Chris Canty Foundation, Police Athletic League and United Way Team Up for Youth Football Camp

United Way, Police Athletic League, Chris Canty Foundation Team Up To Help Underprivileged Kids

The Chris Canty Camp of Champions was in New York for the first time this summer. New York Giants Defensive Lineman Chris Canty and other NFL players taught on and off the field skills to campers, most of who hail from underprivileged families. The two-day camp is sponsored by the Chris Canty Foundation, United Way of New York City, and the Police Athletic League of New York City.

“Achieve all your dreams and make them a priority in your life," Chris Canty told the kids during camp.

"Fitness is a crucial component in battling childhood obesity and increasing healthy lifestyles,” said Jennifer Jones Austin, senior vice president of community investment, United Way of NYC. “We’re proud to partner with The Chris Canty Foundation in presenting the Chris Canty Camp of Champions, which is providing 325 New York City kids the opportunity to learn about exercise and health from their football heroes.”

The Camp was founded in 2007 by Chris Canty, starting Defensive tackle of the Super Bowl XLVI New York Giants. The two-day football camp is committed to elevating the quality of youth football skills for boys ages 8-16 and is a non-contact, fundamental football camp designed to improve a child’s beginning, intermediate, or advanced skill level.

United Way of New York City

United Way of New York City fights poverty across the five boroughs. It works with individuals, communities and organizations from all sectors to design and invest in outcome-driven programs that help low-income New Yorkers achieve educational success, income stability and good health. Visit www.UnitedWayNYC.org.

Police Athletic League

Since 1914, the Police Athletic League has been serving New York City’s youth with safe, structured programming designed to engage boys and girls in positive activities that improve their quality of life, present developmental opportunities, and offer the prospect of a brighter future. What started out as the closing of streets by the New York City Police Department to enable the city’s unsupervised youth to play became a citywide Cops & Kids movement and later national model that brought communities and police together in ways that prevail to this day. Visit www.palnyc.org.

Chris Canty Foundation

During the past five years, the Chris Canty Foundation has been dedicated to helping young people by inspiring them to achieve excellence in three distinct areas—education, fitness and community service. Its educational programs and community service activities take a holistic approach to the development of children, engaging not only the kids, but their neighborhoods and families as well. Visit www.chriscantyfoundation.com.

Hydrocephalus Association Announces Three Million Dollar Campaign

Association To Fund Five-Year Research Initiative The Hydrocephalus Association (HA) has launched a $3 million dollar campaign called “Reason for Hope” to fund its five-year research initiative plan. Funds raised for the campaign will be dispersed to implement the key priorities detailed in the plan. Initiated quietly with major donors, the campaign has already garnered $1,200,000 in support of HA’s research efforts.

“We anticipate reaching our $3 million goal by the end of 2013,” said Dawn Mancuso, the association's CEO. “With our recent partnership with the Hydrocephalus Clinical Research Network, we can demonstrate very real improvements in treatments for hydrocephalus that can come from investing in our research plan.”

HA developed its research initiative plan in 2009 with its Mentored Young Investigator Award aimed at solving a critical shortage of new researchers in hydrocephalus research. The plan calls for continued career development grants, research conferences, and the funding of basic science and clinical research. The mission of HA’s research program is to improve treatments and outcomes for those who suffer from hydrocephalus and to eventually find preventions or a cure. Funds raised by the Reason for Hope campaign represent a significant change in the private research funding landscape for hydrocephalus that should lead to increased public funding for the condition.

About the Hydrocephalus Association


The Hydrocephalus Association (HA) is a 501(c)3 charitable organization dedicated to eliminating the challenges of hydrocephalus, a medical condition resulting from an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) within cavities of the brain called ventricles. Hydrocephalus affects people of all age groups across the globe. HA works to meet its mission through the advancement of research, the promotion of advocacy, and the provision of support and education. For information, contact www.hydroassoc.org.

