They say dreams are the windows of the soul--take a peek and you can see the inner workings, the nuts and bolts.
Henry Bromel,
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Need to Occupy the Kids this Summer? Get Them Involved in the Community
Need to Occupy the Kids this Summer? Get Them Involved in the Community
School is out and across the country many families now face the perennial seasonal dilemma: What should the kids do with themselves this summer? For a growing number of community-minded youngsters, the answer is: “Make a difference.”
“Summer is all about fun in the sun and taking a break from the rigors of school,” says Liz Scott of Wynnewood, Pa. “But kids really benefit from doing something more with their summer, like getting involved in the community or raising funds for a cause they believe in. Not only do they stay occupied, engaged and excited throughout the summer, they gain a real sense of their own strength and worth.”
Scott should know. Her daughter, Alexandra, gained national attention for her efforts to raise money for pediatric cancer research by holding lemonade stands. What started as a simple but passionate idea inspired a worldwide grassroots fundraising effort. Sadly, Alex passed away Aug. 1, 2004. Parents Liz and Jay continue promoting Alex’s cause and raising money for pediatric cancer research through their foundation, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF), which has raised more than $19 million to date.
“Numerous studies show that volunteering holds many physical and mental health benefits for volunteers, regardless of their age,” says Pam Edwards of Volvo Cars of North America. To commemorate the life of Alex Scott, Volvo created the Alexandra Scott Butterfly Award to recognize exceptional child heroes.
Zach Bonner was named the 2008 Butterfly Award winner. To help victims of Hurricane Katrina Zach, 10, collected 27 truckloads of sundry items, raised $600 in donations for the Red Cross post-Katrina efforts and secured $7,000 worth of new toys and sporting equipment for homeless children living in Red Cross shelters. He also recently founded the Little Red Wagon Foundation, Inc., which collects and donates backpacks filled with food, school items and other supplies to disadvantaged children nationwide.
Getting kids involved can be as simple – or grand – as the children and parents wish. The efforts of past Butterfly Award winners can provide a roadmap for getting started:
* Look to the Internet.
“The Web is a great resource for finding a charity or volunteer opportunity that fits your child’s needs and personality,” Edwards says. For example, this year www.lemonadestandforlife.com, hosted by Volvo, gives visitors the chance to support ALSF. By visiting the site, you can make a direct donation by purchasing a cups of virtual lemonade for just $1. You can then share those cups via e-mail with others asking them to also visit and support the site’s mission.
* Look to current events.
News accounts of the need caused by Katrina inspired Zach Bonner to get involved. When Congress designated November National Homeless Youth Awareness Month, Zach launched a marathon walk from Tampa, Fla., to the state capital 250 miles away in Tallahassee. He and his team raised money and awareness for the nation’s estimated 1.3 million homeless children.
* Draw inspiration from your own life.
Alex Scott founded her lemonade stand as she was recovering from cancer treatment. Grace Farnan, 14, of South Hamilton, Mass., decided to become involved in hospice care after her grandmother peacefully passed away in hospice care. Her work with the Hospice of the North Shore has included collecting hundreds of new picture frames for patients to keep photos of loved ones close at hand, and the creation of more than 500 guest books in which visitors, family and staff can write encouragement for patients. Grace was recognized as the 2006 Butterfly Award winner.
* Don’t be afraid to reach far.
In addition to efforts to help Florida’s hurricane-affected residents, Samita Mohanasundaram, 16, of Nashua, N.H., also helps disadvantaged children in India. When she was just 7, she visited a small, impoverished village in southern India and was moved by the local school’s need for books, supplies and materials. Upon returning home, she launched a book drive that drew support from all over New England. In 2007, Samita became the third child to win the Butterfly Award.
To learn more about the Butterfly Awards and to help raise funds to fight pediatric cancer, visit www.lemonadestandforlife.com.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Dance While You Can...
I will not stand to the side and allow the music in my heart to fade away and die.
I will dance to my own life song.
I will dance to my own life song.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Cost-Saving Strategies for 2008 Back-to-School Shopping
Cost-Saving Strategies for 2008 Back-to-School Shopping
Rising gas and food prices are putting the economic squeeze on most American households, and it’s already time to begin back-to-school shopping. Families with school-age children are expected to spend over $500 on back-to-school merchandise, according to the National Retail Federation.
They’ll also likely spend many days driving from store to store to get all the right items. It’s no wonder parents are looking for creative ways to save money and limit their time in the car.
“The kids may look forward to some new sneakers or the most stylish new backpack as a welcome silver lining to going back to school, but for parents finding a bargain and saving time becomes vital at this time of year,” says Theresa Boldrini-Laird, shopping expert for NearbyNow.com. “Planning, preparation and patience can help parents save money and limit the amount of time spent in the car.”
Here are some easy ways to save time and money when seeking back-to-school bargains this year:
* Remember that saving time is just as important as saving money. While online shopping may seem like an easy way to save time, many shoppers – including parents – are turning to a new shopping strategy that capitalizes on the Internet’s information-gathering power and the unbeatable immediacy of buying in a store.
