Author |
Message |
Zachsmom
Moderator
07-13-2000
| Saturday, November 13, 2004 - 8:04 pm
Here is where we list possible charities for those who drew a name but member has disappeared. I will also start a spreadsheet on this please give Name of charity and link/phone/address.
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Urgrace
Member
08-19-2000
| Sunday, November 14, 2004 - 9:29 pm
For the person who draws my name there won't be a particular website for my preferences. I want the person who draws my name to choose from a few of my favorite causes and decide who/how they want to donate their time or money in their city. It just seems like more fun that way. I prefer the gift be from this list: *Volunteering in a local reading program tutoring a student, child or adult *Making a care package for an American soldier *Donating something (snacks/drinks/money/time) for a local special education class party or field trip or a local Special Olympics event (bowling/track and field/swimming) *Donating towards the free lunch program of homeless child/children locally (this would be annonymous since names cannot be revealed - contact a school principal for more info)
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Whoami
Member
08-03-2001
| Sunday, November 14, 2004 - 9:53 pm
Great idea! Although its not an "only" option for whoever draws my name, I did have an organization come to mind what with the recent observation of Veteran's Day.... A donation to Bugles Across America would be great. There is info on donations on the right hand side of the website. They could use cash, horns, or uniforms. Or heck, if the person who draws my name is a musician, I say sign up and volunteer to be a bugler! Or, if you know of a musician that would like to volunteer, get them to sign up. Click on "What is Bugles Across America" for a brief description, as well what types of musicians they are looking for. BAA is an organization started by a friend of mine. They provide live buglers for the memorial services of our Veterans. My friend (Tom Day) became frustrated that most services could only provide tape recordings. Tom Day's passion in organizing this group, and the sacrifices he's made to keep it going is just amazing. He really is an incredible person. These veterans deserve the very best, and that includes a real person to play TAPS for their services. Tape recordings and even the digital bugle just can't give the heartfelt respect a live bugler can give. Several of the people on the drum corps board I'm on have also joined BAA (Tom Day also comes from a drum corps background, as well as being a Veteran himself). On the first anniversary of 9/11, several people posted of their experiences of playing TAPS. Most just chose a public place and played at the prescribed time in their area. Most talked about how passers by stopped, put their hands over their hearts, removed their hats, or whatever manner of respect they chose. It was a moment to just stop and reflect. One poster talked about of who he thought of while he played, and how when he finished playing, one police officer said to him, "that sounded personal." He answered, "it was." You don't get that kind of emotion from a tape recorder or a digital bugle.
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Urgrace
Member
08-19-2000
| Sunday, November 14, 2004 - 10:33 pm
TAPS gives me goosebumps because it is so beautiful and moving. You can be very proud of your friend, Who. Bugles Across America is a wonderful idea.
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Whoami
Member
08-03-2001
| Monday, November 15, 2004 - 5:26 pm
Oh, I got caught up in Grace's confusion! I get it now....if someone's person has dissapeared! Obviously, since names haven't been drawn yet, we won't know if someone has disappeared or not. Well, BAA is still a good idea! 
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Ginger1218
Member
08-31-2001
| Tuesday, November 16, 2004 - 5:46 am
I am very active with fundraising with 2 charities. One is the American Red Cross of Greater New York, which was absolutely incredible during my fire. The other is The Multiple Sclerosis Society. I have one cousin and many friends who have this terrible disease. So either of the above is fine with me. 
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Faerygdds
Member
08-29-2000
| Tuesday, November 16, 2004 - 11:06 am
For anyone who draws me... you should know that I lost 2 relatives this year *An Uncle with brain Cancer, thus The American Cancer Society American Cancer Society, ATTN: Web P.O. Box 102454 Atlanta, GA 30368-2454 1-800-ACS-2345 *Lost my grandmother to Diabetes and she also had Alzheimer's, thus American Diabetes Association Attention: ADA Web P.O. Box 1833 Merrifield, VA 22116 1-800-DIABETES Alzheimer's Association 225 N. Michigan Ave. Fl. 17 Chicago, IL 60601-7633 1-800-272-3900 (Main Office) Or if you are strapped for cash, then please consider volunteering in your locality -- think children!
