Here's a baby step that is also a personal favorite of mine: St. Baldrick's. Yes, it's a silly name and there was never a "real" St. Baldrick, of course. This is an amazing charity whose sole purpose is to fund childhood cancer research.
Why childhood cancer? I have always been child-centered. I believe in the importance of helping children grow and learn, I enjoy providing experiences that allow them important steps in their growth toward adulthood.
Cancer affects so many people, people of all ages. I am confident is has impacted people in your family as well as many of your friends. I believe all cancer research is valuable. New knowledge leads to more new knowledge. Cancers that strike children can be particularly devastating. Why does this happen to the innocent and helpless? How can we bear to watch their suffering? How do their parents, doctors, nurses, family members possibly explain this to them? But....how can we sit back and just watch? Can you?
St. Baldrick's has grown into the world's largest volunteer-driven fundraising program for childhood cancer research and is the largest granter of funds toward this research outside of the U.S. government. Nearly 200,000 volunteers have raised over $117 million for life-saving research. Are you one of them?
I am convinced St. Baldrick's holds your trust and investments as excellent stewards.
a. Here are their annual reports: http://www.stbaldricks.org/about-us/financials/
b. Here are their grant types:http://www.stbaldricks.org/where-the-money-goes/grant-types
c. Here's someone real, who experienced what it means to live and love through the experience of cancer hitting home, hard, right where it counts: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/lilli.
Baby steps:
1. Volunteer for an event near you. Just go and organize t-shirts, collect payments, cheer on the shavees, root for the barbers, show that you care.
2. Adopt an "honor child"and ask for donations. You can do it all via facebook, if you'd like.
Your monetary expenses = $.00
Your benefit? Intangible and unforgettable.
Medium steps:
1. Volunteer to be shaved, to raise money in the name of this research, and to honor a child. It's easy and painless, and it might be more fun than you realize!
2. Become an officer for an event. Organize the barbers, the set-up, the clean-up, the program. Be there early and stay late. Pay attention to how much money you have raised. Mail in the checks!
3. Be a barber for the event, volunteering your time and equipment. You must be licensed.
4. Be a site host for the event--you must show insurance.
5. Create the publicity! Let everyone know what's happening and how they can help.
Your monetary expenses = low $ to $.00
Your benefit? Goodwill, love, and shared human experience.
Big steps:
1. Be an event host. Set a goal, organize volunteers, organize shavees and shavers.
2. Build excitement and energy over the event.
3. Ask for funds. Ask a lot of people for a little bit of money. Search for others willing to bring their influence and passion to the event.
4. Plan a repeat performance.
5. Give a little more hope to a lot more families who are facing their greatest fear and challenge.
Your monetary expenses? = low $ to $.00
Your benefit? Tangible visions of actual money that will go directly into cancer research. How much more can anyone do, without perhaps being the researcher?
Why childhood cancer? I have always been child-centered. I believe in the importance of helping children grow and learn, I enjoy providing experiences that allow them important steps in their growth toward adulthood.
Cancer affects so many people, people of all ages. I am confident is has impacted people in your family as well as many of your friends. I believe all cancer research is valuable. New knowledge leads to more new knowledge. Cancers that strike children can be particularly devastating. Why does this happen to the innocent and helpless? How can we bear to watch their suffering? How do their parents, doctors, nurses, family members possibly explain this to them? But....how can we sit back and just watch? Can you?
St. Baldrick's has grown into the world's largest volunteer-driven fundraising program for childhood cancer research and is the largest granter of funds toward this research outside of the U.S. government. Nearly 200,000 volunteers have raised over $117 million for life-saving research. Are you one of them?
I am convinced St. Baldrick's holds your trust and investments as excellent stewards.
a. Here are their annual reports: http://www.stbaldricks.org/about-us/financials/
b. Here are their grant types:http://www.stbaldricks.org/where-the-money-goes/grant-types
c. Here's someone real, who experienced what it means to live and love through the experience of cancer hitting home, hard, right where it counts: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/lilli.
Baby steps:
1. Volunteer for an event near you. Just go and organize t-shirts, collect payments, cheer on the shavees, root for the barbers, show that you care.
2. Adopt an "honor child"and ask for donations. You can do it all via facebook, if you'd like.
Your monetary expenses = $.00
Your benefit? Intangible and unforgettable.
Medium steps:
1. Volunteer to be shaved, to raise money in the name of this research, and to honor a child. It's easy and painless, and it might be more fun than you realize!
2. Become an officer for an event. Organize the barbers, the set-up, the clean-up, the program. Be there early and stay late. Pay attention to how much money you have raised. Mail in the checks!
3. Be a barber for the event, volunteering your time and equipment. You must be licensed.
4. Be a site host for the event--you must show insurance.
5. Create the publicity! Let everyone know what's happening and how they can help.
Your monetary expenses = low $ to $.00
Your benefit? Goodwill, love, and shared human experience.
Big steps:
1. Be an event host. Set a goal, organize volunteers, organize shavees and shavers.
2. Build excitement and energy over the event.
3. Ask for funds. Ask a lot of people for a little bit of money. Search for others willing to bring their influence and passion to the event.
4. Plan a repeat performance.
5. Give a little more hope to a lot more families who are facing their greatest fear and challenge.
Your monetary expenses? = low $ to $.00
Your benefit? Tangible visions of actual money that will go directly into cancer research. How much more can anyone do, without perhaps being the researcher?
