I love this! Give a penny a day to help charities for a year: Spare some change, Change the world. http://www.pennyforyourworld.com

Here's how Penny For Your World works:

You sign up to give either a penny or a dime a day for a year. Everyday you get an email with two awesome new charities, you click on whichever one you prefer, and that's where your penny or dime for the day will go. I just signed up and it's quick and easy! For $4 (less than a day's lunch) you can help charities for a year and start every day knowing you're making a small difference in the world.

Check out this fabulous article in Mashable about Carlo Garcia, a man who decided to give to a different charity every day for a year.  What a great story!

Visit Carlo's website Living Philanthropic for more details and to learn about all of the charities he's helping. 

Hope in Bloom is the only program in the country to plant indoor and outdoor gardens free of charge at the homes of breast cancer patients. When the founders close childhood friend was diagnosed with cancer, she took care of her garden and made sure her house was always filled with flowers.  She noticed how she perked up every time she looked outside at the riot of color in her yard or received a new bouquet.  To honor her memory, Hope in Bloom was created in 2007 to keep her spirit alive and improve the mental roller coaster for breast cancer patients.

Hope in Bloom gardens are sweet slices of paradise geared to the recipients’ lifestyle and gardening ability. Hope in Bloom in currently only located in Massachusetts but their goal is to raise enough money to have a staff take this idea across the country. With more than 700 volunteers and 81 completed gardens, Hope in Bloom is well on their way to changing tons of lives. There are currently over 150 people on the waiting list for gardens! If you are interested in helping, you can make a tax deductible donation to help fund the garden, sign up to volunteer or tell your friends about this amazing nonprofit.

I can’t wait for this organization to spread to additional locations!  Until then, I may just have to make a trip to Massachusetts to volunteer…

Submit your sprout idea to ideas@SproutLaunch.com. We are always open to suggestions to add to the site. Remember, we’re looking for simple, low-cost good deeds ideas that anyone can do from any state. Not all sprouts submitted will be posted, but all ideas are greatly appreciated!

Enchanted Makeovers is a internationally recognized non-profit 501(c)3 organization that transforms shelters for women and children into places of peace and possibilities—not just where basic needs are met, but spiritual needs for hope and beauty.

Working on a project basis, they organize volunteers and donors to create a lasting impact at shelters. In some cases, this means completing an ''extreme makeover'' with new paint, handmade items and furnishings; in others it entails one-day events with inspirational gifts, sharing our personal stories; and always it involves continuous outreach to raise awareness of the plight of women and children in shelters. 

To any crafty visitors that see this, check out how you can help here 10 Ways You Can Help.  Please check out this fantastic cause to brighten the lives of women and children living in shelters. I just absolutely adore their mission!

So I'm a big fan of promoting happiness and love this site! Check out The Happiness Project, an entire site focused on the science of happiness and Gretchen Rubin's recount of daily adventures in the pursuit of happiness. 

Check out Gretchen's #1 New York Times Bestseller!

You can help a child AND win the trip of a lifetime! ChildFund International has a Facebook promotion called “The Experience of a Lifetime.” It offers a unique opportunity for one lucky winner to travel across the world to meet his or her sponsored child. Don’t currently sponsor a child? You can still enter to win a four-day escorted tour (including all travel, means and accommodations) to a ChildFund program in Asia, Africa or the Americas.

To enter the promotion, participants must:

-Go to https://www.facebook.com/ChildFundInternational and “Like” the page,
-Choose to enter the promotion using the “ChildFund Experience” app,
-Ask 10 friends to “Like” ChildFund on Facebook and nominate their profile to win. For every friend nomination over 10, the participant will receive one additional entry into the promotion.
-Be at least 18 and a U.S. resident (lower 48 states). 

Five finalists will be randomly selected in early July. Each finalist will be required to write a short statement as to why he or she should win the trip. Their statements will then be featured on ChildFund’s Facebook page, and fans will be asked to decide the winner by popular vote. For more details, visit their Facebook page here: Facebook.com/ChildFundInternational

Check out the awesome article that skirt! Magazine featured of SproutLaunch.  We love this magazine featuring great women in our community.  I am so proud to be included in the recent issue. Check it out here. 

Special thanks to Agata Schoenborn who came out in the rain/ice to take the photo!

Check out this great article from WebMD that explains how the 'helper's high' could help you live a longer, healthier life.

The Science of Good Deeds

A BIG thank you to everyone who supported my OvertheEdge adventure.  I can't describe the feeling of standing at the top of a giant building and staring down 400 feet.  Everything in your body tells you not to take that step off the side of the building (I embarrassingly started shaking uncontrollably) but luckily I was with good friends who encouraged me to make it happen.  Once you take that step, the rush is absolutely amazing! Check out the great photos below from photographer Chris Ijams. Hope you like the costumes :)

I encourage you to join me next year in going OvertheEdge to support Special Olympics.  To date a total of $92,696 was been raised from this event for Special Olympics Virginia!

