Support on Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is coming up and it should be about the people we love. But we should also find the time to support those others who can't do that themselves.

This Valentine's Day, add a cause to your circle of loves with the Allumonde charity ring.

The Allumonde charity ring shows your commitment to helping others. 19% of the proceeds goes to the charity of your choice and 2% goes to UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).

Starting at $25, the ring comes in acrylic, stainless steel, titanium-coated stainless steel in gold and black, sterling silver and 18k gold. Order your ring at the Design21 website.

Every ring makes a difference!

Children Get Cancer, but you can help!

Before the age of 19, one in every 330 children in the United States will develop some form of cancer. Cancer is the number one cause of death due to disease in children aged one through adolescence. Brain tumors are the second-leading cause of childhood cancer, accounting for 15% of all childhood malignancies and occur mainly in children between the ages of five and 10 (National Children's Cancer Foundation, 1997).

Sobering statistics.

I mean, dang. Kids with cancer? Geez. Not to mention even if they recover, they can often fight an uphill battle trying to fit back into their old lives.

So what can you do? Diagnosis from this blogger is simple: Attend our upcoming charity fashion show and lounge party called "Christopher's Catwalk" on Thursday, Nov. 13. Even if you don't consider yourself a fashionista, chances are you'll enjoy this shindig. There will be music, art, rum samples, and an auction, and tickets are just $20 if you get on it and buy them online before Thursday night.

Since OYFP's own fashionista Adrienne has gotten most of the items for the event donated, close to 100% of the funds from your ticket price will go to help kids with cancer. That's right, those 1 in 330 who get cancer when they're under the age of 13. OYFP's partner Christopher's Haven helps kids with brain cancer and their families while the kids are getting treatment at Massachusetts General Hospital.

No excuses, folks. There's fun, there's goodwill, and there's us! See you Thursday night!

Purchase tickets online at http://oyfp.org/BOS/events/view/163/.

Clothing as Self Expression

With the upcoming OYFP charity fashion show this Thursday, my thoughts this week have turned to clothing. Just exactly why do we take it so seriously? And when does this obsession (for some of us) start?

In every culture, communication is not just what comes out of our mouth, it's our body language, it's how we fashion our hair, it's who we gather around us, it's what we put on our bodies, that communicates our message to those who know us (or don't).

Typically we start to become more aware of what we put on our bodies when we're teens. "Mom, I cannnnn'tttttt wear that!!!!! NO NO no NO No No!" This is the period when we're a little bit lost (psychologically) and trying to fit in with our identified group until we figure it all out, and it is of upmost importance we don't misstep, though invariably we always do.

Really, though, this doesn't change much even as we age. We continue throughout our lives to wear clothing similar to that of our friends, or perhaps similar to that of people with whom we would like to be friends. Researchers have postulated that clothing helps us satisfy our "higher order needs" of belonging and self-esteem. Some adults take it even farther - for them, clothing has been found to contribute to a sense of well-being or quality of life.

Think about it - we all have that favorite t-shirt or dress, and it's not only because of how it fits, but because of how it makes us feel. Even guys who proclaim "I don't care what I wear" can't help but feel good when they're wearing that blue tshirt that they know makes their eyes look good, or a suit that makes them look sharp.

So. Where do you fall on the scale of caring about what you wear? Or don't you?

Related Posts: Who is Happier?; How to be Happier
Related Events: OYFP Fashion Show, Nov 13 from 8 PM to 11 PM. Tickets are just $20, all proceeds go to Christopher's Haven.

This blog post was based on research I read about from the paper Clothing in the Self-System of Adolescents by M. Suzanne Sontag, Mihaela Peteu, and Jongnam Lee (1997).

takin' off her pants...

So if you've been wondering why it's been relatively quiet on the Miss Sassy-Pants front, it's because she's been pretty busy getting ready to exchange those pants for a dress. Yup, Miss is becoming Mrs. in just a few weeks. Yikes.

I did, however, want to take a moment to throw a quick shout out to Bridal Garden in New York. Why am I talking about a bridal boutique in a blog for non-profits and volunteerism? Whoa, Nelly, slow down there. It's a-comin' (Can you tell I'm heading back to the great Republic of Texas for the nups?).

I don't remember where or when I first read about this organization, but I'm glad to have learned about it. Bridal Garden is New York City's ONLY non-profit bridal boutique.

How does that work? Well, various stores and designers have donated their sample dresses to Bridal Garden, which then sells them at ridiculously discounted rates (some up to 75%!!) to benefit New York city kids. They also have headpieces and veils for sale as well. Don't be fooled by what appears to be a dingy, small space. In their one-room venue, they carry hundreds of designer and couture dresses from over 60 designers, and the inventory changes daily.

