Give $100 a Week

Week 28 - Kitty Harbor

2012-11-19T08:08:00.000-08:00

Schlitz and Lucy adopted in September from Kitty Harbor

Kitty Harbor, Inc is a No Kill 501 (c) (s) cat sanctuary. Their mission is "to provide a loving home and solid adoption opportunities for abandoned, unwanted, or abused felines. To educate the community through humane education to spay or neuter their companion or feral felines. To attempt to return lost animals to their owners; to find suitable homes for homeless animals; and to provide a humane means to end an animal’s suffering."

My mother has been involved in rescue work with cats for decades and throughout my life, we have always been advocates for spaying and neutering. The below chart easily illustrates why spaying and neutering pets is so important.

This year on Easter, we lost our 19 year old Cat Goldie. Goldie had been with me since she was about a year and a half. She came to us as an abandoned barn cat with two kittens. We found homes for the kittens and had her spayed and she stayed with us ever since. She moved from Colorado, to Indiana to Connecticut with me. She has been dearly missed, but we were lucky to have her in our lives for so long.

We decided to treat ourselves to two kittens. And in September we adopted Lucy and Schlitz. They came to Kitty Harbor when they were 3 weeks old and in very bad shape due to owner neglect. Through the efforts of a very dedicated volunteer, they were nursed back to health and we were able to take them home in September.

Organizations like Kitty Harbor provide a vital service to the community by educating and helping pet owners understand the consequences of allowing their pets to reproduce. Kitty Harbor has improved the lives of countless unwanted cats and continues to be a welcomed presence in our community.

To learn more about Kitty Harbor or to donate, please visit their website or Facebook. My donation will be matched 100% by my company.

Week 27 - Susan G. Komen Ride for the Cure

2012-10-16T11:39:00.001-07:00

I've been donating and raising funds for the Susan G. Komen Ride for the Cure for 7 years now. This year's riders raised a whopping $58,580 to help women in CT treat and prevent breast cancer. I beat my personal goal this year due to the generous support of my friends and family and my company match to my own donation. My three year old son rode the entire 10 mile ride with me and it that was quite an accomplishment for us both! Everyone already knows about the Susan G. Komen Foundation and all the wonderful work they do to support breast cancer research. So I'm not going to write anymore about them. However, you can find more pictures and a great video about the Ride for the Cure here on Facebook and the main organization's site here.

Every year, fall seems to be a time of "falling" behind for me. I'm not sure why my favorite season of the year always seems so packed to the brim. In the midst of my constant struggle to remain focused, the chaos of life is catching up. So time for a deep breath and some reflection.

I've really been enjoying the author Brené Brown and her most recent book Daring Greatly. She reminds us that we are living in a culture where "exhaustion is a status symbol." This is an idea that really resonated with me and I'm making a conscious effort to realize when I'm running myself ragged and see what I can do to change that. I think exhaustion is a sign of the breakdown of personal boundaries where we let the world suck us into a vortex instead of grabbing a tree and holding on.

The thought I want to grab and hold on to at this moment is pure gratitude for the life I am in. After seeing many friends plucked out of their life and thrown into the devastating course of breast cancer, I know that none of us are immune. What we have at this moment that can seem overwhelming and trying is in fact the journey, and many women in our lives never get to complete that journey. I am thankful for the path I am traveling down surrounded by the support of my friends and family.

So remember to do your monthly self-exams, get your mammograms, and do what you can to help stop the course of this disease for our mothers, sisters, friends, and daughters.

Week 26 - Child Fund International

2012-09-17T12:53:00.000-07:00

from www.childfund.org

This week marks the halfway point in my year of giving! I am a bit behind, but alas that is life and I will catch up one way or another.

Child Fund has a long history is my family. Originally Christian Children's Fund, my Grandmother sponsored her first child approximately 50 years ago. She kept in touch with many of her sponsored children for decades and continued the tradition of giving, encouraging my mother to give. My mother sponsored her first child when she was a freshman in college in 1969 and has been giving ever since. She then encouraged the tradition by asking my brother to forgo a gift to her and instead sponsor a child.

Founded by a Presbyterian minister in 1938, Child Fund is not an evangelical mission. The mission is to change the lives of deprived, excluded and vulnerable children. That mission does not include forcing religion in exchange for help, which is a philosophy I disagree with. They stopped all evangelical work over 30 years ago. This was a smart move which may have been a strategy to remove them from the negative image associated with "McChurch" leaders of the likes of Joel Osteen and Joyce Meyer, who hold services designed to extract money from vulnerable populations in order to fund their own extravagant lifestyles. Child Fund International has transparent accountability and reports that 83% of every dollar goes directly to helping children in need.

Child Fund has a unique and well recognized approach of one-to-one connection with children. By tying an individual directly with a child, the giving becomes much more personal. Donors are sent pictures and letters from the child encouraging a relationship that can last for years and years. My mother has watched the progress of her sponsored children over the years and watched them thrive into young adults who are getting the education and support they need to benefit the next generation.

Children come from 31 countries (including the US) and 13.5 million children are helped each year. By providing help to individual families, local organizations, and global communities, children are given a broad range of support from education and health care to job training and emergency aid.

For more information on Child Fund International, click here.

My donation will be matched 100% by my company.

