March 18, 2011 by kalafleur9
Name:
Sibyl W.
Age?
59 (ouch!)
Where do you live? 
Brentwood, Tenn.
Where were you born?
I was born in Asheville, NC
What’s the highest level of education you have completed?
Graduated high school and took some college courses (Business & Psychology)
Do you have a family?
I’m divorced, no children. But years ago I had a little sister through the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program. She’s now grown with two boys of her own. Her oldest is my godson.
How did you hear about the Year of Giving?
I believe it was a story I saw online, possibly MSN but not sure.
How long have you been unemployed?
I’ve been unemployed a little over two years, but part of that time I went home to NC to take care of my mother who was very ill.
What happened?
I was working for an entertainment marketing company in LA when the recession hit and the company had to cut way back. We had very well-known clients but even the big guys had to cut spending.
Do you currently volunteer?
I currently volunteer at Saddle Up!, it’s a therapeutic horseback riding program designed for physically and mentally challenged children. I help out with three classes and love every minute of it.
Who have been your biggest influences?
My mother has been the biggest influence in life. She experienced some tough hardships but the only thing she was ever afraid of… was missing out on the fun with her family. Another is my brother. He is such a good person and received all the patience in the family.
What is your favorite food?
Chicken Fajitas, love, love, love. Oh, and biscuits and gravy. But not in the same meal. 🙂
What is the most meaningful gift you have ever received?
My mother had five brothers and they were all in the service at the time of World War II. My mother was a teenager at the time and they managed to bring her back an assortment of silver bangle bracelets. When I was a little girl I loved playing with them. Even though they were precious to her and she was afraid I would lose them, she gave them to me. (I still have them.)
Describe your ideal job:
Having my own business helping others find what they are passionate about doing and then helping them find a way to accomplish it.
Posted in Kindness Investors | Tagged big brothers/big sisters, family, horses, sibyl w, Tennessee, Week 9 | 1 Comment »
March 17, 2011 by Reed Sandridge
By Reed Sandridge, a Kindness Investor and Founder of Year of Giving.
Matt out of costume (courtesy of Faction of Fools)
I thought I would catch you up on a former recipient: Matt from Day 250. Although I met up with him in February, it somehow seemed appropriate to share this update with you this week since two days ago marked the Ides of March and you might recall Matt was portraying William Shakespeare when I originally met him at an arts festival for children back in August of 2010.
My recent encounter with Matt was at a fundraiser he was throwing to try to raise money for his nonprofit theatre company called Faction of Fools, which focuses on Commedia delle’Arte. Commedia del what? It’s a genre of theatre characterized by its use of masks, improvisation, physical comedy, and recognizable character types – all characters are based off of four specific types of characters. You can find more information here.
As I walked in the door of the Gala Carnavale I was greeted by one of the characters who announced in a thunderous voice to all the other guests, “Welcome Lord Sandridge.” I thought I was special for about a minute when the front door opened and two more people came in and their names were also proudly announced as well. I was fitted with a mask and then saw Matt, who was wearing a suit instead of a costume. I took off my mask to say hello. He looked a little tired which is reasonable right? He’s been working his but off to pull this event together.
And it was not only going on here in Washington, but all over the world. February 25th is Commedia delle’Arte day. What the heck is that you might ask? Well, “It’s the ‘birthday’ of professional theatre,” Matt explained. “On February 25, 1545, a troupe under the leadership of Ser Maphio signed the first contract of theatrical incorporation in Padua, Italy.”
“For the first time in history there are celebrations on every continent,” he shared with a glowing smile. Yep, even the winter-over crew of Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station in Antarctica was also hosting a celebration. Matt had been busy!
That's Matt under that mask performing The Great One-Man Commedia Epic
The evening was a huge success. There were some amazing items to bid on in the silent auction, delicious food and drink and of course, a sampling of theatrical pieces that they have been performing. I tried pretty hard to get some of the items in the silent auction, but I ended up getting outbid.
For those of you in DC, keep a look out for Faction of Fools. Their performances are a lot of fun. As I was writing this up I saw that Matt is doing his signature piece, The Great One-Man Commedia Epic, this Sunday at The Corner Store. It’s pretty wild. Matt plays all 12 characters!
Oh, I almost forgot. Happy St. Patrick’s Day. Be careful if you are out and about tonight. It’s amateur drinking night.
Stay tuned for tomorrow when our newest Kindness Investor, Sibyl from Brentwood, TN, starts her seven days of giving.
Posted in Not recorded | Tagged acting, arts, events, fundraising, holiday, live, nonprofits, Reed, st. patrick's day, Theater, theatre, update | 3 Comments »
March 16, 2011 by kalafleur9
Blog post by Stephanie, a Kindness Investor from Mt. Laurel, NJ.
Today’s Intention ~ I am grateful.
Meet Miss Liz. She is the hardworking friendly lunch aide and crossing guard at elementary school of my boyfriend’s son Gregory. This mother of three daughters is always concerned about the children’s safety and was surprised by my gesture. She showed her appreciation with a large smile.
According to Gregory, “Miss Liz is one of the nicest lunch aides! She is always happy and helps the children at the school.”
I wanted to involve Gregory in the project so I asked him why he was grateful for Miss Liz. He said, “Miss Liz cares for us, helps us when we need and is nice.”
She will be giving the money to the humanitarian efforts to help Japan. She is so grateful for all that she has: food, clothing , shelter and feels it’s important to give back to people who have far less, especi
ally the people of Japan.
I’m glad that today I was able to get a child involved in helping me give to someone; especially someone who offers so much help and support to children.
Today will be the last day that I will share my journey with you. I am so grateful for having the opportunity to get involved in the Year of Giving!
It was a great joy to be part of it and I truly believe it inspires others as well. I know today Gregory will be thinking more and more about giving.
A funny side note is that I keep finding money! I found $6 in an old coat, $20 in the washing machine, and my mom gave me a scratch-off lottery ticket that won $50!
Posted in Donation | Tagged crossing guard, day 56, gregory, japan, liz, lunch aide, New Jersey, Stephanie | 8 Comments »
March 15, 2011 by kalafleur9
Blog post by Stephanie, a Kindness Investor from Mt. Laurel, NJ.
I created an intention this morning ~ Today, I appreciate a kind heart!
Meet Tom, who not only has a very kind heart but also sells something very sweet and tasty, namely ice cream. Tom and his wife Shari, opened The Zebra Striped-Whale in Newtown, PA several years after his wife self published her first book, which shares the same name. When I encountered Tom he was busy at work behind the counter but was still open to share his story before I even presented him the ten dollars. I learned he used to work for years in my town (small world) and that he is the father of two daughters, Maxine (Max) and Ariele, one of which who was having her first day of work at a law firm in Philly.
When I asked Tom what was the greatest thing about his job, he answered that, “People come in excited. They know it’s going to be a happy experience, not like going to the dentist, but when they come here they know they are going to get something good to eat.”
He says the shop was designed to delight all five senses from attracting your nose with the smell of the crepes and waffles,to the taste of his delicious ice cream. Tom shared that his favorite flavor was the, “Sweet Cream because you can mix it with anything.”
The Zebra-Striped Whale is known for whirlwinds. A whirlwind invites you to choose your ice cream flavor and the toppings are blended into the ice cream by hand with a flat paddle.
Tom with Colleen.
Tom was a psych major in college and worked in sales for most of his life. He shared his dream of opening an ice cream shop with his wife and the two took it to the next level. Tom is a creative spirit both on and off the job. He created the artwork for The Zebra Striped Whale Alphabet Book, which is soon to be published. Tom’s motto is create a nice life, live well, and share good fortune and happiness with others.
