Living Philanthropic

Calling all Living Philanthropic fans! I need your help to win GiveBack’s $50K for charity contest. I want to help SAVE the School Building Expedition for 2011!

Please go to http://bit.ly/Give50K and sign up for a new account and that’s it. If everyone does it, I will be able to donate $25K to Foundation Escalera to build another school in Chiapas, Mexico. The other $25K will be given to other featured charities on Living Philanthropic.

Time needed: 1-2 minutes to create an account.

Cost: $0

Impact Potential: Changing the lives of children for years to come.

Please go to http://bit.ly/Give50K and sign up for a new account and help me give children a safe place to learn.

About GiveBack.Org:

Start your foundation. Sign up for an account on GiveBack.Org and manage all your giving in one place, add your favorite charities, earn money by shopping, or make a donation. The best part is GiveBack.Org has simplified the tax receipt process and provide you with one receipt for your tax returns. Plus, you don’t have to share your mail or email with the charities if you prefer a more anonymous approach.

One tweet can make a difference. That’s right, 140 characters (or less) is all it takes to change the world. That’s is what my experience of jumping on board the GIRLS WHO ROCK team as the Online Community Officer has taught me.  It’s mind boggling how much social media impacts our lives, especially among millenials. The generation before us didn’t connect with peers they met in college via a social networking site like Facebook, they didn’t have Twitter streams to update the world about what they were doing, nor were they recording vlogs in their bedrooms to upload onto YouTube.

When the founders launched each of these social media platforms they probably didn’t have an idea of just how much they could (and would) change the world. Today, the team members and supporters of She’s the First and GIRLS WHO ROCK are using social media for exactly that reason and are making a positive impact on the world. STF is all about the power of social media. The non-profit was launched almost two years ago with a PSA that was uploaded onto YouTube.

The organization has come a long way since then, branching out by creating the annual GWR benefit concert to raise awareness and proceeds for the cause during Internet Week New York. Social media continues to play a vital part in the success of both organizations. In January, She’s the First*{Syracuse}, a college branch of the non-profit, entered a video in Vivanista’s “Party for a Purpose” contest and won first place. STF received a $1,000 grant, and as a result, $800 went towards sponsoring a girl in Kenya. The remaining $200 was invested in a fundraising event to sponsor another year of her education. Social media was a invaluable tool when organizing this year’s GWR concert. All of the performers (with the exception of JoJo and Nikki Jean) were booked via tweets! Twitter is also the reason we have been fortunate enough to connect with Carlo and receive his support for our cause by being his featured charity for the month of June. 

 Are you still doubtful that a tweet can change the world? If so, a month ago I was you, but have since learned to never underestimate the power of a tweet. Look where it got us so far! STF and GWR both have a supportive following, and we are very close to reaching our ambitious goal of sponsoring 42 girls at the Arlington Academy of Hope.  Help us start a Twitter revolution for girl’s education and change the world one tweet at a time. Who knows, maybe we can even become a trending twitter topic, but not without your help! Yes, even those Twitter neglectors who have forgotten your log-ins (I know you’re out there). Have Twitter send your password to your inbox so you can join us in making a difference. 

In these last few days of our Causevox campaign, please show your support by tweeting:

1 tweet makes a difference. I’m donating my Twitter status to @GirlsWhoRockNY. Support w/ me: girlswhorock.causevox.com #giveeveryday

Shelley is a 2009 graduate of Rider University, where she majored in Public Relations. As recent addition to the GWR team she promotes the cause on social media, using her own education so that girls in developing countries can receive their own.

Want to be a guest blogger on Living Philanthropic?

Join the team and donate to She’s The First at http://girlswhorock.causevox.com/living & submit your blog post about why you made a contribution here: http://bit.ly/lp-blogger

Last week, while doing one of my Check-Ins for the Check-Ins for Check Ups program to raise money for Children’s Health Fund, I “scheduled a dermatologist appointment for a skin health checkup.” At that appointment, I had them look at a mole on my back, I’ve had since I was young. After the doctor analyzed it, as irregular, he recommended that it be surgically removed. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being Melanoma cancer, he rated it as high as a 7. So, tomorrow I will be having a surgery to remove the mole and have it sent to the lab for testing. I will keep you posted on the results, but the important thing is that I recommend everyone who has the access to schedule a check up for a skin health screening. Early detection is the most powerful tool in fighting melanoma and other skin diseases, so schedule that check up and when you do CHECK-IN at the Check-in for Checkups website and Clorox will donate .10 cents per check-in to Children’s Health Fund to help provide health care access to children in under served communities.

