Photo Credit: Cookies For Kids' Cancer

Have you ever hosted a bake sale to raise money for something important? Or brightened someone’s day with an assortment of freshly baked treats?   As someone who finds the process of baking to be relaxing and often more enjoyable than the actual consumption, I’ve often thought about taking treats over to our local church, children’s hospital, or nursing home to be enjoyed by someone much more appreciative.

I recently read the story of Gretchen Witt, who  founded Cookies for Kids’ Cancer four years ago after her son was diagnosed with cancer.  It started with a simple bake sale she hosted with the help of some friends.  The result was 96,000 cookies baked to raise nearly half a million dollars in just three weeks.  People across the country learned of her son’s battle with cancer and her efforts to raise money for pediatric cancer and the result was the evolution of Cookies for Kids’ Cancer, a non-profit organization that raises money for pediatric cancer through bake sales.

In January, Gretchen’s son Liam lost his battle with cancer.  He would have been 7 this May.  Gretchen continues to work to raise money for pediatric cancer and hopes that people across the country will host bake sales in honor of Liam and other children currently battle cancer.  To support Cookies for Kids’ Cancer, The Glad Products Company will match all bake sale proceeds in May that benefit the charity up to $225,000.

So how can you get involved?

1.  Host a bake sale:  The website offers a variety of planning tips to make your event a success

2.  Join Glad to Give on Facebook

3.   Enter Glad product codes. Glad will make a donation to Cookies For Kids’ Cancer.

Have you ever hosted a bake sale? I’m curious to hear about what you did with the proceeds.

Win It! One of you will win a bake sale kit (ARV $125) which will include an OXO mixing bowl, two spatulas, and a cookie scoop, Williams-Sonoma cookie cutters and cooling rack, a Maxi-Aid No Touch baking sheet and a Silpat non-stick baking mat.  Simply leave me a comment with one way you give back.  Comments will close on April 21st at 11:59 PM PST.

US Residents only.  Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one. Be sure to leave me a separate comment for each additional entry.

Follow me on Twitter AND tweet about the contest.

Like me on Facebook

Subscribe to my feed via email or reader.

Blog about this giveaway. It doesn’t have to be a separate post. Just include a blurb about it when you blog about other giveaways.

Click on one of the very cute buttons below and digg, stumble, fav, etc. Just let me know what you did in the comments!

No compensation was received for this post. Giveaway items supplied by the company.

A couple of weeks ago, a local restaurant chain hosted a free pancake day to raise money for an established children’s charity.  I don’t typically go out to breakfast unless it’s a Saturday and the hubby is around, however, I felt like it was an important cause and thought it would make for a teachable moment with my son.

Perkins, a popular restaurant chain in the midwest, Florida, and Pennsylvania is hosting a free pancake day on Monday, March 21st to raise money for Give Kids The World (GKTW).  This local, non-profit organization provides week-long vacations to children with life-threatening illnesses and their families at a “storybook” retreat in Central Florida.  Every year 27,000 children are diagnosed with a life-threatening illness and this organization seeks to improve the quality of some of these children’s lives.  For 25 years, GKTW has served over 100,000 US and international families, providing them with a week-long vacation that includes accommodations at the GKTW Village, meals, donated attraction tickets, and more.

Perkins Restaurant & Bakery has supported the organization for 20 years and serves more than 200,000 free meals each year at the Gingerbread House Restaurant, located in the heart of the Give Kids The World Village.  420 US and Canadian restaurants will participate in Perkins Pancake Day and will serve guests their made-from-scratch buttermilk pancakes.  Perkins would like guests to consider donating to GKTW.  To find a participating location, just visit their website or Facebook page.

Win It! One of you will win a $50 gift card to Perkins.  Simply leave me a comment with one way you teach your children to give back.  Comments will close on March 30th, 2011 at 11:59 PM PST.  US Residents only.  Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one. Be sure to leave me a separate comment for each additional entry.

Follow me on Twitter AND tweet about the contest.

Like me on Facebook

Subscribe to my feed via email or reader.

Blog about this giveaway. It doesn’t have to be a separate post. Just include a blurb about it when you blog about other giveaways.

Click on one of the very cute buttons below and digg, stumble, fav, etc. Just let me know what you did in the comments!

No compensation was received for this post. Giveaway item supplied by the company.

Here is a quick Whrrl highlighting the happenings of the day:

No compensation was received for this post. Media tickets provided.

