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Computer Virus was Worse than expected. I put in my five hours or $5.00

Posted by Michelle S. Hawkins on December 7, 2010 at 12:50am

Hi All the computer Virus was worse than expected. My poor computer was wait listed to be repaired, so a lot of folks have been zapped this holiday season. I hope to have it today. My blogging everyday this month went out the window will try for everyday in January.

I spent Friday and Saturday at an expo (Phoenix Urban Expo) fundraising for the Cultural Cup Food Bank in Phoenix. A small food bank at Osborn and 7th Street that services the immediate area. I got 7 companies to hold food drives, send volunteers and go back and ask their companies to make a financial donation. I also got a pharmacutical representative to go back to her company and ask them to do a program they have going somewhere else, here. This program would help clients to the free clinic obtained needed medicines. I didn't make any moola this weekend, but I think the Universe will return it to me.

There is nothing I can think of during this time of year that's more heart renching than to stand at the door and tell a family that you have run out of food. So please make a donation, even if its only $5.00. They can do amazing things with 5 bucks. To donate to this nonprofit go to http://culturalcup.com they operate a free foodbank and clinic. They turn no one away, they will try and find someone food and its all volunteer.

So I'm well over my five $5.00 /5 hours for the month (more like 16). Now is the time to help others, if you do it no other time of the year, do it now. Where ever you are, no matter what you're going through, go help someone else. Helping others will allow you to step back from your problems, will give you a new outlook on your problems. After you help someone else it allows you to look at your situation with fresh eyes. You will be surprised at how much stronger you are to handle your situation after helping another. Your spirit and heart will be lighter.

The wirequeen is stepping off her soapbox. :) Find some small nonprofit working in the community that is doing good work. Donate some time and some cash. You be the one receiving the benefits.

This is the blog post I put up today. I won't get my computer back today, hope to see it this week.
Peace.

Michelle

"The Top 5 Reasons to Embrace a Spirit of Giving"

Posted by Ashani Mfuko on March 9, 2010 at 10:19pm

A spirit of giving should be something that we embrace all year round, and shouldn’t be limited to the months of November andDecember. Here are my top 5 reasons to give back all year long:

1) Because there’s always someone in need. As residents of this planet, and members of the humanrace, we have an unspoken responsibility for one another. Wealso have an innate, God-given desire to love, be loved, protectourselves, as well as others. Whatever your comfort level or situation,there’s always a way to give back, and help someone in need. You havethe option of donating all types of goods (not just money) to non-profitorganizations, or giving a little money to that single mom in yourbuilding or in your child’s school, and even giving back through yourtime. Which leads to my next item…

2) Because it is so rewarding! There’s no feeling like the feeling of knowing that you’re helping someone in need, makingtheir life better, or simply taking time out to focus on the needs ofsomeone outside of your family and inner circle. So, my suggestion?Volunteer! I have been a dedicated volunteer for Animal Care and Control of New York City for 2 years now, and it has beenone of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done in my life! I happen tolove dogs (borderline-obsessed), so, this is a perfect scenario for me.However, if you’re thinking that you don’t have time to volunteerbecause of your already hectic schedule, or that with all of the stressof life, you don’t have much to give anyone, then I have news for you.You absolutely DO have something to give! You just have to get creativesometimes. So depending on your personal interests or free time, thereare many options out there for you. You can volunteer for a non-profitonce-a-week, or once-a-month, you can mentor a young person, or a newbusiness-owner/entrepeneur, you can do a free, quarterly seminar in alocal high school, college, or church, on a topic that you areknowledgeable about that may be helpful to others. The possibilities areendless!

3) Because making the world a better place starts with individuals each doing their part. It’s not enough for us to votefor politicians who we think will make a difference, or to sign apetition for a good cause, every so often, or even participate in arally of sorts. These are all very important of course, but it’s alsoimportant for you to recognize that you alone can make a real differencein this world. From sending a friend a kind e-mail just reminding themthat they’re doing a great job, and that you admire them, to taking outthat really quiet kid from your church, that always seems a little sad,to lunch, to the park, or to a ball game. It’s always good to recognizethe small gestures that we can do as individuals, that will help to makethe world a better place.