If you haven’t already, please sign up for an account on Check-in for Checkups and Check-In every time you do a healthy activity and increase the amount of funding CHF will receive through this program from Clorox.

I am currently working with The Clorox Company for the Check-in for Checkups program that benefits Children’s Health Fund (CHF).

My life is anything but ordinary. From the age of five I have traveled around the US six months of the year with my dad going to his offshore powerboat races. Halfway through my undergrad years at Florida State University, I formed the philanthropic arm of the Offshore Super Series, OSS Cares. Through OSS Cares, I had the opportunity to develop some knowledge of the non-profit world and work with some amazing organizations (like the Shriner’s Hospitals for Children, the Cody Unser First Step Foundation, Special Olympics of Kentucky, and several others). Each experience I had through OSS Cares only made me want to do more. A year and a half later, I decided to go to graduate school to get my Masters in Public Administration with a focus on Non-Profit. I’ve had a lot of crazy, amazing experiences in my life but none quite compare to my She’s the First adventures.

Part of my graduate program requires an internship and being the over-eager student that I am, I started searching for my internship within the first semester of my two-year program. I wanted to find an organization that screamed at me. I wanted to work for an organization that I was so passionate about that people could see the excitement on my face when I talked about the difference it was making. I found it. On April 25, 2010 I stumbled upon She’s the First, I immediately messaged Tammy Tibbetts inquiring about a possible internship for my graduate program. I was amazed at her sweet and enthusiastic response. After sending her my resume and a bit more logistical communication, I became a She’s the First intern. I felt a passion for this organization that I’d really never felt for any other organization I’d worked for or with. Not only was it a young, fun organization, but the premise of the organization couldn’t be argued. The work being done at She’s the First makes a tangible difference in the lives of so many people, including me.

I decided to make a trip to NYC for the inaugural Girls Who Rock event last year. It was the first time I would meet Tammy Tibbetts, Christen Brandt, and Kate Lord, three women that would not only become my colleagues but my very good friends. It was my third trip to NYC in my life. On my way to Christen’s apartment, I got lost on the subway, exiting the station in the middle of Times Square…in the rain…with all of my luggage. Finally, I made it. Christen welcomed me with a big hug and an umbrella. We stayed up talking almost all night. The next day was Girls Who Rock and after a lot of coffee, time seemed to literally fly and it was showtime. At one point in the evening, I just spontaneously started to tear up walking down the stairs because I knew that I was exactly where I was supposed to be, doing exactly what I was supposed to be doing. After the concert, Tammy and I went to get food and chatted like we’d been friends forever, despite the fact that it was the first day we’d ever really met.

After returning home from Girls Who Rock, I continued my intern duties until August. The semester was over but I knew that I wanted She’s the First to be a permanent part of my life. I applied to be a researcher and was assigned a few schools to communicate with on behalf of She’s the First. After the concept of She’s the First 360 (the voluntourism portion of She’s the First) was developed, Christen Brandt and I started talking about the possibility of going to visit Starfish One by One, one of our partner schools in Guatemala. I will always remember being on the phone with Christen the night that we bought our plane tickets. We both just kind of screamed in disbelief that we were actually doing it. We had a three woman team heading to Guatemala: Kate Lord, Christen Brandt, and myself. This trip was by far one of the most incredible experiences of my entire life. We met some of the most amazing young women and their families, made new friends, ziplined through the jungle, and climbed the ancient Mayan ruins at Tikal. I will never forget those 13 days in Guatemala. I felt the tangible effects of the work that was being done at She’s the First and Starfish One by One. Once again, I knew that I was exactly where I should be doing exactly what I should be doing.

The term “She’s the First sisters” has been used a lot to describe the relationships we have with each other. I can’t think of a better way to put it. These women have become more than my friends, they are truly like my sisters. When one of us is going through a hard time, the others are there for support. When one of us has something to celebrate, we all applaud the achievement together. It is truly one of the greatest things I’ve ever been a part of and the journey has only just begun!

