It isn't Just Pie in the Sky!

I know Halloween was just here and the pumpkins and witches are still on the front walk...not to mention the candy wrappers on the lawn! With the bags of Halloween candy gone that can only mean it is time to talk Turkey-actually if you have visited a mall lately Santa is about to appear at any moment!

It is true that from the kitchen perspective Thanksgiving is all about THE Bird...but let's be honest THE Bird is just the exit ramp to PIE!..Pumpkin Pie, Sweet Potato Pie, Pecan Pie, Apple Pie..somehow, some way, Yes, there is always room for pie. But did you know that "Pie Heals"??!!

Once again this year Community Servings, an organization that delivers free meals to critically ill patients, is holding their Very Special annual event Pie in the Sky .

Since 1993, each November over 150 of the Boston area's best bakers from restaurants, bakeries, caterers and hotels-including A Catered Affair, Les Zygomates and The Beacon Hill Hotel and Bistro-donate thousands of pies that volunteers sell and deliver-this is truly the "World's Greatest Bake Sale" resulting in over 15% of Community Servings fundraising.

Community Servings was founded by members of the Boston restaurant community as a way to provide nutrition to AIDS patients. The organization now serves all critically ill patients with the goal being "to maintain their health and dignity, to preserve the integrity of their families, to provide nutritionally and culturally appropriate meals, and to send the message that someone cares" In this economic climate the need is greater than ever.

Each pie is $25 which is the cost of a week's worth of free healthy meals delivered to Community Serving's clients. Last year Pie in the Sky helped raise funds to deliver meals to 725 critically ill, homebound, patients and their families throughout Greater Boston.

Thanksgiving is not about Turkey, and it is not even about pie!..it is about Giving Thanks, Being Grateful for Blessings and Serving Grace. Please Visit Pie in the Sky and purchase Apple, Sugar-Free Apple, Pecan, Pumpkin, or Sweet Potato pies to help Community Servings provide their critically ill clients with hearty, healthy home-delivered meals... or donate a pie to a family without this season. Order by November 18th. Pie-It's a good thing!

The Answers are Blowing in the Wind-In Appreciation, Mary Travers

“We’ve learned that it will take more than one generation to bring about change," Mary once said. “The fight for civil rights has developed into a broader concern for human rights, and that encompasses a great many people and countries. Those of us who live in a democracy have a responsibility to be the voice for those whose voices are stilled." Mary Travers

She was the emotional and physical center as she stood and sang from her soul between the "boys" Noel Paul Stokey and Peter Yarrow as the heart of Peter, Paul and Mary. Mary Travers' powerful and passionate presence with her blond swingy hair transcended the traditional folk music audience.

Peter, Paul and Mary made folk music accessible, they introduced Bob Dylan to a mainstream audience and believed that folk music could reach all people across race and economic lines. Their music was the background theme music for the extraordinary events and change this country went through in the 1960s and it was also an instrument of that change and a catalyst for a movement of peace and equality.

Unlike a lot of the "pop culture" of the decade,however, Peter Paul and Mary's music did not fade as the country changed and they "showed up" wherever there was injustice, whenever the country needed to hear their voices they were there-anti-nuclear, anti-apartheid, worker's rights...and at the center was Mary Travers. Her voice resonated through halls, and across parks and in auditoriums throughout the country-audiences came for the music and left believing the world could be a better place. To achieve that change Peter, Paul and Mary shared the music, believing the music should be passed on to generations as they did in Peter, Paul and Mommy
and my favorite Peter, Paul & Mommy, Too . I love the PBS specialPeter, Paul and Mommy, Too [90 Minute Concert] [VHS] and watching Mary sing from her very core to her grandchildren was a memorable three Kleenex moment that should be shared with all ages.

The trio sang together for nearly 50 years. They won five Grammy's,had 13 Top 40 hits including songs such as "Blowing' In The Wind," "If I Had A Hammer," "Leaving On A Jet Plane," "Where Have All The Flowers Gone," "500 Miles" and, of course, "Puff, The Magic Dragon." "If I Had a Hammer" became an anthem of the Civil Rights movement” as they sang at the 1963 March on Washington where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his legendary “I Have a Dream” speech.

Their roots were in folk music but it was Mary Travers presence that helped them reach beyond the coffee house tradition and reach top 40 status and who kept their music out in front as an instrument of change and the sound of political action for every decade since. Traditionalists criticized that perhaps they "sold out" but Mary Travers would argue that they were accessible and singing to so many more people- moving them to action with their voices and reaching more than one generation with their call for freedom and justice.

"I'm not sure I want to be singing 'Leaving on a Jet Plane' when I'm 75," she said in one interview. "But I know I'll still be singing 'Blowin' in the Wind.' "
Their work may be best known for the anthems they sang during the anti-war and civil rights movements but they continued to be out in front of the movements that were to change the direction of America, championing the rights of the disenfranchised and the legitimacy of those who fought for fairness. They proved time and again that music can change the world and Mary Travers voice peace and justice and a better planet will be missed.

"I have a sort of sampler in my head," Travers said, "that--paraphrasing the rabbinical scholar--says, 'It's not your duty to finish the task, it is your duty not to neglect it.' If war and hunger and racism were easy things to get rid of, I would assume we would have gotten rid of them already."

In Rememberance, Moving Beyond

(Arzu)

I think what I will always remember most viscerally about that morning is the sky. It was a September sky, that rare blue, clean and clear, that reflects the perfection of a late summer/early fall New England day. I wonder now how often I looked at the sky that day. How could a sky that glorious have held such horror?

On the morning of September 11, 2001 I was watering the late summer flowers willing them to keep summer going a few more weeks. I drove to my office with only a small news blip of a plane having flown into a building in New York. By 2:00 as I drove back home there were no planes flying in the sky. When the roar of a plane's engine streaked through the complete silence of that afternoon I pulled the car over with my heart pounding as I realized the aircraft I heard were fighter jets from one of the Massachusetts bases. Once again I looked to the sky.

Living in Boston we all had six degrees of connections to the thousands of tragic stories of that day. Some of those stories lived their lives less than a mile away. Susan Retik and Patti Quigley lost their husbands, David Retik and Patrick Quigley, on flights that left from Boston that day. Susan was pregnant with her third child and Patti was eight months pregnant with her second child. They became single Mothers, Widows, living within a drama that changed everything for all of us but for their lives most of all.

Patti and Susan watched as the country prepared to strike back somehow in some way and saw that the women of the country that housed and trained their husband's murderers had been left alone too. The stories of the women of Afghanistan moved these two American women to action, to turn an unspeakable, deeply personal, tragedy into a promise of hope. Susan and Patti soon learned about the vast number of widows in Afghanistan who had no assistance, financial or emotional for themselves or their children. They felt a connection to these women whose lives were shattered by war and had no where to turn to rebuild their lives, none of the support that helped Patti and Susan get through. From that connection came Beyond the 11th "...to help provide financial and emotional support to these widows and their children and to give them hope for a better future."

