Join mothers and their families throughout the community as we walk for the prevention of mother-child transfer of AIDS.
Brooksville is a small town, but it has a lot of passion. People come together to rally behind causes and they support eachother. This walk is to raise awareness about supporting the world by taking action. The walk will start in Hernando County Park behind the library (by the bandshell) and move through Brooksville to alert others why we are walking.
On Mother’s Day, we are grateful for our mothers who have nurtured us and for our healthy, carefree children. Let’s remember mothers across the world who have to face passing a deadly illness to their children. Lets support those women who face having to put their babies in a little box and lower them into the ground. Let’s help them prevent all this needless sorrow! HIV/AIDS is an issue that extends beyond our community, but the citizens are willing and ready to help in any way possible. There are 2.3 million children currently living with HIV and each day another mother faces having to pass it to her healthy unborn baby. Across the world, I lull my healthy baby to sleep, urging her to let go, because I know she will wake bright-eyed and alert in a few hours. But what if I didn’t know that? What if I had to wonder, every time, if she would ever wake up again.

There are a whole generation of mothers out there who face this terrifying reality. But it doesn’t have to be this way, with your help, they can have a choice to save their children. A pregnant mother who is HIV positive can get access to medication and take part in a program that reduces the risk of her passing HIV to her child to just 2%. This treatment, provided by HIVSA, located at the world’s largest hospital in Soweto, South Africa, costs just $1.50 per day, and mothers need to take part in the program for just one month before the birth of their child. The people of Brooksville are walking with action, with passion, with purpose and saving innocent young lives.

 
Join US!
So, how does it work?
For every person that shows up and fills out a registration card, Hanson will donate $1 to HIVSA. It will cost you nothing but your time!
You can do more:
Donate funds directly and provide AIDS meds through Takethewalk.net. Or, purchase the song the Great Divide or the Music Video to raise funds for HIV/AIDS Medication.

Visit my walk details on takethewalk.net.

Visit the site for the Brooksville Walk.

Humane Society of the Nature Coast Needs Your Help (your vote)

The Humane Society of the Nature Coast has placed 5th in the nation in a contest for a million dollar make-over of a shelter. There will be another vote from 4/13 to 4/19 and everyone in America can vote. The shelter was the only one in Florida to place.

We desperately need funding for no-kill shelters to combat the ever-increasing number of stray animals and the pound’s euthanasia procedure. In my opinion, Animal Control often euthanizes often before the owner of a lost pet has time to look for them, let alone for a new possible owner to find the animal. It is also my opinion that the current owners of the HSNC have done amazing things for it. I volunteered there before and after their ownership. Before, all the cats were in cages and were only taken out when volunteers brought them out. Before, dogs seldom got exercise. Before, they place was unorganized and messy. The current owners renovated the cat cottage so that all cats except the very new (quarantined) and the ill are free range with an indoor and outdoor (screened) area. The dogs have large running areas, but their are space issues and they could really use the help. They have organized things and created nice clean offices. In short, they are very passionate about the welfare of the animals. I have not worked there for sometime, due to my pregnancy and now young daughter. The last time I did, I was answering calls with nothing but “no, sorry, no space,” and I am sure that many of these animals ended up in the pound, ended up euthanized when they might have found a loving new family.

I hope you see fit to vote and forward the information to your email contacts.

You can vote at http://www.zootoo.com/ from 4/13 to 4/19.

Learn more at http://www.naturecoasthumanesociety.org/zootoo.html

HAVEN’T SIGNED UP YET…..
It’s free and easy!

IF YOU ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 13…..
Thanks for wanting to help! Please ask a parent, guardian, or someone age 13 or older to work with you on Zootoo. We suggest working on the project as a family!

Click here:
document.write(‘<a target=\”_blank\” href=\”‘ +ranimage()+ ‘\”>’);

When entering ZooToo.com, you will have a “Join Us” page.

