A wonderful organization close to my heart, Help a Mother Out, has introduced Diaper Action Week for the week of November 14th through November 18th in an effort to raise awareness about this problem and help make policy changes with The Diaper Act. The Diaper Act legislation aims to amend the Child Care and Development Block Grant of 1990, which will increase child care access and relieve a financial burden on families who cannot otherwise afford a sufficient  amount of diapers for their children. The Diaper Act does not ask for additional federal funds. If Congress enacts the Diaper Act, eligible child care centers will have the flexibility and choice to provide diapers (disposable or cloth) to their neediest families.

So how can you help? By spending a minute to sign a petition for The Diaper Act and let Congress know that you want to see changes made for struggling families. You can also help spread the word about Diaper Action Week and The Diaper Act!  Blog, Facebook, and Tweet about #DiaperAct. It sometimes only takes a minute of your time to help make a difference.

Thank you!

The One Percent Foundation has just announced it’s 2nd annual Grant Madness! The Grant Madness pool works like any other March Madness pool, except that bracket winners donate the winning money to the non-profit of their choice.  For only a $10 donation, you could win $500, $1,000, or even $2,000 to donate to your favorite non-profit organization!

The deadline to enter the Grant Madness pool is 8:30 am PST on Thursday, March 17th, so make sure to join now. To join the pool, please click HERE!

Want to know more about the One Percent Foundation? I have been an active member of OPF since it was founded in 2007. OPF is a non-profit philanthropic organization committed to engaging young adults in philanthropy. The Foundation is a giving circle – a partnership of young adults who pool their funds into substantial grants for excellent non-profit organizations. Partners of OPF nominate and vote on worthy organizations to receive the grants. It’s a democratization of charitable giving! OPF is an an organization that I strongly believe in and support. To learn more, please visit their website, follow on twitter, or fan on Facebook.

Good luck! And, go UCLA!

Microsoft is kicking off the grand opening by giving the Orange County community a chance to vote for local non-profit organizations to receive up to $1,000,000 in software grants! The community can vote for either two of the following organizations:

• Help Girls Incorporated of Orange County provide year-round tween programs for girls in 7th, 8th and 9th grades and inspire all girls to be strong, smart and bold.
• Support efforts of Project Tomorrow, one of the nation’s leading education non-profits, ensure that today’s students are well prepared to be tomorrow’s innovators, leaders and engaged citizens of the world.

You can vote for these wonderful organizations on the “local giving” section of the Microsoft Store Facebook Page.

The schedule for the grand opening on March 24th is as follows:

9:30 am – 10:00 am – Grand Opening Ceremony Join Microsoft COO Kevin Turner for a ribbon cutting ceremony where he will present more than $1 million in software grants to local organizations, based on how members of the local community voted on the Microsoft Store Facebook page.

10:00 am – Doors open! Join Microsoft for a full day of celebration. There will be gift bags with lots of freebies inside.  You can also take advantage of great deals on PCs, Windows Phone 7, Xbox releases, and more.

Celebration Continues – Saturday, March 26, 2011

2:00 pm – Selena Gomez, actress of Disney’s Emmy Award Winning Wizards of Waverly Place and Platinum recording artist, will help celebrate the Microsoft Store opening with a special performance Come to the Grand Opening Ceremonies early to receive a gift bag and complimentary tickets to a special performance Saturday, March 26, by Selena Gomez. The first 150 people in line will receive two premier viewing tickets to the performance plus get an opportunity to meet Selena and receive an autograph after the show. The next 800 people in line will receive two premier viewing tickets to the performance. Additional general admission tickets will be given out while supplies last.

Hope to see you there! And don’t forget to vote on the worthy non-profit of your choice here.

FTC Disclaimer: AYMB was not compensated by Microsoft for this post.

