On a Mission: 40 Days of Water

March 16, 2013 by Leave a Comment

I’ve been starting my day with ice water and lemon.  It is a far cry from my normal coffee, sweetened with creamer and sugar. But I can hardly complain. I’ve been doing it for a good reason.

Since I was a little girl, this time of year – Lent in the Catholic Church – the 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday is traditionally a time for the faithful to pray and observe a level of penance and sacrifice as they prepare for Holy Week – the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Though I have almost always ‘given something up’ for Lent during my 40 years of being a practicing Catholic, it was often as a result of the years of tradition – and occasionally out of obligation.

This year has been different.  This year, I committed to 40 Days of Water.  It has been as beautiful for my soul as it has for my faith.

40 Days of Clean Water - Blood Water Mission40 Days of Water is a committment to sacrifice the drinks I normally reach for during the day in lieu of water.  Each time I ‘give up’ a drink I would normally have, I donate the amount I would have spent on that drink to Blood Water Mission, an organization dedicated to fighting both the HIV/AIDS and water crises in Africa. Each time I have wanted to ‘give in’ instead of ‘give up’, I think instead about the myriad reasons I have chosen to do this.  Certainly faith plays a role, but knowing that I can help by doing something that is ultimately a small sacrifice… in order to provide what I believe should be a GIVEN for everyone seems like a simple gesture. In only the first month, I have given up 62 drinks in total.

My 62 are a small fraction of the more than 8-thousand that have been sacrificed by the many, many people who are participating.  It is extraordinary what can happen when a community of people come together.  One drink at a time – one glass of wine, one cup of coffee, one ice tea, one lemonade… it can all make a difference.

Blood: Water MissionIt is estimated that $1 is the amount needed to provide clean drinking water for a child in Africa for one year.  ONE DOLLAR = ONE YEAR.  It still astonishes me. It makes me feel both hopeful and guilty all at one time.

The 40 Days Project will fund wells in Uganda.  At this time, only 33% of the people in that country have access to  clean water.  That is absurd.  Two-thirds of the people in that country don’t have what shouldn’t be a luxury, but rather a basic necessity - one that affords them, not just simple cleanliness, but health.

Consider participating for the final few weeks of the program.  Will you? Or support Blood Water Mission in one of the many other ways they are working to make the lives of the people in Africa better.

Disclosure: When I first mentioned I was participating in 40Days, I also shared about a trip I was taking at the beginning of March – one to Napa, California. That trip – specifically to include visits to wineries and wine tasting – had been planned for quite a long time and was not something that could not be changed (nor did I want it to be).  I knew I would have wine on that trip in the midst of this 40 days, so I committed to donating double to Blood Water Mission on those days and I have done so.   I will also be attending Blissdom, and may very well enjoy a glass of wine among friends. During this time, I will also donate double.

Additionally, I am proud to be working with Blood: Water Mission to help spread the word about this amazing charitable push.

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Share Breakfast With Your Small People and Other Little Ones in Need

March 12, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Joanna45Every morning my husband gets up at 4:30 in the morning and heads to the gym.  You might call him dedicated. Many do. Or crazy.  (I’ve done it) You might think his exercise regimen demands this of him, but what people often don’t realize is that his motivation is sleeping soundly as he wakes – one with freckles and chocolate brown eyes and the other a little blond guy who is currently missing three front teeth.

Jeff heads to the gym before the sun rises every morning so that he can be home to share breakfast with our sweet small people before they head to school each day.  I get them out of bed and dressed and as we head downstairs… there is their daddy, pouring milk on their cereal and cutting up fruit.  Instead of this ritual, he could be sleeping for an extra hour or more each morning and THEN heading to work to start his day, but this time is so important to him.

I can’t claim to be a morning person, but these three?  Are laughing, singing songs and telling jokes before I’m fully awake.  With everyone in a good mood, they share time, they share food and they share moments.  Sometimes, I just observe their banter, absorbing the calm before the chaos of trying to get out the door.  You know what I know? Many families don’t have this time.  Many dads don’t have the luxury of these moments – and there isn’t a single one he takes for granted.  He asks questions, quizzes them on past Presidents, and whips out multiplication flashcards.  He prepares their minds while he feeds their bellies, making sure they have everything they need to have the energy to learn.

