Business Friends Help Kids With Cancer And Their Families

 

 

 

Business Friends Help Kids With Cancer And Their Families Feb 16th, 2011 by Rainy Friends Like Us is a wonderful nonprofit that reaches out to families of children who have been diagnosed with cancer. What they do for families goes over and above just sending those children a cuddly bear to hold when they are scared, lonely and needing something to cling to while they go through treatment for a disease that they don’t understand; even though, Friends Like Us does do that too.

The extra mile is what this organization does provide. They often listen to a parent, of a young cancer patient, express their fears, anxieties and questions about what to expect when cancer hits their family. Mark and Deloris Bailey, founders of the organization know what it is like as they have been in that position when their son was diagnosed and treated for cancer. So they created Friends Like Us to meet the needs of young cancer patients by providing them with a chemo bear.

This chemo bear comes with a medical bag which has tools that doctors and nurses can use to help explain treatments and procedures that the young child may be having to go through. It is a wonderful tool. This chemo bear even may have a port just like the child and can have it removed in a bear clinic when the child has his or her port removed. In the meantime, the bear can be of service when the child is at it most vulnerable going through tests or long lonely nights in the hospital.

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Share What You’ve Got-With Those Who Don’t Have Alot

       People are funny; when things get tight…their fists often get tighter; but not always.  This year, like no other year in recent memory, people are hurting.  They are hurting in many areas financially.  Many have lost their homes, their jobs, their savings…along with medical coverage.  It is a difficult time for many in our nation.

        Most everyone has something that they have been blessed with that they no longer use.  Those things that you have been blessed with and no longer use just might be terribly useful to someone else.  Have extra blankets (or sleeping bags) in the closet or attic that you have no use for?  Someone else has need for them; donate it to a shelter, a church, or an agency that gives to those in need.  Don’t forget places like the Salvation Army or Goodwill.  Let’s challenge ourselves to find ways to have a positive impact on those around us.

         What about checking out deals, when you grocery shop, that make use of buy one get one free…then, donating that extra item to a food pantry?  In fact, things people often run out of and have a hard time replacing are necessities such as laundry soap, shampoos/conditioners, toothpaste, dish soap, toilette paper; when money is limited…having those things donated to a food pantry can really be a big help.  Maybe you have a baby or toddler that has outgrown their diapers or pullups…and you have a partial package left; donate it, don’t let it set on a shelf somewhere unused.  What good are those items doing sitting there collecting dust?

          Do you have warm clothes that either don’t fit, things that aren’t your style; or, perhaps you just have an extra set of clothes that you could pass along?  What about coats or boots, mittens or hats/scarves?  Items such as these are desperately needed in colder temperatures and climates.  The fall and winter weather is unforgiving if a person is not sheltered and dressed appropriately for cold temperatures.  Children and adults are both in need; so, please check your closets and storage areas for things that you are not using.

          Here is another idea; have you had a tree fall on your property that you would like removed?  Offer it to those who heat their homes with wood for free…just for the taking.  Wow…how wonderful to get it removed and bless someone else with the wood who could use it to heat their homes. 

          So you say…you don’t have anything physical to give.  How about donating your time or possibly a service like raking leaves/shoveling snow for an elderly person who you know isn’t able to do it for themselves?  Maybe you could offer to get their mail so they don’t slip on the snow and ice or offer to run some errands for them.  There really are so very many ways to help another person who is in need. 

          Think about the homeless who are living on the streets.  Do you perhaps have a shelter or tent that is not going to be used in the near future?  Can you live without it?  Find an agency or charity that will use it to house those folks who cannot or will not live in a shelter.  We have many veterans and run-aways who live under bridges and tunnels all around this nation.  Is a tent or a shelter from your basement or garage an ideal place to live?  No but, it may just keep someone safer from the extreme elements, temporarily, until they can get back on their feet.

           Are any of these suggestions going to cure the ills our nation is facing; probably not…but, it may just help communicate caring to someone who is feeling desperate and alone.  Think about what you can do to help someone who has it a bit worse than you and yours.  Your donations could mean the difference between life and death for someone; and it doesn’t have to cost you more than a bit of compassion for others!

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Cancer Takes Talent-Paul Newman Passes Away!

       I have said it before, and i will say it again…cancer is a thief…it steals from us those that we love and it takes from us the talents & gifts that they were blessed with, as well.  Yesterday, cancer stole another well known person of talent, Paul Newman passed away.  Every person has merit and it isn’t that we acknowledge only those who are well known…but, because this is such a large world…it is important to mention that cancer steals people from all over the world; rich-poor, well known-and lesser known, married-single, old-young, male-female.  Cancer does not care who it takes…it just takes.  So we lose laborers, artists & musicians, educators, inventors, doctors, lawyers, researchers, librarians, farmers, janitors, we lose mothers/fathers, sisters/brothers,husbands/wives, and we lose children…we lose so very much that it hurts the tapestry of our lives!

        It would be a great day to make a donation to one of the charities that battle back against such an enemy.  http://www.standup2cancer.org/ or http://www.holeinthewallgang.org/ or http://www.cancer.org/docroot/home/index.asp.

        I love that Paul Newman was a person of integrity and dedication.  He supported charities for many years that benefitted those afflicted by cancer and other devastating diseases…long before it affected his own physical being.  He cared; he cared enough to do something about it.    Paul Newman and his business partner created Newman’s Own line of salad dressings and other food items and donated the profits from that company to charities that benefitted many. 

