As I prepare to head off to Mom 2.0, I have been thinking a lot about the use of my voice and the causes and efforts that mean the most to me. The truth is that there are SO many causes out there, campaigns for social good, that deserve our attention. But we cannot do all things for all groups. So just like I am trying to prioritize and set my path, I am also focusing my efforts to use my voice for good.
My Favorite Ways to Give Back
The More Birthdays campaign, through the American Cancer Society, is a bit of a no brainer for me. Coming up on my 14th birthday (from bone marrow transplant) this summer, I am keenly aware of the power of a birthday. From education about trends and issues surrounding cancer, to widespread efforts to incorporate health and wellness into our lifestyles, we should all support the fight for More Birthdays. Look for information coming soon about Choose You, a month long challenge to promote PLAY and activity for a healthy lifestyle full of birthdays and free of Cancer.
You cannot travel to Haiti with a group of passionate women to meet passionate (and wildly talented) artisans and individuals without falling in love with the land and the people. Finding ways to promote self sufficiency and sustainable growth in Haiti is just part of who I am now.
Another campaign that is a no brainer. Helping children everywhere be immunized so that they have a shot and a chance at living their dream…you just cannot turn your back on that.
I started participating in Members Unite as part of a sponsored campaign, but this site that uses community feedback and voting to decide how to give back has become a way to engage Principessa in consistent and meaningful discussions about how we can help others. She was thrilled to find out that her favorite April project, to “help the people of Twifu, Ghana curb diseases as high as 70% stemming from a lack of clean water. The project funded the installation of 25 toilets in a rural village where environmental sanitation will help a healthy community thrive.”
A Common Theme
This is not an exclusive list of campaigns that I support, but these four efforts share a theme. A theme of dreams, hope, and goals for the future. A theme of work that fosters sustainable growth and progress. A theme of effort that educates, informs, and empowers. There are a lot of brands out there that combine great business with fantastic efforts to give back to the local and global community. Toyota, TOMS, and Whole Foods are just some of the brands that I love that come to mind for their efforts to encourage sustainable progress.
With Mother’s Day, end of year gifts for teachers, graduations, and more coming….what better way to give than to use your voice or give back in honor of someone you love, admire, or want to thank. I am giving to Shot@Life in honor of the DC Listen To Your Mother show, because every child deserves a shot at being on stage.
The question is…what causes are important to you?
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Those seem like great campaigns. Thanks for posting. Have a good trip!