we heart weekly – 3.13.10
photo by Tim Archibald, courtesy of BadRap.org
I’m about to embark upon a weekend of debauchery, as we’ve got a we heart this party this weekend. So I thought before I delve into overindulging, I’d start it with a big dose of goodness.
Our Photo of the Week comes from a charity close to my heart Bad Rap, the Bay Area Pit Bull group that’s dedicated to educating people about this highly misunderstood and wonderful breed. Bad Rap (along with others) worked tirelessly to give the 49 dogs rescued from Michael Vick’s compound a chance at a happy life. It was a long road, but one look at this photo shows just how possible it was, and they never lost sight of that. Read more about their journey here and the incredible work they do for all Pit Bulls..
Here are a few more charities that have caught my eye recently…
Beauty Bus is a Los Angeles based organization that provides in-home beauty treatments, free of charge, to home-bound, terminally or chronically ill patients and their primary caregivers. Founded by two sisters who lost their 28 year old cousin to a degenerative neuromuscular disease, they saw that her beauty treatments were among the few things that gave her joy during her struggle. You can donate or volunteer and feel your own joy knowing that you are helping people to maintain dignity and give them respite during a difficult time.
Another charity that recently came to my attention is Small Can Be Big. Besides having a beautifully designed website, I love the concept. You directly choose who you’d like to help from a small, carefully-selected group of families and individuals that they spotlight who need assistance. These are people in circumstances where a one-time monetary donation can be pivotal (everything from pending eviction to escaping domestic violence). You can read their stories, they tell you exactly what they need to raise and track the process. Plus 100% of your donation goes directly to them. The site highlights approximately 10 families a month. There’s something nice about knowing exactly who you’re helping. And on that note…
Wht member Heather could use a bit of help as well. She’s a graduate student with a number of medical issues who is trying to get a seizure-response service dog through Power Paws Assistance of Arizona. She started Heather’s Miracle Dog, a line of handmade cards she’s selling to help raise the $5000 fee for what could be a lifesaving companion. Buy a crafty card, help a wht girl in need. Gotta love that!
And because I too am a do-gooder, I give you this. You’re welcome.
Filed in: do-gooders, we heart weekly
This is why I love WHT!! We can embrace the fun and superficial while never forgetting what really matters. Great post Stef! I will be checking all of these charities out. I am especially interested in Heather’s story as I do some work in the arena of service animals. They are so important and truly invaluable to those that they help. It is too bad that someone like Heather can’t have access to this lifesaver without great cost. I will checking those cards out.
This is such a great post, I’ve heard of Beauty Bus before and I hear they do amazing work. The little things can make sure a difference for people; you’ve only got to read the first few client testimonials to realize that. Kellie is absolutely right, this is why WHT is such a great place.
And I’d like to give a quick shout-out to my favorite charity for any crafty folks, Little Dresses for Africa, which makes pillowcase dresses for underprivileged girls in Africa. http://www.littledressesforafrica.org
And because he is my new crush, which disturbs me greatly, here’s Christoph Waltz doing a slightly different (and dirtier) version of your video on Jimmy Kimmel.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUbGcRJUDu0&feature=player_embedded
I agree with Kellie, Great Post Stef!!
That Small but Big site is awesome, what a great idea!!
I’ve bookmarked all of these & I wish Heather luck!
Im going to peek at her cards now! :)
BTW the musical outro is pretty fab too Stef!!
HI Stef and everybody-
Thank you so much for including the information on my service dog fundraiser for this week-this is so wonderful, and I really appreciate all of the help and kindness! I’m hoping that once I’m finished with the fundraising for my own dog, I’ll be able to work with the service dog organization so that others can also be placed with these special 4-legged angels. Mainly because I don’t think I included a lot of information about why I’ve applied for a service dog in the first place, I do have more information about that and my cards on both my blog, http://hnbain.blogspot.com, as well as on my website at http://sites.google.com/site/hnbain, and I’ve also included links back to “We Heart This” both places (I’m rather proud of myself-I believe I actually did it properly so that the links actually work :). Also, if anybody has any questions, feel free to e-mail me either through here, or at hnbain1@hotmail.com.
Also, thank you for including the singing Russian man video in the same post with my information. I am honored to be included with this truly gifted man and his resplendent ability to sing a song with no lyrics (does “la la” count if you’re note a “Teletubby”?) and to use his eyebrows for additional emotional impact. I think his suit is also quite spiffy.
Thank you again so much to everybody!
Heather
Great post! These all sound like wonderful charities and I will definitely check out each one of them! Good luck Heather…gonna have to get my nieces and nephews some Easter Cards!
Awwww, what a great photo of the week! I LOVE pit bulls, so cute! My mother works with a group that rescues pits, they get such a bad (and undeserved!) rap.
Heather’s cards are SO cute! I wish I had more than just time to donate to places right now :/
@Alyssa- another great link! Thanks!!
I had never heard of any of these charities, and I really appreciate the information and links. wht doesn’t just entertain me, it inspires me to be a better person.
Great post Stef. Love to hear about different ways to help out. A great reminder that the little things we do can make a difference.
I love Bad Rap! I was so bummed a few years back i was in their area for work and i went by but they were on a field trip. I did get to meet a couple that had to stay behind for adoption appointments and they were so cute! I love reading about all of their vick dogs! you should go check out vickdogblog not sure if this is the exact url but just google it. All these adorable updates on all of the dogs that were saved. its so sweet!
Oh also i just bought the Bad Rap calender! its so cute! 12 little mushy face pits!