That’s right…I’m hoping to rappel off a 25-story building in downtown Richmond this October! In order to take on this challenge and join other fearless Special Olympics fans on the roof, I must first reach my fundraising goal. With your help I’ll be dangling from 400 feet up in no time!

Donating through this secure site is the easiest and most efficient way to contribute to my fundraising efforts. Your support is greatly appreciated—and don't forget to forward this to anyone who you think might be interested in making a donation as well! Anyone who donates over $100 will receive a free week of advertising on SproutLaunch.com, your company will just be responsible for providing the weekly rewards!

Your donation will assist Special Olympics Virginia in reaching our total fundraising goal of $75,000. And with your help, I hope to surpass my own fundraising goal and join other adrenaline junkies as we rappel down one of the tallest buildings in Richmond. It’ll be an extreme adventure that we hope will generate extreme impact for Special Olympics Virginia.

www.firstgiving.com/SproutLaunch

Are you a nonprofit that could use some extra funding?  If so you must check this out (or forward to your favorite charity)!  The Collaboration Prize is a national award presented to nonprofit organizations that collaborate effectively to gain greater impact.  You can apply now for the 2011 Collaboration Prize which awards a total of $250,000 to the collaborations that best exemplify the impact that can result from working together.  Each of the eight finalists will receive $12,500 and the winner will receive and additional $150,000.  Apply now and check out TheCollaborationPrize.org for more details.  Good Luck!

Thanks to V Magazine for Women for the great mention! Check out the article here: Web TV for Women in Business

Thanks for the awesome mention by Altruiz.com!  Check out the article here.

Looks like I owe someone their favorite snack from the Daily Grind!

SproutLaunch is named one of the semi-finalists for the VMFA Muse Awards.  The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Business Council has named 21 of Virginia’s most creative businesses as finalists for the 2010 Muse Awards. Honored for extraordinary creativity and innovation, businesses from across the Commonwealth of Virginia are invited to participate and share they’re stories of economy, creativity and diverse perspective. Congrats to all of the finalists! The semi-finalists, in alphabetical order: Alchemy LLC, Barber Martin Agency, Big River, Clutter Cleaner, The Extra Gear, Farm to Family, Floricane, Fountainhead Properties, Green Modern Kits.com, Grow Up With Books, Gunther's Gourmet Groceries, LLC, Health Diagnostic Laboratory, Inc., Helping Hands Affordable Veterinary Surgery and Dental Care, Hookum LLC, La Flor De Mayo,  Madison+Main, Marz Industries, Inc., The Pediatric Connection, Snagajob, SproutLaunch, and Taboo.

Of 21 semi-finalists, nine companies will be selected as Muse Awards winners, one of which will be named “Top Muse” for exceptional creativity. I look forward to meeting you all on June 16th!

Check out SavetheHorse.com (NorCal Equine Rescue) to learn more about this great non-profits who has been saving mistreated horses since 2003. Since then, they have saved over 1000 horses, 37 so far in 2010. This rescue group is dedicated to preventing cruelty to equines of all kinds: horses, ponies, mules and donkeys.

I’m a huge animal fanatic and really respect this great group. I always find it hard to read about animal abuse (just a warning, some of the pictures in the “Equines-Stories” area are heartbreaking). BUT the good news is these horses will now be cared for and hopefully adopted. Check out the “Current Needs” section to find out how you could help them save more horses!

Dottie, the NorCal Equine Mascot

The Biggest Loser, Feeding America and multiple other companies have joined together to create the Pound for Pound Challenge which donates funds to local food banks! For every pound you pledge to lose through June 30, 2010, the Pound For Pound Challenge will donate 14¢ to Feeding America® — enough to deliver one pound of groceries to a local food bank. $1,080,000 maximum donation.

I pledged my pounds today so it looks like I’ll be hitting the gym this week! Join me in your pledge for a healthier lifestyle all while helping the community. Click here to make your pledge today!

Thanks to KillerStartups.com for mentioning SproutLaunch!  Check out the post here and to vote for startups that you think will be killers.

Many non-profits or fundraising groups are always looking to raise funds online in a easy and simple way. GoFundMe.com provides exactly that! GoFundMe.com allows you to raise money online with your own personal donation website that you can get setup in minutes! For all of those non-profits out there that don’t have a website yet, this is a great option to get you started. Check out GoFundMe.com today!

Could a school in your area use some extra supplies and funding? Of course they could! Care2 partnered with GreatSchools to announce a new way for parents, educators, and communities to rally around their school.

