Saluting Derreck Kayongo: Saving Lives with a Bar of Soap!

What do you do with that tiny bit of soap that has melted away with each shower or bath? Have you thought about donating it? Yes, donating your used soap!

Derreck Kayongo, a top ten 2011 CNN Hero, has an Atlanta-based Global Soap Project that collects used hotel soap from across the United States. The soaps are cleaned and reprocessed to be shipped to areas like Uganda, Kenya, Haiti and Swaziland. More than 2 million children die each year from diarrheal illnesses due to poor hygiene. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), these deaths occur primarily among toddlers living in poor countries.

Each year in the United States, hundreds of millions of soap bars are thrown away and end up in landfills. With the support of his wife, friends and many Atlanta-based hotels, Derreck began his Global Soap Project in 2009. Three hundred hotels nationwide have joined the soap collection effort and so far generated 100 tons of soap! The hotel soaps are collected and shipped by volunteers from across the United States, to the group’s warehouse in Atlanta, Georgia. Atlanta volunteers assemble at the warehouse on Saturdays, to clean, reprocess and package the bars of soap. A batch of soap bars will only be released once the samples are tested for pathogens and determined to be safe by a third party lab.

Derreck is very familiar with the stress created by poverty and displacement. He fled Uganda with his parents almost 30 years ago due to the mass torture and killings by former Ugandan military dictator Idi Amin. Derreck’s work was recognized by the Atlanta City Council and they declared May 15 as Global Soap Project Day in Atlanta.

We salute you Derreck Kayongo, not because you were chosen as a CNN Hero, but because of your humanitarian effort to make sure that poor children get something as simple as a bar of soap to keep them from dying due to the lack of access to basic sanitation. Find out how you can help with the Global Soap Project. http://www.globalsoap.org/. “One person’s trash is another person’s treasure!”

Saluting The Young Icons!

We are always impressed by the number of young people who make us stop and take notice of what we can do with what we have and make a positive difference in the lives of so many people. There is a television show called “The Young Icons” that gives you a glimpse inside the lives of the brightest and the best! These young icons energize us into reviewing, refocusing and recommitting our life to what our purpose and mission is.

Take a look at a previous segment of The Young Icons and be sure to check out this show on your local network. http://www.es.tv/2010/02/16/the-young-icons/ Our hats off to all of our young icons everywhere. Thank you for your inspiration and reminding us about what is important in life…to be inspired and to be an inspiration!

An Act of Kindness for Garbage Collectors

Image Credit: nola.com

A story that ran in the “Good News” section of the Huffington Post written by Patience Salgado showed us the heart of the people we all rely on the most…our garbage collectors.

Patience took an informal survey among friends and family, and came to the conclusion from the results that the most thankless job is that of a garbage collector. After talking to a few collectors in her neighborhood, she found that they just wanted to be respected. That’s a very simple request that resonates beyond what their job description entails. This sparked the “kindness mission” where Patience urged people to leave simple messages of respect and gratitude for their garbage collectors on their trash receptacles. Garbage collectors were able to see just how special they really are, even if they don’t hear it that often.

To read more about this mission spearheaded by Patience Salgado check out her story at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/patience-salgado/garbage-collectors_b_1218016.html Thank you Patience, for that small act of kindness that made an extraordinary impact on people who contribute so much to our lives every day.

Miami Herald’s Wish Book Program

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.

Saluting Doc Hendley, Founder and President of Wine To Water

Doc Hendley: Wine To Water

We are familiar with the first miracle that Jesus performed in the Bible. He attended a wedding where the host ran out of wine for the guests. Mary, Jesus’ mother told him about the dilemma the host of the wedding was in and Jesus asked the servants to bring him water in stone water vessels that he divinely turned into wine. Hence, with this incredible miracle, the wedding commenced as planned.

In 2003, Doc Hendley, Founder and President of Wine to Water dreamed up the concept for his organization, while bartending and playing music in nightclubs around Raleigh, North Carolina. In February 2004, Doc held the first fundraiser and in August of that year, he lived in Darfur, Sudan installing water systems for victims of government-supported genocide. After returning home, his experience in Darfur encouraged him to make the goal of his organization expand globally. After working two jobs while volunteering his time for over three years, Don turned his dream into reality.

Wine To Water is a 501(c)(3) non-profit aid organization focused on providing clean water to needy people around the world. Nearly one billion people in the world today lack access to adequate water and 2.5 billion people lack access to improved sanitation. We are devoted to fighting this epidemic. Wine symbolizes fortune in our society. The goal of Wine To Water is to allow Jesus to turn His miracle around for the needy people of this world who can’t fight for themselves.