Week 25 - Disabled American Veterans

2012-09-10T10:48:00.003-07:00

from www.dav.org

It is with a sad heart that this week’s donation is made in honor of a my friend’s father, Ronnie. This is the same friend that last week’s donation went to. On September 3^rd, her father passed away with his family surrounding him. His family asked that in lieu of flowers at the funeral, donations be made to the Disabled American Veterans. He was a Navy veteran as well as having a long and productive career at many companies including Electric Boat. Unfortunately, his career spanned a time in our history that occupational health was not a concern and workers were continuously being exposed to carcinogenic agents such as asbestos, leading to horrible cancers like mesothelioma. Ronnie fought his illness valiantly. I am grateful that I got to visit with him only weeks before his death. He was so positive and friendly and was speaking of the future as if it was assured. His family has been renting one of our cottages on the lake the same week in August for well over 30 years. Every year he busily spent his vacation raking and cleaning up around the cabins and the property. He could never sit still and always had a smile on his face and a story to tell. We will miss his presence enormously around here.

One of the most poignant moments in the funeral was when his nephew got up to say a few words about his beloved Uncle. He reminded us how his Uncle had lived his entire life serving his family, his community, and his God and was always thinking of others and how he could help. The nephew went on to ask everyone at the funeral to commemorate him by doing something for someone else as a living memorial. I love that. In this complicated time of political bickering, poor economy and struggling people, it’s just that simple. Do good for others. Period.

And I’m happy to donate to the Disabled American Veterans organization since it was meaningful to Ronnie. This is an old and unwavering organization that has a long standing history of helping disabled veterans. One of my favorite aspects of the DAV is their National Service Officers who are available to assist veterans in so many ways, from representing them at medical review boards to assisting them with home loans, finding services, healthcare, employment and so much more. The military system is unorganized and chaotic when it comes to assisting veterans. Any veteran returning from a deployment oversees knows what a hassle every aspect of receiving entitled benefits can be. The DAV is an excellent resource for guidance and help.

This here for more information about DAV or to donate.

Week 24 - Spa Day for a Deserving Friend

2012-08-28T10:49:00.001-07:00

In my year of giving so far, I've realized that giving to a friend in person is so much more fun than sending money away to the abyss. Although I research my organizations, and am positive that they are worthy causes, its just not the same as the personal touch of giving directly to a friend.

This week, I am hoping to ease the stress for only a day for a close friend. She has been subjected to more tribulations in a short period of time than any one person should have to endure. A painful divorce, followed by the drastic up and down of a rebound relationship. Next her mother was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer. Amidst doctors appointments and keeping up with her mother's health, she suffered the devastating loss of her dear older old dog. Then last year, her father was diagnosed with serious sarcomatoid mesothelioma, which is the most aggressive type.

The loss of a pet is one of the most heart wrenching life experiences.

My friend has held her head up and taken on the majority of the care, medical and emotional needs of both of her parents. She is taking FMLA leave from work to care for them and shuttle them to and from appointments with specialists long distances from home. The love and dedication she has shown to her family is an inspiration.

I believe people come into your life for a reason and she came into mine for a very specific reason many years ago. She has been my confidante when I needed a shoulder and helped me to learn how to talk about the hard stuff and be honest with myself. We have spent many tearful and joyful hours on the phone over the years since we don't get to see each other nearly enough in person.

So this week I'm giving her a spa gift certificate that I hope she will use to take a day off from her life. It is well deserved. Love you girl! (you know who you are)

Week 23 - American Heart Association

2012-08-16T09:45:00.001-07:00

Week 23 is in support of a friend who is walking with her daughter in an American Heart Walk event in Rocky Neck, Connecticut. My donation will help her achieve her fundraising goals and will also be matched 100% by my company.

The American Heart Association has a simple mission, "Building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke." They do so through 6 areas of focus: Improving patient care, advocating for better health, reaching out to populations at risk, raising awareness, protecting the future and education Americans.

The focus on protecting the future is the most meaningful to me. Currently 1 in 3 children in this country are overweight or obese which leads directly to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes. This is a staggering statistic which is so preventable. It is our job as a responsible society to protect our children and help them grow up to be healthy functioning adults. Right now, we are failing one third of our children and that is unacceptable.

We are being immersed in a culture where entertainment and food are inseparable. Our kids are being raised on prepackaged, long shelf life, food substitutes. They are being trained on words like flavor burst, power punch, taste explosion and normal healthy food cannot compete with the flavor scientists who are striving to get them addicted to Doritos and Mountain Dew.

And this is a HARD habit to break. My husband and I try very hard to avoid most processed foods in our household. And yet they are a prevailing force especially when grandparents are involved. Believe me, kids deprived of packaged cookies are like ravenous panthers when a bag appears secretly at the hands of a grandparent!

We are led to believe that we aren't good parents if we don't spoil our kids with food. I believe exactly the opposite. We as parents need to do everything in our power to raise kids who understand the difference between food and food substitutes like Capri Sun, gummy fruit snacks and yogurt snacks all of which are different forms of high fructose corn syrup. Not a food.

So jumping down from my soap box, I do appreciate the mission of the American Heart Association and am pleased to support my friend and the fun day she and her daughter will have together on the walk.

For more information, check out her fundraising page here.

Happy Thursday!

