Coaching and giving back with the Saugatuck Rowing Club :)

I was blessed to spend 6 glorious weeks teaching Bridgeport (CT) inner-city kids how to row this summer. As you can imagine, the experience was so much more significant and critical than just rowing. We not only had a responsibility to teach those 14 beautiful young souls how to row; we also had a duty to make them feel welcome and deserving and, more than anything, believe anything is possible. Exposure and opportunity can change the trajectory of a child's life.

Rowing has an elitist stigma, but the Saugatuck Rowing Club is working hard to change that. The rowing club seems inaccessible from the outside, but it's the complete opposite. We are, and always will be, an all-inclusive community of rowers and (your average/sometimes above average) gym buffs.

Here's a great article that was written by the popular Westport blogger, DAN WOOG 06880 :) 

CLICK HERE TO READ DAN WOOG'S 06880 BLOG POST

 

GIRL REINVENTED + SEA SHEPHERD CONSERVATION SOCIETY

Introducing my newest CharityRagg Collection: Sea Shepherd Conservation Society! $5 of every CharityRagg sold aids in their commitment to end the destruction of habitat and slaughter of wildlife in the world's oceans. I'm so proud to partner with Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, one of a very few organizations that use direct-action tactics to save innocent wildlife. 

NINE (9) CHARITYRAGGS AVAILABLE. SHOP THEIR COLLECTION HERE: DISHRAGGS.COM

We love Sea Shepherd! 

Btw: to clarify, I am a Beginner Rowing Coach. SRC (Saugatuck Rowing Club) is a world-class rowing program with unbelievable coaching. Their elite juniors girls are National Champions 3 years in a row!!  :)

volunteering at the best friend's animal sanctuary!

Best Friend's "No Kill" Animal Sanctuary was started back in 1970 by 22 loving, dedicated, risk-everything-for-a-dream group of friends who envisioned a refuge where animals could live their lives in a comfortable, loving environment, safe from harm and cruelty. In 1982, these dreamers pooled their resources and bought 3,000 acres of breathtaking high desert canyon in the wilds of Southern Utah, now known as Angel Canyon – home to the most beloved sanctuary in the world. It truly is a remarkable story of love and triumph.

While the number fluctuates, BFAS is home to roughly 2,000 animals from all over the country. Everything from horses,

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A HUGE thank you to Bruce Edwin, from The Hollywood Sentinel

Last year, during my fundraising crusade to take Blake to LA to receive his new power wheelchair, Bruce from The Hollywood Sentinel and Star Power Management, heard our cry for help and jumped to our aid! One of his clients shared with him Blake's story of struggle and hope. Bruce was so touched he didn't hesitate to help. He wrote the most sincere, heart-felt press release, even sharing his own personal story, and disseminated it over the news wire ($1,000 value)! What a huge gesture! We are so lucky to have such incredible people in our lives! 

I never shared the story, but I thought I would now as Bruce has once again come to our aid and offered to write a release for Jermaine!

Here's the story (click link below):

Doing the Right Thing - How One Person Can Help Make a Difference

happy saturday update

I've been working out so much lately my hair hurts!! I'll be updating with real stories soon,

• I've been working on getting Jonathan, another paralyzed young man from the nursing home, a new wheelchair! (In addition to Jermaine!!) 

• The 8th Annual Neurosurgery Charity Softball Tournament is coming up fast! On June 4, in Central Park, over 300 neurosurgeons from all over the country and Canada will be playing in a softball tournament to benefit pediatric brain tumor research! Gotta love the fact that this little idea, hatched in a bar over one too many beers, has become so hugely successful over the years! Stay tuned! You'll see some updates soon! 

And of course VOTE VOTE VOTE! :)

vail resorts + volunteering = unexpected winter in co

Some things are just meant to be! I had every intention of "passing through" but now I'll be volunteering at Breckenridge working on the mountain! I'm so lucky! This trip is about following my heart and letting things happen organically. I stumbled into this opportunity and I am so blessed! It could not have come at a better time!  

VOLUNTEERING BRECKENRIDGE = FREE SEASON PASS!

