Looking Back and Looking Ahead

Oh, wow! It’s December already. Where did the year go? Well, looking back over the promise that I made to myself at the beginning of the year, I’m glad I made it to some volunteer projects and a little sad that I did not make it to more.

I discovered some wonderful community service organizations. I’d like time to explore a few more organizations before choosing one to support for many, many years, though. So, again, in 2010, I will do my best to make it to one volunteer project a month. Family responsibilities with two young children and work obligations of starting my own business might prevent me from reaching that goal every single month, but the commitment is still there. Having this blog – my commitment in writing – is helping me keep this promise to myself.

Note: As a follow-up to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) fundraiser that I supported in October, I’d like to report that the Eastern North Carolina Light the Night Walks surpassed their fundraising goal of $400,000 and raised $423,000. In a year when so many of us are struggling financially, isn’t it wonderful that an organization such as the LLS is getting the money it needs?

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s “Light The Night”: A Project for the Whole Family

My service project this month was taking part in Light the Night fundraiser for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). I looked forward to the event because it sounded different and neat - a walk for a great cause that takes place at night with lit balloons. I also looked forward to it because it was the first service project that I’ve done this year that allowed me to involve my kids.

Light The Night is a fundraising walk that benefit’s LLS’ mission to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. The Eastern North Carolina Light the Night Walks are taking place in three locations – Raleigh (October 17th), Durham (October 22nd) and Wilmington (September 24th). Last year, they raised $365,000. This year, their goal is $400,000, and reports from event organizers indicate that their goal is within reach.

I thought Light the Night might be a good opportunity to plant a community service seed with my four-year old daughter. I tried to explain that we were going to walk with lots and lots of other people to raise money for sick people. She seemed to take some of it in as we decorated our team banner Saturday afternoon at home. That evening at the event, however, the excitement of music, dance performers, a bounce house and balloons pushed aside the greater meaning. Nevertheless, she and her younger sister had a fabulous time and the seed has been planted.

I will admit that asking for money, even for a wonderful cause, is not one of my strengths. I really dragged my heels on reaching out to folks, but I finally sent a short and sweet e-mail to family and friends the day of the event and I was very, very surprised to watch the Duffort Team quickly surpass our fundraising goal within a couple of days. (LLS is accepting Light The Night donations through the end of the year.) A great, big “THANK YOU!” to all of our generous supporters.

To find out if a Light the Night Walk is taking place near you, visit http://www.lightthenight.org/. For more information on The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, check out http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/.

Orange, Black and Pink: Colors That Make Me Think

It’s October 1st and that means for the next 30 days, I expect to see a lot more orange and black and … pink. Every time I see someone in orange, I immediately will think of Halloween. Every time I see someone in pink, I immediately will think of breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an amazing campaign that was started about 25 years ago. I don’t know how many millions and millions of dollars have been raised to fight the disease in that time span, but my goodness, aren’t we all so very aware of it?

Chances are that you know someone participating in one of the many fundraising walks and marathons dedicated to the fight against breast cancer and chances are you’ve made a donation. If that is not the case and all the pink that you see over the next 30 days gets you thinking about breast cancer and what you can do to show your support, please scan the events listed below and note that one-time general donations can be made via any of the websites.

Lee National Denim Day – October 2nd
http://www.denimday.com/
Lee National Denim Day is a national, single-day fundraiser for breast cancer. Starting in 1996, Lee Jeans invited companies to “go casual for a cause.” Employees were invited to make a $5 contribution to breast cancer and in exchange, they could wear jeans to work. More than 3,000 companies participated that year and a total of $1.4 million dollars was raised. Since then, Lee National Denim Day has raised more than $75 million for the fight against breast cancer.

American Cancer Society: Making Strides Against Breast Cancer – Raleigh: Oct. 3rd
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/MakingStridesAgainstBreastCancer/MSABCFY10SouthAtlantic?pg=entry&fr_id=19948
The American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer has raised more than $340 million since 1993. The event has roots that go back to 1984 when a Massachusetts cancer survivor named Margie Gould Rath worked to establish a way to celebrate fellow cancer survivors by raising funds for the American Cancer Society. Her concept evolved into the fundraiser in which almost 5 million walkers have participated.

The 5K Walk begins at 9am at North Hills.

Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure – Charlotte: Oct. 3rd, Hickory: Oct. 17th
http://ww5.komen.org/
The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure is credited with launching the global breast cancer movement in 1982. Komen for the Cure is the “world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find cures.”