Despite the changes for many women in Afghanistan since the Taliban was "removed" women without means, property, men to provide for them, are entirely dependent and live within poverty and desperation. Beyond the 11th works to aid non governmental organizations that make a difference in these women's lives by providing training, emotional guidance, child care, clothing and teaching them skills to help support themselves and their children and toward a life of self sufficiency.

Patti and Susan and Beyond the 11th have recently been featured in a documentary by Principle Pictures, Beyond Belief . They also cycled from Ground Zero to Boston in 2006 to raise awareness and funds to help the women of Afghanistan through Cycling Forward. When they asked women of Afghanistan whether they would ride bikes if they were given to them..." they all began to giggle. They explained that in their culture women do not ride bikes and people would laugh to see a woman on a bike. They could not believe that we ride bicycles and when we explained to them how far we ride to raise money for their programs, they were astonished. I hope that one day the widows we met will have the experience of riding on a bicycle with the wind blowing in their hair."

Two women whose lives, and whose children's lives ,would never be the same turned their pain, their grief, their anger to action. They were determined that from that day could come hope and change. For many of the women left behind by war in Afghanistan they can now reach for the sky, a sky that that holds promise of a better life, a better world and that may be the lesson of that September day.

To Donate or for more information Visit Beyond the 11th


Beyond the 11th's Grantees include:

Arzu meaning Hope in Dari helps provide income for women by marketing and selling their handmade rugs and paying the women 50% more than the market rate for their labor. The women also receive a bonus for each rug in exchange for promising to attend literacy classes and enrolling their children in school.

Bpeace which helps women in regions of war and recovery to market their skills and build businesses such as a group manufacturing soccer balls and other leather goods.

CARE a Beyond the 11th grant helped to fund a CARE Livestock Development Program helping women earn income through raising and rearing cows and lambs.

Women for Women "Helping Women Survivors of War Rebuild Their Lives"

Ready to Read-Jumpstart Opens the Pages

Back to School, Back to Books! I admit I miss this time of year when new boxes of crayons and fresh unopened books await on a clean desk. I have been known to stroll the aisles of Staples and pick up a cute folder or a fresh box of Crayolas just because it is September. I also find myself in the picture book section of the bookstore, lovingly flipping through copies of my favorites...Pooh of course is always in the pile.

I don't think there is anything more wonderful in my childhood memories than someone reading to me. My lifetime love for books and reading grew from those very special hours. Reading to a child is such a simple act, yet there is nothing that brings more joy or value to a child's educational development than reading to them. Books open worlds for kids, especially kids who don't have access to wide educational opportunities.

This is why I am such a fan of Jumpstart, a wonderful mentoring program partnering preschool children and college students and community volunteers to build reading and educational skills through one on one mentoring. The goal of Jumpstart is that every child entering school will be fully prepared to succeed and will also become lifetime readers.

Jumpstart shares that children from low-income communities typically enter kindergarten with one fourth the vocabulary of their middle-income peers. The importance of early learning cannot be overstated and so many kids do not get that "Jumpstart". A child’s reading level in 1st grade is one of the best predictors of his/her future performance in 10th grade and without that early involvement kids will be constantly playing catch up and may just fall behind or simply drop out.

Jumpstart began in 1993,and since then more than 70,000 preschool children across America have benefited from millions of hours of Jumpstart mentoring. This year, Jumpstart volunteers will share more than one million hours with 15,000 preschool children in 80 communities across America.

On October 8, Jumpstart's 4th Annual Literacy initiative National Read for the Record Day, considered the world's largest reading event, celebrates the joy of reading. Read for the Record Day is a very simple idea-a worldwide effort to read the same book on the same day to pre school children...last year 700,000 readers read Corduroy all over the globe in classrooms, libraries and I would guess by bedsides too. This year the goal is one million readers and Jumpstart has released a special edition of The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle in celebration of the classic picture book's 40th anniversary.

This version comes with instructions on how to encourage literacy and create readers. Visit Read for the Record to sign up, get involved and download the tool kit. Get your copy to read along at a local school or community group or at home or donate a copy to a family or community in need or make a $50 donation which will provide a library of 20 books to a preschool.

You can also join or create a Virtual Book Drive with the goal of 250,000 books donated to low income families and communities . For every $10 raised Jumpstart will donate a book to a child in need.

No greater gift to give a child, or yourself, than to share a new book and the joy of reading!

Into the Wind-David's Sails

You may not always be able to change the wind but you can learn to adjust your sails.

"I don't worry about the storms, I am learning to sail my own ship."
-- Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888),

David's Sails was created in loving memory of my brother David who sailed with his soul and steered with his heart.

Music and Sailing brought David joy and light which he shared with contagious enthusiasm.

David's Sails seeks to celebrate the passions of my brother's life by aiding organizations that focus on sailing and music to help at-risk youth and children with physical and emotional challenges.


"He is the best sailor who can steer within the fewest points of the wind, and exact a motive power out of the greatest obstacles."
-Henry David Thoreau


David's Sails is committed to supporting youth sailing and arts organizations that encourage, educate,challenge and involve at-risk youth as well as youth living with physical and mental challenges. The programs supported by David's Sails teach kids the joy of expression through the arts and the freedom and challenge of being on the water.


Supported Organizations



COURAGEOUS SAILING CENTER OF BOSTON INC

SEEDS OF PEACE

COMMUNITY MUSIC CENTER OF BOSTON

ARTISTS FOR HUMANITY INC

PIERS PARK SAILING CENTER INC

Please Visit Your Cause to support this cause and explore other causes seeking donations for their appointed charities.

A Voice for America,The Last Lion- Senator Edward M. Kennedy

We've lost the irreplaceable center of our family and joyous light in our lives, but the inspiration of his faith, optimism, and perseverance will live on in our hearts forever... He always believed that our best days were still ahead, but it’s hard to imagine any of them without him.

Kennedy Family Statement

It is a postcard summer morning in New England...the kind of morning that Cape Cod sailors love, a morning you would expect to see a sailboat off of Hyannis Port. This morning, however, the sailboats off the Cape sail without him.

Around here he was known simply as "Teddy" and we cannot remember a time when he was not "our" Senator. The loss of Senator Edward M. Kennedy feels personal as we have never known a time when he was not there, not at the center of an important vote or championing the causes that matter. He was a father figure to not only a family that relied on him no matter their sadness but also to those of us who knew he would be at the helm, in the forefront of important fights, doing whatever it took make it better for us all. Such was our faith in this man whose power grew along with the respect he earned. His personal demons and political mistakes shaped him and helped him become a rarity in American politics, a true leader we trusted.

"The commitment I seek is not to outworn views but to old values that will never wear out. Programs may sometimes become obsolete, but the ideal of fairness always endures. Circumstances may change, but the work of compassion must continue. It is surely correct that we cannot solve problems by throwing money at them, but it is also correct that we dare not throw out our national problems onto a scrap heap of inattention and indifference...."


