Living Philanthropic

Last night I attended the Literacy Works Much ado about Tango event, my mother attended with me and had a wonderful time. Literacy Works honored me with an Inspiration Award, but really the work their tutors do to help provide their clients with independence is the true inspiration. It was my pleasure to attend and give the daily donations for the month of April. The grand total is $180 for Literacy Works, even my mother got in on the action and gave $55 herself. 

Total donated: $180

For more information about Literacy Works, please visit: http://www.litworks.org or to join the Living Philanthropic team and make a donation to group project, please visit:http://www.crowdrise.com/LP-APR

Want to be a guest blogger on Living Philanthropic? Join the team and donate to Literacy Works at http://bit.ly/fEiRpU & submit your blog post about why you donated here: http://bit.ly/lp-blogger

I care about literacy because I love reading.  I love books more than T.V.  More than movies.  More than sports.   The very idea of someone growing to adulthood without the ability to read makes me want to cry.  This led to my first experience as a volunteer.

I worked with Volunteers in Teaching Adults, a group in the suburbs of Chicago that connected people trying to develop their literacy skills with volunteers that could help them.   The first thing I learned is that my community is filled with people that need this kind of help.  Because English is their second (or third, or fourth) language.  I thought I would be working with those that had dropped out of school, or slipped through the system with an undiagnosed learning disability.  But these students could read well enough in their native languages.  They needed help to read and write in English.

Another important thing I learned:  English is a messed up language.  You all know how many exceptions there are to grammatical rules.  Spelling rules.  The way words are pronounced.  It is hard enough for a native speaker.  Try figuring it out when your brain is already filled with the logic of another language.

I fondly remember an evening when my very frustrated Ukrainian student declared that the lesson wasn’t making any sense.  I explained it every way that I knew how.  In English.  I was rescued by my Polish student.  He didn’t speak Ukrainian, and the Ukrainian student didn’t speak Polish, but they both knew just enough Russian to communicate with each other.  About the things they didn’t understand in English.

Literacy gives us independence.  It gives us the ability to learn more about the world around us.  But mostly, it is about communication.  Reaching other people.  Expressing ourselves.  And it opens up the whole Internet!

My work schedule no longer allows me to volunteer as a tutor, but I believe this mission is important.  According to Literacy Works:  “In Chicago, half a million adults cannot read, write, or speak English well enough to meet their own goals for education, employment, and enrichment for themselves and their families.”

Half a million people.   I am happy to support Literacy Works while they hammer at that number.

Guest Blog post by Anne of Learning To Juggle

*Amount Donated: $10

For more information about Literacy Works, please visit: http://www.litworks.org or to join the Living Philanthropic team and make a donation to group project, please visit: http://www.crowdrise.com/LP-APR

Want to be a guest blogger on Living Philanthropic? Join the team and donate to Literacy Works at http://bit.ly/fEiRpU & submit your blog post about why you donated here: http://bit.ly/lp-blogger

What is literacy? Most basically, it’s being able to read and write. For many, it’s the ability do so in a new language. In Chicago, hundreds of thousands of adults – immigrants, refugees, and those born in the US – have less than 12 years of formal education, so their literacy skills are low. Even high school grads might not have the skills they need to meet their own goals. They may wish to:

• find a job that pays a living wage, or enter a job training program
• communicate their questions or ideas clearly and confidently to doctors, children’s teachers, co-workers, prospective employers, fellow worshipers, elected representatives, and others
• use a computer and get information from the Internet
• express themselves through poetry, journaling, or memoir writing
• read a story to the young child in their life

Literacy Works sees these individual literacy-related goals as essential to the well-being of our entire society. When we train volunteers, we help them recognize that adult learners can build on their own lifetime of experience and knowledge to achieve these educational goals.

An adult learner at one of Literacy Works’ member agencies who began his journey as a near non-reader wrote, “The teachers are very good at showing me how to pronounce little and big words. I am getting better at knowing how to read big words that I do not know. I am making progress in my reading, writing and spelling. My most satisfying experience has been going to Springfield, Illinois. I saw the capitol building and was at the [literacy] rally. I am also happy to be able to go to the library. Now I can check out books and read them at home.”