Never for one moment have my children had to question if there would be enough for them to eat.  And yet one in five children have circumstances that are so far from what mine experience, it breaks my heart.  One in five children right here in the United States is hungry.

Hungry.

They, quite simply, don’t have enough to eat every day.  They head to school in the morning without breakfast, without the energy to focus and make it through the school morning.

For more than the past year now, I’ve been working with Kellogg’s and often talking about the beauty of breakfast in our home.  Today’s message is a little different.  I want to talk about Sharing Breakfast. Because Kellogg’s believes in the power of breakfast and its ability to give each of us – especially our small people – a great start, their ‘Share Breakfast‘ program with partner Action for Healthy Kids is working to change the number of kids who start their days without.

Screen Shot 2013-03-12 at 1.19.18 AM

And even better, you can help. And it is easy: it is some of what we do every day – Tweet or Pin or post a Facebook update.  When you do, use the #ShareBreakfast hashtag to help spread the message. Every time you do, the equivalent of one meal will be donated to a child.  .

Last week, I had the chance to chat for a few minutes with Actor Taye Diggs (Private Practice  - and one of my personal favorites, Stella Got Her Groove Back), the celebrity spokesperson for Share Breakfast.  His passion for this program is fueled in part by his role as a dad.  For me, making sure my small people are aware of the needs of others and that I model how to best to help is a priority.  Though Taye’s son is only a little guy, he did share with me a similar desire.

“We’re already planting the seed and as he gets older, we will introduce him to programs like this, because these are the types of things I think we are going to be involved in for the rest of our lives.  I think the most important thing to do is lead by example.”

Just look at the work already being done and the lives already changing…. this is Cypress Elementary in Kissimmee, Florida.

If you want to know a little more… this is a message from Taye Diggs…

Each time you watch and share these videos as well, you are ALSO making a difference.  As of this writing, the equivalent of more than 287,000 breakfasts have been donated.  The goal is ONE MILLION.  Will you help?  Watch a video. Share a video.  Tweet with #ShareBreakfast.  Post on Facebook.  It all helps – and it doesn’t cost you a penny.

Thank you for caring as I do.

I’m grateful once again, to be working with Kellogg’s.  I’m thrilled with the work they are doing to help hungry children and also – I’m delighted by the emphasis they put on breakfast – it is my children’s favorite meal. As always, all opinions and thoughts are mine alone.

 

 

 

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Blood: Water Mission – The 40 Day Water Challenge – Are You In?

February 8, 2013 by 3 Comments

I turned on the water in my home today.  I used it to bathe, clean and drink.

It was glorious.

And, I imagine like many of you, I barely gave it a thought as I turned the faucet off and on throughout the day, as I waited for warmer water, cooler water.  This is, quite simply to say, I take this incredible gift for granted.  I drink when I’m thirsty.  I splash water on my face when I feel flushed.  I shower when I’m dirty.  I wet cloths and wipe the food from small faces.

I don’t walk miles to fill jugs so that my family can get what they need.

I don’t risk handing my small people water that is contaminated….poisoning them with the very thing that should be nourishing them from their blood to their bones.

So, it is with this knowledge that I am joining a movement: one lasting 40 days.  I’m joining forces with Blood: Water Mission on their 40 Days of Water Challenge in the hopes of raising both awareness and much needed funds to overcome the HIV/AIDS and water crises in Africa.

 Blood: Water Mission - 40 Day Water Challenge

The Challenge is for me (and you if you would like to participate) to drink nothing but water for 40 days – from February 13th until March 30th. The significance of those dates is not lost on this Catholic girl.  Wednesday, February 13th is Ash Wednesday, and officially the beginning of the 40 days of Lent, ending the day before Easter Sunday.  This challenge means I will be giving up the morning coffee and tea, forgoing juices and such in the middle of the day and skipping any wine in the evening. For each drink I skip, I will donate the money I WOULD have spent to the cause.