Before we left, Tom surprised my friend Colleen and I by giving the $10 to her. She used it to buy “The Zebra-Striped Whale” and Tom also gave both of us a book called “Cop Buddy” that was created to honor a fallen officer. Tom and Shari not only own an ice cream shop and publish children’s books, but they also created The Zebra Striped Whale Foundation which serves the community through the art of children’s picture book publishing. He truly has a kind heart and I enjoyed meeting him.
Posted in Gave the money to someone else | Tagged childrens books, colleen, day 55, ice cream shop, newton pennsylvania, pa, Stephanie, the zebra striped whale, tom | 3 Comments »
March 14, 2011 by Reed Sandridge
Before I tell you about my amazing experience volunteering as a photographer – yep, a photographer – at a local event for individuals with multiple sclerosis, I want to do a shameless plug for two volunteering opportunities that are coming up…and I need you to come out and volunteer.
Servathon DC – On Saturday April 16th Team Year of Giving will help Greater DC Cares. We’ll most likely be assigned to a local DC school or public park. Click here, sign up and choose to join a team. Then when prompted with the list of available teams, scroll down to the bottom and you should find Team Year of Giving!
Hands on DC Work-A-Thon: Similar to Servathon, this is a large city-wide initiative that focuses on improving DC Public Schools. Click here to join…be sure to join Team Year of Giving!
Dr. Byrne, who turned 60 on this day, spoke to the audience on the power of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
Speaking of volunteering, my most recent volunteer outing was with the National Capital Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. A Day of Healing was a half-day program that was offered, free of cost as I understand it, in conjunction with the local YMCA for people in the DC area living with MS. An autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system, MS affects approximately 300,000 people (mostly women) in this country.
I arrived a few minutes late, having promised earlier that I would arrive by 10am. I somehow got stuck in the middle of a road race and couldn’t get unstuck for about 30 minutes. Thankfully I had given myself plenty of time to get there. When I finally did arrive I was greeted by Emily, a senior communications manager for the MS Society.
Adaptive yoga was a popular session
The day’s program started with a light breakfast, followed by an opening ceremony and group meditation led by Dr. Hugh Byrne who is an expert in mindfulness – the art of bringing a direct, non-judging awareness to our own experience, moment-by-moment. I think this is mostly done through meditation, but it seems clear that you can do this throughout your day as well.
I was instructed to try to get some photos in the opening session of Dr. Byrne speaking and leading the group meditation. First of all, I got to tell you that Dr. Byrne is your man if you want to meditate. I wasn’t even really trying to meditate, remember my task was to capture images, and I was like a baby being lulled to sleep by his calm British accent. But no time to relax, I have to get some photos.
Photographing people meditating is really awkward…second only to covering a funeral probably. You have a sea of attendees all motionless with their eyelids closed; resting like heavy clouds. The worst thing probably, besides the occasional hotel staffer who would make some noise, was the sound of me snapping pictures! Anyway, I tried to be respectful and got through the session. I don’t know if they will be able to use them though because basically it looks like an audience full of bored attendees who have fallen asleep!
Art proved to be a very relaxing activity.
Later the attendees had the opportunity to attend two of three break-out sessions that focused on yoga, nutrition and art therapy. Somewhere in the mix there was a lunch too where Dr. Byrne would deliver the keynote address and talk about Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and how it can positively affect those living with MS.
I weaved in and out of the break-out sessions trying to get good photographs despite the blah yellowish-gold colored rooms that were backdrops to the images I was to capture. What is it about hotel conference rooms that dictate that they be painted this terrible color anyway. All the while I have to be mindful of those with an orange circle on their badge. That meant they didn’t want to be photographed. Don’t tell anyone, but I’m color- blind. But I did the best I could!
Some people literally rolled up their sleeves and got dirty too!
Back at the lunch I set down my Nikon for a while and enjoyed the spread of food (who says there’s no free lunch!) and concentrated on Dr. Byrne’s presentation. Let me tell you that I am not someone who is into meditation and yoga. The only thing worse than sitting still for me is sitting still and getting blood work or a cavity filled (sorry Dr. Robinson!) But I will say that I really enjoyed Dr. Byrne’s presentation and did allow myself to relax some too.
According to our keynote speaker, subjects in a recent MBSR study reported improved memory and empathy while reducing stress. Now what was really astonishing was that when they did MRIs of these individuals the participants in the MBSR program showed increased brain density in the areas that deal with cognitive learning, compassion and introspection. Furthermore they experienced a thinning of the brain matter that relates to stress and anxiety. Nobody in the control group experienced such changes. Now that is pretty phenomenal. You might make me a believer out of this after all.
Adaptive Yoga Session
There were other impressive studies as well such as one done by researchers at UCLA that showed a slowing of the progression of HIV in patients who practiced MBSR. Dr. Byrne, who was celebrating his 60th birthday on this day, left us with one clear message: “Attitude is everything.” What is the attitude that we bring to our current situation? I am a big believer in the power of positive thinking and attitude and couldn’t agree more with his emphasis on this point.
If you would like to help the MS Society by volunteering or making a donation, please visit www.nmss.org. And for those of you in the DC area, come out and join them at Walk MS on April 9, 10th and 16th. Click here for more details.
Posted in Volunteering | Tagged DC, meditation, multiple sclerosis, photography, rosslyn, speakers, VA, volunteering, washington, Week 9, yoga | 2 Comments »
March 13, 2011 by kalafleur9
Blog post by Stephanie, a Kindness Investor from Mt. Laurel, NJ.
I created an intention this morning ~ Today, I honor healthy living and well being!
I met Beth at Starbucks and we chatted over coffee. She is a mother of four and a breast cancer survivor with a great faith and zest for healthy living. She knew over 12 years ago she was fighting for her life against the 
aggressive form of cancer. With the support of her loving husband and the desire to raise her children (ages 5 to 13 at the time), she began “feeding” herself all kinds of fruits, vegetables and healthy foods while surrounding herself with positive people. She was receiving great support through letters from other cancer survivors who openly shared their stories of what they did to win the battle. Beth also focused on prayer and asked God to help her with the fight. The cancer itself became a catalyst in itself to live a healthier lifestyle.
With the power of veggies she was not only able to rebuild her immune system but also created a path for her family to become healthy as well. though Beth went through chemo, radiation and surgery, she truly believes God taught her how to be healthy and in doing so led her to become educated about whole foods. She learned a great deal from Christine Pirello, a local food expert and studied at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.
Beth is now better known as a health coach and instructs others to eat healthy. She works with children, teens and adults while also running her own website! Beth believes you don’t change anyone by telling them to change; rather you give them reasons to want to change. For her, the reason to create change in her own life came from the fight to beat cancer and she now uses that passion to help others change.
I would highly recommend Beth as a health coach. I appreciate her openness to share her knowledge. Healthy eating for her is less about a diet, and more about creating a lifestyle of choices that are easy to implement. She says it’s easy steps that make the difference. People, she feels, should simply cook for leftovers, create their own healthy snack packs (especially for kids) and eat more foods that grow.
I had considered myself a “healthy eater” but Beth shared a great tip for me. I tend to like “soft” foods: yogurt, avocado, humus, etc. I honestly I don’t love food and therefore don’t spend much time cooking, preparing or eating. Beth shared the value of simply taking more time to chew the food I’m eating because it allows the body to release more enzymes to aid in digestion. Speaking with Beth helped to highlight that I always seem to be eating on the go, even when I am eating healthier foods. I have a new attitude towards healthy living thanks to Beth and now value the time it takes to eat properly.
Much in the way Beth passes along great advice, she is going to give the $10 to someone else.
Posted in Gave the money to someone else | Tagged beth, cancer survivor, day 54, eating right, healthy living, Stephanie | 3 Comments »
March 12, 2011 by kalafleur9
Blog post by Stephanie, a Kindness Investor from Mt. Laurel, NJ.
