January 2011
43 posts
14 tags
Party for Charity!
Sometimes having a good time for a good cause is a great way to help give back, plus everyone needs some time to unwind. So, I thought I would share a couple February events in Chicago for you to check out. I received an invite for a benefit party for one of my favorite charities, Chicago Food Depository. Billy Dec is celebrating the 2 year anniversary of his blog, aChicagothing.com, and...
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Day 284: Citizen Schools
I grew up on the southside of Chicago and attended high school at De La Salle Institute. I learned a lot about the importance of community and service through the Lasallian Youth program and the Theater program at De La Salle. A handful of the organizations I have donated to were charities I remember volunteering at during my Lasallian Youth service in high school. I also met some great people,...
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Day 283: Young Chicago Authors
I met some really cool people at UXXU 2011, one of those cool people is Kevin Coval, a poet who serves as the Artistic Director for Young Chicago Authors. I’ve heard about Young Chicago Authors before, but being at UXXU reminded me to find out more about their work. YCA is a great organization the works to empower Chicago’s youth to utilize creative writing and performance to boost...
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“Don’t be afraid of failure, more importantly don’t be afraid to...”
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Day 282: CeaseFire Illinois
I spent the majority of my day today as a spark at UXXU 2011. My job was to learn and ask questions to help these top designers and thinkers work out a way to help social good organizations expand their reach. It was a very thought provoking way to spend the day, I was very intrigued and moved by a few of the projects and organizations. One of the groups was focused on creating action plans for...
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Day 281: United Cerebral Palsy Association
Today’s give goes out to a fellow crowdrise-r, Melissa, her crowdrise project is raising money for United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Cleveland. She has mild CP and she prefers to call it a physical difficulty, not a disability. I believe her voice is better suited to describing the cause than mine. So, here is her story:
“I actually have mild CP (spastic diplegia) myself and walk with...
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Day 280: Horsefeathers Therapeutic Riding Center
Today’s give comes from a recommendation from my friend Derek, who mentioned this organization was very dear to him. Horsefeathers Therapeutic Riding Center uses horses and ponies to provide therapy for the physically and emotionally handicapped. The benefits are overwhelmingly positive though physical, emotional, mental, and social means.
Horsefeathers Therapeutic Riding, NFP is a...
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Journal Entry #4: Expedition Escalera
I’ve compiled an abridged journal of my time spent in Chiapas, Mexico building a school with Foundation Escalera. I decided to share my experiences to offer a small glimpse at the work we did and the people we met.
Chiapas 2010 School building expedition with Foundation Escalera Journal Entry #4
Tuesday, December 28th - La Virginia
Photo By Zachary Byron Taylor
“Boy, you gotta carry...
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Day 279: American Heart Association
Challenges. Challenges! Today’s give comes with a challenge, February 4th, 2011 is wear red day to raise awareness and funds for the American Heart Association. My Ticketweb co-worker Laura and I are going to start a grassroots wear red day at our office and see if we can get others to join in as well by wearing red on February 4th and raise money for AHA! So, that is our challenge, so I...
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Day 278: Back On My Feet
Today’s give goes out to very cool organization engaging the homeless population by challenging them to run with a community to build confidence and self-esteem. They provide shoes and gear, social running events and help cover race entry fees and other incentives. The longer a runner stays committed to the team and program the more opportunities, connections, and aid they receive for...
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Day 277: Epilepsy Foundation
Today’s give goes to The Epilepsy Foundation of America. Epilepsy is a medical condition that causes seizures that affect mental and physical functions. About 3 million people in the US have some form of epilepsy and 20,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. There is no real treatment (aside from brain surgery), no cure, no quick fix - only management. And, depending on the type of...
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Day 276: Seedlings Braille Books for Children
I am a big supporter of literacy and when I found out about Seedlings, I thought their mission was a very cool one. The organization provides high quality, low cost braille books for visually impaired children. That means more cost effective reading options for visually impaired children to increase their education and enjoyment. Way to go, Seedlings!
Seedlings Braille Books for Children is a...
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Day 275: BC Cancer Foundation
My friend Jodie is awesome. She works for Capcom in Vancouver, they make video games and she makes the video games sound awesome, you’ve played the games, so you should know it’s true. She’s been a huge supporter of everything I’ve been doing with Living Philanthropic and now it’s my turn to support her. In June she will be riding for 2 days to raise money for BC...
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Contest: FreeRice-A-Thon!
Okay, after months of playing FreeRice.com anonymously, I’ve decided to take my own advice and create a user account and create a fancy contest for anyone who wants to play with me on FreeRice.com!