Week 22 - Studio Desmeen New Studio Fund

2012-08-07T12:34:00.001-07:00

Performance at the Franklin Farmer's Market

I've been learning the art of belly dance since 2009 when my husband was deployed to Iraq. I needed an outlet from a very stressful home life with a newborn, a 3 year old, a master's degree in the works and a corporate career. I was overwhelmed and drowning in responsibilities.

I heard about an adult education class in belly dance and was intrigued. None of my friends would sign up with me, so I registered for the class and went by myself. After the first 15 minutes I was hooked. The music, the laughter, the beauty, and the camaraderie of a handful of moms brave enough to try something new was intoxicating. After the six week class was over, I wanted more. But I didn't want to just learn the basics, I wanted to really learn the craft.

That's when I found Studio Desmeen. The first time I called, I was daunted to learn there was no beginner class available and I would have to join a group of girls who had been dancing together for 7 years. I am NOT a dancer. I had flashbacks to floundering through an aerobics classes always doing the exact opposite of everyone else while the veterans of the class lost patience with me. But something inside of me wasn't ready to give up, so I showed up to the first class with all the bravery I could muster.

And it was HARD. And I was terrible at it. But these women welcomed me with open arms. We laughed together, they empathized with me and they accepted me as is, lack of rhythm and all. The second class they invited me to jump in and try the choreography with them. And it was then that I decided I was going to learn it, no matter what.

Fast forward 2 years to April of this year. Our Desmeen came to class and announced calmly that the Studio was closing, she needed some time off and she couldn't promise she would ever be back. We were devastated. The next several weeks, we danced without our hearts. We could all go elsewhere to other studios, but it wouldn't be the same and we would lose each other as dance sisters.

Our Farewell Party to Studio Desmeen in it's original location

We decided to try to maintain the studio rent on our own for the next few months. Some of the most experienced girls taught the classes and collected the money to keep the studio going, but the lease was over for good at the end of July. Desmeen came back to rehearse for a performance we had scheduled and told us that she was negotiating a lease on a new studio just blocks from the current one!

There is nothing that makes me happier than helping to support the new studio. Dancing with Desmeen and my sisters in dance have given me so much joy over the past few years. Currently, we are raising funds to replace the carpet in the new space with something friendlier to dancing feet.

Find Studio Desmeen on Facebook.

Week 21 - Financial Kick Start

2012-07-26T10:19:00.001-07:00

This week goes to a dear friend who is in need of a little financial kick start. Increasingly, I have many friends in life who are struggling to find work. This reflection of today’s economic quagmire has hit close to home recently as I watch qualified, responsible people struggle so hard to find ANY work. Even retail jobs are scarce in this environment.

I’ve learned a few things while watching and supporting friends who are out of work. One is that a convenience most of us take for granted, non-cash forms of payment, is not accessible to many people. Checking accounts, debit cards, and online banking have become the norm for most permanently employed people today. However there is still a population of people out there who live on cash only. And wow, what a disadvantage they have! Here is a little story to illustrate this point….

My friend needed to pay her cell phone bill of $14.99. Lacking a checking account or debit card, she drove 30 miles each way to the store to pay it. Once there, she was informed she would have to pay a $3 fee for paying in cash. She went out to her car and scraped up $3 in change. When she came back in with the money, she was told that cash payments could only be taken if the bill was $20-$1000 and if the amount was less than that, she would have to pay another $2.00 fee. At this point she gave up in frustration and drove home, effectively wasting all the gas money she invested in getting there to pay her bill.

This donation to my friend will allow her to open a checking account and start to slowly build up her financial independence. She has been controlled emotionally and monetarily to a point where she is financially crippled. She is about to take a brave leap in life and strike out on her own and I admire her strength, resolve and faith as she embarks on her quest for happiness. As one of my closest friends, I will walk by her side on this journey and I can't wait to see her succeed!

"Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love. " -Lao Tzu

Week 20 - Virginia Winslow Fund

2012-07-10T07:33:00.000-07:00

Virginia modelling her own creations

This week I go back local to help out a friend. I met Virginia Winslow a few years back in a dance class. She makes stunningly beautiful accessories out of feathers, so the conversation naturally turned to my guinea hens that I keep as pets and tick-hunters. At our next class I brought her a bag of freshly plucked feathers from my birds, and alas I have been an observer of her success ever since.

Belly Dance top showcased at the RAW Artist exhibition in Hartford, CT

Amazing talent coupled with an entrepreneurial spirit has helped Ginny move her small business in the right direction. She maintains an Etsy shop, Feathers of Artemis , where she has sold her work nationally and internationally. And recently she has attracted the attention of several local artists, photographers, and retailers eager to collaborate and hinge off of her success and fashion smarts. She was invited to showcase her work at the nationally known RAW artists organization last month. Check out the video here:
RAW Artists Exhibition

London-based musician Odette, wearing a Feather's of Artemis custom made top

Virginia is about to embark on a great adventure this fall starting her Master's Degree in International Relations. She will be traveling to London, Austria, Thailand, The Netherlands, and Switzerland as part of the program. This twist in her life plan comes right when her business Feathers of Artemis is enjoying great success. So she will be juggling international travel with maintaining her current business back in the states.

Her Fundrazr site hopes to raise funds for a camera to grow and improve her Etsy shop and document her travels abroad.

To find out more about Virginia visit her Facebook or Feathers of Artemis shop online.

