PeaceKeeper launched a lip gloss called PeaceKeeper V-Day Gloss with Eve Ensler, Obie Award Winning Playwright and author of The Vagina Monologues, to support her work to end violence against women. Since the first benefit performance of The Vagina Monologues in NYC on February 14, 1998, V-Day has grown into a fierce catalyst promoting creative events that increase awareness, raise millions of dollars, and revitalize the spirit of existing anti-violence organizations. Over 4,200 V-Day benefit events were held in over 35 countries, where local volunteers and college students produced The Vagina Monologue performances in an effort to stop the violence. Find out more about V-Day. PeaceKeeper’s V-Day Gloss is a sheer true crimson red that looks stunning alone or over any lip color. This natural lip gloss looks best on women with darker complexions, anyone who wants some Red Hot kissable lips!
PeaceKeeper Cause-Metics is an enterprising philanthropic brand which makes donations to women’s health advocacy and urgent human rights issues. PeaceKeeper funds women who have been indentured or who live on a dollar a day. PeaceKeeper sources raw ingredients like rosemary and spearmint from third world farmers and gives micro-credit loans to the families of those farmers. This is called Beauty For Humanity – Good For You & Good For The World! Now That’s Beautiful™. To learn more about PeaceKeeper Cause-Metics and to order PeaceKeeper V-Day Gloss visit them at www.iamapeacekeeper.com.
Join Farron Levy, president of True Impact -- a leading provider of web-based tools and support services for measuring corporate citizenship programs -- to learn simple measurement techniques for measuring the social, financial, and environmental value of cause marketing programs to prove value, promote continuous improvement, and guide program investment and budgeting.
Colorado Rocky Mountain School is an independent high school in the heart of the Rocky Mountains where student-initiated philanthropic clubs abound. From Operation Smile and Face Aids to Peace Jam and Souls4Souls, CRMS students continually expand their interest in, and fundraising efforts surrounding, global humanitarian causes. And while all these clubs enjoy strong membership, an amazing thing happened the other day when one student proposed starting a Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) chapter. Based on an international foundation that promotes kindness (established in 1995 as a 501c3 nonprofit organization) the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation is a resource for people committed to spreading kindness.
So Grady, a CRMS senior, announces at a weekly all-school meeting that he would like to start a RAK chapter and to simply reply to his email if anyone is interested in being involved. Well, as a small school with only 145 students and 35 faculty/staff, over 55 people immediately responded and joined his effort. So one week into the new RAK club, over one-third of the school is involved in promoting kindness and unexpected gifts of gratitude
One sixth of the world’s population lives on a dollar a day. Another sixth lives on two dollars a day. The global middle class lives on $3,000 to $5,000 per year. What would it feel like to be a person who lives on a dollar a day – or three thousand dollars a year?
What would it feel like to have your wallet or purse taken from you, then your cell phone, credit cards, passport and access to any outside help? Then imagine being kept locked up in domestic, labor or sexual servitude for years. Americans had the shame of slavery on our hands until it was abolished. However, human slavery exists as the largest cartel on the planet with an estimated 2,000,000 men, women and children trafficked each year.
A human life – fragile dreams; precious, meaningful, and sacred. The question is “How much is a human life worth?” In fact, an appropriate exercise would be to imagine being kidnapped and held for ransom. How much is your own life worth? Is it worth your entire estate to save your life? And then, is another life worth that much as well?
What are the acts of bold courage we can take outside of our comfort zone to reach out to another person in potent ways? How can we push ourselves far past our limits of safety and comfort to really and truly help another?
PeaceKeeper launched a 75% organic lip gloss with the UNIFEM – The United Nation’s Development Fund For Women and its Trust Fund To Eliminate Violence Against Women – to raise awareness about UNIFEM’s important global work. UNIFEM is the women's fund at the United Nations, dedicated to advancing women’s rights and achieving gender equality. It provides financial and technical assistance to innovative programs and strategies that foster women's empowerment. UNIFEM works on the premise that it is the fundamental right of every woman to live a life free from discrimination and violence, and that gender equality is essential to achieving development and to building just societies. UNIFEM works in the following thematic areas:
* Enhancing women’s economic security and rights
* Ending violence against women
* Reducing the prevalence of HIV and AIDS among women and girls
* Advancing gender justice in democratic governance in stable and fragile states
Since 2006, McKesson has partnered with humanitarian organization World Vision to provide more than 175,000 World Vision Caregiver Kits to local community caregivers who care for those living with AIDS in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
The Company's expertise and infrastructure in distributing medical-surgical supplies have allowed McKesson to negotiate dramatic discounts with suppliers on the kits' contents, passing these savings on to the community groups — schools, churches and businesses — that purchase materials and assemble the kits for World Vision to distribute in remote areas of developing countries.
