Zoe & Zac

I can tell I'm going to have a fun month sharing all the cool stores and websites to shop that either donate all or a portion of the revenue to a good cause, or use products to help the environment. Today I had a crazy number of websites I could of shared based on the emails I received. Although, I dared to actually get out and shop for some inexpensive tennis shoes. Environmentally conscience clothing does not have to be big bucks. The one thing that chaps-my-hide is seeing wonderful recycled, pesticide free, natural materials selling for too much money just because of the brand name. I'm poor!!!!! What about us common folk?????

I came across Zoe & Zac today at Payless Shoes. Cool thing...even the shoe box is made with recycled materials!!! The rubber on my shoes came from recycled material. The fabric is pesticide free and made with natural materials like hemp!! I really love my Zoe&Zac shoes. Here is what the shoe box said:

"We haul our groceries in reusable bags. We hold onto that can until it finds a recycling bin. We are passionate, engaged and connected - to people and to our planet. We appreciate smart design. We believe that fashion is a reflection of who we are and an expression of how we live. We know that going green is a journey and every step counts - so together we take those steps in shoes designed to leave a smaller footprint. We are all Zoe&Zac".

And my cool looking slip on tennis shoes we only $19.99....cha-ching. Aaaaand if you buy a Zoe&Zac recyclable bag at Payless Shoes, Zoe&Zac will donate a $1 for every bag sold to help plant trees.

Check out Zoe&Zac at http://www.zoeandzac.com/. Their entire collection is under $30.00. Go to Payless Shoes right now during their Bogo sale and it's buy one get one half off!!

Here is the link to Payless if you want to buy online:

http://www.payless.com/store/catalog/brandlisting.jsp?trail=1014%3A100125&catId=cat10376&brandId=100125

VSA Arts http://www.vsarts.org/

I was watching PBS today and the Rockettes were on for the big Christmas concert at Radio City Music Hall. I remember as a child I wanted to be a Radio City Rockette. I wanted to be any sort of artist. Expressing creativity through motion, through song, through visual art. I first wanted to find a program for children. I've discovered each state has a plethera of non-profit programs to choose from. Eventually, I came across the VSA Arts Program (http://www.vsarts.org/).

 Ambassador Jean Kennedy started this program on an international level for people with disabilities. Celebrate 35 years with a message from Jean Kennedy:

Welcome From the President

This year, as VSA arts celebrates its 35th anniversary, we can look back with a great deal of pride at all we have accomplished since our founding by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith in 1974.
Over the past three and half decades, we have broken new ground that has opened doors and minds. We unveiled world-class performing arts productions and visual art exhibitions, led conferences and seminars, trained generations of teaching artists and educators, and provided teachers and parents with the resources and tools needed to support arts programming in their schools and communities.
Perhaps the greatest measure of VSA arts’ success is best recognized in how our programs, educational resources and outreach efforts work together to create an ongoing continuum of learning that nurtures young and emerging artists, and then reengages and supports these talented men and women throughout their careers.
Together with our network of domestic and international affiliates, VSA arts is committed to forging an inclusive environment where the arts are truly accessible to everybody. We have accomplished so much in the last 35 years—just think what we can accomplish in the next 35!
All the best,




Soula Antoniou
President, VSA arts

Black Friday

I found where I am doing the rest of my Christmas shopping. It all started with a fan page I joined on Facebook. Today I wanted to learn more about the gifts I purchase from the Breast Cancer Awareness page. This fan page on Facebook, along with Breast Cancer & Women's Health, Care & Feeding of Rescued Animals, Children's Health & Well-Being, Hunger & Poverty, Literacy & Children's Education, and
Protecting & Restoring the Environment can all be found at http://www.greatergood.org/. Plus, if you become a fan of their Facebook pages, you will receive special discounts for you purchase. Please join, become a fan, and shop away. My personal favorite items are the mantra bracelets, prayer bracelets, and recycled bead bracelets.

About them:

About GreaterGood.org


GreaterGood.org is an independent charitable organization devoted to improving the health and well-being of people, animals, and the planet. GreaterGood.org distributes 100% of the funds generated through the GreaterGood Network family of websites, including GreaterGood.org, to the nonprofit partners responsible for implementing the programs described on these sites, as well as providing grants directly to worthwhile organizations dedicated to the welfare of the global community.

