THE FIRST PARISH OF WATERTOWN & THE FOLK SONG SOCIETY OF GREATER BOSTON PRESENT: Knockabout

Saturday, March 12, 2011 8:00pm

The First Parish of Watertown

35 Church Street, Watertown, MA

A benefit concert for The Friday Night Supper Program in Boston

Ballads, chanteys and songs of the sea are the mainstay of "Knockabout". Colin de la Barre, Barry O'Brien, Rose Sheehan, Peter and Joanne Souza have spliced together many nautical tunes that represent both new and old world music with a wealth of knowledge and talent. Vocals and harmonies are a major part of performances mixed with knowledge and lots of good fun. All members of "Knockabout" reside in Gloucester and Essex, MA.

The Friday Night Supper Program provides a warm, nutritious, home-cooked meal to the

homeless and hungry people of Boston in a safe and dignified environment every Friday

night. They serve approximately 150 meals every Friday to some of Boston's most vulnerable citizens, many of whom face a constant struggle not only for food but for understanding and friendship as well. The program also strives to provide basic needs such as clothing

Admission $20 - Coffee & Refreshments will be served

For more information go to : fssgb.org or fpwatertown.org

To purchase tickets online go to BrownPaperTickets.com

To reserve tickets call (617) 924 - 6143

Kentucky Derby Day Event THIS Saturday

I wanted to let you all know that OYFP will be hosting a Kentucky Derby Day Event THIS Saturday at GLOBE. Not only is it completely fun to dress up and wear amazingly big hats, but you can win prizes as well. In typical OYFP fashion, ALL of your money will be benefiting Friday Night Supper Program. Who doesn't want to have fun and support and support Boston's homeless population as well.

Price of ticket includes:

• A Mint Julep drink
• Tea Sandwiches
• Chance to win several different prizes

We even have a photographer coming to take pictures of you and your Derby Day Flair! So come on out and support a good cause with OYFP!

Sing Sing Sing Sing

You are about to have a fantastically hysterical time... That is, of course, if you come out this Thursday night to our Karaoke party at LimeLight. Arrive between 8-9 pm and your full cover charge will go towards supporting Friday Night Supper Program (FNSP). Bar drinks will be available in case you are in need of liquid courage.


Singin' for Friday (Night Supper Program)
Date: Thursday, July 16th
Time: 8pm
Location: Limelight Stage & Studio
204 Tremont St
Boston, MA 02116
(across from the Boylston T-stop)
Partner: Friday Night Supper Program
Cost: $10

Anyone you know have a birthday, wedding, anything coming up? Want to just spoil yourself? Why not win a gift!

Raffle will include prizes like:

Red Sox Tickets - August Game
Limelight Gift Certificate
Boston Center for Adult Education Gift Certificate

Wine & cheese
Frequent Flyer Miles
Framed Photographs

ImprovAsylum Tickets

Cocktails 101

Does this scene sound familiar with you?

You are heading out after work with a few friends to a new bar you haven't been to before. The waiter hands you a list of the drinks offered at this bar and you haven't heard of any of them previously. Your friends look at the menu and know exactly what they are going to get in seconds. You, on the other hand don't know what drink you prefer as you look through the short novel of all the drinks they can create for you. You don't want to be lame and ask the waiter/bartender what exactly is in each of the drinks, but you aren't sure which ones you will like. The waiter comes back and takes everyone's orders, and when it comes to you, you try the first one on the list. Several minutes pass, and the waiter comes back with all of your drinks. You take a sip of your drink, and you don't like it, you try your friends drink and love it. If only you knew what drinks were what.

If that scene sounds familiar have we got an event for you! Cocktails 101, where you can learn from the Boston Shaker how to make a Martinez, French 75 among others. Enjoy Cocktail Samples and amazing appetizers from Mantra while your at it!

PLUS ALL PROCEEDS will go to the West End House which offers life-shaping opportunities to more than 1,000 youth representing 40 countries. Learning and doing something good for you community, all in one!

Details:

Where: Mantra, 52 Temple Street

When: June 18th, 6-9pm

Benefitting: West End House

Cost: $20 in advance, $25 at the door

Sponsors: Mantra, Boston Shaker, Berkshire Mountain Distillers, Preiss Imports and Vin Divino,.

Related Posts: 80's Game Night, I love Pasta, Spirit of Service

Your Name on Toast

Yep not kidding.  You can have your name or web address written on toast for any amount of donation (min $100.00) to Oxfam-Ireland. If you click on any of the pieces of toast then it links you to the website of the doner.  