NearbyNow, a California-based Web site, allows consumers to log on and search for specific merchandise at more than 200 local shopping malls across the country (go to http://www.nearbynow.com/ to find a mall near you). As a bonus, some shoppers who put items on hold may even get it for free thanks to the HOLD IT. WIN IT.(TM) for Back to School promotion.
Using the Internet or a mobile phone, parents can check the in-store availability of a much-needed item in 10 minutes or less, and if desired, put the item on hold for pick-up at a nearby store in the mall. Shoppers receive an e-mail or text message claim check to remind them where and when to pick up the item, and the claim check may also have other special offers from nearby stores. The NearbyNow service eliminates both hours and gas spent traveling to and from multiple store locations, shipping costs and time spent waiting for online orders to arrive.
* Make your list and check it twice. “It may sound so simple, but making a list is a great organizing tactic that too many people overlook,” Boldrini-Laird says. To draw up your list, first take stock of what your kids already have, and remember to think beyond just notebooks and pens. Do they need new Converse sneakers or will the pair you bought at the beginning of summer do just fine? Can they reuse last year’s backpacks, or can they use a new style with wheels? Does your teen desperately “need” a new cell phone – you know, the one that everyone has. Or does your college-bound child require a laptop? Be sure you know what you really need to buy.
* Decide on a budget and stick to it. Your budget should be generous enough to cover all the necessities and a few “extras” to make your kid feel cool at school. Get kids involved in budgeting; it’s a great way to teach them how to manage money. Plus, if everyone knows up front how much can be spent – and on what – you’ll possibly head off a few arguments.
* Shop smart. Take advantage of back-to-school sales, and visit retailers’ Web sites to print out coupons. Many offer online-only coupons to reward committed deal-hunters. As much as possible, avoid using credit cards to fund back-to-school purchases of short-lived items like schoolroom supplies, backpacks, clothes or sneakers.
To save money on gas, consider doing your back-to-school shopping in a single trip and carpool with other parents also tackling seasonal shopping.
“Smart shopping strategies may never really ease some kids’ desire to avoid going back to school and extend summer fun forever,” Boldrini-Laird says. “But they can definitely make the back-to-school experience more cost-effective, time-friendly and stress-free for parents.”
Courtesy of ARAcontent
They’ll also likely spend many days driving from store to store to get all the right items. It’s no wonder parents are looking for creative ways to save money and limit their time in the car.
“The kids may look forward to some new sneakers or the most stylish new backpack as a welcome silver lining to going back to school, but for parents finding a bargain and saving time becomes vital at this time of year,” says Theresa Boldrini-Laird, shopping expert for NearbyNow.com. “Planning, preparation and patience can help parents save money and limit the amount of time spent in the car.”
Here are some easy ways to save time and money when seeking back-to-school bargains this year:
* Remember that saving time is just as important as saving money. While online shopping may seem like an easy way to save time, many shoppers – including parents – are turning to a new shopping strategy that capitalizes on the Internet’s information-gathering power and the unbeatable immediacy of buying in a store.
NearbyNow, a California-based Web site, allows consumers to log on and search for specific merchandise at more than 200 local shopping malls across the country (go to http://www.nearbynow.com/ to find a mall near you). As a bonus, some shoppers who put items on hold may even get it for free thanks to the HOLD IT. WIN IT.(TM) for Back to School promotion.
Using the Internet or a mobile phone, parents can check the in-store availability of a much-needed item in 10 minutes or less, and if desired, put the item on hold for pick-up at a nearby store in the mall. Shoppers receive an e-mail or text message claim check to remind them where and when to pick up the item, and the claim check may also have other special offers from nearby stores. The NearbyNow service eliminates both hours and gas spent traveling to and from multiple store locations, shipping costs and time spent waiting for online orders to arrive.
* Make your list and check it twice. “It may sound so simple, but making a list is a great organizing tactic that too many people overlook,” Boldrini-Laird says. To draw up your list, first take stock of what your kids already have, and remember to think beyond just notebooks and pens. Do they need new Converse sneakers or will the pair you bought at the beginning of summer do just fine? Can they reuse last year’s backpacks, or can they use a new style with wheels? Does your teen desperately “need” a new cell phone – you know, the one that everyone has. Or does your college-bound child require a laptop? Be sure you know what you really need to buy.
* Decide on a budget and stick to it. Your budget should be generous enough to cover all the necessities and a few “extras” to make your kid feel cool at school. Get kids involved in budgeting; it’s a great way to teach them how to manage money. Plus, if everyone knows up front how much can be spent – and on what – you’ll possibly head off a few arguments.
* Shop smart. Take advantage of back-to-school sales, and visit retailers’ Web sites to print out coupons. Many offer online-only coupons to reward committed deal-hunters. As much as possible, avoid using credit cards to fund back-to-school purchases of short-lived items like schoolroom supplies, backpacks, clothes or sneakers.
To save money on gas, consider doing your back-to-school shopping in a single trip and carpool with other parents also tackling seasonal shopping.
“Smart shopping strategies may never really ease some kids’ desire to avoid going back to school and extend summer fun forever,” Boldrini-Laird says. “But they can definitely make the back-to-school experience more cost-effective, time-friendly and stress-free for parents.”
Courtesy of ARAcontent
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