Posts tagged giving
Day 264: 78,000 Children in Foster Care in Canada / 500,000 in the United States / Help Today
Jun 20th
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMbuYeTKles
“There are more than 78,000 children in the care of child welfare organizations across Canada. More than 30,000 of these children have parents whose parental rights have been terminated by the courts. What this usually means is that these children have no permanent family and will live in foster care or small institutional placements until they are legally of age.”
This a quote taken from Canada’s Waiting Kids. I am a parent of one of these children and an opportunity to give came up this morning to support older children waiting to be adopted with Philanthoper.
There are 500,000 children in foster care in the United States. Watch the video to see the facts of a child in care.
For just $1.00 you can change the world.
Give 264: Day 264
I had something else planned for my give today and then I got the daily Philanthroper give and it all changed. Their message hit home and I wanted to make sure I made my $1.00 donation to help children that are waiting far to long for a “forever family”.
I am an adoptive parent. I was blessed to bring my son come home at 11 weeks old from his foster mothers house. His parents gave him up at birth just a few hours after he was born. They called Children and Family Development (our local child welfare program) and told them to bring the papers to sign off their parental rights as they were leaving the hospital. This wasn’t a private or international adoption. My son could have been a child that never had the opportunity to have a forever family. He only spent a short time in foster care (11 weeks) with a wonderful foster mother that cared for him with all her love but it could have been very different. He could have been in foster care for most of his childhood. The challenges he could have faced would be a very long list. So many children in Canada and the US are in the “system” and all they really need is a family that is theirs forever.
“If we have a car accident…a surgery…who do we call?” asks Blechner. “We call our family.”
This quote was taken from Executive Director Maris Blechner who runs Family Focus Adoption Service in the US. I still call my parents for advice and help even at the age of 43. Today’s Philanthroper daily $1.00 give is to support this agency that is trying to get the often forgotten older kids a family. $1.00 could change the world one child at a time. It only lasts for one day so donate today.
Do you have an adoption story you would like to share with 365give? We would love to hear it. Leave a comment and share your story with us.
Time Commitment: 30 seconds
Cost: $1.00
Give 263: Top 6 Reasons to “Give” to Dad on Father’s Day
Jun 19th
My Husband holding our adopted son for the first time at 11 weeks old
Today is Father’s Day and in honour of my husband and my own Father I wanted to share with you my Top 6 reasons to “give” to your Dad on Father’s Day.
I have also included one simple way to give a gift that your Dad will never forget.
Day 263: Give 263
I will never forget the first few weeks after my husband and I adopted our beautiful little boy. I thought I loved my husband with all my heart until I saw him with our son. I fell in love with him all over again. I knew he would be a great Dad because he had the biggest heart of any man I knew. These Top 6 Reason to “Give” to the Father in your life have been inspired by my husband and how he surprises me everyday with his big heart and love for our son.
1) A Dad’s Love
No matter what time you come home at night, no matter if you made it into med school or not, no matter if you got the executive job: Dad’s will always love you unconditionally.
2) Dad’s Are Heroes:
Dad’s are always a rock in the family. They listen, they give sound advice and for many they are the unsung heroes that every day just keep on giving to their families.
3) Dad as Your Life Teacher:
Your Dad will teach you how to play ball, cut the grass, fish and even have a tea party. He will teach you how to change a light bulb, change the tire on your bike, dance freely to your own beat and feed you an endless amount of “useful” facts about the world. You will learn new lessons from Dad that Mom will never be able to teach you.
4) Dad’s that Give
So many Dad’s volunteer their time as a soccer coach, a chaperone on a class trip, donate money to school projects, through their work – the list goes on. You will learn to give by following your Dad’s lead.
5) Dad’s Provide:
So many Dad’s work so hard so Mom’s can stay home and manage the family. It’s a hard job raising children but carrying the financial load on your shoulders is a huge responsibility that many Dad’s loose sleep over again and again. Every Dad wants to give their children the world.
6) Dad’s Play
There is no bigger child than a Dad. He will get on the ground and wrestle, kick a ball, swing a bat, skate around a rink and ski down a hill if it means just some hard core play time with their child.
To give back this Father’s Day I am giving a special give to my own Father. It was inspired by The Note Project. They believe that a simple note can change a persons life and your own. Not only am I sending my Dad a note on Father’s Day but I am posting it right here so everyone will know what a brilliant Dad I have been blessed with in my life.
