Charity versus Social Investment

Saving Philanthropy, a documentary expected to be released Summer 2010, makes you contemplate the difference between charity and social investment. They mention the importance of visible impact and to share your  "heart warming stories" -- and that's exactly why the YourCause platform is designed the way it is with a mission to build the largest community of caring people online.

How does charity and social investment differ to you?

- Amy Chait

Check out the video below:

 

WHY

I'm fortunate...and that's an understatement. 

I, unlike the 923 million hungry people in the world, have never had to deal with the inability to feed my growling, snarling, empty stomach.  In fact, I hardly experience the pain of hunger, as there's always a dollar menu around the corner or a granola bar in the pantry.

In the season of Thanksgiving and the cornucopia of food that will be in tomorrow's fridge (and a week after that), this seems like a time-worthy entry.  Although, in actuality, what sparked my thoughts about hunger is the fact that Jing, our software developer and mother of two, recently said "in the 21st century humans shouldn't have to face threats of starvation and hunger."  This short but sweet sentence made me stop.  And think....

We can skyrocket to the moon.

We can clone embryos.

We (Americans) can spend 41 billion a year on our pets (that's more than the gross domestic product of all but 64 countries in the world)

But we can't end world hunger?

WHY?   

A simple yet loaded question that two-year-olds ask every millisecond:

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WHY, a grassroots nonprofit organization, seeks to find answers for hunger and poverty, wishing to eliminate this human tragedy once and for all.  The organization leads in advocacy for innovative, community-based solutions to hunger and poverty. WHY challenges society to confront these problems by advancing models that create self-reliance, economic justice, and equal access to nutritious and affordable food.

So while I'm eating my turkey, green beans, mashed potatoes and stuffing I can be grateful that there are organizations upon organizations dedicated to finding answers to eliminate world hunger?  Hmm...that's not good enough for me.  How about you?

We shouldn't stop at asking why hunger exists; we have to join together to end it! 

Last year, I helped a soup kitchen distribute turkey dinners to the homeless in Austin, Texas.  I don't have plans this year, but guess what?  That's the beauty of YourCause.com! I can find last-minute volunteer opportunities or support an organization like WHY that achieves to eliminate world hunger.  

Check out WHY at YourCause.com: http://www.yourcause.com/Charities/132805575

If you have volunteer opportunities this Thanksgiving please let us know!  We're always interested in hearing the productivity and advocacy of our YourCause members.

A very thankful,

Lizette Romero

 

 

16 Children, 16 New Lives

Some days I become disappointed by the defeat of corruption. But not this past Saturday. Not in the courtroom decorated with balloons and teddy bears, policemen with face painting, and a teary eyed judge and volunteers who witnessed kids being adopted from child protection services.

I never felt this kind of joy before— the joy where you gleam with a smile because you feel the energy of these new families and know this is a turning point of a new life for these children. I felt privileged to be part of such an important day for these individuals, as I watched a foster dad with the biggest grin I have ever seen, silently clapping his hands because little Chloe got adopted.

“We all have roles, but we also have hearts,” said the judge. Roles such as, parents, lawyers, prosecutors and case workers, volunteers etc. However, for National Adoption Day in Mckinney, Texas all of our roles turned into one: to witness children announcing their new names and revive from a broken home.

My role was a volunteer, and I genuinely felt a surge of happiness – not for my own good, but for the 16 children with new beginnings.

Thank you Children's Advocacy Center for not only a moving day, but bringing miracles to the kids who deserve a future.

Living with hope,

Amy

 

CNN Heroes: Puts Things in Perspective

Cnn-stage

I’ve come to realize that in the world of “doing good” there are those who are ‘doing’ good and those who actually ‘do good.’  Although they may be grouped in the same category at the end of the day, I truly believe the difference between the two is quite significant.  The notion was reaffirmed to me this weekend while in Los Angeles at the filming of the CNN Heroes (to air Thanksgiving Day on CNN). 

Perhaps it only makes sense to define the differences.  People ‘doing good’ takes place all around us.  It could be argued that the entire premise of YourCause.com is for doing good - supporting charities through promotion, donation, awareness and action are (in my mind) all a part of doing good in our society. 

People who ‘do good,’ are the people who actually get out in the field, who make the sacrifices and roll up their sleeves, dedicating themselves to executing the ‘good’ that the rest of us only read in stories or see in movies.  It’s not the people who do good in their spare time, on the weekend or when time permits.  These aren’t the ones who give when they can, measuring good only by the total amount they deduct from their taxes at the end of the year. 

The people who ‘do good,’ which are the same people I was so privileged to meet in Los Angeles this weekend at the CNN Heroes event, are the individuals who devote themselves to their respective causes.  They’ve made their cause their life, only thinking in terms of their ability to accomplish what they’ve set out to do.  They dedicate extraordinary passion about their cause.  Of the CNN Heroes I met this weekend, each has a touching personal story that motivates them for years.  Each Hero has tirelessly given everything they have to see their efforts make the intended difference. 

This weekend really made me realize how people who are “doing good” differ from those who actually “do good.”  As each of the CNN Heroes told me in personal conversations, “it truly does take both sides to make it all work.”  It takes those who can support, encourage, and motivate – and it takes those who can act and execute. 

Which am I? 

National Survivors of Suicide Day

Tomorrow is dedicated to survivors of suicide, and wanted to take a moment to write about a cause that kills someone every 16 minutes in the U.S.

I personally received a phone call one morning from a friend who had returned from the hospital for taking too many pills-- and I was an awe, shocked, confused. I cannot express the feeling your gutted with processing the thought of a suicide attempt.

