Category: volunteer

Africa, New York City, nonprofit, volunteer

Ice Cream and a Helping Hand for Rwanda

Christa Avampato

The fabulous folks at Blue Marble Ice Cream have started up a non profit, Blue Marble Dreams. They are building an ice cream shop in Rwanda as a safe community gathering place. To make this dream come to life, they need our help. Here is the pitch posted on Daily Candy:


” All funds raised by October 19 will be matched (they’re shooting for $20 grand). They also need research/development interns, consultants, and volunteers.

It’s not about saving the world. It’s not even about ice cream. It’s about hope. With a cherry on top.

Blue Marble, 420 Atlantic Avenue, between Bond and Nevins Streets, Boerum Hill (718-858-1100 orbluemarbleicecream.com); 186 Underhill Avenue, at Sterling Place, Prospect Heights (718-399-6926). Donate online at bluemarbledreams.org.“
philanthropy, volunteer, Women for Women International

American Express Members Project

Christa Avampato

The American Express Members Project is an opportunity for American Express Card Holders, and Guests who don’t have an AMEX card, to create briefs for philanthropic projects that are then voted on to have the opportunity to win $2.5 million dollars worth of funding from American Express. My friend Amy just sent me a message letting me know that a nonprofit we have worked with has a project available for voting. “Help Women and Children Survivors of War Rebuild” by Women for Women International.  


Here’s an update on the Members Projects so far: 1190 projects were submitted and the voting continues to Monday, September 1st. From there, the top 25 projects will be put up for a final round of voting. You can search through the projects for one that interests you by topic, location, most popular thus far, or by keyword. You can vote for multiple projects and if you need more information on a project, there is a discussion forum on the site where members of the community can ask questions, gather more background, and offer up their opinions about different projects. 

A perfect balance of technology, goodwill, and financial management, it’s my hope that the Members Project will encourage other companies to handle their philanthropy in the same way that American Express is doing it. I encourage you to log on, find projects that interest you, and vote! 
Africa, career, travel, volunteer

Finding Purpose in Africa

Christa Avampato

Running off to the developing world to make a difference and contribute to humanity used to be the realm of young college graduates. Now, more and more professionals, solo or with family in tow, are finding themselves drawn to areas of the world where they can see the direct impact of their work improving the lot of those who cannot improve the quality of life on their own. 

This week, USA Today ran an article about Americans finding purpose in Africa, specifically Rwanda. For me, that country conjures up images of the gentle mountain gorillas juxtaposed to the images from CNN and MSNBC of the brutal genocide that the country endured. Today, there are ex-pats living and working Rwanda who think that the country is poised to be the next Singapore. After years of unrest and violence beyond measure, the country is fighting its way back to peace and prosperity. And Americans looking for purpose are flocking to lend their expertise, time, and energy. And while Rwandans are reaping the benefits of lower infant mortality, higher education rates, and greater economic opportunities, Americans are gaining a sense of self and purpose, empathy, acceptance, and faith in the goodness that we can create for one another.  

As someone who’s always thought that my time for the Peace Corp had passed me by, this article left me encouraged by all of the future opportunities that exist for me to lend a hand, my heart, and my spirit. 
charity, Tap Project, volunteer

Tap Project 2008

Christa Avampato

Anyone who can solve the problems of water will be worthy of two Nobel prizes – one for peace and one for science.
~ John F. Kennedy


The U.S. Fund for UNICEF’s Tap Project is a nationwide grassroots campaign to raise funds for UNICEF’s Water and Sanitation Programs, which provides safe and clean drinking water to children around the world.  During March 16th-22nd, diners at participating restaurants will be invited to donate $1 for the tap water that they normally enjoy for free.  All proceeds will go to help UNICEF bring safe and clean water to the over 1 billion people currently living without.  Nationally, over 1,400 restaurants and 1,600 volunteers have signed up so far and still counting!

**Join the party on Thursday, March 13th, for Drinks to Celebrate the upcoming Launch of Tap Project 2008!**
7:30PM
Black Door
127 West 26th Street (between 6th and 7th Avenues)
New York, NY 10001

Suggested donation: $20 (at the door, smaller donations are welcome)

Watch the 2008 Tap Project Video at http://www.TapProject.org. Look up the project on Facebook. You will also see it publicized in Esquire, O, The Oprah Magazine, In Style, Entertainment Weekly, People, The New York Times and many more place from cabs to bus stops!

Dine out at participating restaurants during March 16th – 22nd. http://www.tapproject.org/restaurants/info.
charity, community service, creativity, volunteer

HelpOthers.org

Christa Avampato

People need a mission – something to keep them going when the going gets tough. For some it’s work, for others it’s family and friends. Could be a hobby or volunteer work. The folks at HelpOthers.org take pride in making a stranger’s day a little bit easier and then asking those strangers to pay the favor forward to others.

A few months ago I signed up for their weekly email, Smile Newsletter, that records the antics of good samaritans across the globe. A story from this week’s newsletter, below, made me laugh and reminded me that even when it comes to doing good deeds, it’s helpful to be flexible. Enjoy!

“I went into a laundrymat today to leave money for someone to find to do their wash, so I had my coins and tape and was looking around for a spot to leave them when this distraught lady said, ‘Oh you have tape! I really need some my top is cracked and won’t stay on and I didn’t know what I was going to do!’ I’m not sure what was exactly wrong but I was happy to give her some tape and a smile. When I was walking away I heard her say, ‘Thank you, God!’ I went in for one reason but clearly there was another purpose in my being there, even if it was so simple as sharing a piece of tape. It definitely put a smile in my heart!” –RaeofSunshine

friendship, gifts, volunteer

The moment of giving

Christa Avampato

“Generosity lies less in giving much than in giving at the right moment. — Jean de La Bruyere”

The saying “It’s all in the timing” tends to be related to a stroke of good luck, a serendipitous moment that occurs quite by accident with some great fortune attached to it. I am a huge fan of surprises. When I think about acts of kindness that I have experienced in my life, they came in the form of a surprise. My memory of the kindness has nothing to do with the actual gesture, but with the time that the kindness arrived.

My friend, Alex, is a fan of sending cards and little surprises in the mail. She sent me a magnet that I just love when I moved into my new apartment in New York. And she sent me a card during the summer I spent in Atlanta, which was miserable for a variety of reasons. She had no idea how much I needed a smile those days, though her timing was impeccable.

Even a well-timed, unsolicited compliment becomes an act of generosity. Occasionally I change out my picture on my blog or my Facebook page and I am always so touched when someone writes to me to say how much they like the new picture. The same goes for friends of mine who read my blog and reference it to me. I feel so touched when I know they’ve taken time out of their day to read what I’m thinking and writing about.

Simple phone calls do the trick, too. I am always excited to get a surprise call or voice message from someone I wasn’t expecting to hear from, especially when it’s not around a holiday or my birthday. I love those cards, emails, and messages that arrive just to say hi, for no reason in particular except to say “hey, I was thinking about you.”

As I consider gifts I’ll be giving this season I’ll be thinking about the experience they create, how much joy they’ll generate afterwards and hopefully for a long time to come. And this quote also gave me a third dimension to consider, timing. While the secret to a happy life may be to have low expectations, it may also be that we can generate happiness for others by providing unexpected generosity just when we sense that those around us need it most and expect it least.