The news of the loss of "Teddy" Kennedy is not a surprise but a jolt nonetheless. Through his battle with brain cancer The senior senator from Massachusetts made some extraordinary public appearances and never stopped working. In recent weeks, however, he was unable to attend his sister Eunice's funeral and he issued an urgent plea for the fight for health care reform that he spent over 30 years tirelessly fighting for and the issue he declared "the cause of my life."
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Perhaps we just thought he would always be there,as he has been for nearly five decades, fighting the good fight as the last liberal voice, devoting his career to achieving rights and dignity for those who did not have the privileges of the Kennedy name,serving as the family patriarch whose strength and love brought such a center to a family torn by tragedy and pain time and time again.

No matter what this nation faced Ted Kennedy was visibly involved. Even if he stood alone he stood for the people of this country, the people who most needed a voice, and what a voice it was. Senator Kennedy was a tireless force, and one that was respected by both political friends and foes. His voice was genuine and reassuring and committed to fulfilling the "dream that never dies".

Through a lifetime littered with tragedy and pain he stood strong and carried the torch of his legendary brothers with determination fueled by their loss. The Kennedy dynasty is gone with him. He was the last of a family surrounded with a mystique and almost mythical cache that has captivated American life and politics for decades. He was a Kennedy and with that mantle came not only power and privilege but also extraordinary responsibility that would take its toll but also fuel the drive that would bring him to the center of legislative prestige and win him the respect and admiration of allies, constituents and opponents around the world.

This was not to have been his role,he was not the chosen son, the youngest brother left to carry the burden for a family besieged by sadness. He "walks amongst ghosts" it has been said and perhaps it was those very"ghosts" that drove him and made him such a remarkable legislator--as if he could not let them down.

His personal and political mistakes may have kept him from becoming president , he was reckless at times and seemed almost to self destruct, but he got back up and became a true leader and it is entirely possible that was for the best for him and for this country.

He was elected to his brother John's senate seat in 1962 and would serve there the rest of his life. For nearly 50 years in a life that reads like fiction,Ted Kennedy overcame his own personal battles to win so many public ones. He would indeed become the Lion of the Senate, roaring with passion for each bill he fought for, arguing with presidents for the good of this nation. He learned not to be divisive to achieve his goals, but rather to reach across differences and build consensus. In fact some of his closest and dearest friends were found on the other side of the aisle. He knew when to deal and when to pass and he did not let political favor block his vision of what was right and necessary.

"...Let this be our commitment: Whatever sacrifices must be made will be shared and shared fairly. And let this be our confidence: At the end of our journey and always before us shines that ideal of liberty and justice for all...For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."

Senator Kennedy,1980

When diagnosed with brain cancer Ted Kennedy went home to Hyannis Port, not to die but to fight to his last. He worked whenever and however he was able to ensure the election of Barack Obama and for the passion of his career the passage of health care for all Americans. He was at the center of every important moment in American. It was his voice that carried the cry for a better America, and it is that voice that cannot be replaced.

"...virtually every major piece of legislation to advance the civil rights, health and economic well being of the American people bore his name and resulted from his efforts.

I valued his wise counsel in the Senate, where, regardless of the swirl of events, he always had time for a new colleague. I cherished his confidence and momentous support in my race for the Presidency. And even as he waged a valiant struggle with a mortal illness, I've profited as President from his encouragement and wisdom.

An important chapter in our history has come to an end. Our country has lost a great leader, who picked up the torch of his fallen brothers and became the greatest United States Senator of our time." President Obama

"I am a part of all that I have met
To [Tho] much is taken, much abides
That which we are, we are --
One equal temper of heroic hearts
Strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield."
Tennyson

Out from the Shadows into "The Sunlight of Useful Living"-Salvaging Lives,In Appreciation Eunice Kennedy Shriver

Let me win,
but if I cannot win
let me be brave
in the attempt.

In a family of competition, prestige and power she was a force. In an era of constraints of gender and social standing she was ambitious, determined and a leader. Eunice Kennedy Shriver was the fifth of 9 children and the one daughter to step out front and stand toe to toe with her famous brothers who were groomed by their father for politics and power. She did not sit on the sidelines in her family or in her life, choosing instead to get on the field and play ball with the boys.

Eunice Kennedy would make her own mark and live her own life of service leaving a legacy of extraordinary accomplishment in the fight to bring mental and intellectual challenges out from the shadows. Her younger sister Rosemary was institutionalized most of her life and was given a lobotomy in a treatment that would be unheard of today in many thanks to the work of her sister Eunice.

"You are the stars and the world is watching you. By your presence you send a message to every village,every city,every nation. A message of hope. A message of victory."

Eunice Kennedy Shriver began the dream of what would become The Special Olympics on her front lawn. In 1968 Camp Shriver became Special Olympics holding its first summer games at Soldier's Field in Chicago with 1,000 athletes. Chicago Mayor Richard Daley declared that "the world will never be the same after this". On its 40th anniversary last year Special Olympics events had been held in 181 countries with over 3 million athletes participating.

‘My sister, Rosemary, is retarded... But I cannot help her with pity — or serve with sorrow the 5 1/2 million others like her. Only by facing the facts and resolving to meet the challenge head-on can something be done. Only if we broaden our understanding can we help the mentally retarded to escape into the sunlight of useful living.’’


It is hard to realize in this day what life was like for the families of mentally and intellectually challenged children. Institutionalization and abandonment was common. Mrs. Shriver pushed down the walls and with her characteristic strength and determination and built a new definition and vision of "retardation" and "special needs", a vision centered around Dignity. She changed attitude, she changed laws, she changed lives.

"The right to play on any field? you have earned it. The right to study in any school? You have earned it. The right to hold a job? You have earned it. The right to be anyone's neighbor? You have earned it."


Sargent Shriver said of his wife that "...she does not give ‘pink teas’ or stage society dances with social friends to raise money... Instead, she plays with the children themselves; she works with them; she visits their houses; she starts camps for them and then works in the camps herself."

In 1984 she was awarded the highest civilian honer, the Medal of Freedom. Last year at the 4oth anniversary if Special Olympics Sport's Illustrated honored her with their first Sportsman of the Year Legacy Award.

Mrs. Shriver's determination to bring dignity to the lives of millions is a legacy of hope that has forever changed not only lives but also the perception of those lives.

Please visit Special Olympics

"I Do Hugs"-The First Lady's Real Fashion Statement

"If you want to know the reason why I am standing here, it's because of education... "I never cut class. I loved getting A's, I liked being smart. ... I thought being smart is cooler than anything in the world."

Azzedine Alaia

This week Michelle Obama stepped onto the world stage in her Jimmy Choos and did more than show off her Thakoon clad style...she showed her heart.

While the President carries the weight of the world with a desk filled with nightmares, it is Michelle who is the uplifting presence, spreading inspiration and hope with a warmth and spirit that is genuine-winning over even Her Majesty.

