Balloon Wonderland Facilitates Charity Funds

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By JohnPosted In: Charity ActivityTagged:

During the Covid-19 pandemic, people were forced to find creative ways to celebrate events and each other. One method that became quite popular was decorating yards with balloons and other festive adornments.

In Vincennes, Indiana, balloon décor was recently used to spread joy in a larger capacity. Sixty-five professional balloon artists from five countries and 22 different states worked for days to create a “Candy Wonderland” to support United Way of Knox County. This was the first Big Balloon Build to take place in the US, with all previous events of its kind hosted within the UK. Big Balloon Build offers a fun and unique platform for local charitable organizations to promote their causes and raise awareness.

Jennifer Nyikos, owner of Fun by the Yard, was one of the local professionals asked to participate in the Big Balloon Build in Vincennes. She and her colleagues used more than 125,000 balloons to create a utopia of ice cream cones, candy clouds, and sweet treats across two full-size gyms. She reminisced, explaining that it took the team 10 hours of work over three days to construct the magical Candyland of inflatables. “It was exhausting but great memories,” she confirmed.

Thanks to sponsors and events, the United Way of Knox County successfully raised over $130,000. Funds collected from various aspects of the event will be used to match donations from the Lilly Corporation, supporting some its impact projects, including Kindergarten Jump Start, Bedtime in a Box, Charity Tracker Network, Homeless Task Force, and more.

London FoodCycle to Open Six New Locations

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By DouglasPosted In: Family, PovertyTagged:

With the cost of living rising across England, more citizens are finding themselves in need of basic necessities. Unfortunately, an increasing number of residents are finding it impossible to provide their families with three meals a day.

FoodCycle is a London-based organization that offers meals on a weekly basis to whomever needs. Their 11 centers across the capital work to transform surplus groceries into three-course vegetarian meals. Thanks to a generous grant of £174,800 from City Trust Bridge charity funder, FoodCycle plans to expand its service by opening six new centers over the next year. The goal is to feed over 4,000 people in 30 districts within London by 2024. The organization estimates it will be using more than 126,000kg of surplus groceries – that is the equivalent of the weight of 25 African elephants!

In addition to providing the physical sustenance needed for survival, the support offered by FoodCycle goes much further. Tom Osborne, FoodCycle Trusts and Foundations Manager, explains: “Our meals help our guests eat more healthily, try new foods and save money. They also have a really important benefit of helping people feel less lonely and more connected with their community by coming together in a safe space and making new friends.”

Given the help of volunteers and the team at FoodCycle, thousands of people are able to continue their daily lives knowing their physical needs will be met encompassed by a support system.

Riding the Waves for Charity

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By DouglasPosted In: Charity ActivityTagged: , ,

Two experienced New Zealand surfers have decided to use their talent to raise funds for a local surf therapy charity. Felix Hirling and David Seidel have set out on their surfboards on March 25, with plans to paddle their way from Mayor Island to Mount Maunganui Main Beach over two weeks.  They hope to meet their fundraising target of $6,000 for Live for More, a surf therapy program that works to free adolescent men of detrimental past experiences and empower them to live fulfilling lives.

The idea came about after David had ventured out on a similar mission last year, only the goal then was to test his personal limits. He paddled across Cook Straight on his long board surfboard. Felix was very inspired by David’s ability to push his physical and mental limits, and suggested undertaking a similar challenge for charity.

Over some time, the idea grew on David and the pair searched for an appropriate organization to support. “Live for More fits in perfectly with our values,” David said. Felix added, “We’ve been surfing together for about 20 years, so it is really cool to be able to give back promoting something we are so passionate about.”

Shortly after their scheduled return sometime before April 8, Felix and David will also host a raffle to benefit Live for More. There will be over $1500 worth of prizes donated by Maunganui businesses, with the drawings planned to take place on April 15.

To follow Felix and David’s journey, follow their Facebook page, A Mayor Paddle.

Beyond the Coffee Beans

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By JohnPosted In: Charity in BusinessTagged: , , , ,

As part of its Origin Grants program, Starbucks Corporation has invested over $14 million in nonprofits that help women and girls around the world. The company has just announced its goal to support an additional one million by 2030, largely focusing on communities that grow coffee, tea, and cocoa. One of its pilot programs includes working with women entrepreneurs in rural areas of Guatemala, in conjunction with the Wakami Foundation. The goal is to guide them to recruit their peers and produce top-notch marketable items that could potentially be sold globally. They are also developing plans which will use their agricultural backgrounds to raise and export new products.