I first learned about CASA through an event held each year at South Coast Plaza called Pumpkins & Pancakes.  I’m deeply saddened that so many children are forced to relocate to group homes or foster placements.  However, there is hope for these children, thanks to CASA.  These volunteers provide a stable one-on-one relationship for the child, monitor the child’s circumstances and provide fact-based information to the court in the best interest of the child, and advocate for a safe, permanent home.

So what can you and I do?  We can make a donation, volunteer, sponsor a child, and/or attend a fund-raising event such as Pumpkins & Pancakes.  The annual Pumpkins & Pancakes Halloween Extravaganza raises over $50,000 to support CASA’s work with abused and neglected children. Here are the details for this weekend’s event:

Pumpkins & Pancakes will be held on Sunday, October 24th from 8 am to 11 am at the Crate and Barrel/Macy’s Home Store Wing of South Coast Plaza.  Tickets are $30 per person ($35 at the door) or $25 for groups of 10 or more before October 22nd. All proceeds benefit CASA’s work.

Here is what you can expect at the event: Plum’s Cafe will cater a gourmet breakfast (with pancakes, of course!) and kids will enjoy face painting, balloon artists, and arts/crafts.  The Radio Disney Road Crew will feature music, games contests, and prizes and there will be surprise character appearances by Wild Thing, Curious George, Madeline, Anaheim Ducks Wild Wing and more!

For more information, or to purchase a ticket, just visit their website.

No compensation was received for this post. I will be attending the event to provide coverage.

This giveaway is now closed. Thanks for stopping by.  The winner is Lori A. Congrats!

Subway recently partnered with Little League Baseball and Softball for its second annual Baseball DeSIGNS Tour which features over 30 baseballs designed by Little Leaguers and autographed by celebrities.  Fans can bid and win baseballs signed by legends like Philadelphia Phillies’ Ryan Howard and Biggest Loser’s Shay Sorrells by visiting their auction on eBay through August 29th.  Proceeds from the auction will benefit the Little League Urban Initiative. If you’re interested in previewing the designs, visit their Facebook page.

In conjunction with the Baseball DeSIGNS Tour, Subway is currently offering Little League themed reusable lunch bags with their Subway Fresh Fit for Kids meals.  Their kids’ meals are one of the few I’ll actually purchase for my son because they include healthy sides like apple slices and the option of getting milk instead of juice.

Win It! One of you will win a Subway prize pack which includes a $10 Subway card, a Little League reusable meal bag, and a baseball that kids can design on their own. To enter, simply leave me a comment with the name of your favorite ball!  Comments will close on September 5, 2010 at 11:59 PM PST.  Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one.

Be sure to leave me a separate comment for each additional entry.

Follow me on Twitter AND tweet about the contest.

Subscribe to my feed via email or reader.

Blog about this giveaway. It doesn’t have to be a separate post. Just include a blurb about it when you blog about other giveaways.

Click on one of the very cute buttons below and digg, stumble, fav, etc. Just let me know what you did in the comments!

No compensation was received for this post.  Items for review and giveaway were supplied by Subway.

One of the restaurants I know I can get a healthy meal at is Souplantation (aka Sweet Tomatoes).  I typically pile on the greens, grab a bowl of soup, and a carb fix and I’m satisfied.  Last week, Sweetie (the official mascot of the restaurant), kicked off the Great American Road Trip to help raise money for the Boys & Girls Club of America. He started in Florida and will travel all the way to Southern California, ending at the Garden Fresh headquarters in San Diego.  Twenty percent of the day’s sales in each tour city will benefit local chapters of the Boys & Girls Club. During his 12 city tour, Sweetie will make guest appearances at select restaurants.

If you miss Sweetie or you’d like to follow him through his travel, be sure to visit the website and the company blog.  Here are Sweetie’s planned stops in Southern California:

Los Angeles – May 24

Orange County – May 25

San Diego – May 26

· The Encinitas location from 4 – 6pm

· The Mission Gorge location from 5 – 7pm

If you’ve ever frequented a Souplantation, you know that the menu changes periodically.  To coincide with the Great American Road Trip, Souplantation is offering the following themed menu:

- California Cobb Tossed Salad

- Chesapeake Corn Chowder soup

- Texas Longhorn Beef Chili Soup

- Neighbor Joe’s Gumbo Soup

- Orange Creamsicle Lava Cake

- French Quarter Praline Muffin

For more information, just visit their website.

No compensation was received for this post.

C & H Sugar is the presenting sponsor for Share Our Strength’s Great American Bake Sale for the third year in a row.  The goal of the sale is to help fight childhood hunger.   Families, organizations, and schools across the country are encouraged to hold bake sales and donate the profits to Share Our Strength in order to provide meals to America’s children.

