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  • Joshua Collingsworth Memorial Foundation

    Mission
    The mission of the Joshua Collingsworth Memorial Foundation is “to educate children and adults worldwide about water safety through the utilization of drowning prevention campaigns and early childhood water safety training.”
    Why You Should Support Them
    Many of us have probably considered putting in a swimming pool in our backyards or wished we could afford to do so.  And even more of us probably have fond memories of summer involving water-the pool, the beach, etc.  Well, did you know that the most common cause of death for children and toddlers between the ages of 1 to 4 is drowning?  I surely didn’t.
    Sadly, Blake and Kathy Collingsworth suffered the loss of their son Joshua  in June 2008 when he accidentally fell into their swimming pool and drowned during a family get together.  Their story is a reminder of how quickly toddlers can get into things that they’re not suppose to.  One minute they’re playing quietly on the rug and you turn your head for a brief second and they’ve wandered off. 
    Thus, the Collingsworths decided to help spread the word about water safety with the start of the Joshua Collingsworth Memorial Foundation.  They hope to emphasize the importance of practicing proper water safety procedures by telling their story at benefits, children’s events and more.  Blake Collingsworth even wrote a book, Josh the Baby Otter, for young children that teaches them to never go never water without an adult and to practice safe water habits.  The Collingsworths hope to help eliminate and reduce the number of children dying from drowning accidents with their efforts.
    For more information on the Joshua Collingsworth Memorial Foundation visit their website here.
    How You Can Help
    You can help the Blake and Kathy Collingsworth continue to spread their message to children and adults by making a monetary donation, attending the annual Joshua Collingsworth Memorial Benefit, purchasing a copy of Josh the Baby Otter and more.  
    Click here to find out more ways you can get involved with this organization.
    More 411
    Or Write:
    Joshua Collingsworth Memorial Foundation
    PO Box 21712
    Lincoln, NE 68542
    Or Call:
    (402) 730-3232
    Or Email:
    Blake Collingsworth
    Kathy Collingsworth
    Don’t forget to donate $1 to help raise funds for one of the highlighted charities and be entered to win one of our amazing prizes.  The more you donate, the more chances you have to win!

  • Luggage of Love

    Mission
    The mission of Luggage of Love is to provide “each child in shelter or foster care with a brand new piece of luggage so that they will never have to move from one location to another their belongings in trash bags.”
    Why You Should Support Them
    Looking at Dedria Brunett you would never guess that this Miss Teen California International 2010 was once in foster care.  You would also never think that she was a victim of sexual, physical or mental abuse but she was.  In fact, her past is the very reason she felt motivated to start Luggage of Love.

    Dedria says, “I found it humiliating to have my personal effects put into trash bags.”  And I can only imagine how unimportant you feel as child when no one thinks enough to even make sure only belongings are packed properly.  For children, it’s all about the little and simple things like having a suitcase to store and protect the only roots that you have.

    As I have mentioned before, my husband was a product of the foster care system.  And when we first met I never understood why he held on to this black trunk that he has until he explained that it was the first real piece of luggage that he owned to house his most prized belongings.  Every time he moved from foster home to another his things were just thrown into a trash bag.  Can you imagine having dirty shoes thrown in with your clean clothing?

    Luggage of Love is 501(c)(3) nonprofit. For more information on Dedria’s project click here. 

    How You Can Help
    You can help Dedria with her mission to make sure that children in shelters and foster care have a decent way to transport their belongings from location to the next by either donating new or gently used luggage or making a monetary donation.
    For information on how to donate to Luggage of Love click here.
    More 411
    Or Write:
    Luggage of Love
    295 Willis Ave
    Suite E
    Camarillo, CA 93010
    Or Email:
    Don’t forget to donate $1 to help raise funds for one of the highlighted charities and be entered to win one of our amazing prizes.  The more you donate, the more chances you have to win!

  • Luggage of Love

    Mission
    The mission of Luggage of Love is to provide “each child in shelter or foster care with a brand new piece of luggage so that they will never have to move from one location to another their belongings in trash bags.”
    Why You Should Support Them
    Looking at Dedria Brunett you would never guess that this Miss Teen California International 2010 was once in foster care.  You would also never think that she was a victim of sexual, physical or mental abuse but she was.  In fact, her past is the very reason she felt motivated to start Luggage of Love.

