@UniversalGiving
Filed under: Easy Ways to Give, Fun Ways to Give, Give to Children, Giving, Inspiring Young People, Leadership, Poverty, Social Change | Tags: change, children, commitment, community, environment, generosity, geography, giving in hard times, Inspiring Stories, service, take action
By Karis Ingram
I wasn’t always the most athletic kid growing up, but I did love to play. I remember not being able to wait for break in school, so that I could play handball, kickball or double dutch. Once the recess bell rang, I would race my friends to the playground to get first dibs on a ball. I lived for playing and having fun – it was my life. Playing sports and games helped me improve my health habits, and helped me develop socially, physically, and mentally. I can’t imagine what my childhood would have been like if I had to sit in a classroom all day long without being able to play.
Unfortunately, we live in a world where some kids don’t have this outlet. Many kids around the world do not have access to clean, safe playgrounds or the equipment necessary to play the games that I so looked forward to as a child. Because of this, too many children are not getting the proper exercise and play necessary for child development.
Fortunately, there are ordinary people, like you and me, who seek to change this. Like Trevor Slavick, founder of Little Feet Foundation, is working to create opportunities for kids around the world to have access to soccer balls and healthy play programs. Using the One for One business model, Little Feet Sports matches your purchase of a soccer ball by sending an additional ball to a child in need. For example, if I buy a soccer to try to become the next Mia Hamm (highly unlikely!), Little Feet will send a ball to an underprivileged child in need around the world.
Talk about giving back! This is such an amazing idea, why didn’t I think of it first?
In its first few years, Little Feet Foundation has already donated soccer balls to over 20 countries. They’ve also recently branched out from an online store and have added the sale of Little Feet soccer balls at the national chain store, Sports Chalet. You can now pick up a life changing soccer ball at a California Sport Chalet near you!
Aside from their work providing soccer balls, and developing sustainable soccer programs, Little Feet is also seeking to help local economies worldwide. With the discovery that coffee farmers are only paid less than a penny from a $2 cup of coffee, Little Feet created a unique and sustainable way to help the kids and local farmers. If you want to help Little Feet reach their goal of building 8 soccer fields and soccer programs by 2014, you can do so by purchasing Little Feet Coffee. Buying Little Feet coffee will help local farmers receive better prices for their hard work, while also funding soccer programs and fields!
By purchasing a Little Feet Soccer Ball or Little Feet Coffee, you can do your part too and help kids in need race their friends to their local soccer field in hopes of becoming the next David Beckham. Check out Little Feet’s website and buy a ball for a friend, one for yourself, or your whole family!
Filed under: Giving, Volunteering | Tags: change, community, environment, How to Help, Oil Spill, resources, take action
Today’s post comes from guest writer, Alexis Bonari
When a man-made disaster is as large as the BP oil spill (or leak), individuals can feel overwhelmed when searching for ways to aid in cleanup efforts. Aid can come in the form of physical labor, or donations to the organizations spearheading attempts to contain the damage. Here are four ways a concerned citizen can help clean up the BP oil spill, and do their part to save the planet:
1. Donate to the Greater New Orleans Foundation.
This organization guarantees that all donations made will go directly to organizations heading-up the cleanup efforts. Links are available for organizations that want to post a link to the donation site on their blog or website. Please note that donations cannot be directed towards any specific aspect of cleanup efforts. Donations are distributed at New Orleans Foundation’s discretion.
2. Donate hair, nylons, and fur to the Matter of Trust organization.
Their initial drive to collect hair, nylons, and fur to create oil-absorbing booms was a huge success. Matter of Trust has filled two warehouses with booms and cannot house any more.
Currently, they are in need of anchor line, burlap bags, crawdad bags, nylons, zip ties and gloves. All that’s required is to sign up on the Matter of Trust website.
3. Volunteer with Volunteer Florida.
Volunteer Florida is an organization funded through the governor’s office. According to their latest reports, over 3,000 people have already volunteered to help with oil relief efforts. Interested volunteers will be assigned to watch the coast, pre-oil beach cleanup, and fundraising. Training is being offered for positions in Community Emergency Response Teams, 211 operators, and volunteer managers.
4. Donate items to the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary.
Florida’s seabirds are suffering the direct effects of the oil spill. As the largest wild bird hospital in the United States, the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary is playing a vital role in minimizing the loss of seabird life as a result of the spill. Every year, they care for 8,000 injured birds.
Your family can work together to gather paper towels, bottled water, Gatorade, trash bags, kennels, shovels, bleach, shovels, gas gift cards, moving boxes, and tooth brushes. These items can be sent to the Sanctuary for use during cleanup efforts.
Alexis Bonari is a freelance writer and blog junkie. She is currently a resident blogger at First in Education, researching areas of online degree programs. In her spare time, she enjoys square-foot gardening, swimming, and avoiding her laptop.
Filed under: Easy Ways to Give, Giving, Inspirational Thoughts, Social Change, Volunteering | Tags: Academy Awards, American Express, awareness, change, charity, community, environment, Inspiring Stories, Members Project, take action, Take Part
By Cheryl Mahoney
Did you watch the Oscars last night? I was happy about Up, Sandra Bullock, and Star Trek‘s make-up award, so it was a good evening. And in between the ballgowns and the music, the film clips and the tributes, there was something else I was happy about too.
Did you catch the commercial about Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children’s Zone? They’re helping thousands of at-risk children stay in school, go to college, and succeed. Or did you see the commercial with Yvon Chouinard, talking about how rock climbers can protect the environment they’re exploring? These were two inspiring stories about how to take that first step that can change the world.
These commercials were in connection with Members Project, a new initiative of American Express and Take Part. They’re partnering together to encourage everyone to change the world, “one step at a time.” Since I love small ways to make a big difference, that idea sounds perfect to me. So how can you get involved? Three ways.
