Famous Dave’s Rib Tasting Benefits Veteran Museum and Heritage Center

Posted on
By DouglasPosted In: MilitaryTagged: , , , , ,

Famous Dave’s BBQ has teamed up with the Northern California Veterans Museum and Heritage Center (NCVM) to launch a charity rib-tasting affair in Redding, California. The barbecue restaurant and caterer’s Rib Team has won awards in over 500 competitions throughout the United States.

The event, which was held in the Trader Joe’s shopping center, featured the barbecue’s famous hickory smoked St. Louis spare ribs, Texas beef brisket, Georgia Chopped Pork and numerous signature sauces and flavors from Famous Dave’s. There were also barbecue and country roasted chicken dishes, BBQ sandwiches, burgers, salads and side dishes.

The event began mid-afternoon and ended when the ribs ran out, which a five-bone limit per guest. Famous Dave’s requested a $1.00 donation for each rib, or a ‘Buck-a-Bone’, and all the proceeds were donated to the NCVM.

“We always look forward to hosting these events where we are able to talk to our guests face to face while they enjoy our slow-smoked and flame-kissed ribs,” Famous Dave’s Chris Hazeleur said before the event. “This is a great opportunity not only for us to get to know our guests better, but for our guests to have the chance to taste our signature barbecue. We invite everyone to get sauced!”

Redhead Celebrities Support the Sumatran Orangutan Society

Posted on
By JohnPosted In: Animals and NatureTagged: , , , , ,

Famous redheads are pooling their efforts to support the Sumatran Orangutan Society, an Oxford charity, by donating items to be auctioned at the Jungle VIP online auction.

Sumatran orangutans share 96.4% of their DNA with humans. They are severely endangered, and may become the first great ape to become extinct since the evolution of humans. The Sumatran Orangutan Society, or SOS, works alongside local communities in orangutan habitats to create a more sustainable future for the species and their forests.

Some celebrities participating in the project include Nicole Kidman, Chris Evans, Nicola Roberts, Geri Halliwell, Anne Robinson, and even the band Radiohead. Donated items include celebrity fashion, handwritten lyrics, memorabilia and photos.

Comedian Tim Minchin donated one of his shirts from the ‘Ready For This’ tour. He said: “I think it’s a huge pity that any species should become extinct. Species have become extinct for different reasons and have done throughout history, but orangutans are having their environment destroyed in a way that doesn’t need to happen.”

Celebrity Jane Asher donated a green dress and joked: “I didn’t feel especially close to them before being asked to help with this campaign, but all redheads share an unspoken bond.”

Chris Evans said “Anything that helps to protect a species’ natural environment, within reason, is worth doing,” and donated a stay for two at his pub, called The Mulberry Inn.

The Sutton Trust Launches Yale Summer School Program for Underprivileged Teens

Posted on
By DouglasPosted In: EducationTagged: , , , ,

Yale University is teaming up with the Sutton Trust to enable gifted but disadvantaged teens to get a real education in a new summer school program.

The project is similar to those already launched in the UK, and hopes to help 64 students within its first year. First priority goes to adolescents from homes with an income lower than $53, 550 a year. Recruiting begins on April 16th, and the classes will most likely be held in July.

The school, which is also in partnership with the Fulbright Commission, opens as U.S. college applications increase by the thousands. Harvard University has had a 45% increase in applications over the past couple of years. Still, according to the Sutton Trust, most applications come from private schools. 

Mr. Peter Lampl, chairman of the Sutton Trust, said “Studying at a US university is an appealing prospect to many UK state school students. The breadth of the four-year degree and the chance to experience another culture will make for an intellectually stimulating and fun time.

“With tuition fees increasing dramatically in England, and some generous financial aid packages in the U.S., it is also more attractive than before from a cost perspective.

“If successful, we intend to establish man more US summer schools next year and beyond- opening a pipeline for UK students to reap the benefits of higher education at leading US universities.”