Join Us Page:
Section 1: Create a username, password, enter your E-Mail address (twice), enter your zip code, and provide your birth date.
Section 2: If you have pets, be sure to select “yes.” You’ll have the chance to provide info about them, and upload pictures after the registration is complete. If not, that’s OK – pick no and join us anyway. Every person that signs up helps us accumulate precious points!
Section 3: For zip code, enter 34603. Click “View Eligible Shelters”, the Humane Society of the Nature Coast will be in the list, usually at the very top.
If you’d like to find an Animal Rescue Group, simply enter another zip code and choose one. This is optional, and you can always pick one later if you choose.
Below that, be sure to check the box for “Yes, I agree…” It’s wise to read the Terms and Conditions  – at least glance over them.
Optionally, you can also check the box next to the option to receive the zootoo newsletter.
Click Submit
You will be sent to your “My Zootoo” page.

IMPORTANT: You will be sent another E-Mail from Zootoo to confirm your E-Mail message. It is important that you click the link inside the message to confirm your E-Mail address. That will earn the shelter another 50 points!

JOIN OUR GROUP!
Get daily point updates and communicate with fell Humane Society zootooers quickly and easily by joining the group “Humane Society of the Nature Coast, Inc.’s fan club.”
The easiest way to join:
1. Click the “My Zootoo!” link at the top right of the page
2. Click the shelter name, or the makeover rank at the top, under “Makeover II Points”
3. Scroll down, and you’ll notice on the right, under “Group,” a link to “Join this Group.” We suggest clicking the box for getting E-Mail updates, if it isn’t already clicked.
4. After getting notification that you’ve joined the group, scroll back down and click the link for the group
5. And there you have it!

PROFILE PHOTOS:
If we are fortunate enough to make it to Phase III, Zootoo members can vote up to 10 times per day for their shelter of choice (The Humane Society of the Nature Coast!) In order to vote in Phase III, you must have a profile photo.

Here’s how:

After logging in, or from your “My Zootoo!” link, click “Add Photo.”
A window will pop up, allowing you to find the picture on your hard drive.
It can be a picture of you, one of your pets, or perhaps you with one of your pets.

Through this site and their current Walk Around The World Tour, the Hanson boys (along with their friends and fans) are attacking the problems in Africa on six different fronts. You can buy SMS credits through Docvia to help pregnant women with AIDS keep in touch with their doctors via cell phones. You can purchase the song “The Great Divide” in order to provide AIDS treatment and research through HIVSA. You can provide shoes to children in poverty by purchasing TOMS SHOES (pair for pair). You can make a donation to Free The Children, an organization which builds schools for kids in impoverished areas of Africa. You can help drill water wells in sub-Saharan Africa with the Blood Water Mission and provide clean water, the basis of life (make an outright donation or purchase merch). You can Take the Walk, a barefoot mile, with Hanson or a fan-organizer to raise awareness about all of these issues. Basically, you can take action, in any capacity you like. Hanson, I’ll follow your lead.

My favorite way to help is to buy Take The Walk, a book, authored by Hanson, which tells the story of individuals taking action to fight poverty and AIDS in Africa. The sale of each book will raise funds to benefit all five causes on takethewalk.net. You also get the Take The Walk EP, preview it here.

In October, I went to see Hanson in concert (baby was with my mother for just an hour and a half), and cried when I heard Taylor’s speech and the song that followed. It had an even more powerful affect on me given my new motherhood. I wish I could quote the speech in it’s entirety, but as I cannot, I will paraphrase as best I can. While visiting Africa, the brothers were shown cemetery with an entire section devoted to children. They saw tiny coffins “this big, [Taylor holds his hand about a foot apart]” made for children who died of AIDS. Taylor says that many people ask Hanson why they do what they do, people ask what the ultimate goal is. Taylor answers, they want to make sure that the industry of tiny coffins is no more. Then, Hanson forces us to face a dismal, horrifying reality, and my greatest fear, having to bury your own child. This song, so heart wrenching and difficult to endure, barely scrapes the surface of the grief that hundreds of thousands of parents in Africa are faced with. Having to bury at least one of their children lingers as not only a real possibility to these people, but an almost certainty. Listen, if you can bear it. Buy the Walk Book and get free instant downloads.