A volunteer tutor with one of Literacy Works’ member agencies shared her thoughts: “When I think of my students now, I can hardly believe there was ever a time they were bashful or even in one case non-communicative, refusing to talk to me beyond one-word replies. Building trust is something my students and I have worked hard to establish and maintain over the years. This trust has enriched our experience together and enabled me to help my students fill even the most  vulnerable gaps in their education, gaps they were initially reluctant to expose to me and others. My hope is that my students will continue to apply what they learn from our sessions into the outside world. I know I certainly will.”

Students and tutors like these inspire my colleagues and me at Literacy Works every day!  If you know someone in Chicago who wants to improve his or her skills, let us know – we can suggest a welcoming program. If you might like to become a literacy tutor, we can help you find a convenient place to volunteer and let you know how to get trained. Just email us at info@litworks.org.

PS On April 29, we’re thrilled to present Carlo Garcia with Literacy Works’ Inspiration Award at our Much Ado About Tango event!

Guest Blog by Betsy Rubin, Adult & Family Literacy Specialist, Literacy Works

For more information about Literacy Works, please visit: http://www.litworks.org or to join the Living Philanthropic team and make a donation to group project, please visit: http://www.crowdrise.com/LP-APR

Want to be a guest blogger on Living Philanthropic? Join the team and donate to Literacy Works at http://bit.ly/fEiRpU & submit your blog post about why you donated here: http://bit.ly/lp-blogger

Year 2 is already in full swing, April 1st was the official launch and the featured charity for April is Literacy Works. They are an amazing organization that helps promote adult literacy in Chicago. LitWorks will receive my daily donations for the month of April. I will also be making an appearance at their Much Ado About Tango fundraiser this Friday, April 29th at the National Museum of Mexican Art (1852 W. 19th Street), I am really touched by their invitation. For more information, please visit the facebook event.

Literacy Works’ mission is to fulfill the promise of a basic human right: to read, write, and interpret the world. To accomplish its mission, Literacy Works promotes adult literacy and family literacy in Chicago through training to volunteer tutors, unique workshops for adult literacy students, and an array of services that strengthen community-based adult and family literacy programs. 

In Chicago, half a million adults cannot read, write, or speak English well enough to meet their own goals for education, employment, and enrichment for themselves and their families.

Organized in 1995 by four community-based agencies struggling with the challenges of volunteer-driven literacy programs, Literacy Works was awarded 501(c)(3) status in 2001. Today Literacy Works has a membership of 50 adult literacy and family literacy programs throughout the Chicago area. 

Each year, Literacy Works:

• trains over 800 community volunteers and educators who teach thousands of teen and adult learners enrolled in Chicago-area literacy programs;
• provides training and networking opportunities to community-based adult literacy, family literacy, and workforce development programs;
• instructs over 70 adult learners in three specialized areas: writing skills, employment literacy, and family literacy.

For more information about Literacy Works, please visit: http://www.litworks.org or to join the Living Philanthropic team and make a donation to group project, please visit: http://www.crowdrise.com/LP-APR

Want to be a guest blogger on Living Philanthropic? Join the team and donate to Literacy Works at http://bit.ly/fEiRpU & submit your blog post about why you donated here: http://bit.ly/lp-blogger

Check back May 1st for a very special announcement about May’s featured charity and to see the total for April!

Come celebrate 365 days of Living Philanthropic!

After 365 days of charitable giving, I think a little fun celebration is in order! Join me in toasting Living Philanthropic and dance our way into YEAR TWO!

Thanks to my friends at Collaboraction for sharing their home with me. 

Drinks * Dancing * Music * Fun * FREE!

SATURDAY APRIL 23 at 10:30PM

Collaboraction (at Flat Iron Arts Center)

1575 N. Milwaukee Ave, Ste 336, Chicago, IL

Featuring:

DJ JIMMY CON (of GHOSTHOUSE) http://soundcloud.com/jimmycon

There will be some FREEBIES and GIVEAWAYS and special guests from Foundation Escalera in the house!!

FREE ADMISSION 

Space is limited, fun is not. :)

*Donations will be collected at the door for Foundation Escalera

For more information about Foundation Escalera or to make a donation, please visit: http://www.crowdrise.com/LP-DEC

WANT TO LAUGH as well as DANCE? 