Dear Dad,
Happy Father’s Day. There is no longer anything I can buy for you on Father’s Day that you don’t already have or I haven’t at sometime made or got for you over the years. I have bought you ties, made you mugs, created art and even bought you a pint. This Father’s Day I wanted you to know the impact you have had on my life and I wanted to share with everyone so they too will will know what a great Dad you truly are. It wasn’t until I became a parent myself that I finally realized how hard you worked and how much you love.
Dad you have given me so many wonderful gifts in my lifetime I will carry with me forever. You taught me how to be smart – not only in school but in life. You taught me to do what I love in my life. You taught me to work hard and to believed in it with all I am. You taught me to respect others and myself. You taught me how to paint a fence, hammer a nail, cut the grass, shovel the snow, take the garbage out and fix my own bike. You never treat me any differently because I was a “girl.” You taught me to be self sufficient and strong so I am always able to take care of myself. You taught me to be kind and gracious to others no matter how they treat you. You taught me to give – even if it is the shirt off my back or the last dollar in my pocket – you taught me to give with my heart everyday. That’s what you have done for your life time. You gave every day without thinking about it.
Most of all your taught me what unconditional love truly means. No matter what my choices in my life have been you have been my rock. You never judged me, you gave me guidance when I asked for it and you are always there at the end of the day. You still are. You have taught me how to love my own child. That is the single greatest gift a parent can pass on to their child.
Dad, the words I love you will never be enough to truly tell you how I feel. Thank you will never be enough to say what is in my heart. You are my hero for all you have done in your life and for all you are. Happy Father’s Day.
Much Love & Adoration
Jacqueline xoxo
Time Commitment: Do what ever it takes to make sure your Dad know’s how you feel
Cost: 0
Day 262: Did You Know it Only Costs $350 to Educate 1 Child in Africa?
Jun 18th
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZwZIZKTOys&feature=relmfu
I love that people reach out to 365give and ask for support. I am honoured that so many organizations and individuals feel I am worthy of posting about their giving cause. One of my long time passions have been helping children in developing nations. I have had a dream that one day I will help open and support an orphanage in Africa. Heck, if I could I would adopt a child from Africa and give them a new life. Instead I do everything I can to support organizations that are making a huge difference to children that need our help. Whether it’s starting an orphanage, providing food, medical support or an education, I feel I am doing something to make a difference.
I recently got an email from a volunteer student intern by the name of Clair that is doing just that. Supporting an organization called Building Tomorrow that is helping children get an education in Africa. What better education and life lesson to learn while being a student. Lessons in compassion, understanding and philanthropy.
Day 262: Give 262
Did you know that the cost of putting 1 child in California through grades 1 – 7 is $42,416.00?
Did you know that the cost of putting 1 child in Uganda through grades 1 – 7 is $350?
That would mean that 121 children in Uganda could go to school and learn to read and write for the cost of just one in the US.
There are many ways you can help. Claire has done many things to help Building Tomorrow besides her volunteer work. Maybe one will be right for you.
1) Donate Your Birthday Campaign: Claire asked her friends and family to join her Birthday Campaign she created right on the BT site and instead of gifts asked for a donation to support Building Tomorrow. She raised $170 that year.
2) Sit for Good: Have you ever thought about life without all the benefits that many of us have at our finger tips every day. Computers, phones, a desk, a pen or pencil. This is a great educational opportunity you can participate in at home, in your school or in your office. Take it all away for one day and see how life is for most of the children in Africa. It reminded Claire that we should not take for granted all the things that make our life so much easier.
Here are a few additional ways you can help spread the word and participate in fundraising events on your own or at school:
1) Sell Brick: $1:00 = 1 brick 
…and, in time, that one brick turns into 24,000
…and 24,000 bricks builds a school
…and that school empowers a community
…and that community raises a generation
…and that generation can change the world
2) #IAMBT Campaign: On June 9th, Building Tomorrow started an awareness campaign asking followers and friends to change their Facecbook Profile Picture featuring their IAMBT logo. Long lasting awareness and support are the true building blocks for any not for profit organization. Will you show your support on FB?
3) Spread the Word: This is my give today. Whether you “Like” it on FB, Twitter your support @BldgTomorrow or email it to your friends and family let’s spread the word about Building Tomorrow. You may not donate today but you may tomorrow, or your friends may or a school may start a campaign.
Every child deserves the opportunity to be educated. Education will change their life and change our world. It will bring them opportunities to get themselves out of poverty and into a world of opportunity. Will you give a child a chance today?
Send us a comment how you will help support Building Tomorrow today.
Time Commitment: 1 hour spreading the word
Cost: 0
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