Want to check them out? Bridal Garden is by appointment ONLY so make sure you call before you head over. And just in case you forgot, they're located in New York City, so if you don't have a car, check out the boltbus or other cheap options to get over there while saving gas and the environment (you know how OYFP is loves behavin' green).

Only one question remains: Did Miss Sassy-Pants find her gown here?

You betcha. For less than $500 and in about 45 minutes! I'd upload a picture of the actual gown, but it's presently in Texas gettin' altered (and I also have no idea how to do that anyway!). But I'll take one when I get down there and send it to Casey, who is beautiful and fabulous with all that website internet stuff.

So, come August, when I walk down that aisle, I know I'll feel like a *million* bucks. No, not because of the gown or the fake lashes, but because I'll know that my purchase won't make some rich designer even wealthier. It will help students at the Brooklyn Charter School in the Bedford Stuyvesant area of New York City receive the best education they can get. Now, that's sassy.

Hopefully this will be Hannah and her honey on their
wedding day - feelin' like a million bucks!

Related Posts: Bringing Sexy Back~; Spring Cleaning, part deux; Clean out your closet for a good cause
Photo courtesy of Jennifer Dery photography.

Sudan-Reach UPDATE – Violence Erupts in Once Peaceful Capital City, Khartoum

In March, I interviewed Laura who (at the time) was planning a trip to the Sudan to volunteer with the Sudan-Reach Women's Foundation.

The Sudan-Reach Women's Foundation is a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based non-profit organization that, according to their website, helps "Sudanese women and girls realize their highest potential for personal and social growth through self-empowerment, education, and self-sufficiency. Our goal is to promote positive change in women's lives and enhance the communities in which they live."

Laura recently sent me an update about her trip. Here it is:

“Due to the recent outbreak of violence in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, we at the Sudan-Reach Women's Foundation were forced to cancel our two week volunteer trip scheduled to leave last Saturday, May 17th.

"The surprise attack occurred on May 10th and 11th and was launched by the Darfur rebel group Justice and Equality Movement (JEM). It is estimated that at least 200 people, including civilians, were killed in the attack.

"Although many assume that all of Sudan has been engulfed by the violence in Darfur and Southern Sudan, this attack was the first time in decades the fighting had spread as far as Khartoum, which lies in the Northern region of Sudan. Khartoum has long been considered one of the safest cities in Africa despite the wars that have raged in the outlying Western and Southern regions for many years.

"Loloa Ibrahim (the Director of Sudan-Reach) and I were shocked and saddened to hear the news that Khartoum had been attacked. Loloa grew up in Khartoum and was understandably in disbelief that the peaceful city of her childhood had become yet another battleground for Sudanese conflict. We read every news update we could find about the attack, which received little informative news coverage due to the Sudanese government's severe press restrictions, and waited for updates from Loloa's relatives and friends in Khartoum.

"Most of the fighting occurred in Omdurman, a suburb of Khartoum, where the majority of our volunteer work was to take place. It quickly became clear to us that the situation was still too volatile and unpredictable for ourselves and our volunteers to travel to Khartoum safely. After much deliberation and at the advice of our contacts in Khartoum, we made the difficult decision to postpone the trip.

"Despite this setback, we still plan on taking our group of volunteers to Khartoum at some point in the near future. This will most likely happen in January of 2009, although there is a chance it could happen sooner. We'd like to thank everyone who supported our trip these past few months. Without the support of our local community, the work we do at Sudan-Reach would not be possible.

"Feel free to check our website frequently for updates on the status of the trip as well as local events and programs.”

Thank you for the update Laura, this is unfortunate news.

This outbreak of violence in the once peaceful capital city of Khartoum is a prime example of how volatile the entire county is, as well as a testament to the need and continued support of organizations like the Sudan-Reach Women's Foundation.

Related Posts: Empowerment, Education, and Self-Sufficiency; Volunteer interview featured on SudanReach.org; Do you have an interesting volunteer story?; Volunteer Profile: Elizabeth and NEDA

Photo of Laura taken from her Facebook profile.

bringing sexy back~

i've never been one for "fashion." in fact, i'd probably be a prime candidate for "what not to wear" since stacy and clinton cringe anytime they hear someone say she dresses for comfort.

well, guess who's a (comfortable) fashionista now?!

apparently, social issues, volunteering, and blogging about social issues and volunteering is the hip new thing. kenneth cole has begun the AWEARNESS blog, which is a blog that "provides daily updates under four socially-aware pillars of discussion: Social Rights, Well-Being, Political Landscape and Hard Times [and] hopes to raise awareness around the issues that fall under these four areas in a dynamic and engaging format."

