Charities of the Month(s) - March and April 2019

Charity of the Month is a way Team Tizzel is helping to support some very worthy organizations. As part of this program, we will dedicate a post to a charity that we will sponsor through the month by donating Holly's training run money.

In January and February we supported Hawaii Wildlife Fund and Pacific Historic Parks by donating cash online.   We picked these charities based on some of our experiences in Hawaii.

March and April Charities

Lower 9th Ward Market

Homes for our Troops

Lower 9th Ward Market: This pick is a little unconventional for us.  Usually we pick 501(C)(3) charities for our features.  This time we found inspiration from a podcast.  We may be latecomers to the Burnell Colton story of how he opened a grocery store to help his neighbors in New Orlean’s Lower 9th Ward living in a post-Katrina food desert.   Burnell goes to Wal-Mart to buy groceries to sell in his store so his neighbors can get food without traveling a great distance.   Many other sources have picked up his story, including The Ellen Degeneris Show.  We learned about Burnell on Phil Keoghan’s Buck-it podcast.  Dave listened on his way home from work and said he really wanted to send some money to help him and his community.  Below is the link to the video podcast episode.  You can search for more documentaries about Burnell on YouTube.

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Homes for our Troops:  Following the theme of rebuilding we decided to look for another charity that helps to rebuild lives.  Homes for the Troops seemed to fit the bill perfectly.  From their website:

Homes for our Troops (HFOT) is a  nonprofit organization that builds and donates specially adapted custom homes nationwide for severely injured post – 9/11 Veterans, to enable them to rebuild their lives. Most of these Veterans have sustained injuries including multiple limb amputations, partial or full paralysis, and/or severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). These homes restore some of the freedom and independence our Veterans sacrificed while defending our country, and enable them to focus on their family, recovery, and rebuilding their lives. Since its inception in 2004, nearly 90 cents out of every dollar spent has gone directly to our program services for Veterans. HFOT builds these homes where the Veteran chooses to live, and continues its relationship with the Veterans after home delivery to assist them with rebuilding their lives.

Our tag line is “Building Homes, Rebuilding Lives”. Rebuilding Lives is the most important aspect of our mission, therefore, we stay with our Veterans after home delivery. Homes For Our Troops provides a pro-bono financial planner for three years to assist in financial planning and household budgeting, in addition to homeownership education and warranty coverage to ensure that the Veteran is set up for long-term success as a homeowner. 

Please check out these charities to learn more. 

Charity of the Month(s) - January and February 2019

Charity of the Month is a way Team Tizzel is helping to support some very worthy organizations. As part of this program, we will dedicate a post to a charity that we will sponsor through the month by donating Holly's training run money.

In December we supported Toys for Tots by donating cash online and going on our annual shopping spree to help fill the collection box at our local brewery.

January and February Charities

Hawaii Wildlife Fund

Pacific Historic Parks

We intentionally delayed our charity selections until we returned from Hawaii (where Holly completed her 50 Marathons - 50 States Challenge).  We figured we would find a couple of great causes to support during our travels across Maui, Kauai, and Oahu.

Our first selection relates to turtles (“I like turtles”).   Holly’s wish of swimming near a turtle came true on Maui at Makena Beach State Park   Within a minute of entering the water a medium-sized sea turtle swam right by.  Of course we didn’t have the camera. The next day we were able to watch many turtles enter and exit the water at Ho’okipa Beach Park by Pa’ia. Later in the trip another turtle passed us in a lagoon on Oahu.

Since turtles are still endangered we thought it would be appropriate to help support these animals we enjoyed watching.

“HAWAI'I WILDLIFE FUND (HWF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of Hawaii's native wildlife through research, education and advocacy. HWF Team is made up of educators, conservationists, researchers, naturalists, communities, volunteers and donors devoted to the protection of Hawaii's fragile marine ecosystem and inhabitants. We bring a variety of experiences together to serve a common goal.

We are actively engaging the community in research, education and conservation projects. Learn about the marine environment while snorkeling or whale watching with our naturalists, volunteer your time with one of our projects, or donate to our cause.”

