Last Week in a Good World...

ACCESS Youth put on a fabulous soiree to benefit at-risk DC youth. It was our pleasure to feature ACCESS Youth earlier this year, and learn about the organization's work to fight the school-to-prison pipeline through mentorship and mediation. 

DDG founder Saranah Holmes (2nd from right) and friends.

The University of Maryland Do Good Challenge 2015 came to a close. More than 60 teams competed to create social impact projects and ventures. Meet the winners and runners-up. Congratulations to all the participants! It's great to see smart, innovative young people dedicated to doing good!

Spro Coffee in Hamden, Baltimore, gives away coffee grounds to for customers to use in composting. It's a great way to reduce waste! 

Editorial director Holly Leber (pictured) and president Saranah Holmes teamed up to extract this clump of weeds. It was our white whale of the day! 

We took a team out to Beltsville, Md. to volunteer at Bread for the City's City Orchard. The fruit grown at City Orchard is distributed to food pantries to give underserved DC residents access to fresh, healthy produce. We had a great day weeding and trellising (we're quite the experts now!), and we're excited to go back this summer to pick the literal fruits of our labors!

We supported a friend in Atlanta as she raised money for the Atlanta Community Food Bank. 

Attendees left encouraging messages for the City Kids to fan the flames of success. 

City Kids Wilderness Project hosted a spring benefit to support the outdoor and career exploration programs that are helping the youth of City Kids to thrive. It was a pleasure to meet some of the young people of City Kids recently, and wish them all the best of luck!

Done some good lately? Taken notice of someone else who is doing a little something to brighten someone's day? See an article that fits in with the DDG mission? Send us a note and a photo! Email staff@dailydogood.co.

Saranah Says: How to Be A Better Volunteer

Nonprofits are always in search of a really good volunteer. I’m pretty sure most of us feel that giving our time for free already makes us the best After all, time is money. But there are some ways to really be a shining volunteer that will enhance your experience AND make you a rock star to the organization you are serving:

1)   Show up. Yep, the number one way to really excel at being a volunteer is to simply follow through with the commitment. Ever show up to an event and there are TOO many volunteers? So you sit around kinda twiddling your thumbs waiting for something to do and feeling like you are wasting your time? Well that’s because organizations usually overstaff since so many people flake. Keep your commitment and if there is an emergency communicate it as early as possible to the powers that be.

2)   Be.On.Time. That should be a rule for life in general, but I know some people are challenged when it comes to timeliness. However, when you are giving your time to an organization you are essentially acting as a representative of that organization. If you show up late it causes a ripple effect, and it looks bad for the nonprofit. Set two alarms, get an accountability partner, sleep at the venue, do whatever you have to do to show up ready and ON TIME.

3)   Channel your inner MacGyver (bless your heart if you don’t get that reference). Invariably things will go wrong. Be a problem solver because no one wants to hear people complaining, especially volunteers. If you DO see room for improvement pitch in and help or offer concrete ways to make something better.  

4)   Go with the flow, and by that I mean be flexible. If you and three friends signed up to do face painting but when you show up they have moved you to the dunking booth, don’t bitch about it, just go and do whatever it is that you are asked to do. You’re there to help, not hang with your friends, so be that person who is willing to be flexible when the plan changes. And, you know, wear underwear in case you get put in a dunking booth.

 5)   Have fun. No one likes a negative Nelly or a Grumpy Gus. Laugh, smile, enjoy yourself.  Your positive attitude will help make the experience all the better for yourself and everyone you meet.  

About the Author: Saranah Holmes is the president and founder of the Daily Do Good. She has been an active volunteer since her teen years, and would happily take on the dunking booth. For a good cause. 

Fun Facts for Earth Day

1.     This year marks the 45th birthday of Earth Day! Also turning 45 this year? Tina Fey, The Beatles “Let It Be” Album, Mary J. Blige, and Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water”.

2.     Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson founded Earth Day in 1970. After leaving the Senate in 1980, he continued his love for conservation by serving on the board of The Wilderness Society, one of the largest conservation organizations in The United States. In 1995, Senator Nelson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Bill Clinton for his commitment to the environment!

3.     20 million: The number of participants on the very first Earth Day, sparking its success as a permanent movement. People took to the streets to protest in favor of a healthy and sustainable environment

Source: http://www.elephantjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Picture-427.png

4.      In 1990, Earth Day went global with over 140 countries participating. The number of participants keeps growing—in 2000, 180 countries took part in Earth Day activities!

Also global in 1990? The Milli Vanilli scandal

5.     Earth Day 2010 saw 225,000 people flock to the National Mall for a Climate Rally, protesting and demanding that Congress pass climate change legislation in 2010.

http://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/269f7885-ba4b-4b34-acfb-2268087c4786.jpg

6.     Also a fan of Earth Day? James Cameron, the director of blockbusters Avatar and The Titanic, who launched an international initiative in 2012 to plant 1 million trees over the course of the year.