Check out 200 Funny Things at 10PM for only $8!

For more information, please visit: http://www.collaboraction.org/

Thank you for all the kind words and support!

One of my most vidid memories as a young boy, is watching my mom dig for change in car to buy Misericordia tag on Tag Day. My mother has always been a very giving person, donating time and money whenever possible, even when we had nothing to give. She instilled in me a sense of giving and proved early on that you can give alot with very little. So, I dedicate this last day, number 365 to my mother for being my inspiration and my biggest fan.  Misericordia is a wonderful organization providing services to those with developmental disabilities. Candy Days is next weekend, if you see this apron, please show them your support and purchase a bag of jelly beans. 

When I started this blog last year, I never imagined it would reach across the globe and inspire as many people as it did. That is the truly inspiring part to me, the fact that we have banded together and have raised over $18,000 for charity is amazing! I am inspired by all the individuals who have taken on a mission of giving in their own lives because of this blog, you are truly wonderful people and you inspire me so much. I never imagined I would meet some many wonderful people. I truly believe that those who give receive so much more in return than what they give. Thank you for inspiring me and for your support, it’s been a truly spectacular 365 Days!

If you are in Chicago, please come celebrate with me tomorrow night at Collaboraction. If you want to join me for YEAR TWO, please check out this blog post for more info. 

Misericordia offers a community of care that maximizes potential for persons with mild to profound developmental disabilities, many of whom are also physically challenged.  By serving society’s most vulnerable citizens, Misericordia also serves the families who want the best for them, yet cannot provide it at home.

Through a spectrum of residential options on its 31-acre Chicago campus and in the community, and with a wide variety of programs, Misericordia currently serves more than 600 children and adults from diverse racial, religious and socio-economic backgrounds. Twenty percent of our residents either come from poverty families or have no families and are wards of the State.

Misericordia offers a continuum of care to meet their diverse needs and aspires for each individual to live as independently as possible in the highest level of community integration feasible. Residential settings include:

• CILAs (Community Integrated Living Arrangements for small groups in neighborhood homes outside Misericordia’s main campus)
• On-campus apartments
• Group homes on-campus
• Skilled nursing residence 

Amount Donated: $25

To support Misericordia, please visit: http://www.misericordia.com

Also, check out their bakery for some great baked goods and help support the jobs the bakery provides: http://www.misericordia.com/bakery.aspx

Special Thank YOU to Jacqueline (of 365give.ca) for matching my donation and for the lovely post: http://365give.ca/day-205-living-philanthropic-gives-everyday

I am having a party on Saturday night to celebrate 365 days of Living Philanthropic, you can view the Facebook Event Here. The party is FREE, optional donations will be collected for Foundation Escalera, one of my favorite organizations. The party will be held at Collaboraction’s space in the Flat Iron Arts Complex in Wicker Park. As a thank for sharing their home with me for this party, I am featuring them as Day 364. If you are in Chicago, please come celebrate with us on Saturday night! (Sorry, it’s late night one, but I will be coming from my show at the Goodman.)

Collaboraction is an award winning theater-based artist collective dedicated to a paradigm of evolved and evolving entertainment. They are focused on becoming a national leader of contemporary theatre. The core creative values are defined by a robust collection of artists emphasizing the creation of inspired and energizing theatrical experiences in league with audiences seeking surprising and challenging work. Collaboraction cultivates the influence of new ideas and a creative symbiosis not only from theater, but from film, video, literature, music, visual art, and the inchoate creative possibilities of the internet. Collaboraction has produced over 40 productions and countless events and theatrical experiences.

Amount Donated: $10 

To support Collaboraction, please visit: http://www.collaboraction.org

I’m in the process of moving to a new apartment and lots of things are ending this week, which means I am completing goals and freeing myself up for new adventures. April 22nd is the last day of Living Philanthropic: Year One and April 24th is the last performance of El Nogalar at the Goodman. I look forward to what the future holds for me. Day 363’s charity is dedicated to improving health care for children most in need to help them live long and healthy lives to pursue their dreams.