Emergency kit giveaway

Earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, blizzards, fires, and other disasters happen all the time. We can’t always avert disaster, but we can be as prepared as possible.  No matter where you live, the New York City Office of Emergency Management (OEM) wants you to be educated and ready for if and when disaster strikes. OEM would like to encourage people to Resolve to be Ready this year, and prepare themselves for an emergency by taking three steps:  Make a Plan, Get a Kit, Be Informed.

On OEM’s Facebook page you can find more information and even take the first step in making a plan by selecting and sharing your own meeting place using the Get Ready NYC: My Meeting Place Facebook application.  There are other great features on the OEM Facebook page, including downloading the Resolve to Be Ready preparation calendar. The calendar contains quarterly, monthly, and weekly reminders useful for everyone to help prepare them for emergencies, large and small, throughout the year. Facebook users can also submit photos on OEM’s Facebook page, showcasing how they are prepared for emergencies, obtain information on how to get your kids involved in preparing for an emergency, and watch videos for preparation tips.

Giveaway!

OEM is giving one of my readers an emergency preparedness starter kit, which includes a $25 Target gift card, first aid kit, batteries, flashlight, and protein bars. This giveaway will run until Tuesday, January 25th and is open to U.S. residents only.  Leave a comment below for one entry. For additional entries, please follow AYMB on twitter, “like” AYMB on Facebook, retweet this post, or post on your blog or Facebook page. You may leave an additional comment for each extra point of entry. I will select a winner on Wednesday, January 26th via www.random.org.

If there is only one resolution you make this year, it should be to get as prepared as possible should disaster strike. It could make all the difference in the world.

FTC disclaimer: This giveaway was furnished by the NYC Office of Emergency Management in partnership with the Ad Council. I was not compensated for this post. Any thoughts or opinions expressed in this post are mine and have not been influenced by prizing or compensation.

The Characters Unite campaign is a movement and pledge created by the USA Network. When you sign the Characters Unite pledge, you are making a commitment to combat intolerance, prejudice, discrimination and hate. You pledge to promote greater acceptance, understanding, and mutual respect.  For every pledge made this month, USA Network will donate $1 to its Children’s Defense Fund, National Council of Women’s Organization, and other non-profit partners.

The Pledge

“As a character of the USA, I pledge to stand against intolerance, prejudice, discrimination and hate, and to promote greater understanding and acceptance.  I believe life is richer and we are stronger as a country when we see beyond stereotypes and appreciate each other for the characters we are.  After all, characters are what makes us, USA.”

USA Network has pledged to donate $1 for every pledge made over the next four weeks. I urge all of my readers to take this pledge. You can do your part to help raise money to fight intolerance, prejudice, discrimination and hate by taking the pledge here.

For more information, please check out the Characters Unite website, “like” the Facebook page, or follow on Twitter.

Questions or thoughts? Please share.

When people hear the the word “philanthropist”, I’m guessing that the likes of Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, or Angelina Jolie come to mind. You know, very wealthy people who regularly do incredible philanthropic work on a global level. People who donate on a large-scale should absolutely be commended for their hugely generous hearts and wallets.

But then there are regular folks with middle-class means who donate their money or time to worthy causes as well. I believe that people who generously donate, despite a limited budget or average means, are the best kind of philanthropists. These are the people who are teaching the next generation an important lesson – it’s always good to give back, no matter your circumstances, because there are always people less fortunate than you.

I want to use National Philanthropy Day to highlight one outstanding non-profit organization that is all about regular people working together to make a difference. The One Percent Foundation (OPF) is an organization created by young philanthropists who believe that, despite income and resources, everyone can make a difference in the world. One of the best ways to make a difference on a limited budget is to pool money together with other philanthropists. Members of OPF nominate, evaluate, and vote for excellent organizations to donate their combined resources. The goal of OPF is for members to donate 1% of their income and many members have done so through the 1% Pledge. In the past year, OPF will have given 4 grants to 4 different organizations for at least $8,000 each. They truly are doing incredible work and making a huge impact for many well-deserving organizations. Please take a few minutes to click on the OPF website to learn more about this wonderful non-profit philanthropic group.