4) Because giving is like a river which flows gracefully into an ocean of goodness that affects the masses. Okay,that was a little bit of a poetic stretch, but the point is, you getback what you give. Call it karma, reaping what you sow, energy, “The Secret”, or whatever you like. But, I’vefound that people with a true, giving heart, that actively choose tomake giving back a way of life, find that they always manage to havetheir needs met, sometimes in surprising and miraculous ways, and findthat good always comes back to them, even in the midst of adversity.

5) Because it’s the right thing to do. It’s a little sad that giving back has become something optional for so manypeople, as opposed to a way of life. This really needs to change. Aspirit of giving combats greed, selfishness, and arrogance. So that’sanother great reason to do it! If you’re a parent, your kids arewatching. Don’t just tell them what is right, show them, through yourlife, and through your actions.

You may notice that I didn’t notate any specificorganizations to volunteer for, or donate to. No, that would be tooeasy! I would love it if you would take the time out right now, to lookwithin yourself, and see what unique and special way that you can giveback. Don’t just look at a site with tons of non-profit organizations,or a volunteer options checklist. Think about what you’re good at, whatyou enjoy doing, and the qualities that you already embody that arespecial, and then find something that fits for your personality andlifestyle. Please let me know what you find out. Once you start givingback, you’ll never stop!

Le Fash’Ink ™ - Fashion, Beauty & Body Art Extravaganza Fashion Show

Posted by Teresa Janes on January 17, 2010 at 8:08am

Le Fash’Ink ™ Fashion, Beauty & Body Art Extravaganza & Industry ForumsMemphis, TNThursday, May 20, 2010Officially Sanctioned “Peace Week” Event presented by ABetterMemphis.comWhat is Le Fash’Ink?Le Fash’Ink is a Fashion, Beauty and Body Art Runway Show that will highlight the latest trends in fashion, beauty and body art. Models will exhibit the newest in fashion as well as body art before an audience of customers, aficionados and industry insiders. In addition, the event will educate aspiring models and potential professionals through several forums that are moderated by industry professionals in various aspects of the fashion and beauty industry. This event is chic, exotic and free to the public. Le Fash’Ink is not just a fashion show…it is an experience.PurposeIn the spirit of “Memphis Peace Week”, ABetterMemphis.com, Inc.’s Le Fash’Ink seeks to educate, create awareness, and increase demand throughout the Memphis and surrounding communities for occupations that directly correlate to fashion, art, culture, beauty and design. ABetterMemphis.com will establish a scholarship fund that will assist single parents and low income students in attending a Historically Black College or University and/or trade school for a profession or peripheral profession in the above stated industries.Get InvolvedLe Fash’Ink is a great place for visibility for your business, product or information. This event plays host to a diverse demographic group. The energy and excitement surrounding this event is unmatched to that of traditional fashion events.We are looking for volunteers, vendors, and sponsors. For sponsorship and/or vendor opportunities, email LeFashInk@memphispeaceweek.com for a package.Thanks,Teresa JanesEvent Manager/Organizer

