Devastation

There are really no words to describe the devastation that hit Kentucky in the form of tornadoes. 23 dead, countless others injured and homeless.

While covering the tornadoes last week, I visited Menifee County. It’s unimaginable what these people are going through. Pictures and video don’t do it justice.

I do encourage you to watch the videos, look at the pictures and watch the coverage LEX18 has done from across Kentucky. And if you’re moved to help, do so. Do so by simply calling the Red Cross. If it’s time you’ve got, go out there and volunteer. If it’s money or donations, they’ll take them.

Feel Good Friday – Donate to Children’s Hospital!

My philanthropic little sister is raising money for an unbelievably good cause – The Children’s Hospital! She is asking for help – and I’m helping spread the word. If you’ve got a few extra $ – send it her way. Donate here.  Helping sick kids? Now THAT’S a good feeling.

Support me! I will be participating in the University of Tennessee Dance Marathon on March 2nd and 3rd. This year, I am on the Dance Marathon Executive Committee. I am in charge of Corporate/Event Development so I have been going to businesses asking for donations to the event. Besides getting businesses to donate, I have a personal goal that I am trying to reach as well! I would appreciate any support that you give me for this worthwhile cause. All contributions will benefit East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. Any contribution will help, nothing is too small and all donations are tax deductible! Donating online is safe and easy too! To make an online donation please search for my name at www.helpmakemiracles.org/event/utkdm and then click “support this participant.” Thank you for considering this request for your support!

Baby Fighting Rare Disease

This precious little girl has an extremely rare disease called Chediak-Higashi Syndrome.

The family has insurance, but even with that they will have to pay more than $80,000 out of pocket. If you’re able to help, check out their Facebook page.  Or make a donation ONLINE HERE. 

Out With a Bang!

As the clock ticks forward to the end of 2011, we reflect on the last year and look forward to the next. I’ve already outlined my plans for 2012 (or at least some well-intended resolutions) but I’m not yet ready to leave behind 2011. The reason? I’d like to end 2011 on a positive note — a note that will do some good. Specifically, a bank note. Cash. Dinero. Dolla dolla bills,y’all. Dough. Moola. You get it.

The Lexington Humane Society, like many other charities, is reaching out for one last check. The money will help Lexington Humane and inadvertently, you. It’ll be good for tax purposes…and your heart!

So click HERE to make a BIG difference. No amount is too small. 

Here’s the plea from LHS:

While we have made great progress in 2011, there is still so much to be done. Sadly, I know we will again be caring for thousands of animals in the upcoming year, but I am confident we will be able to meet their needs with your support. A gift from you will truly make a difference. Your belief in our life-saving work and generous donation will ensure we are able to meet the continuing need for our services. So, I will ask for your help one last time for 2011. We are looking to you for crucial help in achieving our mission. Please make your year-end gift today! The animals count on us…and we are counting on you. Please remember, the Lexington Humane Society does not receive funding from the government or any national animal welfare groups. Our success depends on compassionate individuals in our community who care about the plight of animal’s right here in our home town. Thank you for your support. We wish you a very happy, healthy, and peaceful new year!

 

Sing Me a Story

 A friend of a friend sent me an email about this fantastic non profit I had to share.  It’s called The Sing Me a Story Foundation.  

The organization gives children in hospitals, orphanages and youth orgs the chance to write and create stories…about anything their little hearts desire! The organization then sends those stories to songwriters who turn them into songs, record them, and send them back to the child. It’s such a unique and heartwarming way to make a difference in the life of a child.

See an online presentation of how it all works here.

Some songs to check out: Childhood Memory, The Fairy Went to Market, Two Brothers and a Talking Tree, A Toy Bear).

The organization is growing – fast. But sadly, so is the number of children in need. They’re seeking money (always), volunteers and most importantly, singers and songwriters. Since my voice is about as far from song-bird-worthy as you can get, I’ll just pass along the request from the organization:

If you know of any songwriters who might be interested in our program (that includes amateurs, professionals, music teachers doing units on songwriting, music students looking for a project, etc etc), please pass along our site. Furthermore, if you know of partnering organizations that work with kids who you think might be a good fit, please let us know. Folks can sign up as songwriters or partnering organizations by clicking on the “Join Us” tab on our site. 

Sidebar…

Additionally, I have to brag on my friend who sent me the email about Sing Me a Story a little. Her name is Jessi Betz, and she is a successful realtor in Nashville. Before she sent the email I had never heard of her side project, Selling to Give Back. In her email signature was this web address: Sellingtogiveback.com. I had no idea all the cool stuff my friend was doing — with every home she sells, transaction she makes, she makes a donation to the charity of her client’s choice. Pretty cool, huh? Her list of charities is continuing to grow, but so far she’s donated to:

• American Heart Association
• Cool People Care
• ASPCA
• Operation Stand Down
• Sweet Sleep
• Goodwill
• Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
• American Red Cross
• Center for Reproductive Health
• Second Harvest Food Bank
• Susan G. Komen
• Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
• Washington Humane Society
• American Brain Tumor Association
• Young-Williams Animal Center
• National Down Syndrome Society
• The District
• Salvation Army
• Nashville Rescue Mission
• United Way
• American Cancer Society

So if you’re in the Nashville area and are looking for a new home, reach out to Jessi for help, she’ll help you and other as well. I’m so proud to call her my friend!

Salvation Army

I had a blast today ringing the bell for the Salvation Army today at the Fayette Mall! I got to meet so many great people, and help collect money for a fantastic cause!

Didn’t make it out to ring my bell? Donate to the Salvation Army here!

Super Models!