If you are donating to charitable and non-profit organizations already and plan to to continue to do so on your own, please make sure to do your research before you send a check. Not only are there many scam charity operations out there, but it’s also good practice to make sure that your money is actually going to be put to good use rather than pay for the organization itself. One practice I’ve learned to do over the years is to research the credibility of the organization through a group such as www.charitywatch.org. You many be surprised to learn that the $50 you send to a popular charity doesn’t do much other than pay for overhead costs, so make sure to do your homework!

Whether it’s helping those less fortunate or raising money for worthy causes that speak to you, philanthropy is a wonderful and valuable gift not only for those that need it, but for the people and families giving as well.

Do you and your family donate? Have any favorite organizations or donation methods you would like to mention? Please share!

(logo courtesy of zazzle.com)

October 11th is National Coming Out Day, an internationally recognized day to celebrate and support the LBGT community. It’s a day to give support to those that need guidance on how to come out to family, friends, and co-workers. It’s also a day for awareness and discussion.

In the wake of the recent tragic suicides of several students who were bullied to death by their peers, the arrest of 8 men in New York charged with hate crimes against several gay men, and the disturbing remarks recently made by New York gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino, making strides to stop the homophobic hate, fear, and intolerance against the LBGT community has never been more important.

Speaking as a mother, I also want today to be a call to action for all parents. It doesn’t matter if one of your own children is gay or not. It doesn’t matter if your children are far too young to even know their sexual orientation. What does matter is that you live your life as a positive example to your children. Parents who demonstrate fear and hate towards others tend to raise children who do the same and, as we know, hate and fear is the foundation for bullying. By speaking positively about the gay community, advocating for equal rights, and modeling tolerance and respect towards others no matter their sexual orientation, you are teaching your children an incredibly valuable and important lesson. Your child might be gay. My child might be gay. It really doesn’t matter. Let’s work together to make it easier for all children who may need the love and support to come out one day.

Coming out is not easy. For some, it can be a painful process with the possibility of losing family and friends while others may not come out at all because of the homophobic attitudes of the people around them. Whether you need support coming out or want to find more information about gay rights, the Human Rights Campaign has excellent resources and information. Please check out their website at www.hrc.com.

Join Joe Jonas and others around the world in helping spread the word about acceptance and unity for individuals with intellectual disabilities. The goal of EKS Day is to share Eunice Kennedy Shriver’s story, inspire young people to commit EKS Acts of Unity, and reach 100,000 EKS Acts by the first annual global Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day on September 25, 2010.

How can you participate in EKS Day?

• Sign the pledge to participate
• Share your EKS Act!
• Visit the Special Olympics Facebook page – become a fan and “like” their page!
• Follow Special Olympics on Twitter – twitter handle #EKS Day
• Help spread the word via your blog, Facebook, or tweet the following message: RT: I pledge to honor @SpecialOlympics by performing an Act of Unity on #EKSDay 9/25 http://act.ly/2e7 RT to sign

EKS Acts that help promote inclusion and acceptance for those with intellectual disabilities include:

• Fighting prejudice by eliminating the “R” word from your vocabulary and urging others to do the same
• Collecting or donating supplies for a special education center or classroom.
• Volunteering in a special education classroom or learning center.
• Donate to support the Special Olympics

To learn more about EKS Acts for individuals, students, schools, small groups, and businesses, please visit the Special Olympics website.

The Ad Council and the New York Office of Emergency Management (OEM) have joined forces to create Ready NYC , an excellent website devoted to helping people prepare for any type of emergency. Check out the Ready NYC website and, if you’re on Facebook, make sure to “like”  the New York Office of Emergency Management (OEM) Facebook page.  Both of these sites are excellent resources and will help parents and families everywhere prepare for any type of emergency in three steps:

1. Make a family emergency plan
2. Make an emergency supply kit/Go Bag
3. Be informed about different emergencies and how to plan your response to them

In you’re in New York City tomorrow, plan to help kick-off National Preparedness Month! Make sure to check out Ready NYC for special events going on including the lighting of the Empire State Building in yellow, which is the signature color of the Ready NYC program.