“When the idea came to me to start Wine To Water,” says Hendley, “the only real world job experience I had was tending bar. I dreamed of building an organization that fought water related death and disease using completely different methods than anyone else. So I started raising money to fight this water epidemic the best way I knew how, by pouring wine and playing music.”

Doc Hendley certainly deserves the spotlight for our Ordinary People, Extraordinary Things spotlight. Voted as one of the 2010 CNN Heroes, Doc was recognized for responding to a need to reduce human suffering for the least of these. We are certainly inspired by Doc’s story for taking what he had to work with and turning it into something that would make a lasting impression around the world. Thank you Doc, for the great things that you are doing to make this world a better place, with no strings attached.

Favorite Things for a CAUSE salutes you for the positive impact that you are making for those who do not have access to clean drinking water. We also invite you to visit Wine To Water and feel free to make a donation to this very worthy cause!

A Lesson Learned from Rachel Beckwith

Rachel Beckwith: Angel Gone Too Soon

I think practically everyone has been touched by the story about 9-year old Rachel Beckwith, who suddenly died in a tragic traffic accident in July.

In lieu of getting presents for her 9th birthday (June 12), Rachel requested that people send donations to help build water wells in Africa for people who do not have access to clean drinking water as we have in the United States. Her goal was to raise $300. As modest as that amount may seem to many, to a 9-year old that was a lot of money.

Although she came short of her goal by $80 for her birthday, Rachel was not discouraged, but determined to find better ways in her efforts for her 10th birthday. When an unfortunate traffic accident claimed her life in July, amazingly, the word got out about what she was doing and more people began contributing to Rachel’s pool of donations for Charity: Water. As of this writing, over $1.1 million dollars has been raised in her memory.

Now, the lesson here is not about a 9-year-old little girl raising money to donate to a charity. Having compassion for those who may not be as fortunate as many and using the resources that you have to make a positive difference in their lives is the key to understanding this lesson. You don’t have to be a celebrity, nor do you have to be a millionaire to make a genuine, heartfelt, positive impact to help others, regardless of how young or old you may be.

By paying it forward in an unselfish and loving way, you can teach others more by “doing”, instead of just talking about it and wind up doing nothing at all.

The TOMS Shoes MOVEMENT: Beyond One-For-One

Founder Blake Mycoskie of TOMS with shoe recipients

When you buy a pair of shoes from TOMS Shoes you may not have any idea how much of an impact your purchase is making. TOMS Shoes sets an impressive standard with their “One For One” concept of giving. Their “One-for-One” idea simply means that for every pair of shoes they sell, they will give a new pair of shoes to a child in need. So far, they have given away over a million pairs of shoes. What a precedence they set for social consciousness in the retail and charitable industries.

In 2006, founder Blake Mycoskie brought TOMS to fruition. He was inspired by a trip he took to Argentina where he witnessed extreme poverty and poor health conditions. He also noticed that children were walking around without shoes and cleverly decided to build a business that would commit to matching every pair of TOMS shoes purchased, with a pair of shoes given to a child in need.

TOMS’ charitable commitment inspired so many others that it spilled over into what is known as the TOMS Movement. Compassionate young people who are involved with TOMS through campus clubs and internships started the TOMS Movement. College students were also responsible for helping to launch One Day Without Shoes in 2008.  This event occurs in April when TOMS asks people to go without shoes to raise awareness of children growing up barefoot. The TOMS Movement has grown beyond college campuses and in 2010, over 250,000 people went barefoot to support this cause. On April 5, 2011, over 1,000 One Day Without Shoes events were held in over 25 countries worldwide! TOMS works to establish shoe-giving partnerships with humanitarian organizations globally, to build long-term relationships in the countries and communities they serve.

 

Elementary School Siblings Form SoWal Recycles

Young Entrepreneurs: Cyrus and Grace Garringer

We stumbled upon this wonderful story about two siblings deciding to do something about the insufficiency of recycling in their community. What many adults probably think of as a waste of time, this sister and brother team decided to take the time to do something about the waste. Cyrus and Grace Garringer of Santa  Rosa Beach Florida, started their own recycling business called SoWal Recycles.

Cyrus who  is 10 years old and Grace who is 8 years old, knew that  their local waste management company did not offer residential recycling services for the South Walton area where they live, so they wanted to make things easier for residents to recycle every day. SoWal Recycles serves the South Walton area in Florida and extends their services to local businesses.