HOW TO PLAY:
1. Create a user account on FreeRice.Com (Already a member? You rock! Skip to Step 2.)
2. Join the Living Philanthropic Group:...
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Day 274: World Food Program
A month ago, I posted about the addictive and socially good game on FreeRice.com, where you can learn vocabulary and help provide rice to those in need! I recently read there are over 80 million people playing Farmville, can you image the impact we could have if those 80 million people played a few rounds of FreeRice? I wanted to take a day to highlight the organization that FreeRice benefits,...
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Day 273: Spina Bifida Association
Today’s give comes from a recommendation from redheadonfire, who mentioned they are living with Spina Bifida and asked that I help spread the word. I had never heard of this condition, so I decided to look it up and find out more. For those who are unaware, Spina Bifida is a development birth defect that comes from the incomplete closing of the embryonic neural tube, which can cause one of...
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Day 272: America SCORES Chicago
There are many underserved communities in Chicago, communities filled with bright young minds loaded with potential. Supporting organizations that are working to help these young minds reach their full potential and become positive influences in their communities is vital to the future of our city. America SCORES Chicago is doing just that with students on Chicago’s west side and that is...
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Journal Entry #3: Expedition Escalera
I’ve compiled an abridged journal of my time spent in Chiapas, Mexico building a school with Foundation Escalera. I decided to share my experiences to offer a small glimpse at the work we did and the people we met.
Chiapas 2010 School building expedition with Foundation Escalera Journal Entry #3
Photo by Zach Byron Taylor
Monday, December 27th - La Virginia
“It always seems...
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Day 271: Humanitarian Service Project
I’ve had some trouble with posting my blog post today. Today’s give goes out to a highly rated local charity on Charity Navigator. The Humanitarian Service Project is listed as one of Charity Navigators top ten highly rated charities with the lowest paid CEO, which means more funding is directed towards the services and programs that Humanitarian Service Project provides to the needy...
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Day 270: Growing Home
There are some great organizations in Chicago providing transitional job training, but what I find so wonderful about today’s organization is their commitment to community development as well. Growing Home was instrumental in the development of a urban farm in the Englewood neighborhood. This led to the creation of the Englewood farmer’s market and providing job training and...
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Day 269: The Glass Slipper Project
Growing up with five sisters, there was a time when it seemed like my mother was buying homecoming and prom dresses all the time. Most of my sisters had to save money from their part-time jobs to buy their dresses and my mother would help cover the rest. It was funny to me to see how happy that one dress would make them, probably because we didn’t always have the nicest things, getting a...
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Day 268: Compass To Care
I’ve heard a lot a great things about today’s charity, and with good reason. Compass to Care provides travel support services for parents whose children are fighting cancer. This is a wonderful service and organization, especially for those families that might need a little a lift to the clinics and doctors providing the best cancer care. If you know anyone who might benefit from or...
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Day 267: Blue Star Mothers of America
From send-offs to care packages to welcome homes, I believe strongly in supporting the men and women who risk their lives and well being to protect our country. While I don’t believe in war or violence, it would be foolish to not acknowledge that my beliefs and freedoms are protected by the souls who keep our country safe. For these brave men and women in active deployment or returning...
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“IF YOU’RE LUCKY ENOUGH TO FIND A WAY OF LIFE YOU LOVE, YOU HAVE TO FIND...”
– John Irving (this quote was read at my friend’s memorial service. I really love it.)
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Day 266: Northwest Family Services
I’ve been to Portland, Oregon a few times and have enjoyed the city, the culture, and the green space. It’s a very cool city, I did notice a large homeless population each time I was there, possibly just kids living on the street. I received an email recently from an employee working for Northwest Family Services with nice things to say about my blog, so to thank him and NWFS for all...
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News: Tom Waits releases book for Charity
Anyone who knows me, knows how much of a giant Tom Waits fan I am, he’s one of my favorite songwriters (I feel lucky to have seen him in concert twice). Today I received an email about his new book “Seeds on Hard Ground” which proceeds will benefit a couple different charities. So I jumped on board and reserved a copy of his book, which will be released on my birthday (2/22)!
...
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Day 265: Inspiration Corporation
Wow, 100 days left in year one! It’s been an amazing journey so far, today I’m bringing it back home. Today’s give goes out to a Chicago organization working to provide support, employment and housing programs for Chicagoans affected by homelessness and poverty. The one thing I would like to point out about this 4 star organization is their donation form, there is a option every...
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Radio Interview with Vocalo.org →
Vocalo.org is a non-profit radio station in Chicago, the sister station to WBEZ Chicago Public Radio, check out their website and click the Donate button, if you like what you hear and make a tax-deductible contribution. Thanks for listening!
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Journal Entry #2: Expedition Escalera
I’ve compiled an abridged journal of my time spent in Chiapas, Mexico building a school with Foundation Escalera. I decided to share my experiences to offer a small glimpse at the work we did and the people we met.
Chiapas 2010 School building expedition with Foundation Escalera Journal Entry #2
Saturday, Dec 26th - San Cristobal
“Preparation is key”
The next morning was a free day before our...