Let me preface by saying this is not an article and not my work. It is copied from the Invisible Children website. I don’t have the time but I just thought it should be on here. I have the bracelets and the DVD’s, those kids are truly inspiring. The adversity they weather kind of makes life seem easy.

THE VISIBLE CHILD SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
One of the greatest needs in northern Uganda and one of the largest gaps in development comes in the region’s access to secondary education. To address this problem we created the Visible Child Scholarship Program, an initiative that develops the leadership and life skill capacities of promising students. Pioneered by Uganda’s Country Director Jolly Grace Okot, the program focuses on increased access to post-primary education, improved learning environments, and mentoring from local leaders. When the pilot program launched in 2005, we started by sponsoring 100 students. In only two years, the program has grown immensely, and to date we have 662* scholarship students located throughout the Gulu, Amuru, and Pader districts.The program itself is currently the only one within Invisible Children that is managed and operated entirely by Ugandan nationals, a model IC is continually striving for in Uganda – empowering and supporting local leaders to create positive change in their own country.

*as of March 2008

HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS.
Once accepted into the program each student is assigned a mentor—an employed community leader whose purpose is to build a personal relationship with the student and provide professional follow up for each child. Through these relationships, VCSP mentors ensure academic accountability, encourage scholastic success, foster leadership skills, and provide parental and career-oriented guidance for each student in the program.

VCSP mentors receive a variety of training prior to beginning work including psychosocial support, child protection, and trauma counseling. We currently employ 19 mentors, and, on average, each mentor works with 30 students. Frequent visits are made monthly to every student’s home and school to ensure that the student receives the full support needed for their personal and academic success.

In addition to scholarships and mentoring, VCSP also holds community sensitization seminars that educate school administrators, parents and guardians, and the community about the program and the need to support students throughout their education. These sensitization programs take place through planned community meetings and radio programs.

WHO THE PROGRAM HELPS.
Acceptance into the program is based on a combination of academic performance and need, with special consideration given to children who are total orphans, heads of household, formerly abducted returnees, those living positively with HIV/AIDS, or child mothers. Vulnerable and talented youth are identified in neglected areas of need throughout northern Uganda and then undergo a selection process that evaluates both their vulnerability and past academic performance. These children are then processed through a series of assessments at home and at school before they are officially accepted into the program.

The Numbers*:
• 40% of students are girls; 60% are boys
• 91% of students are orphans with 44.9% being partial orphans and 46.
1% being total orphans
• 23.
9% of students are orphans because of HIV/AIDS
• 23.
9% of students are orphans due to war
• 5.
5% of students are members of child-headed families
• 4.
3% of students are child mothers
• 13.
7% of students have been abducted by the LRA at least once

*as of November 2007

ONGOING DEVELOPMENTS.
In 2007, Invisible Children launched a pilot program to provide university scholarships to students who had successfully completed secondary school as VCSP beneficiaries. Similar to the application process for secondary school, students wishing to receive scholarships for university needed to meet the same level of academic performance and vulnerability.

Currently four students are receiving scholarships to pursue either a diploma or a bachelor’s degree. Two students are attending Makerere University in Kampala and two are attending Gulu University. To ensure the success of these students at the university level, they continue to meet with a mentor who provides support though any personal or academic issues that may arise.

We also recently developed an extracurricular program that looks beyond the classroom. Beginning in fall of 2007, the pilot phase of the sports club initiative will help students form football, volleyball, and netball teams at their schools with other VCSP students. These clubs will meet after classes and allow mentors to interact with their students in a different setting. In addition to these sports clubs, we are also beginning academic clubs that will feature essay writing and debate competitions. Weekend seminars will also be held to encourage the academic performance of scholarship beneficiaries, preparing them for exit examinations and further studies at the university level.

Invisible Children Bracelet Campaign

We began with a simple idea: to connect people on opposite ends of the world by offering a product that creates jobs in Uganda, while educating and inspiring those who receive it. The Bracelet Campaign is that dream realized, attempting to mend the disconnect between the African continent and the rest of the world’s ignorance towards it.