This donation cannot be be matched by my company unfortunately.

Have Tuesday All!

Week 19 - Heal Africa

2012-06-18T08:37:00.000-07:00

Week 19 was suggested to me by my mother months ago. When researching this organization again, I came across this recent PBS Video featuring Heal Africa. (also embedded below) It's a touching summary of the work they do in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The correspondent for the article, Fred De Sam Lazaro summed it up, "The United Nations says the Democratic Republic of Congo is the worst place on earth for women." Years of conflict over the country's rich mineral resources has produced a complete collapse of government, law, public health infrastructure and widespread rape, torture and sexual mutilation of women.

Heal Africa strives to combat these horrific conditions by providing 31 safe houses for women throughout the region, as well as one of only three referring hospitals in the region. They provide general surgery, orthopedics, obstetrics and gynecology (including fistula repair), pediatrics, and internal medicine. Damaging a woman's body as a regular means of control over women is one of the most socially destructive practices in the world. Organizations that can help heal and empower these women are critical to any success the region will ever have.

The word HEAL is an acronym created by Dr. Jo Lusi and his wife Lyn Lusi, founders of Heal Africa. It stands for Health, Education, Action, and Leadership. Each crucial components to the holistic view the organization takes on supporting the people of the Congo. Lyn Lusi died of cancer this past March and will clearly be missed by thousands of women in the Congo whom she has helped.

I love watching the women dance in this video. Having the freedom to simply dance off your worries is one most of us take for granted. These women can dance and be truly free only behind the walls of a safe house. That is truly something to think about. When societies become unequal with regards to gender, only chaos ensues and a society cannot heal until the roles are once again equalized.
My donation will be matched 100% by my company. For more information or to donate, please visit the Heal Africa website.

Week 18 - USO Bay Area

2012-06-12T10:03:00.002-07:00

The inside of the San Francisco USO Center. An oasis for tired troops!

Back in January, my husband and I took a trip with our 2 year old son to visit friends in the San Francisco Bay area. I misread our flight time and we ended up at the San Francisco airport HOURS early for our red-eye flight that didn't leave until 10:15 PM.

We had a busy toddler and many hours to burn, so we decided to check out the USO. We were very pleasantly surprised to find such an oasis in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the airport. We walked through what seemed to be an endless maze of corridors until we came the USO. As soon as we stepped in, we were warmly greeted by a friendly veteran who was more than willing to help us with anything we might need. The center was decorated with all sorts of interesting military history and had leather couches and a TV to sit back and relax.

We had already dropped off our rental car, so he pulled out a stack of information and carefully explained to us how to catch the train to a nearby shopping and dining plaza. The facility had such a relaxed atmosphere that we decided not to bother going out and just made ourselves at home. He made us homemade ham and cheese sandwiches and coffee and there were snacks everywhere.

He then directed us to the nursery. A nursery!? I was flabbergasted and delighted at the same time. The nursery was fully stocked with toys and all things a baby could ever need. My husband and I sat back on the couch while our son happily pulled out cars and trucks to play with. Anyone with toddlers will understand how grateful we were to have a place for him to play. Definitely better than chasing him through the airport crowds in the terminal!

The USO has a noble mission to "To lift the spirits of America's troops and their families" and that is exactly what they did for us when we visited. The larger USO organization is also responsible for bringing big name bands and performers in theatre to provide entertainment for our deployed troops. When my husband was in Iraq, he got to see concerts by Kid Rock and the Zac Brown Band to name a few.

The USO Bay area has locations in the San Francisco Airport, the San Jose Airport and is opening a new center at Travis Air Force Base soon. More information can can found on their Facebook page or to donate, go here.

I am happy to be able to give directly to this USO center as they provided us with a quiet escape and perfect beginning to our long red-eye flight back to New England. My donation will be matched 100% by my company.

Week 17 - Gracie's Fund

2012-05-30T09:08:00.001-07:00

Gracie is recovering from a broken arm that required surgery to correct

I love it when friends and family give me suggestions of people to donate too. It makes giving so much more real and personal even if I have never met the recipient. Gracie's Fund was suggested to me by an amazing artist and friend, Melissa. She has a fellow face painter who has fallen on hard times and needs help.

The following was taken from the Gracie's Fund Website:

"Lauren Wilson is a fabulous face painter in CT. Her husband Tim was laid off from work almost 2 years ago and they have been struggling. Lauren has been making ends meet with face painting but with this accident I don't think they will be able to manage. Because of Tim being out of work they do not have any health insurance to cover the cost of Gracie's surgery. Gracie fell out of a tree and snapped her arm in half, she needed surgery to put it back in place and it is unknown if there is nerve damage since she cannot seem to move 2 of her fingers. Please help in any way that you can..."

Sadly, this is a perfect example of the failing of our For-Profit health care system in this country. Because our entire system is designed with hundreds of layers of companies all trying to make a profit, the result is that a simple accident can cost a family with no insurance all of their life savings and put them in debt for years. This isn't fair. The consumers of health care get the worst end of the deal.

I hope for a quick recovery for both Gracie and her family.

Happy Wednesday!

Week 16 - RISPCA

2012-05-17T11:47:00.001-07:00

A gallop on the beach captured by Steve from http://www.stevehopkinsphotography.com/

Well, here I am again, endlessly behind in my weekly blog. But I will conquer it soon!