*Each week a random school is awarded $500

*20 top recruiters earn a $50 gift card

*Winning school gets $20,000

Last day to vote is today so check it out! http://www.AmericasFavoriteSchool.com 

So did you know that USATODAY.com has an area dedicated to kindness?  Yep, me neither.  Check it out here Kindness: New ways we give and volunteer.  Their reporter Christie Garton reports daily on kindness happenings around the world.  I love it!

Please check out the Tiny Sparrow Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing lasting memories through the beautiful art of photography to the families with children who are facing life threatening illnesses. With the help of photographers worldwide, the Tiny Sparrow Foundation is able to give a beautiful album that will carry the love, joy and everlasting memory of each individual family.

*If you are a photographer that wants to get involved please email tinysparrow@me.com.
*If you are a family that Tiny Sparrow could help please email the above email.
*If you just want to make a donation to this wonderful organization please use the donate button option on the Tiny Sparrow site here

I went to the Komen Race for the Cure yesterday (pictures below). If you have not been to this kind of race, I highly encourage you to sign up! It is incredibly inspiring. The diverse amount of people who showed up and ran/walked for their sisters, friends, mothers, and grandmothers was absolutely amazing. Every single person there walked for a reason and with a purpose. It was a unified stand for all of our ladies who have fought this battle, are fighting this battle or those women that were not able to walk away as a survivor from this deadly disease. I was proud to walk with my friend Courtney who just finished her last chemo treatment a few months ago. To her and all of the other survivors, you are all stronger than you realize and more inspiring that you will ever know!

I'm excited to participate in the Komen Race for the Cure this weekend in my city! Check out this great cause and find out how you can participate, Komen.org.

Did you know that Malaria causes almost 250 million illnesses and more than 1 million deaths annually?  Although those statistics are scary, the good news is this great organization is out there making major strides in the fight against Malaria.

Malaria IS a preventable disease. Check them out here at MalariaNoMore.org and see how you can help!

To Mama With Love is doing such amazing things there is just no way that we can’t help this organization reach their goal! This group is raising money to provide a boarding facility for 50 children in Tanzania to call home. You can visit their site and create a heartspace page dedicated to a mom this Mother‘s Day and make donations in her honor. What a great Mother’s Day gift for anyone! Visit ToMamaWithLove.org to see how you can help.

More information on the project:

To Mama With Love is a collaborative online art project that honors moms across the globe and raises funds to invest in one remarkable Mama who dreams of building a home for children in her village. Funds raised will be invested in support of Mama Lucy Kamptoni, a remarkable grassroots changemaker in Tanzania who once sold chickens and used her income to build a primary school that now provides a high-quality education to over 400 children in Arusha. Her next goal, which To Mama With Love seeks to fund, is to build a boarding facility on campus so that every child who attends her school has a place to call home. To Mama With Love is a project of US 501c3 nonprofit Epic Change.

Thanks to Gaebler Ventures for posting our interview!  Check out the article here.

Check out MatterofTrust.org for details on how your hair can help clean up the oil spill. Salons can ship boxes of cut hair to help make "booms" that surround and contain as well as soak up oil spills.  These mats are for emergency oil spills and for oiled birds and mammal cages.  Check out the video below:

Tell your salon today! Thanks to Anna and Sherita for posting and sharing this great information.

I recently took a trip to Virginia Blood Services to learn more about their fantastic organization.  I have to admit, I was a bit scared about giving blood, but learned so much about their cause and how they are helping people that those fears are easily diminished. Let me tell you some of the key points that I learned:

-One donation can help save the lives of up to three different patients. If that doesn't make you want to go out and give blood I don't know what will!  How many nights have you gone to sleep knowing "I saved three lives today"!

-Donating blood is completely safe.  All equipment used for the donation is sterile and disposable.  It is used once and never used again.  It is impossible to get AIDS or any other disease by giving blood.

-Blood donations help people of all ages and walks of life.  Typical recipients include cancer patients, open heart surgery patients, patients undergoing organ transplants, mothers and babies during delivery, people with bleeding ulcers, and accident and trauma victims.

-Typically, healthy adults who weigh at least 110 pounds may donate about a pint of blood - the most common form of donation - every 56 days, or every two months.

The entire process of donating blood takes about an hour and includes some paperwork, a confidential interview and a vital signs check.  The actual collection of blood takes just five to eight minutes. 

Shortages of all blood types happen during the summer and winter holidays so as we approach the summer months keep in mind donating blood as a fantastic good deed option.  For those Virginia residents, visit VABlood.org to schedule your time to donate.  For other states, click here to visit AmericasBlood.org and find a blood center near you!

Thanks to Virginia Blood Services for educating me and letting me come visit your fantastic facility!

My one rule in running my business: Use kindness in every business aspect, no exceptions!

