Everyday Giving Blog

Broken Down Car Blues

Kim’s car broke down last week.

After pulling off the road, she lifted the hood of the car and discovered the serpentine belt laying on the ground and a pulley shattered into a thousand pieces. Thoughts of showing up for her appointment on time were shattered.

Unfortunately it happened when I was out of town for a couple of days. Even our next door neighbors were away on a trip. Fortunately it happened close to our home. One call got the car towed to our favorite service center and it was a short walk home.

Kim had a decision to make the next day. I didn’t realize how hard the decision was to make until I talked with Kim later that day.

Does she ask our neighbors to drive her to the service station to pick up the repaired car or does she call for a taxi?

Our neighbors just got back for their long trip a few minutes ago and Kim didn’t want to disturb them. However, Kim knew if they found out she took a taxi instead of asking them for a ride, they would be upset.

Stop and think about that. They would be upset if we didn’t let them know we needed help and allow them to help us. How many people could say that about us?

There are many ways to help others. It may be doing a chore for someone. It might be encouraging someone you know needs a lift. It might be supporting a cause or charity with your time and money.

Look for ways you can help others today. Look for ways you can let them know you care about them and appreciate them. Do it in a way that they know you care so much you would be upset if they didn’t ask for your help when it was needed.

Thanks,
Roger Carr

Photo credit: Bev Lloyd-Roberts

Do You Celebrate a Birthday?

Of course you do (even if you stay at the same age as each year passes).

However, I was surprised when I found out there are kids who don’t know birthdays are celebrated each year. Why don’t they know? Because their families can’t afford a birthday present for them and so they don’t celebrate the occasion.

When Robin Steele learned about this, she was determined to take action. She established Cheerful Givers in 1994 and the organization has already provided  over 374,000 birthday gift bags to less fortunate kids.

Now you have an opportunity to help and it won’t cost you a cent. Robin Steele is one of ten L'Oréal Women Of Worth Honorees in 2010. One winner will receive a $25,000 grant. That winner will be determined by the honoree who receives the most votes online.

Vote for Robin Steele & Cheerful Givers for the $25,000 grant at http://www.womenofworth.com/honorees/Honorees_2010.aspx

An additional 2,500 less fortunate kids will get to have a Happy Birthday if Robin Steele and Cheerful Givers win.

What are you waiting for? I have already placed my vote. Click on the link above and place your vote too!

Thanks,
Roger Carr

If You Didn't Exist, What Good Things Would Not Have Happened?

Image via Wikipedia

Kivi Leroux Miller and Claire Meyerhoff have started a new show on BlogTalkRadio called Magic Keys Radio. The purpose of the show is to unlock the secrets of nonprofit marketing and fundraising.

I have been a fan of Kivi's nonprofit work for some time, so my expectations for Magic Keys Radio is high.

I listened to their first podcast this morning and I was not disappointed. The topic was primarily on annual reports.  One question Kivi suggested a nonprofit organization should ask when considering material for an annual report was:

"If your organization didn't exist, what good things would not have happened?"

What a powerful question!

Nonprofit organizations should be asking this question on a regular basis. Not just when the annual report needs to be produced.  Also, the question shouldn't be limited to nonprofit organizations. You and I should frequently ask this question about ourselves.

"If I didn't exist, what good things would not have happened?"

If we don't have a good answer to this question, then it is time to get realigned with our purpose and take action to make the world a better place.

What Makes A Great Nonprofit Leader

Christopher Scott, from the Nonprofit Leadership, Innovation, and Change blog, is writing an ebook for young nonprofit leaders. He is interested in receiving contributions. The following is what I believe are some of the key qualities or traits that are required from a great nonprofit leader:

Love
Education
Altruistic
Dreams
Effective
Risks

A great nonprofit leader demonstrates LOVE for others

Demonstrating respect for everyone you work with is an important part of building trust. This includes your peers, superiors, subordinates, volunteers and other people you come in contact with outside your organization. Practice the Golden Rule at all times.

