Blue Star Families Launches Milkidz Club

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By DouglasPosted In: MilitaryTagged: , , , ,

Military family nonprofit Blue Star Families recently launched its newest program called Milkidz Club, with help from Onsite Health. The club works to support military children by connecting them, as well as providing mentoring, resources and opportunities to help them grow within their communities.

The inception of MilKidz Club took place at an outdoor event at the Sierra Club’s Celebration of the Military Child in Virginia. The Club aims to "connect military children with the outdoors by helping them enjoy and explore the lands they and their parents sacrifice to protect." The Club's partners include the Sierra Club, Mission Outdoors; Armed Services YMCA; National Military Family Association and Outdoors Alliance for Kids.

"Onsite Health is very excited work with Blue Star Families and their upcoming MilKidz Club launch,” said Onsite Health CEO Ernest A. Blackwelder. "We recognize the difficulties military families have, especially when a parent is deployed. We believe MilKidz Club is a wonderful way to support these amazing families. We look forward to the upcoming launch and hope the families have a great time with it as well!”

“Our military children face many challenges right now,” said Mark Smith of Blue Star Families. “Between moves, school and deployments, military kids really need a chance to get outside, play, and explore. That’s why we’re excited to launch MilKidz Club at this great event, with these military-serving organizations celebrating military children outdoors.”

Matthew’s Mission’s Easter Eggstravaganza

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By DouglasPosted In: FamilyTagged: , , , , ,

Yesterday morning, hundreds of children participated in the Easter Eggstravaganza, which benefits a charity called Matthew’s Mission. Held at the South Scranton’s Harmon Field, the event included 25,000 Easter eggs, prizes, treats, face paint, games and much more.

Matthew’s Mission is an organization that works to fund special needs programs in memory of Matthew James Newell, who die suddenly from a seizure at the age of 24. The young man had Down syndrome and was known for his generosity.

“My brother Matthew always donated his own money to, say, St. Joseph’s Center of the Friendship House,” explained his sister, Kathleen Haikes. “When he passed away unexpectedly we thought, we’ll keep his name going and do his work for him.”

Ms. Haikes added that the charity depends on the community’s help in order to continue with its mission. For example, the preparation for the Easter Eggstravaganza included an egg-filling party, where volunteers filled almost 20,000 eggs in two hours.

The prizes within the eggs included candy and small toys, while 125 tickets for giant stuffed animals were also among the items found.

Matthew’s Mission also donated additional gifts, including a service dog for 9-year-old Melanie Berardelli. The dog, named Buddy, is trained to sense and deal with seizures like those that plague Melanie.

Melanie’s mother Traci said: “The things that Matthew’s Mission does are just unbelievable.”

Katharine McPhee Visits Africa with Malaria No More

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By DouglasPosted In: HealthTagged: , , , , ,

Katherine McPhee, former American Idol contestant and current star of NBC’s Smash, recently traveled to Africa as an ambassador of ‘Malaria No More.’ This charitable organization is “determined to end malaria deaths in Africa by 2015.”

McPhee’s trip began in Accra, Ghana, and will continue to Ouagadougou, Burkina Fasco. Malaria is a preventable and treatable disease, and McPhee distributed mosquito nets and medications at each stop.

The health director at Accra said “they will be put to good use.” He added, “please know you will always have a home back here in Ghana.”

In Accra, she participated in a gathering of chiefs called a ‘durba,’ joining the native families in dance and later performing in a play.

Ouagadougou is home to a school the celebrity built through her McPhee Outreach program. Though classes were a major success, the school was recently closed as a result of a malaria outbreak in the region.

Dress for Success at The Grille at Morrison House

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By JohnPosted In: PovertyTagged: , , , , ,

Dress for Success Fundraiser

Today, The Grille at Morrison House is doing a meaningful and fun fundraiser.  While raising money for the Dress for Success nonprofit, they are creating an entertaining night for all.  Emily Wines will be teaching those in attendance how to make champagne cocktails.  Brian McPherson, the Morrison House chef, will offer delicious caviar and blini snacks; pianist Pat Rohrer and singer Krista McClellan will entertain. 