Avon Walk for Breast Cancer – Charlotte: October 24th-25th
http://walk.avonfoundation.org/
The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer is a national series of 29-mile weekend fundraising events. It started in 2003. Participants can choose between a marathon (26.2 miles) or a marathon and a half (39.3 miles) over two days. Participants are encouraged to raise at least $1,800!

A friend of mine, Cynthia Cassell, will be walking in Charlotte. I admire her for committing to the marathon and a half and to raising over $3,000! Here is her personal donation page: http://walk.avonfoundation.org/site/TR?px=3630112&fr_id=1860&pg=personal.

Orange, black and pink…the colors of the month, colors that make me think.

Picking up a Bagel for a Cause Tomorrow

I’m easing my way back into this blog and back to the commitment I started earlier this year of finding a life-long community service cause. One of the challenges of keeping this commitment is finding different service organizations for which I can volunteer on a one-time basis. I am working on lining up some fall projects, though.

I prefer hands-on service, but of course, there are countless ways to give back to thousands of organizations and hundreds of causes each day. In fact, anyone can support the fight against hunger this week simply by eating at a restaurant that is participating in Share Our Strength’s “Great American Dine Out.” On the website’s homepage, you can enter your zip code to find a participating restaurant near you. More than 5,000 restaurants in all 50 states are donating to Share Our Strength’s effort to bring nutritious foods to needy kids.

Note for Raleigh, North Carolina residents: There are 75 restaurants in the area supporting the Great American Dine Out, a week-long event that continues through this Saturday (September 26th). If you plan to eat breakfast, lunch or dinner at a restaurant over the next three days, why not check the list and make your meal count?

Bruegger’s Bagel Bakery appears to be a big supporter so I’ll be picking up my bagel and caffeine fix there tomorrow morning.

Service Search On Hold

Wow! It has been a while since I've posted anything on this blog. Unfortunately, it also has been a long while since I've done any volunteer work. I have not forgotten about the promise that I made to myself - finding a community service cause to support for the next 30 years. I hope to circle back to this objective later in the year. For now, however, I need to find a “cause” that will help pay the bills.

I am giving some serious thought to the consulting route – a path I never expected I would take. We’ll see what I can pull together over the next several weeks. I plan to write about this adventure at my new blog, http://kellyduffort.wordpress.com.

Durham Stream Clean-up

In honor of Earth Day, I wanted to do an environmental project for my April service commitment. A few years ago, I considered myself not quite an environmentalist, but at least an environment advocate. Lately, however, I realize I’ve done more things out of convenience (e.g., buying a plastic bottle of water at the gym instead of toting my own, using more disposable bags instead of reusable containers for packing lunch, etc.). It’s time I get back on track with doing a little more to create a little less trash. Yesterday’s project reinforced my commitment.

I met up with a group of about 15 volunteers to pick up trash along the Ellerbe Creek Greenway, part of a city-wide stream clean-up that was taking place in conjunction with the Durham Earth Day Festival. Bottles, dishes, and a bedspread were some of the things that our half of the group found just a few feet off the greenway, hidden under bushes, branches, vines and lots and lots of poison ivy. Each time we found a pile of trash, I was stunned. Why would someone dump their junk there? Little did I know that the other half of the group was picking up stuff like a couch, a highchair, baby toys and several pairs of shoes. Volunteers who have done the clean-up in years past reported that they have seen things like refrigerators and washing machines … right there along the greenway. Unbelievable. And infuriating!

Did I mention grocery carts?	In two hours, our group collected enough trash to make a difference in what people see (or don’t see) as they walk and bike along the trail. I left the project feeling disturbed by the trash that other people toss anyplace they like, but also reinvigorated about the efforts I can make to cut down on the trash I generate.

My One Green Act for Earth Day

In honor of Earth Day, I woke up today wondering what one thing I could do to help the environment. Halfway through the day, I saw a news item on the mind-boggling number of plastic bags that are used in the United States every year. You can see a very disturbing counter at the top of Reusable Bags website.

For a long time, I have been bothered by the number of plastic bags that my family brings home after each trip to the grocery store. I have thought more than once about finding cloth shopping bags, but I never took the time to find ones that would be just right. The ACME Bags that are available on the Reusable Bags website have very high marks from consumers, and they look like they will fit our shopping needs perfectly. I just ordered five of them.

Meanwhile, I am looking forward to my April service project this Saturday. I’m going to help clean up a local stream just before the Durham Earth Day Festival. Do a little good work and then enjoy an outdoor festival…what a great combo!?! Added bonus: The weather is supposed to be beautiful!