A NEW DIRECTION EMERGES FOR ATLANTA HOMELESS

Posted by Belinda U. Vickerson on August 26, 2009 at 9:58pm

Local Non-Profit Launches New Program To Provide Meals And Assistance To Local HomelessAtlanta, GA, August 20, 2009-----In partnership with H.J. Russell Enterprises and Publix Super Markets, the S.O.A.P. Box program will begin feeding the homeless the first Sunday of every month at McDaniels and Peters Street in the historic Castleberry Hill Art District. “Speaking Out Against Poverty” aka S.O.A.P. Box will launch September 6th 2009 from 12 noon to 5pm and will run until December 6th 2009. In addition to meals, the program is slated to provide clothing, toiletries and employment assistance to homeless residents in the Atlanta area. With a goal to eradicate poverty, the program aims to assist those in dire need.There is a new face to Atlanta’s poor and homeless, many of whom have witnessed their circumstances change drastically over the last year. The unemployment rate in Georgia has risen to 10.3%. Foreclosures and high interest mortgages are still plaguing Atlanta residents. On top of their current monthly obligations, many are now faced with increasing property taxes. With fewer resources and options available, Atlanta’s growing population of displaced and homeless need help more than ever.Bruce Marigny, Executive Director and Founder of The Brothers of Better Business, created S.O.A.P. Box to unite the community in an effort to meet the need of Atlanta’s homeless. This program was developed to inspire and empower communities to fight for the impoverished in and around Atlanta. “We are devoted to raising awareness and supporting citizens in taking action locally to end extreme poverty,” said Bruce Marigny. “The key goal is to help people move beyond their need and into becoming self-sufficient members of their community. Through long-term, self-help development programs funded by grants and individual donors, hundreds of people in Atlanta will increase their ability to be self-sufficient by learning and applying new, marketable skills.” In addition to Publix and H.J. Russell Enterprises; former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young, Atlanta Councilman Ceasar C. Mitchell, and Atlanta Police Chief Richard J. Pennington have dedicated their time and resources to ensure the success of this endeavor.For more information, please contact Belinda Vickerson email: belinda@blackstoneconsultant.com

WBO Talk Radio: It's Wonderful To Give As Well As Receive! Join us June 4th at 11 a.m. (EST)

Posted by Altha Sood on June 1, 2008 at 12:09pm

Join us on Wednesday, June 4, 2008 at 11 a.m. (EST) as 2 women business owners discuss the organizations they created to bring more awareness to their causes, breast cancer and our youth. You will find us on www.blogtalkradio.com/wbo-radio. Meet us in the chatroom on the host page and/or by phone, "dial-in", (347) 205-9229. Please find below a sneak peak at our radio guest below --Sharon Summerlin, owner of www.kidfriendlyonline.net, is a serial entrepreneur who has operated several very successful businesses in her career.In 2005, after completing a research project, it was discovered there was a demand for "all things kid friendly" -- KidFriendlyOnline.net was launched. She will talk about her nationwide search for participants in her "Kid Reporters" program which includes the involvement of the schools as well. It is hoped the kids can be matched with 'real' reporters to assist them in writing their stories. What a career starter!!!Also, kids will be offered opportunities and suggestions for giving back to local and national causes -- causes identified and ones they have a passion for. Come hear Ms. Summerlin outline the details of this exciting program!Debbie Mormino, a WBO member and owner of www.plexuspink.com. Ms. Mormino is a breast health consultant and spreads the word about early detection. She is on a mission to help eliminate breast cancer altogether. Debbie also has a health insurance license and works from home on a part-time basis.

Hot spots for volunteer travel - Improve your cultural literacy and become a better business leader