I know lots of people are looking for ways to help with the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.  Here are links to groups out there that are working to clean and could use any type of help you can offer.  I'll try to update more as I hear about them!  

*Update 5/4/2010- US News Article: 10 Things You Can You Can Do to Help the Gulf Coast Clean Up the Oil Spill 

We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.  ~Native American Proverb

This is one of the most touching videos I have seen.  I think it's amazing to see even animals work to help each other.  Love it!

Dr. Ian Smith (expert on Celebrity Fit Club/contributor on Rachael Ray) has a new book out, Happy: Simple Steps to Get the Most Out of Life, and he recently talked about the science of happiness on the Today Show. He says one of the best ways to make yourself happier is to do 5 random acts of kindness each week. Check out the video here.

I would completely agree with him. Doing good deeds and random acts of kindness for others simply makes you happier. Just another reason to do one good deed each day!

On May 8th, you can leave a bag of canned goods for your mail carrier to pick up and deliver to local food banks and pantries. How awesome (not to mention easy)?  These great companies and associations have joined together for Stamp Out Hunger- the Nation's Largest Single-Day Food Drive:
-AFL-CIO
-Cambell's Soup
-Feeding America
-National Association of Letter Carrier's
-National Rural Letter Carrier's Association
-United Way
-US Postal Service
-Val-Pak

I can't wait to see the results.  Time to clean out the cabinets!

Know of an awesome upcoming event or cause that we could include on SproutLaunch, send it my way: Molly@SproutLaunch.com!

A friend from facebook recently told me about her mission with S.O.C.K, an organization focused on saving our children with kindness. The S.O.C.K mission is to give children back their life that was lost to an abuser. Teaching children to establish their inner voice and speak out loud for their rights.

S.O.C.K is located in St. Peters, MO and holds events in that area, but they are quickly growing. If you are located outside of Missouri but want to participate, they are working to get into schools, after school programs, and organizations that will allow them to come in and share information on child abuse. S.O.C.K believes that awareness is the key to getting this epidemic under control.

Sandee, founder of S.O.C.K, gave me some details on her program and said "Creating different learning material, depending on ages for children to realize any form of abuse, the power someone tries to hold over you is not appropriate or right. Awareness is the key to changing our future. Our future is sitting in those classrooms. World change begins in the classroom." I completely agree with her.

I found out through a friend that there was a high school focusing on good deeds and even included SproutLaunch in their monthly newsletter!  Thanks to these special kids at J.E.B. Stuart High School for the mention, these are a great group of people out there making a difference.  Here is a copy of the article, enjoy!

It Pays to do Good
Laura Flores
Staff Writer

It is sometimes hard to find time to do something good for others when someone may feel like they deserve a little something in return. However, a new website has come along to provide people with an incentive to do good deeds. Launched in 2009, SproutLaunch.com is the only website that inspires others to do good while rewarding those who submit their random acts of kindness.

“I really think that people want to make a difference, it’s just sometimes hard to figure out where you can fit in and be that change,” said founder Molly Quarles.

Before the SproutLaunch phenomenon and being selfless was in style, many Stuart students were already involved in helping others. The recent snow storm brought an opportunity for senior Aaron Leulu to help out. “I helped a couple neighbors dig their way out of the snow,” Leulu said.

Anonymous deeds seem to be the most rewarding though. “I do weird things like stick notes on desks and tables and everywhere,” said sophomore Trevor Bruce.

The goal of SproutLaunch is to have its users submit their completed deeds, enter a weekly drawing, and win prizes from the site’s sponsors. Ideas for good deeds posted on the site are meant to be quick and easy to complete, no major humanitarian skills required. Users who submit their ideas of good deeds to the site are also eligible for receiving prizes.

Quarles was inspired by her own personal goal “to do one good deed each day in an attempt to create change.”

“I started thinking about how it could change the world if other people were inspired to do one good deed each day and what steps I could take to start encouraging people to participate,” said Quarles.

The SproutLaunch message will continue to spread in hopes of having people join in on doing one good deed a day. Today, SproutLaunch.com has been visited by people from all 50 states and over 28 countries.

On the night of April 1, prominent buildings across North America and the world including the Empire State Building in New York City and the CN Tower in Toronto, Canada were lit up blue to raise awareness for Autism and to commemorate World Autism Awareness Day on Friday, April 2.

Visit LightItUpBlue.org to check out some other awesome photos of all the places around the world that are participating.

Autism is a general term used to describe a group of complex developmental brain disorders known as Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD).
-Autism affects 1 in 110 children
-Autism affects 1 in 70 boys

Visit AutismSpeaks.org for more details on Autism and how you can get involved. Join us today, April 2, in wearing blue clothing to raise awareness for Autism.