But this isn't about how I feel. One, I am lucky she survived. Two, this is how they feel. Sometimes you can give all the advice in the world, but it is up to the individual to get help. Fortunately, my friend sought a better life after the pill overdose, but some victims are found with no second chance.

There is hope for prevention.

Over 60% of people who die from suicide suffer from major depression, which 90% of people that have been treated for their depression have responded positively. Depression is an illness, not just a self-pity mood, and individuals who suffer should not be embarrassed to seek a psychiatrist.

You can read a great article on CNN about survivors who find purpose here.

In addition, you can make a donation and raise awareness for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention at YourCause here

- Amy Chait

 

A Kaleidoscope View of Life

Wokai-team-compressed

 

I have made about 20 or more trips to China in the past couple of years, and each trip I have focused on basketball, basketball, basketball (see www.wohoops.com – another startup by Blastoff Ventures).  And whatever time I have had that was not spent meeting a new partner, hiring, opening the office, working with our technical team, shuffling between airports, battling jet lag, or just missing home, I spent trying to better understand the culture, the people, and my surroundings.

And in all the time I have spent here, combined with my experiences with our Chinese team and those micro-instances spent learning about China and its people, I feel that I have been able to get a pretty good grasp on ‘what china is all about.’

Much like any country throughout our world (including the US), there are aspects of this country that are truly amazing, while other areas that are utterly sad.  And in my privileged life, I have come to realize that I tend to see far more of the great things that both the U.S. and China has to offer, and rarely am exposed to the elements that are less than desirable.

Even as I write this, a sense of guilt falls upon my shoulders. How fortunate I truly am. I see life through a lens that is but a dream and a fantasy to so many others, like the millions of individuals right here in China. 

I met a group of inspirational people today in Beijing that are working to portray a ‘kaleidoscope view’ of those who are truly in need -- a view of life I strive to introspect on a daily basis.  They help people who do not worry about matching their pants with their shirt, but rather, being able to feed themselves at sunup and sundown.  Their help roams into remote villages, such as faraway mountain terraces, and places that someone like me, merely would normally never know exist – if not for people like those at Wokai.org. 

The folks at Wokai are young, enthusiastic, kind, and caring; and are doing work that truly exemplify what it means to “make a difference.”  They are passionate about what they do and are compassionate in how they do it.  You can read more about Wokai at:  http://www.yourcause.com/Charities/113814740. 

After meeting the Wokai team, the invisible torch has been passed to me.  What can I now do to help?  What can I do within YourCause to help Wokai more effectively have a positive impact on the lives of others?

How can you help? 

Go Forth: Young Enthusiasts (We need your vote!)

YouTopia and Free Range Studios have teamed up to deliver a $15,000 grant to organizations who are out to make a difference.

We have pitched a strategic millenial campaign "Go Forth: Young Enthusiasts" with the vision to empower tomorrow's leaders in philanthropic efforts.

You can vote up to 3 times and share with your network until December 1st!

How to place your vote (short and painless):

1) Sign up with an already existing e-mail or social media login here

2) Once you have signed up, click here to get the link to our direct entry

3) Click on the "Vote" link to the left hand side of the title

And your done.

We appreciate your support, and hope you will join us to motivate young enthusiasts to take action for a better world!

 

 

A Dangerous Play Field

Every four seconds a rain forest area the size of a soccer field is destroyed.

Here in Texas I don't see much of those rain forests, however, I do know rain forest play a large part in climate change no matter where I fall on the map. Why should we take action for deforestation? Because if we don't take action, in the next 10 years an Egypt-size chunk of rainforest will be taken from us.

Please read more how rain forests benefit us and the alarming rate of deforestation at The Prince's Rainforests Project

- Amy Chait

Teaching Students to Care

I was a high school student not too long ago. I don't recall worrying too much about the HIV crisis in Africa or even realizing that human trafficking (modern day slavery) existed.  I was too busy trying to learn about past slavery in American History class, attempting to get that dual college credit, pass all my classes and of course, win the attention of my latest crush. 

There's a lot going on during those crucial high school years.  You learn about the world but in a micro-type setting.  Sure, you learn about eating disorders - your best friend may have one.  You learn about keeping peace in faraway places - your brother got deported last year.  However, you still have the restrictions a 16-year-old has in this world.  I mean, you still have to ASK your teacher for permission to use the bathroom!  So as much as you'd like to start caring about the world, it's hard to get out there and do something about it (especially when you may not even have your driver's license yet).

The solution?

For an English teacher of Coppell Independent School District located in Coppell, TX she sought out the use of YourCause.com.

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As a school project, the teacher instructed her students to get more involved in philanthropy and cause awareness, all through their computer screen via YourCause. We are happy to say that 67 new causes from students at Coppell High School have joined the YourCause community thus far.  That's 67 more high school students that now have the ability to rally for a cause of their choice!  As part of the project, students must send their causes out to 20 or more of their friends and family.  We hope their efforts get rewarded and we'd like to say congratulations to Coppell High for teaching their students to care! 

We truly find the student's causes inspirational.  Everything from 'Serving the World with Humanitarian Relief' and 'Spreading Music to all Parts of the World' can be found as subjects of their passion.

Go Cowboys!

- Lizette Romero

Calling All Parents: Why You Should Care About Climate Change

As I was browsing GoodWorks (http://adage.com/goodworks/), I came across a new video Environmental Defence Canada and ForestEthics released that target parents to become aware of climate change.

Forget the kicking and screaming in the toy aisle, these kids rebel in the streets for a good reason.

In a little over in a minute this video taps into the conscience resonating the question "If our children knew the facts we do they'd take action. Shouldn't you?"

- Amy Chait