    Dedria says, “I found it humiliating to have my personal effects put into trash bags.”  And I can only imagine how unimportant you feel as child when no one thinks enough to even make sure only belongings are packed properly.  For children, it’s all about the little and simple things like having a suitcase to store and protect the only roots that you have.

    As I have mentioned before, my husband was a product of the foster care system.  And when we first met I never understood why he held on to this black trunk that he has until he explained that it was the first real piece of luggage that he owned to house his most prized belongings.  Every time he moved from foster home to another his things were just thrown into a trash bag.  Can you imagine having dirty shoes thrown in with your clean clothing?

    Luggage of Love is 501(c)(3) nonprofit. For more information on Dedria’s project click here. 

    How You Can Help
    You can help Dedria with her mission to make sure that children in shelters and foster care have a decent way to transport their belongings from location to the next by either donating new or gently used luggage or making a monetary donation.
    For information on how to donate to Luggage of Love click here.
    More 411
    Or Write:
    Luggage of Love
    295 Willis Ave
    Suite E
    Camarillo, CA 93010
    Or Email:
    Don’t forget to donate $1 to help raise funds for one of the highlighted charities and be entered to win one of our amazing prizes.  The more you donate, the more chances you have to win!

  • ReUsies: March For Charity Sponsor

    It’s no secret that I’m a fan and proud supporter of Green living.  Not only is it better for our environment, but it’s also better us and our families health wise.  Seriously, have you ever taken the time research what kind of chemicals some of the products in your home are made with?  I have and let me tell you there can do some really nasty things to our bodies.

    So, I was really excited that ReUsies wanted to be a part of March For Charity and donate two prizes for the raffle.  For those of you haven’t heard of ReUsies before, they are “re-usable alternative to sandwich/snack bags.”  ReUsies are made of 100% cotton with a nylon leak-resistant liner with Velcro closures.  Also, they are 100% American made!!

    Check out some of the cute designs they offer.

    ReUsies was started by two Seattle moms, Karen and Becky, who took inventory of just how many plastic sandwich and snack bags their family was using on a daily basis.  Not happy with how they with the amount of waste they were creating, the two took to a local fabric store and thus a re-usable bag that you could store sandwiches and snacks in was born.  
    Since, starting up in 2008, ReUsies has become a huge hit.  They’ve been featured in All You, More, Parenting Magazine and Mom Magazine just to name a few.  Click here to check out what other places ReUsies has been featured.
    I have to admit that I truly admire Karen and Becky’s passion and dedication to reducing their carbon footprint on the Earth and for developing product that enables families to do the same.  And you too can be reducing your carbon footprint on the Earth by joining the ReUsies movement.  In fact, I’m offering two readers a chance to win one ReUsies product each to try out.
    All you have to do is donate $1 using the cute little ChipIn widget below and you will be entered into the March For Charity raffle.  Each $1 you donate equals 1 entry.  So, the more you donate, the more chances you have at winning this fabulous prize.  100% of the money raised is going to support of the charities highlighted during our March For Charity event.  Winners for the raffle will be chosen and announced Friday, April 1st during the March For Charity Twitter Party.
    http://www.chipin.com/widget/id/8ee3e4b6aaa5c18d
    For more information on ReUsies and their wonderful products can visit their website, follow them on Twitter or like them on Facebook.

  • Save the Children

    Mission
    Save the Children’s mission is “to inspire breakthrough in the way the world treats children, and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives.”
    Why You Should Support Them
    Save the Children works in over 120 countries including the United States, Latin America, the Middle East and more.  They specialize in child protection, education, health and nutrition, HIV/AIDS awareness and treatment and improving the general livelihoods of impoverished children and their families.
    Children are our futures.  However, there are so many of them getting sexually, physically and verbally abused or exploited or neglected in their homes.  Even more are not receiving the proper education that they need.  It’s hard to imagine what kind of future leaders these kids will be. 
    What’s even harder to imagine is how so people can stand by and watch all of this happen.  Well, thank goodness for organizations and charities like Save the Children who put our future leaders first.
    For more information on how Save the Children assists children around the world click here.
    How You Can Help
    Are you interested in making sure all children around the world have a good life and a fair shot of achieving their dreams?  Well, Save the Children has a few ways that you can help.  You can become a volunteer, a fundraiser or an advocate.  
    For ways that can get involved with Save the Children please click here.
    More 411
    Or Write:
    Save the Children US Headquarters
    54 Wilton Road
    Westport, CT 06880
    Or Call:
    (203) 221-4030
    (800) 728-3843
    Or Email:
    Don’t forget to donate $1 to help raise funds for one of the highlighted charities and be entered to win one of our amazing prizes.  The more you donate, the more chances you have to win!