I've always known I'm a bit neurotic.  My boyfriend commented one day, "Are you seriously organizing the refrigerator?" Which was followed with him mumbling about how I should be on medication :).  I told him I think my neurosis makes me who I am.  I never really think much about being a crazy perfectionist, but my mom sent an email to me this evening and it made me laugh, I figured I would share:

Hi Molly,

I just thought about something that I don’t know if I ever told you. When we moved to East Hartland you had to go to the public school to be tested for the upcoming Kindergarten year. They ask you to write your name……..see attached. We wound up sending you to Torrington Christian where they hardly let you use a pencil the whole year, but you will be amazed when you look at the attached.

Everyone, including me, was astonished. Instead of a huge scrawled name that a “normal” 4 to 5 year old would write, you wrote precise and little in perfect little letters! (Maybe that indicated you were a bit of a perfectionist!)

"The pursuit of excellence is gratifying and healthy. The pursuit of perfection is frustrating, neurotic, and a terrible waste of time." ~ Edwin Bliss

There are a ton of good things going on this month, one being National Pay It Forward Day day coming up on April 29th, one of my all time favorites.  As you know, SproutLaunch is dedicated to paying it foward every single day!

 For some other great awareness initiatives, check out these great groups:

April 22nd- Earth Day
April 29th- Pay It Forward Day

March for Babies
National Child Abuse Prevention
Stress Awareness
National Autism Awareness
National Donate Life Month

What this world needs is a new kind of army - the army of the kind. ~Cleveland Amory

Cora died in her mother's arms of an undetected congenital heart disease (CHD) early one morning while breastfeeding. Her death was sudden. Her beauty and the compassion and joy she brought her parents remain. Cora Mae McCormick: Born November 30, 2009 and died December 6, 2009.

I wanted to share this touching story about Cora and her mother, Kristine, who has dedicated her life to raising awareness of this disease, helping others heal and teaching people how to help a friend deal with child loss. Help spread Cora's Story! Save lives, improve lives, and make her parents very proud. Please visit Cora's Story to learn more about congential heart disease.

I know recycling is important, but I will admit I am not a perfect recycler. I definitely try to recycle as much as possible, but sometimes I forget what I can recycle, what I can’t and all the rules. So to help myself and anyone else our there, here are some of the basics. Based on the Central Virginia Waste Management Authority, here are the major tips to keep in mind:

Here’s What to Recycle:
-Newspapers, Junk Mail, Catalogs & Magazines
-Cans
-Glass Bottles & Jars (no lids)
-Plastic Bottles (with 1 or 2 on the bottom, no caps)
-Cardboard (flattened, no larger than 2’x3’)

What not to include:
-Plastic food trays/containers
-Styrofoam items
-Plastic bags of any kind
-Plastic tubs or cubs (sour cream, butter, yogurt)
-Milk cartons or juice boxes
-Plastic or metal lids or caps

Prep tips for us all to keep in mind:
~Rinse bottles, cans and jars ~Throw away caps and lids ~Flatten boxes to reduce size ~Do not cover recycling containers when you place them at the curb, even when it’s raining ~ Place heavier recycle items on top on windy days ~ User paper bags or your own containers to hold extra items. Thanks CVWMA for the tips!

I heard about this today and LOVE how they are offering different options for anyone who may want to get involved.  Susan G. Komen for the Cure, it is an organization fighting breast cancer and working to find a cure. The Komen Race for the Cure is coming up soon here in my city (May 8th, 2010 for you Richmonders out there) and I just found out about the cool offerings they have for people who can get out that day and for some of us who can't.  This really is a fantastic way to get tons more people involved.  For instance, this year you can:

-Form a Team: Get friends, family or your co-workers together to get out their on the race day

-Sleep-In for the Cure: If you can't make it on race day, you can still register and get a t-shirt and special snooze race bib prior to the race (great idea huh??- I LOVE this. Now who can even have an excuse to not participate?! Whoever came up with Sleep-In for a Cure is just genius...just wait until you read the next option!)

-Tinkled Pink: Yes, you read it correctly, Tinkled Pink is not a typo.  You can sponsor a Porta-John on race day for $100 and decorate it to promote your business or honor someone.

What do you think, a SproutLaunch Porta-John? I'm thinking it's a great idea :).

I just read that American Women in Radio & Television SoCal raised $10,809 for the Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure, Sunday, March 14 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.  Way to go ladies!

About Susan G. Komen For the Cure
Susan G. Komen fought breast cancer with her heart, body and soul. Throughout her diagnosis, treatments, and endless days in the hospital, she spent her time thinking of ways to make life better for other women battling breast cancer instead of worrying about her own situation. That concern for others continued even as Susan neared the end of her fight. Moved by Susan’s compassion for others and committed to making a difference, Nancy G. Brinker promised her sister that she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever.

