Day 29 - golly, is it turning into weekly blog updates? I hope not. Today's give was to the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that searches out causes of and cures for childhood brain tumors. It organizes various fundraisers, awards college scholarships annually to affected families...but perhaps the marquee fundraising event is Ride For Kids. In these, which are held all over, bikers convene and ride and raise money for PBFT. One of our dear friends rides annually in the Baltimore-Washington RFK. That's in Sept this year, so we'll do a give now and another give in Sept. Check out their website to learn more and to find a Ride For Kids event near you in 2011.
www.pbtfus.org
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Day 22 - it was a busy week (sounds like the start of a Dickens novel). If I may, the "gives" over the past few days were associated with my Leadership Loudoun's team issue day presentation on Thur Jan 20. To back up, I am part of the current class of Leadership Loudoun (Loudoun County, VA), a leadership development program similar to that offered by many governments and chambers of commerce.
Our team looked at cultural diversity in our county, its roots, how it has evolved through the county's population explosion over the past 10-15 years (Loudoun is regularly listed as the fastest growing, or one of the top fastest growing counties in the country), experiences of first generational immigrants to the county, and specifically within the intertwined perspectives of family, community, business sector, and our diverse faiths. The event was hosted at the Northern Virginia Baha'i Center in Sterling VA. The Baha'i theme of "unity in diversity" tied in well with our issue day theme.
We kicked off our day by shuttling our guests off for a scavenger hunt at a local international food market. The thought being, get them out of their comfort zone and immerse them in other cultures. Most of the guests had not previously been to an international food market.
We reconvened and worked through our presentations and panel discussions, and ended the day with a Bhangra dance lesson. Bhangra is traditional music and dance from the Punjab region of India. It began as a dance symbolizing the coming of the harvest season, and is now seen as an expression of South Asian cultures as a whole.
Congrats to our team for pulling this off, after just 3 months of planning, and with a limited budget and limited resources. Hopefully our guests were able to take away something from this and put it to action in their personal lives!
Our team looked at cultural diversity in our county, its roots, how it has evolved through the county's population explosion over the past 10-15 years (Loudoun is regularly listed as the fastest growing, or one of the top fastest growing counties in the country), experiences of first generational immigrants to the county, and specifically within the intertwined perspectives of family, community, business sector, and our diverse faiths. The event was hosted at the Northern Virginia Baha'i Center in Sterling VA. The Baha'i theme of "unity in diversity" tied in well with our issue day theme.
We kicked off our day by shuttling our guests off for a scavenger hunt at a local international food market. The thought being, get them out of their comfort zone and immerse them in other cultures. Most of the guests had not previously been to an international food market.
We reconvened and worked through our presentations and panel discussions, and ended the day with a Bhangra dance lesson. Bhangra is traditional music and dance from the Punjab region of India. It began as a dance symbolizing the coming of the harvest season, and is now seen as an expression of South Asian cultures as a whole.
Congrats to our team for pulling this off, after just 3 months of planning, and with a limited budget and limited resources. Hopefully our guests were able to take away something from this and put it to action in their personal lives!
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Day 17 - continuing the theme of cultural awareness, and education too perhaps, today's give was to the United Negro College Fund (UNCF). Who is old enough to remember the "A mind is a terrible thing to waste" from commercials in the 70s? That phrase was coined by Young & Rubicam advertising executive Forest Long in 1971, as part of a UNCF fundraising and public awareness campaign. Since that time, it has become one of the most recognized phrases in American advertising history.
UNCF was founded in 1944 and is now the nation’s largest and most effective minority education organization. UNCF provides operating funds for 39 member historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), scholarships and internships for students at about 900 institutions, and faculty and administrative professional training.
More information is available at www.uncf.org
UNCF was founded in 1944 and is now the nation’s largest and most effective minority education organization. UNCF provides operating funds for 39 member historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), scholarships and internships for students at about 900 institutions, and faculty and administrative professional training.