How It Works
Millions of people in northern Uganda have been forced into camps where they suffer more than their share. Farmers by trade, they once relied on family land and seasonal crops to provide for themselves and their loved ones. But their relocation to IDP camps means that they must now rely on the insufficient rations of the international aid community.

The Bracelet Campaign combines the power of market-driven development with the lifelong benefits of education to create a peaceful tomorrow.

The bracelets are handmade from reed and recycled wire, and then packaged with a short film that tells the story of a child affected by the war. Our goal isn’t to simply offer a product, but a new perspective. A better understanding of the impact the war has had on millions of lives.

Who It Helps
1.
The ICBC Bracelet Makers
Invisible Children staff work together with community leaders to identify the most vulnerable people in a chosen camp, assessing their personal condition and history, and their family and home situation. Those chosen are trained in bracelet making and supplied weekly with the necessary materials. Current beneficiaries of the program include widows, formerly abducted persons, child mothers, people living with HIV/AIDS, disabled persons and other vulnerable groups among the internally displaced.

On average, each bracelet maker creates between 50 and 60 bracelets per week, earning a generous salary from each bracelet they make. Additionally, bank accounts are opened in the name of each beneficiary and money is deposited into these accounts each month in addition to cash payments made to the bracelet makers.

Current Numbers
Koro: 65 Awer: 29 Heals: 23
Atanga: 28 Kica Ber: 7 Kampala: 27

Total: 179 Beneficiaries*
*As of April 2008

2.
Children in Northern Uganda
Packaged in every bracelet is a story of a child affected by the two decades of conflict. So far, five bracelets and films have been released. Each of these is a part of Invisible Children’s Visible Child Scholarship Program and working toward their dreams. Want to know more about them? Click below for updates on each since the release of their bracelet.

Innocent
Grace
Emmy
Sunday

Saving and Investment Training Initiative (SITI)
The power of the Bracelet Campaign lies in Invisible Children’s powerful Savings and Investment Training Initiative (SITI) curriculum. Through weekly sessions held by a professional trainer, our bracelet makers are taught and encouraged to create regular budgets, savings plans, and invest their savings in sustainable income-generating activities. Each of them is given individual consultation on their financial and business decisions in order to make their investments as beneficial as possible.

The SITI curriculum includes three large sections:
1.
An ideological discussion of poverty and the fact that it can be overcome
2.
Lessons in personal financial management, including budgeting, savings, and loans
3.
A guide to identifying, starting, and running successful small businesses

The program encourages beneficiaries to start their own small business with the money set aside in their savings accounts. Though this training is a recent development, people have already begun a number of successful businesses including cattle reselling, pig rearing, and even selling tickets to watch movies and football (soccer) matches on DirecTV. This opportunity allows a sustainable source of income for beneficiaries, enabling them to care for themselves and their families long after the Bracelet Campaign has ended.

Find out more about the SITI graduates and their entrepreneurial endeavors

To learn more about the SITI program, read an interview with Ocan Christopher, Invisible Children’s Savings and Investment Operations Officer.

BE A HERO

Across the world, students are rallying their entire schools to think of creative fundraising ideas to rebuild schools in Northern Uganda. Go online daily to see the results of your fundraising, connect with other schools, and earn a trip to Uganda to help in the rebuilding of your partner school.

The money you raise will provide everything from essentials like water, books, and teachers to new classrooms and technology.

Visit InvisibleChildren. com on February 5th and join Schools for Schools.

Last year, while at Chili’s, I learned of their Create-A-Pepper to Fight Childhood Cancer program that Chilis does year round. I also learned that for one day in September, Chili’s would give all of their profits to St. Jude’s Children’s hospital. I thought this was brilliant because it was a way for people to do good without having to give a donation. They could go to a restaurant and eat lunch or dinner just like they would any other time. I immediately started getting the word out. I posted bulletins on myspace, told all of my friends in person, and sent personal messages to family members and friends that I didn’t see.

To help you can still create a pepper or buy a gift card with Chili’s fun. Chili’s also has merchandise for sale.