Isabel Toledo

While watching the First Lady enter to meet the Queen I got a rush of excitement for her. The little girl from the South Side of Chicago, who shared a room with her brother while growing up, was having tea at Buckingham Palace with The Queen of England!...and she looked very much at home.

Thakoon Coat

Much has been written about her wardrobe this trip of course-she chose versatility and designers that reflect her personality from Michael Kors to Azzedine Alaia, Isabel Toledo, Thakoon and J.Crew!

As she stood next to Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, pussycat bow to pussycat bow and kitten heel to flat,I thought one of these women is playing a role- costume design by Dior of course, and the other is being who she is-independent, strong, smart, glamorous and yes, real! An American woman living her life under extraordinary circumstances while staying true to her core.

Junya Watanabe Cardigan

It was at the Elizabeth Anderson Garrett School,however, her first solo of the trip, that Europe had the chance to see up close the woman that is Michelle Obama.

As she watched and listened to performances and speeches from students of the school it was clear she was moved by them. When she spoke to over 100 students, ages 11-17 all from an incredibly diverse backgrounds ( over 55 languages are spoken at the school) she left them with a moment and a message they will always remember.

"When I look at a performance like this, it just reminds me that there are diamonds like this all over the world... All of you are precious and you touch my heart, and it's important for the world to know that there are wonderful girls like you all over the world."

"I am an example of what is possible when girls, from the very beginning of their lives, are loved and nurtured by the people around them.""I was surrounded by extraordinary women in my life who taught me about quiet strength and dignity...

You too can control your own destiny, please remember that...Whether you come from a council estate or a country estate, your success will be determined by your own confidence and fortitude...It won't be easy, that's for sure, but you have everything you need. Everything you need you already have right here...

We are counting on you, we are counting on every single one of you to be the best that you can be. We know you can do it, we love you..."

As the world becomes darker it is obvious that it is Michelle Obama who will carry that message of Hope and be the face of promise. This First Lady will be the force that creates change in the hearts and minds of young girls all over the world. A role model and an inspiration, she will lead them to believe in themselves and in their ability to be whoever they want to be no matter their background, no matter their upbringing , no matter what they look like or where they live in the world.

In This Season of Giving-Give When you Give!-Gifts that Make a Difference

Heifer International

It would be nice to think that we Give all year round, not just in the weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year's. We should always reach out, show our affection, remember those who make a difference in our daily lives. We don't always do that though, nor do we stop and remember to care and give in our daily lives to those who may not share our good fortune. No matter what this New Year brings we all have much to share and there are some very simple ways to give. Celebrate the season by cleaning out the closet and donating coats that your kids have outgrown, each time you open a gift, give something away to make room for that gift-that is the tradition of Boxer Day. If you are still shopping then the perfect "Don't Have a Clue" present is a donation to an organization that makes a difference in a child's life such as The New England Home for Little Wanderers, Alex's Lemonade Stand, First Book...This year especially your local Food Pantries are in need as are local shelters...Holiday Season 2008 requires us all to Give!

You can also give when you shop! Now there's a No Brainer! Here are some organizations and companies that are making a difference through their products and their extraordinary work. Please Support them!

Presents for Purpose brings great gift ideas that each support a special cause .

Some of the best Gifts that Give come from Heifer International This Holiday give a Flock of Sheep, a Gaggle of Geese, a Flock of Ducks or my favorite, a Knitting Basket made up of 2 sheep and 2 alpaca.

UNICEF also has wonderful ideas called Inspired Gifts. Purchase a School in a Box, a bicycle to deliver vaccines by,a water kit,a First Aid Kit, all can be dedicated with a card to your recipient. UNICEF of course also has a great collection of cards and love their ideas for kids!

One of my special spots to find gifts is the shop at the Museum of Fine Arts. All museums have shops and most have online stores with great gift ideas inspired by their exhibits. Best part-proceeds support your favorite museum!

Truly my favorite idea this year is from Generation Cures' Project Good Gift which asks kids to give up a gift this season and have their moms and dads donate to Generation Cures Boston Children's Hospital Fund instead. Generation Cures is a wonderful Project reaches kids through animated stories, games and videos designed by kids to tell stories that help kids learn to care and give back.

Shop Give is a beautiful line of travel accessories with a portion of proceeds going to designated charities

In this Season of Wrapping Paper, Bows, Shopping Bags and Tinsel...Plant a Tree! Plant a Tree USA sells gift cards to redeem on their site for tree planting-that is giving the future

Original Good is filled with great gift ideas made around the world as they support artisans through Fair Trade, goods which are not only beautiful but provide independence, a living wage and proper working conditions.

SU2C-Stand Up to Cancer has teamed up with designers and Kitson for their signature line with all proceeds going to a CURE!

The Jewel of Giving-The Joan Hornig Collection

Usually when you make a donation to your favorite charitable organization you might receive a tote bag, maybe a mug, a calendar or a Tshirt. Of course you are not giving to receive but to give. Jewelry designer Joan Hornig has turned the phrase "...it is better to give than to receive" on its ear, or earring as the case may be.

ALL profits from Joan Hornig's wonderful jewelry collection are donated to any of over 300 not for profit organizations.
By purchasing a design of Joan's you not only have the pleasure of owning, wearing and loving a wonderful piece but also the joy of selecting which organization the profits from that piece will go toward.

giving rocks! necklace

In 2003 Joan combined her passions-a love and gift for jewelry design and a commitment to education and philanthropy by starting the Joan Hornig Foundation with a very simple and elegant concept, "Philanthropy is Beautiful".
You have a choice this Holiday Season, give a gift, or give a gift that gives! and Oh, what a beautiful choice!

Change has Come to America-President-Elect Barack Obama

"There are no red states, there are no blue states, there is the United States"


Change has come to America...with no balloons, no confetti, no fireworks...just a voice,somber, real,passionate. Tonight,there are no colors...the face of the American map, as he told us 4 years ago, is not about red states and blue states...it is about the people of the United States.

The campaign saw the shift, knew the body politic had undergone a seed change demographically, enviornmentally, technologically,emotionally...and they knew those were the paths to reach change. They built a coalition, a movement, one American at a time.

Did the rotten economy help? Sure. Did the choice of a quirky right leaning inexperienced Sarah Palen help? Yes. Did the profound unpopularity of Bush help? Absolutely...but this election from the start was a rocket ride for Obama. His intelligence and ability to understand this country,read the faces of this country, resulted in the realization that we will never be the same.

A country that just 4 years ago re-elected George W. Bush woke up and realized that their destiny was in their own hands..they did not and could not accept life as we have lived it the past 8 years...Barack Obama led us to that place.

It was about the numbers. The faces behind those numbers are not the same that they were even 4 years ago...the faces in Chicago in Grant Park,hundreds of thousands, were made up of the real America. An America that needed leadership, that needed to be "fired up" and it was Barack Obama who knew how to do this and who reached out to every corner of this country and created a force.

