Day 69; National Tooth Fairy Day

National Tooth Fairy Day celebrates one of childhood's favorite visitors. The Tooth Fairy is an American tradition with European and superstitious roots.

Mystical legends, stories, and traditions have been passed along for hundreds of years – all surrounding the loss of baby teeth. In some cultures, children's teeth were buried in order to hide them from witches and evil spirits who would use the tooth's powers for voodoo. The Vikings believed that children's teeth had a magical power in them that would help them fight in battle. They would even pay their children for their lost baby teeth so that they could be used to string onto battle necklaces and other jewelry.

A myth eventually arose about a Tooth Mouse who would scamper around town and steal children's teeth in the middle of the night. This story of the mouse soon transformed into the story of the Tooth Fairy, who would leave treasures under the children's pillows in exchange for their lost teeth.

The traditions and legend of the Tooth Fairy are still practiced today all around the world. It is considered a useful practice by many parents because it gives their children something to look forward to when they lose their teeth. And so year after year, baby teeth are placed under children's pillows at night in hopes of waking up to a wonderful surprise from none other than the Tooth Fairy!

Since 2005 Share A Smile has helped many children across Southern California regain their smile and confidence. Share A Smile’s goal is to enrich the lives of Southern California's underprivileged children by providing major dental and orthodontic procedures to those in need. In essence, they give their participants, many for the first time, a chance to smile with confidence.

It is tough to imagine growing up afraid to speak or even smile for fear of being ridiculed. Unfortunately, this is a reality for many underprivileged youths who suffer from the lack of resources to get the proper dental care needed to remedy their situation. This can have long term and lasting effects on a child’s confidence and self-esteem.

That is where Share A Smile has stepped in for the past four years. Their volunteer children's dentists have helped youths in Los Angeles and the rest of Southern California not only smile again, but smile with confidence.

Share A Smile was born out of a personal experience; founder Mike Robertson witnessed the abuse and harassment of one of his daughter's friends and decided to get involved. Once he did, it soon became obvious that he could not stop with helping just one child.

100% of all donations go directly towards helping children.

Donation: $5

To support Share A Smile , please visit: http://www.shareasmile.com/

Day 68: 83rd Academy Awards

The 83rd Academy Awards, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), will honor the best films of 2010. The ceremony is scheduled to take place today, at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California. During the ceremony, AMPAS will present its annual Academy Awards (commonly referred to as Oscars) in 24 competitive categories. The ceremony will be televised in the United States on ABC. Actors James Franco and Anne Hathaway will co-host the ceremony, marking the first time for each.

Nominations for the 2010 awards were announced on January 25, 2011. The King's Speech received the most nominations with twelve. True Grit followed with ten and then The Social Network and Inception, with eight each. Toy Story 3, the highest grossing film of 2010, became the third animated film to be nominated for Best Picture; it is also nominated for four other awards including Best Animated Feature.

The All Stars Project, Inc. (ASP) is a non-partisan, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting human development through the use of an innovative performance-based model. The ASP creates outside of school, educational and performing arts activities for thousands of poor and minority young people. It sponsors community and experimental theatre, develops leadership training and pursues volunteer initiatives that build and strengthen communities.

The All Stars Talent Show Network (ASTSN) involves inner-city youth, ages 5 to 25, in producing and performing in weekend talent shows in their neighborhood school auditoriums.

Seventeen young people from all over the San Francisco Bay Area, ranging in age from 5 to 22, came together to share their dreams and lead the All Stars community and friends in a celebration of MLK Day on January 17th at the Alonzo King LINES Dance Center. Over 80 community leaders, friends, family members, and All Stars supporters witnessed the passion filled songs, spoken word pieces, and dances of the All Stars cast. The youngest members of the ensemble charmed the audience with excerpts from Dr. King and President Obama speeches.

Donation: $5

To support The All Stars Project, Inc, please visit:  http://www.allstars.org/

Day 67: International Boost Self-Esteem Month

February is International Boost Self-Esteem Month, and it comes at a perfect time.  We could all benefit from a little (or big) boost of self-lovin’ when the holidays are long gone, the weather is cold, and school is starting to get stressful again. Self-esteem is a major issue in our perfection-driven and celeb-obsessed society, and college-aged women are especially vulnerable.  There’s so much pressure to get straight A’s, pad your resume with extracurriculars, be a social butterfly and a dating expert, and look like a model while doing it all.  It’s so easy for our self-esteem to plummet when expectations for us are sky-high, but letting this happen can actually be dangerous!