Children’s Health Fund, co-founded in 1987 by singer/songwriter Paul Simon and pediatrician/child advocate Irwin Redlener, MD, is committed to providing health care to the nation’s most medically underserved children through:

• the development and support of innovative, comprehensive primary care programs,
• reducing the impact of public health crises on vulnerable children, and
• promoting the health and well-being of all children

The Fund works specifically to:

• Support a national network of pediatric programs in some of the nation’s most disadvantaged rural and urban communities;
• Ensure support of its flagship pediatric programs for homeless and other medically underserved children in New York City;
• Advocate for policies and programs which will ensure access to medical homes that provide comprehensive and continuous health care for all children; and
• Educate the general public about the needs and barriers to health care experienced by disadvantaged children.

Amount Donated: $5

To support Children’s Health Fund, please visit: http://www.childrenshealthfund.org

I have a bucket list of dreams and aspirations as I am closing in on crossing “giving to charity everyday for a year” off my bucket list :) I thought I would take this opportunity to mention another dream of mine, I have always wanted to have my own scholarship to provide students the opportunity to obtain an education. I think this desire stems from my own experience. I attended Illinois State University and I went after every grant and scholarship I could to be able to stay in school. My goal is to one day have a scholarship funds established at ISU and my high school De La Salle Institute to provide a student pursuing theater or art degrees a little relief from paying tuition. Until that day comes and it will, Day 362 is going to the Theatre of Ted Student Scholarship Fund! They had a foursquare marathon last week to raise money for the fund that provides scholarships to ISU theatre students and I wanted to show them my support!

Theatre of Ted is a Registered Student Organization that provides a variety of uncensored performance opportunities for Illinois State University students. They also organize the annual Four-Square Marathon for Student Scholarships. You can support some of the top theatre talent that has given Illinois State such a strong theatre reputation, and help those talented students continue their education and production work.

Amount Donated: $20

To support the Theatre of Ted student scholarship fund, please visit:  http://www.cfa.ilstu.edu/support/square/

Here we go! Back to my hometown, for donation on Day 361! Chicago is home to some really great organizations providing some integral services to our communities growth and well being. I have featured many of them along the way, but if I could I would feature them all. Day 361 goes out to Deborah’s Place, providing housing support for Chicago’s homeless women population.

Deborah’s Place is Chicago’s largest provider of supportive housing exclusively for women and is recognized as an innovative leader among homeless service providers locally and nationally. Since our founding in 1985, we have worked collaboratively with our participants, offered a range of high quality services and tried new approaches – putting Deborah’s Place at the forefront of agencies making a difference to those in need in Chicago.

Deborah’s Place breaks the cycle of homelessness for women in Chicago. Through a continuum of housing options, comprehensive support services and opportunities for change provided by dedicated volunteers and staff, women succeed in achieving their goals of stable housing, sustainable income and greater self-determination.

Amount Donated: $5

To support Deborah’s Place, please visit: http://www.deborahsplace.org

Check out their 25 for 25 firstgiving fundraiser and have your donation matched! http://www.firstgiving.com/deborahsplace

Entering into the final week of Living Philanthropic, year one! It’s been an amazing journey that has introduced me to many great people and a plethora of amazing organizations! Day 360 is no different, Global Links is dedicated to turning medical surplus into life saving supplies for countries in need of improved health care.

Global Links was founded in 1989 by three women who had worked together in the mid-1980s and had each traveled extensively in the developing world. Having seen firsthand severe shortages of even basic healthcare services in many communities in these countries, they created a not-for-profit organization to recover usable medical materials and provide them to health facilities in need around the world. The trio soon decided to center the majority of Global Links’ U.S. collection efforts on developing relationships with hospitals rather than manufacturers. Because U.S. medical manufacturers are solicited heavily by many international aid organizations, merely adding another organization only reapportions the existing supply of available goods. Alternatively, U.S. hospitals provide a relatively untapped source of materials that otherwise would be put into landfills. Redirecting these materials benefits healthcare facilities in need as well as the environment.

Amount Donated: $5

To support Global Links, please visit: http://www.globallinks.org

Today is Day 359, only 6 more days until the completion of year one of Living Philanthropic! Year Two has already begun, if you are curious or want to join in on the fun please check out this post. The first charity of Year Two is Literacy Works, please join me in helping them promote adult literacy in Chicago. Day 359 goes out to Vitamin Angels, the vision of one man wanting to give children worldwide a fighting chance at living a full and healthy life. 