There are those who will never accept this election, as perhaps they cannot accept change, fear and ignorance may keep them from understanding that there is a new electorate, a shifting electorate, the torch as been passed.

Roger Wilkins spoke about the new America that his grandson will come of age in..."...he will know that the paths of success and opportunity... he doesn't have to worry about it... they will be there... the country is sending a message of opportunity." Roger Wilkins


Congressman John Lewis declared that this election was "...a non violent revolution... a revolution of values, a revolution of ideas...we are preparing to lay down the burden of race and move ahead..."

The job is overwhelming. What faces Barack Obama this morning is sobering. This country is in such pain. The only way out is to not look back and to move forward as one country, united in purpose...the work begins now.

You can talk about the magnitude of this election. You can talk about this profoundly historic moment in time(how lucky to bear witness). You can talk about the transformative power of this candidate...but tonight, don't talk-just watch, just listen and just remember...

In 2009 the 100th anniversary of the founding of the NAACP(in of all places Springfield Illinois) will be celebrated, and the skinny kid with the funny name will take the Oath of office of the Presidency of the United States on steps built by slaves. Please visit Pearls of Grace


"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.

It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen; by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the very first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different; that their voice could be that difference.

It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled — Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of red states and blue states; we are, and always will be, the United States of America.

It's the answer that led those who have been told for so long by so many to be cynical, and fearful, and doubtful of what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day.

It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America...


...I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn't start with much money or many endorsements. Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington — it began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston.

It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give $5 and $10 and $20 to this cause. It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation's apathy; who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep; from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on the doors of perfect strangers; from the millions of Americans who volunteered and organized, and proved that more than two centuries later, a government of the people, by the people and for the people has not perished from this earth. This is your victory...

...The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year, or even one term, but America — I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you: We as a people will get there.

There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won't agree with every decision or policy I make as president, and we know that government can't solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And, above all, I will ask you join in the work of remaking this nation the only way it's been done in America for 221 years — block by block, brick by brick, callused hand by callused hand.

What began 21 months ago in the depths of winter must not end on this autumn night. This victory alone is not the change we seek — it is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen without you.

So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other...

...As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, "We are not enemies, but friends... Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection." And, to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your president, too.

And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of our world — our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand... To those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright: Tonight, we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope.

For that is the true genius of America — that America can change. Our union can be perfected. And what we have already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.


...America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do...
This is our moment. This is our time — to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes, we can.

Thank you, God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America."

All We Are Saying...Celebrating the Peace Symbol

You know that everybody has a voice
And how they use it is their own free choice
But in your glory I will not rejoice
If you choose the ways of war...While the winds of war rage on
Let mine (oh let my small voice) be a voice
for peace...Let it start here with me...Dan Fogelberg, A Voice for Peace

OK, so I am a "little" late with these Birthday wishes, but Happy 50th Birthday Peace Symbol!! You still look good!! The actual event was February 21st but I think as we hyperventillate our way toward this Tuesday its a good time to Give Peace a Chance!

The Peace Sign first appeared amidst the British Anti-Nuclear Protests 50 years ago. Designer and conscientious objector Gerald Holtom fashioned the symbol from the flag signal alphabet using the N for Nuclear and D for disarmemement and placed them within a circle to symbolize earth.

Mr Holtom explained that the symbol also demonstrated a person in despair with their arms stretched downward but later regretted that analogy as he wished that the sign be inverted so that the "arms" would be upward in celebration of Peace. The Peace sign would be carried across the Atlantic and grew in popularity and use throughout the civil rights movement,into the 70s anti-war movement and the anti-nuclear protests of the 80s. Today it is considered nostalgic and retro but remains the dominate symbol and internationally recognized sign for PEACE.
Barney's Hippy Holiday

Please Visit Political Woman and Pearls of Grace

The Peace symblol may conjure up images of John Lennon, Arlo Guthrie , VW Beetles, Haight Ashbury, Woodstock, Joan Baez, The Summer of Love... but the symbol doesn't look a bit aged to me... It remains stylish as it holds its place as not only a universal plea and sign of hope for a better world but also a fashion statement that will never age.
Tiffany's Paltinum and Doamond version

The Peace symbol has been interpreted by countless artists and designers.
One Million Peace Signs .com

Amber Hagen Barneys NY


To Celebrate Peace Sign Style Bendel's Fifth Avenue Store from Nov 4-10 Peace is the New Black-Peace inspired styles from top designers.

Henry Road Peace Pillow Henri Bendel

It may be trendy now but the sign that is recognized around the world as unilateral disarmement and non violent resolution will remain a way to share the hope for a better world...Vote in Peace!

Heroes Square Budapest

Visit Happybirthdaypeace.com learn about Peace efforts around the globe and upload your own Peace Symbol

Recognizing Luck,Paul Newman and The Hole in the Wall Gang Camps

" I was part of my times", Paul Newman to Barbara Walters,2008

"I'm a great believer in luck..good luck, bad luck, medium luck... my interest in philanthropy is a composite picture of all that..what could be better than to hold your hand out to people less fortunate than you are..."

He believed it was all about luck. He was an Actor with a capital A. He was a Director, an Activist, an extraordinary Philanthropist, a passionate and successful Race car driver("Racing gives me grace", he would say)...and Yes he was a Legend...a word that we toss around too lightly and one that would certainly make him cringe. He defined Cool. He was sexy, seductive, tough, charming, funny,smart...perfect even in his flaws.

Butch Cassidy screenwriter William Goldman said of him "...I don’t think Paul Newman really thinks he is Paul Newman in his head.” He spent most of his career avoiding being "Paul Newman"...the "Paul Newman" the world created was not how he led his life and he would credit his success to "Newman's luck".

'If my eyes should ever turn brown, my career is shot to hell," he once said. Yes, there were those penetrating, unsettling, pools of blue that were so much a part of his icon status. He was considered the most beautiful man in film...and he was, but he hated it.

He wore dark glasses and often went out in public in disguise to avoid attention. If someone asked him to take off his glasses to see "those eyes" he would reply"..If I do that my pants will fall down"

Paul Newman Lived his life. Everything he attempted he did with drive and focus. He never wanted or sought the blinding fame he achieved but he maintained his own style and his mystique through decades in the spotlight. Paul Newman lost his very private battle with cancer Friday and suddenly we all feel old. Though his loss is not a shock given the reports of his declining health, it is still hard to believe that this gorgeous lion of the acting world is gone...he always seemed indomitable, and certainly on film he always will be.

Hud

Paul Newman once said ...acting is like letting your pants down...you're exposed."

