Day 39, This one’s for you momma!

Today I wanted to do something totally different. As most of you know by now my mom has been very ill in the hospital for the past two weeks. She’s getting better every day and my family and I are so grateful she is getting well. I wanted to do a special act of kindness for her today…but since I couldn’t come up with anything involving acute pancreatitis which is what she has currently….I decided to do something else she would be proud of. My mom is a breast cancer survivor…about 11 years strong now!! She’s overcome so many obstacles in her life and breast cancer was a big one. Naturally my sister, my daughter and I are all in a higher risk group now too due to that whole genetics thing! So this act benefits us as well as millions of women (and men) that have or will be diagnosed with breast cancer.

A few weeks ago I was the lucky winner of a brand new iPod shuffle. I actually won this prize due to an act of kindness, so I thought it was only right that I use this prize to benefit others in another act of kindness. So for today, Day #39 on the Pledge of Kindness I listed my shiny new iPod on Ebay Giving Works.

If you’ve never heard of this neat service Ebay offers, it basically goes like this. A seller (me in this case) picks a charity they wish to donate to, then selects the percentage of the sale they wish to donate and finally you list your item. At the end of the sale (and I hope mine does good) Ebay Giving Works will deduct the sale amount from my paypal account and donate it to the Susan G. Komen For the cure foundation. The Susan G. Komen foundation funds research to find a cure to end breast cancer. I choose to donate 100% of the sale, which hopefully will end up around $50 which is the worth of the shuffle. It is my dream to see a cure found for breast cancer in my lifetime. I am so grateful that organizations like Susan G. Komen exist to help eradicate this disease and it is my absolute delight to donate money to this organization!!

If you’re interested in buying a new iPod shuffle for yourself or someone you love…why not consider my auction. You can get a new way to listen to your tunes AND help fund cancer reasearch while you’re at it! http://www.ebay.com/itm/Apple-iPod-shuffle-5th-Generation-Silver-2-GB-Latest-Model-/140914967448?pt=Other_MP3_Players&hash=item20cf2fc398

If you have closets brimming over with stuff why not consider selling your items and funding your favorite charity by checking out Ebay giving works! Such a neat way to spread your kindness and clean your closet!

The latest group of billionaires who made the Giving Pledge last week includes Bill Ackman, founder of hedge fund Pershing Square Capital Management. In his pledge letter, Ackman wrote:

“My earliest memories include my father’s exhortations about how important it is to give back. These early teachings were ingrained in me, and a portion of the first dollars I earned, I gave away. Over the years, the emotional and psychological returns I have earned from charitable giving have been enormous. The more I do for others, the happier I am.”

Founded by Warren Buffett and Bill and Melinda Gates in 2010, the Giving Pledge focuses on billionaires but it seeks to inspire and encourage givers of all financial means and backgrounds. Thanks to innovative approaches and advances in technology, each of us, regardless of wealth, can make a lasting impact on the lives of others through donating to worthwhile organizations.

The Monthly Micro-Philanthropist

I consider myself a “micro-philanthropist” of sorts. I donate on a regular basis to FINCA, an anti-poverty organization that provides financial services to the world’s lowest-income entrepreneurs so they can create jobs, build assets and improve their standard of living. FINCA operates Village Banking programs in 21 countries in Africa, Eurasia, the Middle East and Latin America, serving over 900,000 people, 70% of whom are women. Through micro-loans from FINCA, families can invest in and build their own small businesses and income-earning capacity.

Donating to FINCA is easy by signing up for a regular monthly donation in whatever amount you choose, automatically charged to a credit card or withdrawn from a bank account. A monthly pledge of $10 can help provide a first loan for two new clients. UNICEF is another organization with a monthly giving program. By making monthly donations that are processed automatically, you can help these organizations reduce their costs and give them more proceeds to fund their programs.

eBay Giving Works

Speaking of UNICEF, they’re one of the nonprofit organizations you can support when you buy and sell items through eBay’s Giving Works program. eBay Giving Works partners with a non-profit service called MissionFish, which uses innovative technology to help nonprofits raise funds through online commerce.

As a seller on eBay, you can donate from 10 to 100% of your proceeds to organizations of your choice. You get extra exposure by being listed on eBay, the eBay Giving Works site, and the Missionfish site, and a receipt for every contribution you make will be available in your MissionFish account. As a buyer, you can search for items on the eBay Giving Works site that will benefit general causes (for example, Ending Poverty or Improving Education) or specific organizations that you’d like to support.

