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Thoughtful Thursday: Timely Trace Adkins Win

May 22, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Trace Adkins American Red CrossOn Sunday night, May 19th, country music star Trace Adkins became the most recent winner of the show, earning the title of All-Star Celebrity Apprentice. In our household we are huge Trace Adkins fans because he has been a vocal advocate on behalf of children with food allergies, himself being a father to a severely food allergic child. 

Trace is also a strong supporter of the American Red Cross, dedicating this Celebrity Apprentice seasons to the cause.  The American Red Cross was there for Trace’s family when his home went up in flames and was destroyed by fire in 2011.  Trace has raised more than $1.5 million for the Red Cross and his win for them could not be more timely, as this week the American Red Cross is helping those who were affected by the tornado that destroyed homes and lives this week in Oklahoma.

If you would like to help the American Red Cross as they people of Oklahoma, simply text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10 or follow this link to make a monetary donation: https://www.redcross.org/donate/index.jsp?donateStep=2&itemId=prod10002.

Congrats to Trace Adkins!

Happy Thursday to you. Time to link up.  And…. Go!



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Thoughtful Thursday: World Book Night

April 17, 2013 by 3 Comments

World Book NightHave you heard of World Book Night?  Celebrated each year on April 23rd, World Book Night is an annual celebration dedicated to spreading the love of reading, person to person.  On that night, designated book givers throughout the country will hand out half a million printed books.  Each book giver receives 20 free paperback copies of one World Book Night title in their community. 

Last year was my first as a book giver and I am excited and proud to be doing it again.  There has been so much sadness lately and it will be incredibly rewarding to make someone’s day by giving them a book.  It will give them a laugh too, as the book I get to give out is Tina Fey’s Bossypants.  Called “a spiky blend of humor, introspection, critical thinking and Nora Ephron-isms for a new generation” by the New York Times, this is sure to take readers’ minds off life’s stresses.

I highly, highly recommend signing up to be a book giver, so you can have an opportunity to make someone’s day.  For more information about World Book Night, go to: http://www.us.worldbooknight.org/.

I hope you are having a great week and cannot wait to see what you have written about!



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Help a Child to Fly

April 3, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Help a child to flyEach year, the Make-A-Wish Foundation grants nearly 14,000 life-changing wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions. One of my relatives works for the foundation and knows firsthand how the wishes granted by the foundation are literally life-changing for these children.  

During the month of April, Make-A-Wish is running a campaign to raise dollars and airline miles to fund airline tickets for granting wishes that involve travel.  Almost 75% of wishes require air travel.  According to Look to the Stars, approximately 50,000 airline tickets are needed each year to get wish kids and their families to and from their wish experiences.  WWE Superstar John Cena has vowed to match every frequent flier mile donated during April, up to 4.5 million.

If you would like to donate any unused airline miles and make a child’s wish come true, simply go to: http://wish.org/tickets.



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Thoughtful Thursday: A Challenge

March 27, 2013 by 2 Comments

Today I was feeling a bit discouraged by all of the drama going on around me lately.  While I am grateful to not be personally involved, watching several of my friends dealing with various issues has left me feeling exhausted and a bit helpless.   This afternoon, however, I remembered that there are people suffering who I could do something to help.  I headed over to the food bank with a sizable food donation.  The people working there were so incredibly grateful and being able to pay it forward turned my entire day around.

So this week on Thoughtful Thursday I am issuing a friendly challenge.  All you have to do is perform three random acts of kindness and then come back here and leave a comment.  You can give your acts of kindness in the comment, talk about who received them or how doing the acts of kindness made you feel.  Are you ready for the challenge?



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Give a Note

March 13, 2013 by 4 Comments

Give a noteSince its debut in 2009, FOX’s Glee has been firmly committed to supporting and promoting music education in schools.  The show has continued its commitment to give back with the celebration of their 500th musical performance, a rendition of “Shout,” featured in the classic movie Animal House.  In honor of its 500th episode, Columbia Records and Twentieth Century Fox Television will give 100% of their net proceeds from U.S. downloads of the single “Shout” through the end of the TV season to the Give A Note Foundation, which serves to expand and increase music education opportunities for all children.