        It is with grace and dignity that he battled the disease that took his life.  He lived his life as he wanted and didn’t appear to play games that some celebrities do regarding their status.  I liked that about him.  If that means that we didn’t get to know all kinds of personal and private information about him and his family…so what.  It just means that he didn’t buy into all the hype of being famous.   So, he had a long line of acting credits to his name, he made a name for himself with his race car driving, and his charities.  What matters most is that he loved his family and he positively impacted others with the gifts that he was blessed with. 

           That is the way we should all hope to be remembered…we lived, we loved and we left the world a better place by giving back in the ways that matter most! 

         

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Gone But Not Forgotten-Princess Diana

          She is gone but not forgotten, the fair princess; Lady Diana Spencer.  It has been 11 years since her death in a car accident in Paris. Her youth, her beauty, her energy has been frozen in time through the photos we view.  So much has happened since that time.  Her beloved boys have grown up, her ex-husband Prince Charles has remarried Diana’s nemesis, the world has continued to move onward. 

           Still, no one has ever been able to take Diana’s place of purchase in the hearts of the public who loved her so.  She who was able to accomplish so much in so little time here on the Earth.  Can you imagine how much more she would have been able to do in a world full of hurts because of her ability to leverage her legacy?  She set a great role model with the work that she did for charities…that does not have to end.  People can follow her example and achieve much in the world, through donating time and money to those in need.  So we remember her today…full of smiles, and a heart that bent towards those in need, those who suffered, and those who were meant to overcome.  How can you be a light in the world?

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Live’s High Heel-A-Thon

       Today, on Live With Regis And Kelly’s morning show , they had there much promoted high heel a thon.  It was a sprint of 150 yards in high heels; it was done to benefit the March of Dimes.  The participants had to register and then run pre-race heats to get their placement in the race.  Each contestant wore a timing chip to help determine the winner.  The high heels had to be a minimum of 3 inches in heighth.  The winner was declared to be a woman from Queens, New York.   Another woman, by the name of Jill Stamison who is from my very own state of Michigan,  won the best legs portion of the contest, as well as, set a  Guiness World record with her time in the race which was 21.95 seconds.  Congrats to Jill Stamison from the wonderful and scenic Grand Haven, Michigan!!!

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Child Support & Elder Care- They Both Are Important

        This week charities received some press time when it was revealed that Leona Helmsley left a whole lot of money for her dog, Trouble, and charities that take care of dogs.   Out of the billions of dollars that Leona left behind…most of it will go to charitable organizations.  That got me to thinking, while animals are important; and, organizations that work towards protecting them and providing them with care are wonderful…hopefully, some of that money could be used towards charities that do the same types of services for human beings. 

       There really are some great organizations and non-profits out there who really try to make a difference.  I love it when someone creates one when their hearts and minds get touched by an experience in their lives or the lives of someone that they care about.

         Today i read about another one that i think sounds wonderful and hopefully, other individuals will be inspired to create charities when they feel moved to do so.  The one i read about today was called, Kid One Transport.  Their website is:  http://www.kidone.org/index.php 

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Operation Smile-Cindy McCain

        For those of you who have never heard of Operation Smile it is a great not-for-profit organization that organizes volunteers who team up to medically improve the lives of children who were born with facial deformities.  The non profit was begun by Dr. William P. Magee, Jr. who is a plastic surgeon and his wife.  

         Together he and his wife Kathleen S. Magee, who is a nurse and clinical social worker, put their skills into practice since 1982, working towards helping improve the life conditions of children who have been impacted by cleft palates and other facial deformities.  For a relatively low cost of approximately $240.00 a child’s life can be radically changed.  The impact of this life changing operation can not be praised enough.  Improving a child or young adult’s self esteem is invaluable to the quality of life they will have.  Many people who are born with facial deformities endure physical and emotional hardships due to the mistreatment from others.  Building up children and their families by bringing this kind of health services to them that they could not possibly afford on their own is a major humanitarian contribution.

           Operation Smile has grown to include a large volume of volunteers who labor to bring health and happiness to those who receive the benefit of it’s services.  At this point, over 26 countries are considered partner countries who are actively working with Operation Smile.  Their headquarters are located in Norfolk, Virginia.  They have offices around the world to educate and bring awareness of their cause and in those offices they work to raise funds to pay for the charitable works that they do.

        If you are interested in donating either your medical skills, your time, or fundraising abilities or even donating money here is the number to call 1-888-OPSMILE (888-677-6453) .  In Norfolk they also bring children to America to receive care on scholarships that they might not be able to receive in their own country for the more complicated surgeries.  Training is also provided for those with medical skills who wish to advance their specialized skills for work in the area of facial deformities.

         Cindy McCain, a philanthropist and businesswoman has been on Operation Smile’s board of directors for some time.  She has worked with this organization since 2001; long before her husband, Senator John McCain became a Republican presidential hopeful for the 2008 election.

          If her husband’s run for the presidency brings some attention and focus on her work with Operation Smile; I don’t think that Cincy McCain will mind.  That focus may bring more medically skilled volunteers as well as donations of money that will help Operation Smile to continue bringing, hope and help to those in need.  http://www.operationsmile.org/   Is there a willingness in your heart to help or to donate to this great organization?  https://www.operationsmile.org/help/donate/

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Tax Breaks

      I was watching good morning america today and heard some news that baffled logical thinking to me.  It was about what has been, for years, considered “normal tax breaks”. 

      Donating to charities if you were over age 70 was tax deductible.  It sounds like this year after December 31 that those donation to charities can no longer be deductible. 

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