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Our second charity selection wll help maintain and preserve the Pearl Harbor Memorials.  During our visit we learned a great deal about the attack on the harbor, WWII, and life on Hawaii pre-attack.  The museum displays were very detailed and the audio tour was informative. We were not able to go onto the Arizona Monument because the dock was under repair,  but we did take several passes on a boat tour.  It took 3 hours just to see the film, ride the boat, and tour the museum with audio commentary.


“... join us in honoring and preserving the legacy of those whose valor, courage, struggles and sacrifices gave us the freedoms we enjoy today. Together, with your participation, we ensure that the heroes of the World War II generation will always be remembered!”

Charities of the Months - September - November 2018

Charity of the Month is a way Team Tizzel is helping to support some very worthy organizations. As part of this program, we will dedicate a post to a charity that we will sponsor through the month by donating Holly's training run money.

In August we supported Ronald McDonald House Charities based on the work they do (and a cute marketing campaign on their part) with a $125 donation.

November Charity of the Month Quarter:

Open Heart Magic
Cubs Care

Yes Charity of the Month has not been on-target the last few months.   This time we have a good excuse.    We wanted to concentrate on a couple of charities because of their impact on a certain individual's life and thought it would be better to do it in one post vs. spreading it out over a few months.

Early this year a ten-year old boy that is the nephew/grandson of our friends was diagnosed with ALL - acute lymphoblastic leukemia.    The family has gone through a lot over the past months with unexpected hospital trips, canceled treatments because his counts were too low, etc.   He's gone through many chemo treatments (including spinal tap treatments) and several transfusions.   

Early on Open Heart Magic made a lasting impact on him.  The organization entertains kids in hospitals with magic tricks and provides needed encouragement.  His grandmother gave them very high praise.    The boy is also a huge Chicago Cub's Baseball fan.   In August he got to visit Wrigley Field and spend time in the dugout and behind the scenes touring the facility and meeting players.  About a month later a Cubs player visited his hospital ward during a treatment (through Starlight Foundation) which again was another great boost to his spirits. 

About ALL from St. Jude's:

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a cancer that affects the white blood cells. These cells fight infection and help protect the body against disease.Patients with ALL have too many immature white blood cells in their bone marrow. These cells crowd out normal white blood cells. Without enough normal white blood cells, the body has a harder time fighting infections.ALL affects a type of white blood cell called lymphocytes, causing them to build up in the liver, spleen and lymph nodes.

About Open Heart Magic from their website:

Helping all sick kids get their magic back.... Being hospitalized can be frightening for anyone, but especially for a critically ill child. As kids undergo difficult or painful treatments – surrounded by strangers – they can become overwhelmed with fear and sadness.

That’s where Open Heart Magic comes in. Our Bedside Magic™ programs bring laughter, hope and strength to sick children – one-to-one – at their hospital bedsides. Our volunteer Hospital Magicians are trained to work with all kids in a hospital – regardless of their medical conditions or physical abilities – so that every child can benefit from this entertaining and empowering therapy.

About Cubs Care:

Cubs Care is committed to helping those less fortunate improve their lives and strengthen children and families. With the generous support of fans, donors and matching funds provided by the McCormick Foundation, grants are made to qualified nonprofit organizations with programs that concentrate on child and youth education and health and wellness. In addition, the Chicago Cubs and the Foundation pay all campaign and administrative expenses, so one hundred percent of all donations, plus the match, goes to improving lives.

Charity of the Month: Ronald McDonald House Charities

Charity of the Month is a way Team Tizzel is helping to support some very worthy organizations. As part of this program, we will dedicate a post to a charity that we will sponsor through the month by donating Holly's training run money.

In July we supported Sarcoma Foundation of America via Pittsburgh Cure Sarcoma 5K in honor of a friend’s relative with a $125 donation.

August Charity of the Month:

Ronald McDonald House Charities

Yes we know we are late with this post.   When we rolled into August we did not have a charity in mind to support.  We thought we’d end up turning September into a double-down month until this came in the mail:

We were curious to see what Justin drew so we opened the envelope.  

Also included was a photo of Justin and his family.  The drawing was pretty accurate.  Good job Justin!  Thanks to your letter we are donating to Ronald McDonald House Charities this month.