That promise is now Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, the global leader of the breast cancer movement, having invested nearly $1.5 billion since inception in 1982. As the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists, we’re working together to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure®, and generous contributions from our partners, sponsors and fellow supporters, we have become the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world.

Today's good deed suggestion was to make a list of things you are thankful for so I decided why not post mine? I won't list everything I'm thankful for or we'd be here a while, but here is my top four in no particular order (err, well I guess my cats last since that may be offensive to some):

I am thankful for my family.

I'm thankful for my girlfriends.
I don't have a picture of all of us, but here is a snapshot of some of my girlfriends that help keep me sane! Although I've been a bit MIA lately with all the work, I know they still love me (gulp, I hope!).

I'm thankful for my pets.

I'm thankful for all of the support and positive feedback so far with SproutLaunch.

First of all, I love the name, who wouldn't! Secondly, and more importantly, what they are doing is fantastic. Here's some info directly from their site, check them out:

The Project Linus Mission:
Project Linus is comprised of hundreds of local chapters and thousands of volunteers across the United States. Each volunteer and local chapter all work together to help us achieve our mission statement, which states:

First, it is our mission to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer “blanketeers.”

Second, it is our mission to provide a rewarding and fun service opportunity for interested individuals and groups in local communities, for the benefit of children.

Project Linus has distributed three million blankets to children since 1995, thats more than 180,000 blankets per year.  How cool is that!!

Check out Operation Smiley Face an organization whose mission is to spread smiles and acts of kindness.  You know that made me incredibley happy just learning about this group!  From lollipops to smiley face pins, they pass good deed doer's small tokens in an effort to keep encouraging kindness.

Way to go Operation Smiley Face!  Your efforts are working, I'm smiling as I type :)

Check out this fun idea that helps spread kindness and gives you a daily reminder on your own wrist! The concept of UOWHO is simple, but holds a powerful message: make the world a better place, one nice gesture at a time!

UOWHO is a rubber band bracelet that has 10 tabs on it. Each tab represents a good deed. You put the bracelet on and look for an opportunity to help some one in need. When the opportunity arises, you remove one of the 10 tabs from the bracelet and give your bracelet to the person you helped. You explain the purpose of the bracelet and ask them to continue the process.

If you are an individual, non-profit or company looking to encourage kindness, check them out and get your bracelet today!

Check out what these four amazing Richmond mom's came up with as a make you proud to be a human being, get your fired up to save the world, squeeze your loved ones a little closer SUCCESSFUL attempt to spread kindness during a time when the Westboro Baptist Church group parades hate through our cities. 

Tell me if this just doesn't make you smile, cry or rejoice that kindness will trump this groups efforts to spread hatred.

Visit Pennies In Protest. Here's a brief overview I pulled directly from their site:
"People pledge $1 or $.10 (or even $.01 if that's all you can afford) for every minute that WBC is protesting organizations in Richmond. It will be like the charity walks we did as kids where all our friends and family members gave us $1 for every mile we walked. Only we'll be using WBC's presence to benefit the organizations they hate the most. It's genius!"

You already know I'm a fan of this kindness encourager, but check out the Kindness Girl's blog to read her involvement and thoughts on Pennies in Protests, she puts this into words like no one else could.  Also check out the Pennies in Protest Facebook Fan Page and join in the kindness efforts.

I am proud to be a Richmonder and ever so proud these ladies came up with an idea to fight back in a way where in the end, kindness does win. Way to go ladies! I can't even begin to write enough to show my gratitude for your amazing efforts.  I am truly inspired.

What a great inspirational project that ties together education, community involvement and helping others.  To give you a quick overview, the First Lady created a community garden on the South Lawn of the White House which was planted and harvested by dozens of local students.  The students learn about healthy eating and the harvest is shared with Miriam's Kitchen, which serves the homeless in Washington, DC.

A short excerpt from The White House Blog:

"More than 90 pounds of produce has been harvested so far. Some of it has been used for meals at the White House, but much of it has gone to area soup kitchens. While fresh fruits and vegetables are delicious, unfortunately they are not easily accessible to everyone, especially those in low-income areas. As the First Lady explained, for those Americans who live in areas where healthy food is out of reach, a healthy future is also out of reach. This is why community gardens are so exciting. They provide the opportunity to make healthy, affordable food readily available while bringing communities together. People are learning the benefits of community gardening -- over 1 million community gardens are flourishing right now, many in underserved urban communities. These gardens are bringing neighbors together to create a healthier community and a healthier future for the kids."

Check out the whole story on The White House Blog.

