The Special Olympics

While we all hurdle around our televisions to watch the 2012 Olympics in London, we can't forget about our other Olympians that aren't getting the world-wide spotlight.  These Olympians I speak of are the ones that have overcome the most and pushed the hardest.  Our Special Olympians are truly just as impressive as professional ones, for they also had to fight to get where they are today.

The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.  (via website)

Special Olympics take place everywhere in the largest of cities and smallest of towns.  The Special Olympics gives those with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to showcase their athletic abilities.  This goes beyond sports, though. The Special Olympics instills skills and attitudes that shape lives forever.

Don't forget to think about the Special Olympics while watching the London Olympics!  As you know, these Olympians are worth our attention as well.

To learn more or donate, feel free to visit their website: http://www.specialolympics.org/

Colorado Shooting Victims Need Your Help NOW!

Via Morning Express with Robin Meade on HLN, I provide you with this information which tells you ways to help those who were a part of the horrific Colorado theater shooting recently.  Another extremely effective way to help which wasn't mentioned is to PRAY! Pray for the victims in recovery and for the families that lost loved ones in this event. These people need us. No matter which way you decide to help, your impact is significant.

Visit the link below to find out how you can help.  Thanks to Morning Express with Robin Meade on HLN for this important information.
http://www.hlntv.com/article/2012/07/23/colorado-shooting-how-help

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

I introduce to you the new monthly update - HOW CAN YOU HELP?

Once a month, I'll be posting a HOW CAN YOU HELP? update.  Here, you can learn how to contribute to charities.  Charitable organizations thrive off of donations.  Your assistance financially or through volunteerism is appreciated by each and every organization.

For the very first HOW CAN YOU HELP? post, I will tell you a neat way to contribute to your local Ronald McDonald House wherever you may be!  I personally have done this before, and it's a quick and simple way to help a person without holding a big financial obligation.

Each time you drink a soft drink that is canned (Dr. Pepper, Coca-Cola, Mountian Dew, etc.) save the tab that you crack the drink open with.  Collect these tabs and save them. They can help RMH charities! They take these tabs you donate and use proceeds they collect from them.  This money gained from a few hundred can tabs isn't huge, but a lot of people working together to collect tabs does add up.  Money raised goes to any and all efforts your local Ronald McDonald House maintains from feeding family members to providing a comfortable pillow for a pediatric cancer patient's mother to sleep on.

HOW CAN YOU HELP? Collect can tabs!

Blessings,
Mason Borneman

A Tribute to Pat Summitt

"Charity starts at home." It's a saying we've all heard before.  I really didn't consider its meaning until today.

I viewed the ESPYs with my father and sister tonight.  I watched especially to see Pat Summitt, University of Tennessee Women's Basketball legend, receive her award.  I was far from disappointed when I saw the heartfelt tribute ESPN had for Pat.

When thinking about Pat Summitt, you likely first think about her unbelievable and astonishing basketball success as not just a player, but more impressively a coach.  When she was diagnosed with a form of Alzheimer's, she refused to give up.  Some people would have shut down, but Pat pressed on in life and applied her determination in basketball to her struggles with this disease.  A pioneer for women's basketball... now a pioneer for Alzheimer's disease.  I have the most sincere respect for the living legend, Pat Head Summitt.  I've never been prouder to be from the Volunteer State of Tennessee!

Now I get it. Charity really does start at home.  Thanks, Coach Pat, for showing me what it really means.

Check out this ten minute tribute to Pat Summitt which was on the ESPYs on July 11th.  Tears may roll down you face, and you will be overwhelmingly inspired:

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=8158231

Allston Brighton Community Development Corporation - Allston, Massachusetts

Allston Brighton Community Development Corporation engages neighborhood residents in an on-going process of shaping and carrying out a common vision of a diverse and stable community in the face of sustained economic pressures.

That vision is evident in community-led projects that protect and create affordable housing, create greenspace, foster a healthy local economy, provide avenues for economic self-sufficiency, and increase understanding among and between their neighborhood’s diverse residents.

Allston Brighton Community Development Corporation allows membership to people in the area for a low fee. In order for them to succeed in their mission, this corporation offers classes and workshops in five different divisions: Affordable Housing, Community Engagement, Financial Education, Homeownership, and Sustainability. When looking at what they've done and where they are going, it's simple to see that Allston Brighton Community Development Corporation is making the quality of living altogether better and happier for the people involved in the corporation.

