49: Saving for Seeing Under the Sea

I was looking at an ocean mural I never quite finished this morning and thinking maybe I should get on that 15 years later. I thought I would start adding some coral detail to the reef bases, so when I started to look for today's nonprofit, I thought let's do something for the ocean. The Ocean Foundation has a nifty approach, "What do you want to do for the ocean?
Tell us and we'll take care of the rest." (https://www.oceanfdn.org) The Currents page (http://chooseyourcurrent.org) made me want to pick one of everything, but I did stick with coral. Aside from being stunningly gorgeous, "CORAL REEFS ONLY COVER ABOUT 0.2% OF THE OCEAN FLOOR, YET SUPPORT OVER 25% OF MARINE LIFE." (http://chooseyourcurrent.org/currents/coral-reefs/) Over 3/4 of the coral reefs are threatened by things like trash, toxic chemicals, unsustainable development and more. Yet, the reefs serve as a protection for so many underwater life forms as well as the lands nearby. Also, I haven't been to a coral reef, so I'd like them to exist when I finally get to travel to one. There is much on, over, under, and around our world that need our protection, but today it's The Ocean Foundation for coral, even if it was hard not to click on penguins or turtles.

You can find the Donations by the Dozen posts here on google,

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or on the Grace Initiative Foundation Tree, LLC's website http://www.graceinit.org/donations-by-the-dozen.html where you can enter your email to subscribe for an email daily dose of Donations by the Dozen.

Our email is DonationsByTheDozen@gmail.com.

Thanks and cheers to charity, m

48: I've Got Some Kind Love for Random Acts of Kindness

Happy Random Acts of Kindness(RAK) Day! I chose to honor Random Acts (technically it is to their parent nonprofit TheArt Department) for today's Donations by the Dozen. I was pretty excited about it, since I thought when I reviewed the site long ago, I couldn't donate. I'm doubly excited because I didn't know it was co-founded by Misha Collins (Castiel on Supernatural), which inspires me to get caught up on the many season I have missed one of these days.

I think we should all be pretty familiar with RAK in our lives by now. My friend and I do a lot of them both casually and with great planning, large and small. When people talk about the simpler acts of kindness like allowing someone to go in front of you or holding a door or something, I admit, I do occasionally, and usually figuratively, roll my eyes, since I think these basic kindnesses should be regularly expressed in life. For example, if I am in the grocery lane with a basket full of stuff and you are behind me with a sandwich, I definitely believe it's better for your to go first. However, that being said, I do think that even the tiny act of holding a door because it is RAK Day or because you are thinking of RAK make it a little more special. I think it also makes it very much more fun when my RAK partner in kindness and I plan and execute fun acts of kindness. I also feel very strongly about focusing on our actions as actual acts of kindness, because it seems kindness begets kindness, which we all need in our lives. 

Since this week was RAK Week, I have been doing a few fun acts of kindness all week, and it has been great. I know she will likely never see this, but just in case: Joyce with the raisin bread, you made my day (and my roommate's) with your smile, excitement and gratitude. 

At any rate, I am going to let RAK speak for itself with the video and its website. If you're feeling inspired to offer a Random Act of Kindness but are all alone and in for the night, please take moment to d something kind for yourself?OR if you're reading this later, there's always room for kindness to yourself or others. Thanks for being YOU.

Oh and Nessie has been kind too:

You can find the Donations by the Dozen posts here on google,

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Our email is DonationsByTheDozen@gmail.com.

Thanks and cheers to charity, m

47: Teach a Person to Fish, I Mean Farm

Resource Link

The model of Heifer International (HI) really wants to support poverty and reinforce that old adage that teaching a person to fish is better than giving the person a fish - and I love empowerment. With HI, you can choose to donate by actually buying a goat or a cow or even helping with water pumps and other water sources to grow food. Like the fish saying, buying a chicken helps a family with eggs every day, and how much greater is that than sending one meal? Not to mention how much cuter.

