Day 130: World Healing Day

What if human consciousness was focused on a healing intention, together, for a 24 hour period?

Today, April 30th, in hundreds of cities in all 50 US States, and over 70 nations, a worldwide wave of mass events designed to focus humanity's consciousness on personal and global healing will unfold. Beginning in New Zealand, and then spreading time zone by time zone around Earth, World Healing Day will begin at 10 am local time, worldwide. At WorldHealingDay.org visitors can also view video of scientific research projects suggesting the power of human consciousness to actually change the world.

The Global Consciousness Project, born out of research at Princeton University,
found that during times of great tragedy human consciousness focused to such a
degree that it physically affected their computers all around the world. While other
research found that when a small percentage of human beings harmonized their
consciousness, they positively affected the behavior of the community around them. 

Governors of more than half the US States have officially proclaimed events for their states, and senates and legislatures have issued proclamations as well. Past events have included ones held at the United Nations Building (New York) and the Nobel Peace Center (Oslo, Norway).

Men, women, and children around the world gather to participate in the most comprehensive prayer activity in the history-- a planetary affirmation of peace, and love, forgiveness and understanding involving millions of people in a simultaneous global mind link. The purpose is to reverse the polarity of the negative force field in the race of mind, achieve a critical mass of spiritual consciousness, and usher in a new era of Peace on Earth.

Can Music Heal? Healing happens in many ways. Music heals the heart, mind and soul, and can assist in healing a broken body. Children of our Armed Forces overseas are affected by what happens to their parent who is fighting in a war in a foreign country. The healing of the soldier parent certainly helps heal the emotional pain of a child over the absence of their mother or father or both. Music does heal.

Freedom To Rock, a non-profit organization, was created by Loretta Palacios when she worked directly in the military installations as a contractor with secret and interim top clearance. Being up close and personal, she felt the troops needed more, to bring up their morale. The recognition does not stop with the troops, but continues with their families who also sacrificed their lives and continued to care for their families while mom and dad were away. As civilians, we owe so much of our freedoms to our Armed Forces. Freedom To Rock had been created, to show our appreciation to our troops, for the many privileges we experience as Americans. The Armed Forces risk their lives every day, not only for our Freedom, but for other countries who only can dream what we have.

Freedom To Rock will be a yearly event to the installations featuring new headliners and upcoming bands. Freedom to Rock has offered production (stage, light, sound) of the show, with quality live music entertainment and a laser.

Donation $5

To support Freedom To Rock, please visit:  http://www.freedomtorock.org/

Day 129: National Dance Day

National Dance Day, a grassroots initiative that encourages the nation, young and old, to move!  Individuals, families, organizations and communities from across the nation come together through their creative expression in dance.  Any style of dance is welcome and imagination is recommended in order to get the most out of this celebratory day. To continue to generate national awareness for dance, a medium of expression and storytelling which, through shows like So You Think You Can Dance and the Dizzy Feet Foundation, has proven its value in bringing individuals from all walks of life together through a positive platform that has no boundaries and cultivates imagination and passion. Most importantly, the day is intended to promote health and wellness nationwide through the art form of dance.

National Dance Day has groups across the country planning dance events, flash mobs, videos, and even charity benefits. The goal is to inspire every one, from top-notch dancers to those with two left feet to get up and move!

 National Dance Day was officially recognized by congress thanks to Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton. “More than 30 percent of Americans are obese and childhood obesity has tripled in the past 30 years,” said Norton in a press release. “Television shows such as So You Think You Can Dance are not only entertaining but are also encouraging people to live a physically active lifestyle. Holding a National Dance Day in the nation’s capital is a terrific way to promote fitness and fight obesity.”

National Dance Day does not belong to any single corporation, television show or charity. It belongs to the people. It will be up to the individuals, corporations and charities of this country to come up with ways to take part, wherever they may be and whatever their motivation: whether it’s to lose weight, raise money for a nonprofit or just have fun.

Dizzy Feet Foundation was founded in 2009 by Nigel Lythgoe, Adam Shankman, Carrie Ann Inaba, and Katie Holmes to support, improve, and increase access to dance education in the United States. Guided by a board consisting of some of the most illustrious names in the American dance community, the foundation's mission is threefold: (1) to provide scholarships to talented students studying at accredited dance schools, studios, or institutions; (2) to establish national standards for dance education and an accreditation program for dance schools in all of the major styles of dance; and (3) to develop, provide, and/or support dance education programs for disadvantaged children through and with local community organizations.

