Guiding Eyes for the Blind

Guiding Eyes for the Blind is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that has been established as a school for training guide dogs and providing these dogs to those who need them at no cost.  To date, they have provided over 7,200 guide dogs to the visually impaired.  They have also been providing support to the visually-impaired and blind individuals by educating them on how to safely travel, how to be more independent and by giving them the dignity they deserve to lead successful lives.  This organization depends on donations to fulfill its mission and provide the services they are passionate about.

Guiding Eyes for the Blind

 Guide dogs are provided to expand the horizons of the blind and visually impaired.   By having the guide dogs, the graduates of the guide dog training program are able to attend college, get married, have a manageable family life, attend their children's soccer games, etc.

In 2008, dogs started being provided as companions for children with autism.  The program has seen amazing outcomes and provided hope to these children who have to learn to face the future with their special gift.

Guding Eyes for the Blind/ guidingeyes.org

There are several ways you can help out this organization.  For one, they have puppy raising programs, where you can raise the puppy in your home and make sure they get the proper socialization before they are established as a guide dog.  If you are in Patterson, New York, you can volunteer at the headquarters and provide love to the service dogs.  You can give a donation to this cause, and your money will go towards the services they offer. The web site even has a store that you can purchase items from in which the proceeds go to the cause. Last but not least, you are also able to educate others about the importance of this program and raise awareness.  This organization is a worthy cause and since they rely on donations to keep doing what they are doing, it is important that people understand its importance.

I encourage you to get involved with this organization.  I can't even imagine what my life would be like without the ability to see.  I have so much respect for those who have to lead a normal life yet they have never been able to see.  This organization gives them their dignity back.  You can help give them dignity.  They are so deserving.

Guiding Eyes

Pandas International

I absolutely love Panda Bears.  I even go by Amanda Panda sometimes--it's a nickname that kind of sticked around in my school days.  I think Pandas are stunning creatures and I think the world is a better place with them in it.  Sadly however, Giant Pandas are an endangered creature.  Pandas International is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization created to educate people about the risk of losing this gorgeous creature and working towards the preservation of them.  In 1999, Diane Rees and Suzanne Braden visited the Wolong Panda Center in China and decided that upon returning they would form this nonprofit organization.

Pandas International/ pandasinternational.org

There are only thought to be about 1,600 Giant Pandas left on this Earth.  This organization solely focuses on the Giant Panda and places all its efforts towards saving them and making sure that extinction is out of the question.  In 2008, the Wolong Panda Center was destroyed following the 2008 earthquake in China.  This earthquake and the devastation it caused has put much stress on the mission of the organization.

If you donate, your money goes towards medical support (providing milk formula, treating the Giant Pandas, etc.) and direct support of the Panda Reserves, including adoptions and bamboo deforestation (the 2008 earthquake destroyed much of the bamboo near the Wolong Panda Center--bamboo is the main source of food for the Giant Panda.)  It also goes towards informing and educating the public about the risk of losing the Giant Panda.

This web site provides so many interesting ways that you can provide your support.  One way you can show your support is by volunteering in China at Bifengxia Panda Center--you would need to provide your own travel, but if you are able to visit China, this would be a great option.  You can also throw a Panda Party and have the focus be raising money to support the Giant Pandas.  You can adopt a Panda (disclaimer*This doesn't mean you get to have this Panda live with you)--and have a Panda that your donations go to.  Pandas International also has a huge gift shop on their web site that allows you to purchase some great panda-related gifts.  You can also make a monetary donation or simply tell people about the need to help these amazing creatures.  Any help is greatly appreciated.  Overall, this cause is amazing and I am thankful that their is such a big voice in this world for Giant Pandas.

Check out Pandas International, you won't regret it!

Pandas International/ pandasinternational.org

Awesome Product Alert: LUSH Charity Pot

Occasionally, instead of featuring a charity for the day, I will feature a worthy product.  Looking for a wonderful product that gives back.  Enter: LUSH Charity Pot.  This luxurious cocoa butter creme will keep you coming back for more--and not make you feel guilty for doing so.  The proceeds of this cocoa butter 100%(minus the taxes) go to small, grassroots organizations that are making a big difference in this world.  Below are just a few of the numerous organizations you can make sure the donated causes go towards:
The International Indigenous Leadership Gathering
Under the Same Sun
Pets and Friends
Grey2kUSA
Keep Austin Beautiful
and many many more amazing causes.

Be sure you check out the web site at:
http://charitypot.lush.com/

This cocoa butter would be an AMAZING Christmas present especially considering it gets cold this time of year and everyone wants to stay moisturized.  I know that I get terribly dry skin, and this stuff will not only keep my heart warm, but also will keep my skin from cracking.  Their web site is absolutely amazing and you can check out the information about all of these charities on the LUSH web site as well as donate directly from LUSH to any worthy cause you find fit.

One other awesome thing to note about this product is how guilt-free you can be about it.  Not only is the product made in Canada (to minimize the transport of the product), but it does not involve any animal testing, it's fresh (it's shipped out after it is made) and there is ethical buying involved from the Dominican Republic when buying the cocoa butter.  All around, this product is just great.  Order some online.  It's only $5.95(1.7oz.) to 22.95(7.9oz.) to purchase.

Gridiron Heroes: Spinal Cord Injury Foundation

You can thank my lovely husband Trey for the featured organization today.  He's a huge sports guy and football is his favorite sport.

