Ryan Seacrest Foundation

The Ryan Seacrest Foundation (RSF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for seriously ill and injured children through unique programs that utilize multimedia and interactive platforms to enlighten, entertain and educate.

RSF’s first initiative is to build broadcast media centers, named THE VOICE℠, within pediatric hospitals for patients to explore the creative realms of radio, television and new media. RSF’s aim is to contribute positively to the healing process for children and their families during their stay by developing these centers to bring an uplifting spirit to the hospital community. We believe access to multimedia experiences will bring patients exciting and stimulating adventures to encourage optimistic thoughts during treatment and for the future. It is also our intent to reach out to the community and involve students from local journalism schools, colleges and universities to provide them with the opportunity to gain first hand experience in broadcasting, programming and operating a multimedia center.

The Ryan Seacrest Foundation has selected The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia as its newest site for the construction of The Voice, an interactive broadcast multi-media center for sick and injured children.

For more information, go to www.ryanseacreastfoundation.org

The Mary Kay Foundation Helps Women in Violence and Cancer

Check out the great work that The Mary Kay Foundation is doing.

http://www.marykayfoundation.org

There are many organizations and foundations that are out there helping women today. Mary Kay Ash started The Mary Kay Foundation in 1996 with a mission to eliminate cancer and to end the epidemic of violence against women. There are many ways to help. You can donate money, suits that you don't wear any more (still in good condition), walk, shop at certain grocery stores, recycle laptops, hand out cards with a violence information hotline and much more.

If you are interested in finding out more about the The Mary Kay Foundation, click on the link above.

Thanks!
Sheryl

Back to School

This week has been a HUGE week for a lot of friends, family and pretty much everyone I know and don't know. Kids of all ages are headed back to school. On Facebook, I have seen photos of many kids standing outside their home front door, classroom door, in front of the locker, or sitting at their desk. In these photos I have also seen new books, new clothes, and new shoes. I have seen new school supplies, new bag packs, and new lunch boxes. I have seen tennis balls on school chairs, new folders and new computers.

With all of this "new" going on I have to wonder where is the old and what is being done with it? As you are reorganizing your closest or classrooms (for all you teachers out there), please consider making a difference in a young child or teenagers life. Pass those clothes on that don't fit anymore. Donate those supplies to an orphanage where kids of all ages and use them for their studies.

Have a great year of school!
Thanks for listening!
Sheryl

Patience and Taking Turns

Remember in kindergarten when we had to line up single file and take turns at the water fountain? It's funny how we were being taught those skills at such a young age so that we could carry them through life but somehow, we lose them along the way. I left Atlanta yesterday and went through 4 states in 6 1/2 hours. I have to say that Kentucky has the nicest drivers. They really do follow the rules of driving on the right and passing on the left. When getting on and off the highway, they take turns and are polite to let others in. I am a control freak when it comes to being behind the wheel but I have definitely learned a lesson for the rest of my trip.

Have patience on the road. Be nice and let others in.

Thanks for listening!
Sheryl

Hundreds of Gulf-area pets homeless

Many of you know my love of animals. I do not believe that they are just animals but are a part of the family as well. I do have a tendency to treat my dogs as humans, however, to be fair they do behave better than some humans out there. When a disaster happens to a neighborhood, town, or even a region, it is important for us to remember that it isn't just the humans that are affected. Because of the oil spill in the Gulf, there are hundreds of animals that have no home, or have died. Below are a few links to check out. Copy and paste them into your browser and who knows... you might be able to find $5 to donate or quite possibly even have a new member of your family.

Thanks for listening!
Sheryl

www.Facebook.com/DawnSavesWildlife

www.volunteerlatinamericablog.com/volunteer-at-gulf-oil-spill-animal-rescue

www.gcwr.org

http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2010/07/15/reporters-notebook-oil-and-the-family-pet/?on.cnn=1

Extra books?

Summer is here and a lot of extra reading is getting done. Not only are you reading more while on vacation but perhaps your children are on the summer reading program. As your children grow up, what can you do with their baby/children's books? Certainly you don't want to keep all of those books cluttering up your house. Whether you have extra books that are yours or your child's, take them to a local orphanage or even a nursing home.

Things to include would be books, magazines, newspapers, and even catalogs.

Thanks for listening!
Sheryl

Take a Chance

In two weeks I am heading out for LA. I am getting in my car and driving across the country to take a chance. I am doing an internship with a charitable foundation that The Cheesecake Factory started. There I will be working with the Director learning how to start and run fundraising events. I made a commitment to myself this year that I was going to help others more. I have started and continued this blog. I have rode a bike for MS. I have done many volunteer "jobs". I have collected shoes for the people of Haiti. I have collected soda tabs that turn into money, and more. This I believe to be my greatest commitment thus far.

When I return from LA, I will be working on projects to raise money for groups such as The Ronald McDonald House, Make-A-Wish Foundation, and more. I have never done this before but believe that we can all do a little more to help others. And wether or not you realize it, when you are helping others, you end up helping yourself too.

Take a chance and volunteer. Just one day a month is a great place to start. Below is a website where you can go to find somewhere to help others. Make it fun and bring the family.

Members Project / TakePart Social Action Network: Important Issues, Activism, Environmental, Human Rights, Political News
http://www.takepart.com/membersproject

Thanks for Listening!
Sheryl