The next logical question is why?  Well the obvious answer to that is who doesn't love toast and who wouldn't want to see their name on toast?

The website claims it's a silly idea, but silly ideas get people talking and creates awareness of the cause you are trying to promote.  SO TRUE!  This is why I

 loved watching Chicago station Channel 9 news in the morning growing up because they would make people do silly things, like be a human bowling ball and they would give you a bit of air time to promote your cause.  If hurling myself down a bowling lane to knock down some pins helps end world poverty than I am in!

I would also like to point out that they have raised over $11,000.00 to help Oxfam-Ireland thus far!   Think of what a unique mother's day gift it could be to, her name on toast.  

Click here to buy your own toast.

Click here to see all the pieces of toast that have been written on.

Related Posts: Holiday Shopping & BYOBag , DWBDG: a case study

Picture Courtesy of: http://yournameontoast.com/

P.S. Thanks for the idea Casey

SIS Marathon Social

April is when the infamous Boston marathon will be going down. Why not start cheering these champion runner's prior to the Boston marathon? Come on down and support Sport in Society's Marathon Team by coming to the Pour House for an evening of music, competitions, and fun.


There will be a raffle, with such awesome prizes as: Signed NE Revolution Jerseys, Personal Training Sessions at Train Boston, Personal Massage Gift Certificates, Signed Boston Bruins Items, Private parties at local bars...


Details:
March 31, 2009 from 6 pm – 9 pm
The Pour House
$20 Suggested Donation

*free giveaways and free food*


Sport in Society will utilize the power and appeal of sport to create a just world by eliminating discrimination, hate and violence, while creating lasting solutions, and promoting healthy development and social responsibility.


Related Posts: Spirit of Service is Hiding Something, Boston’s Run to Remember 2008, Team In Training: One Way to Make a Difference

Giving Away $80,000 - by Oct 15

There's $80,000 being given away at Squidoo.com.

Why are they giving away the money? Well, when the website was founded, they decided to set aside 5% of their profit to give to charities. Cool, right? So no, you don't get the $80K, but you can vote for a deserving non-profit to receive it.

But what exactly is the Squidoo site? I'm still not quite sure, but it looks like you can go on there, create a simple one pager about a cause you care about, and then hope that people donate money. It has a very Wikipedia feel to it. Their premise is that small donations can add up (see this page for more info).

Either way, they're giving away $80,000, and we get to vote on what charities get the money. Every vote gets the charity $2, so everyone has a chance to get moneys! You can only vote once - play by the rules - but you can promote your choice all you want.

And let me tell you, there are quite a few choices. My personal favorite is Long Hopes, the donkey shelter in Colorado. Yes. A donkey shelter. They take in donkeys who have no home any more. "Eeee-haw!" I say.

However, my vote (and $2 from Squidoo) went to the Genocide Intervention Network. There's a summary of links to the non-profits up for election on Squidoo to help you decide. Who are you going to vote for?

Related Posts: Absentee Voting; Non-Profits partnering with OYFP; Moving? Donate some of your items; Microsoft's i'm initiative
Photo from Long Hopes.

Philanthropizza… update…

Philanthropizza, held at California Pizza Kitchen, on July 16 was a great success!

Last week, a bunch of OYFP executive board members, new OYFP members, community partners and regular Bostonians all gathered to eat, drink and be merry at this benefit event for Christopher’s Haven.

Vivian of Newton and Chia Chi of Cambridge both decided to come out to CPK to show their support after reading the event blog post. They came across our blog after searching for a combination of the words: Boston, Volunteering and Charities. Vivian and Chia Chi are both relatively active in Boston’s volunteer community. They have participated in things like the Life Is Good Festival, the Walk for Hunger, and they both have served food to the homeless at the Kingston House.

Vivian and Chia Chi, if you’re reading this, I hope to see you again. Maybe at our next event this Thursday, July 24^th at Gallery XIV called Uncorked! Check out the event listing on Boston.Com!

Thank you to everyone who came out to CPK on July 16^th. None of this would be possible without your support. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you would like to learn more about our projects, our programs or our events.

Philanthropizza: Eat. Enjoy. Donate.

On Wednesday, July 16, 2008 OYFP is holding a fundraising event at California Pizza Kitchen, located at 137 Stuart Street, Boston.