I'm LOVING the area and the people. I'll be spending the holidays back east, then putting the camper into hibernation and moving into a condo for the winter (I'll miss her). I actually wouldn't mind staying in my teardrop all winter (I have a little temperature control heater) but it's getting a little crowded with all of my winter gear in a 5' x 8' camper AND the closest campground is 23 miles away over a treacherous pass! It's so scary I pee myself a little every time I go over it!   

happy holidays from breckenridge !

My "Guest Services" family sponsored three desperate, needy families for Christmas! These are all the gifts collected! (plus monetary donations as well!)

volunteering | salvation army | thanksgiving | colorado springs, co

I knew I wanted to help with the homeless this holiday, but I was so busy taking my NRA handgun safety class to do any real research. I made a last minute attempt to contact organizations in Colorado Springs on Tuesday, hopeful someone still wanted me. :)

If you've ever tried to volunteer on Thanksgiving you know that it's almost impossible! Everyone decides to do their penance on Thanksgiving. Don't get me wrong, I think it's a wonderful, selfless act to give up your holiday with close family and friends to care for the less fortunate; however, homeless shelters are open all year so you don't have to wait for Thanksgiving! For example, you can volunteer at St. John the Divine (110 & Amsterdam in NYC) to feed the homeless every Sunday (breakfast and/or lunch). There are countless places in the city that need help every weekend. If you go to St. John the Divine, ask for Thomas! He knows me well.

Anyway, I rarely help on Thanksgiving day because there are just way too many volunteers. What I do, however, is volunteer on Thanksgiving EVE, when the most help is needed prepping and setting up for the grand feast. A great place to do this in NYC is St. Paul's Church right by Columbus Circle. Granted, it might be impossible to take off on Wednesday to volunteer, but if you are free it's extremely rewarding. 

I decided to email Alma, the Director of the Salvation Army in Colorado Springs to see if they needed help. I assumed they were "full" on Turkey Day, but asked if she needed help on Wednesday, prepping. She got back to me pretty quickly with a resounding YES. 

As we helped unload the pies from the freezer to thaw, I couldn't help but notice how few pies there were! They were expecting over 1,500 people for dinner and they only had 20 pies! They were dangerously low on bread as well. I was told this time last year the room was overflowing with donations. This awful economy has affected every sector of society. In a desperate move, Consuela (a fellow volunteer) and I started calling local stores pleading for donations. Unfortunately, most stores were unable to help; however, good ol' WALMART happily came to our aid!!! Thank you to Darryl (manager of Walmart on S. 8th Street) and Greg (manager of Walmart on 1575 Space Center Dr.). Consuela hit the jackpot as well when she reached Care-And-Share, a local organization that provides help to the less fortunate, including homeless shelters. 

Bad economy or not, the homelss shall feast this Thanksgiving!

Salvation Army • 908 Yuma Ave • Colorado Springs

volunteering | charlevoix area hospital charity event

Giving back to Northern Michigan! Volunteered as a (very amateur) event photographer! Charlevoix Area Hospital charity event!

On Friday, August 13th, Larry, along with his very close friends Bob & Claudia Sherer and the Charlevoix Area Hospital committee, held an event to raise money for the Kids Fit Program which fights to eliminate childhood obesity. 

Bob and Claudia Sherer opened their home and beautiful boathouse for the boat show charity event. Over 30 breathtaking vintage wooden boats were on display – some from their own private collection! 

I've had an incredible time here in Northern Michigan and wanted to give back before I moved on – it's the least I could do! They had the event very well organized, but they were lacking a photographer! Someone had to capture this great event on film! I was so happy volunteer as their event photog – albeit mediocre!

 

SEE MORE PHOTOS HERE!

grow benzie | top chef's hosea rosenberg

The folks of Benzie are simple, untainted, super friendly and down-to-earth. It's everything you think of when you think "small town." I felt like I was at a family reunion on steroids rather than a charity event. There's no doubt in my mind that GrowBenzie's first annual fundraiser would have been a HUGE success; however, it doesn't hurt to know people.

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