Positive self-esteem builds confidence. A confident child is sure of his/her abilities, recognizing and accepting both his/her strengths and weaknesses. We all want our children to be confident. But for many children confidence does not come naturally. Confidence must be nurtured even for the child who seems confident already. Read on for 10 ways to build your child’s confidence.

·       Say you are proud Tell your child when they have accomplished something and you are proud of them.

·       Give responsibility Giving your child jobs to do around the house helps them feel valuable.

·       Don’t label One of the worst things a parent can do is to label their child.

·       Encourage talents Write down all of the things that your child is good at.

·       Listen Let your child know they are important by really listening to them.

·       Establish routines When you have set routines and a home that is predictable your child will feel more secure.

·       Address your child by name Calling your child by name shows that you value them and that you feel that they are important enough to address by name.

·       Play with your child Parents playing with children helps build their self-confidence because it shows them their parents enjoy being with them.

·       Set rules and consequences Children need to have set rules and consequences.

·       Be a positive mirror How your child perceives herself is based largely upon how you perceive your child.

The Little Baby Face Foundation (LBFF) transforms the lives of children born with facial deformities through corrective surgery. World-class surgeons and medical providers at the finest facilities in NYC volunteer their time to provide the best corrective surgery and medical care to children and their families who are in financial need worldwide. They arrange travel to and from New York City for children to undergo needed corrective surgical procedures at no expense to the patient or their families. 

The Little Baby Face Foundation is a great organization that puts smiles on all the little faces of children with facial deformities. They are provided corrective surgery at no cost to the family. These surgeries can vastly improve a child’s self esteem and give them a chance at living fulfilling lives.

Since their founding by Dr. Thomas Romo, III in 2002, more than 125 children born with facial deformities have had their lives transformed with help from the LBFF. These children, generally to the age of 21, come from communities across the country including: Athens, Alabama; Lochbuie, Colorado; Astoria, New York, Greer, South Carolina, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Kailua Kona, Hawaii and many other communities.

Donation: $5

To support The Little Baby Face Foundation, please visit:   www.littlebabyface.org

Day 66: George Harrison’s Birthday

George Harrison, (25 February 1943 – 29 November 2001) was an English rock guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles.

John was outspoken, Paul is always in the spotlight, and Ringo is just nuts. But George Harrison seemingly has often been overlooked. The 'quiet' Beatle, as he was commonly referred to, would have turned 68 today. But he was far more than just “the quiet Beatle” who penned memorable hits; he was also a talented actor with a deep love of cinema, a loyal friend to many influential people, and a deeply spiritual man.

Harrison was passionate about Eastern philosophy and later in life became very involved in Hinduism following multiple trips to India and the surrounding countries. During his travels he began his involvement in Indian music, taking up the sitar, which he later used on several Beatles tracks (ie. "Norwegian Wood"). Harrison became a devotee of Indian mysticism, and helped broaden the horizons of the other Beatles, as well as those of their Western audience, to include Eastern thought and practices.

Following the band's break-up, he had a successful career as a solo artist and later as part of the Traveling Wilburys, and also as a film and record producer. Harrison is listed at number 21 in Rolling Stone magazine's list of "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time".

Harrison died in 2001 after being diagnosed with lung cancer. A lifelong smoker, Harrison had previously won his fight with throat cancer in 1997, but the lung cancer, which he received treatment for until his November 2001 death, spread to his brain and was deemed inoperable. His body was cremated following his funeral and his ashes were spread across the Ganges River in India.

The Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation (MHOF) was inspired by the acclaimed motion picture Mr. Holland’s Opus, the story of the profound effect a dedicated music teacher had on generations of students. The film's composer, Michael Kamen, started the foundation in 1996 as his commitment to the future of music education.

The foundation donates both new and refurbished instruments to school and after-school music programs that lack the resources to keep up with equipment loss due to attrition, depreciation and wear over time, and to accommodate students on waiting lists or who have to share instruments. An infusion of instruments enables more students to participate and to experience a quality music education. It is vital that efforts are made to give youngsters every tool available within the small window of time when they can make the most of their education, and experience the benefits inherent in learning to play music.

The foundation's mission is narrowly focused and efficiently administered by a staff with long-term relationships in the music education community and the music products industry. They are supported by a solid base of loyal donors, and believers, in music education for all children.

Donation: $5

To support The Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation, please visit: http://www.mhopus.org/

Day 65: National Chili Day

Today is National Chili Day. With Spring not too far away and a chill still in the air, the notion of cooking up something warm and spicy is appealing. Everyone has their own favorite recipe, many handed down from generation to generation.