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Cathie
Member
08-16-2000
| Tuesday, November 16, 2004 - 9:50 pm
Here are a couple of suggestions for whomever gets my name: A donation of time or $$ to your local children's hospital. If you don't have a local one I would be honored if you wanted to donate to my local not-for-profit children's hospital, which has donation information available at http://www.cookchildrens.org. Another alternative would be to give blood and/or register for the national bone marrow list, where, due to the nice people who have registered in the past few years, my SIL finally has a perfect match and will get to have her bone marrow transplant soon!
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Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Thursday, November 18, 2004 - 2:28 pm
Here are some suggestions for whomever chooses my name: No money required ideas . . . in your own neighborhood 1. Volunteer to mentor (i.e., teach reading) at a local elementary school. You don't have to know anything as lesson plans are prepared in advance by a reading specialist! Typically, it means listening to the child read and guide him/her though it; completing a ditto; and/or helping child to study spelling words. The mentor facilitators will help you get acquainted with the routine. (I did this for 3 years and got more out of it than my kids did! Loved it!) Usually, this will eat up 1 hour of your day, not counting travel time. 2. Give blood. 3. Sign up with a bone marrow registry. 4. Take some clothes/household to Goodwill. 5. Once a week or once a month, become an unpaid 'angel' for a disabled or elderly person in your neighborhood. Cut their grass in the summer and shovel snow in the winter. Let them know you are available to drive them to the store, doc's or church/synagogue on a given day. 6. Volunteer your time at a local dog or cat or wild bird rescue organization. If your time is limited, and you'd prefer to lighten your pockets: Send an appropriate donation to any of the following: 1. Adopt a Family (for the holidays). Local organization gives you a list of needs for a family and you buy the items for the members of the family (unwrappped--so the parent can wrap). I have done this within an office environment and just loved it! You do not need to get everything on the family's list; or you can split the list with a friend or friends. 2. Monetary donation to any one of the groups listed below. I don't care if it is a national or local organization address that you use. If you prefer the $ go to my local organization, I will certainly provide the address, email address and phone number. a. American Heart Association b. American Cancer Society c. Juvenile Diabetes Researach Foundation d. American Diabetes Association e. Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation f. Parkinson's Disease Foundation Thanks!
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Whoami
Member
08-03-2001
| Wednesday, November 24, 2004 - 4:16 pm
I just found another cause.... Read Here. In case the link doesn't come up. A family lost their 7 year old son in a fire. They are part of the drum corps community, and are calling on people in the drum corps community to reach out and help the family. Four other children survived, but they have lost everything. I know TVCH isn't part of the drum corps community. But I am. So, I just thought I'd reach out to one side of my "family" on behalf of the other.
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Karen
Member
09-07-2004
| Wednesday, November 24, 2004 - 4:44 pm
This is such a fantastic idea, I feel so honoured to be part of it, and I can't wait to get started. For the person who chooses me, causes that are dear to my heart: (I've tried to link each cause to an appropriate website) My father passed away last year after suffering a series of strokes due to complications from his diabetes. I have linked to the Canadian Diabetes Association, but a donation to the American Association would of course be greatly appreciated also. My mom's brother was killed by a drunk driver before I was born, and in highschool, my graduating class lost 6 kids to drinking and driving. I was very active in my school's Students Against Drunk Driving program, and am very passionate about the cause. Check out Mothers Against Drunk Driving for ways you can help fight this war. Every Christmas, I adopt a tiger from the World Wildlife Foundation for my boyfriend. Of course, whales, bears, and elephants also need adopting, if a tiger isn't your thing. And, I know this is quite local, and I'd prefer that the gift giving be more on a global scale, but when my sister was younger, she spent six months at BC Children's Hospital in Vancouver. They were absolutely amazing in the care she recieved, and I promised myself that if I ever won the lottery, they would get a 10% cut of it. A donation to the local children's hospital in your area would be awesome. IF you don't have the means to make a cash donation -- because, of course that's not all this is about, I am a big believer in karma and the concept of 'paying it forward'. Five random acts of kindness is a great idea, too -- pay the toll for the car behind you, anonymously bring donuts to the office on a Monday, take your neighbors trash to the curb with your own, buy a coffee for the scruffy man outside the liquor store... there's so many things you can do that take no effort or thought, but mean so much to the people on the recieving end. This is going to be amazing. I can't wait. I love Christmas. 