Customers using the services of SoWal Recycles can select days of the week they want their recyclables picked up and how often. Grace and Cyrus currently arrange to pick up the recyclables from their client’s homes after school, then separate the items to be delivered at Walton County recycling bins. Of course this dynamic duo cannot drive, so their parents do that part, as well as teach them how to operate their new business responsibly. Like any new or existing business, Cyrus and Grace have to track their expenses, as well as their income. The items they collect for recycling include:

• Clean Dry Paper
• Tin/Steel/Aluminum cans
• Corrugated cardboard
• Plastics
• Glass

What is even more impressive is their decision to pay-it-forward with their business. They will donate 10% of their monthly profit to different charities. They decided that their first donation would help victims of the Alabama tornado. Each month their charity will change.

SoWal Recycles is not just about making money or recycling, but Cyrus and Grace’s interest also include other projects like hosting some mini Earth Day parties during their summer break and invite friends to help clean up their local beach. For more information about SoWal Recycles, visit their blog at  http://sowalrecycle.blogspot.com or you can email them at sowalrecycle@gmail.com.

Grace and Cyrus, we applaud your tenacity and dedicated work to help bring environmental awareness to your community. We hope that more people will be inspired by your environmental initiatives to do their part to recycle more. Favorite Things for a CAUSE salutes you and encourages you to continue with your commitment and your extraordinary “can-do” spirit!

Saluting Shannon Binns, Executive Director for Sustain Charlotte

Executive Director for Sustain Charlotte

Favorite Things for a CAUSE would like to recognize the diligent efforts of one man and several volunteers. We were floored by the work that certain environmentally conscious people do individually to sustain our planet. It is inevitable that we must shift our consciousness and subconscious when thinking about the quality of air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we digest. It is all connected, just like the connection Shannon has had for many years. Shannon is the kind of man who shares endlessly and advocates progressively about our environment, via Sustain Charlotte. As the founder and Executive Director of Sustain Charlotte, Shannon listens and leads many initiatives in Charlotte, NC to invoke citizens to clean up their ACT. It takes thousands of volunteer hours to change the way citizens do business with planet earth.

Prior to moving to Charlotte in 2007, Shannon worked at The Nature Conservancy in Washington, DC where he was part of their Climate Change Science and Policy Team. Shannon also served as an agroforestry volunteer with the Peace Corps in Senegal, helped establish a tsunami relief organization in Thailand, and served communities across the Northeast US as a member of the National Civilian Community Corps. In the private sector, Shannon worked as an industrial engineer for Motorola, General Motors, and Trane. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from Iowa State University and a Masters Degree of Public Administration in Environmental Science and Policy from Columbia University. He is a Senior Fellow in the Environmental Leadership Program’s Southeast Network and a 2009 graduate of the Arts and Science Council’s Cultural Leadership Training Program.  

Sustain Charlotte is a nonprofit organization helping to advance a region-wide sustainability movement, by serving as a catalyst for change.  Their mission is to inspire, inform, and facilitate a holistic and collaborative approach to building a vibrant and sustainable future for the entire Charlotte metropolitan region.    

Sustainability is the new driving factor affecting the economic well-being, quality of life, population trends, public health, environmental conditions and other measures of regional vitality. The Charlotte region however, lags behind other metro areas in terms of sustainability. Additionally, there is not one entity taking a long-term, regional perspective or leadership role in this important area. Sustain Charlotte was formed in January 2010 in order to fill this void.

To achieve their mission, Sustain Charlotte focuses on three key strategies:

1. Educate
2. Engage
3. Unite

Their Vision: A region in which everyone has the knowledge, resources and opportunity to make and influence decisions with a clear awareness of their combined social, economic and environmental impacts.

Visit www.sustaincharlotte.com or email Shannon Binns at shannon@sustaincharlotte.org.

Favorite Things for a CAUSE salutes Shannon Binns and Sustain Charlotte, for discovering ways to raise our level of environmental consciousness to make wise decisions and changes today, for a bright, fruitful and sustainable tomorrow!

John Alston Gives At-Risk Teens a Music Education

As we continue to run across a myriad of stories about ordinary people making extraordinary changes in their communities, we want to continue recognizing those who are becoming our true heroes. Every day we hear about people using their God-given gifts and talents to touch the lives of so many people, by paying it forward and making a positive and edifying difference in the world.

We would like to shift the spotlight on Dr. John Alston, associate professor of music at Swarthmore College who gives at-risk teenagers in Chester, Pennsylvania an opportunity to experience music education development. Chester, Pennsylvania is an impoverished city struggling against high dropout rates and appalling academic achievement. Read this extraordinary story about Dr. John Alston and the difference the Chester Children’s Chorus (CCC) is making in the world. http://www.csmonitor.com/World/making-a-difference/2011/0314/John-Alston-turns-kids-in-hoodies-into-a-choral-band-of-brothers.

How are you using your gifts and talents to make a positive difference in your community?

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