Week 16 goes to the Rhode Island chapter of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. This chapter is 140 years old and the third oldest humane organization in the United States! They provide education, outreach, and legislative and legal support for animal welfare issues in the state. In addition, they run a full service shelter and pet assisted therapy programs for nursing homes and hospitals. They address pet overpopulation as one of the root causes of cruelty to animals.

Every May, RISPCA holds a fundraising ride in the beautiful Goddard Memorial State Park. I was lucky enough to get to attend this year with one of my gorgeous fillies, Safira. I was joined by my good friends, Kelly with her handsome Quarter Horse Cowboy and Gwen with her fairy tale Percheron/Arabian steed Rowan (pictured above). The ride consists of lovely groomed trails covering several different New England habitats: forest, wetland, and sandy beach. The ride includes lunch and all the proceeds benefit RISPCA.

For more information please visit the RISPCA Website.

My donation will be matched 100% by my company.
Happy Thursday! Stay tuned for my next blog post which be an organization in Indiana in honor of our trip there this weekend.

Week 15 - The Foundation for the Pure Spanish Horse

2012-05-04T14:07:00.000-07:00

Week 15 is one of the few organizations I don't consider a "charity." The Foundation for the Pure Spanish Horse is a 501c non profit group with a mission of preserving, protecting, and promoting the Pura Raza Española (P.R.E.) horse, also known as the Andalusian here in the United States. This breed of horse is near and dear to my heart and I have been a regular donor to this organization for a number of years.

The P.R.E. horse has a long and rich history and is integral to the culture of Spain. The breed originated as a cross between the native Iberian horse and the Barb which came during the invasion of the Moors into Spain. During the 16th century, the Spanish King Felipe II unified the standards for the breed that we know today. He sought to create the idealized horse in conformation, temperament and athletic ability. The original pure Spanish horses were used for farm work and bull fighting as well beautiful parade mounts for royalty.

The breed is still relatively rare in the United States with only around 6000 registered horses. The registration process is very strict in order to maintain the purity of the breed. However, the United States has a few registry organizations that allow out crossing with other breeds.

One of the beautiful sweet mares I bred

The Andalusian is known for his noble temperament, extreme athletic ability and long flowing mane and tail. He is a creature of amazing beauty and one that captured my heart when I was about 16 years old. And I have not turned back! I got my first Andalusian mare in 2004 and have had them ever since. I spent countless hours reading pedigrees and studying conformation. Now that my eye is tuned to the qualities of the Andalusian breed, I can't help but to use them as the standard for which I judge all other breeds. None can compare. :-)

Artwork by FREDERIQUE LAVERGNE

These horses give me pure unadulterated joy and my passion for them continues to grow. So even though this organization isn't a charity in the true sense of the word, they help to fuel a passion that brings so much joy to so many people like myself.

For more information about the Pure Spanish horse or the Foundation, please visit their website.

As some of you may have noticed, I am woefully behind in my blog, mainly due to activities involving these horses that have captured my heart and most of my free time!

Week 14 - Bethel Community United Methodist Church

2012-04-19T18:33:00.000-07:00

Open Hearts...Open Minds...Open Doors...

Week 14 is in honor of my mother's birthday and all of the work she does for her local community church. Bethel Community United Methodist Church is a tiny church in the rural community of Griswold CT. With a membership on the books of under 50 and only about 20 active, the church struggles to stay afloat and still offer services to the community.

A small and dedicated group of people work hard to provide a popular pasta supper once a month. They host occasional community flea markets and craft fairs. On opening day of fishing season, they have a fisherman's breakfast to welcome all the fisherman who arrive in the spring to our lake community. In the summer, they have a fishing derby for the kids that has been a great success and a lot of fun for families. Each fish the kids catch is measured and prizes are awarded for the biggest fish and the most fish caught.

The church itself is a historic building constructed in 1832. Black walnut on chestnut pews were added in 1866 which are still in use today. In 1932, the stables were removed to make room for cars and the church bell was added in 1912. The building sits atop a hill surrounded by beautiful New England woods.

The mission of "Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors" is very appealing to me. In the midst of so many fundamentalist religious organizations that spread hatred and disapproval of others, it is refreshing to hear only talk of acceptance and love.

For more information about the church, please visit their website, website.

My donation this week cannot be matched because it is a religious organization.

Week 13 - Mitchell Farm Equine Retirement

2012-04-10T11:56:00.000-07:00

The Retirees of Mitchell Farm (from www.mitchellfarm.org)

Week 13 brings me back to my original passion: horses. I have been making small donations to Mitchell Farm for quite a few years now. I believe they are filling a critical need in a caring and loving manner. According to the Mitchell Farm website, the mission is "Providing a safe and comfortable retirement alternative to geriatric and infirm horses to live out their lives and offering educational opportunities to the public on aged equine care and management."

All of my horse friends have experienced the heartache of deciding what to do with an aged horse. Especially in this harsh New England climate, it is expensive monetarily and time wise to care for older horses. They need special dental care, regular hoof care, and often special feed. If they are in poor condition, they may need to be blanketed or kept inside. All of these things take time and money.