From Jeff Leahy, CRMS Head of School: Last night I had dinner in Tokyo with Taro Tomisawa, who graduated five years ago. Taro works for the Tokyo Foundation, a non-profit that focuses on "developing policy, investing in people, and transforming society". During dinner Taro shared with me that over the course of his time at CRMS doing community service became somewhat of a habit for him. He thinks that this is one of the main values that CRMS has to share with the world, and that this sense of supporting others is not readily found elsewhere. During his time in college and his year in Tokyo he has struggled to find the same amount of opportunities that he felt were so available at CRMS. Today he works in the government area of downtown Tokyo and has taken on an important role in the Foundation - keeping his CRMS legacy alive.
(This article is worthy of posting in it's entirety) Friends and fellow Colorado Rocky Mountain School juniors Kelsey Bohannon and JJ Worley recently found a way to help needy people around the world, and keep what otherwise would be trash out of area landfills.
Through the Soles4Souls shoe charity, they collected some 500 pairs of used shoes from throughout the Roaring Fork Valley. The shoes will be sent to a warehouse in Nevada, and eventually shipped to villages around the world where people cannot afford to buy shoes themselves.
“I heard about it and it just interested me as a way for people do something for those in need without sending money,” said Bohannon, 16, who lives in Glenwood Springs.
“Some people don't like giving money, because they're not sure what's really going to happen to it,” she said. “There's not much else you can do with used shoes, though. You know someone is going to be wearing them who needs them.”
Worley, also 16, from Carbondale, looks at it as a “one person's trash is another person's treasure” sort of approach to global charity.
“People really do get tired of donating money. This is a way to get rid of something you'd be throwing away anyway, and for a good cause,” she said.
Bohannon and Worley put up flyers around the valley and set up collection boxes at Summit Canyon Mountaineering in Glenwood Springs and at Dos Gringos Burritos in Carbondale.
“They asked me to come empty the box at Summit because it was overflowing,” Bohannon said. “The shoes filled up my car.”
Once they collected all the shoes they realized it would cost $230 to ship them to Nevada, even after the 80 percent charity discount from UPS. So they approached the Aspen Skiing Company, and it covered the shipping cost.
“We didn't even think about the money part of it,” Worley said. “We really want to thank the Skico for helping us out.”
They received some interesting shoes along the way, including some Go-Go boots, a pair of snowboard boots, and ballet slippers.
“Some of them are pretty fancy shoes, and not very used at all,” Bohannon said.
Miser's Mercantile, a local second-hand store, also donated some of the shoes it had in stock, and the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary collected a box of shoes as well.
The students may do another drive in the future, but their collection efforts are done for now. However, Independence Run and Hike, a local running and outdoor gear store, is also a collection location for Soles4Souls.
The store, located in the Gateway Plaza at Highway 133 and Cowen Drive in Carbondale, is collecting “gently worn” footwear and/or monetary donations to help ship the shoes.
The shoes sometimes go to victims of a natural disaster, or who are subject to living in extreme poverty, according to the organization's website, www.giveshoes.org.
“It is estimated that Americans have 1.5 billion pairs of unused shoes lying in their closets,” it notes. “The charity can use each and every one of these pairs to make a tangible difference in someone's life.”
Independence Run and Hike owner Brion After said he is glad to contribute, both in the charitable sense and because of the reduced environmental impact of recycling used shoes.
“We believe in taking care of the land that takes care of us,” he said. “Partnering with Soles4Souls enables the local running and hiking community to be environmental stewards and assist those in need throughout the world.” jstroud@postindependent.com
For more information on Colorado Rocky Mountain School please contact lraleigh@crms.org
Proving that microloans can help to change the world one little bit at a time, Kiva.org hit a major milestone today. Since it’s founding four years ago, it has now made possible $100 million in microloans between individual lenders and entrepreneurs all around the world. The company has brought together 573,000 lenders (people like you and me putting in $25 or more towards a specific project), and 239,000 entrepreneurs.
HuffPost's Game Changers celebrates 100 innovators, visionaries, and leaders in 10 categories who are harnessing the power of new media to reshape their fields and change the world. With your help, we've picked 10 people who are changing the game in philanthropy. We honor and salute them.
Now it's up to you to pick the Ultimate Philanthropy
Launched today, naumesfruitgifts.com is a new, socially responsible gift giving solution that delivers delicious pear gift boxes to family and friends, and a matching donation of fresh fruit to food banks that feed hungry families.