The trust is proud to run seven leading university summer school programs. More than 1,000 students are affected each year, and three quarters end up at a leading selective university, Sutton Trust said.

Tesco and the RSPB Launch ‘Together for Trees’

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

The RSPB, the biggest wildlife conservation organization in Europe, recently teamed up with Tesco in a project aimed at protecting rainforests across the globe, Together for Trees. The initiative aims to promote awareness and raise funds to support tropical rainforests as well as local conservation work in their areas.

As part of the new campaign, Tesco hopes to inspire donations from both customers and corporations. The RSPB and Tesco hope to raise more than one million euro for Together for Trees throughout 2012.

According to the project, soccer-field-sized patches of rainforest are cleared every four seconds. This is one of the largest causes of climate change, as more and more carbon dioxide is released into the earth’s atmosphere.

The planet’s rainforests are home to more than a third or earth’s wildlife (excluding marine animals, of course), while three-quarters of endangered bird species make their habitats there too. Over one billion of the world’s impoverished people rely on the rainforests for survival as well. The RSPB’s rainforest projects include Harapan Rainforest in Indonesia, West Africa’s Gola Rainforest and Centre Hills National Park.

Tesco shoppers will have the option of donating their green Clubcard points or Clubcard vouchers , as well as donating money directly to the RSPB. 75,000 euro will also be given to the organization from the sale of Together for Trees reusable bags, while funds raised through the Welsh carrier bag charge will also be donated to the RSPB efforts.

Tesco is also increasing its efforts to improve its environmental conscience, and highly recommends that other companies do the same. The retailer has pledged to continue “helping our customers make greener choices.”

Tesco’s Ruth Girardet said “Our aim is to create more sustainable ways of doing business and we have been working hard to reduce our own emissions. But as a leading retailer we also have a great opportunity to engage our customers to help protect our environment.”

Martin Harper of RSPB added “Rainforests are amazing places and saving them has never been more urgent- huge areas continue to disappear at an alarming rate. Current efforts to try and prevent the loss of these special places are not enough.”

 

Kinerase’s ‘Change Your Skin, Change Your Life’ Donates to HealthyWomen

Posted on
By DouglasPosted In: HealthTagged: , , , ,

Last year, skincare product company Kinerase launched a new “Change Your Skin, Change Your Life” campaign, which entails quarterly donations to four charities every year. Each quarter, 20% of sales proceeds from a specific Kinerase product are donated.

This year marks the company’s second campaign, and the first quarter’s contribution will go to HealthyWomen in recognition of American Heart Month. HealthyWomen’s organization works to promote awareness as well as empower women to make educated and practical health decisions. 20% of the proceeds from Kinerase C8 Peptide Intensive Treatment will be given to the program this month.

“’Change Your Skin, Change Your Life’ is not just about bringing the consumer closer to our brand but also drawing attention to the HealthyWomen campaign,” explained Jill Wittenberg of Valeant Pharmaceuticals, the parent company of Kinerase. “We chose HealthyWomen because it shares our goal of keeping women healthy from the inside out. While Kinerase helps protect the outside, HealthyWomen encourages women to protect the inside by giving them the necessary tools to lead healthy lifestyles. Starting with protecting their skin, a simple purchase enables consumers to help protect the lives of women.”

The three remaining charities for the campaign will be announced throughout the year.

‘Top Brass’ Charity Sled Dog Race for the Wounded Warrior Program

Posted on
By DouglasPosted In: MilitaryTagged: , , , , , , ,

Last week, ExxonMobil donated $20, 000 to the Wounded Warrior Program, an organization that works to provide empowerment and honor to wounded soldiers through increased awareness, aid and various other services.

The donation was made through ExxonMobil Open’s ‘Top Brass’ Charity Sled Dog Race, which invited six of the United States’ most elite Armed Forces representatives to compete for the Top Brass title in a three mile race.