To download your copy of “Shout” and help the Give a Note Foundation, go to: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/shout-glee-cast-version-single/id607117689.

Link it up, folks!
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ConAgra Helping the Hungry

February 27, 2013 by 1 Comment

Conagra Fights Childhood HungerNearly 17 million children are food insecure in the United States.  Nearly 17 million children worry about where there next meal is coming from. Nearly 17 million children could be going to bed tonight hungry.  And that is 17 million too many.

Here’s how you can help.  Now through August, simply look for the red pushpin in grocery stores and purchasing specially-marked packages of 19 select ConAgra Foods brands, including: Banquet, Chef Boyardee, Healthy Choice, Hunt’s, Marie Callender ’s, Manwich, Orville Redenbacher ’s, Peter Pan and Snack Pack.  Next, visit www.ChildHungerEndsHere.com or Facebook.com/ChildHungerEndsHere and enter the eight-digit code found on the package.  

For each code entered, the equivalent of one meal will be donated to Feeding America, up to 3 million meals.  For more information, visit www.ChildHungerEndsHere.com or Facebook.com/ChildHungerEndsHere.

Happy Thoughtful Thursday. Link ‘em up!



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Thoughtful Thursday: Saving the World’s Vanilla

February 20, 2013 by 4 Comments

Vanilla Ice CreamAt Found the Marbles, I am all about encouraging consumers to put their dollars to good use.  Today the General Mills Foundation and Häagen-Dazs announced an initiative to create greater economic vitality for vanilla farmers in Madagascar. 

Vanilla is one of 10 ingredients General Mills has prioritized 10 ingredients, including vanilla, which it plans to source sustainably.  Together General Mills and Häagen-Dazs will invest $125,000 to promote sustainable vanilla farming in villages in Madagascar’s Sava region, home of the world’s highest quality vanilla. 

Madagascar is the world’s leading producer of vanilla, responsible for more than 80 percent of the world’s production.  The program will provide training and education to several hundred smallholder farmers focused on producing a more sustainable and higher quality vanilla crop.  

The sustainable vanilla sourcing program is part of a larger, more comprehensive sustainable sourcing plan by General Mills, including efforts in Mexico, China and Africa.

Time to link up! Let’s GO!



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Code for Good Challenges

February 6, 2013 by 3 Comments

Thoughtful Thursday Blog HopDo you know a college student majoring in a technology-related field who might like to put their coding skills to use for a good cause?

JPMorgan Chase launch of the Code for Good Challenges, which brings together college students from various schools to develop solutions to challenges faced by nonprofits.  The two day events will take place in New York, Delaware and Ohio and will continue in other locations throughout 2013.  Participants will be placed into teams and tasked with working together to creatively solve a challenge faced by a local nonprofit organization.  A panel of judges will determine the winning team, which will be announced at the culmination of the 2-day event.

If you know someone who should might want to apply and use their skills for social good, have them go to http://techcareers.jpmorganchase.com/opportunities/.   The deadline to apply is February 10th for NYC and February 18th for Newark and Columbus.

Happy Thoughtful Thursday!



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Corporate Social Responsibility

January 30, 2013 by 4 Comments

Shopping responsibly As consumers, we have earned the right to put our dollars towards companies that share our values.  For some, that means looking for brands and companies that do their part to give back to the community.  For that reason, I  have put together a page on this site called Social Responsibility, and it links to the social responsibility reports for 100+ major brands and companies, with a link for more to be added.  It is up to use to use our dollars wisely.

Wishing you a very happy thoughtful Thursday.



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The Power of Social Media

January 23, 2013 by 3 Comments

The Power of Social MediaHere’s to the power of social media.  Did you know that researchers analyze tweets daily to find trends and ways that Twitter is being utilized for social action?  If you want to read some social media awesomeness, check out http://stories.twitter.com/.  It is literally just that; a collection of stories that have come to life via Twitter.  I promise you – it is fascinating.