Tickets will cost $25, which include the food and drink being offered, and all proceeds will benefit Dress for Success.  Dress for Success aims to help economically challenged women to have professional attire for interviews and jobs and to find employment.  They are an international non-profit that helps clients find and retain employment.  Each woman who comes to their store receives a suit for a job interview, and then another when she finds work.  Since its founding in 1997, Dress for Success has helps more than 550,000 women around the world.

While having fun, those in attendance at The Grille at Morrison House will be helping women to get back on their feet, one outfit and one job interview at a time.

Jackie Kaufman Honored by Boys and Girls Home and Family Services Inc.

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By JohnPosted In: FamilyTagged: , ,
Jackie Kaufman

Jackie Kaufman

Jackie Kaufman recently became the most recent recipient of the Boys and Girls Home and Family Services Inc. Jeff Dible Volunteer of the Year Award for 2011. Jackie first became involved with the Boys and Girls Home after a lunch date with a friend years ago.  As she recounted,

"One day right before Christmas, she told me about a girl who was terrified even thinking about the holiday. I could not understand that, as Christmas has always been such a special time for me and my family," she recalled. "It seems this little girl was abused by her father and her uncles before she was allowed to open her one gift. She associates the holidays and gifts with abuse. How terrible is that? Right then and there I asked what I could do to help."

The volunteer award is giving each year during the annual meeting and recognition program to recognize one volunteer whose leadership and commitment are outstanding.  She has primarily focused on fundraising for the organization.  As Terri Dooley, executive vice president of development said,

"Jackie is driven by planning Boys and Girls Home and Family Services events that each year continues to raise more money to support programs and services for the clients. That's her motivation."

She continued to explain that the best part of volunteering, from her point of view, is in helping children who have experienced trauma. As she said,

"I am involved because there is such a need. These kids will really tug on your heart strings. Some of them have gone through so much in their short lives, and they just need help dealing with the bad situation that they landed in. Boys and Girls Home is that place. It is a loving and protective environment for the kids."

Dooley added, “Her boundless creativity, passion, selfless dedication and amazing contributions best describe why she is so treasured."

 

Simon Cowell’s Wildlife Charity Prepares for Another Drought Season

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By DouglasPosted In: Animals and NatureTagged: , , , ,

Surrey recently announced a state of drought, and wildlife charities are bracing themselves for an onslaught of suffering animals. According to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Surrey and the Thames Valley just faced two of the driest years since 1984, when the records were first established.

Wildlife Aid Foundation, founded and directed by Simon Cowell, is preparing for the “impending catastrophe” and the “devastating” effect it is likely to have on the region’s wildlife.

Simon Cowell explains that “last year was bad enough. You may remember the forest fires that occurred throughout the region. We’d had barely a drop of rain for weeks on end, and it wasn’t long before we saw the terrible consequences of that dry weather in the huge numbers of malnourished and dehydrated baby animals that were brought into our Leatherhead wildlife hospital.”

Mr. Cowell, along with the Wildlife Aid Foundation, encourages residents to leave shallow dishes of water outside in their lawns, as well as to be on the lookout for struggling animals.

He said: “In the circumstances I am not sure how we are going to cope, as we are chronically overstretched even without a large additional influx of patients. We are the only wildlife hospital in the area and only one of a few in the whole of southern England.”

Missions International of America in Savanette, Haiti

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By DouglasPosted In: HealthTagged: , , , , , ,

Four or five times a year, Missions International of America brings a team of doctors and nurses from Ohio to treat the residents of Savanette, Haiti.

Over the course of the four-day visit, more than 350 people were seen and treated by Dr. Sue Leatherman and Dr. Barry Cash, while over one hundred patients were examined by the volunteer dentist Dr. Ted Barnett as well. The program has several volunteers, including Cathy Breen.

According to the volunteers, this year’s patients were much healthier then those seen on previous visits, and many believe this is directly related to the fresh, clean drinking water that is now provided in the area.

Founded by Dr. Jay and Mrs. Jan Nielsen in 2002, Missions International of America works to improve the quality of life of both children and adults in Savanette, Haiti. In addition to providing medical and dental care, the organization established and manages the Brad Reddick School. The program provides 300 children in K-6 with a free education.