-Guest Blog Post by Maisy Page  

Maisy Page, a former She’s the First intern, is a graduate of Florida State University with a degree in international affairs. She is continuing her education at Florida Gulf Coast University in the Masters of Public Administration Program. In 2008, she created the philanthropic arm of the Offshore Super Series, OSS Cares. She’s had the honor of partnering with the Shriner’s Hospitals for Children, the Cody Unser First Step Foundation, the American Cancer Society, and the Make-A-Wish foundation.

Want to be a guest blogger on Living Philanthropic?

Join the team and donate to She’s The First at http://girlswhorock.causevox.com/living & submit your blog post about why you made a contribution here: http://bit.ly/lp-blogger

Other Ways you can help!

Share this story, re-blog, re-tweet, like on facebook!

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I am proud to announce that I am currently working with The Clorox Company for the Check-in for Checkups program thatbenefits Children’s Health Fund (CHF).

I will be acting as a social media activist to promote the program. I am adopting a few healthy habits for the summer and each time I complete this habit, I will be checking-in and .10 cents for each check in with be donated by Clorox to the Children’s Heath Fund! 

My healthy habits include “opting to eat healthy snacks”, “working out”, “taking the stairs instead of the escalator at the subway”, and doing a few others that may intrigue me along the way. 

The best part is YOU CAN PARTICIPATE TOO! Through Check-in for Checkups, every time you make a healthy choice – from eating a nutritious meal to taking a walk around the block – simply “check-in” at www.checkinforcheckups.com or tweet the hashtag #checkinforcheckups and Clorox will donate 10 cents for each check-in, up to one million check-ins, to CHF as part of its goal of providing half a million checkups for children in need across the country. There is no limit for how many times you can check-in per day – every single check-in helps keep kids healthy.

To help CHF and Clorox spread the word and meet the one million check-in challenge, you can:

Commit to a Healthy Habit: Visit www.checkinforcheckups.com to learn more about the program and get ideas for how your actions can help keep kids healthy. Challenge yourself with a daily healthy habit and see how your check-in’s compare with others across the country. Read through the success stories on www.checkinforcheckups.com to get an extra boost of motivation.

Check-in Regularly: From June through December, Clorox will donate 10 cents to CHF for every healthy habit check-in at www.checkinforcheckups.com or tweet using the #checkinforcheckups hashtag, up to one million check-ins. There is no limit for how many times you can check-in per day – every single check-in helps keep kids healthy.

Encourage Others to Share: Share your healthy habits with friends and family and encourage them to participate as well.

About Children’s Health Fund (CHF)

Children’s Health Fund (CHF), founded in 1987 by pediatrician/child advocate Irwin Redlener, MD, and singer/songwriter Paul Simon, is committed to providing health care to the nation’s most medically underserved children through the development and support of innovative medical programs, response to public health crises and the promotion of guaranteed access to health care for all children.

Without access to regular health care, many children go without treatment for common ailments like asthma or cavities, which can lead to bigger problems if left untreated. CHF mobile medical clinics go into underserved communities and provide ongoing care to children at schools, community centers, homeless shelters and other places in the heart of the community. In addition to pediatric primary care providers, the CHF network consists of other dedicated health care professionals including dentists, mental health providers and nutritionists. The medical home model is a way to ensure continuity of care throughout childhood and adolescence, and coordination of care from multiple providers and systems.

About The Clorox Company

For generations, moms across America have trusted Clorox products to disinfect their homes and help keep their families healthy. In recent years, we elevated our commitment to health by partnering with Children’s Health Fund, the nation’s leading provider of mobile medical, dental and mental health services for homeless and low-income children. This year, we’re proud to extend that partnership with Check- in for Checkups. Together, we believe that preventive health care and everyday healthy habits are key ingredients when it comes to helping kids grow up healthy. As a company, Clorox helps consumers learn the power of prevention such as disinfecting hard surfaces in the home to help prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses. These are also examples of healthy habits we are trying to promote through Check-in for Checkups.