Vote for a charity you think American Express should donate to. Habitat for Humanity or the Red Cross? The Jane Goodall Institute or Charity: Water? You can come back and vote every week until May, when they’re giving $200,000 dollars to five charities, one in each of five categories.
Volunteer for a cause you care about. Getting involved, helping others, and contributing to the community are all great inducements for volunteering just by themselves. And if you log your hours through the Members Project Volunteer page, you can earn bonus Membership Points on your American Express card.
Donate to your favorite charity through Members Project. Or you can donate those Membership Reward Points you earned by volunteering!
So if you have time to vote…time to volunteer…or a little extra money to give to a worthy cause…you can take a step for change.
Filed under: Holiday Giving | Tags: awareness, change, charity, children, Christmas, climate change, education, environment, generosity, giving in hard times, hope, Peace, Santa Claus, sharing, take action, Volunteering
By Cheryl Mahoney
It’s that time of year again. Garlands are strung and lights go up and the malls are packed and kids write letters to Santa Claus. And sometimes, adults do too. Here’s what I might ask for, if I were to write to the man at the North Pole.
Dear Santa Claus (or St. Nicholas, or Father Christmas, or Kris Kringle–whoever’s listening),
I hope you, and Mrs. Claus, and the elves, are all well this year. In the enchanted land of Santa’s village, I’ve no doubt you are. Out here in the rest of the world, I can’t complain for myself, but the world in general has quite a few troubles. But you’re likely aware of that, considering you have eyes everywhere! So for Christmas this year, while I would like Michael Crawford’s autobiography or the complete Star Trek DVD box set, there are a few bigger matters you might look into.
To start with the most pressing, time-wise, I’d like world leaders at Copenhagen to feel some of that giving, harmonious spirit you embody, and do the right thing for all of us by coming to an agreement for reducing carbon emissions and protecting the planet. Perhaps you’ve encountered the problem of climate change yourself, Santa–have you noticed any melting near the North Pole? If leaders can’t come to an agreement though, please, no coal this year. How about some CFL Lightbulbs instead? Could be a good way to change with the times…
My mother’s been asking for world peace for Christmas (and sometimes birthdays and Mother’s Day too) for years. I think we’d both settle for peace in the Middle East though. And in Darfur. And the Philippines. And…well, perhaps you’d better aim for world peace after all.
I don’t need money, but a few millions would be nice–a million trees planted and a million mosquito nets for Africa and a million soccer balls for kids in refugee camps. And a million girls going to school and a million babies born safely and a million letters sent to old friends.
I’d like unemployment rates to go down, and charitable donations to go up, for volunteering rates to increase and for UniversalGiving’s follower count on Twitter to reach 2,000. I’d like people to think about others who are in need of a little help, and to think about reaching out. And to keep that spirit into the new year.
And in the spirit of “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus” I suppose I’m not really writing to the man at the North Pole at all, but rather–to whoever is listening. Santa might be the only one who can help everyone all by himself (with some help from elves), but everyone can help someone.
“Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy.”
Filed under: Giving, Social Change | Tags: awareness, change, climate change, Copenhagen, environment, future, hope, take action, United Nations
By Cheryl Mahoney
Copenhagen. It’s the capital of Denmark. In Viking days, there was a fishing village on the spot. In the present day, the city is considered one of the most livable in the world, the waters of the bay are so clean you can swim in them, and 36% of the population bikes to work.
And why, you ask, am I talking about Copenhagen? If I was going to pick capital cities at random, I’d probably talk about London. But it’s Copenhagen that has become a big focus in certain circles recently. And in those circles, “Copenhagen,” used as in “two more weeks to Copenhagen” or “send a message to Copenhagen” or “we’re gathering a delegation for Copenhagen,” hasn’t really meant the city at all. It’s been short-hand for the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2009, occurring in Copenhagen and starting today. Delegates from all over the world are meeting in Copenhagen to talk about the future–theirs, yours and mine.
World leaders are convening to make promises and plans for cutting the emissions from their respective countries, in order to reduce the CO2 we’re putting into the atmosphere and, it is hoped, keep the planet from growing dangerously warmer.
I’ve waxed eloquent (I hope it was eloquent) about climate change, global warming and the environment before (here, here and here too) so rather than trying that again, I thought today I’d concentrate on resources. Not the kind of resources we’re hoping to preserve, but resources for learning about Copenhagen, learning about the situation, and taking action.
First, I recommend reading ”Closing the Gaps” in The Economist. I never liked math and trying to fathom the economy is…challenging, but this article is excellent for explaining the international situation (read: politics) going into Copenhagen. It seems simple enough–cut emissions or everyone dies–but of course it’s not. Well, on some level it is. But politically it’s not, and that’s what’s going to count at the conference.
Next, I want to point you to two inspiring videos about the effects of the climate change. I don’t know where you live, but if like me you’re in the United States (and if you’re not in New Orleans), we’re fairly insulated from the effects of global warming. Sure, on a hot day I joke that it’s global warming, but in actual fact I’m not seeing the effects first-hand. But some people are. In Bangladesh, where storms and rising waters are forcing people from their homes. Or on Everest, where mountain climbers are watching their mountain melt.
Now, hopefully, you’ve been inspired about the crisis, and maybe frustrated by the complications and probable foot-dragging of the politics. What can we do about it all? You can start by checking out 350.org, and Repower America, and Seal the Deal 2009 (who’ve registered more than a million hours of volunteering for the planet!) They’ll all give you ideas for taking action. Are you on Twitter? Follow @350 @WWF_Climate @algore @billmckibben @greenpeace and @LiveEarth. I’m betting they’re sharing ideas too.
And plant a tree. Because trees are good.
