How Easter Seals Made A Difference For Me

English: Easter seals of the U.S.A., 1930s, created to support crippled children Русский: Пасхальные виньетки США в поддержку детей-инвалидов, 1930-е годы (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

                   When I was little, for some reason, I didn't crawl or walk(by myself) until I was nearly four years old. Other than my balance due to minimal cerebral palsy, doctors could not figure out why I was not yet walking by myself. My dad was in retail business(we moved a lot) and we were living in South Florida, so I went to The Miami Children's Hospital for testing, everything from head to toe was examined and they still didn't know. Luckily at the time, we lived in a one level home, so I could scoot or use a toy giraffe on wheels for a while, but my parents were concerned.



Soon, I was enrolled in a nursery school run by the Easter Seals organization. in Southwestern Florida. I began intense physical therapy, and probably a little play time. I think (I'm in my early 40's, so my memory may not be exactly right, LOL) I first learned how to fall, using a large earth ball; and with braces(ouch) on my legs, I began to walk. My parents and the therapists weaned me off of holding their hands, down from 5 five fingers to 1, and then I took my first solo steps. My older brother says that he'd never seen my dad cry but once, and that was the day I took my first solo steps down the aisle of the W.T. Grant's Department Store where my dad was manager. I also had Play Dough therapy with my hands.

Other than having my picture taken while I sat on a pony, I can remember one fun activity the Easter Seal nursery school did with us. On one Halloween,, we trick or treated in the Easter Seal office. I wore a witch's costume and the teacher gave us buttons with our names and a little drawing of our costumes. I had my button for ages.

After moving 7 times (all within the southeastern US from birth to 14 years old), I lost touch with the center. I recently needed their records to add to my medical records, but I guess they''d gotten lost over the years, and they couldn't find mine. I guess it was in an old file or something, but that doesn't matter; but because of them, I can walk on most days(except when my lymphedema flares up, but that's another story)! So that's how the Easter Seals made a difference for me! Wherever you are located, I hope you will consider them next time you want to give a few pennies to several dollars-whatever you can.



For more info on Easter Seals, please visit Easter Seals.com or
Easter Seals (U.S.) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Easter Seals : 2010 Seal Art Contest

In addition to the links above; you might be interested in The Drop Zone- a cool fundraiser that some generous people in Canada do every year for their Easter Seals program. Each volunteer raises thousands of dollars for the Easter Seals camps for children, then they have a day when they rappel down the sides of buildings(several skyscrapers). Now, that's commitment to a cause, and maybe a little crazy, too( but they are trained and have safety gear)!!! Still, I applaud their efforts. If you are on Facebook , The Drop Zone has a page there as well for their fans;The Drop Zone on Facebook
>>

P.S. Now that I shared my story, will you please share information about a favorite charity and why you think it is important? Check out the rules and guidelines in my first entry, linked here and then post a comment below or send an email to applause4acause@comcast.net . Thanks!

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cerebral palsy easter seals making a difference personal experience

Plinky prompt-"Here, have a million dollars "

Plinky asks this hypothetical question:"You have to give away a million dollars. How and why?" 1. I'd give at least 25 K to church-because God asks for at least 10 percent.

2. I'd give about 25 K to my family and friends-especially the ones in direst need-because charity begins at home.

3. The rest would be divided among 2 or so favorite local, national or international charities,
ones that I've researched and know are honest and deserving(for example the Bubel Aiken Foundation and UNICEF), because it's the right thing to do. I'd love to be able to give it all to one charity or some to a lot of charities, but at least this way it would be evenly divided and you'd do the most good for the most people and organizations, without neglecting home and church.

So, what's your answer?

Clay Aiken Offers Free Music On The "Honor" System

Image via Wikipedia

This is still true, even though the quoted entry from Clay was posted this April.
You can get a free song download-but Clay asks that we give a donation
in return to The Bubel Aiken Foundation
Here's what Clay posted on his fan club page ;

"Honor system
04/24/09

What an interesting afternoon! You have kept my attention longer than I thought possible. If only my homework in high school had held my attention as long, huh?

Lots of interesting questions today and lots of energy. One question in particular got me (and Jaymes) to thinking. "Clay, will you ever record ... Just You?"

Well folks... truth is.. . I did. Long ago. As a matter of fact It was one of the first songs we recorded for the album A Thousand Different Ways. It was recorded before the label asked me to do the album of cover love songs and before the budget was officially approved, so I actually paid for it myself. Then, as I recall, when the decision was made to do the cover album, the label opened a budget for the album, but it did not include reimbursing me for songs I had recorded that did not fit the concept. So, here I have had this song all along that, to my knowledge, I own the only copy of. What to do with it.. what to do? Well, this evening (with some encouragement from Jaymes) I decided.... let's just give it to them. Why not? We do have plans (which we will tell you about eventually) to be back in the studio and record in the near future, but until then... you might as well get a bit of something you haven't been able to hear in a while. "New" music.

Now... here's the deal. I want to give it to you because you deserve it. You've stuck by me and been patient for a long time. But, also, I really have to give it to you. Since I didn't write it or produce it, I can't sell it to you... but I hate to encourage getting music for free. You all have always been SOOOO ethical when it has come to downloading music. I know my fans are probably some of the most scrupulous in the country and I believe that you never steal music. That said... We are gonna do this on the "honor system"... Go ahead.... download the song. It's yours. Share it with your friends. It's free. But... I want to make it count for someone... so let's make it count for tens of thousands of children in the US with developmental disabilities If you can't afford anything for it.. then don't pay... but... if you can... I encourage you... I ask of you... that you make a donation to the Bubel/Aiken Foundation for how ever much you feel the song is worth. If you want to give $1... great. If you want to give $1000... GREAT... if you can only give $.05 ... that's fine too. It's a tough time we're living through nowadays, and non-profits are hurting more than ever as well. BAF (which will soon be known by a different name) has had amazing success in fulfilling it's mission, and is embarking on a long term plan to continue including kids in every aspect of life. But, it will continue to need help from all of us in order to make that possible.