15 Young Community Service Leaders Named Huggable Heros

Build-A-Bear Workshop Honors Young Social Entrepreneurs

In celebration of the company’s 15th birthday, Build-A-Bear Workshop® will honor 15 Huggable Heroes this year and donate $150,000 to their education and charitable causes. The national youth program, which recognizes young people for giving back to their communities and around the world, awards each Huggable Hero $10,000 (a $7,500 educational scholarship and $2,500 from the Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundation to be donated to the 501(c)(3) charity or Canadian cause of the Huggable Hero’s choice). This year, in addition to attending an awards ceremony at Build-A-Bear Workshop World Bearquarters in St. Louis, the Huggable Heroes will also participate in a service project at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® in Memphis, Tenn. The service project and awards celebration will take place July 18-20.

“The number of Huggable Heroes this year not only celebrates our 15th birthday but also demonstrates the amount of heart that young people have when it comes to giving back,” said Maxine Clark, Build-A-Bear Workshopfounder and chief executive bear. “We’re thrilled to recognize so many young people who inspire us with their stories and dedication to volunteerism. We believe that encouraging community service at a young age helps establish a lifelong commitment to giving back and making the world a better place.”   

From providing shoes for the homeless, to recycling eye glasses, to making cupcakes to raise funds to assist children with cancer and many other philanthropic projects, this group of young social entrepreneurs has gone above and beyond to help others. Collectively, they have raised nearly $1.4 million, to support worthy causes. The Huggable Heroes have also:

• Collected 15,500 books and 25 van loads of furnishings for orphaned and abandoned children in India and the US;
• Made 40,000 meals, put together 6,000 backpacks of food and collected 3,000 canned goods for food banks in Texas;
• Collected 3,000 pairs of shoes for homeless shelters across the US;
• Built 27 new homes for the unsheltered in Haiti; and
• Created 55 cheerleading and dance teams nationwide that include students with disabilities.

This year's honorees are:

Allyson Ahlstrom, 16, Santa Rosa, CA
Allyson created Threads for Teens, a clothing boutique that helps girls, ages 13-17, in need build self-esteem and confidence while giving them hope. Girls have the opportunity to visit the store and shop for items they need, all at no cost. So far, Allyson has raised approximately $75,000 for Threads for Teens and has recruited 30 volunteers to help with her shop. She also helped Girl Scouts receive Bronze Awards by providing opportunities for volunteerism. To date, more than 120 girls have visited her store and she has donated more than 70 backpacks filled with school supplies.

Lulu Cerone, 12, Encino, CA
Lulu created LemonAID Warriors to empower youth in her community to make a difference. Her first event was a boys vs. girls LemonAID war to benefit Haiti. This concept spread across the country and more than 500 kids ordered LemonAID kits to raise funds and the events raised $4,000 in two weeks. She has since organized community events, called “PhilanthroParties,” to inspire her peers to get involved. Lulu raised more than $12,000 to benefit various causes, collected more than 2,000 cans of food and recruited 600 volunteers to help support her efforts. 

Blakely Colvin, 17, Solvang, CA
Blakely created the nonprofit organization, Cupcakes for Cancer, to raise funds to support pediatric research, grant wishes, and assist children with cancer. She and her team of volunteers bake cupcakes that are sold after school and at local events. Through Cupcakes for Cancer, Blakely raised $85,000, granted seven wishes and has been able to provide two $1,000 college scholarships. She also designed a national outreach campaign, Frosting HOPE Across America, to inspire others to bake and donate. Fifteen states now have Cupcake Angels kids and clubs to further the cause.

Sarah Cronk, 18, Bettendorf, IA
Sarah founded The Sparkle Effect, an organization that helps students across the country form cheerleading and dance teams that include students with disabilities. Students can visit The Sparkle Effect website to obtain information on forming their own teams. The website offers a step-by-step quick-start kit for creating an inclusive team, fundraising ideas, practice tips, information on grants for uniforms and free on-site training. To date, the Sparkle Effect has raised more than $150,000 and generated 55 inclusive squads across the country.

Yash Gupta, 15, Irvine, CA
Yash created Sight Learning, a non-profit organization that supplies donated eyeglasses to students in need in the United States, Mexico, and Honduras. To date, Sight Learning has collected more than $35,000 in donations. The organization also organizes and runs eye exam clinics. Yash wears glasses himself and knows firsthand how difficult learning becomes when you do not have the glasses you need. Sight Learning has partnered with other organizations, such as VOSH and New Eyes for the Needy, and was recently recognized as an Official Presidential Volunteer Service Award Organization.

