May 2011
44 posts
April 2011
60 posts
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“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”
—Nelson Mandela
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“If you’re alone, I’ll be your shadow. If you want to cry, I’ll be your shoulder. If you want a hug, I’ll be your pillow. If you need to be happy, I’ll be your smile. But anytime you need a friend, I’ll just be me.”
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Author Unknown
This goes out to one of my best friends, Sandy Becker. She lost her father yesterday. It was sudden. Please keep her family in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you.
“We must not, in trying to think about how we can make a big difference, ignore the small daily differences we can make which, over time, add up to big differences that we often cannot foresee.”
—Marian Wright Edelman
Lovin’ Scoopful Honors Compassionate Youth →
businesswire.com
Lovin’ Scoopful, a premium ice cream company founded by Maria Shriver, Tim Shriver and partners to benefit nonprofits that support those with intellectual challenges, has just announced its new “Lovin’ Compassion Award.” This award recognizes young visionaries who are involved in programs that foster respect, inclusion and a true personal connection for people with differences. Through program involvement, recipients must have exemplified characteristics that promote human rights, inclusion, equality and leadership through education.
Nominations will be accepted starting today through Friday, May 20th. Winners will be selected by a panel of judges including Maria Shriver and Tim Shriver and will be announced on Wednesday, May 25, 2011.
Lovin’ Scoopful was launched in 2008 in an effort to empower the human spirit and satisfy taste buds. The company donates 25% of its proceeds to Special Olympics and other causes, which totals to at least $50,000 annually.
“You are always a valuable, worthwhile human being; not because anybody says so, not because you’re successful, not because you make a lot of money, but because you decide to believe it and for no other reason.”
—Wayne Dyer
Vote For Jennifer Howell, Founder of The Art of Elysium! →
amdvisionary.com
With an education in filmmaking and a love of children, Jennifer Howell founded The Art of Elysium, singers, artists, actors and writers into children’s hospitals and pediatric care facilities where they bring their talents and their hearts to the kids, in order to ensure that no child is ever left alone during treatment. What was once Jennifer and a few friends is now a community of people who share the idea that no child should go through medical treatment alone.
Voting ends on April 30th. Please take a moment to vote for Jennifer Howell. She truly deserves AMD’s Visionary Award and $20,000 to go towards The Art of Elysium’s programs.
Santa Catalina Film Festival! →
catalinaff.org
Time for a little promotion.
I’m proud to serve as the Marketing Director for the First Annual Santa Catalina Film Festival. We’re only 10 days away! Check out our schedule for an amazing inaugural festival weekend! Hope to see you there!
“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved.”
—Helen Keller
StayClassy San Diego! →
stayclassy.org
Yesterday I had coffee with Pat Walsh, Co-Founder and CMO of StayClassy.
StayClassy was founded in 2006 by a couple of average guys who wanted to support a cause they cared about, but didn’t know how. They decided to host a fundraising event in San Diego, CA called the “StayClassy PB Pubcrawl” to raise money for cancer research. The name was in fact inspired by the movie “Anchorman.” Over time, more and more nonprofits started reaching out to the founders asking for help in engaging a younger audience. One event turned into dozens, and the idea for an online platform that could empower anyone to support the causes they cared about was born. Over the course of the past three years, StayClassy has evolved into a fresh & innovative software company for non profits and their many supporters.
At StayClassy they believe that Nonprofits shouldn’t have to pay thousands of dollars for fundraising software. They also believe that it shouldn’t be difficult for a person to support a cause they care about. StayClassy allows everyone to register for free.
Take the time to browse the site and think about using them for your next fundraising campaign. They’re doing amazing things. Their Invisible Children campaign was just featured on “Oprah” last week. In addition, check out the Classy Awards tab. I plan to attend the Classy Awards this year and I’m going to build a personal fundraising page through them, in order to fundraise more for causes I truly care about.
Celebrating Easter Weekend!
I hope that everyone has wonderful plans with family this weekend. I’ll be spending the weekend with my father’s sister Nan and her family in San Diego. One thing that comes with living 3,000 miles away is that I don’t get to spend every holiday with my immediate family. Fortunately, my mother and father come to town next week and my sister will be in town at the end of the May. I wanted to take the opportunity share my sincere thanks and appreciation to my family and their constant support over the years since I can’t be with them on this Easter Sunday. I miss dying eggs and going to brunch together.
“Unconditional love is loving your kids for who they are, not for what they do … it isn’t something you will achieve every minute of every day. But it is the thought we must hold in our hearts every day.” ~Stephanie Marston
To my mother and father, I just wanted to let you know how much I love you and wouldn’t want anything more in the world than the love and support that you both have shown me since the day that I was born.
