50 for 50 Day Sixteen: ProPublica
Here we are again. Thanks for stopping by my 50th Birthday Celebration, Day 16, and still going.
Here’s what is going on: because I have everything I need, I am asking people to get involved with charities, if they are so inspired, in lieu of the many valuable presents you were going to send me. Or not.
I will feature a different charity each day for 50 days leading up to my birthday to give you plenty of chances to get involved. You don’t have to donate or act every day, of course, or at all (and so far, very few people have. But I walk onward, hoping). I wanted to give a voice to different good works around the globe. If you ARE inspired to take action, please leave me a comment and let me know that you did. This is all I want for my birthday – to spread some love and kindness. Thank you!
The First Amendment on the front of the Newseum, Washington DC
Everyone knows newspapers are in trouble. Even if they are surviving and hanging on, they generally aren’t doing the investigative reporting that is so expensive to do, and yet so necessary.
But ProPublica is. Financed by donations, they are churning out some of the most important reporting of our time.
Like what? Oh, little things…like
- Pakistan’s Ties to Terror
- Study Links Gas Fracking to Flammable Drinking Water
- Keeping Generic Drugs off the market
I have the fervent belief that journalism is necessary to a democratic society and a decent world. Good journalists are the only people guarding the henhouse. Every other segment of society has vested interests that keep them from wanting the whole truth to get out. Good journalists believe in truth, and we need more of them. How would we have known about the city council in Bell, California, making themselves $800,000 salaries if not for the LA Times? And it was NPR that exposed the conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital. No one else would have or could have done that.
So please help good journalism happen. Here’s the donation page.
Previously featured organizations:
Surfrider Foundation
Livestrong
United Through Reading
Operation Shower
The Liz Logelin Foundation
KidSave
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Kids Vs Global Warming
Help a Mother Out
Direct Relief International
WriteGirl
Accelerated Cure for Multiple Sclerosis
Women for Women
Epic Change
Amnesty International
50 for 50 Day Fifteen: Surfrider Foundation
Thanks for stopping by my 50th Birthday Celebration, Day 15. I’m discouraged, but I can’t quit now.
Here’s what is going on: because I have everything I need, I am asking people to get involved with charities, if they are so inspired, in honor of my birthday. And in honor of caring humanity and all that good stuff.
I will feature a different charity each day for 50 days leading up to my birthday to give you plenty of chances to get involved. You don’t have to donate or act every day, of course, or at all (and so far, very few people have. But I walk onward, hoping). I wanted to give a voice to different good works around the globe. If you ARE inspired to take action, please leave me a comment and let me know that you did. This is all I want for my birthday – to spread some love and kindness. Thank you. You are the best.
Surfrider Foundation says their mission is: the protection and enjoyment of oceans, waves and beaches through a powerful activist network.
Since I spend a lot of my free time at the beach, this is personal to me. Whatever problems I have can always be soothed by being near the sacred waters of the ocean. I know that many others feel the same way. At sunset every evening, people gather to watch the sun go down into the ocean, just to see that last bit of light as it slides into the water. It always feels like church.
On the other hand, spending time at the beach means that I see beach pollution – plastics, effluent, trash, tires – and dangers to the beach like encroaching development, sea walls and loss of beach access. I clean up trash while I am down there, but I can only make my tiny dent.
Here is the donation page.. You can also take the plastics pledge.
Previously featured organizations:
Livestrong
United Through Reading
Operation Shower
The Liz Logelin Foundation
KidSave
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Kids Vs Global Warming
Help a Mother Out
Direct Relief International
WriteGirl
Accelerated Cure for Multiple Sclerosis
Women for Women
Epic Change
Amnesty International
50 for 50 Day Fourteen: Livestrong
Thanks for stopping by my 50th Birthday Celebration, Day Fourteen.
Here’s what is going on: because I have everything I need, I am asking people to get involved with charities, if they are so inspired, in honor of my birthday. And in honor of caring humanity and all that good stuff.