All you need to do is download this flyer and present it to your server when ordering. There is no additional cost to you. The way it works is that 20% of your bill will be donated to OYFP! Donation amount excludes proceeds form tax & gratuity.

Come out to CPK on July 16^th and help On Your Feet Project increase its community awareness, improve our community, and stimulates social change.

Related Posts: Boston Non-Profit Networking; Be a Rock Star; Non-Profit Auctions and Raffles; We Rocked; Words for Sale

Photo from http://www.palmspringslife.com.

Help the Burmese by Eating

"Hmm..." you're thinking. "How can I help people who are starving and in need of disaster relief by eating? Seems contradictory."

Well, lucky for us Bostonians, it's not. If you're one of the thousands who receive the email newsletter Daily Candy, you no doubt noted the mention of the relatively new restaurant BanQ's fundraiser for the Burmese disaster. However, true to Daily Candy fashion, the listing was a bit scant on details, so I took it upon myself to contact the restaurant to find out a little more.

And what I found out is pretty cool.

BanQ serves French-Asian fusion cuisine (oo-la-la!). The owners of BanQ, Hemant Chowdhry and Mark Raab, and the chef, Ranveer Brar, were anxious to help Burmese cyclone victims because of the affinity they feel with Burma as the link between the Indian subcontintent (Chowdhry and Brar are Indian) and Southeast Asia. So, they came up with a special dish - spicy halibut wrapped in a banana leaf for which Chef Brar used the Burmese guiding principles of simple food with tropical influences. Proceeds from the dish, which will be on the menu at $26, will go to CARE International.

Why CARE? According to the BanQ newsletter, "Because CARE International has been working for 14 years in Burma (renamed Myanmar by the ruling junta), it has been successful in bypassing the aid backlog and getting immediate help to those affected."

CARE officials report that its 500 workers in the country are focusing on providing clean water and sanitation, distributing rice and high-energy biscuits, and assembling family kits containing blankets, plastic sheeting, clothes and kitchen and hygiene items. CARE will work in coming months to help the Burmese re-establish farming and small businesses."

Sounds like a win-win situation - you can kill two birds with one stone. You order the spicy halibut to satiate your hunger, and the profits are sent to CARE, fulfilling your desire to help but perhaps your lack of an appropriate outlet. There is no reported upper limit to the amount BanQ will donate or how long this dish will be offered - so go often, and enjoy.

For more information about BanQ, read the glowing reviews on Yelp or visit the South End restaurant's website.

Don't forget to vote daily for the Volunteer Boston Blog as the "Best Hobby Blog"!

Related Posts: Tornadoes, Cyclones, and Disaster Relief - Oh My!; Myanmar cyclones and what you can do to help; Champions of a Cause

Photos courtesy of BanQ.

Boston’s Run to Remember 2008

On Saturday May 24th and Sunday May 25th The Boston Police Department and Boston Police Runner's Club will hold the fourth running of Boston's Run to Remember.

The “Run to Remember” is held in honor of Massachusetts law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. This event is a two day run (one 5 mile road race and one half marathon) in celebration of the fallen officer’s lives as well as a show of respect for their ultimate sacrifice.

The net proceeds benefit Kids At Risk Programs throughout the City of Boston. “Kids At Risk Programs provide safe and nurturing environments encouraging inner city youths to make healthy choices and an alternative to gangs and acts leading to incarceration.” Since 1994, over $500,000 has been raised funding two primary programs for youths:

-Boys and Girls Club Memberships, YMCAs and other after school programs.
-Summer programs and camps for over 600 youths annually.

Other organizations benefiting from the Kids At Risk Program include:

-BGCB Young Leaders Program
-The Boston Youth Fund
-Dorchester YMCA Summer Camp
-Ella J Baker House Science Camp
-Frank A. Day Summer Camp
-Franklin Field Boys and Girls Club
-Kevin Kennedy All Star Baseball Camp
-The Reggie Lewis Athletic Center
-Side Kick Karate Camp
-South Boston Boys and Girls Club
-Young Graffiti Masters”

Join thousands of runners for the fourth annual Run to Remember. This 5-mile road race and half marathon runs through historic downtown Boston will be held in honor of the men and women killed in the line of duty. The event will not only will celebrate their lives, all proceeds from the run will go to benefit Kids at Risk programs in the city. All inquiries into this event can be directed to info@bostonsruntoremember.org

Hats off to Italian Home for Children

This past Saturday I went to the Derby Day event, which benefit the Italian Home for Children (IHC). This allowed me to do two things: One, to buy myself a ridiculously large flowery hat, and two, participate in a fundraiser for one of OYFP's partners.