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Puppylov3
Member
01-26-2004
| Saturday, November 27, 2004 - 11:23 am
some ideas for me: donate money to American Cancer Society or to Alzehimer's Research. I have lost various family memebers to cancer and two of my mother's sisters have (had) alzheimers). I'm a memeber of the Free Methodist Church - the FM Church in Haiti was DEVASTATED by Hurricaines. over 500 people sought refuge inside the church there and 125 people lost their lives there when a wall of rain and mud came down on the church and collapsed a wall. The pastoral staff and many members of the church there have been left with literally nothing: Free Methodist Church P.O. Box 535002 Indianapolis, IN 46253-5002 mark check as for Haiti Relief. donate money to Kids Alive ( www.kidsalive.org ) This is an organization that builds homes for homeless children around the world. It is a Christian Outreach program. Kids Alive International 2507 Cumberland Drive Valparaiso, IN 46383 Donate time or money to a United Way Charity in your area. Donate books to your local library/friends of library Donate clothes or other items (or time) to the Salvation Army or Goodwill.
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Ohiomobprincess
Member
11-07-2003
| Saturday, November 27, 2004 - 6:01 pm
These two charities are close to my heart: The March of Dimes Catholic Charities
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Cher
Member
08-18-2004
| Monday, November 29, 2004 - 11:34 am
I left a message in Puppyluv's folder of two ideas for me: Donation to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease/Emphesema Alzheimers or spend time in a nursing home visiting those who have no family or friends. Thanks to all who are organizing or working on the Holiday Exchange. It is a great idea and I am happy to be a part of it.
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Native_texan
Member
08-24-2004
| Wednesday, December 01, 2004 - 9:14 am
Many public schools, such as the district where I live, are in great need of books and supplies. Unfortunately, teachers spend a lot of money from their own pockets to meet their class needs. Check with a school in your area and see what their needs may be. If you can, it would be best to make the purchase yourself instead of giving money so that you can be sure the need is met. If you would rather give time and since this can be one of the most stressful times of the year, just take a moment and go that extra mile to brighten someone's day. Maybe they will do the same for another person, and so on and so on.
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Cathie
Member
08-16-2000
| Thursday, December 02, 2004 - 5:31 pm
Someone posted this on our work bulletin board today and I thought maybe those without ideas might be interested... Christmas Gift Idea! The Glenn Beck radio program has partnered with the USO and AT&T to allow the public to purchase phone cards at a reduced rate for our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. For a mere $15, you can buy a 33 minute phone card which will be delivered by the USO to one of our soldiers so that he or she can call home for the holidays. This is an excellent chance for all of us to buy a gift that we know will be appreciated....and a chance for us to say "thank you" to our brave soldiers in harm's way. The toll-free number to buy the cards is: 1-877-522-7000. You can also contact them online at www.usony.org
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Native_texan
Member
08-24-2004
| Friday, December 03, 2004 - 3:54 pm
Along the same line as Cathie's suggestion: The number one request at Walter Reed Hospital is phone cards since the hospital does not pay for long distance calls. Many of these soldiers are amputees who will be in the hospital throughout the holidays. Most of them are from poor families. Send phone cards of any amount to: Medical Family Assistance Center Walter Reed Medical Center 6900 Georgia Avenue, NW Building 2, Third Floor, Room 3E01 Washington, DC 20307-5001 They say they need an 'endless' supply of these. Any amount, even $5, is greatly appreciated. Costco has a card that offers 670 minutes for $20. If 100 people do that, it might pay for the phone for a whole month for the wounded soldiers. Patients went through 55,000 minutes of phone card time last month.
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