The blog also features "Q&As, original content from Kenneth Cole himself and contributions from staff members of Kenneth Cole Productions."

you can also contribute to the AWEARNESS fund, which is a not-for-profit established by Kenneth Cole, by purchasing an AWEARNESS t-shirt. the non-profit currently helps fund amfAR, the Foundation for AIDs research, and Help USA, which provides homes, jobs, and services for america's homeless.

so, who knew you could look so good just by bettering the world around you?! what are you waiting for? fashion doesn't get any easier or more comfortable than this!

(of course, if you've met the rest of the oyfp crew, you already knew that caring is sexy!) ;)

after you're done perusing the awearness blog, make sure you scoot on over to the Best of Blogs site and vote for the Volunteer Boston Blog as the Best Hobby Blog.

Images taken from the Awearness blog and Awearness site.

Give Pregnant Teens a Chance for Education

So if you have kept on gossip from everyone's favorite pregnant teen star, Jamie Lynn Spears, you may know that she has recently passed her GED and is considering going to college. She realizes that an education can open up better opportunities for her and her child.

What if she wasn't allowed to pass her GED because she is a pregnant teen? One thing's for sure, she will have less of chance of providing a better life for that of her child as a single mom without a GED.

Now imagine that high schools are in fact discriminating against teens who are pregnant and do not allow them to fulfill their educational dreams. This is the reality that is happening to pregnant teens in Africa.

These pregnant African teens are protected under the law both locally and internationally to have a right to education, however, that right is being taken from them (sometimes for life) because of the discrimination against them for being pregnant and in schools.

This is why Faith in the Future International, INC., (FITFI) was formed. FITFI empowers teen mothers in Africa between the ages of 13 to 21 who have had to drop out of school. These pregnant teens will receive vocational training, which will allow them to become independent and contributing members of their communities and will allow them to provide a better life for their children.

What can you do about it? Join FITFI for a fundraiser this Thursday, April 17th from 6-10 pm at Kennedy's Midtown (42 Province St, Boston). This event will have live music featuring Jake Hill and there will be trivia questions and prizes to be won! Any donation amount would be appreciated.

See you there!

Photo courtesy of http://danscott77.blogspot.com/2006/09/africa-2the-people.html

designgive - creativity is a gift

designgive is an apparel retail web site created by designers who donate a portion of every sale to charity. They sell mostly t-shirts, long-sleeve shirts and hoodies. One dollar of every shirt sold is donated to charity.

“As artists we were given a talent to create, it's up to you to use those talents to try and make a difference in the world.”

The buyer can choose where their donation will go from some of the largest and most far-reaching charitable organizations in the world. These groups include:

- American Diabetes Association - diabetes affects an estimated 20 million men, women and children in the United States. Out of each dollar spent by the ADA, 78 cents support research, advocacy and services for people affected by the disease.

- American Cancer Society – invests nearly $3 billion annually in cancer research since 1946. Cancer kills more than a half a million Americans each year, equaling more than 1,500 deaths per day. In the United States, cancer accounts for one of every four deaths.

- UNICEF - or the United Nations Children's Fund, provides humanitarian aid to children and mothers in developing countries. With staff in over 150 countries and territories, UNICEF is the world's leading children's organization. Contributions also support humanitarian support in the Sudan, where a $3 donation can buy a large wool blanket to protect children from the cold during an emergency.

- American Red Cross - provides relief to victims of disasters and provides respond to emergencies. The organization responds to more than 70,000 disasters each year.

- Make-a-Wish Foundation - is the country's largest wish-granting organization for children suffering from life-threatening medical conditions. The foundation has granted almost 150,000 wishes since it was founded in 1980.

- American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals - is the oldest humane organization in the United States. It has worked for over 140 years to eliminate injustices toward animals.

- Children with AIDS Charity – supports children diagnosed with pediatric HIV and AIDS. The group uses donations to fund its three-pronged approach of education, transport assistance and financial support to children and families affected by the disease.

designgive encourages designers who would like to participate in this project to contact them. Each design appearing on the designgive site will feature the artists name as well as a brief "About the Artist" section. To contact designgive check out their contact page.