From their website:

Many families travel far from home and spend several weeks or months to get treatment for their seriously ill or injured children – a long time to be away or to divide a family. And, for children facing a serious medical crisis, nothing seems scarier than not having mom and dad close by for love and support. A Ronald McDonald House provides a place for families to call home so they can stay close by their hospitalized child at little to no cost. 

Our Houses are built on the simple idea that nothing else should matter when a family is focused on the health of their child – not where they can afford to stay, where they will get their next meal or where they will lay their head at night to rest. We believe that when a child is hospitalized the love and support of family is as powerful as the strongest medicine prescribed.

Allow Families to Face the Weight of Illness Together 

Families are stronger when they are together, which helps in the healing process. By staying at a Ronald McDonald House, parents also can better communicate with their child’s medical team and keep up with complicated treatment plans when needed. They can also focus on the health of their child, rather than grocery shopping, cleaning or cooking meals.

Allow Children to Get the Best Care 

When your child is sick, you want the best care possible – even if it is hundreds or thousands of miles away. The Ronald McDonald House allows families to access specialized medical treatment by providing a place to stay at little or sometimes no cost.

Services for Families 

At every House, families can enjoy:

Home-cooked meals

Private bedrooms

Playrooms for children

Depending on the House, these services may also be available: 

Special suites for children with suppressed immune systems

Accredited education programs

Recreational activities

Non-clinical support services

Sibling support services

The generosity of volunteers and donors make it all possible. In return, families either stay at no cost or are asked to make a donation up to $25 per day, depending on the House. The RMHC Global Policy is that families are never turned away; if it’s not possible to pay, the fee is waived.

Charity of the Month: Sarcoma Foundation of America

Charity of the Month is a way Team Tizzel is helping to support some very worthy organizations. As part of this program, we will dedicate a post to a charity that we will sponsor through the month by donating Holly's training run money.

In March we sponsored Chicago's Brookfield Zoo Share the the Care Program with a continued donation to Hudson the polar bear and a new adoption of Potoka the giraffe.   For April, May, June we didn't find any charities to feature during this time.  Nothing stuck out to us.   In late May Holly decided to use Facebook's "Dedicate Your Birthday" to charity function as a way to promote one of our favorite organizations: Give Kids the World.  We decided to donate 3 months worth of Charity of the Month funds to this cause.  Thanks to the generosity of our friends Holly raised $600 through her Facebook post.  We kicked in another $400 to make it an even $1,000.     

July Charity of the Month:

Sarcoma Foundation of America via Pittsburgh Cure Sarcoma 5K

Our friends Bob and Barb Kennedy will be participating in the Pittsburgh Cure Sarcoma 5K in memory of a family member.

"Sarcomas are cancers that arise from the cells that hold the body together. These could be cells related to muscles, nerves, bones, fat, tendons, cartilage, or other forms of “connective tissues.” There are hundreds of different kinds of sarcomas, which come from different kinds of cells.


Sarcomas can invade surrounding tissue and can metastasize (spread) to other organs of the body, forming secondary tumors. The cells of secondary tumors are similar to those of the primary (original) cancer. Secondary tumors are referred to as “metastatic sarcoma” because they are part of the same cancer and are not a new disease." - SFA website

Brief History of Pittsburgh Cure Sarcoma (PCS) Organization

In January 2011, Drs. Hussein Tawbi and Kurt Weiss with UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, chaired a start-up committee of 12 members who joined with the Sarcoma Foundation of America to fundraise and raise awareness for the Pittsburgh area and beyond. The group pursued a 5K event with a goal to raise awareness and support others who have been affected by this rare cancer. This event, along with the creation of the website, garnered much attention in the Pittsburgh region and gathered many families who have been affected by sarcoma cancer.

The overwhelming success of the initial 5K fundraiser in 2011 set the foundation for this to be an annual event, which has continued to grow each year in participation and funding to support research. To date this event, as well as an annual golf outing, has raised over $1,000,00,000 to support sarcoma research here in Pittsburgh and across the nation through the Sarcoma Foundation of America (SFA). Since 2012, the SFA has presented a research grant named in honor of Pittsburgh Cure Sarcoma to a sarcoma researcher in the United States to continue efforts to development innovative treatment approaches for sarcoma. This would not be possible without the support and participation of major sponsors in the Pittsburgh region and involvement of generous patients and their families.