-By sifting through 3.3 million geo-located Tweets by language during the last Olympics, two scientists created a color-coded, interactive map.  Can you guess the one place where all of the languages came together?

-When patrons of a small café gave spare change to Marie Curie Cancer Care through a donation box that was later stolen, one resident turned to Twitter to get the money back.

-When a die-hard 76ers fan started tweeting as a potential new mascott, the team came calling.

-Before boarding a plane bound for Newark, Peter Shankman jokingly sent a Tweet to Morton’s, his favorite steakhouse, asking them to meet him at the airport with a steak when he landed.  Guess what happened next…

Seriously, if you have some time and want to hear some good news for a change, head on over to http://stories.twitter.com/.  You won’t be disappointed.

Now, who’s ready to link up?



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In it to Win it, @JeffGordon4Cure

January 16, 2013 by 4 Comments

Jeff Gordon Corvette RaffleAny NASCAR fans in the house?  Here’s a chance for you to take social action, give back to a great cause and a chance to win a Corvette.  Jeff Gordon (yes, that Jeff Gordon) is raffling off his personal 2012 Grand Sport 4LT Corvette Convertible. 

Proceeds from all raffle tickets purchased will benefit the Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation and its efforts to fund pediatric cancer treatment and research programs and the Jeff Gordon Children’s Hospital.  There are only 7,500 tickets available and each ticket costs $100.  Tickets can be purchased now through Monday, September 23. 2013.  The winner will be announced first week in October of 2013.  Click here to purchase a raffle ticket for your chance to win a fabulous Corvette and to drive away pediatric cancer.

Time to link up!


Photo courtesy of the Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation.

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The Inspiring Firefighter

January 9, 2013 by 4 Comments

Thoughtful Thursday Blog HopIf you have not read this story, you absolutely must.  It is perhaps the most wonderful human interest piece I have read in quite some time.  Scott McDowell is back to work as a firefighter and paramedic at his Michigan fire department after losing not one but both of his legs. How many of us go through life feeling sorry for ourselves, ready to give up when life feels just a little too difficult?  Not Scott McDowell.  He loses two legs and still straps on his boots to go back to the firehouse.

If you need a little pick-me-up or a little inspiration, read this post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/09/scott-mcdowell-double-amputee-firefighter_n_2388951.html?ref=topbar.

Happy Thoughtful Thursday!



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The Power of Two

December 12, 2012 by 4 Comments

I hope you had a fabulous 12/12/12!  This week I have two items to great pieces of information to share.  The first is about sharing some holiday spirit and the 12 days of Christmas Kindness from Galt Toys where they are encouraging people to do good deeds and share those acts of kindness. Every good deed enters you in a prize draw to win a Galt shopping spree.  For more information and to enter, go to: http://www.galttoys.com/index.cfm/12_Days_of_Christmas_Kindness_Competition/1175/element/8812#.UMiVmoNWx8E.

Second, if you have any hockey fans in the house, they may want to hear about this.  (No, it is not an end to the lockout, but it is still pretty darn good.)  The Philadelphia Flyers’ Scott Hartnell and the Toronto Maple Leafs’ James ‘JVR’ van Riemsdyk are taking their rivalry online to see who can raise more money for Hurricane Sandy relief.  Hartnell is supporting the Empire State Relief Fund and van Reimsdyk is supporting the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund.  Fans can donate to either Scott or James at http://www.power-­of-­2.org as many times as they would like through midnight on Tuesday, December 18th.  Though there will be one winner, both charities will receive all the funds raised.  Plus, every time you give or share the campaign, you earn an entry to win a pair of tickets to an NHL game in Toronto or Philadelphia (when they get started again).  The ticket winner also gets to meet Scott or James after the game.  Way to go, guys!

Now it’s time to link up.  And GO!