Source: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/.a/6a00d8341c630a53ef0128771793ec970c-800wi

7.     The Canopy Project, an Earth Day Network mission to plant trees “that help communities” has pledged to plant 10 million trees over the next 5 years to reverse the impact of deforestation and help local economies in impoverished areas of the world. So far, they’ve planted over 1.5 million trees in 18 countries.

Different kind of canopy

8.     Perhaps the most famous (fictional, but who’s keeping track?) environmental activist? Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax, who has become a worldwide symbol for taking action and responsibility to protect the environment.  

Source: http://www.econesting.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/lorax3.jpg

9.     How can you take part in Earth Day? The possibilities are endless! According to the Earth Day Network, you can pledge to compost, buy local produce, reduce your footprint, or stop using disposable plastic. Check out their website for more ways to take action!

Um, sure. This is good, too./Source: http://www.environmentteam.com/list/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/earth-day-globe-dress.jpg

10.  Looking for a way to give back on Earth Day in DC? Head to the National Zoo on April 22nd, where Earth Day celebrations start with a clean up of Rock Creek Park.

Cleanup at the National Zoo. /Source: https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5026/5643702671_58d0432fc1.jpg

About the Author: While a student at The College of William and Mary, Marisa Weidner volunteered at a school in Belize. A DC newcomer, she blogs about her explorations of the city at The Curated City. 

Congratulations, Calvary!

To our friends at Calvary Women's Services: 

Congratulations on the recognition of your dinner program chef, Barbara Dodson, by Women Chefs and Restauranteurs! Receiving the Community Service Award for making a contribution to the lives of others is a fantastic achievement. 

Barbara, we LOVE that you're a graduate of DC Central Kitchen as well! It's amazing to see two great area organizations benefitting each other. Keep up the good work!

Do Good, Feel Good! 

Your friends at DDG

Go Saranah!

A HUGE congratulations to our intrepid founder, Saranah Holmes, for being selected by the We Inpire Movement as their Ambassador of the Month. Way to go, Saranah! 

Photo by Gee James

"Act on your ideas, no matter how far-fetched they may seem."
- Saranah Holmes, Founder, The Daily Do Good

Paying it Forward

A couple weeks ago, I decided to pop into one of my favorite local doughnut shops to get a much-needed break from my freelance life, which can get pretty hectic at times.

National Doughnut Day 2015 is Friday, June 5. You're welcome. 

As I sat, brainstorming questions for a few interviews I had that week, a woman came in and ordered a dozen doughnuts. Like a lot of newbies (confession: I was one), she wasn’t aware that this local treasure accepts cash only. The customer in back of the woman overheard the conversation and offered to pay for her entire order. Pretty needless to say, she was floored.

“Really? Do you want me to pay you back in some way?” the woman asked.

Without hesitation, the Good Samaritan replied, “No, it’s no problem! There are some good people out there.”

Those seven words, “There are some good people out there” struck a nerve and caused me to start thinking about all the times I experienced a random act of kindness and how I can be one of the “good people out there.”

Hmmm…let’s see, there was that time when my family and I stopped at McDonald’s (don’t judge!) and when we went to pay for our order, the employee informed us that the car ahead of us had already paid for our meal. We were stunned. If that small act of kindness made us feel great, can you imagine how great it must’ve felt for the folks in the car ahead of us to pay it forward?

Don’t get me wrong; I’ve always been the person who will gladly fork out cash around the holidays when the cashier asks, “Would you like to donate to so and so’s charity?” But there’s something special about donating your time and seeing the faces of the people whose lives you’re changing.

 I remember when I was a sophomore in high school. It was the week before Thanksgiving and my culinary arts class prepared a full-course dinner for the students in the special education program. Although we never saw their faces, it was still an amazing feeling because it was more personal than just writing another check. If you prefer to donate money, that’s cool and I’m not knocking that. But, for me personally, knowing I made someone’s life a little bit better by giving my time was one of the best feelings in the world. I felt uplifted, inspired, motivated, and more important even.

Giving to another human being without expecting anything in return is one of the most rewarding things you can ever do. Moving forward in 2015, I want to experience that as often as I possibly can because it’s true: When you do good, you definitely feel good.

 About the Author: Princess Gabbara is a Michigan-based journalist and freelance writer (Ebony, Essence, etc.). She adores life and tries to live it every day to the absolute fullest. You can read more of her work on her blog. 

"Literacy and Education are the Keys to the Kingdom"

Did you know:

·      Girls are two-thirds of the world’s illiterate population?
·      In the developing world, 42 percent of girls are not enrolled in school?
·      Award-winning actress/producer/director Octavia Spencer admitted she still gets nervous talking in front of a crowd?

*record scratch*

Octavia Spencer?

Believe it or not, these seemingly disparate factoids came together at the Library of Congress on March 26 at an event to honor Room to Read. Room to Read is an international network of more than 50 chapters raising funds to support literacy and girls’ education in Africa and Southeast Asia. The group received the 2014 Rubenstein Prize from the Library of Congress’ Center for the Book for “outstanding and measurable contributions to increasing literacy.”