Chili is a well known comfort food eaten all over the world, with its roots beginning in the early 1800s when the Spanish brought over workers from the coast of South Africa and Canary Islands. The origins of this dish evolved from Berber spices, and slow stewing cuts of meats in clay vessels known as Tagine's; eventually cooked in cast iron pots over open flames in San Antonio, Texas.

During that time streets were often lined with wooden work horses that were covered with planks of wood as the smells of the 'Chili Queen' stews were transported on the breeze. Workers during their lunch hour would come and purchase a bowl, usually with open fire cooked tortillas. This dish is still very popular all across the vast state of Texas.

The name 'chili con carne' ( literally means chili with meat) often known as simply chili, is spicy stew. The name "chili con carne "is taken from Spanish and means "peppers with meat." Traditional versions are made minimally from chili peppers, meat, garlic, onion and cumin, along with chopped or ground beef. Beans and tomatoes are frequently added. Variations, both geographic and personal may involve different types of meats as well as a variety of spices and other ingredients. Chili can be found worldwide and also in certain American style fast food restaurants.

Feed The Children is a Christian, international, nonprofit relief organization with headquarters in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, that delivers food, medicine, clothing and other necessities to individuals, children and families who lack these essentials due to famine, war, poverty, or natural disaster.

In 2009, Feed The Children distributed more than 111 million pounds of food and other essentials to children and their families in all 50 states and internationally.

The heart of Feed The Children's U.S. program is distributing food to families in need. To do this, they work closely with caring corporate partners that donate surplus food and other supplies, as well as with individual donors who help defray the cost of transporting the product donations.

Feed The Children is committed to nourishing the minds and bodies of children in need across America. They have partnered with educators to distribute books and supplies to boys and girls living in poverty.

Donation: $10

To support Feed The Children, please visit:  http://www.feedthechildren.org/

Day 64: Plant the Seeds of Greatness Month

Think globally—build for the future—Plant the Seeds of Greatness Month happens during February. If you are unhappy with how your life is going at the moment, this month has been set aside to sit-back and reflect on what you can do to improve your situation. Think about change during this month, and give your life a close examination, and find ways that you can improve it for the better. Plant some seeds for all the areas in your life, career, and long-term goals.  Use this month to put to use your own unique prosperity consciousness and plant the seeds for your new career, life objectives or goals. Make a difference for yourself, your family, your business or your community. Get outside of your comfort zone and take action on your ideas and dreams. Turn your goals into realities.

Spread the word.
Help make the world a better place.
Plant the Seeds of Greatness!

·       Unlock the 'secrets of success' from your subconscious.

·       Find out what you can do to plant the seeds of greatness.

·       Discover the best gift you can give to someone.

·       See how you can make wonderful memories for the future.

·       Find new ways to take charge of your destiny.

·       Learn how education plays a part in the seeds of greatness.

·       Find out how humor can help not only you, but others in
making a change for the better.

·       Discover what resources will help you achieve your goals.

·       Implement 'subliminal' ways to reprogram yourself for
success and prosperity.

ART START is an award-winning, nationally recognized model for using the arts to save lives and transform communities. They connect with kids living in shelters, on the streets, involved in court cases or surviving with parents in crisis. Though they face many obstacles, the kids have dreams that far surpass their circumstances. They yearn to be participants and make meaningful contributions. ART START uses the arts to provide them with opportunities for success. They give them tools, structure, support, and most importantly, a chance to be heard.

The kids collaborate with volunteer artists who donate their time and guidance to nurture their creativity and talents through a variety of visual, performing and media arts workshops that develop self-expression and raise self-esteem. Using a learner-centered approach to education, ART START instills in the youth the confidence to think critically, ask important questions, and pursue meaningful opportunities in life – against all odds. Through their innate creativity, ART START kids learn to trust themselves as their own safe place in very difficult circumstances.

Donation: $5

To support ART START, please visit: http://art-start.org/

Day 63: World Thinking Day

Girls and women of all ages in many countries do not have the same opportunities as men. They do not have the same access to education as men - around 54 per cent of out-of-school children are girls. Women are underrepresented in the world’s parliaments and in the labor workforce, and earn far less than men.

Each year on February 22, World Thinking Day, girls participate in activities, games, and projects with global themes to honor their sister Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in other countries. World Thinking Day is part of the WAGGGS Global Action Theme (GAT) based on the United Nation's Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which aim to improve the lives of the world's poorest people. The theme for World Thinking Day 2011 is girls worldwide say "empowering girls will change our world", and the aim is to raise awareness of the situation for many girls and young women and empower them to take a stand against inequality.

