Gift Card Giver

By Jeff Shinabarger | Founder GiftCardGiver.com

It started on a whim at a wedding reception.

We were sitting at a table with a few strangers and an awkward silence. Ignoring the look of embarrassment on my wife's face, I decided it was my chance to test an idea that had been running through my head, but had never moved forward. "How many of you have gift cards in your wallet or purse that have been sitting in there for more than 6 months? You know, the ones that are starting to stick together from being there so long?" Of course, everyone gave an affirmative head nod. "What if you give them to us and we promised to give them to people in need?" They emptied their wallets and we walked away with $50 in Gift Cards and a new responsibility called GiftCardGiver.com.

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LEAD Uganda

By John

There are many aid organizations in Africa, but most of them can only provide the most essential needs of survival - food, shelter, and perhaps the most basic of educational resources. Of course, there is a definite need for these things, and it is appropriate to address that need first and foremost. But what we sometimes forget is that the bare necessities of survival are not an end unto themselves. They are a means to an end, and that end is not mere survival, but prosperity. And for many, that end is still much too far out of reach. Too often a child is provided with tuition fees for school, but cannot complete or utilize his education, because he still must work 8 hours a day to eat. Too often a family is provided with food for the week, but still is left with no way to provide food for themselves.

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Alex's Lemondade Stand - Charm City Lemonade Fest

Posted by MAD21

As part of National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, we [ALSF] invite you to be part of Charm City Lemonade Fest on Friday, September 11 - Sunday, September 13, 2009. This event is designed to rally people in the Baltimore area to hold lemonade stands and other events to contribute to the battle against childhood cancer. Hosting a stand during this weekend is a simple way to make difference in the lives of children and their families touched by the disease. To register to host a stand, receive materials and support from Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation today, click here. Make sure to choose Baltimore Charm City Lemonade Fest as your stand type. 

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Fighting Childhood Cancer, One Cup At A Time

By Megan (Steps For Brady)

We’ve all heard the expression, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade, right? What about when life gives you cancer? What then?

Thanks to a little girl named Alexandra Scott, those of us who have been touched by pediatric cancer can take our experience and use it to make a difference. Alex had cancer, life gave her that lemon, and she decided to make lemonade.

Alex Scott was an amazing girl who was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma just before her first birthday. In the year 2000, she decided that she wanted to have a lemonade stand to raise money to help doctors find a cure for childhood cancer. Tragically at the age of 8, Alex lost her battle with cancer, but at the time of her death, she had raised 1 million dollars towards cancer research. The Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation has since raised over 25 million dollars through the hard work of children and families all over the world who hold lemonade stands in their community.

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Two Websites Trying To Make A Difference

By MAD21

This week, I found two groups that are doing what they can to make a difference in the world. Go check them out.

Gift Card Giver "Four friends had an idea to collect gift cards and give them to people in need. They went to a gathering and asked 8 people how much money in unused Gift Cards they had in their wallets and walked away with $50 in Gift Cards to help people in need. GiftCardGiver.com was born...We collect and distribute the cards to appropriate Non-Profit Organizations that can use those cards to help others."

Pig Tail Pals was created by a stay-at-home mom named Melissa Wardy who, "wanted something different for her daughter. You won't find any princesses or drama queens here...[she] wanted role models for her daughter that exemplified courage, intelligence, and independence..." Ms. Wardy states regarding her company, they are "...committed to being... socially responsible... Every decision we make takes into account what message our actions send to young girls, what impact our actions have on our customers, and what size footprint our actions will leave on our environment... Pigtail Pals supports our local community, our nation, our world. Pigtail Pals endeavors to teach girls that with success comes the ability and responsibility to help others. Every month Pigtail Pals will show girls that they can change the world through good works." Every shirt they sell contributes to the charity they have chosen for that month. They "...partner with charitable organizations whose projects focus on children's education, health care, and access to clean water and food."