We are always farklempt when we hear about ordinary people (our earthly angels) who grant wishes to individuals who are in desperate need of help in order to survive some of the basic things most of us take for granted. The 2011 Miami Herald Wish Book Program managed to surpass their previous year’s program and topped other years within their 3-decade history of giving gift donations from their readers, in light of the present economic condition.
Herald Charities manage the Wish Book Program. The nonprofit organization received more than $325,000 in cash donations and topped $100,000 with in-kind donations. The nominees were featured in the newspaper and if they did not have their wishes granted, they are in the process of getting them granted. Generous donations made by readers included new and gently used furniture, medical equipment, toys, appliances, electronics, professional services and bicycles.
Some of the wishes granted this year included: a special tricycle for a little boy with cerebral palsy to help him continue his therapy; a girl with cerebral palsy whose family needed help with a mobility van to get her to her appointments; a man who survived the earthquake in Haiti and needed a job to support him and his daughter who was the only other survivor in his immediate family from the earthquake; and a special hospital bed to help a girl manage her convulsions. These are just a smidgen of some of the things readers came to the rescue for when people desperately needed it.
To learn how you can donate to the Wish Book Program, especially if you live in the Miami Florida area, check out their website: http://www.miamiherald.com/wishbook/. This is a rich testament of ordinary people doing some extraordinary things.
The team at Favorite Things For A CAUSE would like to take this moment to recognize and celebrate the contributions of an iconic Civil Rights Leader, Motivator, Pastor, Activist, Brother, Husband, Father and great Humanitarian. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. exemplified the character of bringing people together by bridging cultural differences in a non-violent fashion. He was one of the great advocates for equality for all people. His accolades are many and too numerous to mention. He was known worldwide for his crusade for humanity and today his messages and dream continues to live on.
Thank you for paving the way for all of us and Happy Birthday Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.!
We came across a story about this amazing project that left us in awe when we found out that the construction and façade was a use of recycled materials. In Seoul Korea, there is a building that makes an artistic statement for environmental preservation and recycling. Some may see this project as an eyesore, while others see it as a structure that bears a deep message. This project is called 1000 Doors, but we see it as a tower for doors of opportunity.
South Korean artist and designer Choi Jeong-Hwa worked unbelievable magic with discarded doors on a 10-story building in Seoul. He covered the façade of this commercial building with 1,000 discarded doors. Choi is widely known to use other discarded objects like plastics and various types of trash discarded by millions of people into an novel art form. He is best known as the artist who elevates dumpster diving to high art. http://choijeonghwa.com/ He is brilliant with over the top imagination and creativity. What a courageous way to take recycling to a completely new and innovative level.
We have seen the ills and expense resulting in major plumbing repairs from pouring used cooking grease down your drain. We are a society that uses oil for sautéing, frying and cooking. In the same sense we have see the damage that used cooking oil has created. Many cities are generating ways to recycle your used cooking oil. Instead of pouring it down your drain or throwing it in the trash to clog and create worse conditions in our landfills, a group of students from Westerly, RI decided to do something about this dilemma.
Project Turn Grease into Fuel (TGIF) is a student-led project where restaurants and residents recycle their waste cooking oil, by turning it into biodiesel and donating it to charities that support families who require heating assistance. Their goal is to reduce carbon emissions by turning waste cooking oil into biodiesel. The EPA awarded Project TGIF with the President’s Environmental Youth Award.
There is a solution to this environmental hazard and you can do something to help. Find a local cooking oil disposal site in your area through Earth911.com http://search.earth911.com/?what=cooking+oil. By turning waste cooking oil into biodiesel, this recycled heating fuel is donated to help many low-income families in need.
When we think about our purpose and direction in life, we have to stop and listen to that inner spirit that tells us we must be a bigger part of the picture and solution when taking care of the “least of these.” If we are not part of that solution then we are definitely part of the problem or indifferent to the need. When we began our mission with Favorite Things For A CAUSE in 2007, we were inspired by and became a part of the multitude of people who stepped up to the plate to make a difference, even if it was in their own back yards.
There is a classic line in a song that touched so many of us in 1985, that reminds us of our calling when we pay attention: “There comes a time, when we heed a certain call…” It’s from the song “We Are the World” that bridged an array of stars who checked their egos at the door for a bigger cause. We witnessed some amazing and incredible star-studded talent (Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Kenny Rogers, Kenny Loggins, Dionne Warick, Paul Simon, Diana Ross, Tina Turner, Lionel Ritchie, James Ingram, Ray Charles, Billy Joel, etc) who came together to help bridge a nation and global community, by recognizing a humanistic need to make choices that will save generations of people around the world.