Most of us who have the horse "disease" would give up our own luxuries in life in order to spend this time and money, but there are some who simply can't afford it. Then what are the options? Have your companion euthanized? Sent to slaughter? Or simply keep them but not be able to care for them properly? None of these options are good and each one has heart wrenching consequences.

I have a friend who rescued a horse many years ago. A big Dutch Warmblood who was a lot of horse for anyone to handle. He made it his mission to care for this horse that no one else could handle or wanted to handle. And after years of expensive care and love, the horse jumped a fence and sustained a hock injury. Thousands of dollars in medical procedures later, he is sound but not fit for much more than light riding. He did the right and compassionate thing and paid for his horse to go to a retirement farm in Vermont with lush pastures and live his life in peace. To sell him would have meant certain lameness if he was ridden too roughly. This is just one example of where equine retirement facilities provide such a vital service for our beloved older or infirm horses.

Mitchell Farm currently cares for 26 horses and has a waiting list of over 70! I am very impressed by their clever fundraising strategies and overall farm management. They sell aged manure to local hobby farmers and gardeners, sell beautiful art prints of their horses and farm, hold fundraising concerts and charity rides all to pay for the operating expenses of the farm. But most of all they rely on generous horse-loving donors to keep afloat.

For more information check out Mitchell Farm's website or find them on Facebook.

My donation to Mitchell Farm will be matched 100% by my company.

Week 12 - Restavec Freedom Alliance

2012-03-26T10:49:00.001-07:00

Former Restavec children are provided with a loving home environment free of slavery.

I heard about this organization from a friend of mine and the mother of one of my daughter's classmates. I enjoy donating to organizations that are meaningful to friends and family.

Restavec is from a French word reste avec meaning "one who stays with" and refers to children in Haiti who are sent to live with more affluent families. This is a cultural norm that according to The United Nations is "a modern form of slavery." After the hurricane in 2010, the number of children living as Restavecs increased dramatically as parents were no longer able to care for their children.

The children are promised a better standard of living as a Restavec, however the reality is far different. Most of the children are girls under the age of 9 years old and most are abused mentally, physically, and sexually. They endure long hours as domestic servants with no time to play and rarely have access to even limited education. Children of this age have no voice and with no one looking out for their best interest, no hope for a better future. At the age of 15 Haitian law requires that people are paid for their work, so most Restavecs are turned out of their households to fend for themselves.

The Restavec Freedom Alliance provides relief for Restavec children. They provide a safe home, education, food, clean drinking water, and most importantly a loving family. The first home set up by the Alliance houses 18 children and has a waiting list of well over a 100! A second home is under construction and plans are underway for a school to serve the home's children as well as children from the surrounding community.

Current RFA home in Chantal, Haiti

My donation to the Restavec Freedom Alliance will be matched 100% by my company. Also be sure to check out their Facebook page.

Week 11 - Concern Worldwide US

2012-03-20T07:12:00.000-07:00

By now everyone has heard of the Kony 2012 video that has gone viral on the Internet in the past few weeks. And so some suggested I donate to Invisible Children as part of my project. I have chosen not to donate to this organization for a number of reasons. First, as soon I watched the video, my intuition that something was not quite right kicked in. I don't disagree with anything per se in the video, however I believe it is misleading and preys on sensitive emotions. Second, the actions of the LRA and Kony are no doubt atrocious, but most of the content explained in the video happened in the past. The video was largely not appreciated in Uganda according to a video report by CNN. Third, I think the video has generated enough income already for the organization to meet it's mission for the short term. And lastly, Invisible Children is not endorsed by the BBB which I find suspicious.

Instead I chose to donate to Concern Worldwide US. "Concern Worldwide is a non-governmental, international, humanitarian organization dedicated to the reduction of suffering and working towards the ultimate elimination of extreme poverty in the world’s poorest countries." (from Concern Worldwide website) I designated my donation to Uganda in light of Kony 2012.

Concern Worldwide responds to humanitarian disasters in 25 of the world's poorest countries. They focus on 5 areas: Education, Emergency Response, Health, HVI/AIDS, and Livelihoods

As the illustration points out poverty is at the center of a number of greater issues. And I truly believe education is the single best thing we can do to help. Concern Worldwide has a mission of providing access to basic education in the poorest countries. Simply put, education equals greater economic opportunity for these people. And that opportunity spider weds throughout the communities in which the people live.

We place particular emphasis on reaching those who have been excluded from the formal schooling system, such as girls, children living in slums or isolated rural areas, orphans, working children, children belonging to minority groups, children affected and infected by HIV and AIDS, and children with disabilities. (from Concern Worldwide website)

My donation will be matched 100% by my company. Happy Spring everyone!

Week 10 - Massachusetts General Hospital PTSD Research Lab

2012-03-12T10:21:00.000-07:00

In light of the recent killing of 16 civilians in Afghanistan by a U.S. soldier, I am donating this week to Mass General's PTSD research and Psychophysiology lab. Multiple deployments, unclear missions, poor leadership and combat stress have taken a tremendous toll on our troops and current estimates say 1 in 5 soldiers come home with PTSD or other psychological disorders. I am a strong supporter of research initiatives aimed at learning more about the causes, treatments, and prevention of PTSD.

The effects of PSTD are profound.