Dizzy Feet Foundation  also aims to increase and standardize the quality of dance instruction throughout the United States by offering accreditation and/or certification to dance schools and studios in most styles of dance, including ballroom, contemporary, ballet, tap, jazz, and hip hop.

Donation $5

To support Dizzy Feet Foundation, please visit: http://www.dizzyfeetfoundation.org/

Day 128: National Playground Safety Week

April 25-29, 2011 - National Playground Safety Week is a time to focus on children's outdoor play environments. A time to pledge to use good judgment when playing. A time for gratitude for all the adults who work tirelessly on maintaining our playgrounds. With spring in the air and children returning outdoors to play, encouraging playground safety is important to remember.

National Playground Safety Week has three goals: to focus on children's outdoor play areas, to teach kids how to play safely, and to thank adults who work to make and keep playgrounds safe.

For the week of National Playground Safety it is hoped that parents become informed and warned  of the many dangers associated with playground use. As the weather improves, more and more children will be playing in public parks on playgrounds, and parents should pay extra attention to avoid injury. Some safety tips were offered by Consumer Reports and help caretakers understand the many risks associated with monkey bars and swings.

At Playworks, they envision communities where all children are able to safely play. This vision depends on adults - both at school and outside of school - who make it possible for kids to play and be physically active.

The Playworks mission is to improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play. Playworks is a national nonprofit organization that supports learning by providing safe, healthy and inclusive play and physical activity to schools at recess and throughout the entire school day.

Research shows that play is essential to child development and an invaluable tool for improving school climate. And quality recess and playtime also helps children return to the classroom more focused and ready to learn. 

Playworks is the only nonprofit organization in the country to send trained, full-time program coordinators, called "coaches" to low-income, urban schools, where they transform recess and play into a positive experience that helps kids and teachers get the most out of every learning opportunity throughout the school day. The coaches become part of the school community, working full-time to provide organized play and physical activity through the five components of the Playworks program. They organize games and activities during recess, provide individual class game times and run a leadership development program during school hours. They also run Playworks tutoring and physical activity programs and developmental sports leagues during after school hours.

Donation $5

To support Playworks, please visit:  http://www.playworks.org/

Day 127: Babe Ruth Day

It was April 1947.  America was about to begin its post-World War II economic boom.  A few months earlier, Edwin Land had demonstrated his “instant camera”, the Polaroid Land Camera.  Radio was still the principal communications media, with more than 40 million strong.  Television, at a scant 44,000 sets nationwide, was just starting.  As a new baseball season began, a special day was set aside to honor former New York Yankee baseball star, Babe Ruth. More than 58,000 fans packed Yankee stadium on April 27th to mark one of the greatest honors in Babe Ruth’s life.

Having been diagnosed with a malignant tumor, Ruth’s health was in decline and fans from across the country gathered on that day to show their support for the legendary man of the major leagues. Ruth made his last appearance at Yankee Stadium on June 13, 1948, which also commemorated the stadium’s 25th anniversary; the stadium where upon his death more than 100,000 people gathered to pay their respects.

George Herman Ruth, known to the world as “Babe Ruth,” was the first sports ‘superstar’. After leading the Boston Red Sox to two World Series victories, he was traded to the New York Yankees following the 1918 season. The Yankees, who had never won a pennant before, became perennial American League and World Series champions. The Red Sox did not win another World Series until 2004.

Special Olympics is a global nonprofit organization targeting the nearly 200 million people round the world who have intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics is made up of passionate, committed individuals from every walk of life, who recognize the value and unique gifts of people with intellectual disabilities. And who, together, share the common belief in dignity, equality and opportunity for ALL people. With a presence in nearly 200 countries worldwide and seven world-region offices, they are constantly expanding. They can say with all truth, that “the sun never sets on the Special Olympics movement.”

Every day, 365 days a year, their Board members, global leadership, staff and volunteers work to bring Special Olympics to as many communities as possible. Speaking hundreds of languages and coming from diverse cultures and backgrounds, the common thread tying them together is their belief in people with intellectual disabilities and in Special Olympics:  its unique ability to envision and create a world where every person is celebrated and accepted — all through the simple platform of sport.

Special Olympics is athletes. More than 3 million strong in countries worldwide, the people with intellectual disabilities who have found Special Olympics have found a community of acceptance and high expectations. It's a source of inspiration for all involved.