The packed house at the Thursday evening event included a strong contingent from event partner The Junior League of Washington sporting name tags bearing the titles of their favorite books. After networking over drinks and hors d’oeuvres, attendees streamed into the Coolidge Auditorium to hear keynote speaker Octavia Spencer.

Ms. Spencer brought far-flung educational challenges closer to home by speaking about her own struggles growing up dyslexic in a low-income, single parent household. Her teachers saw her potential and worked hand-in-hand with her mother to provide the support and encouragement she needed to get through school and succeed. “I am your walking billboard,” she said. “Literacy and education are the keys to the kingdom.”

A highlight of Ms. Spencer’s presentation came during the Q & A portion, when an audience member asked how to raise awareness about literacy in the face of more pressing problems like terrorism, war and weak economies. “These issues go hand in hand with literacy,” Ms. Spencer replied. “When young people understand that they have a future and can read the written word,” they can resist the hopelessness and extremist indoctrination that destroy communities. The audience responded with enthusiastic applause.

Craig Herb, head of the DC Chapter, spoke next, demonstrating the organization’s motto—“World change starts with educated children”—through stories such as that of Tay Thi from Vietnam. Her family wanted her to quit school and go to work, but with financial help and mentoring from Room to Read, she stayed in school and went to college. She is now a teacher, the highest paid member of her family, and a catalyst for literacy and opportunity in her community.

After hearing inspiring stories of transformation, attendees gathered in the opulent Great Hall for more refreshments and an opportunity to talk to Room to Read volunteers about how to get involved. Even children can help. Through Students Helping Students, schools, youth groups and universities raise funds for Room to Read, which then works with indigenous authors and artists to create books in-country based on the cultural traditions of the children who will be reading them. While stories and environments may differ, one thing remains the same: children around the world relate to, and want to help, one another.

About the Author: Tara Campbell is a crossover sci-fi writer living in Washington, DC. She volunteers her time for literacy organizations such as 826DC and the Books Alive! Washington Writers Conference. Follow her on Twitter at @TaraCampbellCom.

We are #HereForGood

On March 16, DDG founder Saranah Holmes and editorial director Holly Leber attended The Community Foundation for the National Capital Regions's #HereForGood event at Arena Stage in downtown Washington, DC. The largest funder of nonprofits in the DC area, The Community Foundation has invested more than one billion dollars in more than 8,000 organizations. 

Proceeds from The Community Foundation's #HereForGood event went to the Fund for Greater Washington, which strives to achieve economic security for all area residents. 

The Daily Do Good founder Saranah Holmes exchanges thoughts with Mark Bergel, executive director at A Wider Circle. Mark and company are gearing up for the National Conference to End Poverty on March 28.

"I need to do something that's soul-feeding," said Jeanette Radford of Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, speaking to DDG founder Saranah Holmes at The Community Foundation's #HereForGood event. 

It's hard to go wrong with bacon! Pictured here: Maple-bacon lollipops. 

We were thrilled to run into our friend Jackie from Critical Exposure! Photos from some of the organization's students were on display Monday night. (L-R): DDG editorial director Holly Leber, DDG founder Saranah Holmes, Critical Exposure director of development and communications Jacquelyn Horstmann.

WUSA9 reporter Delia Goncalves acted as emcee for the evening. 

Raymani, a student from Higher Achievement, reads an original work of poetry centered on the theme of love. Higher Achievement works to "close the opportunity gap" for middle school youth in DC. "Before Higher Achievement, I never had opportunities like this," she said.

A student from Metropolitan Ballet Theatre & Academy dances at The Community Foundation's #HereForGood event on Monday, March 16.

DC emerging artist J'Nell Jordan paints as part of the Gallery for Good. In her artist's statement, Jordan noted that she loves to capture "feel good" moments. 

"Make me different... so I can finally say I made it." - A poet ambassador from Free Minds Book Club gives a recitation. Through books and creative writing, Free Minds helps DC youth incarcerated as adults to realize their full potential. 

Swap. Meet.

Only at Pyramid Atlantic Art Center could community service look this good and be this much fun.

On March 14, Pyramid hosted its first Swap Party, an afternoon of trading art materials and professional dress accessories to benefit two very good causes. The funds raised will support art and education programs at Pyramid, and all surplus accessories will be donated to an as-yet-to-be-determined area non-profit serving low-income women. 

Since 1981, the Pyramid Atlantic Art Center has been enriching the lives of local artists and the wider community through printmaking, papermaking and book arts. To achieve its goals of artist development, arts education, and community engagement, Pyramid Atlantic hosts classes and workshops for artists of all ages and levels of experience. Its facility on Georgia Avenue in downtown Silver Spring features a paper mill, print shop, letterpress studio and bindery. The Center also curates art exhibits locally and around the world.

Before I even hit Pyramid’s front door, I knew I was about to enter a world bursting with creativity. The wheels of a giant, kinetic bicycle-inspired sculpture tilted and spun in the wind, and a shiny, pitted metal sculpture shepherded me along the path to Pyramid’s bright red building.