This was my first time at the Harvard Club and the views it offers of downtown Boston were spectacular. Additionally, this was my first time to a derby event and it was fun to go around sipping mint julieps and admiring the creativity of other people with their hats.

My favorite hat was a lady who turned a baseball cap backwards, and put some flowers at the back (lid) of the hat. It's non-traditional of course, but I like people who think outside of the box. Jamie, my date was in the race for the best male hat. I think it was because he was one of three men there wearing hats, but I thought he looked very dapper in his hat.

In the Harvard Club, there were many flat screen TVs positioned around so you could watch the derby without straining your neck. When the horses were racing it was fun to see everyone cheer on the horse they thought had the best chance to win. It made you feel like you were at the clubhouse in Kentucky, cheering on the horses so they could hear it. And of course, we all knew that the tickets were going to support the Italian Home, which was reason enough to yell a little.

This event may not have been something you can afford but if you can, it is a spectacular event to attend that benefits an even more spectacular cause.

If you don't have any money to donate, but have the time, then come volunteer and play recess with the residents of the Italian Home for Children, Saturday May 17th, from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm. After all, volunteering will make you happier in the long run...

Spots are limited so please RSVP quickly to reena.mathew@oyfp.org. More information is available on the OYFP website.

Think of it as a field day to help out children who have emotional and behavioral issues... oh and you get to play too.

To view more photos of Derby Day 2008, visit Boston.com.

Related posts: Move your Bloomin', How to be Happier, Who is Happier?

photo courtesy of me

graphic flyer courtesy of Erica

Give Pregnant Teens a Chance for Education

So if you have kept on gossip from everyone's favorite pregnant teen star, Jamie Lynn Spears, you may know that she has recently passed her GED and is considering going to college. She realizes that an education can open up better opportunities for her and her child.

What if she wasn't allowed to pass her GED because she is a pregnant teen? One thing's for sure, she will have less of chance of providing a better life for that of her child as a single mom without a GED.

Now imagine that high schools are in fact discriminating against teens who are pregnant and do not allow them to fulfill their educational dreams. This is the reality that is happening to pregnant teens in Africa.

These pregnant African teens are protected under the law both locally and internationally to have a right to education, however, that right is being taken from them (sometimes for life) because of the discrimination against them for being pregnant and in schools.

This is why Faith in the Future International, INC., (FITFI) was formed. FITFI empowers teen mothers in Africa between the ages of 13 to 21 who have had to drop out of school. These pregnant teens will receive vocational training, which will allow them to become independent and contributing members of their communities and will allow them to provide a better life for their children.

What can you do about it? Join FITFI for a fundraiser this Thursday, April 17th from 6-10 pm at Kennedy's Midtown (42 Province St, Boston). This event will have live music featuring Jake Hill and there will be trivia questions and prizes to be won! Any donation amount would be appreciated.

See you there!

Photo courtesy of http://danscott77.blogspot.com/2006/09/africa-2the-people.html

We ROCKED

Did you have fun last night? Man, oh, Man I rocked on my feet all night long! My feet are still telling my they should be snuggled under the covers instead of at work.

In case you were superman and busy saving the world, I'll give a recap of why I ordered a Grande Soy Chai from Starbucks this morning after our first annual benefit concert at Church last night:

The first act, Glenn Michael took the stage with such passion and vigor which made it fun to watch him dance with his guitar. I have to admit this is the first time I have seen an acoustic live music act which included, a guitar, trumpet and drums. Very unique and superb, if I say so myself. If you liked what you heard go to his website and order his second full-length CD entitled Reflections. His first album is also available on ITUNES.

Ryan and the boys from the Powers That Be followed with a performance that can only be described as moving. I saw many a bodies in the crowd bopping to their beats and Ryan's killer guitar riffs. The Powers That Be also has an EP release available on ITUNES. Where one reviewer says, "This is one of the best debut cd's they have ever heard". Needless to say I needed some aqua after all the cheering.

The final act, The Slap Happies came on and I was jamming to Michael Jackson, Harvey Danger and No Doubt covers. I wasn't the only ones getting my boogie on, I saw many in the crowd break out in spontaneous dances. The Slap Happies are super supportive of OYFP and getting involved in the local community, which is great to see.

