In Motion

Millionaire Gives Away Fortune

2010-02-11T13:14:00.000-08:00

Karl Rabeder, a 47-year-old Austrian millionaire, has found something that gives his life meaning. That something is not the millions of dollars that he made through furnishings and accessories. He has set up a nonprofit, MyMicroCredit.org, to provide microloans to entrepreneurs in Central and South America. According to his concept, social investors will be able to give out loans directly to poor needy people in developing countries. Moreover, these social investors will have the option of donating to additional educational projects. The educational projects will offer offer additional entrepreneurship training besides the microfinance in order to support economic and professional competence, thus ensuring sustainability. To top it all off, Rabeder does not plan on taking salary from the nonprofit. In an interview with The Telegraph Rabeder said, "My idea is to have nothing left. Absolutely nothing. Money is counterproductive- it prevents happiness to come." What a life changing approach to philanthropy!

The American Heart Association McHuggin Event

2010-02-02T12:10:00.000-08:00

As some of you may know, February is American Heart Month. On February 13th, The American Heart Association is organizing the McHuggin Event. Jeff Ondash, AKA "Teddy McHuggin, Ohio" earned a place in the Guinness World Book of Records for the most hugs in an hour (1,205 hugs). This year, Jeff intends to break the record for the most hugs in a 24 hour period. McHuggin will be on the Las Vegas Strip trying to set a new Guinness Book of World record. All proceeds from this event will be donated to the American Heart Association's Las Vegas Go Red for Women Campaign. So far he has raised $2,500 and will be featured on the Today Show, NBC, and local news. This event will take place on Saturday, February 13th in front of the Paris Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip. So come out, give a hug, and be a part of an official Guinness Record for a great cause!

Volunteer Opportunities at the Public Education Foundation

2010-02-01T11:34:00.000-08:00

Follow this link to view volunteer opportunities listed for the Public Education Foundation.

http://www.volunteermatch.org/post/opps_for_org.jsp?orgid=31228&viewType=1

Random Acts of Kindness Week

2010-01-26T10:51:00.000-08:00

When I was in elementary school, my fourth grade teacher had a box on her desk labeled "Random Acts of Kindness." Every time one of our classmates did something nice, out of the goodness of his/her heart, we were encouraged to drop a note in the box thanking him/her for his/her kindness. Every Friday afternoon, our teacher would tuck the notes away in our mini mailboxes for us to take home and read. Even though that was years ago, I still try to share kindness with those around me. That being said, you can imagine my surprise when I found out there is an official Random Acts of Kindness Week! It begins on February 15th and lasts until February 21st. Random acts of kindness can be as simple as holding the door for someone or giving a genuine compliment. The best thing about these acts is they can be performed anywhere and any time! For more ideas about this week of kindness, visit The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation's website. There are ideas as well as inspirational quotes and stories to help you get in the spirit of sharing kindness.

"No kind action ever stops with itself. One kind action leads to another. Good example is followed. A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees. The greatest work that kindness does to others is that it makes them kind themselves." - Amelia Earhart

Haiti Relief: What Can I Do To Help?

2010-01-25T11:22:00.000-08:00

On January 12th, 2010, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti just before 5 p.m. The quake was centered about ten miles southwest of the country's capital, Port-au-Prince. Significant damage from the quake and serious loss of life left the country in ruins. President Obama said the U.S. government would "stand ready to assist the people of Haiti," but how can Americans make the largest impact with their assistance? I believe one of the best ways to help victims of disaster is to look to a trusted organization, such as the American Red Cross. Donating money is one of the easiest ways to support disaster relief. The Red Cross has a new method for collecting donations through text messaging. Simply text "HAITI" to 90999 and make a $10 donation to the American Red Cross Haiti Relief and Development Fund. The donation will appear on your next month's phone bill. You can also give blood. The need for blood right now is urgent, as the American Red Cross is providing blood and blood products this week at the request of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). If neither of these options does not satisfy your desire to help, you can also volunteer your time at your local American Red Cross. Currently, the Red Cross is not accepting volunteers to travel to Haiti, but you may continue to check their website in case the status changes. Please visit the American Red Cross' website for more information on how to help the victims of the devastating earthquake in Haiti.