He began his career at the Actor's Studio and got his first major role in Somebody Up There Likes Me playing Rockie Graziano, a role James Dean was slotted to play and he died in a car crash before shooting began. The rest is screen history-characters and films that will be benchmarks of Hollywood history and tutorials in acting style...Hud, Fast Eddie Felson, Brick, Butch,Harper, Cool Hand Luke... He didn't want to be a star, his celebrity he felt cut off his freedom to do the work he wanted to do ...the fact that he was able to dismiss his star status and do great work on screen, stage and behind the camera illustrates Paul Newman,his commitment to doing it his way.

The Sting

Eventually he became more comfortable in the skin of his fame and learned to make it work to create change and do good."...I didn't turn in my citizenship card when I got my screen actors card..." he said. He was one of a select group of actors who marched with Dr. King and in 1968 he campaigned for Eugene McCarthy resulting in finding himself on Nixon's enemies list.

1958,DNC Convention

In 1982 he started his salad dressing business as a joke since his neighbors all clamored for his homemade recipe.

Like everything he did with both fun and determination the company turned a profit in the first year. The business expanded to sauces, popcorn...resulting in over $250 million dollars donated to charities. In 1988 the Hole in the Wall Gang Camps,named from Butch Cassidy's gang, was founded to welcome children with cancer and blood related illnesses and provide them with a place to be just kids. There are now camps all around the world providing fun and a sense of normalcy to ill children.

“I wish I could recall with clarity the impulse that compelled me to help bring this camp into being. I’d be pleased if I could announce a motive of lofty purpose. I’ve been accused of compassion, of altruism, of devotion to Christian, Hebrew, and Moslem ethic, but however desperate I am to claim ownership of a high ideal, I cannot. I wanted, I think, to acknowledge Luck; the chance of it, the benevolence of it in my life, and the brutality of it in the lives of others, made especially savage for children because they may not be allowed the good fortune of a lifetime to correct it.” - Paul Newman.

The extraordinary thing about Paul Newman is that his life lived in the spotlight outshone that light. He was not the cardboard star and the footprints he left on this world were not simply made of the iconic celluloid images we cherish. His legacy is his work- Not just as an actor, whose gifts we may never see again, but also as a man who recognized that what he saw as his luck could bring joy and hope to so many whose lives were met with simple bad luck. Thank you Paul, I hope you know the impression those eyes left on the world inwhich you acted.

To make a donation to the Hole in the Wall Camps visit Hole in the Wall Camps

First Day...First Book

"We have a little girl in our program, a pre-school child. She liked her book so much, she slept with it every night under her pillow. She wouldn't part with it for anything!"

What's your favorite book? Do you remember the very first book that was your own, that maybe set you on the path to a lifetime of reading?

Though lots of kids have been Back to School already, tomorrow, the day after Labor Day, really feels like the first day of school as we turn the page into September and start thinking about putting the flip flops away.

Many of us have warm fuzzy memories of our first day at school. For me I still love a new box of crayons and keep one on my desk, you never know when coloring will come in handy! The best part of any Back to School day for me though were the new books! I still have so many of the books from my early reading years and I credit them for starting my life long love of reading and collecting books.

There are so many kids,however, that don't have the joy of owning their very own books, a joy that goes such a long way toward creating a Reader.

That is where First Book comes in....First Book's commitment is to ensure that all kids have that special connection with books by giving children from low income families their First Book! Through community based mentoring and family literacy programs First Book has distributed over 50 million books in 30,000 communities nationwide since the program began in 1992.

Through the First Book National Book Bank, with donations from Book sellers and publishers and corporate partnerships , First Book reaches children all across the country. In addition the First Book Marketplace sells books and educational materials at great discounts to organizations working with low income children and families.

In an independent Harris poll the results of First Book's model are impressive. The poll surveyed over 2,000 First Book participants and determined that " More than half of the children — 55% — reported having an increased interest in reading. Additionally, the number of young people demonstrating a "high interest in reading" nearly tripled (increasing from 23% to 61%) after receiving books from First Book."

Books are a treasure in my life and I cannot imagine my world without them. Please join me in a Back to School support of First Book and help so many children get the gift that opens worlds.

Visit First Book and tell them

Cast your vote for a state to receive 50,000 free books! First Book will also publish a list of the Top Books that were entered.

Conquille Indian Tribe: "A young boy and I taught his mother how to read and we all cried for joy together. It couldn't have happened without First Book."

Good Sports!

Most days this time of year the Boston airwaves are filled with groans and gripes, bleacher umpiring, player bashing and amateur managing as the baseball season rolls on and every fan in Red Sox nation has something to say about how their beloved team should be playing. For two days each August,however, all baseball angst is put aside as sports radio station WEEI and cable sports NESN once again team up in a magnificent effort to raise money for The Jimmy Fund at The Dana Farber Cancer Institute.

In 1948 a radio broadcast from a young cancer patent's bedside with members of the Boston Braves resulted in a flood of contributions so a television could be bought for patient "Jimmy" (not his real name)to watch his Boston Braves play... the Jimmy Fund was underway.

The fund was adopted by The Boston Red Sox in 1953 and that relationship has thrived as has the Jimmy Fund clinic. Anyone who grew up a Red Sox fan knows all about The Jimmy Fund. Red Sox players learn quickly that it is a part of playing for this team and being in Boston. Cancer research in fact has had "real-life" impact on the Boston Red Sox as pitcher John Lester, who threw a no hitter this season, and third basemen Mike Lowell, the MVP of the 2007 World Series, are survivors. The fund is an intrinsic part of following this team and I can remember summer movie trailers for the Jimmy Fund featuring the voice of Ted Williams as the donation cans were passed through the theatre. You cannot miss the Jimmy Fund logo on the Green Monster a constant reminder of the opportunity to be a real fan.

The Jimmy Fund clinic has become one of the premier centers for pediatric cancer care and research. The stories told from the Jimmy Fund offer hope inspiration and determination to find a cure. The Jimmy Fund is a place that families going through the horror of the most dreaded diagnosis can come and find the support so needed in a remarkable atmosphere designed for comfort and total patient care. Patients and families who have come to the Jimmy Fund tell how the personal attention at the clinic ,where each patient has their own "volunteer" for their visits, goes so far in getting through the trauma of cancer treatment.

This past Thursday and Friday instead of callers dialing in to Manny-bash the WEEI and NESN audience listened to emotional and compelling broadcasting...patients, families, survivors of our most prevalent and pervasive disease talked about how the Jimmy Fund makes a difference every day for every patient. The diagnosis of cancer can be paralyzing just by the word itself and every one's life has been touched, but when a child is stricken the urgency to find answers becomes magnified. To that end in the two days of WEEI's fund raising close to 5 million dollars were raised...the real Goal... a cure!