Special Olympics is coaches. The men and women who volunteer their time also give their experience, their love of sport and their firm commitment to excellence.

Special Olympics is youth. A generation of young people are moving toward a conviction that acceptance begins with their communities and the language they use to describe others. The campaign to discourage the casual and degrading use of the word "retard" has caught fire among this group.

Donation $5

To support Special Olympics, please visit: http://www.specialolympics.org/

Day 126: National Kids & Pets Day

Why do we like kids and pets? Simple. They bring us joy, happiness, activity, fun, and most of all, they keep us young at heart. National Kids & Pets Day is dedicated to furthering the magical bond between children and animals and to help bring awareness to the plight of pets in shelters awaiting new homes.

The future of our children and their ability to show compassion toward animals and each other, depends on us, to give them the skills necessary to make the world a better, kinder place to live. Children with learning disabilities can greatly increase academic success reading to pets and pets help shy children to open up and feel more confident. The responsibility that a child can learn from caring for a pet is vital in their social development. Children that grow up with pets tend to be extremely nurturing and compassionate, making dedicated and loving parents and pet owners themselves. This, in turn, simply makes for a happier world. And who doesn't want that?

National Kids and Pets Day encourages you to ADOPT rather than SHOP.  Millions of orphaned pets sit in shelters awaiting new homes. But be sure that your child and family are ready for a new pet.

Celebrate your kids and pets... today and every day! Celebrate National Kids and Pets Day by going for a walk or to the park. Getting exercise with your children and pets is not only a great way to have fun, but it is a great opportunity to teach children the responsibilities of pet ownership. Let the child hold the leash or train with the dog. Help the child perform the duties that parents usually take care of. Most of all, enjoy the time together!

What began as a dream and was launched as a one night a week program – in daylight and good weather only – for 10 students,  Saddle Up! is the oldest and largest program in the region and the only program in Middle Tennessee that exclusively serves children and youth with disabilities. Saddle Up!’s mission is to provide children and youth with disabilities the opportunity to grow and develop through recreational activities with horses. They bring that mission to life by providing a year-round program that will serve an estimated 190 children/youth in 2011on their 34-acre farm near Franklin, TN. For many of their riders, Saddle Up! is one of the few, if not the only, recreational programs available to them.

Behind all the programs, volunteers, and plans is a child. Serving that child – with an emphasis on the abilities of each individual – is the focus of all that happens at Saddle Up!. For any child, mounting a horse can be a frightening prospect. But before long, all of the children are wearing heartwarming grins that lift the heart. The opportunity for them to leave behind the world of special classes, tutors, doctors, hospitals and medicine is often more therapy than the best educational or medical minds can deliver.

Donation $5

To support Saddle Up!, please visit: http://www.saddleupnashville.org/

Day 125: World Malaria Day

World Malaria Day 2011 is a time for examining the progress we have made towards malaria control and elimination and to renew efforts towards achieving the target of zero malaria deaths by 2015. We have come a long way towards realizing this goal since the first World Malaria Day four years ago, when it was estimated that a child died every 30 seconds of malaria. The huge increase in support for malaria control interventions in recent years means we can now acknowledge a reduction in the death rate; where once over a million people died of the disease annually, the figure is now closer to 790,000. This is progress and it shows that what we are doing is working. However we can’t afford to ease back until this number is zero, and this year everyone in the malaria community is discussing the remaining obstacles we face in the fight against malaria.

The mass distributions of long lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) and their increasing availability in the private sector have made a dramatic impact on the number of malaria cases, however hundreds of thousands of people are still contracting malaria, and many of these people are unable to access appropriate and timely, treatment.

Every 45 seconds a child dies of malaria. Yet, malaria is 100% preventable and treatable, making all malaria deaths unacceptable. Nearly 90% of malaria deaths occur in Africa among children younger than 5 years old. That makes malaria the leading child-killer in Africa, accounting for 20% of all childhood deaths. 

 

UNICEF is the world's largest provider of insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITNs), which help protect families from malaria. More bed nets and more global funding for malaria programs are helping reduce malaria in many countries. But far too few African children are receiving the Artemesinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT) that can save lives, and far too many children are sleeping without the use of a lifesaving mosquito net. By supporting preventive actions, UNICEF and partners are working towards the day when zero children die from malaria.

Today, the world recognizes World Malaria Day – a day that will commemorate the global effort to eliminate malaria.  Together, we can work to end this deadly, preventable child-killer, and bring us closer to the day when zero children die from preventable causes.

