Making a Difference

According to GivingUSA, more than $300 billion was raised last year in charitable donations. Even in times of economic uncertainty, individuals find time to volunteer and raise money and awareness to charities that are close to their hearts. I have to admit, the holidays came and went and somehow, life got in the way of me sticking to my goal of one charitable act a month. I plan to start up again this year and hope to stick to it this time. In the meantime, I have some co-workers who are doing amazing things this year and wanted to share it with all of you, in the hopes that you can show them your support. Their causes span across the board, yet they all have one goal, finding a cure.

Walk Now For Autism Speaks
Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disorder in the U.S affecting one in every 110 children and 1 in every 70 boys. Every 15 minutes,a new family will hear the words, "your child has autism." My co-worker Andres will be participating in the walk on Sunday, June 5. To join in the fight and help Andres reach his goal of $1,000, please visit his donation page.

Team in Training
My co-worker Dave is a mentor and coach for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training. The group's mission is to fund groundbreaking research for blood cancers, such as Leukemia, Lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and Myeloma. He asks for support in his fundraising efforts as part of the summer session and build-up toward their team event, a 100-mile cycling race in Lake Tahoe on June 5, 2011. To help Dave reach his goal of $5,000, please visit his fundraising page.

MS Coast the Coast & The Bike Ride for Amy
My co-worker Ben is involved in a couple of charity bike rides this spring. The first one, an 85-mile MS Coast the Coast is on May 21 for the National Multiple Scerosis Foundation, and the second, on June 5, is the Bike Ride for Amy in support of The Amy Feiman Behar Foundation for Cancer Prevention. The foundation was formed by Ben's friend who's wife, Amy, passed away in her 40's of breast cancer. The foundation raises money so that woman in Central New Jersey without health insurance can get mammograms. To date, the foundation has provided more than 1,000 mammograms. To find out more about these charities, or to support Ben on his rides, please visit MS Coast the Coast or Bike Ride for Amy.

Revlon Run/Walk for Women
My co-worker Margaret will be participating in this walk on April 30, 2011. Since 1994, the funds raised in the EIF Revlon Run/Walks in LA and New York have together distributed over $60 million for cancer research, treatment, counseling and outreach programs. Thanks in part to these funds, new treatments are being developed, lives are being saved and hope is gaining ground. To help Margaret reach her goal of $1,500, click on her name on the Ma Feeney's Kids page.

Something Worthwhile

Do you ever sit around and wonder, "What good am I contributing in this life?" I have an amazing husband, a wonderful place to call home, an adopted puppy who is the light of my life and wonderful family and friends, but day after day, I find myself pondering that very question.

I spend the majority of my time working for "the man" and making money for a company just like most of us. I make my donations to the charities that are close to my heart, I never walk past a child asking to support their team at the grocery store, but I still feel that I could be doing more.

So I decided to set a challenge for myself. Beginning in September with Brian's Run, I will do something once a month that will directly benefit a charity or someone less fortunate than me. This can be anything from doing a 5k Walk, to volunteering at a soup kitchen, or sending a gift to a little girl who otherwise wouldn't have believed in Santa.

These tasks are so simple, yet so easily overlooked. Some people are much more fortunate than others, and are able to donate lots of money or lots of time. While that is a blessing, it is also not a reason to sit back or make excuses that "others can handle it." It's time I stop pondering this question and instead, do something about it.

So I ask you...are you ready to take this challenge with me?