Once inside, I climbed the stairs with my bag of used accessories and entered a room full of colorful art and large, genuine smiles. Swappers chatted over wine and cheese while admiring the items fellow attendees had brought. These were no ratty hand-me-downs on display: the tables were piled high with bright scarves, sparkling jewelry, belts, purses, paints, brushes, and other supplies for looking good and making great art.

Speaking of the art—this is, after all, at the core of Pyramid Atlantic’s mission—the upbeat mood of the Swap Party was enhanced by the bright, paper-based art adorning the walls. Guests also had the opportunity to go down to the print shop and make art on the spot with their own print projects. (See slideshow below. Click on the photo to move on to the next slide.)

Although I didn’t wind up printing anything that afternoon, I did see a lot of fantastic art, and talked to many wonderful people.

Shirley Sagawa, a collage artist and non-profit management consultant, first started making art at Pyramid twenty years ago. Since joining the Pyramid board six years ago, she’s seen first-hand—and is continually blown away by—how much Pyramid’s committed staff and volunteers are able to accomplish on a limited budget.

Fellow artist and board member Marty Ittner reinforced the supportive nature of Pyramid.

“So much of being an artist is being solitary,” said Ittner, of why Pyramid is such an important “third place” -- that place between work and home where artists gather and share.

“The Power of Pyramid is in the people.”

Check out my rockin' new earrings! 

About the Author: Tara Campbell is a crossover sci-fi writer living in Washington, DC. She volunteers her time for literacy organizations such as 826DC and the Books Alive! Washington Writers Conference. Follow her on Twitter at @TaraCampbellCom.

Spring Cleaning

Looking to dive into some decluttering? Here are five organizations that will help give your spring cleaning a little #dogoodfeelgood boost. 

1. A Wider Circle -- A good friend of The Daily Do Good, A Wider Circle strives to end poverty and help families create comfortable homes they can be proud of. Donate furniture, household wares, professional attire and more. Learn more...

2. Miriam's Kitchen -- Miriam's Kitchen strives to end chronic homelessness by establishing meaningful relationships with individuals in order to ensure they get the support they need. Donation needs include men's clothing, sleeping bags, toiletries and non-perishable food items. Learn more...

3. DC Area Books to Prisons Project -- Part of the Washington Peace Center, the Books to Prisons Project collects paperbacks for prison libraries to provide a positive influence to incarcerated men and women in all 50 states. Learn more...

4. Suited for Change -- Suited for Change strives to "break down barriers to self-sufficiency" by providing low-income women with career training, life skills and professional attire. Donate business-appropriate clothing and accessories, including shoes, purses, scarves and jewelry. Learn more...

5. Bikes for the World -- Little one outgrowing her first two-wheeler? Finding that mountain bike is more of a laundry rack? Bikes for the World aims to create employment opportunities in bicycle repair and maintenance, as well as enhance the lives and livelihoods of people in developing countries. Learn more here...

Iron Man Fist Bump

Have you seen this?! If you haven't, clearly you're doing something crazy, like NOT spending every living moment on the Internet. 

Robert Downey, Jr., a.k.a. Iron Man (!) teamed up with The Collective Project and Limbitless Solutions to give this awesome-bow-tie-wearing kid a bionic arm. 

Seriously cool, right? 

Here's what you need to know: 

The Collective Project shares stories of students doing awesome things to make the world a better place. 

Limbitless Solutions is a volunteer-staffed organization that prints 3D bionic arms. According to the company's website: "We aim to knock down the barriers preventing those in need from having quality arm solutions by designing open-source 3D printed solutions and spreading a culture of innovation and sharing around the world!"

Albert Manero is a Fullbright Scholar earning a doctorate in mechanical engineering. He is the founder and senior director of Limbitless solutions. 

We'd like to send them all fist bumps. 

Screen shot from Facebook page of Robert Downey, Jr. 

Diane Rehm & DeLoreans

I actually said that to my fiancée Saturday night at the National Press Club. We were gathered for Young Playwrights' Theatre’s 2015 Giving Voice Award Gala.  YPT was celebrating 20 years helping students write and experience theater.

Ms. Rehm was the evening’s guest of honor and recipient of the award, which “recognizes extraordinary individuals who have exemplified YPT's spirit and vision by giving voice to the voiceless and inspiring others to realize their full potential,” according to YPT’s website.

The night’s theme was “Back to the Future,” in honor of 2015 as the year we all get hover boards.

Guests were invited to dress up as their favorite characters for photos with a DeLorean. Music ranged from Pharrell to Madonna. One of my favorite moments was hearing Michael Jackson’s “PYT,” which really should be YPT’s theme song.

Volunteers were on hand throughout the evening.

“(It’s) really cool to see how the program teaches kids in a way that school does not,” said volunteer and actor Anna Lynch. She added that students have need for creative opportunities when so much focus is on test preparation.

Lauren Alexander, a staff member at Imagination Stage, a Bethesda-based educational youth theater, said she likes that the two programs are “not in competition,” but have a “bridge” of cooperation between them.