“Creativity was a gift to you, now is your chance to give something back. Contribute to designgive, and realize your cause for design.”

http://www.designgive.com/

Empowerment, Education, and Self-sufficiency – The Sudan-Reach Women's Foundation

Laura is planning a trip to the Sudan this May to volunteer with the Sudan-Reach Women's Foundation. The Sudan-Reach Women's Foundation is a Cambridge, Massachusetts based non-profit organization that, according to their website, helps "Sudanese women and girls realize their highest potential for personal and social growth through self-empowerment, education, and self-sufficiency. Our goal is to promote positive change in women's lives and enhance the communities in which they live."

John R.: "Good morning Laura. Thank you for taking the time to give us a little insight on what it is that the Sudan-Reach Women's Foundation does. Please briefly describe what that is."

Laura: "Basically, we promote women's empowerment, education, and self sufficiency through various initiatives on both the local and national levels. In the Boston area we hold film screenings, fundraisers, and other events to raise awareness about the status of women in Sudan as well as to raise money for our programs. Through our website, http://sudanreach.org, we work with volunteers around the country who raise money through online fundraising pages as well as through planning events in their communities.

"Our current programs include: The Empower-a-Woman Campaign, The Sudan-Reach Scholarship Program, The Women's Education Initiative, The Orphan Project, and The Women's Self-Sufficiency Project. We will also be taking a group of volunteers to Sudan for two weeks this May to rebuild schools, help refugees, distribute relief supplies, teach, and visit orphanages.

"Sudan-Reach is unique in that we are staffed entirely by women who work on a volunteer basis. All of the funds we raise go directly to our programs and the women who need it most in Sudan."

John: "I have a simple question that might not have a simple answer - Can you tell me why the Sudan-Reach Women's Foundation is necessary? In other words, can you shed some light on the issues women face in that part of the world?”

Laura: "Absolutely. We feel one of the most problematic aspects of the conflict in Sudan is the overall lack of women's human rights. Even though women traditionally lack many rights in Sudan regardless of the conflicts that have occurred there, the current situation in Darfur has worsened an already dire human rights situation.

"One example is the sexual violence that is a huge problem not only in Darfur, but also in the refugee camps. This pressing issue, however, tends be overlooked not only within the camps, but also on the global humanitarian level. Women in the refugee camps who have been raped fear reporting it because of the social stigma that is attached to women who have been sexually abused. Many women choose not to report the abuse for fear of being ostracized and consequently forgo any medical treatment and/or emotional support. The few women who do report being raped are often shunned by their friends and family because of it.

"Another common problem for Sudanese women occurs because many women lose their husbands to the ongoing violence in Darfur. As a result, they are left with no means to support themselves and their children because they never received proper education or job training.

"Our goal is to help any woman or girl in Sudan who faces poverty and distress as a result of the ongoing conflicts happening there by providing them with the means to empower themselves and become self-sufficient। We plan to accomplish this through our programs that foster women's education, support orphanages around the country, promote self-sufficiency through micro-economic projects and business opportunities for women, and we offer small grants to Sudanese women.

"We hope that by providing these women with the means to heal themselves and their communities through education and self-sufficiency that we can slowly change the social structure in Sudan to be more accepting of women's education and empowerment."

John: “It sounds like Sudan-Reach is impacting the lives of so many Sudanese women from across the Atlantic. What are you expecting to see, learn and/or experience when you visit Sudan during your volunteer trip in May?”

Laura: "Although our Director, Loloa Ibrahim, who is from Khartoum, has described to me many times what I can expect to see there in terms of the harsh divide between rich and poor as well as the abysmal conditions in the refugee camps, I know that these images will still come as a shock to me when I see them up close and in person for the first time. I hope to learn as much as I can about the conditions that women in Sudan are facing because the more we know about them the more we can do to help.

"After the trip, I plan on using my experience in Sudan not only as a reference point for my work with Sudan-Reach, but also as a way to let as many people as I can know what the situation for women is like there from my own point of view. Lots of people have read about or heard on TV something about the condition of women in Sudan, but when you can actually hear someone you know recount their personal experience there, the situation becomes that much more real to the listener. The more real the situation becomes to a person, the harder it is for them to ignore it."

John: “I think you should be applauded for this effort and for your desire to take action to cause positive and lasting change in the lives of Sudanese women. Do you have any stories of how you’ve seen Sudan-Research cause positive change in the lives of the women you serve?”

Laura: "I think the most heartening thing I've seen while working for Sudan-Reach is the overwhelmingly positive response from women and girls all over the US to the plight of women in Sudan. We've had girls in high school from places like rural Tennessee who could easily feel disconnected from the suffering of women in Sudan, yet they choose to be proactive and contact us asking what they can do to help, instead of just feeling powerless over the situation.

