WORLD WATER DAY- typeTAP

www.TheAdventureProject.causevox.com

This post's t-shirt has been replaced with a bar of soap.

Yup, a vanilla scented "Keep it Clean" bar of soap.

Instead of sharing an organization's story with you, I'm spreading the word today for:

water.

As a substance that both sustains scientifically and spiritually, a clean source of water is crucial to survival. While most are aware of the major water crisis in the world (read: almost 1 billion people lack access to clean water), fewer are aware that TODAY is World Water Day.

It’s difficult to raise awareness for something that most of us take for granted. Perhaps it’s even more difficult to comprehend the unbelievable number of individuals that lack access to clean water.

Yet, TODAY, some have given those people a voice—they have given thought to what so many of us take for granted.

Becky and Jodi over at one of the newest and coolest non-profits (The Adventure Project) have inspired over 100 bloggers to give those people without access to clean water a voice through typeTAP (typeTheAdventureProject). This project will fund water projects in India with WaterAid serving as its field partner.

The money donated to this specific campaign will empower local communities: “Instead of drilling more wells, we’re using our charitable gifts for something revolutionary – to train and employ handpump mechanics. The mechanics earn an income, bringing themselves out of poverty, and they save lives – turning water back on for thousands of people each year.” These individuals will now be equipped with the knowledge needed to repair the thousands of wells that have fallen into disrepair over the years.

You too can join the campaign TODAY because when typeTAP raises $10,000 TODAY the generous people at The Prem Rawat Foundation will double that impact (read: $20,000).

Here is my voice.

Where is yours?

www.TheAdventureProject.causevox.com

GOT YOUR BACK NETWORK

Not only has he debuted nationally on the hit TV series “The Bachelor,” but Lt. Commander Andy Baldwin (humanitarian/physician/U.S. Navy Diver) is connecting children who have lost a loved one in war with today’s “corporate executives, politicians, professional athletes, and entertainers […] to learn and be inspired by the most successful leaders of our generation.”

Roy Baldwin, President of Got Your Back Network (GYBN), explains that Andy founded GYBN after losing “two of his fellow officers in Afghanistan.” Experiencing such a debilitating personal loss, Andy watched the “adverse effect that their deaths had on their families.”

So he took matters into his own hands.

Andy used his extensive networks “within the entertainment and professional sports industries” to organize special events and mentorship activities to give to those who have suffered from losing a loved one in war.

Whether it be through grief counseling, job training, or educational scholarship opportunities, GYBN is raising people from their darkest days.

On a recent GYBN sponsored first class vacation to Disneyland, one mother told her child “Honey, this is better than winning the lottery." She, however, wasn't necessarily thinking about the rollercoasters she rode that day. Rather, she was referring to the network that GYBN created to unite families suffering from loss.

Such a unique network has allowed families to share their experiences of losing a loved one in war. Sometimes the emotional connections created through the GYBN are a mechanism of healing, in itself.

In an effort to raise funds and to “encourage families of fallen soldiers to participate” in community events, GYBN is proud to partner with the ZOOMA run in Annapolis, MD and Colorado Springs, CO in the summer of 2011.

Join the network: http://gotyourbacknetwork.org

POTTERS FOR PEACE

As a professional potter for more than 30 years, Peter Chartrand not only saw beauty in the pieces of pottery he produced, but he also saw beauty in the pottery’s ability to help others.

So, he became a Potter for Peace. Dedicated to offering “support, solidarity and friendship to developing world potters,” Potters for Peace works with potters, mostly rural women, in Central America to earn a better living.

Potters for Peace teaches specific skills to potters in developing worlds to form more efficient lifestyles. They have traveled the globe to teach communities how to make a low-cost ceramic water filter.” Instead of merely distributing water filters to be sent overseas to developing countries, Potters for Peace invests its time and creativity in empowering local partners to start their own “filter production and distribution facilities.”

Such is the essence of giving the power back to the people.

MTV's Act Blog

Check out the shout out to Charity Change on MTV's Act blog!

THIS IS A YEAR

in t-shirts

in little black dresses

in giving $10

AMERICAN JEWISH JOINT DISTRIBUTION COMMITTEE

If you call 911, an ambulance would to show up.

If you call 911 in the Jewish world, JDC would to show up.

With enough abbreviations (JDC, AJJDC, the Joint) to mirror its myriad number of programs around the world, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee’s goal (like any good non-profit) is to work itself out of business.

From its inception, in 1914, it was indeed set up to be a temporary organization—answering the dire call to help the starving Jews in Palestine by raising the equivalent of 1 million dollars in just a few days.

96 years later, JDC’s heart is still beating.

Whether its chesed volunteers are delivering food to poor elderly Jews in the Former Soviet Union or local youth are empowering kids at risk in Israel, JDC’s cutting edge programs promote leadership by encouraging individuals to take responsibility for JDC programs introduced in to their communities.

While the task of answering the 911 call in the Jewish world is no small feat, in the 1980’s, JDC began to use its expertise in humanitarian aid to expand into non-sectarian programming as well.

From working with Rick Hodes’ Ethiopian health clinic and Haiti’s rebuilding efforts to Bosnia’s Women’s Health Empowerment Programs, JDC leverages its invaluable local partnerships to create sustainable programming, ultimately transferring its programs to the community to adopt as their own.

With warehouses full of documents and photos of individuals and communities JDC has helped in the past 96 years, the organization also has thousands of living archives; each telling his or her unique story of how JDC helped save their family’s life.

Working in the field, connecting with donors, and passing JDC’s legacy on to the younger generation is often a delicate balance; one which newer organizations may struggle with.

Others may use their worldwide networks of 96 years to strike the balance.

Special thanks to Steve for his great leadership and guest modeling!

Please visit www.jdc.org for more info.

(JDC provides sustainable programming to Jews and non-Jews around the world)

CROHN'S AND COLITIS FOUNDATION OF AMERICA

Check out Ricki and her grandpa who walk for CCFA!

After being diagnosed with Crohns Disease in January 2009, I turned to the Crohns and Colitis Foundation of America to see what kind of information was out there.

What I found was more than I could ever have hoped for.

The Crohns and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) changed my life. It is a non-profit organization whose mission is to find a cure for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. There are 40 chapters nationwide with over 50,000 members.

CCFA offers endless amounts of literature about irritable bowel diseases. They provide educational programs, support groups and social functions. Living with a chronic illness is scary, but the hope and I support I receive from the volunteers at CCFA help me day to day. They are dedicated to improving the life of the 1.4 million Americans suffering from these chronic illnesses.

CCFA is volunteer driven and rely on the financial support of members and donors. It is the charitable contributions that make the research, support and educational programs possible.

For the past two years I have walked in the CCFA’s annual fundraising walk “Take Steps”. This walk helps raise money for crucial research and awareness of this unpredictable disease.

Over 100 walks take place across the country and 2010 was a record breaking year, raising over $8 million dollars.

Please visit www.ccfa.org for more info.

Thanks for sharing your story, Ricki!