We even raffled off an autographed Youkilis baseball, and a dinner for two at California Pizza Kitchen. On behalf of OYFP I would like to thank Church, the bands, Christopher's Haven (for donating the ball), and everyone who attended last night.

I would also like to mention another opportunity to do good for the community, for one of our partners, The Italian Home for Children (IHC). IHC is holding a fundraiser in Newton Town Hall to help clean up the city. Additionally, for every volunteer IHC brings in, Starbucks will donate $10.00 per hour to the IHC. So you will be raising money AND helping the environment. Double Karma points if you ask me.

Photos from the event will be posted shortly in the OYFP Flickr account.

Casey, Dan (from Christopher's Haven), Krystle, and Julianne rock out by sitting down.

If I Had a Million Dollars

I have had that Barenaked Ladies tune stuck in my head all week thanks to Casey's post. It inspired me to write another blog post about what would you do if you did receive $1,000,000.00 dollars. Would you go out and buy yourself a new wardrobe? Would you buy a house? Would you do some globetrotting?

Have that image in your head, good. NOW imagine all the possibilities you could do if you donated all or even a portion of that money.

We have already learned what $150 dollars does for Boys & Girls Club of Boston, but what about other monetary amounts? The average amount of rent for a 1 bedroom in Boston is $1,400. What if you were to donate that amount to help house kids with cancer and their families? That's less than 1% of the $1 millon you have [theoretically] just received.

The average cost of school supplies for children in the beginning of the school year is $55 -$76 (depending on the age of the child). By those numbers you could buy 125 children school supplies for the entire year for less than $10,000! Think about what a difference that would make for children who are emotionally and behaviorally challenged.

Oprah is challenging people to do relatively the same thing, asking you what would you do if you if you were given $100,000 dollars and had to give it all away.

If you were to give all your newly received money away that would be AMAZING. But even if you were to give away a portion of it, you would still be doing copiousness amounts of good for the community around you. It's always good to share what you have received with those that are less fortunate.

I haven't ever come into a million dollars (but still crossing my fingers), but I have found various dollar bills on the ground when I am around town. I usually give it to a homeless person, or donate it to a cause when I see a donation jar.

I am not trying to sound altruistic, but just trying to prove that it doesn't always take huge donations to make a big difference in the community around you.

So I ask: If you just received $1 Million dollars,

WWYD? (What Would You Donate)?

Photo courtesy of loc.gov

Support the Boys and Girls in Boston - West End House

Support the young ladies and gentlemen of Boston at the Passport To Belonging charity event, celebrating the West End House Boys & Girls Club. The event is Saturday, April 5 in Allston, MA - just around the corner for many of us!

But just what does a "Passport to Belonging" event entail...?

Well, this particular Passport to Belonging involves a reception of food, arts, games and fun (like Scattergories?), followed by a dinner and live auction (a cattle auction? that would be cool. I could use me a cow or two), and you'll cap off the evening by dancing to the Latin Beat (la cucaracha! la cucaracha!).

Tickets are available online for donations from $150 to $1,000, depending on how much you want to give. To give you an idea of what your donation is going to: $150 supports 3 weeks of a youngen's summer program, $500 supports a 10-week summer program for one kid, and $1,000 provides breakfast, lunch and snack for five kiddies all summer long.

If this event isn't your cup 'o' tea, just wait until the Rock On Your Feet charity concert on April 10...

Anyone recognize this celebrity? He supports the [deleted: Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston] West End House, and so should you!

Photos courtesy of the West End House

Water, Water Everywhere, but Not a Drop to Drink

There is nothing like a good glass of water. Water helps you replinish liquids you sweat off during exercise, it rehydrates you from St. Patrick’s Day celebration, and clean the clothes you wear. Water is in everything, from the coffee you are sipping right now, to the food you may also be eating right now. It is such an intricate part of your life and you can’t survive without clean and accessible water. That’s why I think The Tap Project cause is so important.

• 1.2 billion people lack access to an improved water supply - approximately one in six people on earth (United Nations Human Development Report 2006)


• 2.6 billion people in the world lack access to improved sanitation. (United Nations Human Development Report 2006)


• 5,000 children die everyday because of water-borne diseases (Tap Project)
  

So what is Boston doing about it? This week, beginning on Sunday, March 16, 2008 through Saturday, March 22, 2008 select restaurants are asking that you donate at least $1.00 for the tap water that is typically free. This will hopefully raise some much need money and awareness for those who don’t have access to clean tap water.