YPT’s executive director Brigitte Pribnow Moore calls herself, “YPT’s Professional Giver of Thanks.” She thanked the crowd for enabling YPT to “inspire thousands of young people to realize the power of their own voices,” growing those voices from 200 students in 1995 to 2,000 students today.

Can we just elect her Queen of America? Photo from YPT Facebook page

And then…  it was time for Diane Rehm. Incidentally, we had the distinct pleasure of riding in the same elevator as Ms. Rehm, who was gracious and affable. She’s my new write-in candidate for That Office I Inevitably Didn’t Know Was Up For Re-Election This Year.

Rehm noted the similarities between YPT and her NPR show. “Both take words and create images,” she said, “and your job is even harder than mine, because you create those images on stage.” She applauded YPT’s staff and supporters for being “beautiful in your dedication to young people.”

Three of those young people read letters they had written to a “YPT Student Twenty Years from Now.”

Third-grader Evan Alston assured future students that they’ll “be inspired.” Anna Vargas, 11th grade, said YPT has made her “a lot more confident.” I was most struck by Mitchell Adams, a ninth-grader who began by admitting that when the letter was read, he would be “really, really, really old, like, 35 years old.”

This is what a 35-year-old man looks like, according to the mind of a young teenager

Natalie Piegari, YPT’s fundraising fellow, spoke to us about the effects of organizations.

“I think art can change the world, but I think it starts with youth, it starts with children,” she said. “I’m here because I had the chance to study the arts as a child and it changed my life.”

About the Author: Jarrod Jabre is a theatre artist, educator, writer, theologian, and beer & wine specialist. He currently resides in Silver Spring with his fiancee, Bethany, and cat, Toby. In his free time, he likes to joke about having free time.

Cupcakes and Condoms: A Sweet Afternoon

You don’t often find red velvet cupcakes and contraceptives on the same table, but at the Napoleon Bistro on March 7, The Red Pump Project proved that sweets and safe sex talk make a perfect pairing.

Cupcakes and Condoms is “a sweet afternoon of desserts and girl talk about sexual health,” said DC ambassador and event organizer Brittani Menina. “A lot of African American women, once diagnosed (with HIV), are not going for treatment or care.”

The Red Pump Project hopes to reduce stigma and promote education so women affected by HIV and AIDS can seek the help they need.

 Cupcakes and Condoms, unlike other Red Pump events, is a woman-only forum to encourage frank discussion about the questions and challenges women face regarding sexual health. The panel, which featured four health advocates and HIV researchers, addressed a range of topics from HIV transmission misconceptions to masturbation in a lively exchange.

“With everything else, we protect our kids,” sexual health researcher Candace Sibley pointed out. “They don’t ride a bike without a helmet. But when it comes to sex, they’re bombarded.”

“Girls think, ‘[HIV is] all around me, so at some point, I’ll get it,” added Jennifer Sinkfield, an HIV researcher at Children’s National Medical Center. She believes this desensitization may lead young women to be lax about safe sex because they don’t trust condoms to protect them.

A Cupcakes and Condoms attendee, also named Jennifer, was gratified to learn how to broach “The Talk” with her three daughters, who range in age from 5 to 16. “I want to have information to give to her so she doesn’t get an STI or HIV,” she said.

Cupcakes and Condoms attendees also got the chance to explore a lesser-known safe sex option. This happens to be Brittani’s favorite part of the afternoon.

“Most people don’t know how to use [female condoms],” she said with a sly smile. “You get a lot of faces.”

You get a lot of laughter, too, as it turns out. After demonstrator Bria Hamlet unfurled the condom, she produced a plastic vulva model to a chorus of cheers. After answering crowd questions (no, the condom won’t slip out; yes, it’s just as sturdy as the male version), she passed samples around so women could practice applying them on their hands.

It’s a racier version of a common sleepover trope, and many women were laughing as they poked the latex into place. With the scheduled events concluded, guests broke off into groups to talk or sought out panelists for additional questions.

Missed the festivities? The Red Pump Project now has ambassadors fundraising and leading events in five cities. March 10th is National Women and Girls HIV Awareness Day, and the organization urges people to #RocktheRedPump with feisty red footwear and conversation with partners about how to keep things sexy and safe.

About the Author: Jessica Sillers is a Washington, DC-based writer. She has volunteered as a teacher's assistant in Faridabad, India, and on a farm in Ireland. Contact her at jessicasillers@dcfreelancewriter.com 

Hey there, all you sexy, sexy fellas...

... do some good and read a book. It's for a worthy cause. 

Here's the skinny: First Book is a swell organization that provides books to children in need. Hot Dudes Reading is an Instagram account dedicated to -- you guessed it -- photos of hot dudes reading. 

So... put your hands together... (as in combine the ideas, not as in the way an annoying master of ceremonies tells one to applaud, though this is an applause-worthy idea)

#hotdudesreadingforacause

It's super-easy. First, you spot a hot dude reading. Like so. 

Gentlemen, this is your cue to get out there with your sexy selves and read. Books. Actual books. Made from paper. Not Kindles, e-readers, i-Devices, what-have-you. We good? Cool. 