Consider this track a "charity recording" .... donate whatever you can or whatever you are willing to... and accept our thanks.

click here for Sendspace-Just You file page

The song is for you...JUST YOU... from me.

c "


Here are some videos about Clay's charity work with Unicef & The Bubel Aiken Foundation;










clay aiken
honor
charity
free music
bubel aiken foundation

A Dozen (or So) Free Ways To Make A Difference

GoodSearch home page (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A Dozen (or So) Free Ways To Make A Difference;

1. Volunteer at a local or favorite charity.2. Post a video or blog link or comment here in the comment box about why you think your favorite charity is important.3. Visit a free click to donate page such as; Care2=Click to Donate - Free donations for rainforest, primates, pets, and more!or use either Goodsearch and/orSearch Kindly as your search website to raise funds for your favorite cause. You can also promote 4 great causes at http://summerofsocialgood.com/ using their widget.4. Play a vocabulary game on Free Rice to give rice to the hungry.5. Send emails(assuming you have one if you are reading this) to your local, state, and national leaders regarding laws about causes/issues you believe in.6. If you like my blog and want to help me make a difference, please press the Yahoo buzz button and/or add me to your Technorati favorites through the button on my sidebar.7. If you have a similar blog or website, post the link in my comments box and I will try to mention you in a blog entry soon and/or link to it in the Hall of Fame.8.The Give List has a list of 71 ways to give without spending any money. Please check it out.9.Join a charity team listed at Iwon.com's Team Challenge page and you can search and play games to earn points for a charity. Donations are given to the charities selected by the top ranking teams each month. I created The Bubel/Aiken Foundation Team page .10. Want to send an email of thanks or encouragement for a US soldier? Then, please visit 11. Have a lot of things you no longer use but are still good, but don't want the hassle of doing a yard sale? There are other options;a. Give them to a charity thrift store such as Goodwill or Salvation Army(plus if the items are of any value, you can get a tax deduction).b. Give and receive things at Freecycle™.org12. Donate blood to a local blood bank if you are able(some medical issues or religious restrictions may not allow it).

If you liked this, you might be interested in these articles;eHow.com-How to Make Daily Free Charity DonationsEveryday Giving Blog:Free Ways to Help Those in NeedSeth's Blog: Interesting new media charity efforts



freewaysgivecharitydozen

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Leaving A Legacy of Giving: Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson

Despite their imperfections, these three celebrities left a legacy of charitable work behind them. That is something that fans, non-fans, family members, friends, and future generations can keep now that these human beings are no longer here. Let their charitable acts remind us to do good deeds while we are still in this world.

Ed McMahon

wasn't just the host of Star Search , co-host on the Tonight Show as well as on TV's Bloopers and Practical Jokes; he co-hosted the Jerry Lewis Telethon for Muscular Dystrophy for several years.
He also worked with the California Disabled Veterans Business Alliance and the Shriners.
For more info, please read ;
1. Muscular Dystrophy Association
2. Wikipedia-Ed McMahon
3. Look To The Stars-Ed McMahon's Charity Work

Farrah Fawcett

Besides her charitable works, Farrah was probably mostly known for her role in the 70's series Charlie's Angels and for her long feathered hairstyle and a body fit for modeling. Women and girls wanted to look just like her and men adored her; but her beauty was not just skin deep. She worked with the National Domestic Violence Hotline and after being diagnosed with cancer, she promoted the Cancer Council of Australia.
For more info, please read ;
1.Jolly People.com-Charity’s and Charlie’s Angel Farrah Fawcett Remembered
2.Wikipedia-Farrah Fawcett
3. Look To The Stars-Farrah Fawcett To Leave Legacy For Charity

Michael Jackson

Beyond the musician and dancer we knew, Michael was involved with several efforts to promote awareness for charity and making a difference in the world. This was especially true in the 1980's when We are the World, written by him and by Lionel Ritchie , promoted a large scale interest in the needs of the people of Africa. In the lyrics of "Man In The Mirror", Michael also reminded us to change the world by changing ourselves first. Michael also contributed to Mount Sinai New York Medical Center and Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times(for children with cancer). He initiated the “Michael Jackson United Negro College Fund Endowed Scholarship Fund” and the Heal The World Foundation.
He contributed tour proceeds to ChildHelp of Southern California
ChildHelp of Southern California. These are just a few of the charities that benefited from Michael's contributions; to learn more, please visit JacksonAction. For more info, please read ;
1.Jolly People.com-Michael Jackson Leaves Legacy of Music and Life of Charity Work
2.Wikipedia-Michael Jackson
3.Look To The Stars-Michael Jackson's Charity Work
< /br> < /br> Although we might not be famous, and may not have as much time, money or resources; please let these celebrities' charitable acts inspire us toward giving time and money to a favorite cause(whether it be local, national, or international).
Who knows? We just might change the world-or even one life(1 life is better than none) :) ! michael jacksoncharityed mcmahonfarrah fawcetgivinglegacy

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Gratitude: How Can You Not Smile?

No this entry is not a charity mention,

but I was referred to this Youtube video by another blogger-and I thought after I saw it-"How Can You Not Smile?" . I know everybody has problems, big and small(such as myself with minimal cerebral palsy and assorted chronic illnesses)-but this helps you focus on being grateful for what you do have;

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