Michelle Burns, Starbucks Executive Vice President of Global Coffee, Tea, and Cocoa and nonprofit Board Member, explains the rationale behind the project: “We have a vision to ensure a sustainable future of coffee for all…[that] goes beyond farmers and farm workers to also supporting the well-being of all those in coffee communities, helping everyone thrive.” She and the Starbucks team are proud of the opportunities women and girls are being given to engage in leadership within their communities which can significantly impact their futures.

A Bear of a Walk for Charity

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By JohnPosted In: Charity ActivityTagged:

It’s hard to believe we didn’t hear about this when it happened – but at least we can bring you the story now. In April 2021, a young man named Jesse Larios decided to dress up in a massive bear suit and to walk from Los Angeles to San Francisco for charity.

By the time he arrived in San Francisco, he had quite a following, he had walked 482 miles and he had collected money for charity.

Larios first had the idea of donning the suit for a marathon, which he did in 2016. He then got the idea to go even farther, and ended up camping outside in the bear suit and wearing it for the entire walk from LA to SF. By the end of the journey he had collected about $17,000 for charitable causes.

Many videos of his escapades can be enjoyed online!

Each Thread Counts

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By JohnPosted In: Charity ActivityTagged: ,

This video offers an amazing example of how every person really can make a difference. There is an old saying about the power of giving a person a fish, versus teaching them to fish. Here, this 17 year old is truly teaching immigrant women how to fish for themselves and to make a living through sewing. Learn more about this incredible program called All Sorts Clothing and see how you can get involved.

Jewelry That Gives Back

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By JohnPosted In: Charity in BusinessTagged: ,

Sometimes you just want to purchase something because it’s pretty, or inexpensive, or goes with an outfit you already own. Wouldn’t it be wonderful, however, if we all considered how environmentally conscious and how charitable our purchases were?

One great example is a jewelry company called Awe Inspired. Founded in 2018 by cancer survivor Jill Johnson and her son Max, the company is one worth knowing. Their jewelry is made with the finest materials and uses only fair labor and sustainability.

One of the most impressive parts of Awe Inspired is their charitable efforts. They have, to date, given over $700,000 to organizations, donating 20% of all proceeds to their charitable partners. Each of their partners focuses on directly impacting the lives of women who have overcome adversity. This includes CancerCare, The American Nurses Foundation’s Coronavirus Fund for Nurses, Emily’s List, the NAACP, NAMI and RAINN.

It’s companies like Awe Inspired that allow people to make meaningful purchases that both benefit the purchaser and so many others in need. You can make a difference just by checking on the companies that you purchase from and seeing if they give generously from their profits. Everyone wins when they do.

Elton John and Ed Sheeran Bring Holiday Cheer

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By JohnPosted In: ChildFund International

The holiday season can be a joyous, wonderful time but it can also be a very hard one for many people. This year, some big names in the music industry are using their talent to bring cheer to others, and to raise money for important charities.

Elton John and Ed Sheeran have recently teamed up with a charity single called “Merry Christmas” that was just released by Asylum/Atlantic. Jason Koenig has directed the accompanying video.

The song was written by many superstars and was produced by Steve Mac.

All publishing royalties and sales will be donated equally to the Ed Sheeran Suffolk Music Foundation and the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

Fashion Forward Clothing for Kids with Medical Needs

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By JohnPosted In: Charity ActivityTagged:

This is an incredible story about making lemonade when life gives you lemons. In a freak accident more than a year ago, Laila Susini nearly lost her life. She was swinging on a porch swing, when the eyebolt that holds the swing together detached from the ceiling and went through her skull.

Doctors and nurses at Cedars Sinai Medical Center saved her life during a five hour operation. Today, Laila’s left arm is paralyzed, but she is forging ahead with a full life and a new fashion line. Her fashionable and comfortable clothing, called LATE Clothing LA, is intended to help other children who live with medical devices and need slightly reimagined clothing.

The clothing line is worth checking out, and the story of inspiration is worth reading.

Helping with Food Scarcity in Vermont

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By JohnPosted In: ChildFund International

Here is a really nice story of giving. We all know that Vermont is a very cold place in the winter, and this is obviously an issue for people who are homeless. In Northfield, Vermont there is a sock company doing something about it. Darn Tough Vermont has been partnering with the Vermont Foodbank for many years. During COVID-19, they started making a special pair of socks with the sales from those socks going directly to the food bank. So far, they’ve been able to provide 925,000 meals to hungry people in Vermont with those sales.

Read more about their foodbank giving program and the amazing things they’ve done to help people.