Please join us to help ensure that our progress to support sarcoma research continues.

Charity of the Month: Brookfield Zoo Share the Care

Charity of the Month is a way Team Tizzel is helping to support some very worthy organizations. As part of this program, we will dedicate a post to a charity that we will sponsor through the month by donating Holly's training run money.

In February we had double charity month (because Dave was lazy in January) supporting both Mended Hearts and the Eagles Charitable Foundation with cash donations.

March Charity of the Month:

Brookfield Zoo Share the the Care Program

It's been a long time since we've visited Brookfield Zoo.   It's very nice, just a bit too far to make the trip during the summer when the opportunity cost is a day on the lake.  

What prompted us to pick the zoo this month was the receipt of our renewal letter for the Share the Care Animal Adoption Program.  This is our 18th year of support.   We started by supporting the zoo's new baby polar bear, Tiguak, in 2000.  Tiguak was born at the zoo in the fall of 1999, but was rejected by the mother.   Zookeepers hand-nursed her and kept her healthy.   This was big news and hyped up in the media.  Once she was placed into the display areas we made a visit and enjoyed watching her play with her toys and swimming.

Possibly one of the first pictures we took using a digital camera

While at the zoo they asked us to join the Share the Care Program.   With our package we received a photo of Tiguak.   With follow-up donations each year we received an update on her well-being.   After a few years she was transferred to another zoo and our care converted over to her younger brother Hudson.  

While preparing to write this post we tried to find out what happened to Tiguak.   Unfortunately she died in 2011 under anesthesia during a dental operation in Quebec.

In addition to keeping our Share the Care going for Hudson we started a new Share the Care for Holly's favorite animal - the giraffe.  A few years ago Potoka went viral in a video of her prancing around her display area.

Charities of the Months: Mended Hearts and Eagles Charitable Foundation

Charity of the Month is a way Team Tizzel is helping to support some very worthy organizations. As part of this program, we will dedicate a post to a charity that we will sponsor through the month by donating Holly's training run money.

In December we supported Toys for Tots by donating funds to support logistics and by dropping off toys into a local collection bin.

January and February Charities:

 

Mended Hearts

Eagles Charitable Foundation

We chose Mended Hearts to honor a friend's father (a U.S. military veteran) that recently passed away. Mended Hearts is involved in giving support to heart disease patients both young and old. Given Dave's conditions from childhood this is an organization that holds meaning to us. From their website:

Our mission is dedicated to “Inspiring hope and improving the quality of life for heart patients and their families through ongoing peer-to-peer support”.

Mended Hearts is a national and community-based non-profit organization that has been offering the gift of hope to heart disease patients, their families and caregivers. To offer this hope Mended Hearts provides a variety of programs.

Mended Hearts

• Mended Hearts is the largest peer-to-peer heart patient support network in the world
• Mended Hearts has been offering hope and support for 65 years, visiting more than 200,000 patients every year
• Mended Hearts provides education, support and hope to all types of heart patients and their families
• Mended Hearts and Mended Little Hearts has 300 chapters in North America, serving 460+ hospitals

Mended Little Hearts

• Mended Little Hearts is the largest CHD peer-to-peer support network in the world
• CHDs are the most common birth defect, affecting nearly 1% of all births in the U.S. – 40,000 babies each year
• Mended Little Hearts works nationally and in communities to provide peer-to-peer support, education, awareness and connect families with needed resources.
• Mended Little Hearts volunteers provide direct support to families through its Accredited Visiting Program and delivering 5,000 Bravery Bags annually.


Our second charity is the Eagles Charitable Foundation. The Philadelphia Eagles recently won their first Super Bowl. This win has special meaning for their fans, the Philly community, and to Holly and her family. Aiding the team in their charitable efforts is a great way to commemorate this victory. From their website:




OUR ORGANIZATION

Eagles Charitable Foundation (ECF) was founded in 1995, and with the help of our partners and supporters, we have reached more than one million children in the Philadelphia region through health and education programs.

The organization has recently experienced a number of exciting changes, including a transition from its previous name, Eagles Youth Partnership. Additionally, ECF has amplified its work by expanding access to vision care, as well as increasing its commitment to autism research and services.