Donation $5

To support UNICEF, please visit:  http://www.unicefusa.org/work/health/malaria/

Day 124: National Pet Parent’s Day

For those who tirelessly scoop poop, dish out kibble and share a cramped bed with four paws, this day is for you. You’ve planned birthday parties for Fido, bought specially-formulated oatmeal shampoo that costs more than your own, and made a point to stroll down the pet aisle every time you shop at the convenience store. You might even plan vacations that include your pet, or make a point to carve out a couple of hours a day for playtime at home, a dog park or even the beach. Devoted pet parents like you deserve more than a pat on the back — celebrate Pet Parent’s Day and bond with your pet this weekend.

National Pet Parent’s Day officially takes place on the last Sunday of April.  This holiday is to celebrate pet caregivers – those who consider their pets part of their family. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, in 2006, nearly 50% of pet owners considered their pets family members.  Also, those who consider themselves to be pet parents are most likely U.S. pet caregivers, young pet owners without children, and older pet owners with children who no longer live at home.

Pet owners demonstrate parental behavior through gift giving, allowing their pets to sit at the dinner table, having their pets participate in special occasions by giving them an active role (i.e. ring bear at a wedding).  The Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) found in one of their surveys conducted amongst their policyholders and web visitors that 56% of pet owners sleep in the same bed as their pets and in another survey that 23% bring their pets on family vacations.

We get so much from our bond with our pets (dogs, cats, and other pets). There have been many studies indicating the different physical, psychological and emotional benefits we get through our relationship with dogs and cats.

Founded in 1978, Noah's Ark Animal Rehabilitation Center works in concert with its sister organization, Noah's Ark Children Care Homes, to bring children and animals together for the purpose of providing unconditional love, unconditional service, and a future full of hope. The facility is home to over 1,000 animals and is licensed by the State of Georgia to provide residential care for up to 24 children. The wildlife from the rehabilitation center and the children from the Children's Care Home play a vital role for each other. The children participate in pet therapy, nurturing the baby wildlife as the animals are rehabilitated in hopes of eventually being returned to their natural habitat.

Their mission is to provide a home for abused, unwanted, and orphaned children and animals. They also aim to provide an education for a culturally diverse group of children: school, improved social skills and emotional stability are part of their plan to help break the cycle of poverty and destructive behavior. To provide an awareness through their rehab/education programs which emphasize that all living things have value no matter how small or seemingly insignificant.

Donation $10

To support  Noah's Ark Animal Rehabilitation Center, please visit:  http://www.noahs-ark.org/

Day 123: Cancer Control Month

What is Cancer? Cancer is the term used to describe many diseases that are characterized by abnormal division of mutated cells. Sometimes, the mutated cells cause the destruction of healthy cells and tissue. These mutated cells can spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymphatic system and are called malignant cancer cells.

The more we can learn about what causes cancer, the more likely we are to find ways to prevent it. Scientists study patterns of cancer in the population to look for factors that affect the risk of developing this disease. In the laboratory, they explore possible causes of cancer and try to determine what actually happens when normal cells become cancerous.

Cancer Control Month highlights advances in fighting cancer. This includes prevention, early detection, and treatment of cancer. One way to control cancer is to find cancer cells and get rid of them. Cancer screenings can help find cancer early. The earlier the cancer is found, the better the prognosis. While everyone is at risk for cancer, some people are at greater risk than others are. Age is the greatest risk factor for cancer, since nearly 76% of cancers are detected at age 55 and older. Also, people who use tobacco, drink heavily, are physically inactive, eat a poor diet, are regularly exposed to carcinogens (cancer causing agents) in their occupation, or have prolonged and unprotected exposure to sunlight are all at increased risk for certain cancers.

The number of new cases of cancer in the United States is increasing each year. People of all ages get cancer, but nearly all types are more common in middle-aged and elderly people than in young people. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer for both men and women. The next most common type among men is prostate cancer; among women, it is breast cancer. Lung cancer, however, is the leading cause of death from cancer for both men and women in the United States. Brain cancer and leukemia are the most common cancers in children and young adults.

The National Children's Leukemia Foundation (NCLF) is one of the leading organizations in the fight against leukemia and cancer for children and adults. The mission of the NCLF is to provide the cure for cancer and other life-threatening diseases throughout the world, and to insure that all persons, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status or country of residence, have access to life-saving medical care. The NCLF supports medical research and direct patient care programs that ease the financial, social and psychological burdens of families with a diagnosis of cancer or other serious blood disorders. Through their hotline, they offer comprehensive information to any caller, and provide referrals for initial testing, physicians, hospital admissions, and treatment options.