Cause Shop Online and Save Money

Through a site called GoodShop, you can “cause shop” online as a way to donate to charity for free AND save yourself some money in the process. GoodShop works with dozens of retailers and service providers – Apple, iTunes, Macy’s, Groupon, Travelocity, GoDaddy, Home Depot and many more – to donate a percentage of your purchase to a charity of your choice. Just choose your cause, then click on the merchants’ logos to shop online.

The merchants on GoodShop provide deals and coupons for GoodShop users, like free shipping and returns or discounts. With Mother’s Day around the corner, why not take advantage of the 15% discount being offered by 1-800-Flowers through GoodShop and donate 8%  of your purchase price to a worthwhile cause?

What’s your favorite way to experience the emotional and psychological returns of being a micro-philanthropist?

I’m always on the lookout for a new charity to donate a piece of my original artwork to, so if you know of a charity in need that has an upcoming fundraising event let me know about the charity! I just ask that you give me at least 6 to 8 weeks advanced notice of when the charity would need the artwork delivered.  If the charity is outside of America please extend the advanced notice to 8 to 12 weeks. 

Or, if you would like I can set up an auction for your charity fundraising event on eBay’s Giving Works and donate 100% to your charity as long as your charity is registered with eBay’s Giving Works.  I still need the heads up advance though.

http://ebaygivingworks.com/

I will NOT donate my artwork to any racist, sexist or warmongering groups who spread their brand of hatred on humanity, the animal kingdom or our earth! In other words, I will help a church, just NOT a church like Fred Phelp’s! lol  

I love helping animals, children, the elderly, LGBT groups, veterans, the poor, homeless, education projects, the Arts, public radio, public television, libraries. However, anyone/group is welcome to request/suggest a donation of my artwork for a charity fundraising event.  :D

Last year, we shared a round-up of admirable organizations offering gifts that give back, including Bidding for Good, Discover The Journey, Indego Africa, Invisible Children and more. We encourage you to visit last year’s post and check out these nonprofits whose products still benefit the greater good– but here are some additions for 2011. Between these two posts, we’ll be shocked if you can’t find something for everyone.

And don’t forget: These gifts are around all year!

iGive

OK, it’s not a gift itself, but before you finish up your holiday shopping, be sure to install this amazing little button.

The free iGive Button…automatically tells participating stores that you want your shopping to support your favorite cause or charity…Use Google, Bing, or Yahoo to find the stores and bargains you love. The Button highlights the stores and products that help.

Participating companies include Amazon, Barnes & Noble, JC Penney and more. Even better, keep the button installed for 90 days and your favorite charity will receive $5… even if you never end up using the button to shop.

Falling Whistles

Buy a whistle!

We are currently working alongside Congolese community leaders to rehabilitate 267 war-affected children in northeast Congo. This program is entirely funded from whistle-sales. Your purchase works to restore their lives.

Global Goods Partners

Also a Breakthrough Nonprofit Branding contest finalist, this great organization enables artisans in developing countries to reach the global market through its online store, which offers handcrafted products from around the world. Browse scarves, handbags, jewelry and more!

Baby Alpaca Knit Cape, Peru

PACT

Water Sock

Check out the company’s “Collections and Causes” section to peruse organic socks and underwear that benefit a worthy nonprofit. Partners include Creative Growth and the Sierra Club; this year’s highlighted partnership involves Architecture for Humanity to “[support] the design and construction of a work-house for a cooperative of 15 fishermen in Shizugawa, a town nearly destroyed by the earthquake and tsunami in March.”

J Brand Jeans

Check out L.A.-based J Brand Jeans‘ goal to sell 1,000 jeans in exclusive colors to support City Year, a local educational nonprofit.

eBay Giving Works

The above items don’t appeal to you? Finish up your holiday shopping through eBay Giving Works. Browse listings that support your favorite nonprofits and donate 10-100% of the sale upon purchase. And while you’re there, head on over to ebay.com/giveatoystore to learn about the company’s partnership with Toys for Tots and their interactive digital campaign to provide toys to underprivileged kids this holiday season. Watch the short video below to learn more, and if you’re in NY or SF, stop by their live locations!

Bruce and Rhonda's Beautiful Family. Saren is front and center.

Today we enacted eBay Giving Works. We chose a few organizations that we believe in.  We chose to give 10% or more of each item sold to them. We went through each and every listing and set them to give at each sale. That way, EBay giving makes giving easier since it is automatically taken out when the sale is made. That tames the greed and fear that makes us hang onto every penny. If you do not have to literally hand the funds over then you do not feel as though you are giving something up. It is a terrible fact of our selfish nature.