Okay, observers of beautiful men, this part's all you: Snap a photo of the hot dude who is reading. If he is actually into his book and not just trying to look all sensitive and intellectual, he won't notice, and you won't have to worry about looking like a creeper*. Excellent. 

Next, post the photo of the hot dude reading to Instagram/Twitter. Like so.

Support great American literature.

Use the hashtag #hotdudesreadingforacause. Be sure to tag @FirstBook, @HotDudesReading and, of course, @TheDailyDoGood. Then add this link: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/hot-dudes-reading-for-a-cause and ask your friends/followers/pervy Internet stalkers to make a donation to First Book. 

And as our friends across the pond might say, Bob's your uncle. Which, incidentally, happens to be true in my case. My mother's brother is indeed named Bob. 

*In the event that you are spotted, politely explaining that you are supporting a worthy cause is not only a good way to spread the word about First Book's campaign, it's also potentially a really good pickup line. Just sayin'.

About the author: Holly Leber is the editorial director at The Daily Do Good. The #hotdudereadingforacause pictured above belongs to her, so hands off, ladies!  

Saranah Says... Five Tips For Pulling Off A Great Fundraiser

1) Music makes the people come together 
So said Madonna, and therefore it is true. Music (and love) makes the world go round. It's the easiest way to add some levity to your event without costing any money... iPod, Songza, pillbox speaker. Boom. Instant atmosphere. Happy people = helpful people. Helpful people write checks.  

2) Feed me, Seymour! 
Please... no boxes of pizza unless you're officially calling it a pizza party. But you don't have to splash out on filet mignon and lobster tails, nor am I suggesting you go all Martha Stewart. Safeway and Costco have  lovely large trays at reasonable prices. Offer options: A little something on the heartier side, some veggies and dip, a nice cheese plate, and then a little something sweet. Presentation counts. Make it look nice, and it really doesn't matter if it's not a huge spread.

3) Check one, two... what is this?
Keep the mic time to a minimum. Attendees love to mix and mingle, not shift from foot to foot balancing a cocktail plate and wine glass while listening to someone perform a monologue for 30 minutes. There are plenty of of ways to get information across without a lecture. If you need some ideas I'm at your service.

4) Shake a hand, shake a hand
I always ask people how they heard about the event, and I try to thank each person for coming. Yes, you probably have someone greeting guests at the front door, but the host (committee or board for a large event) should always work the room. Speak to everyone you don't already know. Personally connecting with guests shows them that you really do care about their support. It's also a chance for you to learn which marketing efforts were most effective.

5) Give it away, give it away, give it away now
Everyone loves free stuff. It's like we're hardwired to perk up no matter what... "Oh, they're giving away erasers with a logo on them? I'll take four." Never mind that you haven't used a pencil since you took the SAT's. Having a freebie for every attendee can be cost prohibitive. A raffle or door prize can be a great budget-friendly alternative. You don't have to break the bank -- a $25 Amazon gift card or some sort of gift certificate will do. You might even be able to get the venue owner to donate one. 

Et voila, five easy ways to make your soirée simply smashing.

(Photos from The Daily Do Good's Be My Volunteer Valentine Event, Feb. 12, 2015)

Saranah Holmes has a decade of experience in fundraising. She offers consulting services to nonprofits and small businesses/volunteer groups looking to creatively fundraise. Contact her at s.holmes@dailydogood.co for details and pricing.

Dances with apartments

There was the brown stain, kissing my inflatable bed's gray underbelly. I waged daily war with its presence in the hallways, playing hopscotch to avoid that biological matter.

This was life, at least temporarily. My boy Mike was allowing me to have a free room in his Bushwick apartment.

Course, I forgot his mom's chihuahuas had their run of the place, unlocking their bowels in whichever rooms they could access. 

Can't blame em' though, considering those two never left the apartment. Ever. There were no such things as leashes within that home.

But truth be told, Mike helped stabilize my living situation, months after I'd taken the independence plunge.

"I always have to get up at 5 am every day, and I'm tired of it," became my mom's commonplace cry last year, born of her job recently moving its base of operations to New Jersey from Manhattan, all while we still lived in Queens.

Thus her ultimatum late summer: either I move with her to Joisey, she extends her lease one final year, or I move out.

With roughly $2,000 in savings and a very unstable freelance job, I took the third option for $500 more.

I'd already planned on making the Great Escape anyways. Twenty plus years of living with the same person with no breaks will do that to ya. Mom only forced me to speed things up.

After using said speed to send out 30+ rapid fire emails to prospective Craigslist subletters, hoping a fat guy in his underwear with OpCrack skills was never on the other end, I scored a pre-war at 89 Seaman Avenue, less than two weeks before my mom's move.

Once the owner's lone male cat walked to my feet, looked me dead in the eye and lovingly sprang his claws into my shorts, I (technically) had my first Manhattan apartment.

"Cats seem to like you," the owner emailed me as soon as I got home. "If you want it, the sublet is yours."