Day 4 Intention ~ Today, I Choose Greatness
I had the great honor to meet 9 1/2 years old Stephanie E. at Indigo Moon, a yoga/massage and gift shop where her mom works. Stephanie is great not just because she shares a great name as me, but she is truly an all around amazing kid. As a fourth gra
der, she is a Safety Patrol Monitor at her school. Her role is to help as a hallway monitor and bus buddy. Stephanie is also involved in The Circle of Giving program at her school that was created to honor a teacher’s son who passed away in the third grade. Stephanie believes the program has been going on since the 90’s. She thinks it’s a great opportunity because over Thanksgiving she volunteered at The Ronald McDonald House. Stephanie has also decided to give back by volunteering to help the Food Bank of New Jersey feed people, especially children.
She decided to volunteer with her mom. I asked Stephanie, “Why is your mom great?” Stephanie said her mom is funny and makes her laugh. She says being funny helps people to be happy.
This young girl is not only giving in many ways, but also talented. She is a great artist, an excellent writer and loves gymnastics, even though she is now healing from a sprained ankle. Stephanie also likes swimming in the summer and always loves playing with her dog, Brodie.
This young lady describes herself as, “crazy in my own way.” I asked her what that meant. She said she likes to entertain people and is usually energetic and happy. Stephanie said the greatest gift you can share each day is happiness. I have to say, I agree!
Kids are great and so are you, Stephanie. I love the creative person you are. You are a leader and will continue to do great things in your life!
Posted in Not recorded | Tagged day 53, New Jersey, Stephanie, Stephanie E., talented child, volunteer | 4 Comments »
March 11, 2011 by kalafleur9
Blog post by Stephanie, a Kindness Investor from Mt. Laurel, NJ.
Today’s Intention ~ Today, I Appreciate Joyful Living
I met birthday girl Liz at Border’s Bookstore. She was working intently at her computer while listening to her iPod, the image of today’s college student. I approached her as she was packing up and she was at first surprised and unsure about the Year of Giving. She asked if I was going to ask her a bunch of “philosophical” questions about the meaning of life. Being a deep thinker, I thought if we had more time I probably would have. Instead I said I just wanted to learn a little bit more about her and her story.
Liz began sharing that she took a year off after highschool before she started community college. She is currently undeclared, but she does harbor the idea of eventually going to law school. She told me she would also like to take philosophy classes in college.
Liz went on to explain her passion for story telling. She told me about a fictional love story she wrote in a blog a year ago. She elaborated that she was contacted by a man who wants to turn the romance into a movie after Liz converts the blog into a script. I now wonder if that is what she was working on before I approached her with the $10. Liz also shared a ghost story with me about Ellicot City, Marlyand which I thought was funny because I have actually been there before.
Later in the conversation, I found out that it was Liz’s birthday and she was meeting up with a friend soon, but before she left I asked her what 3 things bring her joy in her life. She said her Bichon Hagen, her family (Liz currently lives with her mom and her older brother just got married), and finally that one day she may be discovered! Hmmm, I wonder if that means joy that she will discover in herself or someone will discover her great talents as a writer.
Liz was a friendly young woman who I enjoyed speaking with!
I made an avatar of Liz because she didn’t want her picture taken. Her hair was more blond with longer bangs, but I wanted to do something fun to honor the birthday girl/college student/writer who loves her dog and family! Oh and she said the $10 will buy her coffee. She loves coffee and it keeps her going. We both shared a good laugh that I was able to give her a surprise birthday gift!
Posted in Food & Beverage | Tagged college student, day 52, dog, family, liz, New Jersey, Stephanie, writer | 2 Comments »
March 10, 2011 by kalafleur9
Blog post by Stephanie, a Kindness Investor from Mt. Laurel, NJ.
I created an intention this morning ~ Today, I focus on listening.
My next Year of Giving experience brought me to my local library, a place I hadn’t really been to since I was a kid. I was motivated to sign up for a library card when I was there because I found a series of children’s books called “The Way To Be” series which interested me.
This is where I met Carl B, who can best be described as “a wealth of historical knowledge”. We began talking and Carl shared stories about Shakespeare, Abraham Lincoln, Milton Hershey, Da Vinci, Pearl Harbor, The Roman Empire and Ancient Greeks.
He is currently unemployed himself, but dreams about being a highschool history teacher one day. I was amazed at the “wealth of knowledge” Carl has within him and could easily share with high school seniors. He said he was always interested in history since 5th grade and he learned a lot from books and museums. He did say history movies sometimes fabricate the truth but documentaries are more accurate. What fascinated me was Carl, didn’t just share historical facts and info. He talks about history like he lived it and knew the people directly. He talked about the character of people, the stories that aren’t always in text books, and the history of objects and technology.
Carl was very friendly, talkative and is truly motivated to make a difference in teens. He said his dream would be to teach seniors specifically because that would be the last year to motivate them to go to college and continue learning. He believes he is a self-taught historian because of his hunger to learn about the past.
Carl plans to donate the money to PHILABUNDANCE, an organization that helps feed the hungry throughout Philly and the Delaware Valley. Every year he gives them money and shares a quote from Deuteronomy.
Posted in Donation | Tagged carl b, day 51, history, New Jersey, Stephanie, teaching | 2 Comments »
March 9, 2011 by kalafleur9
Blog post by Stephanie, a Kindness Investor from Mt. Laurel, NJ.
I created an intention this morning ~ Today, I am open!
I wrote up a certificate that said “I value you & your story” to give to today’s recipient. I eagerly left my house ready to meet my $10 recipient. I went to the bank with 4 $20 bills and asked for 8 $10 bills. Seven bills were for my YOGI’s (Year of Giving Investment) this week and one bill was left over for me. 🙂
While I was at the bank, I overheard the teller next to me tell the young woman that she was in the negative. I had been there before and bounced a check, so her situation hit home for me. I wanted to hand her the $10 but she was with the teller, had a cell phone call on hold and her mom was waiting for her in the car. Honestl
y, the scenario to give her the money at that moment didn’t seem like an open opportunity so I left the bank and ventured off.
I went to Panera for lunch, thinking this was a perfect place to meet a YOGI, but the place seemed crowded, busy and sadly the people felt closed off to making connections with a stranger. I left and later set out to Whole Foods. I was aware that it still seemed difficult to even make eye contact with people. Everyone seemed to be in a hurry. The customers seemed to be looking in their wallets, talking on their cell phones or focusing on where they were going next.
I did approach a woman shopping with her 4 year old child, and to my surprise she was not open to talk with me at all. She quickly raced away saying, “My child is with me.”
I was let down for a moment and felt she really wanted to protect her child. I have always promoted Kindness in schools and enjoy connecting with children. People tell me I have a natural gift for this, but I didn’t realize how challenging it is to connect with people I don’t know who are going about their everyday routines and schedules.
Feeling like I may fail myself and not find someone to connect with, I looked over at the last register and watched a middle-aged woman tap a man on the shoulder and point to a bill on the ground. I believe it was only a dollar bill, but I observed this woman’s kind gesture. The man was not even aware that he dropped money, but picked it up and graciously thanked the woman. After the woman paid for her salad, I approached her smiling and gave her the $10. I said I observed her gesture and that I would like to give her $10 as part of the Year of Giving. She was shocked and surprised, so I started our conversation by explaining just what YOG was.
Cheryl F. accepted the $10 and told me she is the mother of four teenage girls ages 12, 14, 16 and 18. She said the hardest thing about being a mother was how close in ages her girls are and wished daily responsibilities did not get in the way of her spending more time with them. Cheryl works as a Home Health Aide and helps serve the elderly. She shared how our elderly are a lot like children – needing lots of care and attention, too. She said she enjoys her job and helping other people out.
When I asked how she will use the money, Cheryl said, “I will hold on to it and then pay it forward!” She wanted to tell her daughters about what happened today. I thanked Cheryl for sharing her story and for being so kind. Cheryl was warm, friendly and cares about her daughters and the elderly!
