Good Monkeys

Fighter Mom Starts Non-Profit

Andrew's Buddies Corporation (also known as "FightSMA") was created to accelerate the search for a treatment and cure for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), the number-one inherited cause of infant death. SMA is a cruel disease, leaving many of its victims unable to crawl, walk, and even breathe or swallow on their own.  FightSMA’s objective is to raise awareness and funding for SMA research.

FightSMA was created in 1991 by Joe and Martha Slay, after they received the diagnosis of their son, Andrew.  Beginning “around the kitchen table,” FightSMA now has 19 chapters across the United States and Canada.

FightSMA hosts its annual gala, SMAsquerade, to raise funds for research and awareness.  This year’s SMAsquerade, “Make Tracks!” was held at the Science Museum of Virginia, and raised over $150,000.  Some of the highlighted items to purchase at the auction were six box seats to the Kentucky Derby, a Duck Hunting adventure in Arkansas, and an 8-day whale-watching expedition in Baja California, accompanied by a senior editor and senior photographer from National Geographic magazine.

In 2005, FightSMA launched the Fighter Mom™ program.  This model program was designed to help mothers (and other caregivers) whose children face ANY disease, health or behavioral problem.  It gives these special and courageous mothers the tools they need to proactively combat their children’s challenges. 

In recent news, FightSMA has joined together with Families of SMA and the SMA Foundation to create the SMA Treatment Acceleration Act, which has now been introduced in both the U.S. House of Representatives (H.R. 3334) and U.S. Senate (S.2042).  For more information on the bill, or to contact your Member of Congress, please e-mail FightSMA.

And while you're at today, don't forget to give your kids, be they two- or four-legged, a great big hug!

Stories, Please!

I need your help.

One of the reasons I started this blog was to share stories about good people in the world. I've started by featuring good non-profit groups but I'd like to expand, if you can help me.

Let's collect some stories together.

Currently, I don't have time to interview each organization and get stories about the people and animals they have helped. Some websites have success stories, but many don't have the resources to post them.

If you know someone who has been touched by one of these groups, can you ask them to write a comment on the post and tell their story? Just send them a link to the site (you can get a link to a particular post by clicking "permalink" that is at the end of each one) and ask them to share.

If you are involved in one of these organizations, would be post a comment and share your story? You can tell us how it feels to volunteer, a story about a special someone you've helped, anything so that we can get to know more about the organization.

I've been getting lovely emails from the groups on the blog but it would be so nice for others to join in te pleasure.

There is so much power in a good story. Please share yours. You may never know who you inspire to change the world.

And don't forget to subscribe so you know what new group is featured each day. It will save you having to remember to run back to the blog and check. If you're anything like me, having to remember something is a hit or miss affair.

Thanks again for all the wonderful things you do to make the world a little better place.

To Educate, Equip and Empower

The Jackson-Feild Homes for Girls is a special place for girls 13-21 who are at-risk for mental health problems, delinquent behaviors and/or failure to complete their education.

Started in 1855 as an orphan asylum, it now operates two campuses in Virginia to help young women succeed in life.

They offer multiple programs promote emotional, physical, behavioral and spiritual well- being. Most girls start in the residential facility and then move onto an independent living program that teaches them how to maintain a home, budget and manage work and home life.

Twenty year-old Ashely is a great example of a JFH success story. She spent three years on the main campus before moving the apartment living site. She finished her high school studies and now maintains a 12-credit hour schedule a local community college while working part-time. Her goal is to someday buy her own home and car.

If you can help volunteer, donate or supply goods or services, please let them know. You never know whose life you might impact. One day you might be a patient of someone like Crystal, who graduated from a nursing program after her time at JFH.

While you're at it today, take a moment to be grateful to the folks who raised you to be a contributing member of society. Whether it is your parents or other family members, a teacher, mentor or community program, call or write someone to say thanks.

Golf Helps Young Girls In Kenya

In a country where HIV and AIDS proliferate and average life expectancy is less than 46 years, life can be difficult. Rose Naliaka, the only female golf pro in Kenya, wants to make a difference in young girls lives.

Rose aspires to improve conditions for girls in her community by using the game of golf to teach critical life lessons, such as

• the importance of maintaining a positive attitude
• how to make decisions by thinking about possible consequences
• how to define and set goals
• how to transfer values like responsibility, self-respect, confidence and sportsmanship from the golf course to everyday life

The challenge is that many of Rose's students have no equipment to play. Many of them have no shoes and play barefoot or in socks. In addition, they need money to rent a football pitch on which to practice.

Up to now, Rose has financed the entire operation out of her own pocket.

When she realized she can't help as many students as she'd like, Rose reached out to others to help. She emailed Pam Swenson, CEO of the Executive Women's Golf Association, and asked for ideas.

"I received an email from Rose Naliaka that told her story -- but it was the pictures of her girls that touched me," says Swensen, "I responded immediately and said of course the EWGA can help you."

Swensen created Drive for Dreams to collect donation of money and equipment for Rose's girls.

If you are a golfer or know one, please contact Chanee Reed and let her know how you can help. Money, clubs, balls, tees, and even shoes and personal care items are desperately needed.

If you belong to a golf association, maybe you can let them know about the program and start a collection at your club.

Thanks again for all you do for your community and for people around the world. Somewhere is likely feeling grateful for your help even if they've never met you.

Rose's actions remind me of a wonderful Einstein quote, "The example of great and pure characters is the only thing that can produce fine ideas and noble deeds."