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Thoughtful Thursday: Songs After Sandy

December 5, 2012 by 2 Comments

If you are still looking for a gift for that elusive individual who seems to have everything, here is an idea for you.  Songs After Sandy is a charity compilation of music (with exclusive tracks) by Ringo Starr, Joan Osborne, Ben Folds, Ben Harper and more.  Proceeds from the sale of the music go to: Restore Red Hook, Red Hook Initiative, Occupy Sandy & Green Ground Zero.  You can pre-order the songs now for yourself or as a gift for $15 at: http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/songsaftersandy. 

I hope you are having a great Thursday! This past week has been nutty so I’m still through last week’s posts.  Please link up your most thoughtful, thought provoking or your favorite post of the week. Don’t forget to visit other posts too!  See you again next week.



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Thoughtful Thursday: World Prematurity Day

November 14, 2012 by 4 Comments

My first son was born five weeks early at five pounds.  There was a baby in the nursery next to him who weighed in at a healthy nine pounds.  My father came in and told me that kid looked like he could eat mine for lunch.  Then my second son was born at 32 weeks and even smaller.  This time in the NICU it was my son who was twice the size of the babies around him.  Though we spent four weeks in that NICU, we had nothing to fret about when there were families in there for twelve weeks or more with babies born at less than two pounds.

Premature babies aren’t just teeny tiny.  Sadly, many of them — over 1 million  each year — won’t make it to their first birthday.  The babies who do make it often face a lifetime of medical setbacks. Without research, doctors cannot identifying the causes of premature birth or do anything to prevent it.   So we need to raise awareness of both premature birth and the need for this research.

Saturday, November 17th is the second annual World Prematurity Day.  Worldwide, 15 million babies are born prematurely every year.  Find more ways to take action here or follow along on Twitter at #worldprematurityday.  Even if prematurity has not affected you personally, you probably know someone who has been affected.  Let’s do what we can to make sure that all babies reach their first birthday and beyond.

Now go on and link up!



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Thoughtful Thursday: Helping After Hurricane Sandy

October 31, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Though it was frightening, this week was not about Halloween.  Though next week is when we vote, it is not necessarily about politics.  When all the power is back there will still be thousands of people in need who lost their homes or their livelihood.  There will still be pieces to be picked up and pieces to be built again from scratch.

According to FEMA, “The best way to support survivors of Hurricane Sandy is to make a financial contribution to the voluntary organization of your choice.”  There are so many people who need our help.  Find out how to make a donation or to help those who have lost it all in hurricane Sandy, go to: http://www.fema.gov/volunteer-donate-responsibly.

It’s link up time!



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Thoughtful Thursday: Good and Ready

October 24, 2012 by 4 Comments

Being prepared can make all the difference in a time when suddenly every second counts.   Good & Ready is an initiative that encourages families to take a few simple steps in order to be prepared for emergencies such as natural disasters, weather emergencies or unexpected events.  Regardless of where you live, knowing what to do before, during and after an emergency or disaster is a vitally important.

Presently just one in ten Americans is prepared to protect themselves, their families or homes in a natural disaster.  For information on how to prepare your home and family for an emergency, go to: http://goodnready.pointsoflight.org/.

You can also download a checklist of what to pack in an emergency at: http://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/checklist_1.pdf.

By the way, if you take the Good & Ready quiz online before the end of this month and pledge to take a few simple steps toward emergency preparedness, you will also be entered to win some neat prizes.

Before you head over to get prepared, it’s time to link up!



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Thoughtful Thursday: Getting Schooled

October 17, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Do you have trouble getting your kids out of bed for school in the mornings?  If so, you may want to log on to GetSchooled.com.

Chronic lateness and absenteeism is becoming rampant in schools throughout the country.  Johns Hopkins recently estimated that 10 to 15 percent of students are chronically absent and at risk of not graduating.

Get Schooled is trying to do something about it, so they have teamed up with celebrities to schedule wake up calls for your kids.  Just go to https://getschooled.com/wakeup to learn more and get your kids in the habit of getting up for school.

Time to link up!

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