A great nonprofit leader values EDUCATION

Learning does not end on your school graduation day. It is an ongoing process. Look for opportunities to learn on the job. Attend additional classes. Read books. Search out mentors. Teaching also enhances the education experience. Become a mentor to someone else. Pass along what you have learned and you will both benefit from the education.

A great nonprofit leader is ALTRUISTIC

A great leader understands it is important to help others. This applies to those at work as well as those outside. Do something at work for someone without any expectation of getting anything in return. Donate your time and money to causes that are important to you. The feeling you receive from your unselfish acts will carry over into other areas of your life.

A great nonprofit leader has big DREAMS

Making a big difference starts with a big vision. This vision should include your life and the future of your organization. Be creative and don't limit yourself to what seems possible today. Changing the world doesn't start by mediocre thoughts. It requires us to think big and to inspire others to help make the vision a reality.

A great nonprofit leader is EFFECTIVE

A leader can motivate others by being effective in moving toward the vision. To be effective, goals need to be established and tasks need to be prioritized. There is always too much to do in the available time. Build a habit of completing the most important, least desirable tasks first. You will be amazed at the progress being made to forward your mission.

A great nonprofit leader takes RISKS

If you want to make a big impact as a leader, you are going to have to be willing to take some risks. I am not referring to gambling. The risks should be comparable to the expected payoff. Leaders are willing to make mistakes in order to take action and make progress. It is uncomfortable, but also very rewarding.

These are some of the traits I believe a great leader needs. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list. What additional traits can you think of?

And the Winners Of The Twenty Five Days To Make A Difference Project Are...

Laura announced the winners of the Twenty Five Days to Make a Difference project. You can read about all of the winners here.

It was fun and inspiring to read about Laura's acts of kindness each day. I was amazed at the response she received.

Initially, Laura decided to honor her Grandfather during the holiday season by doing an act of kindness every day for 25 days. To encourage other kids to do the same, Laura decided to write about her experiences online and offer up her $25.00 allowance to the favorite charity of the child who made the biggest difference during the project.

What was the response?

Laura's blog had more than 17,000 hits during the 25 days. Additional contests were created to include adults and school classrooms. Charities are receiving $825.00 due to others pledging matching funds. Sixty people and six classrooms participated in the project with Laura.

We will never know the full impact of Laura's kindness and her project.  What we do know is that Laura made a huge difference during this Christmas season that will have a lasting impact on people's lives.

Related Posts: One Child - 25 Acts of Kindness - Making A Difference Badge Contest In Full Swing for the Twenty Five Days to Make a Difference Project NASA Giveaway Available For One Kindhearted Classroom

Christmas Acts of Kindness

"Wherever there is a human being, there is a chance for a kindness." -Seneca

Put a smile on someone's face at Christmas time by performing an act of kindness. Many acts of kindness do not cost anything, but the benefits gained can be huge.

What are some acts of kindness to consider accomplishing during the Christmas season? Here are a few:

1. Allow another driver to park in the only available space at a busy shopping center
2. Call a relative or friend who you haven't talked with in a long time
3. Shovel snow from your neighbor's driveway and sidewalk
4. Send cards to service people and students who are away from home for the Christmas holiday
5. Volunteer your time to help a local homeless shelter or food pantry
6. Give blood
7. Baby-sit to allow friends or family members to spend some time Christmas shopping (or for any other purpose)
8. Donate new and used toys and clothing to charities that can put them in the arms of those who need them most
9. Contribute money to your favorite charity
10. Talk, listen and even sing Christmas carols with nursing home residents

You can perform one or more of these acts of kindness or you can make up your own list. Demonstrate to others that they are special and loved.

The original Christmas story is about the ultimate gift given for the purpose of changing the world. Regardless of your religious beliefs, consider spending time this holiday season finding ways to help others. Perform an act of kindness today.

NASA Giveaway Available For One Kindhearted Classroom

Courtesy NASA/JPL-Caltech

10-year old Laura's Twenty Five Days to Make a Difference project is really going strong! Her website has already received well over 6,000 hits in only 6 days.

Her latest challenge is encouraging teachers and students to make a difference. There is a terrific prize available to the classroom that makes the most difference using technology between now and Christmas.