 

Floating In The Sky With Freedom

That's what art makes nine-year old Sionell feel like.

She is just one of the many students who are part of the Art 180 program in Richmond, VA, a group of artists, writer, musicians, dancers, poets and everyday people who aim to change lives through art.

Their purpose is to "create and provide art-related programs to young people living in challenging circumstances, encouraging personal and community change through self-expression."

What they really do is teach young people how to express themselves in constructive ways. Says one student,  eight-year old Starshene, "I know now I can do anything when I grow up."

Art 180 conducts 12-week after school programs with professional artists and volunteers to teach children about art. Students are asked to explore deep topics such as:

• What is a hero?
• What do I want people to know about me?
• How can I make my community a better place

 

Each program ends in a public display of the children's work including venues such as billboards, exhibits and even CD's.

Do you know of  an artist who might like to become involved? Send them a link to this post. Would you like to volunteer even if you don't have any artistic talent? Art 180 wants you! Of course, donations are also appreciated as well. Check out their gift shop too!

If you know of a similar program in your community, please post it in the comments so others will learn about it. Good Monkeys is all about connecting people, resources, volunteers and interested parties.

As you go through your day, don't forget to do something artistic for yourself. Doodle a picture, listen to some music or even dance around your living room. It will make you feel great and remember what's important in life.

As thirteen-year old Johntanae says, "I believe in the sun even when it's not shining."

Helping Public School Children Across America

For those of you who don't know, there is a big problem in public school funding in America. Many teachers simply don't have the resources (that's money mostly) to educate their students in the best possible ways.

Sometimes that means art teachers don't have art supplies for their kids. Other times you'll find students who want to take music lessons but can't afford instruments. In other cases, school textbooks or computer equipment may be so outdated as to be unusable.

The problems are particularly prevalent in school districts with a lot of poverty and, therefore, low tax bases.

Enter DonorsChoose.

This wonderful organization aims to bridge the funding gap and connect donors to teachers and their special projects. To date, they have found donations totally over $15,000,000 for American school children.

There are literally thousands of projects ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars that you can contribute to. The process DonorsChoose uses is quite simple and elegant.

A teacher submits a proposal detailing the items needed, who will benefit from them and how much money they need. DonorsChoose lists them on their website with all the details and then seeks out peopel to fund all or part of the projects.

DonorsChoose collects the money, buys the items and sends them to the school. In return, the teacher uses a DonorsChoose camera to take pictures of the children using the donated items and sends them, with a report to all donors contributing $100 or more to the project.

What a win-win situation!

In addition, the organization has created a program to allow students to decide where bulk grant money is allocated. They actually teach kids to be grant readers and allow them to decide where large donations will be spent.

If you'd like to find out more about DonorsChoose, check out their About Us page. It's a wonderful overview of the program.

If you're a blogger, consider creating a challenge for your readers and getting them involved in donating.

If you're just an average person who wants to make a difference, let your friends know about DonorsChoose. They have a great blog.

As my grandmother used to say, there is no such thing as too much education. Reach out a hand and help a child be educated if you can.

The Giving Heart

Since I started this blog on Thanksgiving, I thought it only appropriate that my first post be about the holiday.

Yesterday my friend, Ellen, and I went down to the Richmond (Virginia) Convention Center to serve Thanksgiving dinner to folks invited by The Giving Heart.

There are lots of organizations that prepare and serve holiday meals for needy individuals and families, but what makes The Giving Heart so special is that anyone, absolutely anyone is invited.

Students who don't have family in town to share dinner with, professionals such as police, doctors and EMT's who can't leave their shift to get home to eat and even people who want to meet new friends or just want to share in a sense of community are all invited to join the meal.

All told, The Giving Heart served 3,000 guests yesterday. The feast included 308 turkeys, 160 gallons of mashed potatoes, 200 gallons of green beans, 200 gallons of stuffing and 80 gallons of made-from--scratch gravy. To top it off, there were 150 apple pies and 150 pumkin pies for guests to enjoy. Local school children decorated and donated over 1000 placemats and centerpieces to make the tables festive.

One of the things that made the meal so enjoyable was that only a small percentage of the over 300 volunteers were used for servers. The remainder were stationed at the dining tables to be "conversationalists." Their job was simply to make everyone feel welcome and to get dialogues started at the tables.

As I walked through the giant ballroom, I was struck by the diversity of the crowd. At one table I saw a young caucasian woman, an older African-American gentleman, two Indian women and a smattering of small children, all happily chatting away over a shared meal.

Some of the day's attendees had obviously spent time on the street and had their shopping bags of possessions tucked under their chairs while others clearly had come from easier circumstances. Regardless of their backgrounds, all seemed to be enjoying each other's company and making new friends.

After dinner, guests were invited to do some shopping. In a room off the main dining hall, The Giving Heart had arranged donated coats, blankets, radios, shoes, children's clothing, socks, gloves, toys, books and even bags of food for the taking.

The Giving Heart is an all-volunteer organization and could use any resources you'd like to contribute. This year's meal cost $8000 after the donations made by local businesses and next year's event is projected to cost more.

If you can, I'm sure The Giving Heart would welcome any small donation you can contribute, including spreading the word about the good work they are doing.

I hope each of you had a happy Thanksgiving (if you celebrate it). If you're in Richmond, VA next year, come on down to the Convention Center and join the festivities. I'll be there!

If you know of similar organizations in your own community, please feel free to tell us about them by commenting on this post. You never know who might read your post and be the helper an organization needs at just the right time.