Miniature Golf

The second Saturday of May is National Miniature golf day. Round up your friends and spend the day playing miniature golf for your favorite charity. Maybe collect food, or clothing, or toys for tots. Talk to the miniature golf course managers in your area and see if they will throw in a round of miniature golf for a good cause or free drinks and food to everyone who donates.

Go celebrate the second Saturday in May with friends playing miniature golf and give!!!!

How to Adopt a Family for the Holidays | eHow.com

At work today we started to discuss what we were going to do as a company to help those who are loss fortunate for the holidays. I was going to come home this evening and showcase a website that helps families make the holidays a little bit more cheerful. What I discovered was that really in order to adopt a family you need to look within the community that you live in.

I came across a helpful article to help anyone who is interested in adopting a family for the holidays.

Also, please keep in mind, families need help year round.


How to Adopt a Family for the Holidays | eHow.com

Penny Harvest

This is a genius idea. I was looking for ideas this evening. Something to post about. I had some ideas of what I would do when I came across the website Penny Harvest.org (http://www.pennyharvest.org/?hp=1). This is something almost everyone could do. I have my little penny harvest in a wine decantur sitting in the kitchen. I know what I plan on doing with the loose change, donate it!!! An idea right smack dab, sitting on my kitchen counter. Thanks Penny Harvest.

Here is a little about pennyharvest.org:

ABOUT US

Welcome to Common Cents!

We are an educational, not-for-profit organization, which specializes in creating and managing service-learning programs for young people. Our most popular and best known program is the Penny Harvest, the largest child philanthropy program in the United States.

Other Common Cents programs include the Student Community Action Fund, our high school leadership council, and Near Peer, our mentoring program.

Common Cents grew from the desire of a four-year-old (our Co-Founder, Nora Gross) to feed a homeless man in 1991. That need led her to ask her father (Teddy Gross, our other Co-Founder and our Executive Director) how she could help. His quest to answer that question gave birth to Common Cents and the Penny Harvest. Read the full story in Nora’s own words.

And since 1991, children between the ages of four and 14 have been converting their natural compassion for others into action by collecting pennies and turning those pennies into grants for community organizations. The Penny Harvest shows young people they have the ability to change the world by introducing them to the power of philanthropy and service during their formative years. As children help others, they develop their generosity and moral character, and they learn through practice the skills and responsibilities of democratic participation.  Learn all about the Penny Harvest.

Common Cents Mission:
Common Cents, creator of the Penny Harvest, nurtures a new generation of caring and capable young people between the ages of four and 14 by enabling them to strengthen their communities through philanthropy and service-learning.


What Is Service-Learning?
Service-learning is an educational method that entwines the threads of experiential learning and community service. It meets educational objectives through real-world experiences, while tapping youths as resources to benefit their schools and communities. Guided by teachers and community leaders, young people address real community needs by planning and executing service projects that are carefully tied to curricula. This hands-on learning enhances comprehension, academic achievement, citizenship, and character development, often reaching students who haven’t responded to traditional educational models. Service-learning is education in action: developing critical-thinking and problem solving skills; taking on issues such as hunger, homelessness, and diversity; and valuing people of all ages as citizens with talents to offer.

Boys Scouts and Popcorn

Today was a great day, because the popcorn I ordered from the Boy Scouts of America was delivered at my desk. Which made today's topic an easy one, because there it was just staring at me. What a treat, and 70% of my purchase goes to the Boy Scouts of America who celebrate their 100 years of service in the community in 2010.

(www.scouting.org)

ABOUT THE BSA:

The Boy Scouts of America is one of the nation's largest and most prominent values-based youth development organizations. The BSA provides a program for young people that builds character, trains them in the responsibilities of participating citizenship, and develops personal fitness.
For nearly a century, the BSA has helped build the future leaders of this country by combining educational activities and lifelong values with fun. The Boy Scouts of America believes — and, through nearly a century of experience, knows — that helping youth is a key to building a more conscientious, responsible, and productive society.

Slumdog Millionare

When it comes to movies I'm a few years behind. Tonight I FINALLY watched Slumdog Millionare, which I highly recommend if you have not seen it. After watching the movie, I went about a typical Sunday evening and sufing the web. I knew I needed to find an organization to go with my Thanksgiving theme, and I knew I wanted to go global. India and the children of India became my inspiration after watching the movie.