I will feature a different charity each day for 50 days leading up to my birthday to give you plenty of chances to get involved. You don’t have to donate or act every day, of course, or at all. But I wanted to give a voice to different good works around the globe. If you ARE inspired to take action, please leave me a comment and let me know that you did. This is all I want for my birthday – to spread some love and kindness. Thank you, my dear friends.
I know that the founder of Livestrong, cyclist and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong has recently been in the news because of the never-ending doping allegations that follow pro cycling around like a bad smell.
What ISN’T controversial, though is the good this organization has done. Over 70 million of those yellow rubber LIVESTRONG bracelets have been sold at $1 each, raising money that went for cancer research and to help those with cancer.
From their website: We empower the cancer community to address the unmet needs of cancer survivors. To do so, we encourage collaboration, knowledge-sharing and partnership.
Then, we develop evidence-based solutions to address both the common and unique problems survivors are facing around the world.
Just check out the website for the many programs and resources they offer. No matter what you think about Lance and his cycling career, this is an organization that does a lot of good.
Previously featured organizations:
United Through Reading
Operation Shower
The Liz Logelin Foundation
KidSave
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Kids Vs Global Warming
Help a Mother Out
Direct Relief International
WriteGirl
Accelerated Cure for Multiple Sclerosis
Women for Women
Epic Change
Amnesty International
Honor Thy Father
I got my license plates for the new car , so I went out to put them on.
The license plate frames are black plastic with the dealership’s name spelled out in white lettering. I went in the house and grabbed my big black permanent marker that I use to make signs for all the radical socialist left-wing protests I am in (like for marriage equality).
I sat out on the front steps carefully coloring in all of the white letters until the frame was a uniform shade of black. I did this in memory of my father, who refused to do free advertising for the dealers, but was too frugal to go buy other license plate frames when he already had frames that worked perfectly well.
On his cars, he used black electrical tape to cover the names, but I figured he’d approve of the magic marker technique. God rest you, Dad. I hope that wherever you are, there are no billboards or neon signs.
Me and Dad in a boat, about 1983.
50 for 50 Day Thirteen: United Through Reading
Thanks for stopping by my 50th Birthday Celebration, Day Lucky 13.
Here’s what is going on: because I have everything I need, I am asking people to get involved with charities, if they are so inspired, in honor of my birthday. And in honor of caring humanity and all that good stuff.
I will feature a different charity each day for 50 days to give you plenty of chances to get involved. You don’t have to donate or act every day, of course, or at all. But I wanted to give a voice to different good works around the globe. If you ARE inspired to take action, please leave me a comment and let me know that you did. This is all I want for my birthday – to spread some love and kindness. Thank you from the bottom of my cold little heart.
United Through Reading was suggested by the lovely Debbie of San Diego Momma.
This organization helps parents, who are separated from their children by military service or imprisonment, or grandparents who live far away from grandkids, create DVDs of themselves reading aloud for their children or grandchildren. From their website:
The nationally-acclaimed programs developed by United Through Reading provide opportunities for emotional bonding that relieve the stress of separation and instill a love of reading by providing the opportunity for family members to read aloud to children on DVD. Our programs help bring far-away family members back home for a little while each day, and help turn what might otherwise be tentative, anxious family re-introductions into joyous reunions.
Separation from a parent is one of life’s most stressful events for children, affecting their sense of security, their relationships, and their ability to learn. More than one million American children are separated from one or both parents due to military deployment and nearly double that for children separated from their loved ones due to incarceration, drug treatment, or social services. Still others are separated from their grandparents, and therefore, from generational love and learning.
Their donation page is here. They are also looking for volunteers.
Previously featured organizations:
Operation Shower
The Liz Logelin Foundation
KidSave
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Kids Vs Global Warming
Help a Mother Out
Direct Relief International
WriteGirl
Accelerated Cure for Multiple Sclerosis
Women for Women
Epic Change
Amnesty International
Seeing double
I should have known it was coming. I keep saying I’m almost 50. I keep flipping my glasses up to peer at restaurant menus. The print on product labels gets smaller and smaller. But it still snuck up on me.