Your constant positive outlook towards everything from the start, to understanding the times when I’m upset. The ability for you to make friends anywhere that I certainly learned from you has really helped me navigate the crazy city of Los Angeles. I can’t believe that I have now lived on my own out here for almost five years. I am so thankful that you have taught me the ways of independence. I enjoy every moment we spend together, no matter how short or long it may be. I know that we don’t get many opportunities to catch up but I want you to know how much I love and think about you both always. You are my mother and father. You both have a very special place in my heart. You’re always looking out for others and putting everyone before yourself. I hope to say that I have gained that trait from both of you as well. All of my friends have always loved you and the unconditional support you give them as well. You both have a certain way with people that just can’t be described. You’ve always been there for me, especially when I’ve needed it most. I love you both so much and miss you every day more than words can say.
To my amazing sister Courtney, we always have so much fun together and I can’t wait to share so many more memories together. You’ve always been so supportive and I’m so thankful that we have each other. I’m thankful I had your room to stay in when I was scared of the Easter Bunny! You are my rock. I admire your giving personality, work ethic and the natural ways you have with kids. Look forward to hiring you as my editor when I can afford to pay you! In addition, we’re traveling the world someday! I love you!
I hope everyone takes this time to reflect and give thanks to family and friends who have had a significant impact in your lives, whether they’re close or far away.
“Create the kind of self you will be happy to live with all your life.”
—Foster C. McClellan
Yes U Can Corporation →
yesucanusa.com
I wanted to highlight this amazing organization that I came across today. They’ve proven that people have the opportunity to stay active and fit, no matter what type of disability they may have.
The mission of the Yes U Can Corporation is to increase inclusion, awareness and access to health, recreation and physical fitness opportunities for people with limited mobility and disabilities. They provide a series of staff-assisted group and individual exercise and weight-training programs geared towards that population. Yes U Can breaks the disability barrier and provides hands-on or standby assistance so that most ability levels can participate.
“We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, while others judge us by what we have already done.”
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
More Reality Shows Are Featuring People With Disabilities →
kansascity.com
Reality Television is beginning to provide a more valuable lesson by spotlighting and celebrating people with physical disabilities. This season, deaf actress Marlee Matlin has beaten the competition on “The Celebrity Apprentice,” James Durbin, who has both Tourette and Asperger syndromes, made it into the final eight on “American Idol” and a guy who’s deaf (Luke Adams) battled another with Asperger’s (Zev Glassenberg) last month on “The Amazing Race.”
Television has the capacity to be the most powerful tool. However, since there are so many stations these days, some powerful shows can be easily ignored. People with physical differences finally feel that they can relate to the people on these shows and it spreads so much hope. Everyone has the power to make a difference.
CMU Freshman With A Physical Disability Will Study Abroad →
cm-life.com
Lauren Presutti, the first Central Michigan University student in a wheelchair to study abroad, will be traveling to Perth, Australia this summer. While other students find excuses for why they cannot study abroad, Lauren had to work through very real and practical challenges to make this dream a reality. Although she had doubts when she started the planning process, Lauren now looks forward to her June 9th departure to Australia. During the beginning stages of her planning, her main priority was to make sure she could guarantee herself mobility around the area once she arrives and see if the location offered any programs that would correspond with her major, which is sociology. She’s proving that anything’s possible by making this trip happen!
“It’s something I never expected to be able to do. I can inspire others to reach their goals as well.” ~Lauren Presutti
“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education alone will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”
—Calvin Coolidge
Rick Ball Named This Year's Male Athlete With A Disability →
thebarrieexaminer.com
I love sharing stories about athletes. It inspires me to work harder whether it’s on the elliptical, which I’ve been spending time on every day, or taking walks more often.
Rick Ball is a single-legged runner who lost his leg in a motorcycle accident 24 years ago.
In 2010, Ball achieved many accomplishments. In May, he broke his own world record as the first single-leg amputee to complete a marathon in under three hours. Ball posted a time of 2:57:48 at the Ottawa Marathon, breaking his own time of 3:01:50 set in 2009 at the Boston Marathon. That result qualified Ball for the International Paralympic Committee’s world run in New Zealand.
In November, Ball was awarded a great honour, but also faced a disappointment. That same month, Ball was told he could no longer compete in the world run.A International Paralympic Committee rule adjustment meant Ball couldn’t compete in the single-arm category. There is no single-leg category.
The news could have destroyed his dreams of representing Canada in the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London, England, but Ball didn’t give up.
Since then, Ball has switched from long distance running to competing in the 400-meter sprint.
“People were telling me ‘Oh you can’t do that.’ ‘You don’t have the body type.’ ‘You’re a long distance runner.’ That just drove me to do it more.” ~Rick Ball
