This past Black (Thursday um) FRIDAY the best shopping deals of the year were out. We were actually at Disneyland and traveling back home on Friday so I spent NADA. Oh well, I was able to take advantage of some deals on Cyber Monday. After all that spending, a new movement arises. Today is Giving Tuesday, yeah, being #UNSELFIE, its a thing. Time to focus on others!
With so much spent and saved, the idea is to give something of yourself today: kind gesture, a smile, small sacrifice, your time or your “treasure”. It’s a great idea to take some of your savings and give back to the charity or cause of your choice. Hey, funding is tight these days and I know groups of all sizes can use donations of any amount. If you are like, Huh, who to give to, here are some I ask you to consider:
This is a grassroots local 501c foundation started by Taylor Brooks Parents – I went to Georgia Tech with Taylor’s mom. Six days before Taylor’s 14th birthday she was diagnosed with Stage IV Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor cancer – a very rare cancer usually found in boys.
She immediately began chemotherapy treatments that same day. Just under nine months later, Taylor lost her battle with cancer surrounded by loved ones as she passed away. What is truly amazing is while Taylor was fighting her cancer, she planned a holiday party for the children in the hospital’s cancer ward, helped fund raise and open for the AFLAC Cancer Center at Children’s Healthcare in Atlanta, and tried to live the normal teenage life going to school when not in treatment, volunteering at sporting events.
In Taylor’s legacy the Taylor Brooks Foundation was created. They are a very small organization so monies donated go directly to costs – not huge salaries. The foundation takes donuts EVERY Sunday to the AFLAC Cancer Center at both Children’s Healthcare Hospital locations in Atlanta. In addition, they sponsor an annual holiday party to continue Taylor’s desire to make things a little more cheery this time of year for the sick kids, they provide care and comfort kits for patients, sponsor lunches for families, donate to research for Taylor’s type of cancer and are sponsoring a fellowship for the second year. I have served lunches to the families and was overwhelmed at the gratitude they gave to the foundation. It’s amazing how something as simple as a donut or teddy bear can cheer up a patient. Melissa scours every store for holiday items on sale the day after each and saves them for the gift baskets for next year to keep costs low.
For more information or to donate to Taylor Brooks Foundation, go here. Just $20 provides donuts to one of the two hospitals each week. Your donation will go a long way and I can tell you from experience, the work of this foundation is making a difference.
The Leukemia Lymphoma Society (LLS)
I decided to run the Walt Disney World Marathon with LLS’s Team In Training because the thought of 26.2 miles scares me. I know from my training learning about our heroes that we run for, any pain I endure the one day I attempt the 26.2, is NOTHING compared to what patients fighting blood cancer’s endure.
My cousin, my inspiration for my fundraiser, is a survivor of pediatric cancer and now a mom herself. Her prognosis was not so positive back in the day, but is now one of the most treatable forms of leukemia. I want the money I raise for research to help more families get an optimistic prognosis when they are told those 2 terrible words “its cancer”. To donate to LLS, go here.
Got bless Danny Thomas for starting this facility where no family pays for treatment and SO much important research for pediatric cancers and other life threatening illnesses kids face. Patients come here from all over the country – even from big cities like Atlanta because sometimes the best treatment option is at this Memphis hospital.
Right now, I am following two children who are at St Jude. One is our Team In Training hero Mary Elizabeth from this area. She is really having a time of it, yet her parents rave about the treatment and staff. The second is a sweet just turned 3 year old girl Reese I met at a conference. Her mom told us of the amazing work they do and they travel from North Dakota for Reese’s treatments. When you are watching your child fight for their life, its awful on so many levels. How wonderful there is a place where parents can take their kids and not have to worry about the financial aspect of healthcare. To donate to St Jude, go here. AND you can also peruse the gift shop with everything from ornament, cards, clothing and food and treatment for patients to give, go here and check it out. Hey runners, they got some gear for y’all!
The song says, “I believe the children are our future” and Save the Children agrees putting an emphasis on keeping kids all over the world safe. You can read about what they are doing to help families prepare for emergencies here on my blog. They also do so much for keeping kids around the world healthy and giving ALL kids the best chance at success with education. The mission of Save the Children:
From Save the Children Website savethechildren.org
To donate to Save the Children, go here. FYI, today, a generous donor is matching today’s donations up to $250,000, so your donation is doubled!
While an organization based out of the Catholic Church, St Vincent De Paul is here to help EVERYONE, not just Catholics, not just church goers. This time of year, the need is great for people to get food, pay bills, and stay in their homes. Sometimes one month’s aid is all a person needs.
From web site “Members of the Society of St.Vincent de Paul (or “Vincentians” ) are men and women who strive to grow spiritually by offering person-to-person service to individuals in need. We are young and old. Our members come in every shade of skin color. Some of us are wealthy, some are financially poor, but all of us are blessed with an awareness that our blessings (time, talent or treasure) are to be shared with our brothers and sisters in need.” I am a Vincentian and I can tell you, everyday people are struggling and this organization is like no other. The stories of those living around you can be heartbreaking and those served by Vincentians are so grateful. To learn more and donate, go here.
Whooooo….that’s a whole lot of giving needed! And so much more out there, these are just a few that touch my heart.
Help spread the word today and GIVE! Check out www.givingtuesday.org to find out the latest and join the movement.
Did you do something today? Will you be an ambassador? Just share the image on your social media!
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Thanks for including St. Jude on your list Julie – I’m proud to be a St. Jude Hero!!
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You are my hero Kristen!
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