Forces for Good: Martin Luther King, Jr. (and you!)

We are immensely grateful for the service of Mr. King, his father and mother Martin and Alberta, everyone in his family, and everyone giving what they have to keep his dream alive.

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Giving season: Heroes

Together with my family, I am sending my warmest thoughts to many friends and colleagues worldwide, and feeling a lot of gratitude. I truly appreciate your help in sending daily clicks to www.hungersite.com, where our simple mouseclicks can benefit a number of vital causes each and every day.

Giving season: Love

In the video above, in his own words, Narayanan Krishnan says, “I thought, what is the purpose of my life? What am I going to do? …And I quit my job and I started feeding all these people from 2002.” And later: “There are thousand and thousands and lots and lots of people suffering. What is the ultimate purpose of life? It’s to give. Start giving. See the joy of giving.“

I have done some research on homelessness over the years, and we all know that there are displaced people living on the city streets everywhere in America. The organizations and initiatives highlighted below represent just some of the many phenomenal community efforts supporting homeless people in the U.S. and elsewhere. I found many of them through JustGive.org, and I’m also proud to point you to this list JustGive publishes, entitled 35 Ways You Can Help the Homeless. They list as item 7, “give money,” and to that, I’ll add my plea to give whatever you have to spare (from loose change to your time), to those people you see in need.

Also, it’s the time of year when I invite you to join me in sending daily clicks to www.hungersite.com, where our simple mouseclicks can benefit a number of vital causes each and every day.

Thank you!

Let’s change the world today…

Today is World AIDS Day… and as made clear in these words from Nobel Peace Prize winner and former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, today’s mission demands that each of us take part:

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eBay’s give-a-toy stores

Starting last Friday and for the next month, shoppers in New York City and San Francisco can use their mobile phones to purchase toys for children in need at two new interactive storefronts presented by eBay and Toys for Tots. The initiative conceived and produced by advertising agency Venables Bell & Partners features interactive displays created by international production company and design studio Brand New School (BNS) and its School of Interactive Media.

As reported by TheInspirationRoom.com, all web-connected shoppers can experience the Give-A-Toy Store and make donations online by visiting www.eBay.com/GiveAToyStore and www.Facebook.com/eBay.

Thoughts for food

Blog Action Day occurs every October, uniting the world’s bloggers in posting about the same issue on the same day to spark global discussions and drive collective actions. For 2011 it coincides with World Food Day to focus on FOOD.

If you’re interested in ideas about eating locally, I’m with you. Courtesy of my friends at HighCountryLocalFirst.org, check out the top ten reasons to buy local food listed below.

I also invite you to join me in sending a “click” to www.hungersite.com, where simple mouseclicks benefit vital causes each and every day… and provide real food to the hungry.

The above video introduces a new TV show entitled Food Forward. You can visit Food Forward on Kickstarter.com to learn more about this bold initiative exploring alternatives to current industrial food systems. Those behind it include “food rebels who are fundamentally changing the way we eat…” a vanguard of innovators including educators, scientists, farmers and chefs across America.

Finally, if you haven’t already done so, strongly consider joining Jamie Oliver’s food revolution! Read more

Good works from Thornberg & Forester

Ever since DreamWorks Animation and Conservation International commissioned the principals of award-winning design and production company Thornberg & Forester (T&F) to create a special feature PSA for the DVD release of Kung Fu Panda back in 2008, the NYC-based group has kept on applying its diverse talents to the needs of worthwhile nonprofit and non-governmental organizations and environmental causes. Videos from those projects now appear on T&F’s Good Works channel on Vimeo, and more project information is available at www.thornbergandforester.com.

Killer reels: Thornberg & Forester

Jessye Norman On Summer’s Edge

On the evening of 20 June in New York City, world renowned opera artist Jessye Norman will present On Summer’s Edge, an evening of music and celebration benefiting The Campaign for the Family Resource Center of The Partnership for the Homeless. Beginning at 6:30PM at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Home of Jazz at Lincoln Center, Ms. Norman and Sade Baderinwa will co-host performances from Dee Dee Bridgewater, Dance Theatre of Harlem Ensemble and Mingus Dynasty.

Forces for good: TONIC and YOU

TONIC is a platform for brands (consumers, celebrities and causes) to educate, interact and engage consumers around positive actions. Started as a destination for good news content, TONIC now generates its own news via the worlds of Silicon Valley, Madison Avenue, Philanthropy and Hollywood. This week they shared 10 thoughtful tips on ways to do good and be awesome this summer. As their social media marketing manager Alethia Austin writes, “Here at Tonic, we believe the things to do during summer that are the most fun are those that have a positive effect on you, the people around you and our beautiful planet. We’ve put together a few ideas for you to consider when you find yourself wondering what to do during these long, wonderful summer days.” I’ve summarized their suggestions below, but encourage you to check out the full article linked above for further ideas and inspiration. Thank you very much for your interest, and for doing your part to make our world better for us and generations to come. Read more