Having helped millions of families over 70 years and with almost a billion people to go (https://www.heifer.org/ending-hunger/index.html), Heifer helps people by assisting in sustainable resource development and ongoing assistance. The Donation by the Dozen contribution is only enough to partially send one goat, but I appreciate knowing exactly how the donation will help. I also know I have friends who would appreciate me giving a gift of a cow or chicken to a family in need on their birthday, so it is a great way to reflect a birthday wish for someone. The Alton Brown video below gives a great summary of the organization. 

In addition to donations or fundraising, you can shop to give a family farm animals and other agricultural support (here: https://www.heifer.org/gift-catalog/index.html), but you can also shop for gifts where part of the proceeds go toward fundraising (here: https://www.heifer.org/marketplace/index.html#panel). There are various experiences raging from a middle school visit to explore sustainable agriculture for a few hours to multi-night and day programs for older children. So much more is available to explore on the site, too: https://www.heifer.org.

You can find the Donations by the Dozen posts here on google,

on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/graceinitiative/,

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or on the Grace Initiative Foundation Tree, LLC's website http://www.graceinit.org/donations-by-the-dozen.html where you can enter your email to subscribe for an email daily dose of Donations by the Dozen.

Our email is DonationsByTheDozen@gmail.com.

Thanks and cheers to charity, m

46: I'm not so Sweet on Diabetes, but I like the American Diabetes Association

Today was my 500th Donate a Photo on the Donate a Photo app where Johnson & Johnson donates one dollar to a cause for every picture uploaded. It's one of my favorite apps, and I love that it makes it easy and free for anyone to make a difference toward some of the causes. I chose to send my dollar to help a child go to Diabetes Camp through the American Diabetes Association (ADA) today, so it seemed fitting to have our daily donation go to them as well. In my experience, the ADA website is one of the most comprehensive and helpful websites for an illness or condition. It helps whether someone is newly diagnosed, wants to keep current, wants ideas to make changes, or needs to be reinvigorates or assisted in living with diabetes. They also have a yummy looking, healthy scallop dish on the front page, so that's a plus.
Managing diabetes can be exhausting and time-consuming and leave a person feeling discouraged, whether it is the diabetic or the family. The ADA and their great website helps with resources and encouragement. My current focus of research involves various complications, so I know I will be referring to the site frequently and even calling to ask some questions. If you or someone you know has diabetes, maybe take a look and see if you find something interesting today. Here are some highlight of what the ADA accomplished in 2016: http://www.diabetes.org/assets/pdfs/advocacy/hometown-advocacy/2016-advocacy-accomplishments.pdf. I think the video above illustrates the importance of how philanthropy,  research, grants, and science can accomplish more in better ways by encouraging and rewarding scientists to transition and accomplish things through vision and means.
Thanks ADA for your help and for fighting the good fight against diabetes.

You can find the Donations by the Dozen posts here on google,

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Our email is DonationsByTheDozen@gmail.com.

Thanks and cheers to charity, m

45: Free Your Heart (Literally and Figuratively) This Valentine's Day

We may celebrate Valentine's Day with hearts, but today celebrates hearts and other organs as well with National Organ Donor Day. I am a registered organ and bone marrow donor, and I believe strongly in being a donor. Donating always brings a mix of joy and sorrow, as one can imagine, which is why I really like the Organ Donor Awareness Foundation. I had been trying to make this column shorter for a few reasons, but today, I really feel it is necessary to copy the whole story of the founding of the Organ Donor Awareness Foundation. Have wonderful Valentine's day and may your heart be free always and all ways.

The Story behind the Organ Donor Awareness Foundation (http://organdonorhero.org/about-us/)