Gridiron Heroes began in 2003 and my husband got the chance to meet the founding member, Eddie Canales and his son Chris, in 2009.  Chris played for San Marcos (TX) Baptist Academy, and sustained a spinal cord injury and was paralyzed in 2001 during the 4th quarter of the last regular season game during his senior year.  Chris fought valiantly and was able to make a recovery, albeit a recovery that would see Chris have to learn to function as a quadriplegic.  The next year, Chris and Eddie were attending the 3A state championship game and they witnessed another player sustain an injury.  After learning how difficult the recovery period was, Chris, Eddie, and Chris' high school coach Mike Kipp were inspired to begin Gridiron Heroes in order to help others who sustain this injury.  While football is a dangerous sport and the prospect of broken bones is always in the back of players' minds, many never think that a spinal cord injury could happen to them. I encourage you to check out this great organization. You can help or get involved by following this link: 

http://www.gridironheroes.org/get-involved-donate.asp

2009 Dallas Cowboys training camp
http://www.gridironheroes.org

 

Kidd's Kids: The Kidd Kraddick Foundation

I remember thinking I had the worst life growing up as a child.  As I've aged, I've determined that I was ridiculous and selfish.  I had it really good.  There are so many children who are suffering from terminal illnesses and/or chronic illnesses--many of whom have lost hope.  Many of these children wouldn't ever be able to take a trip to Disneyworld.  Many of them have had to grow up way too fast.  Kidd's Kids Foundation seeks to help these kids be kids again.
The primary goal of Kidd's Kids Foundation is to provide an all-expenses paid trip to Disneyworld for chronically ill and children with special medical needs.  Many of the families chosen to attend the trip are unable to afford such a trip, and the Kidd Kraddick morning radio show helps raise funds to cover the trip.  Every year, they sponsor about 50 kids and their families to attend the trip and take care of all of the work behind it.  They give the children a 5-day vacation and cover all meals, airfare, lodging and even give them each some spending money.

www.kiddskids.com

There are several ways you can become involved.  You can volunteer your time, you can donate money, you can buy merchandise online, and you can do corporate matching.

You can also become involved in The Glamour Squad.  It is also backed by the Kidd Kraddick morning show.  The Glamour Squad takes licensed cosmetologists and volunteers for a day of beauty for terminally/chronically ill teenage girls between 12-19.

Both of these organizations are wonderful and I encourage you to check out the web site and become involved.  You can tell they have a heart for service.

http://www.kiddskids.com/

www.kiddskids.com

Dog Rescue: DFW Pug Rescue

www.dfwpugs.com

Today, I'm really missing my two pugs.  
My husband and I currently don't have them living with us because they are destructive and don't do well in an apartment.  My parents are watching them until we get a house lined up--hopefully within the next year or two.  Hopefully, you are like me and love pugs.  If you don't, I don't dog-scriminate.  Haha.  However, since I'm partial to pugs, I figured I'd make sure you know about a great pug rescue in the Dallas area.  They sometimes get mixed dogs that you can adopt as well.  Besides for not doing really well in apartments, we are so in love with our pugs! They are a very lovable breed and always bring a smile to your face.

DFW Pug Rescue is a great 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization that has been up and running since 1997.  They are the largest pug rescue organization in the United States and they have currently placed over 5,500 lovable and huggable pugs.  They rescue all pugs regardless of medical condition or age.  Their mission is to find homes for these pugs and/or at least make sure they know they are loved.    You can adopt a pug, sponsor a pug or foster a pug--or you can simply make donations.  The web site even has a shop on it that has pug-focused goodies.  I encourage you to check out their web site and help a pug.

http://www.dfwpugs.com/ 

www.dfwpugs.com

Human Trafficking: A21 Campaign

 I have had a heart for helping others my whole life.  I have had a heart for helping children in Eastern Europe since early high school.  I befriended two new kids to our school who confided in me that when they were very young, they were adopted from Albania.  I had no idea where Albania was.  I researched it and found that it was in Eastern Europe.  I looked up adoption in Eastern Europe and I was stunned to find how big of a problem orphanages were over there.  There are so many children who don't have homes--who will never have homes.  Also, when these children phase out of the orphanages, they have no support system.  Many of the girls are pushed into prostitution/slavery and many of the boys join gangs and turn to drugs.  I have decided that it is my dream to help as much as I can to prevent the terrible conditions that these children have to deal with.

I'll admit it, I get angry thinking about the fact that there are people who take children and adults into slavery, often of a sexual manner.  I feel a sense of urgency about this--like I want to hop on a plane and beat up whoever is doing this to these people, but I am unable to go 'beat up' everyone who is doing this.  I try not to think about it too much because it makes me really upset, but it's hard not to think about it when it weighs heavy on your heart. 

Enough about that, I found out about this organization a few months ago.  I was immediately drawn to it.  They have an amazing web site and they break down 21 ways that you can become involved.  The A21 Campaign recognizes a significant need in the regions of Europe.  You can become an abolitionist (to help end slavery) and encourage others to become involved.  You can host an event in your hometown and raise awareness.  You can donate what you have, including your time to raise awareness of this issue.

The goal of A21 Campain is to:

• Prevent people from being trafficked
• Protect and support those who have been trafficked
• Prosecute traffickers, and strengthen legal responses to trafficking
• Partner with law enforcement, service providers and community members to provide a comprehensive front against trafficking

They need my help to do this. They need your help.

I encourage you to check out their web site.  You will be blown away by how amazing this organization is.  Yes, it is faith-based, and I am especially drawn to that because I am a Christian.  However, even if you are not a Christian, you can respect all they are doing to end human trafficking.

http://www.thea21campaign.org/

www.thea21campaign.org