon in several areas of the United States. Please keep a look-out at your local churches or non-profit organizations. I will keep you posted as more ways to help emerge.

Please feel free to also use this blog to share your thoughts.

FACTS gathered from:
Times Online
CNN.COM

Begging – it’s embarrassing, but it works!

2008-02-06T11:30:00.000-08:00

I know it seems like this blog is all about Relay for Life, being that that is currently the charity I am personally focusing on, it’s all that’s on my mind. But ultimately I hope my experiences help you in your own charities as well. And be patient with me, I promise as soon as this Relay for Life craze is over I’ll introduce some of the millions of amazing charities out there.

Now – about Relay…

This weekend I went canning for the second time in my life. The first time I was truly shocked that in about two hours my group of four raised $220 for Miami Children’s Hospital. I rode it off as simply a lucky day and never considered canning again. But this week, when I realized Relay for Life was only two weeks away, I got a bit desperate for funds and hit the streets. I am happy to inform that in an hour and a half my group of six raised $153. Although that seems like a considerable loss from my first time it’s still an amazing number. In a bake sale from 8AM-4PM we made $30, passing cans around class about $5, and with no family connections $0 from sponsors. So having disqualified all other options, $153 in an hour and a half is quite the miracle!

I thought this experience was worth noting for two reasons. One, now you know a great way to raise money for YOUR charity. And secondly, having addressed apathy in my last post, I felt it was only fair to address the good as well. Don’t believe that there are no good people left in the world! Don’t ever think that you are the only one that cares! No matter what it is, I assure you, there are a group of individuals out there who want to help. In less than two hours I found, give or take a few, 153 people who care about cancer. They might not all be willing to stand in the streets next to me, but they are willing to give $1 – and that is wonderful in itself.

PS: If you’re going to go canning let me suggest you take a big smile, t-shirts with your logo, and an eye-catch sign – oh and sunscreen, lots of it!

Don't just be one, be THE one

2008-02-02T23:10:00.000-08:00

This Tuesday I attended one my last Relay for Life meetings of the year before the big event on Feb.15-16. I sat in a room of well over 50 people, and never felt more alone. We needed tents, we needed decorations, we needed money! There was no way I could do it, there was no way I’d raise enough money to actually make a significant change in cancer research in just two weeks. Sure I have about a dozen team members, but that wasn’t enough! I had already experienced the failure of my facebook group “Will YOU Dare to Care?” and if I couldn’t rally enough support through one of the largest social networks in the U.S then I couldn’t find it anywhere. I told my friend my experience later that night and he told me: “Well it’s hard to combat apathy.”

How he meant that I do not know. But I took it as meaning my OWN apathy. That’s the only apathy I need to combat. Who cares if other people don’t care? All I need is for ME to care, and I do! You see the problem is I wasn’t looking right. A room of well over 50 people! That’s amazing, that’s well over 50 young people who care enough to sit in a cold auditorium room on Tuesday night. And I was one of them. So if I have enough passion to not trade in my meeting for a much needed nap, then I have enough passion to make some kind of difference.

If you care, really care, about ANYTHING – numbers are no obstacle (whether its persons or dollars you’re counting)

Did you know?

• Marjorie G. Illig created a legion of new volunteers that came to be know as the American Cancer Society – raising over $3 billion for Cancer research
• Chris Greicius, a seven year-old boy, inspired what is today the Make-a-Wish Foundation – an organization with over 25,000 volunteers
• Larry and Frances Jones founded Feed the Children – today they have fed children in 118 countries
• Jim and Marie Bohlen co-founded Greenpeace – they led the group to pass a ban on commercial whaling
• Helen Keller founded Helen Keller International – beginning in New York City this organization now serves the blind in over 22 countries
• Dr. Rothman and Mr. Rushton formed an alliance of physicians that came to be know as the AIDS Research Alliance – today they are the leading organization in creating anti-HIV medications and complementary therapies

WANT TO KNOW THE SECRET FORMULA?
(ONE person x PASSION) + YEARS of DEDICATION = SIGNIFICANT CHANGE!

TIME or MONEY, that is the question.

2008-01-26T21:50:00.000-08:00

In the video posted on my last blog entry the host explores what kind of charities people enjoy giving to. The answers varied from the homeless to children to victims of Katrina. But there seemed to be a general consensus that people would rather give time and energy, than money. When I think about this it makes no sense because it’s so much easier to donate a $10.00 check than have to drive down to an orphanage or a homeless shelter. But I must admit I actually feel the same way. I mean for starters sometimes I wonder: where is my money really going? Like when you deposit $1 in a beggar’s can and then question if they will buy food, or cigarettes and liquor. Even more than that, giving time gives me immediate satisfaction. I can see the change happen right before my eyes. It’s hard to find motivation to keep recycling when I go through great lengths to properly separate my trash and then find out global warming is worst than ever! Yet the truth is even the smallest of charitable actions, be it a dollar or recycling your newspaper, can truly change the world! The invisible helping hand is more powerful than we think – and the beauty of it is we all posses one.

So the bottom line is – it’s up to YOU if you prefer donating time versus money, or visa versa. The point is to do SOMETHING!

A great place to start doing that “something” is in your own community. This site introduces you to numerous ways by which you can cause an immediate change in your community (it’s geared toward Miami-Dade but it can be applied to any community in the world). You simply click on the ‘Action Ideas and Tools’ bar at the top, pick your topic of interest, and choose one of the many plausible (and quite simple!) ideas given.

Do you want to cause a change in YOUR community? CLICK HERE TO DO JUST THAT!

Do [ YOU ] CARE about ANYTHING?

2008-01-21T12:10:00.001-08:00

I think most of us would answer yes to that question, right? You care about something, I care about something, we all care. The question is do we care about anything enough to dedicate time, energy, and money to impact it. I have often walked by homeless in the streets, seen a stranded dog going hungry or felt the heat of global warming and promised myself I'd do SOMETHING, ANYTHING! But once I get home and snuggle up in front of my 36" T.V screen all troubles are forgotten. During the Holiday Break I decided that I was tired of doing that and so I started the Facebook group "Will [ YOU ] Dare to Care?" with the purpose of getting 20 people from each state to donate at least $1 to Cancer research (which affects 1 in every 3 Americans!). Almost a month later we are 200 people strong and 49 states short. So why is it that we spend $40 on designer jeans and $300 for a bottle at a club but think twice when donating $1? Why is it that we often feel that one person cannot make a difference? Why is it that we care - but just not enough to do something? In this blog I want to shed light on the millions of varied causes that are out there pleading for our help - I want to help you find one that just screams your name! And in the midst of finding that I want to explore the reasons why we (me included!) fall short of all changes we want to make...

Before I lose you I'd like to leave you with just two questions:

Can you name Angelina Jolie's love interest?

Can you name at least one of Angelina Jolie's world-wide charities?

Why is it that details of her romance with Mr. Pitt are published on a daily basis - but details about the many causes she dedicates her time to are hard to find?

'When Did Charity Become a Trend?'

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