Posted by Debrah on April 16, 2008 at 2:32pm

By Rebecca RuizForbesupdated 10:44 a.m. CT, Mon., Feb. 11, 2008Until last year, Tom Glassanos, a 52-year-old Bay Area entrepreneur, had engaged in philanthropy largely through donations to charitable causes. It was an e-mail from his 17-year-old son, which included a link to a Web site called Cross-Cultural Solutions, that began to change his perspective.The site described volunteer opportunities in 15 different countries, and Glassanos was intrigued by the idea of volunteering while on vacation. His son's timing was opportune as Glassanos' private electronic billing company, Xign, had just been acquired by JPMorgan Chase. Glassanos was then free to travel with his wife and son to Rabat, Morocco, where they spent one month holding different volunteer positions during the week and exploring the North African country on the weekends.No one is tracking the number of American executives trading in a five-star European vacation for a few weeks of volunteering abroad, but the trend has gained traction as business leaders like Bill Gates and Warren Buffett have drawn attention to the power of philanthropy in resource-poor nations. Executives and professionals have increasingly looked to volunteer travel for career enhancement, personal fulfillment and improved cultural literacy."It's as much a way for a volunteer's life to be touched by others," says Glassanos of his experience teaching Moroccan women computer and business skills. "It gave me an opportunity to explore the world and what was important to them."Feel-good travel trendsVolunteer travel is not a new phenomenon; Cross-Cultural Solutions began operating international volunteer programs in 1995 and, of course, programs like the Peace Corps and the U.K. Volunteer Service Overseas have promoted foreign volunteering for decades.The travel industry, however, is recognizing a growing interest in vacations that combine aid work with weekend sightseeing or cultural immersion. Last year, CheapTickets and United Way partnered to create an online search tool that combines domestic volunteer listings and travel options.A Travelocity survey of 1,017 people in late 2007 found that 17.7 percent of respondents had previously taken a vacation with a volunteer or philanthropic component. Of those, trips with a focus on conservation, education and health care were the most popular.Why and how to goMost "voluntourists" prefer philanthropic traveling to traditional vacations, and executives are no different. Executives frequently hope the experience will further define their career, according to Dava Antoniotti, director of program enrollment for CCS."A lot of people are used to the daily grind, and they're questioning the direction of altruism in their careers," says Antoniotti. She notes that executives often find trips more fulfilling than just donating money, and that some take their families as well.With several companies sponsoring volunteer trips, there are numerous opportunities to incorporate one's professional or personal interests. The international volunteer company i-to-i features programs like coaching soccer in Tanzania or teaching English in China. uVolunteer sends travelers to Ecuador to assist people indigenous to the Amazon rainforest with community development, while media and graphic design professionals work on editorial projects in Bolivia.Success storyJohn Wood, a former Microsoft executive, traveled to Nepal in 1998 with no intention to do philanthropic work. But an encounter with a school district resource officer who decried the area's lack of educational resources changed Wood's mind. The next year, he formed Room to Read, a nonprofit that has built schools and libraries in Southeast Asia and South Africa."The cliché now is prosperity with a purpose," says Wood, "and at that point I didn't know what the purpose was." Now, Wood's organization offers trips for volunteers, including employees of Accenture and PepsiCo, which both support Room to Read, to visit the schools.Antoniotti says that a number of businesses have approached CCS inquiring about extending volunteer travel trips to their staff. CCS partners currently include Salesforce, The Cartoon Network and AIO Group."They're encouraging staff members to [travel] because we live in a global community," says Antoniotti. "They need a level of cultural competence, working with a team across language barriers. It's also a great benefit."Pricing varies widely based on the destination and the services provided by the organization, which can be as basic as sharing a home with a host family to living in a home owned by the company and staffed with locals. Packages often don't include the price of airfare, either.And before deciding on a program, Charlotte Hindle, author of "Volunteer: A Traveler's Guide to Making a Difference Around the World," says it's important to consider the ethical implications of volunteer travel."Make sure you're not taking a job from a local person," she says. "People see volunteering with rose-tinted glasses and think [they're] going to really contribute. That's not necessarily the case."© 2008 Forbes.com

Brain Tumor Walk SF Bay Area....I need sponsors!

Posted by Margaret Salmond on March 14, 2008 at 10:00pm

On May 3 rd , I'm taking part in the Bay Area, CA Brain Tumor Walk and Angel Adventure® to raise money for NBTF - Brain Tumor Walk and Angel AdventureÂ® - please make a donation by visiting my Firstgiving page: http://www.firstgiving.com/deesfamilyandfriendsI'm walking on behalf of my sister, Deborah, who we found out has a brain tumor almost three years ago.You can donate online with a credit card. All donations are secure and sent directly to NBTF - Brain Tumor Walk and Angel Adventure® by Firstgiving, who will email you a printable record of your donation.Please send my page on to anyone who might like to donate! Thanks everyone!Margaret

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