Getting involved is easy.  Simply host a bake sale, add your event to the bake sale map on their website, and donate the bake sale funds.  For the past seven years,1.7 million people have participated in the Great American Bake Sale, raising $6 million dollars to help end childhood hunger.  Hosting a bake sale at your local school, church, playgroup or community helps to raise awareness of childhood hunger in America.

So where do the funds go?  (that is a question I always ask of a charity)

Here is a summary of how the funds are used (from the site):

Enroll more eligible kids in school breakfast, after-school snacks and meals, and their families in SNAP (food stamps).

Bring community gardens and farmers markets to low-income neighborhoods.

Bring affordable, fresh fruits and vegetables to urban corner stores.

Teach at-risk families how to plan, shop for, and prepare healthy, low-cost meals at home.

Help local food pantries, food banks and soup kitchens meet the pressing demand for more nutritious food.

Increase awareness and understanding of childhood hunger and solutions to it.

To find a local bake sale, just visit their website.  You’ll also find an entire section designed to walk you through the process of hosting your own bake sale!

I received a gift card to participate in my own bake sale, which will be held mid-May (since Mother’s Day weekend was a bit hectic!).

No compensation was received for this post other than a gift card to purchase the supplies needed for a bake sale.

]]> http://rockinmama.net/2010/05/share-our-strength%e2%80%99s-great-american-bake-sale-to-end-childhood-hunger/feed/ 0 http://rockinmama.net/2010/02/pepsi-is-giving-back/ http://rockinmama.net/2010/02/pepsi-is-giving-back/#comments Mon, 01 Feb 2010 12:00:24 +0000 caryn http://rockinmama.net/?p=12938 My husband and I often talk about what’s happening in our world today, and discuss how we can make a difference.  If you remember, I recently expressed how our hearts are broken for the people of Haiti.  Our hearts are also broken for the poor, hungry, and homeless right here in our own community.  There are so many in need, right here…in front of us.

I admire companies that use their influence for something greater.  This year, Pepsi is helping to make great things happen the Pepsi Refresh Project.  Pepsi will give away over $20 million dollars to fund projects that will help make communities better.  But they need and want your ideas.  Does a playground in your area need a makeover so that it’s handicapped accessible?  Does a park need upgrades to make it safer for children?  Does your community library need new computers?  Whatever need you think is important in your community, share it with Pepsi…they want to hear about it.

Every month (beginning today, Februrary 1), you will have the opportunity to submit a project in one of six categories: health, arts & culture, food & shelter, the planet, neighborhood, or education.   At the end of the month, Pepsi will post the top submissions on their website and let the public vote on who should win grants ranging from $5,000 to $250,000 (totaling up to $1.3 million dollars)

Head on over to the site to submit an idea to be considered for March’s grants or to vote on your favorite submissions (right now you can vote on February’s entries). For more information you can follow the program on Twitter or Facebook.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Pepsi Refresh. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Photo Credit: Hotdogger Blog

The wickedly (giggle) famous Kristin Chenoweth was the spokesperson who helped kick off the campaign last week. Good Mood Missions is a charity initiative to turn America’s good moods into 2 million pounds of food for Feeding America.  Feeding America is the country’s leading hunger-relief organization which provides food to 25 million Americans every year. Oscar Mayer jumpstarted the campaign by donating 1 million pounds of food and is now asking America to help match that 1 million pounds for a total goal of 2 million pounds.  All you have to do is answer the question “it doesn’t get better than ______”  on their website.  Every person who shares their “good mood moment” results in more food donations towards their goal.

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I did not receive compensation for this post.

Last year, I had the honor of visiting the Los Angeles Ronald McDonald House. This amazing organization keeps families together by providing a “home away from home,” for families who’s children are very sick.

I only just now watched the Golden Globes (which I had recorded on our DVR).  Such is the life of a mama with two little ones.  If you happened to watch it to, you may have remembered watching a commercial starring Lance Kopplin.  Lance Kopplin is a cancer survivor and his family has spent over 200 nights in four different Ronald McDonald Houses across the country.  Lance was diagnosed with cancer at the age of six and given a 0% chance of survival.   Today Lance is ten (and I’m having difficulty writing this because of the tears that are now flowing).  I encourage you to read his entire story on the RMHC site.

McDonalds USA donated the funds to make Lance Kopplin a star.  His commercial aired during the Golden Globes.

There are numerous charitable organizations that you can support.  Maybe because I’m a nurse…or maybe because I’m a mom.  RMHC is one charity that I support and believe in.  For more information, just visit their site, follow them on Twitter, or fan them on Facebook.

I did not receive compensation for this post.