  • No Place Like Home

    If there is one thing that I have learned over this past day and a half is that there is no place like home.  Yes, Dorothy was right.  These has been one of the most traumatic and draining experiences of parenting thus far for my husband and I.  It all started Friday morning with a leg ache that I thought was growing pains in my two year old daughter.  It ended with a trip to three different hospitals.

    Yes, you read right.  We went to three different hospitals. The first was in my hometown since we were visiting Grandma.  They couldn’t properly diagnose her there and so I called my husband and he sped to get us and bring us back to the Queen City where we could get top of the line care.

    Moo’s diagnosis went from bad to worse when they feared she had a septic hip.  Septic hip is when bacteria gets into the hip joint and causes pus to form and more germs to grow. It is very painful and requires surgery to treat.  We were scared beyond everything.

    They ran a series of tests and x-rays at hospital number 2 and we got very little sleep.  Nurses and doctors were in and out checking on Moo.  And she did not appreciate it one bit.  Finally, after her labs confirmed that she might be severely at risk for having septic hip we were transferred to the children’s hospital to meet with specialist who had dealt with this condition in children.

    The ambulance ride was smooth but in the back of my mind I was going crazy.  This was baby her on a stretcher being transported to hospital number 3.  I wanted to blame myself for not taking her in earlier, but that wouldn’t help.  After a visit with the specialist and some other doctors, it was determined that she didn’t have a septic hip.

    Thank God!!!  However, she did have an infection.  It’s called Toxic Synovitis.  While it can have some of the same symptoms as a septic hip, it doesn’t require surgery which is a huge sigh of relief.  They sent us home with a list of things to watch for, medicine to treat it with and a strict warning to come back asap if she got worst.

    We all crashed hard when we hit the front door.  In fact, we just got up a few hours ago and are going to eat dinner and then call it a night.  I am so thankful to everyone who prayed for and kept sending me words of engagement on Facebook and Twitter. You don’t know how much it made my day to see so many kinds words and seeing that you all were truly concerned about my Moo.

    She is doing much better and even walking around fine.  We haven’t had another fever and I looking forward to a peaceful night.

  • Room Service Atlanta

    Mission
    The mission of Room Service Atlanta is to create “beautiful, nourishing environments” to give those families living in shelters hope and inspiration as they experience particularly difficult times.
    Why You Should Support Them
    During the recent economic depression of the United States, many families found themselves without a job.  Thus, without a job to even buy food these families also lost their homes.  Now homeless and struggling to get back up on their feet, these families are currently living in homeless shelters.  And while shelter staffers work hard to create a safe and secure environment for these families to live, they don’t have the funds to make each room feel like home.
    Thankfully, that is where Room Service Atlanta is stepping in.  Started by friends and interior designers Erika Ward and Dayka Robinson, Room Service Atlanta is going to “provide and install home interiors” to help each family have that homey and comfortable feeling within their designated living space beginning with the Nicholas House in Atlanta, Georgia this April.  So of us may be wondering why this is important?  Well, when you’ve lost just about everything you own including your self-confidence simple things like having complete strangers come into your temporary living space and transforming it into your own one of a kind oasis for the duration of your visit can do wonders for your emotional well being. 
    Many of these families need this boost of confidence to give them hope and inspire them to continue working to get back on their feet.  Not to mention, with people (even the rich) cutting back on their giving to charities and nonprofits, Room Service Atlanta is greatly needed.  They are not only inspiring the residents but hoping to inspire other designers and business owners to start back and/or increase their charitable giving.
    To find out more about Room Service Atlanta visit their website here.
    How You Can Help
    There are several ways that you can get involved with Room Service Atlanta.  If you live in or around the Atlanta, Georgia area then you can volunteer to assist Room Service Atlanta as they work to transform the Nicholas House this April.  You can also volunteer to help out at upcoming special events.  If you live outside the Atlanta area, you can mail in donations like bedding, lamps, pillows and more.
    For more ways that you can work with Room Service Atlanta click here.
    More 411
    Website
    Twitter
    Or Email:
    dayka@roomserviceatlanta.org
    Dayka Robinson, Co-Founder
    erika@roomservicealtanta.org
    Erika Ward, Co-Founder
    Or Phone:
    (678) 558-6731
    Dayka Robinson, Co-Founder
    (678) 300-8765
    Erika Ward, Co-Founder
    Don’t forget to donate $1 to help raise funds for one of the highlighted charities and be entered to win one of our amazing prizes.  The more you donate, the more chances you have to win!
    http://www.chipin.com/widget/id/8ee3e4b6aaa5c18d