Posted in Savings | Tagged cheryl, children, Day 50. new jersey, elderly, random acts of kindness, Stephanie | 5 Comments »
March 8, 2011 by kalafleur9
Name:
Stephanie
Age?
35
Where do you live?
Mt. Laurel, NJ
Where were you born?
Voorhees, NJ
What’s the highest level of education you have completed?
B.S. in Elementary Ed and Special Ed.
Do you have a family? 
I have an AWESOME FAMILY, GREAT FRIENDS who are like family to me and a WONDERFUL Boyfriend, Greg. His kids, Gregory & Grace are a ton of FUN too. To tell the truth, I feel connected to a greater global family as well!
How did you hear about the Year of Giving?
Facebook last Spring 🙂
How long have you been unemployed?
The beginning of Jan.
What happened?
What happened was honestly an unexpected story I could tell. I didn’t expect to lost my job, but in the bigger picture I believe the ending occurred in my life for something new to begin. I valued the experience and loved working with kids, but I feel the change occurred in my life to empower me to create something more!
Do you currently volunteer?
I did volunteer the last two months to help co-create a character education curriculum for BUNNY HULL of DREAM A WORLD. She wrote a series of awesome books called “The Young Masters Little Wisodom” series. I am now looking for a Montessori School to pilot the program at. I have also recently volunteered to put together 15 raffle baskets for a friend’s mom who lost her home do to a house fire.
Who have been your biggest influences? 
Wow, many people have influenced me throughout my life. I am inspired by my mom’s kind and giving spirit, the teachers who recognized something greater within me and helped pull it out, and I am often influenced and inspired by children. Since I was young I have been positively influenced by Walt Disney’s spirit because he had a vision and dream and made it come true. I’d like to create something for kids based on my own visions and dreams.
What is your favorite food?
I ate at Planet Raw Organic Food restaurant in California once and not only did the food look like a beautiful work of art, but it felt like heaven. By far it was the most satisfying food I have ever eaten in my life!
What is the most meaningful gift you have ever received?
I have received lots from friends in family in forms or loving supportive energy, but I also love receiving “gifts” from nature, like finding heart rocks while I am on a walk or finding a tree smiling at me. (See pic) I find these “gifts” from nature are soooo much FUN!
I also feel it’s a “great gift from the universe” when I am driving and I find a license plate that speaks to me, like
WITHLUV, PEACEINU, LUVNLYF, HV F8TH, B-THEONE, BSTRONG, LVLIFE
(These are all license plates I hav
e seen and when I safely can, I snap a pic)
The best one was HOPE ANN because that is the “pen name” I gave to myself for the two children’s books I wrote. Whenever I see a license plate it’s like the perfect words for the day that often lifts my spirits!
Describe your ideal job:
Wow, I have begun to think I don’t want just another job. What I wish to do in my life would require lots of work, but I would rather be known as a creator as well as a published author who also designed products that positively influence children. More than anything I would eventually love to be the creator of a children’s discovery play center called A MAGIC NATION! It would be a place that brings a child’s imagination to life by focuses on the mind, body, spirit. This great space for kids would also feature a place called HEART KIDS PLAY SHOP, a creative gift shop where the products have a great value and purpose!
Posted in Food & Beverage, Kindness Investors | Tagged childrens books, kindess investor, New Jersey, raw food, Stephanie, Week 8 | Leave a Comment »
March 7, 2011 by kalafleur9
Blog post by Maria D., a Kindness Investor from Washington, DC.
A 6 foot 2, mid-forties man walks around the living room, adorned in tattered army fatigues and tennis shoes. He looks tired and antsy as his eyes quickly jet around the room. He just finished sweeping the floor and talks to the staff person on duty. “Yeah, okay. I’ll take out the trash.”
It’s Sunday and chore time for all the residents (about a dozen) at this house – an adult home for the mentally ill in Pacthogue on Long Island, New York. I wanted to help, but got the feeling chores are part of the structure and not to disturb it. I later found out that “John” (he declined to provide his name or be photographed) is a Gulf War I veteran from NY who had a breakdown and never recovered. His parents live nearby and visit him fairly often, which isn’t always the case in the adult home. Some residents only have each other as friends and family.
I wasn’t going to be there long, so I decided to just go for it and ask John if he’d accept the $10 for the Year of Giving project. “Well
, I dunno,” was his initial response. But upon assurance from the staff person Rita, John agreed to accept the money. When asked what he plans to do with the money, he was reluctant. “Well, I’m not sure yet, why, what does it matter? Well, I might save it, might give it to my mom.” It seemed like a lot of money to him and he didn’t want to blow it all at once.
In terms of what he needs or what people could give him, John didn’t feel comfortable with that. So I guess what I would offer is that you don’t dismiss people right away if they seem a little different – you never know their story. A little tolerance can go a long way. And if you are so inclined, there are many adult homes around the states who are underfunded and in need of volunteers, not to mention various veterans’ causes.
And thanks, it’s been an interesting experience being a Kindness Investor!
Posted in Savings | Tagged day 49. new york, john, Maria D, mental illness, veteran | 2 Comments »
March 7, 2011 by Reed Sandridge
Before I share with you my amazing volunteer experience at Miriam’s Kitchen here in Washington, DC, I want to introduce you to a very important person at the Year of Giving. His name is Kyle.
A photo of Kyle when I met him back in October of 2010.
Some of you might remember him from Day 311 last year when I gave him my $10 for the day after seeing him do a stand-up routine at a local open mic night. He recently graduated from the University of New Hampshire and completed an internship here in Washington, DC at a talk news radio station.
The Year of Giving has grown and around the beginning of this year I realized I needed some help. Kyle volunteered to be the Web Editor and help keep the daily blog posts coming. In addition to volunteering with the Year of Giving, he’s currently looking for magazine or internet related journalism work in New Hampshire, Washington, DC or potentially other areas of the country. Please reach out and let him know if you have any connections or ideas for him. Although he has worked in news, I know that he is also very interested in music and film journalism.
So back to today’s volunteer experience. I was so impressed when I walked into Miriam’s Kitchen. It was warm, not because of the ovens but because of the love. I was almost immediately met by Ashley, the Development and Volunteer Manager. She gave me, and the other 8-10 volunteers for the day, an overview of the 28-year-old organization. “We like to bring people in through our healthy great tasting food,” she said going on to add that their guests usually stay and utilize the many other services available to their guests. There was a station full of donated personal hygiene products, a security guard who also gives a hell of a sharp-looking haircut, case managers, legal assistance, access to healthcare, etc. “A lot of our guests don’t have a physical address so we allow them to have mail sent here too,” she added.
I strapped on a blue or purple apron (I’m color-blind, so who knows which one it was) and was sent to help out Chef Tom. He had me preparing some home-made chicken and duck stock. After that I helped wash some of the items used earlier that morning and get them put away. After the kitchen was in good shape it was time to go out and work the front side of the house.
The inviting dining room had about 25 tables, all with fresh flowers on them, some of them even had cards and games on them. The walls were covered with art work from the guests. “It’s a fun environment,” Ashley said as smiling staff members and volunteers started to greet guests making their way in out of the cold. I was assigned to the personal hygiene station and got to interact with several of the guests who needed essential items such as multi vitamins, deodorant, toothpaste, shaving supplies, condoms, etc. Everything of course is free for the guests; however, they are limited to receiving a reasonable amount of the items.
Just one of the delicious items being prepared at Miriam's Kitchen.
Ashley then asked if I would help refill juice cups to those who were seated eating their lunch. This got me circulating a bit more and I was able to spot some familiar faces: Jim M., Lionel and Bill C. I spent some time speaking with each of them and will update you in the coming weeks on how these 2010 YOGIs are doing.