I went to the eye doctor on Friday and the verdict is in: I need bifocals.
While the doc was talking to me, it didn’t really sink in. It was only when they sat me down with the optician to pick out frames – “which need to be deep enough to accomodate the graduated lenses” that I got it.
I didn’t take it well. Cindy, the poor optician, kept showing me frame after frame, only to have me discard them on the counter with barely a glance at myself. I felt like she was very far away, speaking to me from a distant room.
“They just…I just…I don’t…” I said, flopping my hands over, discomfited.
“Oooh, those are cute on you!” said a bright-eyed elderly woman all dressed in lilac as I regarded myself balefully in tortise shell rims.
“I just don’t think I’m in the mood,” I muttered, grabbing my handbag and heading for the door.
“Oh, I understand, honey,” said Cindy. “These things take time.” She nodded understandingly as I stood by the front door, trying to flee my newfound sense of being truly, definitely middle-aged.
I have a feeling they have seen this before. They know.
Hope is not closing your eyes before difficulties, risks and failures. It is knowing that if you fail now, you will not always fail and if you suffer, you will recover. It is knowing that life is good and love is powerful and the future is full of promises.
50 for 50 Day Twelve: Operation Shower
My dad as a U.S. soldier, outside Berlin, 1945
Thanks for stopping by my 50th Birthday Celebration, Day Twelve. Nothing rhymes with twelve.
In case you haven’t been following along: because I feel so blessed and have pretty much everything I could ever need, I am asking people to get involved with charities, if they are so inspired, in honor of my birthday. And in honor of caring, humanity and all that good stuff.
I am featuring a different charity every day for 50 days to give you plenty of chances to get involved. I started on May 18. I wanted to give a voice to different good works around the globe. If you ARE inspired to take action, please leave me a comment and let me know that you did. This is all I want for my birthday – to spread some love and kindness. Thank you, my dear friends.
The amazing Danielle Smith of Extraordinary Mommy suggested this organization to be featured.
Operation Shower is about celebrating and honoring military families. Operation Shower is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides joyful baby showers for military families to ease the burden of deployment.
For military families who are expecting a new baby and are experiencing or have recently experienced deployment, we accomplish our mission through:
hosting amazing baby showers
delivering high-quality products
creating a shared experience
partnering with organizations to provide value-added services, such as health-related information
LeAnn Morrissey, who is an officer in the organization, said, when I asked her what I could say about their work: “I guess I would just add if you wanted that Operation Shower was recently highlighted by Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden as part of the Joining Forces initiative as a great way to give back to military families. We provide a way for people across the nation to get involved and help military moms-to-be — from volunteering at the showers, to hosting their own fundraisers, to making quilts or handmade items, to donating money . . it is all so helpful!”
The donation page is here. And they have lots of other volunteer ideas, too.
Thanks for any and all help for this organization that helps make our military families’ lives a little brighter.
Previously featured organizations:
The Liz Logelin Foundation
KidSave
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Kids Vs Global Warming
Help a Mother Out
Direct Relief International
WriteGirl
Accelerated Cure for Multiple Sclerosis
Women for Women
Epic Change
Amnesty International
50 for 50 Day Eleven: The Liz Logelin Foundation
Thanks for keeping on coming back to this crazy birthday project of mine! I know it isn’t “normal” blogging, so let me explain, for those new to this lunacy: because I feel so fortunate and have pretty much everything I could ever need, I am asking people to get involved with charities, if they are so inspired, in honor of my 50th birthday. And in honor of caring, humanity and all that good stuff.
I am featuring a different charity every day for 50 days leading up to my birthday to give you plenty of chances to get involved. I started on May 18. I wanted to give a voice to different good works around the globe. If you ARE inspired to take action, please leave me a comment and let me know that you did. This is all I want for my birthday – to spread some love and kindness. Thank you, my dear friends.