In my own family experience, decades of untreated PSTD have exacted a significant toll on our well-being as a family. The emotional withdrawal that occurs in a loved one experiencing PTSD is devastating to say the least. It is a constant struggle to remind oneself not take hurtful behaviors personally, to stand up and try in the best way possible to support the healing process of the individual and the family unit. The statistic of 1 in 5 soldiers does not even come close to the reality that each of those soldier's PTSD symptoms then effect his or her family members raising the numbers of people suffering significantly.

PTSD research is critical.

New research in the last decade has produced treatments for PSTD that are more effective than anything yet discovered. One of these treatments, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) has proved to be extremely effective. The data in 24 randomized trials supports The US Department of Veterans Affairs recommendation of EMDR as an approach to treatment. This is just one example of where extensive research has resulted in a new treatment.

The Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Psychophysiology Lab at Mass General is conducting the following research projects:*

Positron emission tomographic study of cerebral blood flow during traumatic mental imagery in PTSD (R.K. Pitman, Principal Investigator). The major goal of this study is to evaluate which regions of the brain are selectively activated during traumatic re-experiencing.
Secondary prevention of PTSD with propranolol (R.K. Pitman, Principal Investigator). The major goal of this project is to investigate the effectiveness of the beta-adrengergic blocker propranolol in preventing the development of PTSD in persons presenting to the MGH Emergency Department following a traumatic experience.
Prospective psychophysiologic study of risk for PTSD (S.P Orr, Principal Investigator). The major goal of this project is to examine a promising set of pre-trauma psychophysiologic, endocrinologic, and psychometric measures for their ability to predict the occurrence of PTSD following exposure to traumatic events in firefighter/EMT and police recruits.

* Information copied from the Mass General PTSD website.

Week 10 will be matched 100% by my company.

Week 9 - Maple Leaf Mission

2012-03-05T17:46:00.000-08:00

"Landon was delivered at 24 weeks and was 1 lb, 2 oz when he was born in April of this year. Since then, he has had multiple surgeries and is doing well - he is now 7 lbs and almost 6-months-old! A miracle baby indeed!" - Session donated by Brenda De Los Santos Photography

I discovered the Maple Leaf Mission when scrolling through my Facebook news feed and seeing an incredibly touching picture of a newborn infant with an oxygen tube. The photo grabbed my attention and prompted me to read the story behind it. It turns out that a photographer that I had worked with in the past volunteers her talents with the Maple Leaf Mission whose mission is to capture lasting memories through photography of terminally ill or struggling loved ones.

All those who know me know that I love photography and pictures. I am drawn to the story told through images whatever they may be. I treasure my family photographs and I could lose every object in my life with little heartache, but I would be devastated to lose my pictures. They are my window into the past and a way to relive a moment that my mind didn't fully retain.

So the slogan "The Gift of Life In Pictures" really struck me. For families about to lose a loved one, the gift of beautiful memories through photos is priceless. And through the Maple Leaf Mission, these are offered at no cost to these deserving families.

Photographers around the world are encouraged to volunteer their services to nominated families in their area. The Mission does three types of photo sessions: Families in which a member has a terminal illness, families in which a member has a debilitating or life-limiting illness and military reunions.

This organization is based in Edmonton, Alberta so unfortunately will not quality for my company match. However, they provide services to families all over the world. More information about the Maple Leaf Mission can be found here or on Facebook.

Also please check out Brenda De Los Santos Photography

Week 8 - Shenango Valley Foundation

2012-02-28T06:11:00.000-08:00

Week 8 is a somber donation in support of some children who have been through a horrific tragedy. In November of 2010, I got a message from an old coworker. I will never forget that message. I have omitted names for the privacy of the family. The message only said "T and his wife are dead." I called to hear the shocked voice of my friend telling me that one of our past co-workers had killed his wife and then himself. I remember the chill that went through me and subsequent shock when turning on the TV and listening to the news.

I don't care to write of the details, as it too sad. The overwhelming urge all of us who knew this person was to send as much love and support to the two little kids left behind as possible. To have both their parents ripped out of their lives in one terrible day is too hard for me to think about. As the mother of similar aged kids, I can't bear that loss to those children. A child's mother will always be their greatest protector in life, their advocate, their lifeline. Fortunately, these children have the support of grandparents, however their lives are forever marred by this senseless act.

This incident made a lot of us think hard about our lives and the people in them. This person was our co-worker and our friend. I remember sitting in his office, amidst piles of papers and notebooks strewn on the floor as he reviewed my data. To this day, I still have emails in my Outlook archive from him. Someone capable of murdering his wife in cold blood is quietly sitting in my inbox like a strange intruder from the past. We wondered whether there would be a funeral? Does a terrible final act define the entirety of a person's life? What do you say at the funeral of such a person? He blotted out the life of the mother of his children and in doing so, defined his entire existence as a murderer. He will not be remembered as a brilliant scientist or father or friend.

This donation will be made the the Shenango Valley Foundation who manages the fund for the children's education. Money seems inadequate in this situation, however these kids have a hard road in front of them and the fewer obstacles on that path, the better.

As some of you will notice, week 8 is late in coming. So stay tuned for week 9 in the next few days!

Week 7 - Homes for Our Troops

2012-02-16T08:38:00.000-08:00

A home built in CT by http://www.homesforourtroops.org/

As soon as I found this organization, I knew it it would be part of my project. Homes For Our Troops builds completely accessible homes for severely disabled troops. Being the wife of a veteran myself, the stories on this website really pulled at my heartstrings. The military is good at taking care of the medical needs of these soldiers, but they completely fall down when it comes to helping them after their lives have been devastated by an injury. Often, they are left to come home to houses that they can't function in due to their newfound disabilities. There is a great need for this organization.