The Organ Donor Awareness Foundation is a nonprofit organization which was founded by a 54 year old heart transplant patient, Neal Bira. The Foundation, along with Neal, is managed by a very special group of concerned and dedicated volunteers. Neal is just one of those people who always wants to do for others. The most difficult part of his illness was not about him, but about the children of the man who donated his heart.Neal’s goal is to increase organ donor awareness and to raise money for education, life’s necessities and provide professional support for the children and families of organ donor heroes.Imagine, if you will, facing the loss of a father, mother, husband or wife, and then facing the financial realities that quickly set in. Dreams and hopes are often gone overnight. The reality of the loss combined with the realities of life can often be overwhelming, that is where the Organ Donor Awareness Foundation tries to help.The goal of the Organ Donor Awareness Foundation is to increase organ donor awareness and to provide funds to help the children and families of organ donors so their dreams become a reality. “We want to make sure they are not forgotten or left in a state of devastation when their loved one passes; after they were generous and angelic enough to pass life on to another,” said Neal Bira, ODAF’s founder. The money raised will help provide educational opportunities and necessities for those families and children left under duress as a result of the financial hardship caused by the death of a parent who was an Organ Donor Hero.Neal has recruited his friends, family members and many other wonderful people to become part of his Team to make his dream come true. “It is amazing how many people have so very generously donated money, their products and their services to help the Organ Donor Awareness Team to reach our goals.”Sallustiano DeJesus’s was Neal’s Organ Donor Hero who saved Neal’s life. When Neal found out that Sallustiano’s son, Jeffrey wanted to go to college and become a Professional Chef, all Neal could think of was how he could help Jeffrey fulfill his dream.IT’S NOT ABOUT ME, says Neal. “It’s about Jeffrey and all the other children and families of the Organ Donor Heroes who we need to take care of and make sure that they are okay.”It is the famililes and in particular the children who are many times forgotten when an organ donor hero passes away. ODAF is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) organization so your contribution is fully tax deductible.The Organ Donor Awareness Foundation provides an opportunity for these children to pursue their education, reach their goals, and fulfill their dreams for the future.

You can find the Donations by the Dozen posts here on google,

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Our email is DonationsByTheDozen@gmail.com.

Thanks and cheers to charity, m

44: "Life is Why" I Heart.org the American Heart Association

Happy almost Valentine's Day, where hearts all the topic. The American Heart Association(AHA) provides a content-rich website to explore heart conditions, wellness, research and much more. With over 22 million volunteers and over 3,000 employees, the AHA focuses o healthy hearts and reducing disability and death from heart illness. As they grew, the AHA also formed the American Stroke Association, which brings together two of the most major causes of death. Some of the most important work AHA and ASA does is set guidelines and standards, which helps people from patients to doctors to organization practice health heart living. 

What We Do: To improve the lives of all Americans, we provide public health education in a variety of ways. We’re the nation’s leader in CPR education training. We help people understand the importance of healthy lifestyle choices. We provide science-based treatment guidelines to healthcare professionals to help them provide quality care to their patients. We educate lawmakers, policymakers and the public as we advocate for changes to protect and improve the health of our communities. (http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/General/About-Us---American-Heart-Association_UCM_305422_SubHomePage.jsp)

Happy almost Valentine's Day - let's keep those hearts full of health and happiness. 

You can find the Donations by the Dozen posts here on google,

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Our email is DonationsByTheDozen@gmail.com.

Thanks and cheers to charity, m

43: Operation (Random Acts of) Kindness

Today marks the beginning of Random Acts of Kindness week, and Operation Kindness has all kinds of kindness to offer pets in need. Operation Kindness has many adoption events including the Kindness Kamp, Cuddle Fest, the Hope Gala, and the "Artists for Animals presents A Concert for Kindness." (http://www.operationkindness.org/opk/) They will also off the #Workday Pick-Me-Up where they will bring sociable animals to your workplace. In 2016, Operation Kindness served 4,887 with medical care. (http://www.operationkindness.org/opk/?page_id=127)

Operation Kindness’ Top 10 

• 2,875 spay/neuter surgeries

• 2,033 cases of upper respiratory infection treated

• 734 cases of heart worms treated

• 261 cases of ringworm treated

• 511 intestinal illnesses treated

• 238 ear infections and injuries

• 171 cases of skin conditions (other than ringworm)

• 250 surgeries including orthopedic, internal organs, hearts, eyes and wounds

• Plus we administered more than $100,000 worth of medicine

• And provided more than 292,000 meals (http://www.operationkindness.org/opk/?page_id=127)

Happy Random Acts of Kindness Week. Nessie and all my rescue pets wish you and Operation Kindness all sorts of  kindness and thankfulness.

You can find the Donations by the Dozen posts here on google,

on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/graceinitiative/,

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Our email is DonationsByTheDozen@gmail.com.

Thanks and cheers to charity, m