The lovely Heather of The Extraordinary Ordinary suggested today’s organization: The Liz Logelin Foundation.
I can barely visit their website without getting all teary, because…The Liz Logelin Foundation was established to assist widows and widowers with young families who find themselves in the heartbreaking, catastrophic situation of having lost a spouse, life-partner, and parent. The Foundation’s goal is to financially assist these families as they deal with the loss of their loved ones, and struggle to move forward. The Foundation was established in 2009 by Matthew Logelin, who lost his wife Elizabeth in 2008.
Imagining trying to raise young children while grieving a spouse just makes me feel like I can’t breathe. I wish I could take lasagna and hugs to all of these good people.
Here’s the donation page. You can also get Matt’s book “Two Kisses For Maddy” over at Amazon.
Previously featured organizations:
KidSave
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Kids Vs Global Warming
Help a Mother Out
Direct Relief International
WriteGirl
Accelerated Cure for Multiple Sclerosis
Women for Women
Epic Change
Amnesty International
50 for 50 Day 10: KidSave
Here we are again. Day 10 of my big internet birthday party, 20% of the way through to my 50th birthday. Read any of the previous posts for the past 9 days to get the gist of what is going on here and why this spot isn’t filled with my usual brand of Suebobian foolishness.
Today’s organization, suggested by Ciaran Blumenfeld of Momfluential (yes, another Creative Alliance 10 alum) is
KidSave
From their website: Children growing up in foster care and orphanages – government run and private ones — are at great risk. These are the forgotten children. These are the children Kidsave serves.
Their primary way of working seems to be placing orphaned and foster kids in homes with families who can help them meet prospective adoptive parents, act as mentors, and give them a connection to caring adults.
Here’s the donate page. Thanks for any and all donations to this cause!
Previously featured organizations:
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Kids Vs Global Warming
Help a Mother Out
Direct Relief International
WriteGirl
Accelerated Cure for Multiple Sclerosis
Women for Women
Epic Change
Amnesty International
50 for 50 Day Nine: ASPCA
My favorite shelter mutt, happy at home.
Thanks for stopping by my 50th Birthday Celebration, Day Nine. Nine is fine! And hey! You can leave comments even if you don’t donate to the cause of the day. I miss comments. I love comments. Don’t make me beg. Tell me about your pet, your animal shelter story, your new shoes…(pleeeeeeeese baby pleeeeeese just leave a comment!)
Here’s the deal (in case you are new to this): because I have been so blessed by life and have everything I could ever want, I am asking people to get involved with charities, if they are so inspired, in honor of my birthday. And in honor of caring humanity and all that good stuff. Because I know otherwise I’d just end up with a pile of Hermes Birkin bags and I just don’t have anywhere to put all of them.
I will feature a different charity each day for 50 days to give you plenty of chances to get involved. Today: animals! Yay!
You don’t have to donate or act every day, of course, or at all. But I wanted to give a voice to different good works around the globe. If you ARE inspired to take action, please leave me a comment and let me know that you did. This is all I want for my birthday – to spread some love and kindness. Thank you, my dear friends.
You know I love animals! I got Goldie at an animal shelter and I get all choked up even thinking about not having her. So when my hilarious Creative Alliance 10 friend Jessica Bern suggested ASPCA for a post, I said “Of course!”
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
ASPCA operates in three core areas: Community Outreach, Animal Health Services and Anti-Cruelty Initiatives. It’s too much to list here, but you can see all of their programs on their website.
Here’s a nice video. Not as sob-worthy as some others I could have posted.
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Thanks for any and all help for the dogs and kitties. You can donate here. Or here’s a list of ways you can help your local animal shelter out. I was a shelter volunteer for several years (that’s how I met Goldie) and it was hard, satisfying, spit-covered work. Remember, pets save lives. And make them worth living.
Suebob's Red Stapler 