I am no model – and at 5’4” and 28 years old, there’s no hope of reaching 5’10”. So while I’ll never strut the runway Adrianna Lima-style, I do skip down the runway each year on behalf of Fashion for Paws, to raise money for the animals of Washington, D.C.! It’s an event I’ve been involved with for 4 years now, raising more than $16,000 myself, with the help of my GENEROUS family and friends. And last year, the genius folks at F4P decided to crown some of us fundraisers “super models!” Not because of our long legs (which I definitely don’t have), but because of the money we raised. Us ‘super models’ get to grace the pages of a calendar benefiting Fashion for Paws and the thousands of animals that need a new home.

Well that calendar is set to be released tomorrow! The big unveiling is at the Four Seasons Hotel’s M29 LIFESTYLE Boutique (Corner of M & 29th Streets, NW) in Washington, D.C. tomorrow from 12 – 4pm. Also at the event- holiday pet/family portraits will be created, all of course benefiting F4P. Four-legged guests are welcome, too And be sure to check out the month of June! 

And p.s., Save-the-date:

Fashion for Paws 2012 will be April 14th at the National Building Museum in DC. Our goal this year: $625,000. Last year we raised a whopping $529,740 in 2011!!
Thank you to EVERYONE for supporting this cause!

More info about Fashion for Paws here or on their Facebook page here. 

 

Ring My Bell!

Come out tomorrow and help me raise money for the Lexington chapter of the Salvation Army! ‘Tis the season to do some good…and I’d love to help you feel all cheery by giving to a great cause.

Stop by the Fayette Mall anytime tomorrow, Friday, December 16th from 4 until 5pm as I’ll be the ‘celebrity’ bell ringer for the Salvation Army! And don’t forget to bring some cash…

 

Reindeer Ramble = A Success!

Thank you to the Y of Central Kentucky for letting me be the emcee for their big fundraiser! I had so much fun cheering on the runners and walkers at this super-fun 5k. The Santa-pedes were my favorite!

Check out this video from the event:

http://www.lex18.com/news/runners-braved-the-cold-at-the-y-s-reindeer-ramble/

And despite the chilly walk, Keeneland was packed with more than 1,400 people who ran and walked in the 5-k event.

All money raised goes to help pay for YMCA summer camps, so every child can attend the camp regardless of income.

 

Feel Good Friday – Be Someone’s Angel

It’s that time of year—your heart is open for giving and you’re looking for the right place to donate your hard-earned money. There are SO many places to do so, but this Friday I’d like to make a couple of recommendations; be an angel!

There are two ways to be an angel:

1. You can purchase a ‘Food Angel’ from any Kroger. All you have to do is pick up one of these angels, and $25 will be added to your grocery bill. Your money will feed a family in our community. Details:

Holiday Food Drive) This year LEX18, Kroger, and The Salvation Army are making it more convenient than ever to help families in need throughout our viewing area (Fayette, Boyle, Clark, Franklin, Jessamine, Madison, Mercer, Montgomery, Powell, Rowan, Scott, Woodford) have a warm meal this holiday. Beginning Thursday, November 24th through Christmas Eve, when you pick up a Food Angel from The Salvation Army Angel Tree at any participating Kroger, a tax deductible donation of $25 will be added to your grocery bill which will be used to feed a needy family. When you donate at your neighborhood Kroger, that money will stay in your community.

Fayette County

o 704 Euclid Ave
o 4101 Tates Creek
o 150 W Lowry Lane
o 1650 Bryan Station Rd
o 1808 Alexandria Drive
o 3650 Boston Road
o 344 Romany Road
o 4750 Hartland Pkwy
o 1060 Chinoe Road
o 1600 Leestown Road
o 3101 Richmond Road
o 3175 Beaumont Circle
Woodford County
o 525 Marsailles Road
Franklin County
o 1309 US 127 South
o 302 Brighton Park Blvd
Clark County
o 1661 Bypass Highway
Powell County
o 179 West College Street
Montgomery County
o 810 Indian Mound Drive
Rowan County
o 300 Trademore Center
Mercer County
o US Highway 127
Boyle County
o 200 Skywatch Drive
Madison County
o 890 Richmond Plaza
Jessamine County
o 170 Bellerive Boulevard
o 995 South Mao 200 East Brannon Rd

2. Or you can be a child’s angel on behalf of the Salvation Army!  

The deadline to buy gifts for an angel in Lexington is December 11th! Sadly, there are more than 1,000 kids who have not been chosen. Pick up an angel at any of these locations:

• Fayette Mall (near Dillard’s)
• Whitaker Banks (Lexington and Georgetown)
• ADI Appliance Distributors (Lexington)
• Glenn Nissan (Lexington)
• Shell Stations (Lexington and Georgetown)
• Walmart (Georgetown & Nicholasville)

About the Salvation Army Angel Tree Program:

The Angel Tree brings joy to financially disadvantaged children (ages birth to 17) by providing Christmas presents and new clothing.

The children belong to families who are at or below poverty level. There are a number of reasons why parents apply to the Angel Tree such as job loss, low wages, and high medical bills. Sometimes grandparents raising their grandchildren on a limited income apply for help. The parents/guardians of the children complete an application at The Salvation Army and are screened by social workers to ensure they are eligibility.

• Select a child’s angel card

• Purchase a new gift(s) using the information on the card as a guide. It is not necessary to purchase everything on the card.
• Return the new unwrapped gift(s) with the angel card secured by December 11th to The Salvation Army’s Christmas Center at 1030 South Broadway, Lexington, KY or to one of the Angel Tree displays. Note: Shell Stations will serve as an angel card pick up location only.

The Salvation Army picks up all angel gifts and transports them to its Christmas Center at 1030 South Broadway where volunteers work to arrange the gifts in numerical order (using the code number on each tag). This year, parents/guardians will pick up their gifts and food package December 19 and 20.