However, St. Jude’s and Chili’s are onto a new campaign of Thanks and Giving. The 2007 Thanks and Giving Campaign is hosted by Marlo Thomas and endorsed by Jennifer Aniston, Robin Williams, Antonio Banderas, Bernie Mac, Ray Romano, Reggie Bush, and many other celebrities. Jennifer Aniston is shown below wearing the Give Thanks t-shirt.

Your support can help find cures for pediatric cancers and other deadly diseases. To help visit Thanks and Giving. You can buy items from the gift shop such as the shirt above or click on other ways to help and browse St. Jude’s partners. Many have unique ways of helping St. Jude’s through specific programs and gifts and many others have a quick and easy donation available at the register. You may already be a customer of these places so find out how you can help and keep a lookout for St. Jude’s boxes and posters at check-out.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is the only pediatric cancer research center that pays for all treatment not covered by insurance, regardless of a family’s ability to pay. Every breakthrough made at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is immediately and freely shared with the scientific community worldwide. That’s why St. Jude is often referred to as the “hospital without walls.” St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital pays for the cost of travel, food, and lodging for every patient and a parent. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital follows the progress of its patients long after they leave the hospital, providing certain follow-up services, advice and assistance at no charge to the patients. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital works to find cures for some rare life-threatening childhood diseases that require very specialized treatments. More about St. Jude’s.

Thousands of dollars raised locally, millions nationwide: More about 2006 and 2007 Chili’s Campaigns.

I wrote several bulletins like this one

Monday, September 25th (next Monday), all of Chilis’ profits go to St. Jude’s children’s hospital.

I’m going right after school and bringing as many people as will fit in my car (maybe + some).

Please go/come with me.

It’s nothing you have to donate, you will get food for your money, but 100 % of the profits go to St. Jude’s. It’s all day on Monday, so treat yourself to Chili’s and feel good about spending the money.

and

Come with me to Chilis tomorrow, Monday, the 25th!

Or… go to Chilis with your friends and/or family!

100% of their profits will go to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

This hospital does not require families without insurance to pay for their children’s hospital bills! They rely on charities to keep supporting less fortunate families with children who have to deal with cancer, and other diseases along with everyday illnesses.

You don’t have to donate anything, you will be getting food for your money like any other day and you will feel really good about where the money is going.

If anyone else wants to come with me let me know please.

To my extreme delight, people started to respond. I got messages from about thirty different people saying they were planning on going. I myself went with a group of about fifteen people. Some of the guys I was with brought their parents and siblings and my parents showed up as well. I also saw several of the people there that I had told about it. My sister took a group of people across town and my cousins took an even larger group in Tampa. Overall, I helped to raise thousands of dollars for St. Jude’s. Unfortunately, I wasn’t a part of the event this year but Chili’s still donates %100 of their profits every last Monday in September. 2007 also went great, by the way.

To help you can still create a pepper or buy a gift card with Chili’s fun. Chili’s also has merchandise for sale.

However, St. Jude’s and Chili’s are onto a new campaign of Thanks and Giving. The 2007 Thanks and Giving Campaign is hosted by Marlo Thomas and endorsed by Jennifer Aniston, Robin Williams, Antonio Banderas, Bernie Mac, Ray Romano, Reggie Bush, and many other celebrities. Jennifer Aniston is shown below wearing the Give Thanks t-shirt.

Your support can help find cures for pediatric cancers and other deadly diseases. To help visit Thanks and Giving. You can buy items from the gift shop such as the shirt above or click on other ways to help and browse St. Jude’s partners. Many have unique ways of helping St. Jude’s through specific programs and gifts and many others have a quick and easy donation available at the register. You may already be a customer of these places so find out how you can help and keep a lookout for St. Jude’s boxes and posters at check-out.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is the only pediatric cancer research center that pays for all treatment not covered by insurance, regardless of a family’s ability to pay. Every breakthrough made at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is immediately and freely shared with the scientific community worldwide. That’s why St. Jude is often referred to as the “hospital without walls.” St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital pays for the cost of travel, food, and lodging for every patient and a parent. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital follows the progress of its patients long after they leave the hospital, providing certain follow-up services, advice and assistance at no charge to the patients. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital works to find cures for some rare life-threatening childhood diseases that require very specialized treatments. More about St. Jude’s.

