TresSugar

Guess Who Kissed a Woman For Charity?

TresSugar — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 01:00:00 -0700

Who auctioned off this kiss for charity this past week?

One Dress, One Year, One Child's Education

TresSugar — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 07:00:41 -0700

I'm a sucker for charitable causes with an artistic flair, and The Uniform Project is particularly adorable. Sheena Matheiken (pictured) has vowed to wear the same dress every day for a year with the goal of sending an underprivileged Indian child to school for a year.

It's actually seven versions of the same dress, one for each day of the week; I'm assuming this is for cleanliness's sake. Each day, Matheiken posts a Cindy Sherman-esque photo of what she's wearing and drops a dollar in her virtual tip jar. After a year, she'll donate it to the Akanksha Foundation, which raises money for uniforms and other school expenses for children in Indian slums. Meanwhile, you can rate her ensembles as batty, brave, hot, cute, or "try harder."

The whole thing is pretty brave, if you ask me. To see what Matheiken has to say about her endeavor, read more.

The project was partly inspired by Matheiken's own childhood in India, spent wearing countless school uniforms and trying to suit them to her own style. But this time, she's also trying to be eco-conscious:

"Every day I will reinvent the dress with layers, accessories and all kinds of accoutrements, the majority of which will be vintage, hand-made, or hand-me-down goodies."

By the end of the year, the Uniform Project tip jar will have enough money to send one child to school for a year. But you can also donate to the cause to add even more. Since a majority of you said you would go naked for a few hours a day to save the earth, would you wear the same dress for 365 days to send a kid to school?

Do Tell: What Random Acts of Kindness Have You Practiced?

TresSugar — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 09:00:00 -0700

I remember when I first saw the bumper sticker that read, "Practice random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty." (Also a book.) I had two responses. The cynic in me: "Oh, give me a break. How corny." The realist: "Why should kind acts be random, or beautiful acts senseless? Why not be deliberate in your generosity and volunteer somewhere - to a homeless shelter, to help the elderly, or to foster kittens?" (OK, fostering kittens would not be a sacrifice! But I digress.)

Now that I'd like to think I'm older and wiser, my response is a little different. I've done volunteer work a couple times, but never for an extended period of time. One of these days, I will do that, but in the meantime, a random act of kindness can remind me of that intention and act as a bridge between the nascent do-gooder and the person who actually devotes time to others.

For example, there's a homeless woman I see almost every day on my way to work. In the past, I've walked by her, feeling awful but doing nothing. Now? I know I can't give her money every day, but sometimes I do, and sometimes, since I'm on a tangerine kick, I'll reach into my satchel and give her one. We now acknowledge each other every morning, and it feels anything but random.

Do you ever practice random acts of kindness? What is your proudest moment?

Do Tell: What Do You Do When Asked to Donate at the Store?

TresSugar — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 11:00:00 -0700

If you've been grocery shopping lately, I'm sure a cashier has asked you: "Do you want to give $1 to fight cancer?" (Or educate children, or help the homeless?)

When it happens to me, I feel like I have to say yes or risk seeming like I'm taking a stand against those causes. Wouldn't everyone in line think I'm a cheap, heartless shopper who cares more about blue cheese and white wine than saving the world? OK, maybe not.

While these checkout asks are an effective way to raise money and awareness for worthy charities, they can feel intrusive and pushy. A recent story on Slate recommends saying: "Thanks, but I've got my own giving plan!" When you're asked to donate at the grocery store, do you give all the time, only to causes you're passionate about, or not at all?

Source

Do-Gooders: Job Hunters Give Time and Gain Skills

CitizenSugar — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 15:00:08 -0700

Ever dream of living the philanthropic life - projects that matter, tax write-offs, fundraisers and galas (j/k! nobody's giving)? Now is your time. Just like Barack Obama promised!

Tired job hunters, who've found that looking for work really isn't a full-time job, are filling their time and résumés in the nonprofit, nonpaying sector. Volunteer work! Add that to the list of good things about the recession.

Because what is money, really, but "something generally accepted as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment"? The psychological impact of unemployment can be as bad, if not worse, than the financial impact. So it's no surprise the unemployed and weary are seeking solace by giving time. And the beneficiaries? They're thrilled to have hands and talent that they could not afford otherwise.

Volunteering may even pay off. Most nonprofit workers start off the clock, so proactive volunteers should expect to be snatched up when organizations have money to hire. I hear the government's giving it out?

Source

Humanitarian Aid Workers Face Growing Dangers

CitizenSugar — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:30:58 -0700

The UN has been doing everything to help the planet from warning about meat consumption to turning down their own thermostat, but there's one global danger that's harder to fix: serious threats to aid workers.

Gayle Williams, a British and South African aid worker stationed in Afghanistan, was recently murdered by Taliban soldiers illuminating this growing tragedy. Growing numbers of people who dedicate themselves to assisting those living in impoverished nations are becoming victims of fatal attacks.

In the year from July 2007 to 2008, 63 aid workers were killed. Eighteen in Somalia, 17 in Afghanistan, 14 in Sudan, six in Pakistan, and four in Chad. Since June, those numbers have increased. Recently 17 were killed in one bomb attack in Algeria. Although in some countries, the murder of aid workers falls along ideological lines, such as the Taliban murdering for what they believe are religious reasons (Aid workers are there solely for humanitarian purposes and not to promote religious ideology). While in other nations, they are murdered simply for their possessions, as a result of unchecked banditry.

To see some of the reasons behind it, and what one aid worker has to say, read more.

While the latter reason is the result of general lawlessness, in countries like Afghanistan that are going through a political transformation, the reasons fall much more along religious lines. The United Nations under secretary general for humanitarian affairs said, “This is not the result of people being caught up in a conflict or in crossfire, these are people being targeted deliberately because they are humanitarian workers and that is frankly outrageous and unacceptable and makes it extremely difficult to continue our work.”

