Free Wheelchair Mission

I heard this on a local television news broadcast and could not miss passing it along. Retired NFL Quarterback Jay Schroeder is one of the spokespersons of this worthy cause. Here is the press release from the actual website. If you want to look more into it, check it out at http://www.freewheelchairmission.org/ . Another way that someone is looking at the world, looking at a need, spending the time to explore, creating a vision, taking action, and helping others!




PRESS
Press Releases - 2007

FREE WHEELCHAIR MISSION TEAMS UP WITH SURF CITY USA® MARATHON FOR THIRD YEAR
November 9, 2007 Thousands Including Former NFL Quarterback Jay Schroeder to Run for Those Who Can’t in “Run for Mobility”

Free Wheelchair Mission Celebrates Orange County Culmination of Cross-Country Cylce - Ride for Mobility
June 8, 2007 There are more than 100 million disabled people in the developing world who have no access to wheelchairs due to poverty and economic isolation.

Free Wheelchair Mission and Reader's Digest Partner in 3,000-Mile Cycle for Cause, Ride for Mobility
March 14, 2007, MarketWire - Entitled Ride for Mobility, the grassroots educational and fundraising campaign was developed to help spread Free Wheelchair Mission's message throughout the country and to raise funds to purchase 15,000 wheelchairs.

Robert August and Free Wheelchair Mission join forces in Costa Rica!
Free Wheelchair Mission has partnered with Robert August, surf industry icon and star of the groundbreaking surf film Endless Summer (1965).

Running for a Mission!
January 17, 2007 Scheduled for Super Bowl Sunday, February 4, 2007, the marathon will attract thousands to the shores of Huntington Beach.

eBay-ers Can Give Back While They Are Selling!

Recently, I came across a great organization while doing some eBay dealings online. The company is called MissionFish and you can learn more about them at there website located at http://www.missionfish.org/ OR through eBay's "Giving Works" program under the eBay Community area (Home > Community > eBay Giving Works ).

Let me kick this off by adding that this is not a commercial for eBay and I have nothing to do with them other than I use the service on occasion to buy and sell things. Most recently, I sold some items that I turned into cash for another charitable contribution to another organization. Just my way of trying to turn something into something food for charity. But, that is not what this article is about.

The message is to show you a way that you can give to others while you are focusing on selling through eBay (or whatever company or online service you use). If you are a person who sells things online, then doing it this way can also bring like-minded, good-hearted people to your product. Here is how it works.

Through Mission Fish, you can designate a particular percentage of the sale to go to a charity of your choice from the list of organization that use Mission Fish to assist them. Like for example, I tend to use "Operation Homefront" which is an organization that benefits military families. Here is their data:

The mission of Operation Homefront is to provide assistance with day to day issues for military families facing adversity so that deployed service members are not preoccupied by the crises at home and can focus on the War against Terrorism.Location: San Diego, CA 92120Web address: http://www.operationhomefront.net/

OK. So that is one of the charities I contribute to through Mission Fish, but that doesn't mean you have to choose them. There are many charities to choose from. Their information is provided through the Nationally acclaimed organization called, "Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network". Here is their information for those who like to investigate things:

MissionFish and the Points of Light FoundationMissionFish is provided as a service to the nonprofit community by the Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network. The Points of Light Foundation is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to engaging people and resources more effectively in volunteer service to help solve serious social problems. The organization collaborates and partners with community leaders to better recruit, manage and encourage volunteers to effect real change.To learn more about Points of Light Foundation programs, initiatives, and resources for leaders of volunteers, call or visit www.PointsofLight.org. To connect to volunteer opportunities in your community, visit 1-800-Volunteer.org.

Alright. So you now get the picture. But, here is the kicker. If you associate yourself with this giving experience, a shocking thing happens. You actual receive a marketing plus in that your products that you sell get featured on Mission Fish's website and your items get a little charity symbol associated with your listing on eBay. So, folks who see your good intentions are drawn to buy your products over those who are merely out to fill their own pockets. And it is like money you don't miss because if you set the percentage to like 10% the amount automatically comes out of the purchase price of the auction. The more people that are drawn to your item, the more auction bids come in to drive up the purchase price and then the more goes to charity. You achieve your initial goal of getting rid of that item and making some money, but you finish the scenario with a good feeling that you have also helped out others. I have used it 4 times so far and I really think it was the reason why my products sold over the other ones that were identical to mine. Auction bidders knew that I was turning the profit into charitable contributions for others. A definite win-win situation for everyone! Give it a try the next time you decide to buy or sell with eBay. After all, Giving Works! I am sure that other auction services will be using this service in the near future as well.

America Supports You: Sears Helps Show Troops USA Cares

Passed on from Samantha L. Quigley, American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 7, 2006 - Holiday shoppers turning to the Internet to avoid the mall crowds have an easy way to support servicemembers and their families this year thanks to a partnership between Sears Holdings Corporation and "USA Cares."

USA Cares is a Defense Department program highlighting ways Americans and the corporate sector support the nation's military. Sears Holdings is the parent company of Sears and Kmart department stores.