Giving is also an important part of our faith but believe me when I tell you it is not easy. We have found that when our eyes are on the bills, on what we do not have, it makes it hard to give. The survival instinct kicks in and we tend to hoard, fearful that we won’t have enough. So we must close our eyes and just jump in and do what we know we should do.

Giving has always surprised us in the cyclical nature of the principle. The more we give the more we receive. Though this is not why we give, it is a nice side effect. Why we give is help others, to love our neighbor as ourselves. We give to learn and practice selflessness. In a business where profit is everything, giving balances our focus.

One of the organizations we chose to give to, LIFE Outreach International Association of Churches, was one that we have a deep and meaningful history with. Eight years ago we lost our daughter in a tragic water accident. We were so destroyed that we lost everything, business, home, job. We just could not function…period. When we began to slowly heal we started to save money for a headstone for our precious daughter. It was not long after beginning that savings that we heard about this organization that dug wells for people whose families and children were dying from drought and contaminated water. We thought that was so appropriate for us. Since we experience death by water wouldn’t it be a strong statement for us to give life by water. It felt strangely triumphant during a time when we only felt sadness and defeat.

We contacted them and asked if we could raise money for a well and name it “Saren’s Well”. It would be title and a statement of faith. They were more than receptive to the idea and featured our story on their newsletter, TV spots and emails. We used our savings for Saren’s headstone as the seed capital for this venture. It was not long before we had raised the whole amount and “Saren’s Well” was in place and saving lives day by day.

Like I said earlier, giving is cyclical. We were just happy that Saren’s memory was honored but that was not enough for this organization. They in turn took up a collection within their offices and raised money for a headstone for Saren. We were just beyond ourselves with emotion. I have tears now remembering just how awesome it was to experience the power of giving.

That was proof positive to us that giving is not just giving something away and it is just gone. To us, from experience, it is more like planting. Like anything planted it grows. So we believe eBay giving will keep the blessings flowing toward us and others. It is a beautiful thing that makes us all beautiful people.

Did you know that you can donate proceeds from your eBay sale to fund autism research and advocacy

From August 9-15, Autism Speaks will be a featured nonprofit on eBay Giving Works, allowing buyers and sellers to donate when checking out with PayPal on eBay.

Here are some simple ways to support us year-round:

Buy

Buy items on eBay that are listed to benefit Autism Speaks. Great deals will abound, and your purchase will help fund autism research and advocacy.

Sell

Missed out on spring cleaning? Sellers of items can designate Autism Speaks as the beneficiary of 10-100% of the sale price. Plus, eBay gives back to you, too, with fee credits for every eBay Giving Works donation.

Donate

Not in the mood to buy or sell? Instead, make an immediate donation through PayPal through DonateNow.

Make Us Your Favorite

Save Autism Speaks as a favorite on eBay and you’ll be invited to donate $1 (or more) whenever you checkout.

Spread the Word

Ask your friends and family to support Autism Speaks during this time – send e-mails, update your Facebook status and tweet about it!

Get started today by visiting our dedicated page on eBay.

Thank you to MissionFish and eBay Giving Works for this wonderful awareness and fundraising opportunity. Happy shopping!

It will take you less than a minute to help us win.

Click http://donations.ebay.com/charity/charity.jsp?NP_ID=7649 and “save as favorite.”

If this does not work:

1) I don’t have much extra money to give to a world in need right now.

2) I don’t have as much of a use or need for my 2nd generation 8-gig iPod touch, a Nike+ sensor, nor the arm band I have for it.

I put those two ideas together and came up with the solution: I can auction off the iPod and give the money away.  Ebay makes this surprisingly easy through MissionFish and Ebay giving works.

I have decided to donate 100% of the auction to the International Justice Mission, an organization that I wrote about earlier.

You can find the auction at http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330336878330.

Bid high, set some captives free.

May the Lord’s will be done,

CWillZ

Why did I start Carolyn’s Compassionate Children (CCC)? Why is it such a major part of my life? Why am I so passionate about supporting childhood and young adult cancer survivors? Why would I give up my own childhood for this cause?

For someone who thinks like a researcher, I never know how to answer these questions. I can’t give a million dollar response. After a lot of soul-searching, I’ve realized that the reason isn’t logical. It’s purely emotional. There are no hidden motives. I donate every dollar of spare change I have to my own organization and another organization just as close to my heart, the Chordoma Foundation. I do it because it’s the passion that wakes me up in the morning. I do it to honor the lives of children and friends, who lived a life far too short, and gave more in those years than I could ever hope to give. I do it because any child who lives their life in a hospital fighting for a 5% chance to live should never have to fear that the cost of their survival could mean the poverty of their family — no chance of higher education.