Lunch came to an end and the dining area transformed into an art center with several of the guests busy working on projects. Bill was working on a new painting. “I’m not sure what it is going to be yet,” he told me as he applied some broad strokes to the canvas. He showed me several of his pieces which were going to be highlighted in an art show being held the following day at Miriam’s.
My shift ended and I cleaned up and said my goodbyes. I walked out into the brisk afternoon, the sun warming my face as I headed north along 24th Street. I was impressed by how well the staff seemed to know the guests. “Yesterday we had 212 guests for breakfast,” Ashley told me earlier, “and our case managers knew all but three of them by name.” Everyone there seemed happy. It was almost family-like.
Reed finishing up in the kitchen.
This appears to be a really well run operation. That being said, they rely on support from volunteers and donations. If you live in the DC area you can check their list of volunteer needs. In addition to your time they need lots of items for their guests such as: gloves, socks, long johns, sleeping bags, jackets, yarn, crazy glue, Crayola markers. If you would like to donate any of these items, reach out to me and I can see that they get there. If you would prefer, you can also make a financial contribution.
Thanks to Ashley and everyone at Miriam’s! You guys are awesome.
Posted in Volunteering | Tagged assistance, DC, helping others, homeless, homelessness, poverty, Reed, update, volunteering, washington, Week 8 | 1 Comment »
March 5, 2011 by kalafleur9
Blog post by Maria D., a Kindness Investor from Washington, DC.
Say hello to the ambitious and thrifty Griffin! He’s a young New Yorker who has called Long Island his home for eleven years of life. I got the chance to meet him while down at my Aunt’s local library and decided, why not give the $10 to a young person. Children are our future, right?? So with his mom’s approval, of course, I told Griffin about Reed’s Year of Giving, what it stands for and asked him if he’d be my recipient of the day.
Right off the bat it was clear that Griffin has a value for money and that it is important to him to save for a rainy day. His parents have a family owned business that he hopes to be part of in the future. As such, he decided to save the money by putting it into the bank. “It’s important to me to put the money away so I can have money for the future.”
Griffin’s family also engages in philanthropic activities and fundraising is another value that has been instilled in him. “When we’re making money, then we can help other people too. That’s something my parents tell me is important to do.”
And there you have it, folks – he’s young, wise, and looking to do good in his adult years. Good luck Griffin!
Posted in Savings | Tagged 11 years old, day 48. long island, griffin, Maria D, responsibility, youth | 3 Comments »
March 4, 2011 by kalafleur9
Blog post by Maria D., a Kindness Investor from Washington, DC.
Greetings to Emma, from Takoma Park, MD. She’s lived in the area her whole life and loves the community she shares with others. She had a big dose of skepticism though and declined to be photographed or exchange contact information. She decided to give the $10 to her friend Marilyn’s business as a donation. “She’s in financial strain and I know she could use the money.”
When asked if we could do anything for her, she rummaged through her bags (luckily before the bus came) to find her friend Marilyn’s flyer. “If you could get the word out, that’d be great. She’s a really deserving person and just needs a break right now to help her with her family expenses piling up.”
Marilyn sells health products through her website portal:
www.MarilynCooper.FreeLife.com. So if you have time, check it out. Maybe you’ll find something you need and can help support a mom looking to take care of her family. Thanks for the brief but encouraging encounter, Emma!
Posted in Donation | Tagged Day 47, Emma, health products, Maria D, Maryland, Takoma Park | 1 Comment »
March 3, 2011 by kalafleur9
Blog post by Maria D., a Kindness Investor from Washington, DC.
Give a warm welcome to Jay. He’s a 22-year old born and raised in the District who currently works at Washington Sports Club. Jay considers himself to be currently underemployed, like so many of us, and has aspirations of being a mechanic. “I’m going to go into the Coast Guard. They gave me an offer to be a mechanic, which will put me on my way to pursuing my longtime dream of having my own mechanic business.”
Jay has been the first person I met so far who knew about the Year of Giving and Reed. “Hey, wasn’t that guy in the newspaper, I think Street Sense? His story was really inspiring.”
How so, I asked. “Well here was this guy who had a great job, then lost it, and was unemployed but handing out money to people. I especially remember the story on the tall, black homeless guy with long white dreads and a staff. Yeah, that story was really inspirational to me.”
And what will Jay be doing with the $10? “You know, Metro’s getting pretty expensive, so that’s where it’s going to go.” But Jay was also concerned with how I’d be able to give him the money. I’m budgeting for it, by giving up lunches out this week. “Well now I feel bad, are you sure?” Ha, YES! Somebody take the money, please!! But a sweet sentiment, nonetheless.
A few things I took away from this encounter are 1) It’s amazing how much money I waste all the time that I could be saving for a rainy day, giving to others, etc. and being underemployed helps put things in perspective; 2) It’s exciting to meet people like Jay who have aspirations and are finding the path and taking the steps to lead them to their goals; 3) Reed is kind of a big deal… Looking forward to tomorrow!
Posted in Transportation | Tagged coast guard, day 46, DC, Jay, Maria D, mechanic, Metro, underemployed | 10 Comments »
March 2, 2011 by kalafleur9
Blog post by Maria D., a Kindness Investor from Washington, DC.
Tadiyass! (that means hello in Amharic)
Well friends, I had the pleasure of meeting Asrat last weekend and would like to introduce him to you all. I have only taken a cab 3 or 4 times since moving to the DC area in October 2010. Serendipitously, out of the few times I have hailed a random cab, I’ve had the good fortune to ride with Asrat twice! Each time I was feeling low but both time we cheered each other up by chatting about topics ranging from national politics to Neti pots. That is to me what being human is all about – connecting with one another.
Anyway, Asrat is originally from Ethiopia and has resided in the DC/MD area for the past 8 years. He has some family here but most are still in Ethiopia and it has been a long time since Asrat has seen them. He sends money and other things home and works incredibly hard everyday as a cab driver in order to take care of himself and others. In fact, both times I have met him, he’s just started a second shift after a brief nap at home.
Asr
at’s life can be rough at times, but he did have some advice for those currently un- or underemployed, “Work hard to find a job. You don’t have to wait, it’s not easy, but you don’t need to depend on others.”
It was this hard work ethic that may have lead him to do what he did with the $10 I handed over. “I’ll give it back to you, thank you.” It was a kind gesture, but not surprising coming from a kind man. Even though Asrat thoroughly enjoys engaging with others on the job, he is often concerned for his safety. As such, what would Asrat want or need from us? A safer job. Not too much, if you ask me…
Posted in Gave the money back | Tagged Asrat, Day 45, DC, Ethiopia, hard work, Maria D, taxi | 10 Comments »
March 1, 2011 by kalafleur9
Blog post by Maria D., a Kindness Investor from Washington, DC.
Say a big hello to Mrs. Marilyn J. If you’re going to sit down and chat with her, get ready to laugh your head off because Marilyn epitomizes what it’s like to be young, flirty and fresh at ANY age. This grandma had taken a roughly hour and a half journey by bus and Metro to get to the Kennedy Center to see the ever-shocking, totally filthy red-headed comic Kathy Griffin. When asked why she traveled so far alone to the show, she replied, “Are you kidding me! I’m not just 
gonna rot at home. And this just sounded like fun! So I’m here!” In fact, she laughs at her kids when they ask her about being older. “I wouldn’t trade my age for any other in the world. I’m totally satisfied.”
This beautiful Canadian gem gave me all kinds of advice on topics from career and love to life and fashion (she was sporting a very lovely dress, by the way, purchased for $5 at Burlington Coat Factory). When she heard I was an under/unemployed lawyer, she had some ideas. “Well honey, get involved in immigration law. That was one hell of a struggle for me and my husband when we came here. Sheesh!”
Marilyn’s husband passed away 6 years ago, but she’s still going strong in her job as a Parks and Services Manager at an RV store in Cherry Hill Park. Marilyn fell into the job on account of her husband and she absolutely loves it. “I love what I do, lemme tell you. I sure get paid too much to be so happy! But don’t tell my boss that, shhh….”