The following three-and-a-half weeks of in-house stalking, bedroom door scratching and chest licking that comes with having four furry roommates were the best ever. Until the local marshal knocked on the door and handed me the guy's eviction notice.

Which I knew was coming, since the dude's landlord jacked up his rent in his lease negotiations soon after I moved in, and he told me I'd have to bounce earlier than expected.

And in a frenzied fit of desperation, I yanked that rabbit from the hat, and managed to get approval for the Jersey City apartment I currently reside in, based partially from my old freelance check stubs.

But that wasn't available until mid-October and I needed a transitional place. So enter Mike, the bro who helped me when I had nowhere else to go for that two week period.

For that, he'll always have my eternal appreciation. And this here smiling clown.

Cheers, folks

About the author: Hannington Dia is a freelance writer and a graduate of the City University of New York City College. 

The views here belong solely to the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Daily Do Good or Do Good, LLC

Five ways to bring in more income without doing a labor-intensive event

Everyone loves a party.

Trouble is, the booze-food-band-and-photo-booth fetes can be labor intensive, time consuming, and a drain on fundraising budgets. Modern technology provides so many ways to improve our lives from smart watches to self-driving cars -- why not use it to boost fundraising without the need for all the manpower of a traditional event?

Photo: https://donorfuseblog.wordpress.com/2012/09/14/meme-of-the-week-09-14-2012/

Here are five ways to bring in money without a high cost party:

1. Online auctions

An online auction is open to the world. Literally. Online auction hosts have hundreds of thousands of subscribers looking for every item and experience under the sun. All you have to do is put something on the block. Charity Buzz, the premier online charity auction marketplace, has the motto “Raise More. Do Less." They have helped non-profits raise more than $135 million, and the average organization raises $50,000 plus each year.

2. Peer-to-peer fundraising

Peer-to-peer fundraising can be really effective if you have the right group of people. Instead of staff seeking donations, supporters champion the cause and create their own fundraising pages. You task your board with creating their campaign page(s), setting a fundraising goal, and picking a particular cause for which to raise money within the organization.  If ten people raise $1,000 each, you bring in $10,000 without devoting much staff time to the fundraiser. It’s an easy way to add a healthy boost to your bottom line each year.  

3. Universal online campaigns

Take advantage of yearly giving campaigns like Giving Tuesday. You just need good advance planning and strong social media outreach. If you plan your campaign three- six months out and get a team in place, an online campaign can be an easy and effective way to bring in money. Giving Tuesday brought in $45.7 million in 2014. There are several other yearly giving campaigns you can tap into.

4. Matching gifts

Never leave money on the table. Always make sure donors are aware if they have a matching gift campaigns at their places of employment. Ask major donors to match the overall fundraising goal; this way they get twice the bang for their buck. 

5. Ask to the be the cause of choice

Partner with an event already taking place. Search the web to find a fun festival (Eventbrite is a great source!) and call the coordinator. Ask if they would be willing to donate a portion of the proceeds to your cause.  If you can provide volunteer support for the event, that gives you some equity to offer in exchange for the donation and incentive for the organizer to say yes.

Saranah Holmes has a decade of experience in fundraising. She offers consulting services to nonprofits and small businesses/volunteer groups looking to creatively fundraise. Contact her at s.holmes@dailydogood.co for details and pricing.

Oscars, Move Over!

Kids in the Spotlight, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2009. The program trains youth in foster care programs and other underserved youth to create, write, cast and star in their own short films. This training culminates in an annual film festival competition: “Movies by Kids, for Kids.”

Why Kids in the Spotlight?
KITS was created to create a platform for foster care kids to tell their stories their way, and to be celebrated for the courage that it takes to tell their stories. It came from an encounter I had when I visited an all-girls group home.

A group of KITS students standing on the stage at last year's film festival competition

Can you talk more about that encounter?
My husband was teaching an acting workshop at the group home. After the workshop, we toured the facilities. In the girls’ rooms were twin-sized beds. Above the bed were pictures of their families. Beneath the beds were a few personal items. I thought, Wow, this is all of their personal space! I was moved to sympathy and compassion. Then I noticed a group of girls misbehaving. First, a moment of judgment came. Then, a quickening came and said, “Yes, they’re acting out, but they’re doing it because they want your attention.” I asked the administrator how to help. She said that they needed mentors.

How did you end up creating the “Movies by Kids, for Kids” Film Festival Competition?
After I attended a seminar at my church: “Finding God’s Purpose,” I asked God, “What am I supposed to do?” He reminded me of those girls at that foster care facility. I heard, “They needed attention. Give them their story. Let them write their stories, cast their stories, and star in them. Give them something nobody can ever take from them. And don’t stop there. Create an awards ceremony. This is going to be their Academy Awards.”

The poster from a Kids in the Spotlight film

Why is it important for them to tell their stories?
When you are removed from your family structure, when you think about the magnitude of being in an institution where people are dictating your every move, and you are away from your family…you need some type of outlet. The arts are medication.

What changes do you see in the students—from the beginning of the ten-week process—to the end?
They come to us, like cocoons in a shell. They are a little resistant. They have trust issues, understandably. We see them coming out of their shells. And by the end, they are  beautiful butterflies.