The prize was donated by Susan at Toddler Planet. What is the prize?

• Donation to the charity of their choosing
• 4 foot x 3 foot photo printout of the Martian landscape taken by the Mars rovers
• Packet of solar system lithographs
• Special video conference call (or audio, if the school doesn’t have a webcam) with two NASA scientists

Run to http://twentyfivedays.wordpress.com/nasa-give-away-for-classrooms and learn how to enter the challenge.

Spread the news to any students and teachers you know.

Badge Contest In Full Swing for the Twenty Five Days to Make a Difference Project

Laura's Twenty Five Days to Make a Difference project is going strong. She has already shoveled snow for her neighbors and recycled cans to raise funds for a charity.

In less than two days, Laura's website has already received over 1,500 hits (I just checked). There are many online marketers who would be jealous of that statistic!

This immediate, world-wide attention has caught Laura and her family off guard. Supporters are asking them to provide a badge that can be put on blogs and websites to further spread the word. What was the response?

A Twenty Five Days Badge Contest!

The prize is $25 donated to the charity of your choice. The deadline is Wednesday, December 7th.

Laura and her family have given you the motivation. Now all that is left is for you to get creative and design some great badges to submit.

Good Luck!

One Child - 25 Acts of Kindness - Making A Difference

Laura is a girl who is making a difference. Her personal project Twenty Five Days to Make a Difference is making a difference in people's lives.

For 25 days, Laura is going to work hard to make the world a better place. She started on December 1st and will complete her project on December 25th (Christmas Day). When she says "work hard" she means it. Her task on the first day was shoveling snow for her family and neighbors. You can follow her daily activities at http://twentyfivedays.wordpress.com.

Laura is also encouraging other kids to participate. She wants others to let her know when they perform acts of kindness during this period of time as well. She has provided a list of Ideas for making a difference on her project website at http://twentyfivedays.wordpress.com/ideas-for-making-a-difference. For the child who makes the most difference in December, Laura is going to donate $25.00 to the winner's favorite charity.

I can't think of a better Christmas present that she could give. I can't think of a better Christmas present that we could give. You and I need to follow Laura's example and find ways to show our love and help others every day.

Thank you Laura for being a terrific example and for demonstrating to the world what the holiday season is all about.

Note: I learned about Laura and her wonderful project from Dr.Mani.

A Day Of Hope For Families On Thanksgiving Day

The holiday season is a time for celebration. But for some struggling families, celebrating is the furthest thing from their minds.

A Day of Hope is a volunteer based not-for-profit organization that delivers baskets of food and turkeys to needy and hungry families for Thanksgiving in Northern California. They are giving families a reason to celebrate during a time that may be extremely difficult.

The organization is young and growing. They have already helped hundreds of families.

• 2005 - They delivered 48 baskets of food and turkeys to 48 families
• 2006 - They delivered 211 baskets of food and turkeys to 211 families
• 2007 - Their goal is to deliver 750 baskets of food and turkeys to 750 families

I asked my new friend Christopher Scott, President and founder of A Day of Hope, some questions. Here is what he had to say...

What is the biggest reason you continue to lead and support A Day of Hope?

"What motivates me to lead and support A Day of Hope, is because there are families that will go hungry if I don't lead A Day of Hope. I work hard to encourage, motivate, love, and lead the volunteers of A Day of Hope so that we can help those in need, and to train them to become nonprofit leaders as well.  I'm not going to be around forever, so I need to train, coach, and mentor others to take my place."

How can individuals local to you get involved? Can others not local support the effort?

"Individuals locally can donate food or turkeys, and deliver some baskets. You can go to www.squidoo.com/adayofhopemeetings for anyone who lives locally and would like to attend our meetings.

People who don't live locally can feed a family by making a $20 donation. We do food drives, so all we have to purchase is the turkey and a couple of other small things. So for $20 you can feed a needy and hungry family for Thanksgiving."

To make a safe and tax free donation, email Christopher Scott at christopher@adayofhope.org or call 209.304.4291 for more information.