When I asked what she’d be doing with the $10, she replied, “Hmm well I tell you what. I’m going to be giving it to a budding lawyer. Because she needs it a heck of a lot more than I do!” As I handed her the $10 and she promptly handed it back to me she noted, “Now you make me proud! I want to know what happens to my investment!”
I’ll sure do my best, Marilyn.
Posted in Gave the money back | Tagged age, comedy, day 44, DC, Kathy Griffin, Maria D, Marilyn J, sense of humor, week 7 | 2 Comments »
February 28, 2011 by Reed Sandridge
Thanks for those of you who have reached out to become Kindness Investors! The next few weeks are certain to be exciting!
As you know, I dedicate every Monday’s blog post to my weekly volunteer experiences. I recently stumbled upon an interesting organization called the Center for Nonprofit Success (CFNPS) whose mission is to provide the training, knowledge and resources to help nonprofit organizations succeed. I thought this would be an excellent group to help out.
CFNPS holds monthly seminars on a variety of topics salient to the success of nonprofits. Volunteers are utilized to help produce the events and I applied and was accepted to help with a session titled, “Strategic Alliances 101.”
I showed up at 7:30am as requested and searched for someone from CFNPS. I was surprised not to find anyone. There was one woman who seemed to be managing everything but she told me that she didn’t work for CFNPS and in fact was a volunteer herself. “I’ve volunteered one other time with them,” she told me.
“So who is from CFNPS,” I asked a few of the other volunteers.
Nobody seemed to know based on the silence and shoulder shrugs. As it turns out there was nobody there from the organization. They rely completely on volunteers. Part of me loves this model, the other part realizes that there were some downfalls as a result. None of us really knew anything about the organization and were unable to answer questions from the attendees.
My name tag from the seminar
Anyway, I got to work organizing the registration desk and welcoming attendees. It went rather smoothly thanks to the great team of volunteers. The room completely filled up, I’m guessing there were about 50 attendees. There were four speakers and the program got started just a few minutes after the 8:00am schedule start time. Although I thought the speakers were good and quite knowledgeable about their respective areas of expertise, I didn’t think they really addressed the topic that was listed in the program:
This Session will explore:
-How to know if a Strategic Alliance will benefit your organization
-The different kinds of alliances and partnerships and how nonprofits can benefit from them
– A step by step guide to setting up a partnership
-Identifying suitable partners
– Common mistakes to avoid with your strategic partner
– How to evaluate whether your alliance is producing a return on investment
You will leave this session with a full understanding of how and why a strategic alliance can benefit your organization, and the best ways to set one up.
The four presenters spoke almost exclusively about fundraising. After the second speaker, a few of the attendees began to ask me if they were at the right session. I assured them they were, however, I too noticed that the presentations didn’t seem to address the topics above and certainly didn’t give someone a “full understanding of how and why a strategic alliance can benefit your organization, and the best ways to set one up.” One attendee was really bothered and complained that he had taken time out of his busy schedule to attend, not to mention had paid $100 to participate. “This is a waste of time,” he said as he packed up his items and just left.
All in all it was an interesting experience. I actually got something out of the presentations since I am involved in fundraising in my profession, however, it was clear that many of the attendees found themselves utterly confused with the incongruence between the description and presentations.
CFNPS holds seminars in the following cities: Boston, Chicago, Indianapolis, Minneapolis, New York, San Francisco, Seattleand Washington, DC. Click here for a calendar of upcoming events.
Next Monday I will be sharing with you my experience volunteering at Miriam’s Kitchen! Stay tuned.
Posted in Volunteering | Tagged conferences, DC, nonprofits, Reed, seminars, volunteering, washington, Year of Volunteering | 1 Comment »
February 27, 2011 by Reed Sandridge
Blog post by Maria D., a Kindness Investor from Washington, DC.
Photo: Maria D.
Meet Alex. She’s a vibrant, young woman, full of life and energy. She’s lived in Australia, Oregon, Chicago, and attended undergrad at Northwestern. Alex has a passion for grapes, which is what has led her to her current gig as Director of Marketing and Communication for Washington Wine Academy, based out of Arlington, VA.
But it wasn’t a smooth transition – she was an unemployed, “freaking out” new graduate “loafing” around Oregon and came to VA on a whim to take a wine certification class after working at Winestyles in college. Her instructor at WWA saw something in her that he wanted to snatch up, and hired her back in April 2010.
Alex’s gamble of moving out East from Oregon seems to have paid off as she loves her job – wine, people, events, what’s not to love? Which brings us to her $10. She knew immediately how she’d be spending it: “mmm, a giant coffee and a breakfast sandwich” while working her company’s event this weekend, a 1K Wine Walk.
When I asked her if she needed anything, she quickly responded, “No thanks, I’m perfect! Well….(she hastily recanted) I could use an extra day before Monday! Can you guys help me with that?” Probably not…but thanks for your infectious smile and boundless energy, Alex!
Posted in Food & Beverage | Tagged Arlington, DC, Maria, Oregon, spirits, VA, vino, washington, week 7, wine | 1 Comment »
February 26, 2011 by Reed Sandridge
Thanks to the couple of people who have reached out to me after my “wanted ad” yesterday. It’s with pleasure that I introduce to you our
Kindness Investor for the next seven days! Her stories begin tomorrow!
Name: Maria D.
Age? 27
Where do you live? Takoma Park, MD, near Washington, D.C.
Where were you born? Guildford, England
What’s the highest level of education you have completed? Juris Doctor
Do you have a family? I’m a single gal, but am very close with my sister Julianna, parents John and Catherine, and have a superstar half-bro named Ron
How did you hear about the Year of Giving? I am temping where Reed works, so I heard about it while he was recruiting some other potential Kindness Investors
How long have you been unemployed? Hmm, well I guess officially since graduating law school in May 2010 and moving to D.C. to look for a job in Oct. 2010
What happened? The market for newly minted lawyers sucks. Straight up. I graduated knowing I wanted to be a human rights/civil rights non-profit lobbyist but no leads. So I took a leap of faith and am still finding my way while temping at World Wildlife Fund.
Do you currently volunteer? Yes, I am starting to volunteer with the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project (they do DNA exoneration for MD, VA, and DC inmates) and N Street Village (a women’s shelter and center), as well as other random events when help is needed.
Who have been your biggest influences? My mom and dad, who instilled a sense of social justice in me from an early age, and anyone else who has spoken out to help others when those in need had no voice. Also my Nonna, who emigrated from Sicily and started a life out of literally nothing. Hard work is very important to me, as is appreciating life.
What is your favorite food? Tomatoes. But as a dish, I’d say Capellini Pomodoro (angel hair pasta w/ fresh basil, tomato, olive oil, and garlic tossed together). Now I’m hungry!
What is the most meaningful gift you have ever received? After the bar exam, I had the privilege of going to Europe for a month. I went to Paris for a week and made friends with the woman who set up breakfast and cleaned the hostel. We had a mid-morning dance party a few times, which was pretty awesome. On the last day, she took the earings she was wearing out of her ears and gave them to me. I kept them on for the rest of the trip…Well, until my ears started to hurt. Ha..
Describe your ideal job: My ideal job is working as a researcher and lobbyist at a non-profit engaged in tax policy reform that benefits low and middle-income families.
Posted in Kindness Investors | Tagged DC, Kindness Investor, MD, Takoma Park, washington, week 7 | 1 Comment »
February 25, 2011 by Reed Sandridge
There’s no blog post today from a Kindness Investor…that’s because we don’t currently have one! 😦
So…I thought I would utilize today’s post to try to find one.
Wanted: 46 unemployed or underemployed individuals who are willing to be Kindness Investors for seven days! No prior experience necessary, just seven ten-dollar bills and a willingness to reach out to seven strangers and give them ten bucks and find out what they are going to do with it. Interested candidates can email reed@yearofgiving.org for more details!