Vitamin Angels is dedicated to reducing child mortality worldwide by connecting essential microntrients with infants and children under five. Essential nutrients enable young immune systems to fight infectious diseases, helping children attain good health and the opportunity to lead meaningful and productive lives. It only takes 25 cents to provide a child with Vitamin A and antiparasitics for a year. That means that for 1 dollar, they can provide a child with vitamin A during the most vulnerable years of their life. 

Their mission is to mobilize and deploy private sector resources to advance availability, access and use of micronutrients, especially vitamin A, by newborns, infants and children in need. Vitamin Angels reduces child mortality worldwide by connecting essential nutrients, especially vitamin A, with infants and children under five. Essential nutrients enable young immune systems to fight infectious diseases, helping children attain good health and the opportunity to lead meaningful and productive lives.

Amount Donated: $5

To support Vitamin Angels, please visit: http://www.vitaminangels.org

Paul Newman is more than just great acting and salad dressing, in 1988 he founded the Hole in the Wall Gang camp to provide children dealing with cancer and other illnesses to enjoy a summer camp experience with their families. This is a wonderful way for kids to get out of the hospital and enjoy the outdoors on their road to wellness.

The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in Ashford, Connecticut is a nonprofit, residential summer camp and year-round center serving children and their families coping with cancer and other serious illnesses and conditions. 

The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp provides year-round programming, offering an outstanding summer camp experience for more than 1,000 seriously ill children, as well as 24 weekend programs from fall through spring for approximately 3,000 campers, along with their families and caregivers. The Camp’s year-round Hospital Outreach Program brings the hopeful and playful spirit of Camp to seriously ill hospitalized children, providing services to approximately 11,000 children in sixteen hospitals from New York to Boston each year. Altogether, the Camp serves more than 15,000 children annually.

Amount Donated: $5

To support the Hole in the Wall Gang, please visit: http://www.holeinthewallgang.org

Getting medical supplies and care to those in need can be a large task, especially in the face of disaster, but Direct Relief has been providing emergency response for years. They currently have campaigns in the hardest hit areas of Japan and Haiti, among numerous other great programs. Because Direct Relief is working to heal the world, I am donating Day 357 to them. 

Direct Relief International provides medical assistance to improve the quality of life for people affected by poverty, disaster, and civil unrest at home and throughout the world. They work to strengthen the in-country health efforts of our partners by providing essential material resources – medicines, supplies and equipment. All the programs are provided in a non-discriminatory manner, without regard to political affiliation, religious belief, or ethnic identity.

Direct Relief’s assistance programs have always been tailored to be responsive to the partner organizations’ particular circumstances and needs and those of the people they serve. Direct Relief partners typically provide health services to people in rural areas that are poor, lack health infrastructure, and in which severe health challenges exist.

Amount Donated: $5

To support Direct Relief, please visit: http://www.directrelief.org

*If you are in Chicago, Billy Dec is throwing a benefit party at Sunda Friday April 15th to raise money for Direct Relief and the efforts in Japan. You can find out more about the event here: http://www.billydec.com/blog/asian-community-forms-alliance-with-rockit-ranch-productions-to-host-help-japan-fundraiser-at-sunda-by-billy-dec/

Teachers are one of most important assets to the success of our future generations, their dedication to educate our children is often a thankless job. I tip my hat to those new teachers who join Teach for America, to expand educational in communities in need of the brightest educators.

Teach For America is the national corps of outstanding recent college graduates of all academic majors and career interests who commit two years to teach in urban and rural public schools and become leaders in the effort to expand educational opportunity.

Their mission is to build the movement to eliminate educational inequity by enlisting our nation’s most promising future leaders in the effort.

In the short run, the corps members work relentlessly to ensure that more students growing up today in our country’s lowest-income communities are given the educational opportunities they deserve. In the long run, TFA alumni are a powerful force of leaders working from inside education and from every other sector to effect the fundamental changes needed to ensure that all children have an equal chance in life. Learn more about TFA’s impact.