The Mission

Uganda Blood: Water MissionBlood: Water Mission is a faith-based non-profit founded by the members of the Grammy winning band Jars of Clay. Since 2005, they have been supporting our neighbors in sub-Saharan Africa by working to combat their two biggest challenges – a pure lack of clean drinking water and a rate of HIV/AIDS that is simply too high.  In the past, as they have raised money, they have equated $1 to the amount of money needed to provide one child clean drinking water for A YEAR.

Imagine that with me for a moment.

I skip coffee in the morning = a child has clean water.  I pass on a glass of wine – at least SIX children see water in their future.

Uganda

For this project, money is going to Uganda and wells will be built to provide entire communities with the gift of life they so desperately deserve.  In Uganda, 33% of the people do not have access to clean drinking water. This breaks my heart.

I am just one person.  But, I can help.  And so can my small people.  And so can you.  Imagine the difference we can make together.

I am not doing this because I have to.  I’m doing it because it is the most beautiful, life-giving gift I can give.  I have taken it for granted too many times in my life. It is time that I put some energy towards sharing this gift.  This 40 day challenge will be a constant reminder to value its worth and to appreciate my opportunity to be able to share it.

Blood: Water Mission makes the 40 Day Water Challenge so easy.  Not only can you register in minutes on their site, but you can keep track of your progress daily and check in on the thousands of others who have already made the commitment.  Isn’t it always easier to do a challenge like this surrounded by the inspiration and motivation of friends and a supportive community? At the time of this writing, there have been more than 34,800 drinks given up for the project (And note: the official date hasn’t started yet!) by just shy of 5-thousand people.Screen Shot 2013-02-07 at 11.59.44 PM
More than 76-Thousand dollars has been raised.  I will soon be adding to that total.  Each time I skip a drink of any kind in favor or water, I hope on to my profile online to ‘Add a Drink’. I list what I

*would* have had and how much I saved.  This is money I’m pledging to donate at the end of each week.  The challenge allows each Sunday to be a ‘free day’ if you would like to sip on a favorite something.

Please consider joining and donating.

Clean water shouldn’t be a special gift… it is a right.
Disclosure:  I have two drips on March – one is to Napa – and a portion of that trip will include Wine tasting.  As the trip was planned before I was aware of the project, I am stilt attending and participating.  I will also be attending Blissdom, and may very well enjoy a glass of wine among friends.  If ever there is a situation like this, I will donate double the cost of the drink for that day.
 
Additionally, I am proud to be working with Blood: Water Mission to help spread the word about this amazing charitable push.  
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Share your Breakfast: Kelloggs Makes it Easy (and You Will Feel GOOD About It!)

December 12, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Mornings in my house are a little chaotic. I’m sure you understand – there is a rush to get dressed, a rush to get out the door, a rush to find socks and shoes, and in the colder months – we are always on the hunt for sweatshirts, coats, mittens and hats. Just this morning, my small dude tried to opt for the socks he wore YESTERDAY.  I DON’T THINK SO, LITTLE GUY!

But no matter how limited our time might be, my small people never – and I do mean NEVER –  skip breakfast.  I know that their little minds and their little bodies need fuel first thing in the morning.  I know that they need energy to push them through the day, to help them concentrate, to allow them to absorb what they will be learning when they first walk through the doors of their classrooms. As a mom, you try to head off potential disasters for your kids – I know that my children can’t concentrate when they are lacking in two very important areas: sleep and food.

We are lucky.  Breakfast in our home in something we cherish as we know it isn’t a luxury all children have.  It hurts my heart to know that there are, in fact, so many children who DON’T have the opportunity to start the day this way.

In fact, one in five children head to school hungry.

Think about that for a moment. One in five. How many small people do you think you know who might not get enough to eat every day?

I think you know combating this problem is a passion of mine. I’m grateful to partner with companies who want to do something about it.  Since breakfast is SO important, Kelloggs has created the ShareBreakfast campaign and they have partnered with the fabulous Taye Diggs to spread the word.

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A Post-Hurricane Sandy Donation: Finding a Way to Help

December 4, 2012 by Leave a Comment

So many of us are counting down the days to the holidays. Decking the halls, hunting for gifts and choosing pictures for cards.