Neha Gupta, 15, Yardley, PA
Neha founded the global nonprofit organization Empower Orphans, which has established five libraries, three computer labs, one sewing school and sponsored the education of 50 children. Neha’s mission is to provide orphaned and disadvantaged children with the skills and environment to enable them to become productive members of society. Empower Orphans also provides food, clothing, footwear, health care and medical supplies to thousands of children. The organization is active in India and the United States and has raised $375,000, and collected 15,500 books and 25 van loads of furnishings.

Yoni Kalin, 17, Washington, DC
In an effort to promote recycling, Yoni founded Color My World (CMW), which collects and repurposes crayons discarded by national restaurant chains and distributes them to shelters and underfunded schools. He also created a coloring book that encourages recycling. Yoni has partnered with 27 restaurants in nine states, encouraging them to recycle crayons in a bin provided by CMW. He then sanitizes the crayons and contacts schools to organize drop-offs. Yoni has raised approximately $10,000 for his cause, collecting nearly 20,000 crayons and recruiting numerous teen volunteers to help manage the project.

Cassandra Lin, 13, Westerly, RI
After reading an article in the local newspaper, Cassandra discovered that many residents could not afford to heat their homes. Inspired by this need, she formed a team of five seventh graders to create TGIF (Turn Grease Into Fuel). She works with local biofuel companies to recycle the grease from residents and restaurants, refine it into biodiesel and distribute it to needy families and local charities. TGIF's efforts have enabled 92 families to keep warm during the cold winters. The organization also drafted and passed a newly enacted law that mandates waste cooking oil recycling in Rhode Island.

Will Lourcey, 9, Fort Worth, TX
Will created FROG, Friends Reaching Our Goals, a service group that creates programs and events to raise awareness and funding for the Tarrant Area Food Bank. As part of FROG, he started the "Hits & Kicks Against Hunger" program, where elementary students fight hunger while playing baseball, softball, and soccer. He also started FROGs at the Plate, which brings together business owners and community leaders to raise money for local food banks. To date, Will and his FROG team have donated approximately 40,000 meals, 6,000 backpacks of food, and 3,000 cans of food. 

Nicholas Lowinger, 14, Cranston, RI
Nicholas started the Gotta Have Sole Foundation, which donates new footwear to children living in homeless shelters across the United States. Shelter advocates send him footwear orders and Nicholas collects, packages, and often hand delivers the shoes. To commemorate the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Nicholas held a special event to collect and send new footwear to more than 90 children of the first responders. To date, Nicolas has raised $49,000 for purchasing 3,000 pairs of shoes for homeless children.  

Madelyn McGlynn, 17, Belleville, IL
Madelyn co-founded NETwork Against Malaria (NAM) to help save Ugandan children’s lives and keep them in school. Due to malaria, the average Ugandan student misses 60 days of school per year. NAM provides malaria and health education for American and Ugandan students and raises funding for bed net distribution to Ugandan students and pregnant women. She helped raise approximately $75,000 and purchased 5,500 bed nets to protect 16,500 children and pregnant women from malaria. Her leadership has inspired 30 high school and college NAM chapters in 18 states.  

Ceilidh Millar, 18, New Westminster, BC
Ceilidh volunteers more than 40 hours a month as a teen reporter, spokesperson, and peer advocate for bullying prevention. She shares information about the dangers and consequences of bullying through presentations, television appearances and articles. Ceilidh's work has been featured on the National Bullying Prevention Center and Teens Against Bullying websites.

Catherine Mitchell, 16, Oceanside, CA
Catherine founded Beauty 4 Life, a socially minded business offering handcrafted Ugandan jewelry to create dignity, work, and opportunity for Ugandan women. The goal of Beauty 4 Life is to help the Ugandan women educate their children and provide for their families. She has built women’s centers, schools, and childcare centers. She also provided business, finance, health, and English lessons to Ugandan women. Catherine has raised more than $100,000 and donated more than 5,000 pounds of school supplies and basic items to benefit her cause.