Donation $5

To support The National Children's Leukemia Foundation, please visit: http://www.leukemiafoundation.org/

Day 122: EARTH DAY

Earth Day is the day designated for fostering appreciation of the earth's environment and awareness of the issues that threaten it. Actually, Earth Day is one of two days, depending on when you choose to observe it. Some people celebrate Earth Day on the first day of Spring, which is the vernal equinox that occurs on or around March 21st. In 1970, U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson proposed a bill designating April 22 as a national day to celebrate the earth. Since that time, Earth Day has been officially observed in April. At present, Earth Day is observed in 175 countries, and coordinated by the nonprofit Earth Day Network. The passage of the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act are considered to be products associated with the 1970 Earth Day.

Earth Day is the annual U.S. celebration of the environment and a time for Americans to assess the work still needed to protect the natural gifts of our planet. Earth Day has no central organizing force behind it, though several nongovernmental organizations work to keep track of the thousands of local events in schools and parks that mark the day. It affirms that environmental awareness is part of the country's consciousness and that the idea of protecting the environment — once the province of a few conservationists — has moved from the extreme to the mainstream of American thought.

Almost 30 years of conflict have not only killed millions of Afghans, but have also decimated the land and natural environment. Centuries-old well-conceived water and irrigation systems have been destroyed; almost 50% of drinking water is contaminated; and Afghans, especially in urban areas, are exposed to many of the worst toxic and carcinogenic air pollutants known.

Help the Afghan Children believes that a big part of their educational investment must address the issue of teaching children that awareness of and concern for the environment is crucial in the re-establishment of a civil society.

Designed by a leading Afghan authority on environmental issues, their Environmental Education Program helps children understand their unique relationship with the natural world; how actions they take in their life affect the environment; and how the environment itself affects their lives as adults and future generations.

Their program exposes Afghan children to key environmental concepts and teaches environmental responsibility. Their Green Rooms at each participating school provide an ideal learning environment where teachers can engage children in hands-on environmental projects; provide local eco-walks where they learn to identify local environmental problems as well as practical ways to resolve them.

Donation $10

To support Help the Afghan Children, please visit: http://www.helptheafghanchildren.org/

Day 121: Kindergarten Day

It's Kindergarten Day. The first day at Kindergarten is a memorable, exciting, nervous, and anxious time for mother and child. Most children and mothers will never forget the first day at Kindergarten. Hopefully, it was a good experience for all!

Kindergarten Day is celebrated in honor of Friedrich Froebel. He was born on this day in 1782. In 1837, he started the first Kindergarten in Germany. It became popular quickly. Kindergartens were originally a 1/2 day to get children acclimated into learning, social interaction, and school, in a fun, yet educational manner. Kindergarten has evolved in most areas into a full time program. This is partly the result of increasing pressures on education, and partly due to the increase in working mothers in America. Celebrate today with a trip down memory lane. Pull out the old pictures of you and/or your child's first day at Kindergarten.

To enter Kindergarten today, a child almost needs an earlier program to be able to have success in kindergarten and the rigor that has been instilled at that level.

Jumpstart is a national early education organization that works toward the day every child in America enters school prepared to succeed. Through extraordinary attention in yearlong one-to-one relationships, Jumpstart inspires children to learn, adults to teach, families to get involved, and communities to progress together. Headquartered in Boston, Jumpstart pairs 4,000 trained adults one-to-one with preschool children in need of assistance.

Every child deserves the chance to succeed, yet studies show that children from low-income neighborhoods are at a greater risk of school failure. Jumpstart helps these children develop the language and literacy skills they need to be successful in school, setting them on a path to close the achievement gap before it is too late.

Since 1993, Jumpstart has trained more than 20,000 college students and community volunteers to deliver its program to more than 90,000 preschool children nationwide. 

The continuing success of Jumpstart is due to the efforts of a national network of remarkably dedicated people. At the heart of Jumpstart are the 3,500 college students and community volunteers who give their time to work with children across the country. Jumpstart’s staff are socially minded professionals who work tirelessly to oversee the programs and promote Jumpstart’s mission.

Donation $5

To support Jumpstart, please visit:  http://www.jstart.org/