Category Archives: PHILANTHROPY

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.

Gifts that Give Spotlight: Global Girlfriend

When you buy a hand-woven scarf from Global Girlfriend, you’re not only getting a gorgeous addition to your wardrobe, you’re helping a woman in need. Global Girlfriend is an online boutique that sells high-quality, eco-friendly products made by women artisans who are facing challenges of poverty, illness and oppressive societies.

Stacey Edgar founded the company in 2003 with a $2,000 tax refund. She traveled the world visiting women and community organizations in India, Nepal, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Uganda and Kenya to source products that would translate into the US market.

Since then, hundreds of women’s lives have been changed. Each piece sold on the site is as unique as the woman who made it. Research shows that when we invest in women, women in turn invest in their families and communities, and everyone benefits. So, let’s go shopping!

Here are a few of the gorgeous handcrafted items you can get from the store:

 

Global Girlfriend Chevron Necklace

This chevron necklace was designed by Mata Traders in India.

 

Ugandan Washed Stripe Beach Bag

This beach bag is made from 100% Ugandan cotton by Gulu seamstresses.

 

Global Girlfriend Thistle Farms Body Butter

Thistle Farms body butter is handmade by women who have survived lives of violence, prostitution and addiction in Nashville, Tennessee.

 

7 Apps That Keep Social Good in the Palm of Your Hand

Social good is now possible from the app store! In fact, here’s a list of seven free apps that help improve your karma by just doing what you already do.

1. Charity Miles

Do you walk or run every day?

Charity Miles tracks your miles and a corporate sponsor will donate $0.25/mile to your charity of choice. Not a fan of running? The app tracks cycling miles too.

 

 


2. Social Impact

Know before you go.

Social Impact educates you to what local business, restaurants and stores are doing to reduce their environmental impacts, and other socially-conscience decisions for the whole community. Patronize places that support sustainable and conscious choices.

 

Social Impact App

 


 

3. Shout

Size doesn’t matter.

If everyone gives a little, it adds up to a lot. This simple theory is put to use on an app that allows you to give a micro-donation, or “shout” to non-profits of your choice.

 


 

4. Feedie

Keep a child from going hungry.

Go from being a foodie sharing shots of your plate to a foodie whose snapshot sponsors a child’s school lunch. With Feedie every food photo shared from a participating Feedie restaurant, equals a donation for a child’s school lunch.

 

 


 

5. SafeNight

Make it safe for others.

Domestic violence is unpredictable and shelters fill up quickly. SafeNight is a new app where you can help pay for someone’s safe night out of an abusive situation. From the app you can make an immediate donation to help fund a hotel room for the night, for someone who otherwise has no place to go to escape an abusive situation.

 

SafeNight App screengrab

 

 


 

6. Recyclebank

Recycling for points.

Rack up reward points for being environmentally-friendly. Set reminders so you never miss a recycle day. Discover what can be sent to specialty recyclers. And bonus, each time you recycle, you rack up points that you can redeem in stores and in the app. Here’s how it works.

 

 


 

7. Wooftrax

Dog walks that impact more than health.

Ideal for pet owners, this app turns walking your dog into a fundraising mechanism for your local shelter. Right before you begin your walk, just hit the ‘start walking’ button to track it. Guess what? No dog needed; if you want to use the app to walk for dogs inside the local animal shelter or rescue, you can do that, too. Read how it works, here.

 

wooftrax app screengrab

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.

Profile: Badass Brooklyn Animal Rescue

With a mission statement that includes, “saving badass dogs from idiot humans,” you know they’re passionate about what they do at this Brooklyn animal rescue.

Run by volunteers, this non-profit is dedicated to any breed of dog that needs rescue. Dogs come from all over, including kill-shelters and rural shelters with limited resources to take care of them.

If you’re in the area, think about attending The Badass Fall Festival fundraiser to help this wonderful organization keep caring for dogs that need love.

If you can’t make the September 13th date, then head on over and donate directly to their site, here.

Photos by: Hilary Benas (published with permission).