Each of the military men was given a three-dog team and a musher mentor from last year’s ‘Top Dog’ charity race, which has been part of Alaskan tradition since 1973. Aaron Stryk, ExxonMobil public and government affairs advisor, explained that the race is a way of recognizing the official sport of Alaska while emphasizing the institutions that contribute greatly to the community. The sponsors especially wanted to pay tribute to the nation’s wounded warriors, he said.

“Thank you for all you do in service to Alaska and our country,” Stryk said. “I hope this can be our way of saying thank you.”

Maj. Gen. Thomas Katkus was one of the five senior leaders participating in the event.

“This was excellent and really fun,” he said, after winning the competition by nearly a minute with the help of Cooper, Eeyore and Lizzy. “About 100 yards into the trail, you don’t hear anything except the dogs breathing and the sounds of the sled runners going down the trail.

“This was my first time mushing, but I had a team of veteran dogs in front of me, keeping me on the sled. I also followed the advice I was given to just hang on to the sleds and the dogs will do the work for you.”

Katkus added, “I would like to thank ExxonMobil on behalf of all the military. I want to convey the importance of their donation and how it’s going to change people’s lives for the better.”

 

Second Grader Raises Money for Police Dog Protective Vest

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

Last year, 8 year-old Ana Gent raised more than one thousand dollars to provide a bullet and stab-proof vest for a West Melbourne police dog.

The second grader was honored this past Thursday for her efforts, which put a protective vest on Baton, Officer Robert Nolan’s dog. Gent has a personal interest in the matter, as her father works for Palm Bay Fire-Rescue.

Gent worked alongside Meadowlane and West Shore Jr./Sr. High students, as well as Ducks Unlimited Conservation Society, Florida Flatsfishing Association and Palm Bay Fire-Rescue to raise the money.

She also held a number of car washes, and offered her community personally designed stickers in exchange for donations for her project.

“I love animals,” Gent explained. “I know when police dogs try to help us, I want them to be safe. I wanted to help them so they wouldn’t get hurt.”

Of West Melbourne’s three police dogs, only one had a protective vest. The equipment costs over $1,000. Commander Steve Wilkinson explained that “It takes a few minutes to put those things on.” He added, “If we know we are going into a dangerous situation, they will take the time to put it on the dog.”

Gent purchased the $1,006 vest with help from the non-profit group Vested Interest in K9s. The organization was originally created for dogs in Massachusetts, by Sandy Marcal, but the program went nationwide less than a year ago. As of 2011, the group has provided 64 dogs with the protective vests.

Restava Donating To Feed The Hungary

Posted on
By JohnPosted In: Feeding AmericaTagged: , , , , , , , ,

Feeding-America1Feeding America reports that one sixth of all Americans contend with hunger. Feeding America is a charity whose mission is to feed that hungry. It helps in all 50 states and has more that 200 foodbanks nationwide.

Restava, a mattress company, chose to support feeding America. It chose Feeding America because it is an American charity and Restava is an American company, with American workers who love their country. Every dollar given to Feeding America helps provide seven meals to hungry people.

Restava will donate one dollar to Feeding America for every mattress purchased. In addition, Restava will match customer contributions up to $10. So purchase of one mattress can bring $21 to feed 147 people.

The UK Government Encourages People To Donate When They Use The Cash Machine.

Posted on
By JohnPosted In: The ChildrenTagged: , , , ,

Whenever English People take money from a cash machine they will be asked to donate to charity. This method was used successfully in Columbia and government ministers want to employ it in England.

Consumers can round up their bill in stores to the nearest pound, and the excess will go to help good causes.
Government ministers feel that most individuals won’t mind giving a few pennies to charity. When the whole nation participates much money can be collected.
In Colombia, an average of $22,000 (£14,300) was raised per month. Bank customers are requested to choose contributing 50 cents, $1, $7.50, or nothing. One dollar was the most popular contribution.

After deciding the amount to donate, contributors are asked to choose which charity to give to. The choices are: helping the homeless, a children’s heart foundation, or helping the sons and daughters of wounded and dead military personnel.