Amount Donated: $5

To support Teach for America, please visit: http://www.teachforamerica.org

Small comforts in life can go a long way, especially in the life of a child dealing with a serious health condition. Day 355’s charity provides a little warm comfort to children in need. I spent 4 years living in Bloomington-Normal, and I think it’s so cool that Project Linus is nationally based in the town of my alma mater.

Project Linus is located in Bloomington, Illinois. With chapters in all 50 states, Project Linus continues to grow. Blankets are collected locally and distributed to children in hospitals, shelters, social service agencies, or anywhere that a child might be in need of a big hug.

First, their mission is to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer “blanketeers.”

Second, is to provide a rewarding and fun service opportunity for interested individuals and groups in local communities, for the benefit of children.

Project Linus has distributed over three million blankets to children in need since their inception in 1995.

Amount Donated: $5

To support Project Linus please visit: http://www.projectlinus.org

Inching my way to 365 days, this is one of the biggest projects I have ever undertaken and could not be more proud to see the goal in sight. I’m truly inspired by all the support and friends I’ve made along the way, you inspire me! Day 354 goes to Food for the Poor, an organization feeding 2 million people a day!

Food For The Poor provides impoverished people throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. Established in 1982 as a 501(c)(3) corporation, their goals are to improve the health, economic, social and spiritual conditions of the men, women and children they serve. Food For The Poor raises funds and provides direct relief assistance to the poor. International relief and development charity providing housing, micro enterprise opportunities and clean water.

Amount Donated: $5

To support Food for the Poor, please visit: http://www.foodforthepoor.org

Day 353 goes out to all the people who voted on my Facebook question asking for a couple suggestions for charities to consider for my final days on year one. There is still one slot left, so if you know of someone I should look at please drop me a vote. I strongly support promoting animal welfare, so this was an easy give for me. Thanks for the suggestion!

The West Suburban Humane Society (WSHS) is a volunteer based, animal welfare organization that was founded in 1972 as a lost and found referral service. They provide housing for up to 25 dogs and 60 cats at a time. They operate at full capacity at all times with animal care and adoptions being provided by 2 full-time and 6 part-time employees and numerous volunteers. The facility is open to the public 6 days a week. They continue to reunite lost animals and their owners by maintaining a database with information on over 33,000 pets and their owners, and by providing free pet identification tags to all pet owners. The West Suburban Humane Society is dedicated to operating an animal shelter for the purpose of finding, safe, permanent, compatible homes through adoption of domestic dogs and cats.

Amount Donated: $5

To support West Suburban Humane Society, please visit: http://www.wshs-dg.org/wshs

Living green is a great way to preserve our resources and be kind to our planet. Day 352’s non-profit works in the Bay Area to help people find and incorporate solutions to become more green in their home and office. 

Acterra is a environmental non-profit that brings people together to create local solutions for a healthy planet. Acterra has information and opportunities for everyone, from longtime environmentalists to people just starting to “green” their lives.

They have a variety of programs to help people in San Mateo and Santa Clara live more sustainably. 

• Green@Home - Offers home energy audits
• Be the Change - Our environmental leadership program
• Business Environmental Awards - Recognizes Bay Area corporate environmental leaders
• Acterra Stewardship - Restores damaged natural habitats and uses habitat restoration as a vehicle to educate and inspire volunteers 
• Climate Heroes -Recognizes people who are helping to combat global warming

Amount Donated: $5

To support Acterra, please visit: http://www.acterra.org

There are so many factors that can lead to someone being homeless, making those organizations that are working hard to help people get back on their feet so important. Day 351’s charity is no different, the Homeless Emergency Project’s goal is to be the last shelter ever has to use, by providing services to help individuals and families attain their self-sufficiency again.

Homeless Emergency Prjoect (HEP) is a registered 501 (c)(3) charitable organization. Since 1986, their mission has been to provide homeless and very low-in come individuals and families with housing, food, clothing and support services necessary to obtain self-sufficiency and improved quality of life. The goal is to break the cycle of homelessness and be the last homeless shelter an individual or family ever has to access.

Anyone can experience homelessness: youth, adults, elderly individuals, families with children, and veterans living in rural areas, small towns, suburban neighborhoods, and big cities.  At first glance, the problem of homelessness seems simple, but in reality examining the reasons behind homelessness requires an understanding of many other issues. Mental health, substance use, physical disability, and physical health are often factors. Affordable housing, access to social services, and education and employment are also critical to both understanding and solving homelessness.

