4/3/14: I Want My Nerd HQ Operation Smile Donate Now

I want to share a wonderful campaign with you.  It is a crowd funding opportunity to raise funds for Operation Smile.  In a nutshell the "I Want My Nerd HQ" Campaign is very simple. Funds raised allow Nerd HQ to be a free, four day event held the same weekend as San Diego Comic Con on July 24-27 at Petco Park in Sand Diego, California.  100 % of the money raised by auction items, photos, and signings at this event will be donated to Operation Smile.  In 2013 Nerd HQ raised $215,000 for the charity.  Zachary Levi is the Founder of Nerd Machine and Nerd HQ.

You may remember him from Chuck, or if you have kids like me you remember him as Flynn Rider from Tangled.  It is up to you to help and donate so that this wonderful event can happen.
  

I would love it if you could give even $5.  The goal is to raise $1,000,000.  All contributors will be part of the #NerdHQArmy, an exclusive email list that will receive updates, photos, videos and much more throughout the planning process.  Your name will also be on the "Nerd HQ Wall of Honor" on www.thenerdmachine.com. 

Zachary Levi says “Being nerdy just means being passionate about something, including everyone - the coolest people on Earth are passionate and therefore nerdy about something whatever it is, whether it's sports, or gaming, or technology, or fashion, or beauty, or food, or whatever.”  Here is some video.

Disclosure:  This is not a compensated campaign.  I am just passionate about this cause.

3/3/13: Edible Arrangements Fundraiser with the National MS Society

Growing up I was a baton twirler.  I competed in world championships and even twirled fire and knives.  My baton twirling instructor was wonderful.  Unfortunately she was in and out of the hospital as I grew up because she suffered with MS.  Since I have this close tie to MS and how it can affect a person's life I wanted to share with you that EdibleArrangements’ is doing a fundraiser with the National MS Society which kicked off this past Friday.  $5 from each Orange Blossom (orange is the color of MS) arrangement sold in 63 stores in MA, RI, and NH throughout March (March is The National MS Society’s MS Awareness month) is donated to The Society.

To order an Orange Blossom^® arrangement call or visit any of the participating MA, NH, or RI locations, or visit www.EdibleArrangements.com/MS.

“Orange Blossom® with chocolate dipped strawberries and bananas.” Pictured above.

 Edible Arrangements now-annual MS fundraiser was inspired by a North Shore resident and franchisee’s passion for MS fundraising and awareness due to extensive family history with this destructive disease. Nick D’Alleva, owner of the Peabody, Beverly and Lynn Edible Arrangements stores (his picture below), went to Corporate a few years ago to request that his co-op have a fundraiser that supports MS research. His wish was granted and in 2011 he and his co-op managed to raise $5,240 in just two weeks. With the success of this effort, the co-op extended their fundraising efforts in 2012 for the entire month of March- MS Awareness Month. The fundraiser was a huge success, raising $10,000 for the National MS Society, Greater New England Chapter which is located in Waltham.

“Thanks to Nick and the entire Edible Arrangements^® team, the National MS Society is able to help local individuals and families who are affected by MS, at the same time that we fund cutting-edge research around the country,” said Arlyn White, President and CEO of the National MS Society, Greater New England Chapter.

About the National Multiple Sclerosis Society

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society helps everyone address the challenges of living with  multiple sclerosis  by funding cutting-edge research, driving change through advocacy, facilitating professional education, collaborating with MS organizations around the world, and providing programs and services designed to help people with MS and their families move forward with their lives. 

Early and ongoing treatment with an FDA-approved therapy can make a difference for people with multiple sclerosis. Learn about your options by talking to your health care professional and contacting the National MS Society at www.nationalMSsociety.org or 1-800-344-4867.

Find Edible Arrangements on Facebook here:  

http://www.facebook.com/ediblearrangements 

MA and NH Edible Arrangements co-op is @DoFruitNE on Twitter

Disclosure:  No compensation was received for this post, I am just helping with awareness for the cause.  All opinions are my own.