The first of its kind, the Donate Fruit program provides a new way to give and represents a growing demand nationwide for quality gifts that give back.
“Sharing a gift that has also made an important difference in the life of another makes it even more special,” said Laura Naumes, Vice President of Naumes. “Our signature fruit gift box lets gift recipients know that their premium fruit gift has been matched pound for pound with a donation to those in need.”
Addressing hunger in America is especially critical in today’s economic climate, in which one in eight Americans are affected. Fresh and nutritious fruit is a vital component of food donated to hungry families who too often rely on processed foods that can lead to obesity and other health problems.
Naumes Inc. is one of the largest family owned and operated pear growers in the world and has been donating fresh fruit for generations. They have been the major pear grower working with Feeding America, donating almost 10 million pounds of pears and reaching people in need across the country over the past seven years.
The launch of naumesfruitgifts.com today allows the family to offer its premium fruit directly to consumers for the first time and to expand their charitable contributions.
“We take great pride in offering a quality and nutritious gift option that our customers can feel good about,” said Mike Naumes, President of Naumes, Inc. “We lost our first orchard in the Great Depression so we understand firsthand the importance of doing our part to help others in need.”
Naumes handpicked gourmet pears are available in a variety of gift boxes and are available online at naumesfruitgifts.com.Launched today, naumesfruitgifts.com is a new, socially responsible gift giving... more
Trees for Troops has touched 50,082 military families by providing them a fresh, farm-grown Christmas tree for the holidays.Trees for Troops has touched 50,082 military families by providing them a fresh,... more
This beautifully illustrated site, harness's the power of social media to raise money for world class cancer research.
This year marks a big milestone for Signals: 25 years in business! And to celebrate their 25th anniversary, they've decided to give back to a cause that is close to their hearts. “Leaf A Legacy” website, launched this month, is dedicated to raising funds for the BC Cancer Foundation. The heart of the site is a unique illustration of a solitary tree, created by John Belisle, Signals Associate Creative Director (who also recenently illustrated Vancouver 2010 Olympic Sports Stamps). The tree magically comes to life as each donation adds a new leaf. Every donor who makes a contribution is invited to dedicate a leaf to a loved one, and to share their story. As the funds grow, so does the tree. Check it out!This beautifully illustrated site, harness's the power of social media to raise money... more
Here is today's daily podcast on ABTA's Travel Conference + Forum for the Future's Sustainabiity Program; Global Partnerships + PATH + Pro Mujer's Health InitiativeHere is today's daily podcast on ABTA's Travel Conference + Forum for the Future's... more
I'm a self-taught artist. This is a sample of my work. I love to work in many mediums. I have had to put my art aside for a while to take of my elderly parents but I have to get back to business. My spirit is calling out for it. so I made this to motivate myself.I'm a self-taught artist. This is a sample of my work. I love to work in many mediums.... more
After being overwhelmed with 150,000 ideas in 25 different languages on how to change the world, Google has whittled down the field to 16 finalists in its Project 10^100 competition.
Pronounced "Project 10 to the 100th," the effort has been in the works for the past year. First concocted in September 2008 to celebrate the company's 10th anniversary , the project sought ideas to change the world by helping as many people as possible. Up for grabs is project funding from a $10m (£6m) pool that Google is putting up.After being overwhelmed with 150,000 ideas in 25 different languages on how to change... more
Appfrica Labs is an investment company and software development firm that facilitates and incubates technology entrepreneurs in East Africa. We do this by offering a physical space with a solid internet connection, servers, software and computers that allows entrepreneurs a place to develop their ideas in a constructive environment with industry professionals as mentors, outside of school. Entrepreneur projects are refined and prepped to help them secure funding and launch sustainable, profitable businesses. Our model is loosely modeled after Paul Graham’s Y Combinator.
As a for-profit incubator and software development firm, our mission is to build capacity by offering opportunities and work experience for East African software entrepreneurs. We pick up where local colleges leave off by offering hands-on experience in programming languages like Java, C++, C#, Ruby on Rails, Django and Python, CouchDB, PHP, Perl, Kannel, which aren’t often taught locally at university. These skills are highly valued around the world and having professionals in these areas helps to make East Africa a more attractive place to develop software – not only locally, but also for multinational firms and NGOs.Appfrica Labs is an investment company and software development firm that facilitates... more
Water for Schools is a student-led campaign to raise awareness and funds for water projects at schools in developing nations. Get your school involved and start helping people in need get access to clean, safe drinking water.
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charity: water uses 100% of your donations to fund freshwater projects. Our operational costs are funded by a separate group of private donors so your money can go to the people who need it most.Water for Schools is a student-led campaign to raise awareness and funds for water... more