Great Divide

Sponsor A Child at DD Dilwayo School cause facebook

Steps toward a beneficial alliance:

“We are so excited that you are getting people together to support the school! I can’t wait to see what you are able to do for them. I just wanted to let you know that we have sent your email to the administration of the DD Dilwayo School. So, we are going to let them get in touch with you when they are able to. Keep up the great work, and I hope you have a great day!

Josh Hausen
A Bryan Photo”

“I received an email from Josh Hausen with regards to helping our school. Either through sponsouring a child or through supplies for the new school year. This is phenomenal and your contribution will create meaning in the lives of children who have given up hope.

We are greatly in need of any help we can get and are very excited to be in contact with people that genuinely want to make a difference in the lives of little children.

I will be speaking to the school this week and we will discuss and make a list of things that are needed and different ways in which people like yourselves can get involved. I’ll make further contact with you and we can speak more then.

Thanking you, all the way from Africa

Ella Bella
D.D.Dliwayo Liason
Orlando East, Soweto, South Africa”

This is just a short blurb for those that haven’t heard. More information available on the official site: Make It Right New Orleans. Visit the site to buy cool merchandise or make a donation of any amount. I donated a small sum today. When you donate, Make It Right will send you a confirmation email that can be used as a tax receipt.

For now, the official word on The Pink Project:

The rich cultural community of the Lower 9th Ward was devastated in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Although prayers poured out for the fallen victims of the storm, unfortunately the initiatives to rebuild this once vibrant area have fallen short. As a catalyst for positive change and the inaugural event for the Make It Right initiative, the Pink Project represents opportunities hidden within this tragedy and focuses attention on the plight of the Lower 9th. Pink is a virtual city of Hope. A hybrid of art, architecture, cinema and media, Pink is conceived as an informational, commemorative, communication tool which raises awareness and activates individual participation to heal local wounds in need of global aid.

While filming a movie in New Orleans, Brad Pitt noticed a pink fabric house that was being used as part of the set. He perceived the visual potency of pink houses as a metaphor. Working together with GRAFT, the idea was born to merge film and architecture into an installation that would bring immediate global attention to a pervasive local issue. The scenes within the assembly create emotive storyboards containing perspectives rich with history and memories. Like a tangram puzzle, the components of each house lay haphazard at the installation’s commencement. It is only through monetary donations that these pink placeholders will become reassembled, registering the effects of a collective consciousness, ultimately enabling the construction of 150 real homes. Pink, a symbol rich with the promise of homes that will be constructed for the community of the Lower 9th, resonates with an immediate and cogent message: “They have not been forgotten.”

The simple legibility of the pink monopoly house reassembled from smaller individual components intentionally focuses attention on a problem of manageable scale, allowing the individual to physically participate in the installation through donations. Contributions become incorporated into the built environment through architectural assembly. In this, there is a transformation from an individual American Dream into a collective one. Real beauty arises from harnessing the power of global awareness and global helplessness and providing an outlet. Pink is an opportunity to interact meaningfully with the world by rebuilding a torn cultural fabric.

Pink does not dwell on the past but rather empowers the future. Through the immediate potency of the spectacle, aided by local and global media, it attempts to disassociate itself from the negative connotations of that which has failed. Creating a call to action filled with hope and promise, Pink generates an armature robust enough to enable the outpouring of individuals into a collective effort striving for positive change. Reversing the diaspora and bringing people home.

Hopefully this little personalized holiday note will peak the interest of some of my friends and family so that more children might have new shoes to get them where they need to go in 2008!

I used TOMS postcards, but you can use whatever you may have laying around, a simple notepad or Christmas card.


I also ordered a ten pack of magnets from the Hand in Hand shop (about $2.50 a piece) and gave out one with each of my postcards.