Take it from Fatima, who is from Mabuia, Angola where there used to be no clean water. “A mother must take care of her children,” echoed Fatima, as she emptied her load of clean water into a bucket at her grass hut. “But we cannot do that when we have only dirty water. This project has changed the fortunes of this village,” she said.

Photo Courtesy of www.bcwa-ri.com

Taking your celebrity gossip indulgence to the next level

This Sunday is the Academy Awards show, which everyone expects to be a little quieter than usual due to the recently ended writer's strike (no Vanity Fair party?? what was the point of this night again?!)

But do not fret, I'm sure your wait in the checkout line at the grocery store will still be filled with entertainment from the gossip rags.

As for actually watching the Oscars, it's always a night that falls between excitement and tedium. Yes, you look forward to watching it but then again, it's just glamour on tv.

Why not glitz it up with an Oscars party of your own, or even better, throwing a party to promote a local charity? The occasion is there for you, as is the entertainment.

The Ellie Fund always throws a black-tie Oscar viewing bash, with this year's taking place at the Hard Rock Cafe in Faneuil Hall. It'll cost you a pretty penny but it's a chance to experience fabulous Hollywood right here in Boston.

Get On Their Feet

Web-based microfinancing helps poor entrepreneurs Get On Their Feet.

Kiva, which means “unity” in Swahili, a web-based non-profit incorporated in November 2005, lets anyone lend money directly to a specific needy person in a developing country.

Recipients of a Kiva Loan are referred to as "entrepreneurs" or "borrowers", contributors to a Kiva Loan are referred to as "Kiva Lenders". The key word here is: Loan. The loan allows the entrepreneur to boost themselves out of poverty. Lenders can loan as little as $25. Lenders also receive updates and get repaid when the business succeeds. Loan terms range from 4 months to 18 months. Currently, at repayment lenders receive no interest on their loan, this might change in the future. Astonishingly, the repayment success rate is 99.86%. This means that only 0.14% of all entrepreneurs default on their loan. Take a moment to let that success rate sink in. I will tell you how they are so effective in a second.

Funds. According Kiva’s website, since inception and as of January 30, 2008, Kiva has distributed $20,999,835 in loans from 239,127 lenders. A total of 31,864 entrepreneurs have been funded. The average loan size is $568.19.

How it works. The loan success rate is so high because every entrepreneur is interviewed and screened by a Kiva “Field Partner.” Kiva currently has 78 partners in 40 different countries. A partner can be a volunteer, an aid worker or anyone from an established community service institution. After the entrepreneur is interviewed and approved, the Field Partner posts a profile of the qualified entrepreneur on the Kiva website. Lenders browse and choose the entrepreneur they want to fund. Kiva then forwards the funds to the Field Partner who gives the money to the entrepreneur. The Field Partner also collects loan repayment funds and forwards the money upstream to the original lender. Often, when the original lender receives funds they re-contribute to another needy entrepreneur.

Matt Flannery, the founder of Kiva, says: "philanthropy of this kind can become addictive, especially as lenders know they will see their money again. By choosing a business on Kiva.org, you can "sponsor a business" and help the world's working poor make great strides towards economic independence.”

Team In Training: One Way to Make a Difference

Everyone has a cause that is near and dear to their heart. Let me tell you about one of mine.

Last spring, I signed up to participate in Team In Training. Participants of all athletic levels are supported in achieving the ultimate goal of running or walking a half or full marathon, or taking part in a triathlon or cycling event. In exchange for their training and support, you fund raise money for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The money you raise will go towards finding cures to help beat blood cancers like leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma.

Team In Training was one of the most worthwhile experiences of my life. I ran the Portland, Maine Marathon with the Society last fall. From raising over $2,000 for the Society on my own to crossing the finish line, it proves that “impossible” is just a state of mind. The coaches, staff and Honored Heroes were amazing. Everyone was so supportive and you really do feel like you are making a difference. While $2,000 seems like a small sum in the grand scheme of things, Team In Training has raised over $700 million over the past 20 years, not too shabby.

If you’re interested in learning more, you can visit the Massachusetts Team in Training site or The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society page.

The below clips sums up why I am passionate about raising funds and finding a cure -- Leukemia is is the number one cause of death of children under the age of 15. Have the tissues ready.