About Check-in for Checkups

Through a new social media-driven campaign, Clorox and CHF are working to encourage healthy habits and help provide health care to disadvantaged children. This is the second year CHF and Clorox are partnering and this year’s program is called Check-in for Checkups. For each check-in, Clorox will donate 10 cents, up to $100,000, to CHF to help support their goal of providing half a million health care visits to children in need across the country. Now when you check- in your healthy habit, you are not only helping yourself, but also the lives of others. The more you check- in, the more you give back to disadvantaged children across the country. This and millions of children don’t have access to regular check-ups and timely health care visits when sick.

Tonight, June 10th at the Gramercy Theater,  the strongest voices in technology, entertainment, and design will come together under one roof, to fundraise for girls’ education worldwide.

GIRLS WHO ROCK, a concert supporting She’s the First, a non-profit helping girls in the developing world be the first in their families to graduate, will fundraise for the sponsorship of girls at the Arlington Academy of Hope in Uganda. Get Tickets!

Not in NYC? Donate $11 for the Class 2011 campaign and help us sponsor 42 girls in Uganda with an online donation. I donated $11 in honor of my sister graduating this year! Congratulations Michelle, you are definitely a girl who ROCKS! 

Watch live on Ustream at 8:30 pm (EST), Friday, June 10th, 2011

Want to be a guest blogger on Living Philanthropic?

Join the team and donate to She’s The First at http://girlswhorock.causevox.com/living& submit your blog post about why you made a contribution here: http://bit.ly/lp-blogger

Other Ways you can help!

Make a contribution at http://girlswhorock.causevox.com/living

Rock out with She’s the First on June 10 at the GIRLS WHO ROCK concert in NYC!

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My Life in School as a Girl

Hi Readers of the World! Hear good news from the African girl called Kituyi Peninah Loyce living in Uganda, Bududa District and studying at Arlington Academy of Hope (AAH), located in Bumwalukani Village. Our school, AAH, started in 2004. It was my first time to be in Primary One when I was just a little girl, but now I have many new skills from all the important information I learn each day. I sometimes get information from the Internet, my teachers, and also my fellow students. At first, I did not know anything and lacked knowledge, but I now write and I am well informed.

I have been transformed now.

I teach important skills to the community outside whenever there is wrong information or people do not understand. I try to spread knowledge in any way that I can.

I have had so many experiences today, up to where I am now. I always listen to what my elders at home, parents, students, and teachers tell me. They give me great advice which I follow. I do homework, revise my books and ask friends about anything I do not understand. Whenever I have a stress or when I am hurt, or whenever I hurt somebody, I say sorry and ask for forgiveness. I always ask my parents to give me all that I need at school. I am also being assisted by my sponsor who offered to buy me spectacles so that I can see the blackboard clearly. I have difficulties with my eyes because I am a white-skinned African, so my eyes do not always work well. I try to use my eyes carefully, but sometimes I feel a lot of pain. Although there are obstacles, I am well cared for and this support has helped me become so successful and solve my difficulties.

I live with my family members and am so happy that all are healthy and alive. I have my great dad, mum, brothers- Emmanuel, Moses, and Brain, and my only sister Barbara. My dad loves me and has decided to take me to school. I am so lucky that he can afford to contribute to my school fees and I am so grateful for that. My dad also helps me in the evening when I am revising my books. He explains information to me that I do not understand and reads to me when I cannot see properly. I am absolutely hoping I will pass my examinations at the end of the year. Every morning, my mother wakes up early to make tea for us and then I am accompanied by my brother Moses to school. He is one grade lower than me. Both of us work so hard to please everyone who struggles to support us in our education.

As a child of AAH, I am challenged academically to be the best. Although I am not the very best student in my class, I am among the top. So, I am challenged to work so hard and hopefully gain the top position. In our school we have a reading challenge each year. All students are challenged to read at least 50 books. I read during every single minute that passes by. I read by the river, in my house, on mountains, and everywhere. I find any place that is conducive. The theme this year is, “Get smART-Read.”

I know I will continue to study and read hard to be a leader in the future. My goal is to join secondary level and acquire all that I need to pass. In the future, I want to be like the AAH founder, John Wanda. However, I want to set up hospitals in rural areas. I think my future goals can help me maintain and support my family because they give me so much help. My interest is to continue with my studies so that I can be very smart like all the good ministers and presidents of the world. I have always wanted to be a professional writer because I have enough resources to help me reach this goal. At AAH, we have a library and we can check out books to read.