ECF takes its services directly to kids at their schools and in their neighborhoods. Its signature program – the Eagles Eye Mobile – leverages the celebrity and excitement of the Philadelphia Eagles football team, enabling us to capture the attention of the hardest-to-reach children in our region. The organization also partners with local non-profits and leading medical institutions to provide grants focused on supporting autism research and services.

VISION STATEMENT: Improving health outcomes for children in vision care and autism in the Greater Philadelphia community.

MISSION STATEMENT: Using our unique platform to provide children in the Philadelphia region greater access to vision care and autism research and services.

Each organization will receive $125 from us. Please check out their websites and consider donating to two great causes.

Charity of the Month: Toys for Tots

Charity of the Month is a way Team Tizzel is helping to support some very worthy organizations. As part of this program, we will dedicate a post to a charity that we will sponsor through the month by donating Holly's training run money.

In October we supported Helping Heroes of America by donating funds to buy a military unit stationed overseas a care package.

December's Charity:

Toys for Tots

Toys for Tots will always be our December charity for one simple reason: kids deserve presents at Christmas. The Marines do a great job organizing the massive task of collecting toys and funds, wrapping gifts, and distributing everythin within a short window. Last weekend we enjoyed shopping for toys at a local big box store to drop into the donation box at our local brewery (win-win). We are also going to make a cash donation to help with the logistics.

We received this email from the organization. Corporate donations are down and they need more private donations to keep this program successful:

Only 3 weeks until Christmas and many families are in need of support!

Our Corporate Donations are Falling Behind Last Year's Levels and we could use your help!

Dear David, For Marines who have stormed the beaches at Iwo Jima, liberated Kuwait, and recently served in Afghanistan, sorting toys and books may seem trivial by comparison. But with just three weeks left until Christmas, I assure you these Marines and volunteers face a tremendous challenge as they struggle to raise enough gifts for the 15 million children in this country living in poverty. Their mission is to make sure no child is forgotten this Christmas... ...especially since there are more children in need than donations coming in right now.

Please help if you have the means to do so! I have received numerous reports from our Marines and volunteers across the nation describing the situation: Some say: "The warehouse is nearly empty. We have many requests, but we can't fill them." Some say: "There are so many families that can barely put food on the table and won’t have a Christmas unless donations pick up..." And on the national level, I can report that we are unfortunately running behind the corporate donation level from where we were a year ago at this time. Every year, it's a massive effort to bring the joy and hope of Christmas to less fortunate boys and girls — and one we couldn't even attempt without the generosity of caring friends like you. This year is tougher than most — but we are the United States Marine Corps. We're used to taking on the toughest of challenges ... and winning! But time is running short and we need your support. Help us give ALL children a chance to believe in Santa and the goodness of this special season. Pease click the “Donate Now” button and make your contribution today.

If you'd like to help follow this link to donate.

Charity of the Month: Helping Heros of America

Charity of the Month is a way Team Tizzel is helping to support some very worthy organizations. As part of this program, we will dedicate a post to a charity that we will sponsor through the month by donating Holly's training run money.

In October we supported several charities aiding British Virgin Island victims of Hurricane Irma. Funds included Jost Van Dykes Preservation Society, Virgin Unite, and Cow Wreck Beach Fund Page. We attempted to give money to the Perfect Pineapple Inn Fund Page but their crowd sourcing page was not working. We have seen some updates and businesses are on their way to welcoming guests for the winter season.

Novembers Charity:

Helping Heroes of America

We weren't really set on a November charity to support. Luckily we made a stop at the grocery store for a last minute item and ran into two men standing in front fundraising for Helping Heroes of America. They explained that they were collecting funds to assemble care packages that go to veterans in VA hospitals, active soldiers, or an entire unit. With a $116.75 donation we provided a package for a unit.

From their website:

Helping Heroes of America is dedicated to assisting our veterans and their families in the Indiana and Ohio area in a number of ways.We work to:

Provide hospitalized veterans with basic needs and wants for them and their families during time of treatment.

Provide direct funding and services to meet the needs of service members and their families during time of deployment.

Raise awareness and enlist the public aid for needs and wants of deployed, injured, or retired service members and veterans.

Check their website for more information.