Seven special people on the staff of Allston Brighton Community Development Corporation make the corporation be a success. These people include:

• Director of Finance, Temmie Brier
• Immigrant Issues Community Organizer, Juan Carlos Canales
• Housing & Homeownership Coordinator, Ian Dalley
• Director of Strategic Partnerships, Val Frias
• Director of Homeownership, Michelle Meiser
• Executive Director, Mary-Helen "M.H." Nsangou
• Director of Community Engagement & Marketing, Gustavo Quiroga

Best wishes to Allston Brighton Community Development Corporation! May the future for this corporation and the people you help be successful, happy, and productive.

A Miner Miracle - San Francisco, California

A Miner Miracle is a San Francisco-based non-profit organization that provides professional clothing and image counseling to low-income men, women, and young adults seeking employment.

The purpose of the program is to help disadvantaged people enter the workplace by educating them to present themselves well and with pride.  The program -- from providing work-appropriate clothing and grooming services to enhancing presentation skills -- not only improves employment potential but helps build self-esteem.

Since their beginning in 1995, this program has helped over 13,000 people!  Also, A Miner Miracle has been recognized with Jefferson Awards in the local area.  Even more impressive, A Miner Miracle has had national attention by receiving a "Oprah Angel Network" Award and being featured in LIFE Magazine.

Not everyone has the resources to pursue a career.  I'm thankful to A Miner Miracle for truly being a miracle to those who don't have these resources.  An outfit and haircut means so much more when it shapes one's future for years to come!

Visit A Miner Miracle's website to learn more: http://www.aminermiracle.org/

Aid to Inmate Mothers (AIM) - Montgomery, Alabama

Children with incarcerated parents have to lead lives with the absence of their mothers or fathers.  This not only puts a toll on them emotionally, but these children are also more likely to become incarcerated later in life.  Organizations such as the Aid to Inmate Mothers are helping women incarcerated maintain relationships with their children and also grow as a person.  I'd imagine that the children of incarcerated mothers also benefit by being able to see and speak with their mothers.  Looking at the big picuture, the whole family is stronger due to this awesome organization's work.

The mission of Aid to Inmate Mothers in Montgomery, Alabama, is to provide services to incarcerated women with emphasis on enhancing personal growth and strengthening the bonds between inmate mothers and their children.

The AIM vision is to create a criminal justice model that respects and understands the rights of children effected by their mothers' imprisonment and recognizes and helps to address the many burdens carried by the children and families as a result of incarceration.

Miss America 2012 Laura Kaeppeler of Wisconsin is also shining a special light on children of incarcerated parents.  Her platform as Miss Wisconsin is now making a positive impact nationally as she holds the title of Miss America.  Through her title, she has been working with organizations to help these children beat odds of one day becoming incarcerated.  Once a child of an incarcerated parent, Laura knows herself what it is like.  She is helping children who are just like she was realize their potential to be successful civilians.

Thanks to Laura and AIMS, children, mothers, fathers, and families alike are realizing that incarceration doesn't shape your life forever.  Bonds can still be held tightly, and love can still be shared abundantly.  THANK YOU!

Check out this video of one of Laura Kaeppeler's interviews where she talks about Circles of Support, an organization she has created to help children with incarcerated parents.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtvlhM4915g

Check out this video that spotlights three incarcerated mothers and their children and the relationships they hold.  As well, you'll learn more about Aid to Inmate Mothers in Montgomery, Alabama.  What a moving and informative video! 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHODaAtCqcE&feature=plcp

Character Counts In Iowa - Des Moines, Iowa

Founded in 1997, Character Counts in Iowa is a non-profit organization housed in Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.  Character Counts in Iowa helps Iowans recognize and practice good character each day of their lives.

Their mission is to recognize, enhance and sustain the positive qualities of Iowans in order to promote civility through character development.  Their vision is that every Iowan embrace and practice good character by demonstrating trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship.

Services offered by Charater Counts In Iowa range from professional development and research and assessment to recognition programs and public awareness campaigns.

Instilling good character and public relation skills is such a positive and awesome thing! Whether age eight or age eighty-eight, good character is a quality that anyone and everyone can appreciate. Thank you, Character Counts In Iowa, for promoting not just good character but also a good lifestyle!

Check out this video to learn more about the mission of Character Counts In Iowa:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=JQ9gCASSU8M#!