  • Room Service Atlanta

    Mission
    The mission of Room Service Atlanta is to create “beautiful, nourishing environments” to give those families living in shelters hope and inspiration as they experience particularly difficult times.
    Why You Should Support Them
    During the recent economic depression of the United States, many families found themselves without a job.  Thus, without a job to even buy food these families also lost their homes.  Now homeless and struggling to get back up on their feet, these families are currently living in homeless shelters.  And while shelter staffers work hard to create a safe and secure environment for these families to live, they don’t have the funds to make each room feel like home.
    Thankfully, that is where Room Service Atlanta is stepping in.  Started by friends and interior designers Erika Ward and Dayka Robinson, Room Service Atlanta is going to “provide and install home interiors” to help each family have that homey and comfortable feeling within their designated living space beginning with the Nicholas House in Atlanta, Georgia this April.  So of us may be wondering why this is important?  Well, when you’ve lost just about everything you own including your self-confidence simple things like having complete strangers come into your temporary living space and transforming it into your own one of a kind oasis for the duration of your visit can do wonders for your emotional well being. 
    Many of these families need this boost of confidence to give them hope and inspire them to continue working to get back on their feet.  Not to mention, with people (even the rich) cutting back on their giving to charities and nonprofits, Room Service Atlanta is greatly needed.  They are not only inspiring the residents but hoping to inspire other designers and business owners to start back and/or increase their charitable giving.
    To find out more about Room Service Atlanta visit their website here.
    How You Can Help
    There are several ways that you can get involved with Room Service Atlanta.  If you live in or around the Atlanta, Georgia area then you can volunteer to assist Room Service Atlanta as they work to transform the Nicholas House this April.  You can also volunteer to help out at upcoming special events.  If you live outside the Atlanta area, you can mail in donations like bedding, lamps, pillows and more.
    For more ways that you can work with Room Service Atlanta click here.
    More 411
    Website
    Twitter
    Or Email:
    dayka@roomserviceatlanta.org
    Dayka Robinson, Co-Founder
    erika@roomservicealtanta.org
    Erika Ward, Co-Founder
    Or Phone:
    (678) 558-6731
    Dayka Robinson, Co-Founder
    (678) 300-8765
    Erika Ward, Co-Founder
    Don’t forget to donate $1 to help raise funds for one of the highlighted charities and be entered to win one of our amazing prizes.  The more you donate, the more chances you have to win!
    http://www.chipin.com/widget/id/8ee3e4b6aaa5c18d