Amount Donated: $5

To support the Homeless Emergency Project, please visit: http://www.ethep.org

Give 350 is in honor my friend’s aunt who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer, I am sending her good thoughts and hope she makes a speedy recovery.

Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC) is dedicated to assisting patients, whether newly diagnosed, in treatment, recently completed treatment, are years beyond or are living with metastatic breast cancer. LBBC is also here for the family members, caregivers, friends and healthcare providers to provide breast cancer information and support.

As a national education and support organization, their goal is to improve the quality of life and help patients take an active role in their ongoing recovery or management of the disease, regardless of educational background, social support or financial means.

Living Beyond Breast Cancer offers programs and services to women affected by breast cancer, caregivers and healthcare providers including a website, lbbc.org; a toll-free Survivors’ Helpline staffed by trained volunteers at (888) 753-LBBC (5222); national conferences; free teleconferences; community programs; newsletters and publications; recordings and transcripts; small grants to help improve quality of life; and workshops and trainings for healthcare professionals.

Amount Donated: $5

To support Living Beyond Breast Cancer, please visit: http://www.lbbc.org

Bringing free music education to kids in underserved communities is the wonderful mission of Day 349’s give, Little Kids Rock! I agree, and I think every kid should have access to creative outlets to help express themselves and apply their creative minds. I know it helped me personally get through the rough patches in my life.

When it comes to making sure every kid gets a first-rate education, music matters. Little Kids Rock believes that learning to play a musical instrument can be a transformative experience in students’ lives, with the power to inspire the creativity and confidence that are critical to success in school and beyond.

That’s why they’ve dedicated ourselves to restoring and revitalizing music education in U.S. public schools. They bring free musical instruments and music instruction to underserved schools across the country.

They accomplish this goal by:

• Providing weekly music education classes to K-12 students in public schools that have been stripped of their music programs
• Pioneering innovative teaching methods that are rooted in children’s knowledge of popular music forms such as rock, rap, blues, hip-hop and more
• Preparing teachers and volunteers to offer classes utilizing our methods and materials

Amount Donated: $5

To support Little Kids Rock, please visit: http://littlekidsrock.org

Day 348 goes out to an organization working to empower the voice and civil duty of the Latino population in the US and that is a cause I can stand behind. I try to keep my mission and giving non-political and non-denominational, but being Latino this is an important organization for me to highlight.

The USHLI has developed into one of the most powerful, nationally and internationally recognized Latino organizations in the country by organizing and conducting nonpartisan voter registration and leadership development programs in 40 states. The organization has been able to maintain a stable presence in hundreds of communities over the years by promoting empowerment and civic responsibility.

USHLI is led by Dr. Juan Andrade Jr., one of only two Latino recipients in history of a Presidential Medal “for the performance of exemplary deeds of service for the nation” and “excellence in promoting leadership and civic participation”. Committed to securing a brighter future for our country, USHLI constantly strives to improve and adapt our society to the ever changing complexion of the nation. As they move forward, USHLI will continue its mission and is determined to fulfill the promises of the United States in the spirit of Cesar Chavez who always believed, “Si Se Puede”!

Amount Donated: $5

To support United States Hispanic Leadership Institute, please visit: http://ushli.org

Tonight is opening night for El Nogalar by Tanya Saracho, I am so honored to be a part of this production for my Equity, Goodman, and Teatro Vista debut. The cast is amazingly talented and the company is great to work with and they provide an important voice for the Latino community in Chicago. So, in honor of opening and as a thank you for inviting me to take part, Day 347 goes to Teatro Vista.

Teatro Vista introduces a new identity that represents our future, uniqueness, authenticity and pride as the largest, non-profit-equity, Latino theater company producing full scale, Latino oriented, theatrical productions in English.