(oldtimebaseball.com)

Another sports fundraiser of note this week..the Old Time Baseball Game. A really fun event with a good old fashioned night of baseball held each year to benefit the Jimmy Fund and this year the Todd J Schwartz Memorial Fund. Now in its 15th year this terrific event is a bow to baseball's past and a look forward as college players and even some retired pros take the field in original baseball uniforms to celebrate the game we love in a small town game atmosphere at Peter's Field in Cambridge. The uniforms and the history take the spotlight but it is really the charity support that wins this game each year. Kudos to the game organizer and Old Time Baseball founder, Boston Herald columnist and baseball historian Steve Buckley, for his all his work to make this unique fundraiser so much fun. This year's game will be played Thursday August 21st at 7pm at St. Peter's Field on Sherman Street in Cambridge. Visit oldtimebaseball.com Donations can be made to this year's recipient:

The Todd J Schwartz Memorial Fund

c/o The Old Time Baseball game

PO Box 727

North Andover, MA 01845

or email oldtimebaseballgame@yahoo.com

A Tigger's Life-In Appreciation Professor Randy Pausch

"The brick walls are there for a reason, they are there to determine how much we want our dreams... the brick walls are not there to keep us out but to show how badly we want something ...brick walls let us show our dedication... they are there to separate us from those who really don't want to achieve..." Prof. Randy Pausch 1960-2008
On September 18,2007 Carnegie Mellon professor Dr. Randy Pausch gave his "Last Lecture--"(titled such as a tradition at Carnegie Mellon,ironically, if you had one last lecture to give before you die what would it be about)-Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams . A boyishly handsome, self-deprecatingly funny, brilliant and charming presence who stood before an over flowing crowd in a lecture hall at his beloved Carnegie Mellon University to talk about realizing dreams---how you can achieve your dreams and enable the dreams of others. "...the inspiration and permission to dream is huge..."he said. Dreams would seem an interesting subject for a man dying of cancer to talk about, but Randy Pausch was not lecturing on dying, he was about living and that day he "head faked" his audience by giving a lecture about how to live your life. The little boy who had painted his dreams on his bedroom wall had grown up to teach millions who have since viewed or read his lecture how to live their lives and how to dream. "You just have to decide if you're a Tigger or an Eeyore", he said...pretty simple, huh!?

The Last Lecture was meant for his kids but he shared it perhaps unexpectedly with the world through the technology that was his work as millions have viewed it on You Tube. Randy Pausch was a professor of computer science, a self-proclaimed Geek, who loved to play football(not many geeks do that) and win big stuffed animals at carnivals. He was an award winning professor who pioneered the field of virtual reality and steered the wonderful Alice Project and co-founded the Entertainment Technology Center at Carnegie Mellon. He saw the fun in technology,and in life, and was determined to teach that. He believed in always having fun and used his sabbatical time to live out one of his all time dreams of working at Disney's Imagineering. "I'm dying and I'm having fun..." he said.

Prof Pausch's lesson is also about acceptance and taking hold of what you have and the life you are given. "We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand." He taught about never giving up on what you dream and even when you don't get what you set out for..."experience is what you get when you didn't get what you want..." Yes, life will put many brick walls up in our life but is the decision we make in the face of those walls that determine not only our success but also our ability to reach our dreams and live fully.

Why did this lecture by a dying man resonate with so many,move so many to change...maybe because it is about joy, not only the joy he found everyday, but also the joy he shared. He talked candidly about his personal foibles, his youthful arrogance and we learn pretty quickly this is a real guy who was given the grace of "getting it", perhaps so he could teach us about "getting it"---about the simple fact that it is the life in our life that defines us,not the length of our life--the way we live, the passion we find, follow and share.

In his last public appearance at the Carnegie Mellon commencement this May he said..."...you will not find that passion in things and you will not find that passion in money because the more things and the more money you have the more you will just look around and use that as the metric and there will always be someone with more... so your passion must come from the things that fuel you from the inside...no matter what you do in work...that passion will be grounded in people and the relationships that you have with people and what they think of you when your time comes...It is not the things we do in life that we regret on our deathbed it is the things that we do not..."

Randy Pausch's story is also a love story about a "playboy" who found the love of his life,Jai, at 39..." I had to wait that long to find someone where her happiness was more important than mine I hope you can find that kind of passion and that kind of love in your life..."

In his last months he found unexpected celebrity through the lecture that went around the world, he was named one of Time Magazine's 100 most influential people and seemed to be profiled in every major news and popular media source.

Randy Pausch lost his battle with pancreatic cancer last Friday July 25th at the age of 47. His gifts live on through his work and the institution he loved, through his family that were his light and his center, and through the millions of lives he reached. He lived his passion, shared his passion and inspired so many to realize theirs. Dream fulfilled.

"...if you lead your life the right way the karma will take care of itself, the dreams will come to you."

Prof Pausch gave the "charge" to graduates at Carnegie Mellon this May








Read more about Professor Randy Pausch's Life and Work:

An Enduring Legacy


In Memoriam:
Randy Pausch, Innovative Computer Scientist at Carnegie Mellon,
Launched Education Initiatives, Gained Worldwide Acclaim for Last Lecture


The Alice Project-a legacy that will continue to educate and inspire as it teaches computer programming in a 3D environment in what Randy Pausch would term a "head fake" way. Students learn to write computer programs while creating animation, video, stories or games. My favorite part, it is accessible as Carnegie Mellon offers this wonderful tool for free.

Carnegie Mellon's Entertainment Technology Center

Donations in Randy Pausch's Memory to:

The Pancreatic Action Network

Randy Pausch Honorary Fund at Carnegie Mellon

When Life Brings Lemons...Fighting Childhood Cancer One Cup at a Time

"I'm Alex, I'm 8 years old. I have Neuroblastoma and I raise money for pediatric cancer research with the help of other kids and grown ups through my lemonade stand. I give the money I raise to research to find cures for pediatric cancers. " Alexandra Scott 1996-2004

Like many little girls Alexandra Scott wanted to set up a Lemonade Stand in her front yard, but Alex was not just any little girl. First of all she was all of 4 years old when she made this entrepreneurial decision and she also made the decision that the profits from her lemonade stand would go directly to her doctors to find a cure for other children like herself, children with cancer-"...because all kids want their tumors to go away." Alex's first stand raised over $2,000 for her hospital.

For the next 4 years as Alex battled her illness she set up her stand to raise money for pediatric cancer research. Alex lost her fight in 2004 but she left an extraordinary legacy as her single gesture to give hope and raise awareness inspired thousands to set up their own Lemonade Stands and contribute to Alex's wish to help. Alex raised over 1 million dollars in her short life. Imagine, all from one amazing little girl's simple idea.

What began as Alex's stand in her front yard has grown into thousands of lemonade stands and fundraising efforts in schools, corporations and communities across the country. Since Alex's first stand in 2000 over 7,000 Alex's Lemonade Stands have raised money and brought awareness to the fight for pediatric cancer research. As of this month, July 2008, The Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation has raised over 20 million dollars for pediatric cancer research, donating millions to cancer centers and research facilities working to find a cure. ALSF's Lemonade Days on June 6.7 and 8 involved over 2000 lemonade stands nationwide. Major corporations have adopted Alex's cause and helped to ensure that her wish to help and find a cure continues. Volvo has established the Alexandra Scott Butterfly Foundation award given to a child who like Alex shows caring and character. Other companies donate a percentage of their sales or their products such as Country Time Lemonade and Stacy's Chips. This Wednesday July 23 Blue Tulip will donate 15% of their proceeds to ALSF. Go shop!