More information is available at www.uncf.org
Monday, January 17, 2011
Day 16, the start of a week dedicated to cultural awareness. Today's give was to the American Indian College Fund, which provides scholarships and other support for American Indian students. Tribal colleges, the vast majority of which are located on or near reservations, provide opportunity and access to post-secondary education. Offering accredited degrees while keeping Indian culture and tradition at the heart of their curricula, tribal colleges are changing the face of Indian education, one graduate at a time. The Fund disburses approximately 6,000 scholarships annually for American Indian students seeking to better their lives through higher education. The Fund also provides support for tribal college needs ranging from capital support to cultural preservation activities.
More information is available at: http://www.collegefund.org/
More information is available at: http://www.collegefund.org/
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Day 15 give was to the United Way of the National Capital Area, which serves DC, Northern VA, and Montgomery & Prince George's County MD. United Way is a nonprofit organization that highlights, unlike any around here, the interconnectedness of our region and the people who live here.
Focusing on the critical areas of Education, Income and Health – the building blocks of a good quality of life – United Way and our member charities not only provide immediate relief of social problems affecting our community, but also works to alleviate the underlying causes of these issues.
United Way NCA coordinates one of the largest annual fundraising campaigns in the country, providing our member charities with access to over 3,000 work sites and hundreds of thousands of potential donors and volunteers. The campaign disperses millions of dollars and allows donors to support United Way, our member charities, or their regional Community Impact Fund. They can also give to funds set up to address the specific impact areas of Education, Income or Health.
More information about the United Way or its member charities can be found at
http://www.unitedwaynca.org
Focusing on the critical areas of Education, Income and Health – the building blocks of a good quality of life – United Way and our member charities not only provide immediate relief of social problems affecting our community, but also works to alleviate the underlying causes of these issues.
United Way NCA coordinates one of the largest annual fundraising campaigns in the country, providing our member charities with access to over 3,000 work sites and hundreds of thousands of potential donors and volunteers. The campaign disperses millions of dollars and allows donors to support United Way, our member charities, or their regional Community Impact Fund. They can also give to funds set up to address the specific impact areas of Education, Income or Health.
More information about the United Way or its member charities can be found at
http://www.unitedwaynca.org
Friday, January 14, 2011
Day 14 - Happy Friday! Today's give was to Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian ministry founded on the conviction that every man, woman and child should have a decent, safe and affordable place to live. They "...build with people in need regardless of race or religion." They "...welcome volunteers and supporters from all backgrounds."
From international work in places like Haiti, to local communities, Habitat is dedicated to eliminating substandard housing and homelessness worldwide and to making adequate, affordable shelter a matter of conscience and action. Habitat is not a giveaway program. In addition to a down payment and monthly mortgage payments, homeowners invest hundreds of hours of their own labor (sweat equity) into building their Habitat house and the houses of others.
More information is available at: http://www.habitat.org/
From international work in places like Haiti, to local communities, Habitat is dedicated to eliminating substandard housing and homelessness worldwide and to making adequate, affordable shelter a matter of conscience and action. Habitat is not a giveaway program. In addition to a down payment and monthly mortgage payments, homeowners invest hundreds of hours of their own labor (sweat equity) into building their Habitat house and the houses of others.
More information is available at: http://www.habitat.org/
Day 13 - today's give (another belated post) was to Children's Miracle Network and, specifically, Children's National Medical Center of DC (we've been here for our daughter).
Children's Miracle Network Hospitals is a non-profit organization that raises funds for more than 170 children's hospitals. With the help of a Children's Miracle Network Hospital in their community, children of all ages and backgrounds can receive treatment for every imaginable disease and injury--from asthma and broken bones to cancer and heart defects. Children's hospitals are also on the front lines of research, education and outreach programs that keep millions of kids out of the hospital each year.
More information is available at: http://childrensmiraclenetworkhospitals.org/
Children's Miracle Network Hospitals is a non-profit organization that raises funds for more than 170 children's hospitals. With the help of a Children's Miracle Network Hospital in their community, children of all ages and backgrounds can receive treatment for every imaginable disease and injury--from asthma and broken bones to cancer and heart defects. Children's hospitals are also on the front lines of research, education and outreach programs that keep millions of kids out of the hospital each year.
More information is available at: http://childrensmiraclenetworkhospitals.org/
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