Here is a video from the volunteer crew’s latest visit:

 

Todd Simon of Omaha Steaks Hands Out $40,000 to Charities

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By JohnPosted In: HealthTagged: , , , , ,

Omaha Steaks Ultimate Burger Experience.

It may have been a rather odd gimmick to gain attention for the Omaha Steaks, but the National Multiple Sclerosis Society probably doesn’t care if it was odd or not. That’s because they’ve just received a $25,000 check from Omaha Steaks.

It all began on January 9th, when Omaha Steaks started a competition called the Omaha Steaks Ultimate Burger Experience.  From January 9th through February 29th, they offered users on Facebook the opportunity to build the ultimate burger. Users had 50 ingredients at their disposal and could build their burger and then designate the charity to which they wanted to donate.  Participants were able to increase the number of votes they got for their charity by getting family and friends involved in voting for their burger.

In the end, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society will receive $25,000; three other cahrities each received $5000. These included charity: water; Disabled American Veterans and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

As Senior Vice President and fifth-generation family owner Todd Simon of Omaha Steaks said,

"Omaha Steaks has long supported health and human service organizations including the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The Ultimate Burger Experience Facebook application allowed our family of customers a unique opportunity to become actively involved in directing portions of our charitable giving and we are proud to honor their wishes with our gifts to these four worthy charities."

Celebrities Karaoke for UNICEF’s Schools for Africa

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By DouglasPosted In: EducationTagged: , , , , , ,

A recent celebrity karaoke night contributed more than just entertainment by raising funds and promoting awareness for UNICEF and its Schools for Africa project.

Tom Bergeron hosted the event, with the Ricky Minor Band performing backup for stars like Heidi Klum, Molly Sims, Tom Hanks and many others.

Lakers powerhouse Pau Gasol performed an emotional rendition of “How to Save a Life” by The Fray, while James Denton, Kyle Maclachlan and Doug Savant sang “R.O.C.K. in the USA.” Heidi Klum, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson sang “YMCA”, and Molly Sims gave Madonna’s “Papa Don’t Preach” a whirl. Other performances included “Easy Lover” by Kristen Bell and Don Cheadle, “Regulate” by Seamus Dever and Jon Huertas.

UNICEF’s Schools for Africa is a philanthropic organization working to provide sub-Saharan children with an education despite the lack of schools as well as conflict, discrimination and poverty.

Along with its partners, UNICEF works to “build, rehabilitate and furnish schools; provide access to clean water and separate latrines for boys and girls; train teachers in child-friendly methods to improve education and basic life skill mentoring; supply students with school materials and recreation equipment.”

As of 2011, UNICEF is one of the most successful humanitarian foundations when it comes to saving the lives of children in more than 150 countries.

Military Wives Choir Tops Albums Chart

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By DouglasPosted In: MilitaryTagged: , , , , , ,

Military Wives, the all-women choir of wives and girlfriends of Afghanistan troops, have made the top spot on this week’s UK Albums Chart, surpassing Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Wrecking Ball’ which made Number 1 release last week.

Military Wives’ ‘In My Dreams’ overtook ‘Wrecking Ball’ by nearly 8,000 copies. The Official Charts Company stated that the sales burst was most likely a result of Mother’s Day Weekend in the UK.

The Military Wives’ track record has been remarkable, with their single ‘Wherever You Are’ topping the charts at Christmastime, later becoming the quickest selling charity single after ‘Candle In the Wind’ by Elton John. It raised 500,000 euro for a philanthropic organization, which was administered by SSAFA Forces Help.

Paul Mealor, the ‘Wherever You Are’ composer, said “it’s unbelievably magical to have achieved this-again! The legacy of this is the creation of Military Wives Choirs all over the country. It was brilliant to work again with the Military Wives Choir on ‘In My Dreams’, and how poignant to bring a serving soldier into the music with Jonjo Kerr. I feel proud and humble to be a part of this.”

Other top albums included Emeli Sande’s ‘Our Version of Events,’ and Adele’s ‘21’. Gotye’s ‘Somebody That I Used to Know’ held the number 1 Single spot, followed by ‘Starships’ by Nicki Minaj and ‘Elephant’ by Alexandra Burke.