Boys and Girls Clubs of Las Vegas

2010-01-07T09:38:00.000-08:00

Every morning, when I'm driving north on the 95 to work, I pass by a large billboard that features a picture of R&B singer Usher and the inspirational phrase BE ICONIC. It wasn't until recently that I noticed that this is part of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America's advocacy campaign that encourages youth to BE GREAT. The Boys and Girls Club, founded in 1860, is a national organization whose mission is to "enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens." They provide a safe environment to foster positive development. We have a local chapter here in Southern Nevada. If you're interested in volunteering for this wonderful organization, visit the website for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Las Vegas.

"I Have a Dream" Art Project

2010-01-04T09:35:00.000-08:00

Click on the picture above to read about how to get involved in the "I Have a Dream" Art Project put together by the Volunteer Center of Southern Nevada!

Top New Year's Resolutions

2009-12-30T14:11:00.000-08:00

This morning, the program manager of We R Community sent me an article from About.com that listed the top ten New Year's Resolutions. I was surprised to see that number nine was Help Others. This unselfish resolution may seem daunting at first, but volunteerism can take on many different forms. One thing that stood out to me was that the article went into detail as to what could be considered a volunteer activity. I thought this was interesting because many people do charitable work here in Southern Nevada, and they don't even realize it. Whether it's watching a neighbor's child while they run an errand, or running the clock at a little league game, Nevadans are working to make their community a better place. However, for those who are interested in volunteering for a recognized nonprofit, they can search the Volunteer Center of Southern Nevada's website for lists of service projects. Happy New Year everyone! And Happy Volunteering!

Give a Day, Get a Disney Day

2009-12-09T09:45:00.000-08:00

Over the past few months, there has been a buzz within the volunteer community that Disney will be giving away park passes to their Disney Parks in exchange for a day of service. Well, they have recently announced that beginning January 1, 2010, volunteers can find qualified projects on Disney's website. First, you must become a member of the Volunteer Center of Southern Nevada so you can sign up for the projects listed on Disney's website. Once you sign up and complete your service activity, most lasting between 4 and 6 hours, Disney will email the volunteer with a certificate that will allow you to redeem your pass. One million passes will be given away in this nationwide initiative, so become a member of the Volunteer Center and keep an eye out for qualified projects to sign up for!

Volunteer Resources

2009-10-28T09:51:00.000-07:00

After many attempts to locate volunteer opportunities throughout the Valley, two particular websites consistently pop up in my search. The first website I would like to direct you to is the Volunteer Center of Southern Nevada. Local non profits and charitable organizations post descriptions of both volunteer activities and the types of volunteers that they are looking for on this site. You can create custom searches for the types of activities that you are interested in as well as searching for events that are looking for volunteers like you. It's an amazing search engine that makes finding an event to participate in a snap! The second website that I would like to draw your attention to is Unite d Way of Southern Nevada. This website is full of information about local nonprofits and how to get involved in your community. It's a great starting off point for finding ways to begin serving.

Welcome

2009-10-27T10:11:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the We R Community, an initiative of the Public Education Foundation, blog spot. The WRC program is now in its second year and has expanded to include nine schools throughout the Valley. This blog is a resource for students involved in the program looking for unique volunteer opportunities throughout Southern Nevada. Volunteer opportunities are my specialty since I am a paid volunteer. I am an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer who has committed myself for one year to serve the Public Education Foundation. A native Nevadan, I am grateful that I have the opportunity to give back to the community where I grew up. I am very excited to be able to spend part of my year of service working closely with the We R Community program. Volunteering has always been an important part of my life, and I am eager to help others looking for ways to get involved in their community. Please check back frequently for upcoming service events and activities.