Thanks to Leanne Chesser, I just found out it is Random Acts of Kindness Week starting February 15th-February 21, 2010! Check out Leanne's great Squidoo pages where she has tips, info and ideas to share. She is definitely encouraging kindness and launching sprouts all around her: http://www.squidoo.com/randomactsofkindnessday
http://www.squidoo.com/feed-the-homeless
http://www.squidoo.com/actsofkindness

While your at it- check out http://www.actsofkindness.org/
Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see. ~Mark Twain

Do we pass along a little spark of love and humanity or do we pass up those opportunities and leave the world a little bit colder in the process?

Read this incredibly inspiring story posted by MMP Ventures Group.  I am so thankful that this post was brought to my attention!!

Making the right choices for humanity

Read and enjoy :)

AMVETS has been quite a topic of conversation from SproutLaunch visitors.  I've had people writing in left and right about how they offer such an easy and fast way to donate.  I recently learned about their drop off and pick up service so (of course) I had to share with everyone in case you weren't aware.

AMVETS is of America’s foremost veterans service organizations, AMVETS (or American Veterans) has a proud history of assisting veterans and sponsoring numerous programs that serve our country and its citizens. The helping hand that AMVETS extends to veterans and their families takes many forms.

The program everyone is raving about is there Thrift Store division. They bring you a bag, you fill it up with clothes or items that you no longer use and they come back to your door step and pick it up.  You can even schedule a pick up online!

Click here to schedule a pick up today, http://www.amvetspickup.org/. You can do a good deed without even leaving the comfort of your own home.  How easy!  Check out their site for all the other great programs they offer to help our veterans. 

Join us in doing one good deed, each and every day on SproutLaunch.

If you haven't stumbled across her blog already, I highly recommend KindnessGirl.  Her website is overwhelmingly inspiring with beautiful photography that makes you take a step back, pause and realize the important things in life.  This is a blog you will never get tired of!

Make sure you check out her area on Guerrilla Goodness, absolutley incredible!

Submit your sprout of kindness idea to ideas@SproutLaunch.com. We are always open to suggestions to add to the site. Remember, we’re looking for simple, low-cost good deeds that anyone can do from any state. Not all sprouts submitted will be posted, but all ideas are greatly appreciated!

Check out the article Richmond BizSense wrote about SproutLaunch! http://bit.ly/86MjZA 

If you read Jennifer's blog that I posted earlier, she inspired me to get out there and help the homeless.  As with any city, there are homeless all around where I live.  I've been complaining about how cold I am just going outside to run to my car then felt pretty guilty about my complaints!  My boyfriend and I went to a haunted hayride back in October and he was sweet enough to bring along these awesome hand warmers.  So it got me thinking, why not pass out hand and body warmers to homeless that I see in passing?  These items are $.99 to $1.99 and really make a world of difference when you are outside.

I think the employees at Dick's Sporting Goods thought I was crazy when I piled tons and tons of these Grabber Warmers on the counter, almost cleaning them out. I gave a few out this weekend, and plan on keeping them in my car to pass out when someone crosses my path.  I figured I'd share the idea with you guys to keep in mind :)  Thanks to my friend Cara for chipping in to help me buy twice as many! Join me in completing one good deed, each and every day on SproutLaunch!

A post from Jennifer D., a regular SproutLaunch visitor and avid launcher of sprouts of kindness:

If you live near a city and you look around your surroundings you will find homeless in your community. Many times these people are lost in a crowed and unnoticed because most people close their eyes to what they see. The homeless are usually harmless in nature and have deep pain inside because at one time they were just like you or me. They had a family, job, friends a due to certain circumstances they have become homeless.

The truth is that in most cases they have turned to drugs or alcohol to hide the pain and hurt that is deep within them. As an old saying goes most of us are only one pay check away from homelessness. Think for a moment how you would feel if you found yourself with no place to lay your head, all friends and family have given up on you and you feel like you have no hope at all.

My challenge to you is to get a few back packs and fill them with hotel size shampoos, soaps, toothpaste, toothbrush and combs (put toiletries in small zip-lock bag). Get a few non-perishable food items and bottle water and place them in the back pack. If you can get new t-shirts, that is also a great item to add as well. You can ask local non-profits if they have any out of date event t-shirts that you can have and usually they are more than happy to help.

What you now do is keep these backpacks in your car and when you see someone asking for money give them the back pack. As with anything, use caution and always be in a public place (not in a back alley) when you do this. If you not comfortable at first, have friends or family members go with you (not small children). It may be hard at first to find the people and you may have to put effort into it but as time goes by you will notice they will become drawn to you where ever you go.

One other thing that you can do is add a note or a Thinking of You card with a note letting them know that you have faith that they will make it. Believe me, that card of encouragement will stay in their hearts forever.

So make this a habit and show this simple act of kindness and it will not only help them, but it will give you a new outlook on life. Remember there is always someone out there worse off then you are and it will give you the strength and courage to conquer your own battles.

