We are so excited to have joined the #GivingTuesday movement November 27th! We partnered with Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project (CTAOP) to match all donations to support CTAOP that day.
And now we are thrilled to announce that we have donated $10,000 to support the fantastic work of CTAOP in honor of #GivingTuesday!
But #GivingTuesday isn’t just about a single day– it’s a movement. We hope that it will be just the beginning of a whole lot of giving! What will you give?
#GivingTuesday may have passed, We excited to be offering a holiday drive for Human Options! Human Options’ provides programs to help rebuild the lives of abused women and their families in attempt to end the cycle of domestic violence.
Since the holidays are near approaching, we have a list of gift suggestions that would be much appreciated! By donating at least one item from the list of gift suggestions, we will waive the admisison fee for selected classes. Please check our event calendar for details about which classes are offering this promotion. The Holiday Drive will run from December 1st through the 14th.
We are so excited to be a partner of the #GivingTuesday movement! In support of #GivingTuesday, we are partnering with Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project (CTAOP) founded by the wonderful former Living Peace Series speaker Charlize Theron.
Help us get out the give! Donate online or text “AFRICA” to 27722 to donate $10 on November 27th and we will match your donation to CTAOP!
Not familiar with #GivingTuesday? Along the lines of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, starting this year the #GivingTuesday movement is helping to create a day for giving back! Whether you can donate some of your time, gently used items, or even funds, get in the spirit by giving to those in need. Join over 1,000 partnering organizations– find an organization near you at the #GivingTuesday site!
The day is also a great way to start a conversation about giving with kids, family, or friends. Share ideas for what you will give!
What are you giving this #GivingTuesday? Make sure to show what you are giving on Facebook or Twitter!
No matter where you live, there is likely a local food bank nearby that helps those in need. If you are able, giving food is an amazing, tangible way to make good happen in another person’s life.
The mission of Team Kids is to inspire and empower young people to become resilient and responsible citizens with a passion for community service. Young people crave the opportunity to participate and to feel they truly matter in their school and community. Ultimately, the Team Kids’ mission is to inspire today’s youth to become compassionate leaders and philanthropists of tomorrow. Team Kids helps kids, and adults, realize the power and capacity young people have to improve conditions and the lives of others in their community. Since 2001, over 21,000 Team Kids participants in Orange County public schools have contributed over $200,000 in value to local youth-serving charities. A pre-post evaluation conducted by WestEd, a leading educational research firm, has demonstrated this program’s effectiveness for promoting positive identity, community engagement, and prevention of high-risk behaviors, such as alcohol/drug use, early pregnancy, and violent behavior.
To learn more about Team Kids or to donate, visit their website . Volunteers are always welcome. Email Jtapp@teamkids.org or call 949•861•4887 to volunteer!
In honor of National Literacy Month, help to spread world literacy and protect the environment. The following list will give you some ideas on what to do with used books laying around the house. Also remember to be mindful about where you purchase your books to find cheaper and environmentally conscious options.
1. Donate used books to a local library or daycare center.
6. Donate to the Children and Families Commission of Orange County’s Early Literacy Program
7. Exchange books on Paperbackswap by earning credits for every book that you send another paperbackswap member. Membership is free! There are many more online book swapping services such as Book Crossing, BookMooch, and BooksFreeSwap.
8. Purchase used books instead of new books, to support local book stores or online used book retailers as an eco-friendly alternative. College students, this is a must for buying and selling back textbooks.
Literacy and imagination are invaluable tools to instill hope in securing a peaceful and sustainable future. Spread stories, love ,and happy reading!
The American Red Cross, founded by Clara Barton, has offered emergency relief and health services in the U.S. since 1881. The Red Cross’s work ranges from international domestic disaster relief, community services for the needy, support for military members and their families, educational healthy and safety programs, and of course blood donation collection and distribution. Red Cross is the largest supplier of blood in the United States.
Red Cross has expressed that there is an emergency need for blood donations. Their supply of readily available blood is half of what is was this time last year!
Here are some of Red Cross’s facts on Blood donation:
Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood. There are four types of transfusable products that can be derived from blood: red cells, platelets, plasma and cryoprecipitate. Typically, two or three of these are produced from a pint of donated whole blood – hence each donation can help save up to three lives.
Share of the U.S. population eligible to give blood: Less than 38 percent.
Type O-negative blood (red cells) can be transfused to patients of all blood types. It is always in great demand and often in short supply. Only 7 percent of people in the U.S. have O-negative blood type. O-negative blood type donors are universal donors as their blood can be given to people of all blood types.
The average adult has about 10 pints of blood in his body. Roughly 1 pint is given during a donation.
When you donate blood, you will notified of your blood type on your blood donor card! Make sure that you are able to donate blood by checking Red Cross’s eligibility requirements.
Bruno Serato’s Anaheim White House Restaurant has been helping to feed “motel” kids by serving 300 dinners everyday since 2005. To date he has served 413,400 free dinners and founded the non-profit, Caterina’s Club, in honor of his mother to continue his important work. Bruno was named “Citizen of the Year” by the Cypress College Foundation presented by the City of Anaheim. He was inspired to make good happen when he visited a Boys and Girls Club with his mother and noticed a child eating a bag of potato chips for dinner. His mother suggested that he feed these children in need and he has expanded the project ever since. Serato says “I can’t stop helping these kids.”
The children are transported in vans from their motel home or local Boys and Girls clubs to the restaurant each night for a tasty meal. Bruno consistently holds fundraisers at his restaurant to benefit Caterina’s Club as well as the Boys and Girls club.
To learn more about Caterina’s Club or donate, visit their website. Volunteers to help serve meals are welcome every night at the restaurant. Email info@anaheimwhitehouse.com or call the restaurant to volunteer!
Each week we highlight great organizations making good happen! They truly demonstrate how much each of us can do to help our communities and those in need. Live Peace by finding and supporting a cause that you believe in through the work of organizations like Human Options.
Human Options is a women’s shelter in Irvine, CA with a mission to help battered women, their families, and their communities end the cycle of domestic violence. It offers a variety of resources such as an emergency shelter and transitional living programs with included counseling, legal advocacy, case management, and job readiness training. They also run a 24 hour emergency, bilingual hotline. Women and their children have access to a Children and Families Counseling Center, K-12 community education, and violence prevention training programs. It also runs a community education program in which their educators present to various schools, organizations, and agencies about issues surrounding domestic violence.
Human Option’s long term assistance and prevention approach has helped thousands of women and children to lead more healthy and violence free lives since they started their work in 1981. Support Human Options by donating fresh produce and spices every Saturday of July, during the Irvine Farmer’s Market, at the Center. Also refer to Human Option’s wish list for donated items or volunteer to help out. Volunteers must be 18 or 16 to work with children’s programs and go through a training workshop.
For more details on the organization’s work, visit their website!