But East of us, they are still picking up the pieces.  Still leveling homes, still looking for warm places to stay, still gathering the food needed for families to feel ‘normal’ again.  I still feel a tightening in my chest every time I see the pictures and the video from the wreckage left by Hurricane Sandy.  My heart still warms with every offer of help I hear, and with every outstretched hand I see offered.  Food and items were gathered from the four corners of the country and shipped in.  I wrote about the efforts, knowing some people wanted to help, but weren’t sure just how. When you are miles away, it is easy to feel helpless.

I have kept in close contact with many friends in New York and New Jersey. While Sandy may not be the lead story in the news each night anymore, the need is still there.  And I know every little bit you and I do even now, helps.

I have worked with Kellogg’s for this past year and was proud to see them step up as one of the first companies to donate.  They committed $500,000 to the Red Cross and Feeding America on October 30th.  Clearly, I don’t have the capacity to give in that manner, but I can take baby steps.  While working with Kellogg’s a few months ago, they offered me a year’s supply of cereal to give away here on the site.  After Hurricane Sandy hit, I requested to donate those boxes instead and wondered if there was anything additional they might be able to contribute.

On my behalf, Kellogg’s doubled the donation to a 2 year’s supply of cereal. Rather than just picking a food bank and shipping them, I wanted to make sure these boxes were going where they were needed.  Knowing my friend Dawn Sandomeno’s home city of Belmar, New Jersey, was hit extremely hard, I started with her.  After a few weeks and a series of phone calls, today, I spoke with MaryAnn LaGuardia, the head of the PTO at Lavallette Elementary School in Tom’s River, New Jersey.  While juggling the loss and leveling of her own home, MaryAnn has been handling the many donations that have come their way. Despite the chaos she must be experiencing, she was happy to accept the donation on behalf of her students.

Screenshot from Lavallette Elementary's Website

From Lavallette’s website:

Words could never express how kind and generous people have been to the Lavallette School as we work to provide positive light for our children during a difficult time. People from every corner of the United States have reached out with financial donations, supplies, and kindness to allow the Lavallette School to keep on moving forward during its 99th year.

I hadn’t seen this at the time, but this is exactly the sentiment she expressed to me when we spoke.  It is extraordinary when you consider the many faces, the many families impacted by this storm and how easy it is to help, if even in a small way.

I’m so very happy I was connected to MaryAnn and Lavallette. I’m honored to have helped in even a small way.  I would love to know if you have found any additional ways to help as well as any suggestions you might have for how we might continue to help.

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The Christmas Store – Toys at 90% Discount for Families in Need

November 20, 2012 by 2 Comments

It is the little things – you know those flashes in your Facebook and Twitter timeline that remind you of the good in the world?  Those moments when you see your friends cleaning up homes on the East Coast after Sandy, organizing their own food drives, taking trips to Africa to raise awareness about the need for clean water and many other conditions, or simply overpaying at the grocery store to take care of the person in line behind them.

It keeps my heart full. Often full to the point of bursting.

There are two main ’cause’ categories that have always spoken to me: children and the military.  I have certainly donated money and volunteered time for other causes, but these two have my heart in a way I simply can’t explain.  Specifically, I have worked to combat Child Hunger for close to four years now – working directly with Child Hunger Ends Here and Con Agra Foods, but also with St. Louis based Operation Shower, which  provides beautiful baby showers for mothers-to-be who have spouses are serving overseas. They are both extraordinary at what they do and I’m honored to be involved with them.

But, even now, I know there are so many other ways I could be giving, so many other ways I could be teaching my small people to give. And just as I think that, one falls in to my lap.  And I am compelled to share it with you…. because you just might be moved to help a little, too.

My friend Dave Mills, in the spirit of ‘Movember’ started his own fundraiser, No Shave VersaDave to benefit The Christmas Store, a local charity that collects brand news toys and ‘sells’ them to families at an incredibly discounted rate – close to 90% off.