In CT, we have the support of Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, who stated so aptly, "We owe our military men and women unconditional support." He spoke at the completion ceremony for a house designed for a marine here in CT who suffered the loss of both legs while serving in Iraq.

Sgt. Jared Luce - Coventry, CT from http://www.homesforourtroops.org/

Homes for our Troops has built or remodeled houses in almost every state with the help of throusands of volunteers nationwide. These projects help provide freedom, mobility, and independence to those who have sacrificed those things for our country.

I highly encourage you to donate time, money or supplies to this organization. For more information, go to http://www.homesforourtroops.org/

And Happy and Belated Valentine's Day to all! <3

Week 6 - National Public Radio

2012-02-09T06:46:00.000-08:00

I've been an avid NPR listener for about 15 years now and the Morning Edition theme song is what I wake up to most weekdays. My husband and I listen to NPR each morning and evening on our 40 minute commute to work. Although we get annoyed with what seems like near constant pledge drives, the drive this morning is what prompted me to make my donation to NPR for Week 6. (Getting entered to win an iPad helped too, although I have no idea what I would do with an iPad).

It is stories like this one about a Female Afghan helicopter pilot that keep me riveted to the radio time and time again. This incredible women brings her 5 year old daughter with her in the cockpit of her helicopter. As the mother of a 5 year old, I can relate to this women. NPR has a way of bringing a stark human reality into it's stories and profiling some of the most interesting and brave people on the planet. I feel as if I get to live vicariously through the lives of people who live in places I may never see in my lifetime and this is a truly a gift.

Besides the world and regional news, music/movie reviews, and political stories, we are kept laughing by the comedy programs. Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me airs on the weekends and plays in the background to our weekend projects at home. My husband downloaded the pod casts of this program when he was deployed in Iraq.

One of my all time favorite articles was The Dog Who Loved to Suck on Toads a story which aired back in 2006 and had us in tears laughing on the way home from work. There is no better way to decompress after a long work day than to laugh so hard your stomach hurts. So thank you NPR!

For more information or to find your local stations, go to www.npr.org.

Remember your sweeties on Valentine's day next Tuesday! :-)

Week 5 - Chikumbuso Widows & Orphans Project

2012-02-03T11:11:00.000-08:00

I love being able to support the efforts of people in my community. I met volunteers with the Chikumbuso project back in December at a craft fair. They happened to have the table next to ours and I was immediately drawn to the bright colors and beautiful designs of the purses and bags they were selling. Come to find out, these purses were created from discarded plastic shopping bags by widows in the of Ng'ombe compound in Lusaka, Zambia.

Bags made from recycled plastic grocery bags are a micro-industry for the Chikumbuso widows

The success stories of the Chikumbuso project are so compelling and I love the connection between a this New England community and the people of Zambia. The Project began in 2005 to help one widow feed and educate her 7 children. According to the Chikumbuso website, the AIDS crisis in Zambia has left 800,000 children orphaned. This is a staggering number to even wrap my head around. The project has now grown to accommodate 70 widows, 50 young adults, 20 grandmothers, and 300 school children.

Within the Chikumbuso compound, these women and children are offered a safe haven of love and opportunity. They are provided resources and knowledge to generate their own income and learn skills. Their children are given free education and their grandmothers are protected and provided for. The project has also started helping single mothers by teaching them sewing and cooking while providing safe daycare for their children.

"Remembrance of what has been done for you and doing it for others" is the Chikumbuso slogan

These women and children who would otherwise be extremely vulnerable in the slums are being given a new lease on life and hope for their own future as well as the future of their children. For more information or to donate to the Chikumbuso Widows & Orphans Project visit their website www.chikumbuso.com or find them on Facebook. Be sure sure to check out their beautiful purses and bags too.

My donation will be matched 100% by my company.

Happy February all!

Week 4 - United Way of Southeastern Connecticut

2012-01-26T11:13:00.000-08:00

Week 4 takes me back to the East Coast and closer to home with United Way of Southeastern Connecticut. This is likely the largest charitable organization I will be donating to this year. Every fall, my company launches a global United Way campaign to raise funds for the following year. In the fall 2010 campaign employees donated just over $1 million and with the company match sent $2.1 million out into our local community to help those in need. Then came the 2011 campaign and a drastic reduction in donations. We're talking a 78% reduction! This was attributed to many things including poor company moral after a round of severe lay-offs, as well as a generally faltering economy.

The United Way provides vital services to those in need in our local community. They do everything from bringing hot meals to the elderly, providing dental care, assisting local non-profit aid organizations, and helping during times of national disaster and crisis. Personally, I am most impressed with the United Way programs that help to strengthen families in our community. In these times, protecting the family unit is critical. I believe the more support we give to fledgling families to keep them together and keep them happy, the better our communities will become.

As an employee of a company who has laid off thousands of workers, I have personally known families struggling to make ends meets after losing a job. So it is reassuring to know that our community has strong United Way support should we ever need it.

More information about United Way can be found at www.liveunited.org

My week 4 donation will be 100% matched by my company.