Now for the giveaway!

Ready NYC has generously offered one of my readers the chance to win a  “Go Bag,” which is an emergency starter kit. To enter the giveaway, please leave a comment below. If you would like, explain how you might personalize the “Go Bag” with additional items. For extra entries, subscribe to AYMB, follow me on Twitter, tweet this giveaway or post on Facebook, and/or “like” the New York Office of Emergency Management (OEM) Facebook Page.  For each additional entry, please post an additional comment. I will select a winner via www.random.org on Friday, September 10th. This giveaway is for U.S. Residents only.

Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post. The “Go Bag” prize will be furnished by Ready NYC.

I believe being a smart shopper goes beyond clipping coupons, looking for good deals, and avoiding paying full retail. A smart shopper also shops with their conscience. We all have our own ethical beliefs and values, neither of which should be compromised because of a good deal.

There are issues we all care about, whether it be equal rights for gays, environmental concerns, sweatshop and child labor, animal testing, war funding, white-collar crime, etc… I believe that giving money to a business that goes against our ethical values is like directly contributing to the very issues we object. We would never do that, so why do it when we shop or eat? As consumers, we’re a powerful group. We have our voice and we have our wallets. When we voice our objections to bad business practices and close our wallets, we’re making a powerful statement.

I’m not urging my readers to take up the same causes that I believe in, but I am urging everyone who reads this to listen to your conscience before you buy. Educate yourself about companies that you regularly buy from and how your purchases were manufactured or produced. Learn about their political contributions and donations. We’re not always going to be aware of bad business, but we should all be doing our best to know as much as possible. That’s what makes us a smart shopper.

Are there businesses you don’t support for one reason or another? Would love to hear about your own story.

Interested in knowing more about the businesses that I currently boycott? See below:

Chick-fil-A

Chick-fil-A has donated large sums of money and has a long history of cross-promotion with Focus on the Family, a fundamentalist Christian organization that takes an active and costly stance opposing same-sex marriage and other social issues that I strongly support.

Kentucky Fried Chicken

I haven’t ordered from Kentucky Fried Chicken in over a decade simply because I don’t like their food. But now I have even more reason to ever go back – KFC has a long history of animal cruelty towards chickens. The birds are caged in horrible conditions and then slaughtered using cruel methods. Yes, the chickens will eventually die for our bucket of fried chicken anyways, but that doesn’t mean they need to be treated cruelly and horrifically killed before ending up on your dinner table.

Nestle Corporation

When I learned about the unethical business practices and their use of suppliers that violate human rights, I stopped buying products from Nestle. This includes a host of other brands that are owned or jointly owned by Nestle.  From buying cocoa from suppliers that use child slaves and purchasing milk from Mugabe to promoting unhealthy food products for infants and children to workers rights issues, Nestle has a very long history of problematic and unethical business practices. In addiction to the candy and chocolate products that most Americans are familiar with, the Nestle Corporation owns many brands, including Dreyers Ice Cream, Haagen-Dazs, the Skinny Cow, Lean Cusine, Hot Pockets, Stouffers, Jenny Craig, Coffee-Mate, Taster’s Choice, Jamba bottled juices, Alpo dog food, Friskies, Fancy Feast, Gerber baby foods and products, Perrier water, Arrowhead water, Polan Spring water, and Power Bar. They also have joint business ventures with Coca-Cola, L’Oreal, and General Mills.

Procter and Gamble

P&G has a long history of testing on animals for their household products, pet food, and cosmetics. Brands produced by P&G include Always, Ariel, Bold, Camay, Crest, Daz, Dreft, Fairy, Flash, Head and Shoulders, Insignia, Iams, Milton, Napisan, Oil of Ulay, Old Spice, Pampers, Sinex, Tide, Viakal, Vidal Sassoon, Vortex and Zest.