Clara Pilley, 10, Mt. Pleasant, SC
Clara started Keys for Hope to raise money and awareness for Crisis Ministries, her local homeless shelter. Clara, with the help of her friends, decorates recycled keys with buttons and other embellishments. After the keys are decorated, each is attached to a card explaining the cause and sold as a necklace, key chain, zipper pull, or ornament. Keys for Hope has sold approximately 2,000 keys and raised $12,000. Clara chose the key because it symbolizes home and the hope for a better future for Charleston's homeless.

Rachel Wheeler, 12, Lighthouse Point, FL
Rachel raised $167,400 to build 27 two-room homes and $132,000 to build a school complete with educational supplies in Leogane, Haiti. She raised funds for her projects through garage sales, lemonade stands, school bake sales and dances, presentations to Chambers of Commerce, and speaking engagements. She supports the efforts of the nonprofit organization Food for The Poor and its quest to house the unsheltered in Haiti. 

NYC Gets New Parks, More Trees and Cleaner Air

New Gardens and Cleaner Are First Legacy of Greening Western Queens Program

New Yorkers will enjoy new parks, more trees and cleaner neighborhoods, thanks to a three-year $8 million investment by North Star Fund. North Star’s first round of grants are already reshaping the community, bringing together unlikely allies to build environmentally sustainable neighborhoods and bring green jobs to the Woodside, Sunnyside, Astoria and Long Island City sections of Queens. In its first year, the Greening Western Queens initiative brought 87 new trees, 10 school and community gardens and educational programs for 10,000 people.

The second round of grants, distributed on March 15, totaled $2.034 million. “In the next year the program will grow exponentially. We expect to build or renovate 10 additional gardens, plant hundreds of trees, and provide over 10,000 youth and adults with green job training and environmental education,” said Hugh Hogan, executive director of North Star Fund. Grantee projects include:

• Recycle a Bicycle will launch a green job training and bicycle repair initiative, promoting biking as an energy conserving and environmentally sound transportation alternative in Western Queens.

• The Queens Library Foundation will continue transforming their libraries into multi-lingual environmental resource centers, called “Greening Libraries,” and retrofit several libraries to create signature green spaces.

•  
City Parks Foundation will continue its large-scale multi-year tree planting and stewardship program with hundreds of local residents. Queens will gain 850 trees as a result.

“Western Queens is becoming greener and healthier because the entire community is working together to make this program successful. From new immigrants to longtime business owners and from school kids to senior citizens, more than 10,000 people have participated in planning, planting and learning over the past year,” said Hogan. Over the final two years of the initiative, the Greening Western Queens Fund will devote additional resources to build community support for long term care and maintenance of new green spaces.

To select the grantees, North Star Fund brought together an advisory board that included both community members and experts in green infrastructure and urban forestry. A full list of advisory board members and descriptions of grantees is available at http://www.northstarfund.org/greenqueens.

The Greening Western Queens program is supported by an $8 million fund from the New York State

Public Service Commission. North Star was selected to be the distributor of funds because the foundation is skilled at working in partnership with diverse New York City communities.

Back on My Feet To Launch NYC Chapter to Help Homeless

Back on My Feet (BoMF), a national nonprofit organization dedicated to creating independence and self-sufficiency within the homeless and other underserved populations by first engaging them in running, will launch its New York City chapter on April 10.

That morning, Back on My Feet residential members (individuals experiencing homelessness) will begin their journey with BoMF by participating in a one-mile inaugural run through Central Park and ending in the heart of New York City's Times Square. Non-Residential members (volunteers), supporters, corporate sponsors, Back on My Feet staff, and national as well as NYC Advisory Board Members will join all 50 members who will form the first Back on My Feet NYC teams as they run their first mile together.

Following the run, Back on My Feet will hold its traditional "business attire with sneakers" Launch Breakfast, presented by Accenture and NYC Marriott and Renaissance Hotels of NYC, at the New York Marriott Marquis in Times Square.

New York City will be the ninth city to gain a Back on My Feet chapter, joining Philadelphia, Chicago, Baltimore, Boston, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Indianapolis, Washington, D.C. and Atlanta.