"I believe women everywhere, regardless of country or background, can feel this connection to one another if they are made aware of it and open themselves up to it. I've found that women's empowerment can by cyclical; not only are we helping women in Sudan empower themselves by giving them access to education, we are also in turn empowering women in the US by showing them that regardless of where they live or how old they are, it is still possible for them to make a difference in the lives of Sudanese women."

John: “Thank you Laura. We’ve learned a lot about Sudan-Reach and how important a role that it plays in bettering the lives of women in the Sudan.”

Every day the Sudan-Reach Women's Foundation continues to advance its mission of creating positive change in women's lives and enhancing the communities in which they live. Through their many programs they have seen many lives changed for the better. With the help of donations from supporters such as you and from the efforts of volunteers such as Laura, I truly hope they continue to see improvements in the care they provide.

If you would like to support Laura in her effort to visit the Sudan, please visit her fundraising page. If you would like to learn more about the Sudan-Reach Women's Foundation please visit their website.

International Women's Day

Tomorrow, Saturday, March 8, is International Women's Day. This year marks the 100th anniversary of when 15,000 female garment workers marched through New York demanding better working conditions.

This day celebrates the accomplishments of those women and the many others who have worked tirelessly for women's rights around the world.

So what can you do in Boston to recognize this gynormous day?

You could join me at the International Women's film festival at various screens throughout Boston. At this festival they are showing films ranging from comparing Barbie to the American Jew, to understanding the complexities of your name. Well, those films sound interesting to me... and a great way to celebrate the accomplishments of the "fairer of the sexes."

What are you going to do to celebrate the women in your life (or yourself)?

Photo courtesy of jillgilbert.com

10,000 Reasons to Buy...

i'm sure many of you have heard about, passed by or even shopped in a store called ten thousand villages. if you've never heard of this store, listen up 'cause you're in for a treat.

ten thousand villages is a company whose inception was inspired by mahatma gandhi's following quote: “…India is not to be found in its few cities but in the 700,000 villages…we have hardly ever paused to inquire if these folks get sufficient to eat and clothe themselves with.”

the company extrapolated from those words their guiding principle: "each village in the world represents a unique, distinctive people…offering extraordinary products born of their rich cultures and traditions."

as one of the largest fair trade organizations in north america, this company brings in the work of artisans from over 30 countries in asia, africa, latin america and the middle east to the US. they maintain long, nurturing relationships with these individuals and offer them not only a means to live but also dignity.

ten thousand villages stores has partnered with the national coalition against domestic violence, and during the month of march, they are celebrating international women's day by hosting community shopping benefits for local domestic violence prevention agencies and shelters near the 80+ store locations throughout the country. during these events, ten thousand villages will donate a percentage of purchases to the local agency to help provide needed services, all in a concerted effort to build a global community of empowered women.

there are over 160 ten thousand villages stores across the counry, and there are three stores in massachusetts. i know budgets are tight, and pennies are being pinched, but they have items in a wide price range, so maybe you'll scrounge under those couch cushions and come up with a few dollars to impact the village in which you live. (but if you still don't think you can spare even just a few dollars, let me be the blunt woman i am and tell ya: we *are* the richest amongst all the villages.)

besides, we all deserve to live with a little dignity wherever we are, no? (although sometimes oyfp members push it a side for a little while - for a stinkin' good reason, of course!) ;)

Everyone needs a little handmade Peruvian wool vicuna love in their lives.
Yes, vicuna. They're related to alpacas and llamas.

heart to heart

children with autism hold a special place in my heart, and presently 1 in 150 individuals is diagnosed with autism. it's more common than pediatric cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined.

i can't say i've listened to this band (five for fighting) or have even heard of them, but i'll gladly pass on the link to their video because they're donating $1.00 to Autism Speaks each time it's viewed. the funding will go towards research studies to learn more about autism. when you get a moment, please visit the link below to watch the video, and spread the word to your friends and family. they're aiming for 10,000 hits (meaning $10,000 for autism research), but let's help them surpass this goal. watch the video already!

speaking of hearts, 1 in 3 women gets heart disease, and it is the number 1 killer of women. "Go Red for Women" is the nationwide movement of the American Heart Association to raise awareness about the risk of heart disease and to mobilize women to "fight back."

on friday, february 1st, AHA sponsors "national wear red day," and on that day (which is tomorrow) if you wear red to Macy's, you will receive an all-day savings pass for an extra 15% off apparel and accessories. or, if red isn't your color, you can make a $2 donation to the AHA's "go red for women" movement in the accessories department and receive a red dress pin and an all-day savings pass as well.

What are you waiting for? Get on your feet, and make sure you're wearing red!