Posted in Kindness Investors | Tagged jobs, Kindness Investor, unemployed, unemployment, volunteers | 2 Comments »
February 24, 2011 by Reed Sandridge
A picture of Bob from my original encounter with him a year ago. (Photo: Reed)
Tomorrow will mark exactly one year since I met Bob on the basketball court near the intersection of 17th and P Streets in DC. Draped in layers of clothing and blankets Bob made me very nervous. I remember his hands disappearing under the garments several times as he erratically moved closer to my face calling me stupid. “Was there a weapon concealed beneath the sea of fabrics he wore?” I thought to myself as I held my ground.
It turns out that Bob suffers from mental illness and probably doesn’t pose a threat to anyone. I have seen him a few times since our original encounter; however, I hadn’t been able to really talk to him until last night. It was just before midnight as I headed home from a dinner at Birch and Barley on 16th Street with an old colleague in town for the week.
“Oh, yeah…you were the one who writes the stories,” he told me after I reminded him that I had given him $10. “Well, ok,” he began to say nervously, “So, how have things been with you?” I gave him a quick update on me and then tried to find out what he has been up to.
He was dressed in the exact same sweatshirt and torn slippers that he wore a year ago. The aluminum foil, rags and plastic bags that covered his head were gone; however, he now had a small swatch of aluminum foil covering his nose. It was held in place by a rubber band that wrapped around his head, forcing the skin of his upper cheeks toward his eyes.
I watched as he shot from the foul line. Like my earlier encounter he sank basket after basket always shooting with just the right hand. In his left hand he held a newspaper, bottle of water and the corner of the grey standard issue homeless outreach blanket. His twelfth attempt wasn’t successful. “That wasn’t a good shot,” he said as he released the slightly deflated ball, “I’m not concentrating.” I apologized and offered that he probably missed the shot because I was talking to him. He says that he believes that he has made 20+ one-handed shots from the foul line this century. That doesn’t compare to his record of lay-ups in a row which he claims to be approximately 2,900.
The evening was definitely worthy of a warm jacket but the still air and bright light from the moon’s last quarter phase helped mitigate the temperature. He seemed to be shooting a little hastily, albeit every time placing his toe exposed slippers in the exact same location.
“I think there is about four or five specific movements that I do and I try to do them exactly the same way every time in order to make a basket.” He went on to explain that the key is to add a little bit of top-spin to the release.
Another photo from my original encounter with Bob in 2010.
I stood in silence and watched him shoot. He’s truly gifted at being able to reproduce the same shot. One of his attempts misses and I take the opportunity to ask him about the $10 I had given him. I actually never asked him what he was going to use it for so I thought I would try to take the moment to find out. He didn’t recall very well, after all it has been a year, but he said it probably went toward some food or bus fare.
My question about money must have triggered something in his head. “Do you have a few dollars that you could give me,” he asked not taking his eyes from his target. The shot missed and he walked over to retrieve the ball next to his cart holding his belongings. I reached into my pockets and found some coins. “I hate to ask you but I need to add a few dollars on my Metro card.” I pulled a five dollar bill from my wallet and placed it in his hand.
Shortly after I thought I should leave. It was now close to 12:30 in the morning and I needed to get up early. I shook his weathered hand and told him to take care of himself. He returned the pleasantry and continued shooting baskets. I watched him shoot as I excited the court. He made three in a row before he slipped out of sight.
You can find my original post on Bob by clicking here.
Posted in Not recorded | Tagged basketball, bob, Day 72, DC, impressive, mental illness, night, skill, update, washington | 1 Comment »
February 23, 2011 by Reed Sandridge
Blog post by Reed from Washington, DC.
When I started the second Year of Giving and invited others who were out of work or underemployed to pick up where I left off after my 365 day journey I didn’t know what to expect. I knew that a year was way too long to find someone who would continue the giving; however, I figured that I could easily find people who would commit to seven days of giving. I was wrong! I’ve had a hard time finding new Kindness Investors. Can you feel me trying to nudge those of you who are on the fence about it?
As a result I am in a situation where we have no Kindness Investor for a few days; however, I figured I would take advantage of this time to give you some updates on some of the amazing people that I met last year.
This is Knox on December 15th, 2009.
The Year of Giving began on the afternoon of December 15th 2009. On that chilly monochromatic day, I got rejected twice before finding Knox who accepted my $10 as he hawked his shoe shining services on the corner of 21st and P Streets in DC.
Fast forward 365 days and Knox made it to the year-end celebration on December 14th 2010. There is a great photo of us from that event.
And then I ran into Knox on February 12th after I was volunteering with Yachad. It was ten minutes shy of midnight when I heard the familiar voice reaching out to the alcohol coated passersby on 7th Street near Chinatown.
We chatted for a while. “Business is good,” he told me. And he said that he has been doing well. He claims to have a handle on his addictions although I am not sure what that means…especially after he produces a bottle of shaojiu, an indiscernible clear white liquor that based purely on the label probably has never made it to any FDA testing lab.
One year after meeting him, I was reunited with Knox, my very first recipient, . (photo: Michael Bonfigli)
Anyway, Knox is Knox. He still thinks that I am some sort of event producer. Ever since I invited him to the year-end party he thinks that I organize regular events. He encourages me to throw another party soon and invite him to shine shoes. I let him in on the secret that I am actually not an event planner…although I guess I could be as it seems that I am collecting professions these days. He seemed disappointed but I promised him that when I throw the year-end celebration in December that he will again get an invite.
I updated his cell number in my phone, handed him the three dollars I had left in my pocket and said goodbye. It was late and I don’t think I was helping his business a bit.
To read my original blog post on Knox that I posted on December 16th, 2009, click here.
Posted in Not recorded | Tagged Alcohol, China, DC, first day, gallery place, shoe shine, streets, update, washington | 2 Comments »
February 21, 2011 by Reed Sandridge
Before I get to this week’s post, I want to let you know about a great opportunity for those of you in the DC area to join me on a day of service. Every year Greater DC Cares holds Servathon, an amazing event where more than 8,000 people come together to complete a variety of service projects.
This year the event is Saturday, April 16th. Trust me, after you submit your taxes on the 15th, you will be ready to do some good! I am leading a team and encourage you to sign up to join me. Click here, sign up and choose to join a team. Then when prompted with the list of available teams, scroll down to the bottom and you should find team Year of Giving! We’ll do a half-day of volunteering and then meet up with all the other service teams for a happy hour (or two)!
You will notice that this blog post shows Week 5 and 6 service days…that’s because I did two days of volunteering with this organization. Yachad is a DC organization whose mission it is to repair and rebuild lower-income neighborhoods by engaging construction and real estate professionals and hundreds of volunteers to repair housing, renovate storefronts, and create safer community spaces.
What I like about the work that Yachad does is that the volunteers work alongside the community members they are helping. It’s a very small group and they do some pretty amazing work on a very modest budget.
In order to support their work, they host a film festival called Our City Film Festival. Showcasing films that focus on our nation’s capital, the two-day event is a must see for DC residents and film enthusiasts. Saturday evening things kicked off with a launch party followed by a day of films on Sunday. I volunteered both Saturday evening and all day on Sunday.
Christylez Bacon performing at the kick-off party.
Saturday was awesome. The kick-off was hosted at RFD, a fixture in the Gallery Place neighborhood that features hundreds of beers. The highlight of the evening was a performance by Grammy nominated recording artist Christylez Bacon, a progressive hip-hop artist who stunned audiences with his truly unique performance. Keep an eye out for him and make it a point to see him if you can.