I came across a website who's mission is to help the millions of children that are impoverished in India (http://www.planindia.org/vision.aspx). Children are the future. I am still a firm believer that no child should go hungry, thirsty, and uneducated. They did not choose their life. We can help!!!!

Mission statement for Plan India:

Plan Vision Our vision is of a world in which all children realise their full potential in societies which respect people’s right and dignities. Plan Mission Plan strives to bring lasting improvements in the quality of life of deprived children in developing countries through a process that unites people across cultures and adds meaning and value to their lives by; Enabling deprived children, their families and their communities to meet their basic     needs and to increase their ability to participate in and benefit from their societies Building relationships to increase understanding and unity among people of different     cultures and countries. Promoting the rights and interests of the world’s children. Making the world a better place for children; these are the Strategic Directions of Plan India. Being a CCCD organization Making a long term commitment to children living in poverty To reach out to as many children as possible Working in partnership and alliances with partner NGOs, government bodies and     corporates. Being a recognised platform for children’s voice to be heard.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SESAME STREET

I have been a bad blogger and have not held true to my word about spreading the word on one non-profit organization a day. Boooo! Hiss! Hiss! On me. I do apologize, it has been a hectic week.

I know this is the month of Thanksgiving, but a little birthday took place this week for a television show that impacted many children's lives. Sesame Street turned 40 this week!!!! I grew up watching Sesame Street, and I know many other people did as well.

It made me want to see if there was something Sesame Street offered non-profit wise to help that helped the community. I figured I'd discover their suggestion to be to donate to pbs.org - which by the way is a great place to donate for valuable and educational entertainment. I encourage donating to them so they can continue to produce quality television programming.

A pleasant surprise was greeted to me instead. Sesame Street does have a not for profit organization called Sesame Workshop (http://www.sesameworkshop.org/home). I encourage anyone who loves kids, who has kids, who wants to help kids, take a moment to visit their very well laid out website.

He is a brief who, what, and why of Sesame Workshop:

Who We Are

Sesame Workshop is a nonprofit educational organization making a meaningful difference in the lives of children worldwide by addressing their critical developmental needs.

What We Do

The Workshop develops innovative and engaging educational content delivered in a variety of ways  — including television, radio, books, magazines, interactive media, and community outreach. Taking advantage of all forms of media and using those that are best suited to delivering a particular curriculum, the Workshop effectively and efficiently reaches millions of children, parents, caregivers, and educators — locally, nationally and globally.

Why We Do It

The Workshop is committed to the principle that all children deserve a chance to learn and grow; to be prepared for school; to better understand the world and each other; to think, dream and discover; to reach their highest potential.

Go their way and take moment to check out their website. www.sesameworkshop.org

Feed the Children

Halloween is over and now it's time to think of Thanksgiving. I am not quite sure about anyone else, but this year has just flown by. This is the time to give. I thought I would start this month blogging about the hunger. It absolutely kills me to see any child go hungry. It is sad to see any human go hungry or without clean water.

I want to start the season of Thanksgiving with helping our Nation's hungry, and also spotlight world hunger, and by Thanksgiving I will get into farming. All in the celebration of Thanksgiving. Maybe in the coming days you will find an organization that inspires you to help the less fortunate.

Today's orgnaization helps feed the hungry children of the United States. Not only do they help feeding children in the United States, but their mission is to feed all the children. Please take a moment to go to www.feedthechildren.org.

About Feed The Children

Our Mission

Feed The Children is a Christian, international, nonprofit relief organization with headquarters in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, that delivers food, medicine, clothing and other necessities to individuals, children and families who lack these essentials due to famine, war, poverty, or natural disaster.

What We Do

During our 30-year history, Feed The Children has grown into one of the world's largest private organizations dedicated to helping hungry and hurting people. Last year, Feed The Children shipped 133 million pounds of food and other essentials to children and families in all 50 states and in 34 foreign countries, supplementing more than 760,000 meals a day worldwide. Since our founding in 1979 by Larry and Frances Jones, Feed The Children has reached out to help children and families in 119 countries around the globe.