On most days in the summer I wear a necklace and bracelet designed by Elyse Rosenstock of Elyse Ryan, made of pink and yellow crystals in memory of Alex and in support of ALSF. People often comment on them and I love the story that Alex helped Elyse with the design and now those pieces of jewelry are helping Alex's foundation grow.

Making giving so simple, so accessible, and teaching children the importance of helping and giving back are just some of the reasons I love and support this foundation. Every cup of lemonade does make a difference in the fight to find a cure for childhood cancer. Thenof course there is the memory of Alex herself,truly a special light who left a legacy and a lesson of turning heartbreak into hope.

A Penny for Your Search??

We all have a cause we care about - whether it's finding a cure for cancer, saving the environment, finding homes for abandoned pets or so many other worthwhile endeavors. But what we don't all have is the time or money to support these efforts as much as we'd like. So, what if we could raise money for our favorite charities and schools by doing something we do every day — searching the Internet?
Ken Ramberg, co-founder GoodSearch


Next time you want to look up an old boyfriend, find the temperature in Santorini in May, look for a recipe for blueberry muffins or whatever it is you might be "Googling" around for, head to Good Search. This is such a great way to give back and you can even identify your favorite organizations to give to whenever you search.

8 Billion (with a B!!) dollars are earned through ad placements on popular search engines annually. The founders of GoodSearch, brother and sister Ken Ramberg and JJ Ramberg, figured there were a few dollars to spare there that just might do some good. Fifty percent of the revenues from GoodSearch are donated to charities, schools and organizations that GoodSearch users choose. There is no cost to the organization or to the user, all the donations come from advertising revenues on the Yahoo generated search engine. So simple!! So perfect!!

If your school, organization, not for profit wants in-that's simple too. Visit GoodSearch for the How tos.

The Rambergs believe that "...doing good should be a part of people's everyday lives." They have expanded their work to GoodShop, an online shopping site that donates anywhere from 3-20% to the shopper's non-profit choice. Founded in memory of their Mother who died from cancer, she would be proud for sure, the Ramberg's simple idea now helps over 62,000 nonprofits. Imagine instead of another Bake Sale if everyone at your kids' school and their friends and their family all just used GoodSearch for a week, a month, six months, and each time they did a donation would be made-the playground would be up in no time!

It could not be simpler to give back thanks to the Rambergs who figured out a way for all of us to feel good about doing what we do everyday. What's next guys...can we "do good" every time we brush our teeth?

I search for...The Jimmy Fund, The Children's Defense Fund, Alex's Lemonade Stand, Home for Little Wanderers, Habitat for Humanity, Girls Inc, First Book...who do you GoodSearch for?

Voting History, Voting Hope

"I am sick and tired of being sick and tired...Nobody's free until everybody's free..All of this is on account we want to register [sic], to become first-class citizens, and if the Freedom Democratic Party is not seated now, I question America. Is this America, the land of the free and the home of the brave where we have to sleep with our telephones off the hooks because our lives be threatened daily because we want to live as decent human beings - in America?"Fannie Lou Hamer,1964

Traditionally in contemporary American politics primary campaigns have been more of a yawn and less of an awakening. Who cared? Who actually went to the polls? Who watched debates? Network television barely covered nominating conventions. This time, this year, this election, has been to say the least a whole new ballgame in American political history. For a political junkie this has been the World Series, the Superbowl and the NBA finals rolled into one. For a woman who has never questioned that a woman's place was in fact in the House and in the Senate, this was a time that was long overdue. For a student of history, 44 years after Fannie Lou Hamer's stood with her Freedom Democrats and challenged Mississippi's all white delegation to the Democratic convention, this was as if a very old window that had been nailed shut has fallen off its hinges and blown open by an insistent breeze.

Tonight after 16 months of a campaign that people actually cared about,actually showed up for, actually watched and participated in-after a campaign during which extraordinary numbers of people got involved and voted, many of whom had never been interested, involved or even voted before, Barack Obama, the junior Senator from Illinois, achieved enough delegates to become the Democratic nominee for President of the United States.

Barack Obama's story is an American story...so is Hillary Clinton's, and that is why so many cared, so many came and listened and voted. The irony of course being that the challenge to Hillary's campaign has been a candidate that she and her husband had embraced and would have under any other circumstances stood proudly to support. Barack Obama became the surprise obstacle in her way. As wonderful as this campaign has been to watch it has been tough to see the two lights of hope and change, the two individuals who could make this country care again, and believe that we can reinvent how this nation works, go against one another.

On this historic night when the first African American candidate has earned enough delegates to be the nominee, and the first serious woman candidate has 18 million reasons to believe there is more she has to contribute, there is a decision to be made from both campaigns. A decision that can determine whether all these many months have truly meant the change they put forth. The numbers are still very close and it is obvious Hillary Clinton has not been defeated but rather has earned an opportunity to graciously secure her spot as a leader in her party and to play a vital role to ensure the issues she passionately cares about be realized.

For many the decision as we stood in voting booths across this country was a tough one to make. For me as a woman, not to mention a Wellesley alumn, my first opportunity to support a woman for President, an extraordinarily capable and gifted woman who has devoted her life to public service and the cause of children, was a long overdue moment. A moment that became a dilemma. I chose to support but not to vote for Hillary, that was hard. Barack Obama "had me at Hello" four years ago at John Kerry's nominating convention. I grabbed the phone and called a friend and said "you have to watch this guy...he is amazing and he is going to be President, he has to be President". In a time of enormous pain and disillusionment, this man, this skinny guy with the funny name, is building a new boat on which this country can sail.

There will be those who belong to a time, a time that we need to study and learn from, that will not vote for an African American. One can only hope that they will listen. Listen to the voices of America today and realize that we have never been in more pain as a nation, and hear that it will take a voice that sees the challenges and remains hopeful anyway to find a path to change. That path cannot be forged from old bricks.

I love and respect history. I even respect John McCain's history. At this place in time,however,we can learn from history but we cannot repeat history , nor can we do what we have always done..it simply does not work. Throwing old solutions at a new world, a world that looks with anger not awe, a world that challenges not follows, is a mistake we cannot make.

Yes this is an historic night, an historic time, but this nation needs to be led by new strength and new eyes that see where we have come but will not look back and will not carry the old trunks on the new journey. Barack Obama is an historic candidate without a doubt, but we are voting for a leader not an icon. He will carry the burden of being the "first" but just maybe he will be the "first" to get it right.

Barack Obama will be nominated 45 years to the day that Dr. Martin Luther King gave his best known speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial...

This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. Martin Luther King Aug 28, 1963