Many kids who have performed in KITS and have been encouraged by our professional artists, have gone on to college and are now majoring in the performing arts.

What is your ultimate goal for the youth whom you work with?
To make sure that they are not victims of their circumstances. We say this affirmation at the end of each class: “I can do great things because I was created to do great things.”

Founder Tige Charity with KITS participants and actor Derek Luke

About the Author: Chanté Griffin is a writer, TV personality, and proud code-switcher.  Connect with her via her blog: yougochante.com/blog and via Twitter: @yougochante

From bridal gown to burial gown

I have to admit, when I saw this link from Saranah, my first thought was, "that's creepy." 

I pictured... I don't know what -- infants smothered in yards of tulle, some sort of crude swaddling. I couldn't have been more off.

This story by BuzzFeed writer Rachel Wilkerson Miller describes the Angel Gown Program by NICU Helping Hands. Volunteer seamstresses convert donated wedding gowns into delicate garments that look quite similar to Christening gowns. 

Photo from nicuhelpinghands.org

The article quotes NICU Helping Hands director Lisa R. Grubbs:

“A wedding gown donated by a bride from the happiest day of her life, sewn by a volunteer into a one-of-a-kind custom gown for a baby that has died or will die… importance, honor, respect, caring, and love are embodied in this gift that is freely given to anyone that needs it,” she said.

"From the happiest day of her life..." There's something about that, isn't there? Weddings are a happy time, full of hope and future and blessings. And death is often a time of unspeakable pain. So maybe in some small way, the joy and hope of the wedding gown is passed down into the angel gowns -- to the babies to bless them on their way, or to the parents to give them a bit of comfort and hope. That's all rather philosophical and is quite dependent on ones belief system, of course.

But it's definitely more than just a gown being given. And it's definitely not creepy. I was wrong. 

- Holly Leber

Would you donate your wedding gown to Angel Gowns? Tell us why or why not in the comments. 

Be My Volunteer Valentine

On February 12, 2015, The Daily Do Good held a volunteer matchmaking event. Representatives from 13 of our once and future featured organizations were on hand on mingle with DC residents looking to give back to the community. The event was held at We Work WonderBread Factory.

LaVon Curtis, founder of The BRYCE Project, poses with board member Angela Drake. LaVon is looking for strong mentors to make an impact on teen girls.

The ladies who lead DDG take a turn in the photobooth.

Billy Kluttz, New Media Coordinator for Seabury Resources for the Aging, an organization to help older adults in the DC area, has some laughs with the Seabury bear

The Seabury Bear poses wth DDG founder Saranah Holmes/Photo by Gee James for CapitolMedia 

Jessica Fulton and Emile Washington with @blackswanacademy are looking for #volunteers to work with #youth ages 6 to 10, have an interest in#socialwork or #education, and have experience leading engaging workshops. 

Abayea Pelt with Community of Hope speaks to Aksh Sehgal about volunteer opportunities. “Mentoring sounds pretty cool,” he said.

Libby Hill of Global Kids was on hand to give information about the Young Professionals Committee, and other volunteer positions./Photo by Gee James of CapitolHill Media

Kim Bishop attended the event seeking opportunities to help women and children. Here, she speaks with Jacquelyn Horstmann about Critical Exposure, an organization that teaches teenagers about leadership and advocacy through photography.

Neekta Khorsand, program coordinator for 826DC, shows off some of the literary magazines and books created by the creative writing nonprofit’s students.

Natalie Benitez, program manager for BUILD, talks with Spencer Case and Rebecca Wolff. "We're looking to help make the world a better place," Spencer said./Photo by Gee James for CapitolMedia

DC newcomer Lorena Flores poses with Danny Silbert, mentor recruiter for BEST Kids. Lorena likes the volunteer opportunities at BEST Kids because “they’re very structured,” she said.

The Daily Do Good founder Saranah Holmes addresses the crowd at the Daily Do Good Be My Volunteer Valentine Matchmaking Event

Jodi Ovca and Caitlin Ellsworth with ACCESS Youth are looking for volunteers to help at-risk teens navigate their place in the juvenile justice system and build a brighter future for themselves

Jacquelyn Horstmann of Critical Exposure shares a laugh with Camille Harris, a board member with the ClancyWorks Dance Company/Photo by Gee James for Capitol Media

A representative from Calvary Women's Services talks about the organization's programs to help homeless women./Photo by Gee James for CapitolMedia

She does good and seeks to do more. Tehmina Mirza, an AmeriCorps volunteer with Byte Back, is looking for volunteer opportunities to fuel her passion for increasing literacy. Here, she speaks with Neekta Khorsand of 826DC./Photo by Gee James of CapitolMedia

It was great to see so much mingling among organizations! There was a great spirit of camaraderie and community to the night. Here, representatives from Seabury Resources for the Aging and The BRYCE Project put their heads together/Photo by Gee James of CapitolMedia

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more pics from the event. And check out this awesome video by Crystal, our social media manager extraordinaire.