World Thinking Day not only gives girls a chance to celebrate international friendships, but is also a reminder that Girl Scouts of the USA is part of a global community—one of nearly 150 countries with Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.

Picture the world through the eyes of a Girls Inc. girl. She belongs to a community that empowers her to pursue the biggest dreams she can dream. She is uplifted by the strength of a national organization that is committed to inspiring the leaders of tomorrow.  This is how Girls Inc. celebrates girlhood.

Girls Inc. is a nonprofit organization that inspires all girls to be strong, smart, and bold through a network of local organizations in the United States and Canada. With local roots dating to 1864 and national status in the U.S. since 1945, Girls Inc. responds to the changing needs of girls and their communities through research-based programs and advocacy that empower girls to reach their full potential and to understand, value, and assert their rights. In 2009, Girls Inc. reached over 900,000 girls through Girls Inc. affiliates, our website, and educational publications.

Donation: $5

To support Girls Inc., please visit:  http://www.girlsinc.org/

Day 62: National Entrepreneurship Week

National Entrepreneurship Week began on Saturday, February, 19 and lasts until February, 26. Entrepreneurship Week provides an opportunity to focus on the innovative ways in which entrepreneurship education can bring together the core academic, technical, and problem solving skills essential for future entrepreneurs and successful workers in future workplaces.

Entrepreneurs embody the promise that lies at the heart of America -- that if you have a good idea and work hard enough, the American dream is within your reach. During National Entrepreneurship Week, we renew our commitment to supporting the entrepreneurs who power the engine of our Nation's economy. These intrepid individuals translate their vision into products and services that keep America strong and competitive on a global scale, and build opportunity and prosperity across our country.

National Entrepreneurship Week celebrates striking out on your own, creating your own opportunities, and acquiring the skills needed to start and run a successful business.

Children can be entrepreneurs, and one young girl, determined, courageous, confident and inspiring child with big dreams and big accomplishments, began selling lemonade which eventually turned into a unique childhood cancer charity.

Shortly before her first birthday, Alexandra "Alex" Scott, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a type of childhood cancer. In the year 2000, the day after her fourth birthday, Alex received a stem cell transplant and informed her mother, "when I get out of the hospital I want to have a lemonade stand." She said she wanted to give the money to doctors to allow them to "help other kids, like they helped me." True to her word, she held her first lemonade stand later that year and raised an amazing $2,000 for "her hospital." Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) emerged from the front yard lemonade stand.

While bravely fighting her own cancer, Alex continued to set up lemonade stands every year. As news spread of the remarkable girl so dedicated to helping other sick children, people everywhere were inspired to start their own lemonade stands—donating the proceeds to Alex and her cause. In August of 2004, Alex passed away at the age of 8, knowing that, with the help of others, she had raised over $1 million to help find a cure for the disease that took her life. Alex's family - including brothers Patrick, Eddie, and Joey - and supporters around the world are committed to continuing her inspiring legacy through Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation.

Donation: $5

To support Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, please visit:  https://www.alexslemonade.org/

Day 61: World Day of Social Justice

"Social justice is more than an ethical imperative, it is a foundation for national stability and global prosperity. Equal opportunity, solidarity and respect for human rights -- these are essential to unlocking the full productive potential of nations and peoples."

                                             Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
                                                       Message for the 2011 World Day of Social Justice
                                                       20 February 2011

The General Assembly proclaimed 20 February as World Day of Social Justice in 2007, inviting Member States to devote the day to promoting national activities in accordance with the objectives and goals of the World Summit for Social Development and the twenty-fourth session of the General Assembly. Observance of World Day of Social Justice should support efforts of the international community in poverty eradication, the promotion of full employment and decent work, gender equity and access to social well-being and justice for all.

Social justice is an underlying principle for peaceful and prosperous coexistence within and among nations. We uphold the principles of social justice when we promote gender equality or the rights of indigenous peoples and migrants. We advance social justice when we remove barriers that people face because of gender, age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture or disability.

The goal of ACCESS is to provide needy children in the developing world with school uniforms and necessary school supplies, so that they have the opportunity to obtain the education required to find decent employment and support their families. In addition, ACCESS aims to educate youth across North America about relevant issues and the current situation in the developing world.

As a student-run organization, ACCESS: Allowing Children a Chance at Education, Inc. focuses on the importance of education. Education is a basic human right. Unfortunately, nearly 120 million children are out of school around the world today.