The first 50 Members of Back on My Feet New York City will be outfitted for sneakers and official Back on My Feet running gear at Jack Rabbit Sports, Back on My Feet NYC's official running store partner.

Founded by Anne Mahlum in 2007, Back on My Feet (BoMF) is a national nonprofit organization that is dedicated to creating independence and self-sufficiency within the homeless and other underserved populations by first engaging them in running as a means to build confidence, strength and self-esteem. The organization does not provide food nor shelter, but instead provides a community that embraces equality, respect, discipline, teamwork and leadership.

Back on My Feet’s approach focuses on the very profound and innate desire for all of us—regardless of age, race, socio-economic status—to feel recognized, appreciated, valued and important. Through dedication and hard work, Members earn the opportunity to create a new road for themselves by advancing to the Next Steps phase of the program where they gain access to educational, job training and employment opportunities, as well as financial aid. BoMF focuses on changing the direction of people’s lives by changing the way they see themselves.

The organization has had incredible results with 75 percent of Members consistently maintaining 90 percent attendance at morning runs. Fifty percent of Members successfully move from dependency to an independent lifestyle.

Back on My Feet is extremely collaborative with homeless service agencies as well as running and corporate communities. Learn more at backonmyfeet.org.

Heifer International Project Will Revitalize Armenia’s Farms

Heifer International Armenia is distributing agricultural equipment to small farmers, giving them the means to stay on their land and improve their livelihoods. It’s the first part of the Community Agricultural Resource Management and Competitiveness (CARMAC) project, a partnership with the World Bank and Armenia’s Ministry of Agriculture.

CARMAC’s objective is to reverse environmental damage caused by unsustainable grazing, increase the economic viability of small farms through infrastructure improvements, and increase productivity to gain access to more markets. The $22.7 million project aims to assist 78,000 people.  CARMAC has a $10.1 million agricultural component, with Heifer providing $3.7 million. Heifer International Armenia has already distributed three tractors and five balers to several farming cooperatives, enabling the farmers to make the best use of their land and provide better fodder for livestock.

Heifer International Armenia has worked with more than 8,000 Armenian families in the past 11 years, building up family farms through gifts of cattle, buffalos, pigs, chickens, rabbits, sheep, bees, worms, tree seedlings and organic produce. The projects first create food security for the participating families, and then surplus product is sold to earn money for education, medical care and other necessities.

Gagik Khachatryan, director of the Agriculture Project Implementation Unit at the Armenian Ministry of Agriculture, presented the baling equipment. Khachatryan said that without Heifer’s contribution, it would have been impossible to ensure rural community engagement and successfully realize the CARMAC project.

By the end of the project, about 200 pieces of agricultural equipment are expected to be placed within 55 rural communities in Armenia. The modern equipment, along with more careful use of pastures, will boost overall productivity and efficiency of small livestock farms. This will help position local producers to fill Armenia’s growing domestic dairy need and to become more competitive regionally.

As the project work begins, its significance for rural communities is increasingly evident. During previous decades, rural unemployment in Armenia has forced many people (mostly men) to leave the country to find jobs abroad. CARMAC is designed to bring back hope to farming communities, providing rural families with a chance to stay together and build their future in their homeland.

Heifer’s mission is to end hunger and poverty while caring for the Earth. Since 1944, Heifer International has provided livestock and environmentally sound agricultural training to improve the lives of those who struggle daily for reliable sources of food and income. Heifer is currently working in 40 countries, including the United States, to help families and communities become more self-reliant. For more information, visit www.heifer.org 1-800-696-1918.

Community Respite Program for Soldiers

Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce has created a new Community Respite Program modeled after a similar initiative launched in 2001. The first community respite program organized by the Chamber brought nearly 200 first responders to the Terrorist attacks of 9/11 from New York City to Saratoga for a weekend in 2002 in order to enjoy some peace and time away with their families. This latest community respite program will bring over 160 soldiers from the New York National Guard who have served overseas since 9/11 to Saratoga County along with their families for the same purpose. In total, more than 350 people are expected to participate.

