30 days of Creative Philanthropy

Are you stuck in a summertime haze with nothing to do?  Look for creative ways to philanthrop-ize your life!  Try a 30 day philanthropy challenge and find new ways to give back.  Look online or in the news for local volunteer information and get to it!

A 30 day challenge seems pretty self explanatory, but here are a few guidelines:

- Try to do something every day for more than 20 minutes (We know that task seems a little daunting, but that’s why it’s called a “challenge!”)

- What you do should be something philanthropic (a.k.a. something that helps your community, like picking up trash or stocking shelves at your local food bank)
- Bring a friend!  Time goes by faster when you’re with someone.

Tips to get you started:
- Identify goals (what do you hope to accomplish for your community in the next 30 days?)
- Schedule activities the week before so you never have to scramble for ideas
- Pick an area to focus on throughout the 30 day challenge (do you want to help animals, the environment or children?  Or do you want to focus on multiple areas of giving?)
- Don’t beat yourself up if you miss a day!  You’re giving back to your community and that’s all that matters.

Resources and examples:
Creative Microphilanthropy 30 day challenge
http://www.good.is/post/the-good-30-day-challenge-creative-microphilanthropy

Good Citizenship 30 Day challenge
http://www.good.is/post/the-good-30-day-challenge-become-a-good-citizen

Summertime Philanthropy

We know a fair few of you will be completely bogged down by your summer commitments in the coming months.  However, if you find yourself in a rut, wishing you had inspiration to do something for your community (or just wishing you had something to do, period), visit our blog.  We’ll have summertime philanthropy challenges and activities for you to immerse yourself in between the trips to the beach. 

Happy Summer!

Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Sexual Assault: we don’t like to talk about it and we most likely cringe when someone brings it up.  We need to start a conversation about it, though, because it affects more people than we think.  Sexual Assault is any sexual act committed against your will or without your consent.  Anyone can be a victim of sexual assault: it can happen to men and women of all ages and races. (http://www.dayoneny.org/dayone/get_informed/saam_2012/?gclid=CL38wvjK0K8CFS7DtgodWmlNdg)

A few ways to raise awareness about sexual assault:
 talk about it with your friends/peers
 contact local women/children shelters to ask if they have resources/info about sexual assault prevention
 ask local schools if they have programs/information for students regarding sexual assault prevention
 find different ways your community supports victims of sexual assault

Websites for more info and statistics:
http://www.sapr.mil/index.php/saam
http://www.dayoneny.org/dayone/get_informed/saam_2012/?gclid=CL38wvjK0K8CFS7DtgodWmlNdg
http://www.nsvrc.org/
http://www.malesurvivor.org/myths.html
http://www.stanford.edu/group/svab/myths.shtml

Going Green: Earth Day [April 22]

It’s time to break out your shovels, scatter some seeds and reap what you sew for this year’s Earth Day.  Many cities hold events on or around April 22 in honor of Mother Nature.  This is a great opportunity to teach youth in your community how to keep our planet green.  Hold a recycling challenge at your school.  Have people sign a pledge to reduce their use of electricity for at least an hour a day.  Plant a tree with your friends or find an event close to you to volunteer for. 

We made it easy for you!

[Events by city]

http://www.earthday.org/fayetteville

http://hotspringsgreen.org/eday.html

http://www.arkansasstateparks.com/events/great-american-cleanup-75706/

http://www.pinebluffcvb.org/calendar/detail.aspx?id=824

https://www.facebook.com/pages/UCA-Green-Week/113122772033241

[Other events]

http://www.arkansasearthday.org/

http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2010/apr/20/earth-day-events-around-arkansas/

Can’t find your town?  Do a little digging and ask others what they plan to do on Earth Day.  You can plan your own celebration!

April Awareness: Child Abuse Prevention

This week's awareness spotlight is Child Abuse Prevention.  


Unfortunately, child abuse is not an uncommon problem and abuse manifests itself in many different forms.  Abandonment, neglect, physical, emotional, sexual and psychological are the most common forms of child abuse.  If a child is abused in any way, he or she can grow up to experience many of the following problems: (emotional) depression, anxiety, low-self esteem; (physical) various non-accidental physical ailments (bruises, broken bones, wounds, etc); (neglect) lack of basic needs such as food, shelter, clothing and medical attention.  


Many cities and towns have programs that help raise awareness of and prevent child abuse and neglect, support healthy childhood development and strengthen families.  These programs are usually held by women's shelters, churches and schools.  YACs can consider funding these programs around or near their area.  


To learn more visit these websites: 
http://www.preventchildabuse.org/index.shtml
http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/whatiscan.pdf
http://www.childabuseprevention.org/content/programs-and-services

April Awareness: Autism

Throughout the month of April, we will post about different awareness groups in order to give your YAC ideas regarding what/who to fund during your grant cycle!


April 2nd (this past Monday) was Autism Awareness Day and many people came together to support fundraising and awareness-raising events for Autism.  Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and affects a person's ability to communicate and interact with others, along with other developmental issues.  There are varying degrees of autism and each case is unique, therefore treatment is different for anyone with the disorder.  Many autism advocate agencies help families with information about the disorder, including: funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and providing valuable information to families and individuals affected by autism disorders.  (sources: autismspeaks.org and autism-society.org).  


Quick facts:
Autism affects 1 in 88 children
Autism affects 1 out of 54 boys and 1 out of 252 girls
There is no medical detection or cure for autism
Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the U.S.


There are probably more children in your area who are affected by autism than you think.  Find out how to help them!


Here a few websites if you want to know more:
http://www.autismspeaks.org/
http://www.autism-society.org

Grant Awards, Ceremonies and More

Once your YAC decides which youth organization(s) to grant to, plan on having a special ceremony or congratulatory written letter for the grantee(s).  If your YAC group has access to a facility big enough to hold a large group of people, consider utilizing this space for a grant award reception.  Invite local news stations, community leaders and the grantee(s) along with a few youth from the organization(s) your YAC is funding.  Make sure to serve light refreshments at the reception and create an agenda for those who attend.  A reception can boost community relationships with YAC and amongst organizations.  This is beneficial for your YAC’s image and relationship with the organization(s) your group chooses to fund. 

If your YAC group is not able to host such an event, hold a YAC meeting in which each member composes a hand-written letter congratulating the organization(s) that will receive funding.  Tell the organization(s) how excited your group is to help fund their efforts for youth and why your group decided to choose them.  Tell them why you enjoy funding youth efforts and why you think YAC helps the community.  Always remember to commend their efforts and thank them for the hard work they do for youth. 

If your YAC needs resources (Grant Cycle letters templates, YAC letterhead, etc.), contact us at yac@arcf.org or visit the YAC page on our website at www.arcf.org.