I have been transformed now.

In our rural community, I feel so sorry for fellow children who are forced to leave school because of certain conditions and I pray for them. Many other young girls do not have the necessary support and are neglected by their fathers. These girls cannot finish school and do not get an education. Therefore, young women end up having no job. Girls, like me, need to fight challenges and read hard; we all must struggle for our future! As for me, I want to continue with my studies to become useful to society and a caring mother in the future. These goals will help me to become an independent woman and succeed in achieving my dreams.

I am Kituyi Peninah Loyce, a girl being transformed by education.

-Guest Blog post by Kituyi Peninah Loyce

Kituyi Peninah Loyce studies at Arlington Academy of Hope in Bududa, Uganda

Want to be a guest blogger on Living Philanthropic?

Join the team and donate to She’s The First at http://girlswhorock.causevox.com/living & submit your blog post about why you made a contribution here: http://bit.ly/lp-blogger

Ways to help:

Make a contribution at http://girlswhorock.causevox.com/living

Rock out with She’s the First on June 10 at the GIRLS WHO ROCK concert in NYC!

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What’s it like looking at She’s The First through a Mom’s eyes?  Imagine looking into a kaleidoscope and seeing all these beautiful colors that all come together to create a beautiful masterpiece.  The beautiful colors being all the young women that work endless hours to promote, fundraise and make STF the success it is today; the masterpiece being all the girls whose education is sponsored from all their dedicated work. 

Being Mom of the founder of STF, I had the opportunity to watch STF grow from an idea into reality. I am so proud, not only of all Tammy has accomplished, but all the other young women and teens who have come forward to support the cause. Together all their talent and dedication has made STF what it is today.

I enjoy seeing pictures and hearing from the girls that STF sponsors. They all have a story to tell and through their letters we gain a better understanding of their culture and see their eagerness to learn so they can turn their dreams into reality.  Meanwhile back in the US, college students/young women come up with creative fun fundraising ideas; from vintage clothing sales, making awesome videos to enter into contests, poker night, selling tie dyed cupcakes, just to name a few;  all to raise money for these girls who otherwise would not be able to afford an education on their own.

Thank you STF for opening my eyes to the importance of education. It is something that we take for granted here in the US. Continue to grow and inspire us all to change the world – one girl at a time. Each and every one of us can play a part, no matter how big or small, no matter what our age.

This Friday I will be attending my first Girls Who Rock Concert and I am really excited! Although I have to admit, at 53 I think I am going to feel just a bit out of place. But we are all in it for the same reason – to support girls’ education.  So come on all moms, dads and grandparents – lets party for this great cause! 

Every time I see the words “What are you the first to do?” on the STF homepage, I always wonder – just what am I the first to do? I could never quite come up with an answer, until now…I’m the first STF Mom to guest write a blog! 

-Guest Blog post by Cheryl Tibbetts

Cheryl Tibbetts is the proud mother of Tammy Tibbetts, She’s the First founder, and Shelley Tibbetts, She’s the First/Girls Who Rock Twitter rockstar.

Want to be a guest blogger on Living Philanthropic?
Join the team and donate to She’s The First at http://girlswhorock.causevox.com/living & submit your blog post about why you made a contribution here: http://bit.ly/lp-blogger

Ways to help:

Make a contribution at http://girlswhorock.causevox.com/living

Rock out with She’s the First on June 10 at the GIRLS WHO ROCK concert in NYC!

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The Web is sticky, the Web is strong.

It’s called the “web” for a reason. The Internet is, in this day in age, more than just a collection of pages, it is an interacting, interconnecting collection of people, events, information, and goals. Using the Internet for activism and non-profit work is one of the most fascinating and exciting playing fields in a fast-paced game of fundraising, events, publicity, awareness and networking. The Internet has allowed She’s the First to flourish within a community of globally philanthropic-minded individuals with a variety of talents, interests, and ideas. It has allowed me to get caught up in the thick of things just in time to lend a hand.