Local participating hotels are offering free or significantly discounted rooms as part of the Respite Program for soldiers. The participating hotels include: The Hilton Garden Inn/Saratoga Springs; Courtyard by Marriott; Residence Inn; Holiday Inn/Clifton Park; Longfellow’s Hotel and Restaurant; Saratoga Hilton; The Inn at Saratoga; Adirondack Inn; Roosevelt Inn & Suites; Holiday Inn/Saratoga Springs; Saratoga Arms; Hampton Inn/Clifton Park; Hampton Inn/Saratoga Springs, and Hyatt Place/ Malta.

To extend this invitation, the Chamber worked with the Saratoga Convention and Visitor Bureau which created a single website on which the participating hotels could post their available rooms and rate information. An email was created by the Chamber that was sent to all qualifying soldiers inviting them to consider booking a vacation using this website. Besides the free or reduced priced rooms, the Chamber is now soliciting area restaurants and vacation destinations to put together gift basket that soldiers will be provided when they arrive at their hotel.

“Our goal will be to provide every soldier and their family with gift cards for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as free tickets to local events and destinations,” said Denise Romeo, Vice President of Member Services and the Chamber’s point person on this initiative. “In 2002, the community generously took care of the vast majority of expenses that the participating first responders may have faced by visiting here and we hope to do the same this time. The goal is to make this visit as fun, relaxing, and free as possible in recognition for the sacrifice they made to all of us and this great country.”

Staving Off Hunger One Garden at a Time

AmpleHarvest.org...and its impact on Hunger in America

By Gary Oppenheimer

AmpleHarvest.org Founder

CNN Hero

According to a 2009 study by the National Gardening Association and Scotts Seed Company, more than 40 million American grow fruit, herbs and vegetables in home gardens – and that number is increasing.  These gardeners, given good soil, access to water, lots of sun, and a little bit of luck, typically wait for months for their crops to start bearing fruit.  Once they start the harvest, they use, preserve and share the bounty... but the squash, tomatoes, cucumbers, etc. keep on coming and from personal experience, I can tell you that there are only so many cucumbers you can give to friends and still have them call you a friend.  While some gardeners compost the excess produce, many others simply let it rot in the garden or worse, throw it into the trash, adding to the waste stream and causing the release of methane gas as it decomposes - contributing to climate change.

According to the USDA, more than 50 million Americans are food insecure – a fancy way of saying people either do not have enough food or they are at real risk of not having enough food for their families.  After hearing numbers like billions and trillions thrown about by government officials, it is somewhat easy to start to think that 50 million is not all *that* big after all.  To put it in perspective,  if you took the combined populations of 23 of our 50 states: Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont and West Virginia and added together, you’d have around 49 million hungry or nearly hungry people.   Some may be your neighbors.  Or you may be one of them yourself.

In late 2008, the members of the West Milford (NJ) Community Garden, unhappy with the fact that the excess food they grew in past years was often left to rot in the garden while people in the community were going hungry, created a program that gathered the excess garden bounty, sorted and then distributed it to several food pantries in West Milford.  The gardeners reported a great deal of personal satisfaction knowing that they were making an important contribution to the welfare of the community while also pursuing the sustainability goal of zero waste.  At the same time, food pantries, which typically only have canned fruit and vegetables available, reported that this garden fresh produce was being taken by clients almost as fast as it became available.

In May 2009, a nationwide program called the AmpleHarvest.org Campaign was created to enable gardeners who grow fruit, vegetables, herbs or nuts to share their excess harvest with a local food pantry – easily found at www.AmpleHarvest.org or at the free AmpleHarvest iPhone or Android apps.

Backed by Google Inc. and the US Department of Agriculture, more than 4,700 food pantries across all 50 states can now receive garden fresh produce from local backyard gardeners who use AmpleHarvest.org.  In August 2011, AmpleHarvest.org was highlighted on the White House web site (www.AmpleHarvest.org/WhiteHouse).