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Day 264: NPH International
Today’s give comes from a recommendation from a friend and generous spirit, Katie Riley, who does amazing work with She’s The First and Give Haiti Hope. Katie is a prime example of one person working to make an great impact. She recommended that I look into NPH International, based on her first hand experience visiting one of their clinics during a recent trip to Haiti. She was very...
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Day 263: Child Abuse Prevention Center
Today’s give goes to an organization working to actively break the cycle of child abuse. There are so many challenges and hurdles that at-risk youth have to overcome outside their home. I believe it’s important that their home life is a safe place, free from violence, so they can confidently tackle the challenges ahead of them.
The Child Abuse Prevention Center directly serves...
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Day 262: The Susan Cohan Kasdas Colon Cancer...
I am attending the memorial service for a great friend today, Chris Ward Blumer, we lost her to colon cancer on December 27th, 2010. She was such a joy to be around all summer, she could fill any room with her positive energy. I have started a crowdrise project in her memory to raise funds for Livestrong Foundation, so far we’ve raised $376. While searching around crowdrise, I noticed...
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Day 261: Mothers Without Borders
Today’s give comes from a suggestion on Facebook, while researching Mothers Without Borders, I was moved by the work of the founder, in 1996 Kathy Headlee, a single mother of five decided to step up and help the orphans of the world. For the past 15 years, she and her organization have been actively helping children in orphanages all over the world. It is a true testament to power of one...
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Journal Entry #1: Expedition Escalera
I’ve compiled an abridged journal of my time spent in Chiapas, Mexico building a school with Foundation Escalera. I decided to share my experiences to offer a small glimpse at the work we did and the people we met.
Chiapas 2010 School building expedition with Foundation Escalera Journal Entry #1
Saturday, Dec 25th - Chicago to San Cristobal
“Beginners are many, finishers are few”
I was...
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Day 260: LIVESTRONG
In the course of one week, Cancer has claimed the lives of two people in my life. My uncle to lung cancer and a friend to colon cancer. I had the pleasure of performing with Chris Ward Blumer in David Cromer’s production of Cherrywood at Mary-Arrchie this past summer. She was my hero, always positive and a joy to be around. Even when she was wearing her portable chemo pack during...
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Day 259: Linkz for Kidz
While in Mexico, I was very close to Guatemala, at one point I may or may not have stepped on the shores of Guatemala. :) Seeing the range of poverty in Chiapas, I’ve heard that there are similar situations in Guatemala, so I wanted to find an organization working to help kids in Guatemala. Today, I received a gChat message from my friend Michele, who told me about Linkz for Kidz, a...
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Try this at Home: Help Bing give $1 Million to...
This holiday season, Bing wants to donate $1 million to schools. Simply tell them to donate for you and they’ll add you to the thousands of people who’ve clicked their support. Click and they’ll donate for you today. It’s that easy, I did it in 30 seconds. There are only 9 more days to make a difference.
The details: You can choose to make Bing your homepage and Bing...
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Day 258: The Anti-Cruelty Society
Today’s give comes from a recommendation from Lorelei on Facebook. For fun, I had a little contest involving a photo of the school build and she answered correctly. She and her kids sent me a great recommendation and it’s a Chicago organization, which I also like! The Anti-Cruelty society provides services that promote animal welfare in the Chicagoland area. They work to tackle the...
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Day 257: My Friend's Place
Today’s give comes from a recommendation from a friend out in LA, My Friend’s Place provides a plethora of services to homeless youth living in LA. Their services allow for these individuals and their families to get a little support as they work towards finding stability in their lives.
Founded in 1988, My Friend’s Place is a nonprofit Resource Center offering a...
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“Immerse yourself in a someone else’s world and you’ll begin to...”
– LivingPhilanthropic.com
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Day 256: BullsEye Dog Rescue
Mexico was an amazing experience, I will share some stories over the coming weeks. I am still catching up on all my emails and messages, please be with me. I’ve noticed many people making resolutions to give more in 2011, and I think it’s awesome! Some people are even challenging themselves to give every week and every day. Feel free to drop me an email if you are doing the same and...
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Day 255: Himalayan Cataract Project
I am on my way back to the Chicago from Mexico today, I can’t wait to put together my journal of experiences. Anyone who donated to Foundation Escalera as a part of my expedition project will receive a fancy schmancy copy of it. Today’s give goes to out to a great organization that is helping prevent blindness in developing countries. Thanks to Starla for the recommendation.
The...
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Day 254: Friedman Place
Happy New Year to everyone! I wish you a happy and prosperous new year! Today’s give is a local as I can get, Friedman Place is a wonderful non-profit operating right in Lincoln Square neighborhood of Chicago. Friedman Place offers services to the blind and vision impaired to empower their lives and a community to live in with additional supports.
Friedman Place is a non-profit Supportive...