As a registered non-profit corporation, ACCESS has supported the education of children in the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Honduras, Jamaica and more since 2006. This includes funding student uniforms, school expansions, student transportation, and school supplies. Locally, ACCESS has engaged in projects such as Student Contests, School Presentations, School Supply Drives, Youth Workshops, and the Speak Up for Change youth blog program. As a socially conscious organization, ACCESS also promotes Fair Trade products such as

chocolate and sugar, supporting sustainability for employees in the developing world.

Donation: $5

To support ACCESS, please visit: http://accesscharity.ca/

Day 60: Future Farmers of America Week

Future Farmers of America (FFA) Week gives members a chance to educate the public about agriculture. During the week, chapters host teacher appreciation breakfasts, conduct "Ag Olympics" competitions, speak to the public about agriculture, volunteer for community service projects and more.

 

The week of George Washington’s birthday was designated as National FFA Week in 1947 at a National FFA Board of Directors meeting. FFA Week always runs from Saturday to Saturday, and encompasses February 22, Washington’s birthday.

"Future Farmers of America" was founded by a group of young farmers back in 1928. Their mission was to prepare future generations for the challenges of feeding a growing population. They taught us that agriculture is more than planting and harvesting-- it's a science, it's a business and it's an art.

FFA continues to help the next generation rise up to meet those challenges by helping its members to develop their own unique talents and explore their interests in a broad range of career pathways.

4-H is a positive youth development organization that empowers young people to reach their full potential. A vast community of more than 6 million youth and adults working together for positive change, 4-H enables America’s youth to emerge as leaders through hands-on learning, research-based 4-H youth programs and adult mentorship, in order to give back to their local communities.

4-H’ers across the nation are responding to challenges every day in their communities and their world. With an expansive network reaching every corner of the country, 4-H is the nation’s largest youth development organization. More than 6 million 4-H youth in urban neighborhoods, suburban schoolyards and rural farming communities stand out among their peers: building revolutionary opportunities and implementing community-wide change at an early age.

As the youth development program of the nation’s 109 land-grant universities and the Cooperative Extension System, 4-H fosters an innovative, “learn by doing” approach with proven results. 

Donation: $10

To support 4-H, please visit:  http://www.4-h.org/

Day 59: Library Lovers' Month

Since the founding of our nation, libraries have played a key role in our society and culture; this is particularly true today, as libraries offer everything from books to Internet access to job-search resources. Libraries have contributed to children’s learning to read. They have been and still are places for families with children to gather and experience reading together.  Libraries are free to use.

Library Lovers' Month is a month-long celebration of school, public, and private libraries of all types. This is a time for everyone, especially library support groups, to recognize the value of libraries and to work to assure that the Nation's libraries will continue to serve.

Library Lovers' Month encompasses libraries of every type, from the small home library to the New York Public Library. This month-long focus is particularly important for public libraries around the country today; with the ongoing recession hitting local economies hard, many public libraries face the stark reality of reduced staff, reduced operating hours, and even closure, all at a time when usage by citizens has increased dramatically.

The Friends of the Library of Hawaii is a nonprofit organization whose primary objective is to maintain free public libraries in the State of Hawaii, to promote extension of library services throughout the State of Hawaii and to increase the facilities of the public library system of Hawaii by securing materials beyond the command of the ordinary library budget. Other objectives are to focus attention on libraries and to encourage and accept, by bequest or gift, donations of books, manuscripts, money, and other appropriate material that can enrich the cultural opportunities available to the people of Hawaii. The Friends of the Library of Hawaii was founded in 1879 by Honolulu's business leaders, merchants, and Hawaiian royalty as the Honolulu Library and Reading Room . The illustrious members of the original organization included King Kalakaua, Queen Kapiolani, Queen Emma, Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, Sanford B. Dole and James Campbell.

The Friends of the Library of Hawai'i exists to promote and support Hawaii's public libraries. The primary objectives of the Friends of the Library of Hawai'i shall be:

To assist in maintaining free public libraries in the State of Hawai'i
To increase the facilities of the public library system of Hawaii by securing materials beyond the scope of the ordinary library budget
To award continuing education and scholarship grants
To focus attention on all public libraries
To encourage and accept by bequest or gift, donations of books, manuscripts, money, and other appropriate material that can enrich the cultural opportunities available to the people of Hawaii
To promote the extension of library services throughout the State of Hawai'i.

Donation: $5

To support The Friends of the Library of Hawai'i , please visit: http://friendsofthelibraryofhawaii.org/