Aid workers have shared their thoughts about their work in danger. One says:

There are lots of incidents that happen that never make the press. This latest killing, however, I think has shown how dangerous it can be working here. I think it's the sort of the incident that if you're wavering about coming to Kabul in the first place it might possibly change your mind. But personally I always think that these are the sorts of the risks that you take when you believe in a place.

That sounds like the definition of bravery to me.

Source

Kids Go Hungry Over Weekend, Backpack Program Helps

CitizenSugar — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 08:00:14 -0700

This story caught my eye this morning because I thought it was the other Hillary - but getting my Clinton confused with my Duff led me to this great charity: Blessings in a Backpack.

It makes so much sense - there are 16.3 million kids getting free or reduced price lunches through the National School Lunch Program - so who feeds those kids on the weekend? The Blessings program packs backpacks with nonperishable food and passes them out at the end of the week to keep kids going until school rolls around on Monday. Food charity programs like this and Meals on Wheels fulfill a need especially poignant when economic times get tough.

Hilary Duff was in Fort Wayne, IN, to publicize the program. She said:

I feel lucky enough to have a voice or a name that people might pay attention to. I think that people might not be aware that a couple neighborhoods away, kids aren't having food on the weekends, and we just want people to be informed and to know what's going on in their communities and to help if they can.

To see why the need is so great, and how you can help, read more.

Here are some surprising stats on food stamp benefits that signal a need for more help:

A household is ineligible for the Food Stamp Program if it has more than $2,000 in savings or other assets.
The USDA calculated that there were 12.4 million children that were at hungry or at risk in 2005, the year the program started.
The average per-person food stamp benefit is .93 a meal.

If you want to help the Blessings in a Backpack program, there are lots of ways to donate time, money, and resources.

Source

First of Brad Pitt's Make It Right Houses Done in New Orleans

CitizenSugar — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 08:00:33 -0700

Three years after Hurricane Katrina, the first homes built in by Brad Pitt's Make It Right rebuilding project are complete. Touring the building site in the Lower 9th Ward with Angelina and kids in tow this week, one ecstatic grandmother gave Brad a huge hug. She said of her new electric yellow house, "Honey, this is like heaven on earth." She'll be moving into the house with five of her 22 grandkids later this month.

In all, 150 homes will be built on the site destroyed by the broken levees. Six of the homes are near completed and the happy grandma says, "I thank God for Brad Pitt. I gave him a big hug, and I told him how much I appreciate all that he's done for me and my family." The houses cost about $150,000, are built on property still owned by residents, and their monthly payments are based on income and subsidized by Make It Right.

View 5 Photos ›

To see more about the project, read more.

Brad's Make It Right project was sparked by his dismay that there was no clear plan to address the situation in the Katrina devastated Lower 9th Ward. Consumed by doubt that the area would ever be rebuilt, the residents of the Lower 9th met with Brad and discussed while the terrible crisis had exposed their vulnerability, it created an opportunity: to build something better than what had existed before. The Make It Right Project seeks to do just that.

Source

The How-To Lounge: Giving Back

DearSugar — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:00:00 -0700

Everyday growing up my mom would ask me if I had done something kind for another person. And although I always thought answering that question was a real drag, over time I found that I looked for ways to help people so I’d have something to share with her. While I’d like to say I still do this, the truth is sometimes I get so caught up in the worries of my everyday life I forget that there’s a whole bevy of serious issues out there plaguing the world. If you’re like me and looking for an opportunity to give back and do some real good, then just read more.

If you have some money to spend, but not a lot of time, donating to a charity is a great way to give back. There are so many wonderful charities always in need of donations. Check JustGive.org to see listings for various causes that might interest you.
Your local community is probably rife with non-profit organizations looking for support. I’ve spent time volunteering in elementary schools, and for an hour or two a week, it’s an absolutely gratifying experience. Check online or even on fliers in coffee shops for what’s going on in your own neck of the woods.
Consider using your particular skill set to help out a cause. If you’re into graphic design, offer to design a pamphlet for a group you care about. If you’re a fabulous writer, look into opportunities for writing grants. Not only does this let you do something good, it’s also great for your resume.
Start something on your own. If you want to do something on a smaller scale, come up with a small goal and get a group together to accomplish it. Start a giving tree at your office or ask all your friends to adopt-a-family at the holidays.
If you just don’t have the gusto to go big right now, even the smallest things in your life can make a world of difference in someone else’s. Consider donating your old shoes and your excess pantry goods, always recycle, and finally, don’t forget how far just a bit of compassion and kindness can go.

Source

Ben Affleck Says Successes in Africa Inspire Him to Do More

LibertySugar — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:00:00 -0700

I checked out a panel on combating global poverty this week, filled with a diverse set of people ready to talk about their experiences surrounding the issue. I was super excited to see panel members like ex-Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, and the bearded and articulate Ben Affleck.

A humble Ben noted that he felt a bit out of place, but then shared what he's learned from his time in Africa. Ben thinks poverty activists need to re-package their message so it's not so doom and gloom. He argued that it's "more effective to talk about what people are doing successfully. [The successes] gave me added urgency to get involved."

Ben also highlighted how he and other Western folk are received in Africa. He said:

The countries that hold us in the highest esteem are in Africa. We don't carry colonial baggage. . . . [But] Western folks come in with a sense that "this is how it works." Imposing paradigm is much less effective than imposing solutions into social grooves. You hear people say, "If you teach a man to fish . . ." These people know how to fish, they need a pond to fish in.

Does Ben's insight impress you as much as it impressed me?