In the fall of 1989, Teatro Vista was but a fragile thought, concept, idea that was born out of a conversation between the two founders, Edward Torres and Henry Godinez. The two met while working together in a play in Chicago. At that time, they were actors who shared a passion and were similarly inspired by the lack of acting opportunities, beyond stereotypical casting roles, that were available to Latino actors and actresses. Their conversations became heated as they discussed Latino writers and scripts that not only challenged the actors but the director and audience. They grew anxious to find a platform to share their creative energies and share their message with people from all walks of life and varying cultures. Hence, in 1990, Teatro Vista was born.

A fledgling theater company that sought to celebrate our humanity, aspirations and hopes for a world where our similarities far outweigh our differences; using the stage to engage, connect, and challenge audience members via stories that reflect the universality of our humanity, but which are told from the Latino perspective. In essence, offering a different point of view.

Amount Donated: $20

To support Teatro Vista, please visit: http://www.teatrovista.org

Physical activity is one of the best ways to fight childhood obesity and help prevent diabetes. That is why it is so important that children are encouraged and have access to fitness and activity programs to get them off the couch and on the team.

Team for Kids is a committed group of adult runners from around the world who add meaning to their miles by raising funds on behalf of New York Road Runners youth services.

Funds raised by Team for Kids members allow NYRR to provide free or low-cost school- and community-center based health and fitness programs to children who would otherwise have little to no access to regular physical activity. Currently, their programs serve more than 100,000 children each year in more than 400 schools and community centers in New York City, nationally, and in the Cape Town region of South Africa.

Specifically, the funds raised by Team for Kids members help provide:
- Training for teachers, coaches, field managers, and coordinators. Most of these individuals volunteer their time to NYRR youth services.
- Incentives for children to encourage them to attend events and practices, demonstrate sportsmanship, and strive for fitness and personal milestones.
- Entry fees and transportation to races and related sporting events for the kids.
- Needed resources to establish programs in areas of greatest need.

Amount Donated: $10

To support Team for Kids & NYRR, please visit: http://www.nyrrf.org

I believe that every child and teenager has the potential to pursue a positive future, but they need to be given the opportunity and support to succeed. That is why I believe strongly in the work of Day 345’s organization BUILD. BUILD targets gang-affiliated and at-risk youth and provides them with guidance to pursue higher education, become positive influences, and development leadership skills to steer them towards a brighter future. 

In 1969, two street-gang outreach workers founded BUILD as a street intervention program after government funding was terminated for their work at the Division Street YMCA. They met with corporate business leaders to develop BUILD, which stands for Broader Urban Involvement and Leadership Development. BUILD began by working with fewer than 200 gang-affiliated teens in one Chicago neighborhood and today serves over 2,500 youth in 8 Chicago neighborhoods and throughout Cook County through our Rehabilitation program in the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center. BUILD’s comprehensive programs include: Prevention, Intervention/Rehabilitation, and BUILDing Futures.

Amount Donated: $10

To support BUILD, please visit: http://buildchicago.org

Day 344 is a two-fold day, the inspiration for today’s give comes from another great individual Living Philanthropic, Braxton of Pulse Social Media. Keep up the great work, Braxton. The second part of today’s give is to announce the Featured Charity for the Month of April, which will be Literacy Works Chicago. Literacy Works will be the first charity of Living Philanthropic Year Two, I will be collecting my daily donations and make a contribution to the Crowdrise project throughout the month of April. I will also be making an appearance at Literacy Work’s Much Ado About Tango benefit at the end of April. There will be a dedicated post about this shortly. 

The mission of Books For Africa is to end the book famine in Africa. With your help, we will help create a culture of literacy and provide the tools of empowerment to the next generation of parents, teachers, and leaders in Africa.

Books donated by publishers, schools, libraries, individuals, and organizations are sorted and packed by volunteers who carefully choose books that are age and subject appropriate. Books for Africa sends good books, enough books for a whole class to use.

They are shipped in sea containers paid for by contributions from people like you. It costs about 50 cents to send a book from the United States to Africa. Since 1988, Books For Africa has shipped more than 24 million books to 45 African countries. They are on once-empty library shelves, in classrooms in rural schools, and in the hands of children who have never before held a book. Each book will be read over and over again. When the books arrive, they go to those who need them most: children who are hungry to read, hungry to learn, hungry to explore the world in ways that only books make possible. 

Amount Donated: $5

To support Books for Africa, please visit: https://www.booksforafrica.org