Dance, Run, Laugh, Cry and Love for Breast Cancer
Apr 11th
Thursday, May 3, 2012
BC Breast Cancer Awareness Day is just around the corner and as a local Vancouverite I thought a little inspiration to give was due.
I could spout facts and figures about breast cancer, give you tips on how to do a self exam, 10 ways to volunteer or donate to support the research that will one day cure breast cancer. But instead I thought a few remarkable videos may get the message across.
This videos will teach you how to do a breast exam (and make you laugh out loud)
The videos will make you feel like dancing in the streets.
The women will inspire you to give a little more.
Just one image may change the way you think about breast cancer
and how you will give today.
Your involvement and support of BC’s Breast Cancer Awareness Day will help change the lives of women across Canada. If you want to be part of this special day consider attending the 20th annual Awareness Day luncheon. You will have a chance to hear keynote speaker René Syler - renowned parent blogger, as Good Enough Mother - talk about her journey through a controversial preventive mastectomy surgery. (read her story on Oprah.com)
Find your own way to give to support breast cancer. Whether you volunteer, donate, spread awareness or talk openly about it. The more we talk about what is killing us the more people will do something about it. Favourite the videos on You Tube, Tweet, share on Facebook and remind the world that we care for all that have suffered and all that have died.
Breast cancer is not a secret, it’s not a bad word – it’s the reality we are living every day. On May 3rd be aware and give generously.
The Secret to Raising a Billion Dollars
Apr 4th
Image by Visual Paradox
How do you raise a billion dollars for people and organizations
in need around the world?
A great question for so many people that are raising funds every day to give back to the world. What if you had a secret recipe that would change the world and raise billions of dollars along the way? It’s been done and they all started with the same ingredient.
- Bill Gates has done it.
- Bill Clinton has done it.
- Bono has done it.
- The United Way has done it.
- The Salvation Army has done it.
The secret is simple – it all starts with $1.00 and the inspiration to change the world.
I recently met Mike Zserdin founder and writer of the Generosity Manifesto and the Change Crew via Twitter. At 365give we like to share stories of people that are doing their part to create change in the world. Mike has a goal to raise a few billion dollars. Mike started his giving journey by writing the Generosity Manifesto to encourage and inspire people to give more in their lives.
“I have started by working with friends to give away a few billion dollars. I think money helps advance world change. My hope is that the manifesto empowers and encourages people to believe that (most of us) have a little extra to give and those little, extra gifts make a difference. I grew up. I hit my 40s and realized my life is half over. I watched a close friend die and others grow old. Each of them encouraged me to live for something bigger than myself. I then came across a TED Theme, What The World Needs Now and read Seth Godin’s compilation of essays, What Matters Now. And, and then saw a headline by Chris Brogan, We Could Do So Much More…I began asking myself these very questions. I realized I couldn’t do everything but, I knew I could do a little more. As a result, my family and I started giving a little more. We realized that we have enough to give a little more. Since then, we’ve begun feeding kids in Africa for $50 a year, then traveling there to see first hand what’s wrong and right in that part of the world. In one word, the catalyst was Perspective. When we see what a little gift does and began to realize how much we have it made it easy to give a little more.”
Mike is not making it complicated or an impossible dream – he is asking friends and family to be more generous in their lives. He is encouraging people to give what they can but give a little more. Mike is taking one step at a time starting with his Generosity Manifesto to help people realize the positive effects of giving. It’s a free online book that will take just a few minutes of your time to read. It will inspire you to give more and feel happier in your life. 365give shares a similar philosophy that is featured in the book. I call it the ripple effect and Mike calls it the Boomerang Effect.
The Boomerang Effect–You Get What You Give: An excerpt from the Generosity Manifesto 
There is truth in the seemingly absurd notion that we can pay it forward.
Jeff Goins observes, “The paradox of life is the more money you give, the more you get.” His article “ What You Get From Giving: The Paradox of Generosity” is a must read. Jeff claims that giving is good for you and me. He’s right.
Like Jeff, some of you have experienced the boomerang effect of generosity—the more good you throw out, the more comes back. Even science supports the boomerang effect. Generous people are happier, skinnier, and more productive. Jeff says, “There are legitimate health, business, and psychological one is this: it gives meaning to life.”