Through the marvels of the Web, I have connected with Tammy and Cynthia for the last few weeks learning all about these wonderful organizations with so much heart. She’s the First and GIRLS WHO ROCK need every hand they can get for their big plans and even bigger actions. The goals of the organizations are inspiring, and the women they support have incredible potential for the change this world desperately needs. Jumping in to She’s the First this week has put me in an interesting position somewhat relatable to the feeling of being a “first”. Learning about the numerous programs and platforms such lively campaigns utilize to connect as many people and resources as possible has been a whirlwind and a learning experience like no other. To help anyone else interested in jumping into the race, I’ve put together a little list of ways to research, follow and participate in these wonderful causes for the GIRLS WHO ROCK festival this Friday, which, thankfully, can be supported from near or far! Read on!

1) Advertise the event by putting a little badge on your Facebook and Twitter profile pictures temporarily and easily, using PicBadge. It takes very little time and is still so new it will catch all your friends’ eyes and at least make them curious enough to Google a little!

2) Invite anyone and everyone you think would be interested in going. Leave no platforms unused! If you’re reading this page, you likely already have Twitter or Facebook also open (or in your recent history), and one of your friends may be looking for something awesome this Friday. Follow and invite follows to @GirlsWhoRockNY

3) Donate, or forward the wonderfully simple donation page run by Causevox, to as many people as you think would dig this cause. You can even make your own donation page, all in under the amount of time it takes to get a cup of coffee before 10 am.

4) Stream our event from wherever you are this Friday, if you can’t make it in person. We have a streaming site accessible to everyone where the festivities can be experienced though that wonderful web.

5) Read all the other areas of our blog for the inspiration and aspirations for a better world: Class of 2011. There are stories from some of the girls who have been sponsored, as well as other stories from people (like you!) getting involved in the cause all over the world.

You can never have too many hands in an event this big with a cause this spirited (and busy). If there’s anything we can learn from the nature of the Internet, it’s that there is an undeniable strength in numbers and the voice of this cause can be as loud as the people connected to it want it to be! Get tangled in the web, and let it pull at your heartstrings for a fantastic cause, and a fantastic time.

Guest Blog Post by Shea

Shea is a recent addition to the STF team as the summer Creative Associate. She is currently a student at Hofstra University, where she also acts as the publicity chair for the Hofstra Chapter of She’s the First.

Want to be a guest blogger on Living Philanthropic?

Join the team and donate to She’s The First at http://girlswhorock.causevox.com/living & submit your blog post about why you made a contribution here: http://bit.ly/lp-blogger

I Am Superwoman

Stories about girls without access to education have always tugged at my heart strings. Books like Half the Sky and A Thousand Splendid Suns left me in tears, and I have a deep sense of gratitude and appreciation for the education I was fortunate enough to have all the way through college. But as much as I wanted to help other girls have the same opportunities I did, I always felt helpless in that regard: it seemed like way too big of a problem for one small person like me to tackle. I mean, after all, I’m not Superwoman, I’d think to myself.

Then a friend of mine told me that she was volunteering for an organization
called She’s the First. It seemed right up my alley: an organization that
campaigned for the education of girls in developing countries. They were
raising money through fundraisers and social media to sponsor girls in
countries from Guatemala to India. It was perfect, but there was one thing
stopping me: I had a full time job: did I really have the time and energy to
work AND volunteer? Again, I’d think to myself, I’m not Superwoman, I can’t
do it all!!

And then, a week later, everything changed. I met a group of girls from the
Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa. They were fun,
witty, and incredibly intelligent, but what impressed me the most about them
was the sparkle in their eyes. They all came from horrific circumstances
that I can’t even begin to fathom, yet they talked a mile a minute about
dreams to be doctors and journalists and lawyers, dreams that they knew were
possible because of the education they were receiving, an education they
constantly talked about being grateful for.

I fell in love with those girls, and after meeting them, the wheels in my
mind starting turning. I imagined them being married off at the age of 12,
or doing unimaginable things to support their families, instead of there
with me sharing stories about their favorite classes or talking about what
college they want to go to. Right after I met them, I made the decision that
I didn’t care about the time commitment, or the fact that I was only one
person trying to tackle an immense international crisis: I was going to do
whatever I could do help little girls like them who weren’t as lucky. Even
if I am just one small person part of one single organization, what She’s
the First is doing is making a difference, and by joining their cause, I
could help that difference become larger and larger. And in the past year
researching, volunteering at events, and building relationships with girls
at our sponsor schools all around the world, I’ve discovered that maybe I
can be Superwoman, after all.