  • Hands On Charlotte

    Mission
    Hands On Charlotte’s mission is “to strengthen our community and enrich lives by mobilizing a diverse corps of citizens in direct, volunteer service.”
    Why You Should Support Them
    Every town or city has a pressing a need. And with the current state of our economy more needs are arising.  Well, Hands On Charlotte works to address and alleviate some of the most pressing needs in the Charlotte, North Carolina area.  Hands On Charlotte is a charter member of the Hands On Network.  Started in 1991, they have been working the homeless, young people who are at-risk, caring for the environment and so much more.
    In fact, I had the pleasure of working with Hands On Charlotte in January 2010 for Disney’s Get A Day, Give A Day volunteerism campaign.  Our task was to go into one of the many underprivileged neighborhoods in Charlotte and talk to the residents about the importance of having working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.  If you’ve ever lived in Charlotte, NC then you know that there is a house or apartment fire here just about everyday.  In more than half the cases in which those fires are deadly it’s because the resident didn’t have a proper or working detector to alert them to the fire and they woke up too late to make it out or died from smoke inhalation.
    It’s little things like making sure the community is informed that Hands On Charlotte will take the time to be passionate about and spread the word.  I had a blast working with them.  And even though we weren’t always well received by some residents in the neighborhood, those volunteers never loss hope and always kept a smile on their faces.  It was heartwarming to see so many people who genuinely cared about the less fortunate.  Oh and need I say that it was freezing cold when we started out that morning and only warmed up a few degrees by the end of our mission? Talk about dedication!!
    For more information about Hands On Charlotte visit their website.
    How Can You Help
    Hands On Charlotte has several programs in which those living in or around the Charlotte, North Carolina area can take part in.  Of course, they are always looking for volunteers.  If you live outside the Charlotte, North Carolina, you can always make a donation.
    For more ways that you can get involved with Hands On Charlotte click here.
    More 411
    Or Write:
    Hands On Charlotte
    1616 Central Ave
    Suite 200
    Charlotte, NC 28205
    Or Call:
    (704) 333-7471
    Or Email:
    lisa@handsoncharlotte.org
    Lisa Quisenberry, Consulting Executive Director
    *Don’t forget to donate $1 to help raise funds for one of the highlighted charities and be entered to win one of our amazing prizes.  The more you donate, the more chances you have to win!*

  • The Red Pump Project

    Mission
    The Red Pump Project’s mission is “to promote HIV prevention through education and open dialogue about the issues that surround sexual and reproductive health.”
    Why You Should Support Them
    Did you know that the first case of AIDS in the United States was reported in June 1981?  That’s just four years before I was born and I’m not even old yet!  1.7 million people in  the United States have been infected with HIV in the last 30 years.  600,000 of those persons have already lost their lives to this illness and an estimated 1.1 million more are currently living with the disease.
    There are HIV/AIDS cases have been reported in all 50 states.  Every 9 1/2 minutes someone in the United States becomes HIV positive and every 35 minutes one of those persons infected is a female.  African Americans represent 48% of HIV cases in the United States and every year 45 % of new reported cases are also African American.  Why does this matter?
    Well, HIV and AIDS are incurable but 100% preventable.  Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) destroys your immune system by attacking your T-cells and CD4 cells.  Without these cells your body becomes unable to fight off sickness.  Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is the last stage of HIV.  At this stage your immune system has pretty much shut down completely.  You become more at risk of developing pneumonia, viral and fungal infections, parasites and even cancer.
    The Red Pump Project was started by Luvvie Ajayi and Karyn Watkins in March 2009 as a way to raise awareness about the affects of HIV/AIDS amongst women, especially African Americans through their Rock the Red Pump campaign.  After all African American account for 66% of new AIDS cases.  Thus, March 10th is reserved as National Women and Girls  HIV/AIDS Awareness Day and is celebrated to raise awareness about the severity of how these epidemics have affects us as females as well as educating us on ways to prevent contracting this diseases or how to live with them if we have been diagnosed with them already.
    The Red Pump Project also celebrates other HIV/AIDS awareness events, partners with HIV/AIDS related organizations and raise funds HIV/AIDS service organizations throughout the United States.  The Red Pump Project is a nonprofit under The Red Project Collective. 
    For more information on The Red Pump Project please click here.  Also, don’t forget to get tested.  Use the widget below to find a testing center in your location.

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    How Can You Help
    With so many women becoming infected with HIV/AIDS, The Red Pump Project has many ways that you can help.  You can get involved by joining their Rock the Red Pump campaign, becoming an ambassador, participating in a Red Pump event near you and even donating.
    For more information on how you can get involved with The Red Pump Project click here.

    More 411
    Or Email:
    info@theredpumpproject.com
    *Don’t forget to donate $1 to help raise funds for one of the highlighted charities and be entered to win one of our amazing prizes.  The more you donate, the more chances you have to win!*