"Sears has a longstanding commitment with the military, and we feel privileged to assist the troops and their families through this initiative," Brenda Storch, a Sears Holdings spokeswoman, said. "We wanted to partner with a respected organization that would help us to ensure that military families are remembered this holiday season."

Sears officials found what they were looking for in USA Cares, which provides assistance to members of the armed forces and their families who have unmet needs because of death, injury, physical or mental impairment, or financial hardship.

Through the partnership, Sears customers can visit a special Web site, www.readysetholiday.com, established for the holiday season. "It seemed as though it would be a good way to involve our customers in helping military families through the holidays," Storch said.

The Web site provides a wish list of items that can be purchased and shipped directly to USA Cares, Roger Stradley, one of the group's founders and director of operations, said. Once all of the purchases are received at USA Cares' Radcliff, Ky., office, they'll be sorted and sent to areas where they'll do the most good. For instance, a lot of the cold-weather clothing will go to Alaska.

The gifts range in price from about $9 to a couple hundred dollars and include clothes and household items. Gift cards also may be purchased in lieu of a gift.

"USA Cares does not get any cash," Stradley said. "We're just coordinating and helping facilitate (for) hopefully thousands of Americans that want to just say thanks to a guy or a gal who's wearing the uniform or their family."

Sears Holdings kicked the program off with a donation of $10,000 in gift cards when the program started Nov 26. Since then, USA Cares has received a couple of boxes a day. "It's kind of like Christmas," Stradley said. "We pop it open to see what came."

It doesn't matter to the folks at USA Cares whether a donor chooses a gift or a gift card to show their support of the military community.

"I want whatever that person's heart is moved to send," he said. "Obviously gift cards make it a little easier, especially if your heart is that you want to help a (Guardsman) or reservist who might not be near a major installation."

The site will remain active through Christmas day. USA Cares staff and volunteers will tackle distributing the items after the first of the year, Stradley said.

Why again is it that we can only donate on Thanksgiving?

Every year the scenario is the same. We, the fortunate, gorge ourself on bird and trimmings and several assorted side dishes that we probably only eat on this one day of the year. Some families come together on this solitary day and live someone distant or "not as close" for the remaining 364 days of the year. Isn't it ironic that those you are most thankful for are not truly as close as maybe you once were.

OK. I know this sounds like a "self disclosure" and maybe it is a little. That may not be your picture to a tea, but I can safely say at one time in my life, it was probably close to mine. Just through conversations with others, I can guarantee that it resembles the situations of many more than I alone.

It is not a complete picture of my current world... but, at one time it was. But, then it donned on me one Thanksgiving, why in the world is it that I could be so grateful for the many relationships and the feel the share while I partake in the feast.

It doesn't take rocket science to realize that it is guilt! We are driven by the guilt of knowing the "shoulds".
1. We "should" be closer.
2. We "should" give to the needy.
3. We "should" be thankful for the fact that we are all capable of giving of ourself.

So, here is the personal pact that I made to myself some time ago. I would put forth "a little effort" to be closer to those in my circle, give when I can even if it is not right around Thanksgiving, and be more thankful for the people I have in my life and the things I have been blessed to receive.

Guilt... put in check!

What is Service Above Self, really?

No matter how you look at it or how clear it sounds, the truth is that the term "Service Above Self" is still a little vague to some. Since everyone has their own, unique perspective on things generated from their childhood or life experiences, it is almost safe to say that things one person deems to be an act of "Service Above Self" may not be the same to someone else. So, let's start out with what I think as "Service Above Self". In my opinion, it starts with the thought process that there is more to life than an individual person. What? More to life than me? Why should I care about anyone else? What did they ever do for me?

Sound familiar? Well, if that is not how you see things, then there is probably someone close to you that does.

Let's face it! There are people with many times more at their disposal than others, yet they consider themselves unhappy "victims" because they lack the "more" things that they desire. While the content with many times less look for ways to improve the world around them. Why is that? Service Above Self. I would rather be content, than to consider myself a victim anyday.

There are others that make it through life by taking all that they can from every direction that they can find offering something regardless of whether they need it or not or whether it is meant for them. Doing so, without the positive pursuit of self-improvement to do what they can on their own to make things better for themselves. And, all the while, doing so without the slightest notion of sharing with the less fortunate when their situation improves. However, there are those, who despite the appearance of bleak moments in time, realize that only through a collective effort can true rosperity be gained. Sort of like, I can prosper through your prosperity and you through mine. Giving begets giving. Service Above Self.

How many times have you heard of a person or family stricken by an illness or a disaster who received an outcry of support from friends, loved ones, and volunteers. What one thing do you generally hear about within the character of the person receiving the support (not the supporters themselves)? They are generally caring people who had supported others before them prior to their unfortunate condition and probably will continue to do so after they get back on their feet. That's the circle of Service Above Self.

So, start the circle here and let's share those things that might improve our lives together on this planet. Service Above Self.