As it turns out, practicing generosity is a key to getting all we really want. Things such as genuine smiles, greater peace, community, lower blood pressure, a sense of accomplishment, and even the opportunity to change the world.
Giving also kicks depression in the teeth.
You get what you give. Give to change another’s story and you will be transformed.
Many of us are looking for that magic recipe to raise money for the charities we love and stand behind. Maybe this is the key – imagine a billion dollars and start raising it $1.00 at a time. Find your inspiration to change the world. Leave a comment and share your story with 365give – just maybe it will inspire one other person to give more today.
Top 10 Ways to Give for Social Good on Valentine’s Day
Feb 9th
Video by Playing for Change
Valentine’s Day is fast approaching and 365give has 10 inspiring ideas to help you give the perfect gift for love & social good.
1) The Chocoholic: Does the one you love have a chocolate fetish? Why not give chocolate that creates social change and gives back to the planet with your purchase: One of my favourites is Alter Eco for fair trade and organic chocolate but for a great selection of socially concious chocolate take a look at this Top 10 Eco-Friendly Chocolate Treats list created by Greenopolis.
Photo by Ashley
2) Roses from the Heart: Who doesn’t love to receiving flowers as a gift on Valentine`s Day especially roses as a token of your love. Consider buying Fair Trade Roses. Purchasing Fair Trade roses protects the people working hard to grow these special flowers with fair wages, protection against pesticides, and no child labour. Whole Foods is just one of the many places you can get Fair Trade roses but search online for a retailer near you.
3) The Pet Lover: Shop for the special pet in your life at the Humane Society Store and every purchase will help to support the thousands of animals rescued every year. Even better – buy one for your local SPCA animal rescue shelter and drop it off as a donation.
4) Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend: As most of us know diamonds may be a “girls best friend” but so many diamonds are associated with crime, child labour and environment stripping that it may not be the best gift for social good. Instead why not give the gift of jewellery that truly means something special. The Hunger Site features jewellery that is unique, inspiring and truly thoughtful as it gives back with every purchase.
5) For Kids Only: I still remember the days when everyone made a card for your classmates on Valentine’s Day. Instead of buying pre-made Valentine’s for your child’s class why not give a gift that will truly mean something to your child. Take the time to make cards by hand or home-made cookies that are cut with love. Spending time with your children doing creative projects is one of the greatest “gives” you can do.
6) Breakfast in Bed: I can’t resist sharing this one for the name alone and the taste is even better. Love Crunch: Dark Chocolate with Red Berries. Imagine that for Valentine’s 
Day breakfast. Here’s the giving kick – they follow the Bite4Bite model: for every bag purchased Nature’s Path will donate the equivalent in cash and/or organic food up to $1,000,000 a year to The Food Bank. Every bite will not only give your mouth love but it will give you love in your heart.
7) A Love Letter: What better way to show someone you truly love and appreciate them than a hand written letter. Get inspired by The Note Project and help them reach their goal of sending 1 million notes of appreciation to make the world a better place.
8) Love Song: You may be the hottest new artist to be discover on YouTube with your love song. Write a love song and load it up to YouTube for your loved one. Make a pledge that for every view you get on Valentine`s Day you will make a donation (even a penny per view makes a difference!) to your loved ones favourite charity.
9) E-Cards: Do you know how much waste is created from greeting cards every year? More than our planet possibly needs. Did you know that Americans spend more than 2 billion dollars on greeting cards alone over the holiday season? Imagine if that money went to charity instead – what if it planted a tree? Send an e-card that will truly make an impact. The Arbor Day Foundation has a selection of greeting cards that will plant a tree with every purchase. Save the planet one e-card at a time!
10) The Valentine`s Day Gift that Truly Gives. The Huffington Post and CauseCast has created the go to site for giving called The Goods. An online destination providing you with brilliant ideas for gifts that truly give this Valentine`s Day. Choose the amount you want to donate and search over 100 nonprofit organizations that truly need our support in honour of your loved one.
We can show our love for another in so many ways on February 14th. Please consider making your love count by doing some social good this Valentine`s Day. We would love to hear your great ideas for giving a gift that changes the world on Valentine`s Day. Leave a comment, send us a Tweet or post a comment on Facebook.
We can change the world one Valentine at a time.
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