I wrote this post because I wanted to let you know that the art auction for my organization has started on Ebay Giving Works. I was going to insert a graphic image, but I couldn’t. It felt too commercial for something that is so very personal. I didn’t realize how hard this time of the year would be. My best friend, Matt, whom I’ve mentioned many times on here before would be turning 25 next week. I remember his birthday last year so vividly because it was about two weeks before he passed away. It’s fitting that this fundraiser is very personal as it marks such a transition in my life. I am so thankful for the support of the individuals who have given to this auction so wholeheartedly. It is my first auction of any kind and has turned into a truly beautiful event.

On that note, I hope you enjoy the unique collection within this auction fundraiser. The event ends April 24, 2009.

… in memory of matt …

BlogActionDay BlogtalkRadio Show

As I stated in my previous post, I would be showcasing some charitable organizations that send proceeds to through eBay Giving works program. You will find below two links each to the organizations, the first is the link to the eBay Giving works program for that organization and the second will be the main website for the organization.

November is Fight Against Poverty month through eBay Giving Works. There maybe a few organizations that you are compelled to donate to if you wish. I personally feel that this is something that should not just be done on one day but continuously in order to reduce and stamp out poverty.

Join me in the fight!

Project Contact Africa ~ eBay Mission Fish Link
Project Contact Africa

Children’s Hunger Fund ~ eBay Mission Fish Link
Children’s Hunger Fund

Kiva ~ eBay Mission Fish Link

It’s been a very long, and very bumpy road for Terry and Mark.  While attending eBay Live 2005 in San Jose, CA Mark suffered a heart attack and had to have surgery.  During his stay, Terry was able to stay at a “family house” on the grounds of the hospital, free of charge.  What a blessing that was for her…Terry and Mark live in New Jersey! 

They were finally able to get home after Mark got some recovery in, and in the 3 years since, her online friends have been keeping in touch, and only trying to imagine the enormous roller coaster rider they have been on, while waiting for a donor heart.  A few weeks ago it happened — Mark got a new heart, and he is now home

Terry was so touched by the family house she stayed in while in California, that she is helping the efforts to have one built in Philadelphia… Gift of Life Family House.  With the help of her eBay Voices friends, and donations from other eBay members and staff, 6 Charity Auctions are now running!  It’s a great way to stock up on lots of eBay and Paypal memorabelia and fun stuff!  There are t-shirts autographed by eBay Staff and Voices members, as well as items from eBay Lives in the past.  Some of the lots have over 50 items in them!!! 

Don’t forget to read the story in the listings of how this idea came about…..all due to a traveling fruitcake

Gift of Life Auctions pages

Since launching their store in April 2006, AETV facilitated 4 major cause-related auctions raising over $125,000 for Starlight Starbright and The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. Recently, between chasing after his very active children and equally hyper dog, he sat down to talk to me about how he took what was a fun idea and turned it into a new revenue stream for his company and an avenue to support some really worthwhile causes. You can read the full interview on whatgives.com.

I have the occasion to be in contact with many animal rescue people. They  frequently seem to be at an impasse about methods to acquire funds for their needs.  I also notice a little bit of short-sightedness,  a reluctance to be open to possibilities. But I understand what that hesitancy is –  the only thing that really holds people back from trying something, even if it sounds positive and it’s even being offered for free, is lack of knowledge and therefore a lack of confidence about making a decision. I read a book once by a religious leader, his name will come to me, and it was called “Possibility Thinking”. I made me realize that that is a good label for me, I really am a possibility thinker!  I’m so open to good ideas, if anything, a few probably fall out due to overcrowding!  For example, many rescue groups have highly useful images on their sites, that could be used to garner attention and money, used the right way. And one right way, is to allow a good artist (like me) to create art from those images and use that art in an auction on eBay that calls attention to the charitable cause. But there is more…. much much more……. and I will begin to address those things with each visit here.  Do you have questions? Knowledge to input? I’d love to hear from you. My purpose here is to help animal rescuers, both individuals and groups, be able to do an even better job because they have more financial support.  Oh, and in case you are wondering, yes I am one of those people, and I do have an animal  sanctuary that I own with my grown daughter. It is called The Promise Animal Sanctuary, and we are filing papers to become not-for-profit.  We support it through our own work, with very little outside assistance. This month, vet bills are high.  We know how it is to be in the situation many rescuers are in.  Let’s brainstorm, shall we? I’ve learned some answers and I know you have some too.  Remember……  this is an abundant universe and there is unlimited financial abundance out there.   All “It” needs is for the light to be held up so it knows where to go. We can help put up the signposts too.