If you haven't seen this movie, please go out and watch it. It is amazing and inspiring (have tissues nearby)! Here is one of my favorite clips from Pay It Forward:

So I consider myself a bit neurotic, I'm one of those all or nothing kinda girls.  So with this new goal of completing one good deed each day, I'm addicted! But I will admit...I think it may be for selfish reasons. 

The reason I say "selfish" is because I keep doing it and it keeps making me happier and happier.  I walk around smiling thinking of someone being surprised when they find my happy notes stuck to the bathroom mirror, or someone opening the card I shoved under their door secretly. Today it was handing a homeless man all of the change from my wallet simply because today, I had it to give.

I would love to say I'm completely doing this for other people, but I'm also doing it for myself and I don't think that's wrong.  Join me in my new kindness addiction!

It's official, SproutLaunch has had visitors from all 50 states! SproutLaunch has also had participants from 16+ countries including Germany, Canada, France, Ireland, Switzerland, Israel, Puerto Rico, Romania, China, Spain, the United Kingdom, Belize, Italy, Brazil, Philippines and Australia. Wow...all this in just a few short weeks. How exciting!

Join me in completing one good deed each and every day. Thanks to everyone for participating and continue to spread the word. Keep encouraging kindness!

So I cleaned out my cabinets and realized A.) I have lots of food to spare B.) I really need to organize my cabinets C.) I'm so OCD that I now can't sleep thinking about how utterly messy my cabinets are :).

I'll be dropping my bag off at the Central Virginia Food Bank today.  If you are interested in donating some food, but don't know where to find a local drop off, check out Feed America, you simply put in your zip code and they tell you the closest locations: Find the Closest Food Bank.

The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit. ~Nelson Henderson

Ok, so maybe not a revolution...but with more than 700 visitors to the site in two short weeks, it's a possibility, right? Check out SproutLaunch to view a few of the good deeds that have been recently submitted. How great to hear about so many people out there doing acts of kindness simply because they can :). 

Treat everyone with politeness, even those who are rude to you - not because they are nice, but because you are. ~ Author Unknown

So it's officially 2010! With more visitors and tons of new good deed-doers in just the past two weeks, SproutLaunch is gaining momentum. Thanks to everyone for their participation, I cannot wait to see where SproutLaunch can go within the upcoming year.

As I mentioned before in a previous post, it's my New Year's Resolution to complete one good deed each and every day. I hope you will join me in encouraging kindness!

Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see. ~ Mark Twain

I'm eager to have this site promote kindness and as an effect, help us all in little ways! Everyone knows that doing a good deed is a reward in itself, but the the fun part of sharing is that it inspires others.  Now with SproutLaunch, you also have the possibility of earning a reward :) If you ever are selected as a random winner but don't think you should earn a reward for your good deed, you can always pay it foward to another person, that's what lots of people do! Just another way to encourage kindness...

Ok, so I will admit, I have a coat obsession.  I love them.  I wish I could wear a different one every day.  The good news about that, I have a ton I can donate :) Off to Goodwill...
 

Thanks to PayItForwardToday.org for listing us on their site :)  Check them out!

Drop them a line and let them know how you're Paying it Forward and they may add it to the blog. Life is short and the days are long so start paying it forward now.

Kindness rewards vary each week depending on what the sponsor offers.  The reward may be anything from a product, service, gift card or event tickets. Winners will be chosen randomly from those who submit they completed a good deed. Each week the sponsors change so make sure to keep visiting! 

Merry Christmas!

Doing good isn’t about grand gestures. It’s about creating change with simple daily acts of kindness. SproutLaunch encourages kindness by suggesting daily Good Deeds, giving participants the chance to win rewards and tracking participation over time.

If you’re looking for ideas for your New Year's resolution, or simply interested in creating change, you’ve found the right site to help you keep your goal. Simply become a fan on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, or sign up for the monthly newsletter . We will keep you in the loop on today's Good Deed, past Good Deeds completed, future rewards and upcoming sponsors. Visit SproutLaunch for more information!

SproutLaunch was originally created in an attempt to encourage and challenge the founder, Molly Quarles, to complete one random act of kindness each day. From there, it sparked (or sprouted!) the idea of including others in this mission by motivating people with random rewards. At that point, the idea behind SproutLaunch was born: become the online resource for good deed inspiration while rewarding good deed-doers!

SproutLaunch is the only online source for good deed inspiration that rewards its users. In addition to rewarding good deed-doers, SproutLaunch recommends daily simple good deed ideas, lists companies making a difference in their communities (whether globally or locally), highlights non-profit missions, and also displays good deeds submitted by visitors for further inspiration. National and local advertisers can sponsor a week and provide rewards (their product, service, gift cards or event tickets) which are randomly selected for distribution amongst the good deed doer’s from that week.

Join us in doing one good deed each day!