Tag Archives: #dayitforward

Day it Forward – December 2015

We believe that every individual has the ability to make a difference in our world, and we want to give our readers a chance to bring attention to a cause that is important to them.

Every month, we will ask you to submit a one-paragraph essay on a charity of your choice. We want to know what the charity is about, why it is important to you, and anything else you think is important for us to know.

Your submissions will be reviewed by bestselling author Sylvia Day and she will select one to personally contribute to for the month. Your charity will also be featured in the following month’s installment of Day it Forward to bring more awareness to its cause and allow for readers of Beyond Words to donate as well.

The submission chosen for the month of December comes from Shabnam Farhadi:312545b

In late 2013, my mother was diagnosed with stage IIB breast cancer. The doctors told us that it had metastasized which meant we were in for a long, hard battle. Luckily, our local branch of the Susan G. Komen in Southwest Florida, came prepared to help.  They gave us educational seminars, emotional support, and recommendations to different local doctors. In addition, they gave us a gift bag full of goodies that made the process easier to handle (pillow for chemo chairs, a cap for when all her hair fell out, a pill box for the thousands of medications they forced into her, etc.) They helped to prepare us for a battle we weren’t too knowledgeable about…My mother is approaching her two-year survivorship in May of 2016. I attribute a great deal of her strength to bringing us here. But I can’t say that the foundation had no part in it. The Susan G. Komen foundation in Southwest Florida was a blessing and the people who volunteer there are heroes.

 

Sylvia will be donating $1,000 to Susan G. Komen Southwest Florida. You can donate, too, here.

 

full_1404405744.pngThis month, we will also spotlight the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, an organization committed to finding a cure for breast cancer. They provide funding for cancer research worldwide to fuel advances in tumor biology, genetics, prevention, treatment, metastasis and survivorship.


Sylvia will be donating $1,500 to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. You can donate, too, here.

 

To have your charity considered for January’s installment of Day it Forward, please email your submissions to editorial@beyondwords.life with “January Day it Forward” in the subject line by December 25, 2015.

Day it Forward – November 2015

We believe that every individual has the ability to make a difference in our world, and we want to give our readers a chance to bring attention to a cause that is important to them.

Every month, we will ask you to submit a one-paragraph essay on a charity of your choice. We want to know what the charity is about, why it is important to you, and anything else you think is important for us to know.

Your submissions will be reviewed by bestselling author Sylvia Day and she will select one to personally contribute to for the month. Your charity will also be featured in the following month’s installment of Day it Forward to bring more awareness to its cause and allow for readers of Beyond Words to donate as well.

The submission chosen for the month of November comes from Dori Walker:

In 2011 at our gender reveal ultrasound for our third child my world changed.  We were informed our daughter was “incompatible with life”.  Those three words broke me.  The days that followed I had a hard time getting out of bed to care for our two boys.  It was inconceivable for me to be happy when it felt like we were just waiting for her to die.  I was too scared to give her a name, it made the situation too real.  My salvation came in the form of Alexandra’s House Perinatal Hospice.  The founder, Patti, helped me find purpose, strength and beauty in the following 6 weeks she survived in my tummy.  That strength allowed us to give her a name, Mathilda Hope.  Patti was there for the decisions that you never plan on making.  She was there for her birth and her memorial service.  Alexandra’s House is a big reason we were strong enough to pursue adoption through foster care; we now have 7 children with one in heaven.  Mathilda Hope inspires us to be better and pay it forward in all we do!

Dori Walker and family

Sylvia will be donating $2,000 to Alexandra’s House. You can donate, too, here.

We also occasionally spotlight other charities submitted by readers each month:

  • Shannon Cutts submitted Mentor Connect, the first global eating disorders mentoring community. Sylvia will be donating $500 to Mentor Connect. You can donate, too, here.

To have your charity considered for December’s installment of Day it Forward, please email your submissions to editorial@beyondwords.life with “December Day it Forward” in the subject line by November 25, 2015.

Day It Forward – October 2015

We believe that every individual has the ability to make a difference in our world, and we want to give our readers a chance to bring attention to a cause that is important to them.

Every month, we will ask you to submit a one-paragraph essay on a charity of your choice. We want to know what the charity is about, why it is important to you, and anything else you think is important for us to know.

Your submissions will be reviewed by bestselling author Sylvia Day and she will select one to personally contribute to for the month. Your charity will also be featured in the following month’s installment of Day it Forward to bring more awareness to its cause and allow for readers of Beyond Words to donate as well.

The submission chosen for the month of October comes from Katie Crossan:

Crohn’s and Colitis UK
I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease when I was 18. I lost all of my friends and quickly closed myself off from the world, choosing to bury myself in books instead. I have been constantly tube fed on and off in the last seven years, I now have a line to my heart keeping me from starving to death, and take a chemotherapy drug everyday. I am hooked up to a machine every night that pumps liquid to my heart. The NACC (National Association for Colitis and Crohn’s Disease) kept me sane. They support people with IBD and have a ‘Young People’s Forum’ where I met other young people who have become life-long friends and I also met the love of my life, my soon to be husband, there. The NACC encourages people to talk to each other, they offer a support line for people with IBD or family of those who suffer. Crohns can be an extremely lonely disease but with the NACC they make you feel less alone and accepted for being different. I have supported this charity with my family since I was 18 partaking in walks to raise money. IBD doesn’t get recognised for being a serious life altering condition.

Sylvia will be donating $1,500 to the National Association for Colitis and Crohn’s disease. You can donate, too, here.

We also occasionally spotlight other worthy charities submitted by readers each month:

To have your charity considered for November’s installment of Day it Forward, please email your submissions to editorial@beyondwords.life with “Day it Forward” in the subject line by October 25, 2015.

Day It Forward – September 2015

We believe that every individual has the ability to make a difference in our world and we want to give our readers a chance to bring attention to a cause that is important to them.

Every month, we will ask you to submit a one-paragraph essay on a charity of your choice. We want to know what the charity is about, why it is important to you, and anything else you think is important for us to know.

Your submissions will be reviewed by bestselling author Sylvia Day, and she will select one to personally contribute to for the month. Your charity will also be featured in the following month’s installment of Day It Forward to bring more awareness to its cause and allow for readers of Beyond Words to donate as well.

Since this is the first month of Day It Forward, just this one time, there will be a little bit of a twist. Here is a submission from the Beyond Words Editor-in-Chief:

The Gentle Barn
The Gentle Barn, based out of Southern California, rescues all kinds of farm animals, including horses, cows, pigs, and even emus and peacocks.

I first heard about the Gentle Barn when a backyard butcher in California was featured on the news for the horrific way he treated his animals. They were kept in unspeakable conditions, emaciated, infected with parasites, sick, and overall terrified with barely a chance to live. It truly broke my heart to see these innocent beings treated in such an unfair manner. When the man was arrested, the Gentle Barn took in many of these animals and nursed them back to health, giving them real hope for happy lives.

The Gentle Barn has a focus on not only healing animals, but the ability for these animals to heal children. Their mission statement is “Teaching People Kindness and Compassion to Animals, Each Other and our Planet.” Every day, children from group homes, mental health care facilities, and schools come to the Gentle Barn to visit with these animals and learn about kindness and compassion through them.

The Gentle Barn has many ways for people to contribute and help them continue their good work; their website lists supplies they need, profiles of animals who can be sponsored by anyone, and ways to visit and become involved firsthand with their cause.

Sylvia will be donating $5000 to the Gentle Barn in the month of September. You can donate, too, here »

To have your charity considered for Day It Forward, please email your submissions to editorial@beyondwords.life with “Day it Forward” in the subject line by September 22, 2015.