This is beautiful in so many ways:

Dave clearly has a kind heart and chose The Christmas Store as it allows families to ‘purchase’ toys for their children.  In his words, “The parents walk out with a huge sense of pride that they were able to provide for their kids, and the kids actually get to enjoy Christmas morning like a kid.” The toy store is the creation of Serve St Charles (just outside of St. Louis, MO).  They rely on toy and monetary donations to provide the toys for the families to experience their own version of Black Friday.  Serve St. Charles works with local service agencies to identify families who would be a good fit and have a need. Naturally, there are guidelines on how much each family can spend and how many toys they might purchase.

Dave’s goal with No Shave VersaDave – where he has not shaved for the entire time he has been raising money for The Christmas Store, was to hit $500.  He has surpassed that, but wouldn’t it be fun to keep going?  It you have a few extra dollars to spare (and I know things are tight), it would be delightful if you could help.  Or, if you are local, and would like to drop off brand new toys, you have until November 30th.

The drop off location: Every Sunday morning at Refuge Church, 1735 South River Road, St. Charles, MO.  If you would like to make additional arrangements, please let me know and I would be happy to direct you to the correct person.

Whatever you choose to do this holiday season, keep in mind that sometimes spreading the word or donating the change you find in your car is more than enough.

Thank you, as always, for giving good.

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Experience the Joy in the Moment: Butterfly Kiss Wines

November 19, 2012 by Leave a Comment

You know when someone asks you the right question at the right time and it really gets you thinking?  This just happened to me.

I was asked, ‘when life is crazy, what gives in your world?’

Your answer may very well be exactly the same as mine: ME. All things that have to do with me fall to the back of the line, the bottom of the priority list.  Exercise, healthy eating, sleep, time with my friends, and any kind of relaxation.  I’m constantly telling myself, ‘there just isn’t time’.  I put my small people, my husband and my work first.

I’m not alone, I know that.  So many women do this.  We put meals on the table, we finish our work, we drive carpools and make sure the soccer uniforms are washed and permission slips are signed.  And we skip our morning workouts, we eat on the run and we stay up too late. And forget the down time.  Yet I know I need to make some adjustments.

I received a beautiful kick in that direction in the form of an invitation this past week.  I was invited to MC and host the Butterfly Kiss Wine Coast to Coast Event at the Niehule Salon in Los Angeles.  This event was one of three being held that night.  The other two were in Chicago and New York City.  The events were multi-purpose: to provide an extraordinary Ladies Night Out, to launch Butterfly Kiss Wines - the newest in the Diageo portfolio of wines and to shine a spotlight on the public non-profit Locks of Love.

The Butterfly Kiss Wines were created with women like you and me in mind. To encourage us to slow down, experience those small sips of joy and delight in the time we have relaxing with our girlfriends or relishing some time alone.  It was such a treasure to introduce the wines and the winemaker – Jason Dodge, to watch women choosing their favorites… the Chardonnay, the Pinot Grigio, the PINK Pinot Grigio, or the Moscato, (mine is the traditional Pinot Grigio) and to see everyone relaxing as they indulged in Niehule’s Salon services – makeup, hairstyling and manicures.  Micah did mine with a flourish (her only request – that SHE design her ‘own creation’ with my hair) – I loved everything about her.

The event ended with a beautiful talk by Locks of Love President, Madonna Coffman and Coast-to-Coast hair cutting and donation for her cause. As you may know, Locks of Love is a public non-profit that provides custom hair-pieces to children suffering from medical, long-term hair loss from any diagnosis. At all three events, women donated a minimum of 10 inches of their gorgeous hair to contribute to the cause.  In Los Angeles, one of our donors was cutting her hair for the FOURTH time to donate. She estimates that it takes her about two years to grow it back out. It gave me chills to see her smile.  Though the event was free, donations were taken at the door.

I’m delighted to say, in addition to the two women who donated their hair, just more than $200 was raised for Locks of Love.  Wine, salon services, time with girlfriends AND donating to a good cause?  I’d call that successful ‘me time’.

I was delighted to be working with Butterfly Kiss Wines and Diageo on this event, though, as always, all opinions and experiences are my own.

 

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