As we look ahead to this leap year, we will take a leap of faith to heed that certain call and to continue making this world a better place for you and me! Peace & Blessings everyone! Happy New Year!
As we approach the green light to enter 2012, we want to pause and take this moment to salute all of the individuals and organizations who made some extraordinary and unselfish contributions to others in need this year. We applaud your efforts and were honored to feature many of your stories with our viewing audience.
We look forward to posting some more extraordinary people and organizations that are doing their part to make a big difference in their communities and around the world in 2012. From the depths of our hearts, we want to say “Thank You!”
It’s amazing on how many social media posts we read by individuals who declined to buy Christmas gifts this year, but instead chose to buy and donate to others in need. Despite the many horrible stories on the news about “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” we still find more cases of decency, humanity and philanthropy that resonate all around us.
From our Favorite Things For A CAUSE family, we wish all of you a safe and Merry Christmas. To everyone celebrating Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, our best wishes also come your way to allow the peace and joy that we celebrate this holiday season to engulf your hearts, souls and spirits.
We came across this article posted by India Infoline News that shared results from a survey conducted by the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) stating that the USA is officially the most charitable nation in the world. Outstanding! In light of the fact that we continue to hear grim stories about the economy, jobs and the increase in destitute individuals, we are still finding everyday heroes stepping up to the plate to lend a helping hand and make a positive and edifying difference in someone else’s life.
This news is so refreshing as we see that there is still more good than bad being done by people around the globe. Could the financial crisis that is spreading around the world and handicapping many economies be a blessing in disguise? Are we seeing a surge of more people unfolding their arms, saying that someone should do something and finding that they are instead stepping up to the plate to be a contributor instead of a spectator?
Since we are in that time of the year where we are expected to give thanks for the simple and often overlooked things in our daily lives, why not stop, refocus and remove “self” from the equation. Do you feel that a national and global crisis had to happen in order to make people stop and look at perhaps how we have been a little selfish instead of altruistic? This article USA ‘Most Charitable Country on Planet’ not only focuses on the increase of charity in the US, but how efforts around the world have been bumped up.
The highs and lows of the holiday season can be like a rollercoaster ride of stress-induced frenzy! Is this scene relevant to you and your family right now? Especially during this holiday season, are we focusing more on trying to meet unrealistic “gifting” expectations or are you making a firm commitment to avoid the tumultuousness that invades the peace of your spirit?
December is National Stress-Free Family Holiday Month. The idea is to identify the things that are important to you and your family by developing holiday and yearlong traditions that you have uniquely designed to set your family apart from what we typically expect during this time of the year.
If you find yourself overwhelmed with anxiousness and stress as we approach Christmas, then something is terribly wrong. The only way you can break this pressure that either we create or allow others to create and impose on us, is to stop it yourself. No one can force this on you unless you allow it. Step back, take a deep breath and discover what is really important and healthy for you and your family, especially during this time of the year. Believe us, it is really not that deep!
We continue to promote environmental awareness, along with community outreach and dedicated charities throughout the year. One of the reoccurring subjects that continue to come up is suggestions for giving “green” gifts for Christmas. No, we are not talking about gifts that are the color green, but environmentally friendly gifts.
Eco-friendly artists are emerging with unlimited creativity in making some unique creations out of recycled items. If you are not artistically creative, but look for gift ideas that are eco-friendly, while protecting the environment, then here are a few suggestions to start with:
Green America provides a holiday green gift guide with special offers from their Green Business Network.
Artists from Etsy.com make some incredible jewelry from recycled materials
Fashion forward t-shirts from Rain Tee is hand-made in the U.S. from eco-friendly fabrics and features original artwork created by children living in countries facing rampant deforestation.
The Hunger Site Store lists a variety of causes that you can give a few dollars to, from feeding a U.S. family to supplying clean water to a school in Tanzania.
From the Natural Resources Defense Council NRDC Green Gifts offers ideas for holiday gifts that save the environment
Worldwide Life is the world’s leading conservation organization that helps to protect life on the earth. Check out their adoption highlights!
We also came across this story, “Green is the new black for kids” reported by the St. Louis Beacon, a non-profit news organization dedicated to reporting and discussing “news that matters” to the St. Louis region.
These creative and thoughtful gifts are ideal for those on your Christmas Gift List, as well as eco-friendly gifts year round! One of our favorite things is to “Protect Mother Nature!” How about you? Happy shopping!