This one of a kind program has garnered an enthusiastic response nationwide.  For example, the Community Resources Center Food Pantry (California) reported:

 “Within one hour of registering Community Resource Center on the Ample Harvest website I received a call from a local family of four with 10 orange trees. I spoke with the mother of the family and she said that until she heard of AmpleHarvest.org her family was spending time cleaning up rotten fruit off the ground. Now her family can spend time harvesting fruit to give to low income families in their community. Since speaking with her, she has dropped off 8 large bags full of locally grown oranges”

Providing fresh produce to local food pantries offers a number of benefits to both the recipient as well as the community.  Not only is fresh produce healthier than canned (no excess salt or sugar in the diet) goods, it tastes a lot better, has a much smaller carbon footprint and has eye appeal too.  Children, given the opportunity to enjoy fresh veggies are more likely to eat a healthier diet as they get older.  

According to an article about AmpleHarvest.org in the Huffington Post, the more fresh produce people have access to, the lower our national long-term health care costs will be.  Lastly... by helping to feed our neighbors in our community instead of throwing the excess away, we both reduce the waste stream and we reduce the out of pocket costs needed to keep people from going hungry.  All this because an ample harvest was given to a pantry and not wasted.

The AmpleHarvest.org Campaign has been successful largely due to help and support from people in communities across America... and you can help too!  As more food pantries learn about it and sign up, more gardeners across the country will be able to share their ample harvest, and garden by garden, hunger in America will be diminished.

• If you know of a food pantry in your community, possibly in your house of worship, a local YMCA or other civic location please visit AmpleHarvest.org/addpantries to learn how you can help your local food pantry benefit from the AmpleHarvest.org Campaign.
• If you belong to a community organization, please share with the other members, information about AmpleHarvest.org and urge them to share the information with their network of friends and family nationwide.
• Urge your local print and electronic media outlets to consider reporting on AmpleHarvest.org.  Press information is available at AmpleHarvest.org/press
• If you grow food in a home garden and harvest more than you can use, preserve or give away, please use AmpleHarvest.org or our iPhone or Android app to find a local pantry eager for your excess harvest
• If you belong to a community garden or CSA, please let the other members know that they can donate excess food.
• Print the AmpleHarvest.org/gardenershop flier to learn about how you can help nursery/garden shop customers learn more about AmpleHarvest.org

One out of every six Americans are hungry. It doesn’t have to be that way.

Visit www.AmpleHarvest.org/waystohelp to learn more.

Colon Cancer Alliance Gives Nearly $125,000 in Grants

Colon Cancer Alliance's Blue Note Fund Celebrates First Year With Nearly $125,000 in Grants

The Colon Cancer Alliance's Blue Note Fund, a program providing financial support for colon cancer patients in need, celebrated its first year by awarding grants totaling nearly $125,000 to more than 400 patients. This year, in an effort to support the growing need of its beneficiaries, proceeds from the Colon Cancer Alliance's nationally recognized Dress in Blue Day program will go toward the fund.

"I donated to the Blue Note Fund because it's a charitable effort that has a positive impact on people living with colon cancer," said Daniel Prewitt. "I know firsthand how overwhelming colon cancer treatment can by physically, emotionally, and financially. During tough times, any help patients and families receive to pay their bills is welcomed. The demand for these funds is staggering. If you're going to donate to a cause, make it this one!"

Since its inception, the Blue Note Fund has received more than 1,000 applications from patients facing financial hardship during treatment, and with applications soaring nearly 350 percent from the first to fourth quarter of 2011, it's important to ensure that funding grows to meet the rising need. The success of the Blue Note Fund has kept the phones ringing at the Colon Cancer Alliance Helpline call center with application requirement questions as well as "thank you" calls from grant recipients.

"Every day, we hear from people who have had their lives devastated by colon cancer. The need for the Blue Note Fund is abundantly clear," said Andrew Spiegel, CEO of the Colon Cancer Alliance. "We've seen first hand the positive effect the fund has on a patient's spirit when fighting this disease."

An estimated 142,000 new cases of colon cancer will be diagnosed in 2012. It is the second leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. However, through recommended screenings, this cancer can be caught early when treatment is most effective—or even prevented altogether when pre-cancerous polyps are detected and removed.

The Blue Note Fund is a collaborative effort between the Colon Cancer Alliance and Board Member Charlie Kelley, a Grammy nominated producer and musician. The fund's name is derived from a soulful musical term "Blue Note," as well as the color blue—the official color of colon cancer awareness.

For more information: www.bluenotefund.org.