- Guest Blog post by Arianna Davis (She’s The First Researcher)

Arianna Davis is a journalism graduate of Penn State and works as an editorial assistant at O, The Oprah Magazine, a blogger and contributor for various websites such as AOL Black Voices and Michelle O Brunch, and as a researcher and blogger for the girls’ education non-profit She’s the First. To read more about her life in the concrete jungle, check out her blog The View From the 36th Floor.

Want to be a guest blogger on Living Philanthropic?
Join the team and donate to She’s The First at http://girlswhorock.causevox.com/living & submit your blog post about why you made a contribution here: http://bit.ly/lp-blogger

Ways to help:

Make a contribution at http://girlswhorock.causevox.com/living

Rock out with She’s the First on June 10 at the GIRLS WHO ROCK concert in NYC!

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Katie is one of the great people I met via twitter during the first year of Living Philanthropic, one of her suggestions even made the list for year one. She is heavily involved with She’s the First and will be my chief guest blog advisor for the month of June and I couldn’t be happier. She rocks!

“Like many of the most special things in life, I stumbled upon She’s the First at a completely unexpected time in the most random way. I still remember the storm of emails I was sending to anyone who would read them, exhausting any possible option to find a big ticket auction item for a fundraising for the Haiti Outreach Program (Day 82). By random chance, this led me to find She’s the First founder Tammy Tibbetts and my new home among these amazing world-changing women.

Now a year and a half later, my journey with She’s the First continues to surprise me. My role within the organization has changed from enthusiastic supporter to intern to graphic designer to the Greek life liaison for campus chapters as She’s the First has grown at an incredible rate. Through all of these changes, one thing has remained constant within this group: passion.

I love working with She’s the First because the genuine passion for girls’ education is remarkable and genuine. The idea is simple, really. Of the 130 million youth who are not in school in the developing world, 70% are girls. She’s the First believes that every girl (and also boy) deserves the opportunity to get an education, and with incredible drive and passion we are working to make that happen.

She’s the First and Living Philanthropic are not so different, either. We don’t think you need to be a million dollar donor to make a difference in the world. Bake sales, birthdays, and parties with a purpose have funded the education of girls all over the world. By rallying support on Facebook and Twitter and encouraging creative fundraising, She’s the First is giving girls the chance to be the First in their family to graduate high school, have a school uniform, go to college, start a business, learn to read, have a chance, realize their dreams, and most importantly, achieve them.

I’m so thrilled that She’s the First is being featured on Living Philanthropic this month and I genuinely hope that you check out all of the work we’re doing, and get involved too! “

Amount Donated: $35 - For my Girls Who Rock NY Ticket! (Get yours here!)

Guest Blog Post by Katie Riley (Greek Life Liaison at She’s the First)

Katie Riley is a senior at the University of Tennessee with a volunteer spirit and love for all things philanthropy. Follow on twitter @katherineriley.

Want to be a guest blogger on Living Philanthropic?
Join the team and donate to She’s The First at http://girlswhorock.causevox.com/living & submit your blog post about why you made a contribution here: http://bit.ly/lp-blogger

Living Philanthropic is proud to announce that She’s The First is the featured charity for the month of June. We will be supporting She’s the First through the annual Girls Who Rock concert fundraiser as one of the Class of 2011 bloggers.

GIRLS WHO ROCK is a concert bringing together the brightest minds in design, entertainment, and technology in order to change the world by supporting girl’s education globally. This annual concert fundraises for She’s the First, a not-for-profit that works to promote and progress girl’s education worldwide. For this year’s campaign, they want to make their voices heard in support of Uganda.

Help sponsor 42 girls in Uganda with She’s the First. The goal is to help the girls from the Arlington Academy of Hope be first in their families to graduate high school — a milestone less than 20% of girls in Uganda reach.

Please join the Living Philanthropic team and make a contribution to help Girls Who Rock! and She’s the First hit their goal.

**If you are in New York on June 10th, (I’m floating the idea around), get tickets to the benefit concert at the Gramercy Theater here.

Want to be a guest blogger on Living Philanthropic?
Join the team and donate to She’s The First at http://girlswhorock.causevox.com/living & submit your blog post about why you made a contribution here: http://bit.ly/lp-blogger