My job there was to basically do anything that Film Festival Director Kendra Rubinfeld told me to do. Mostly I checked people’s tickets and took photographs of the evening’s festivities. It was a little embarrassing when Kendra corrected me on the pronunciation of the word Yachad. It’s pronounced “YAH hahd”, not “YAH shod” as I was walking around saying. Thank goodness she corrected me before I went around butchering the name even more!
Then the next day the event moved literally next door to the Goethe-Institut. There was fantastic line up of films and everyone that I met raved about the films and the event in general. Kendra did an amazing job. The evening wrapped up with the premier showing of TLC’s reality show DC Cupcakes. After the screening, the stars of the show – Sophie and Katherine – handed out some of their delicious cupcake creations at a champagne reception.
Sophie (left) and Katherine (right) pause for a photograph with Kendra next to some of their sensational cup cakes.use for a photograph in front of some of the tasty c
All in all this was a very fun two days of volunteering. I was so impressed with this small but mighty nonprofit. So many people think about helping rebuild communities when natural disasters strike like Katrina and the earthquake in Haiti, but Yachad president Roxanne Littner reminded me, “We have our own New Orleans right here!” She’s right too. There are plenty of communities in the DC area that desperately need support. I am going to work on a future Yachad construction project. If you too want to help them, click here to find out more information or drop me a note and I will let you know when I will be volunteering again with them.
Mmmm...hungry now?
I can’t say enough about this organization and the professional manner in which the film festival was run. I learned that the word Yachad means “together” in Hebrew, but based on the staff and other volunteers that pour their hearts into this organization, you could have just as easily believed it meant “love.”
If you would like to see more photos from the film festival, click here.
Posted in Volunteering | Tagged $10, DC, festivals, films, Reed, volunteering, washington, week 5, Week 6 | 1 Comment »
February 17, 2011 by kalafleur9
-Blog post by Traci, a Kindness Investor traveling in Southeast Asia.
This was my very favorite give, although I took a little bit of liberty with Reed’s “rules” about the $10.
This is the woman I bought the skirt for.
On my last day in Cambodia, we visited a village to give the people there our gently used clothing. They get to go shopping maybe once a year for the Khmer New Year. Making a fashion statement does not seem to be a part of their culture. From what I could see, if you’ve got a pair of pants and a shirt you’re dressed, regardless of if they match or not. Coordinated outfits are only important on special occasions.
When we arrived, an old woman came out to meet us. As our guide told her why we were there, her face lit up. She took me by the hand and led me to her best chair. She then went inside for a few minutes returning with a pot and cups. I thought she had made tea but instead was offering me the best she had…boiled water.
After gathering the village people and disbursing the clothing we began making our farewells. The old woman approached me and touched her skirt saying something in Khmer. My guide told me she had said, “The next time you come back, bring me a skirt.”
Upon returning to my hotel, I had a few hours to kill before my flight. So I walked into town to a market and began shopping. For $11.00 I was able to buy her a lovely “brand new” skirt and matching top. Since the guide was going to be returning to the village the next day, I asked him to deliver my gift…
Posted in Something for themself | Tagged $10, Cambodia, clothes, clothing, khmer new year, last day, Traci | 2 Comments »
February 16, 2011 by kalafleur9
-Blog post by Traci, a Kindness Investor traveling in Southeast Asia.
Mr. Leng's tuk-tuk
A “tuk-tuk” is a motorcycle taxi. Mr. Leng was my tuk-tuk driver while I was in Cambodia. And a fine driver he is indeed; and not too shabby at snooker either. I believe the average monthly income of a tuk-tuk driver is about $60.00 USD a month. Mr. Leng will use the money I gave him to feed his family.
I also helped out some monks that I met this week. The monks are an integral part of a Buddhist community by providing many services such as giving blessings and participating at weddings and funerals. Since the monks do not work for an income, it is customary to give Alms to them. I gave Alms to a monk in the form of rice, tea, coffee and a few other essentials. Poor village boys are allowed to live at this particular monastery. They go to public schools and learn the ways of the monks. At an older age they can choose to either become a monk or go back into the secular world.
One of the monks I helped.
Posted in Donation, Food & Beverage | Tagged $10, alms, buddhist monk, Cambodia, family, helping others, international, Traci, tuk-tuk | 1 Comment »
February 15, 2011 by kalafleur9
-Blog post by Traci, a Kindness Investor traveling in Southeast Asia.
Dine (pronounced DNA) is a tour guide in Siem Reap. He is a coordinator for Globe Aware Volunteer Vacations and host to its participants. Dine worked his way through Tour Guide University, is married and has two children. But being a tour guide is much more than just a job for Dine. He has dreams for not only himself and his own family, but also for the people and the country he loves. One of his dreams to make a better living involves buying a jeep. If he owns a jeep, he can not only be a guide but also a driver and work for an EcoTourism company. The money I gave Dine will be used towards the purchase of his jeep. There is no doubt in my mind, that increased income to Dine will aid him in his philanthropic ways. Even without money, he gives freely of his time to many different causes including orphans, the disabled and the poor. He has hope and he has drive.
Posted in Savings | Tagged $10, Cambodia, ecotourism, philanthropy, tour guide, Traci | 2 Comments »
February 14, 2011 by Reed Sandridge
Happy Valentines Day!
Although the US tends to think of this day as primarily a day to cherish our spouses or significant others, in many other countries it is a broader celebration that includes remembering our friends; much more like it was when you were in grade school and you made Valentine’s cards for everyone in the class.
Whether we celebrate our lovers or friends, it is a day where we focus on giving. We often do this by giving gifts or taking time to do something special, but we also give of our hearts. Why not try something different today and consider volunteering or doing something nice for someone in your community? And if you can’t find anyone, check out Sparked, a great website that connects volunteers with projects that they can do from the comfort of their own home.
I did one that I will share with you today. Capital Area Food Bank of Texas (CAFB) wanted some help shaping up their blog. I often get told that people like my blog partially because they say it is “clean” and “well organized.” I believe that this applies less this year with the addition of my Year of Volunteering, nonetheless, I have learned a thing or two about what makes a successful blog.
The challenge: “We’d like to get some feedback about our organization’s blog and if we’re providing the right mix of content. What do you like about it, and what could we do to improve? Is it telling our story effectively? Are we spending too much time talking about ways to donate? Are we not telling enough first-person accounts or writing enough essays?”
So I spent some time reviewing their blog and tried to formulate some suggestions for them which you can find here…mine are listed under “Reed.” If you like them, go ahead and click on the thumbs up to let them know you agree with my suggestions.
Take a look around Sparked. Who knows, maybe you will find a project for you!
Enjoy your week!
Posted in Volunteering | Tagged blogs, holidays, microvolunteering, Reed, virtual volunteering, volunteering, Week 4 | 2 Comments »
February 13, 2011 by Reed Sandridge
-Blog post by Traci, a Kindness Investor traveling in Southeast Asia.
The Sustainable Organization for Community Peasant Laborer Student Development and Orphans (SOCPLSDO), a non-profit, non-governmental, non-political organization, was established in 2006 by
Mr Pong Sena. The SOCPLSDO established the
Chres Village School and Orphanage in the same year for the regional orphans, students, laborers and peasants from the villages in and around the district of Bakong of the Siem Reap Province, Cambodia.
The aim of the SOCPLSDO is to alleviate the poverty and difficulties of the orphans and children of poor families in the Bakong district providing support of their basic needs such as food, clothing, education, accommodation, health services and school supplies.
More than 50% of the Cambodian population is less than 21 years old. The population lacks education and productive skills, particularly in the poverty-ridden countryside, which suffers from an almost total lack of basic infrastructure.
I went over my $10 today, but it was my pleasure to give my temporary English students the help they needed for each of them to buy school supplies, toothbrushes and toothpaste.
Posted in Something for themself | Tagged $10, Cambodia, children, helping others, international, orphans, poverty, schools, Traci, travel | 1 Comment »
« Newer Posts - Older Posts »
Year of Giving 