4/25/10: Celebrating Giving Back and Disney Fun

Today was my In Home Disney Celebration. As I posted before Disney selected me as part of the Disney Mom's Club to host this party and the theme was around giving back to the community with a box of Disney stuff they provided. The kids had a fun time (so did the adults) and donated a lot to help a family in need who just had a fire. I am very appreciative of such wonderful friends and the generosity of everyone.

We had a great time playing Disney Bingo, played Disney Trivia, watched the Disney video, listened to Disney music, ate yummy cupcakes, and shared great Disney tips. We even decorated with lots of Disney characters all around the room. And everyone went home with a Disney gift bag and Disney Princess print to hang in their room.

This is all the stuff that was donated to my daycare provider who's house just had a major fire. There were toys, puzzles, sheets, blankets, crayons, wipes, towels, hand cleaners, dolls, dress up clothes, DVDs, gift certificates, a check, etc.

Here is Evan all ready for the party.
And the kids with the balloons we gave out.
We started out the party by some announcements and then going around the room and having all the kids say their favorite Disney character and Disney movie. Here is Evan wispering his to me. Lauren's was Minnie Mouse and The Princess and the Frog, and Evan's was Mickey Mouse and Cars. No one asked me but my favorite character is of course Mickey Mouse, and favorite movie was Lady and the Tramp, lately thought I would say Cars.

The kids having fun playing Disney Bingo.
The kids enjoying the cupcakes which were rainbow colored and ice cream!
Here is the spread before the party.
And the cupcakes I made. As you might know I love to make Disney cakes and have made a Princess Castle, Mickey Mouse, and Tinker Bell cake.
Everyone chatting during the party and eating some snacks.

One more picture of all the stuff we are donating. Anything that my daycare provider cannot use I will be bringing to a shelter.

THANKS SO MUCH EVERYONE!

4/18/10: What Will You Celebrate?

If you know me you know I am a Walt Disney World Fanatic so when a Disney Mom's panel was started I applied. I was not selected, however I was able to become part of the Disney Mom's Club. As part of this Mom's Club I was chosen to host a "What Will You Celebrate?" In-Home Celebration. What this means is I received a box full of crafts, games and favors to host a party for Disney. I just received my big red box recently. With our Disney vacation coming up soon, what a great event to get us all in the Disney mood.

Another Disney theme going on right now is "Give a day, get a day" where basically if you volunteer in your community you are given a free day pass to Disney Parks. Disney has asked that helping others in your community be part of the theme for the party.

Well what a good time for this as it relates to my life. A week ago my daycare provider's house had a major fire. My theme is for people to bring kids toys, blankets, and essentials to help rebuild their lives and her daycare.

Here is a picture of what Disney included.

I have had a great response to my party invitation and look forward to hosting this event. I also promote Disney on Ice, another great Disney family event.

3/3/10: Donate for a good cause

UPDATE that Evan raised $235.00. Thank you to everyone who donated.

Evan is doing a Trike-A-Thon fund raiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. I am extremely excited about this event as his pre-school class will be learning about bike safety, raising money for kids who really need it and learning about giving in a selfless way. Also from talking to St. Jude Hospital I found out they are treating a child in Middlesex County in which we live.

Evan would love if you could donate. Your donation enables St. Jude to continue its mission of finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic childhood diseases. St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer research center where families never pay for treatment not covered by insurance and no child is denied treatment because of the family’s inability to pay.

If you would like to donate please let me know by commenting here or e-mailing me what amount Evan can count on you for and I will put it down and collect tax-deductible checks made out to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital by the event on March 17th.

More info about the Trike-A-Thon:
www.stjude.org/trike

Trike-A-Thon is a fun, week-long curriculum and fundraising program for daycare centers or pre-schools that teaches children riding-toy safety lessons through a series of interactive stories. Children receive these lessons from special St. Jude friends, Bikewell Bear® and Pedals the Bunny®, while raising money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. At the end of the Trike-A-Thon week, students bring their trikes or riding-toys to school and practice the safety lessons they have learned.