Friday Finds

I thought it would be nice to 'end' the week by telling you of a few people doing good things and a few ways you can help others. Let's start the weekend on a good note!

NYRR and the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation are co-sponsoring the 4 mile run/walk in Central Park on February 24th! "All entry fees collected by NYRR will go to New York City’s Haiti Relief Fund, administered by the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City, which is directing 100% of donations to reputable organizations providing relief in Haiti." The very cool thing about this race is that you don't have to be in New York to run it! They have set up a virtual race so anyone around the world can participate! Entry fees are $40 for those running/walking in Central Park and $30 for those doing the virtual race. For those of you who care, it is both a scored and NYC Marathon qualifying race. Go here for more info and to register. Is your community holding a charity race or other event? Feel free to comment and let us know!

On another running note, there are a lot of groups across the country that raise money for charities through running in specific events. Team in Training and Live Strong are probably two of the largest. Another one is Team for Kids. It is the charity running group associated with the New York Road Runners Youth Programs, raising money for, you guessed it, youth running programs around the country and in South Africa. The two races each year for Team for Kids are the NYC Half Marathon and the ING NYC Marathon. I'm a member of the NYRR Young Professionals Committee, which also raises money for the youth programs. If you're interested in information about the running programs and how to get them into schools in you area, you can read about it here.

In 2007, Jessamyn Waldman, a human rights and immigration policy expert who had worked for the UN and now was a Master Baker, founded Hot Bread Kitchen, a non-profit enterprise dedicated to helping immigrant women in the NYC community. With 66% of low wage workers in NYC being immigrants and most of the women finding jobs as domestic workers, Jessamyn had a vision to create a better life for them. Inspired by the diverse population in the city and the desire to both preserve tradition and help immigrant women, Hot Bread Kitchen meets this goal. The women who participate in the program are able to share their baking traditions as well as learn those of the other participants, advance their English language skills, and are provided with job placement assistance and join a network of strong and self-confident women who are encouraged to then begin their own businesses. While the bakery strives to use local and organic ingredients, the breads are sold in specialty stores around the city and region. It's a pretty fantastic and unique organization.

This picture was taken for the Food & Wine (Nov '09) feature taken by Zubin Schroff.

Last for today, you may have noticed in my 'links' box on the right, a link to an organization called Friends of Maddie. Maddie was a beautiful little girl who touched thousands of lives. She is the daughter of two amazing people who I am lucky to call my friends, Heather and Mike, and was brought into this world much too early on Nov 11, 2007. I've spoken about her before, but I believe you can't talk about her and her incredible parents enough. They have all shown super hero amounts of strength over the last 3 years and continue to inspire countless people. Maddie left us all too early last spring but is remembered every day. Heather and Mike were overwhelmed by the support they received from family, friends and the blogging community after Maddie's passing and were able to start a charity in her name. Because Maddie spent many of her first months in the NICU, they decided to start a charity to help families who were faced with the same ordeal. Through care packages and support, they are reaching families across the country. Please visit this site if you'd like to learn more or to donate. I also encourage you to check out Heather's blog. Heather and Mike are celebrating the arrival of Maddie's little sister, Annabel!! I will leave you today of two pictures of beautiful little girls.

The Famous Madeline

Amazing Annabel

Have a great day!

Post 53

Nope. This isn't my 53rd blog post. I'm way past that by now!

Actually, Post 53 is an EMT post in Darien, Ct. that is staffed by volunteers who respond to calls 24 hrs a day, 365 days a week.

Post 53 was founded in 1970 by John Doble and and his son Bill. John and several other parents in the community wanted to teach their children about what can happen to people if they are influenced by drugs and alcohol.

The idea was to recruit high school students, train them as first responders, and allow them to respond to emergency calls. Post 53 is a self-supported organization, raising all of their funding through two main fundraisers each year. It is staffed completely by volunteer teenagers with adult advisers. The teenagers respond to thousands of calls from Darien citizens each year. They take the incoming calls, dispatch responders, drive the ambulances, assist citizens on site and take them to the hospital when necessary. The local police, hospitals, and high schools work with them. Post 53 is locally and nationally recognized for their superior program and excellent performance. And, according to their website, 88% of the 'Posties' are on either the honor or high honor roll at Darien High School.

I don't know about you, but I think this is pretty incredible. I have never heard of a program like this before. Their community depends on them and have faith in their abilities. So many communities are losing funding for their emergency responders, while it won't save jobs, perhaps some should look into following this model. It just goes to show what teenagers are capable of doing.

If you're interested in learning more, or possibly donating to their organization, you can visit their website here: www.post53.org

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My Saturday will be a bit busy - I have a trial personal training session at a studio near Madison Square Park early in the afternoon. I've already informed her of my foot issues, and she'll work around them. I think I will stop by the Union Square Farmer's Market before hand for a few items since I'll be so close! Then, Woody and I are going out to Jersey (shocking, I know) to see the Red Wings play the Devils. We'll be rooting for Detroit, if you're wondering! Sunday will be for resting and finding the next book to read!


Don't forget to enter the holiday music giveaway before it ends on Sunday!

Have a great weekend!

The Do Gooders List

It's the first Friday of the month, so I have a couple companies to share with you that are doing good things for our environment.

1. Patagonia - You probably know it as the sportswear and gear company, but it turns out that's not all they do. They also care deeply about the environment and preserving natural habitats for wildlife. They "believe in using business to inspire solutions to the environmental crisis." They sponsor grants to support environmental organizations, they use innovative business practices to create their products, they research the best technologies and raw materials, they follow green building processes for their facilities, and much more. They definitely seem to be a company that is not just concerned about the bottom line of their financial statements but also about the bottom line of our environment. They are showing the business world that it is possible to have a strong business and produce quality products while caring about the environment.

2. TapIt Water - Woody and I learned about this site when we went to the West Side County Fair in September. It's a genius idea that has not had enough promotion behind it (I haven't seen anything else about it). The concept is simple: encourage people to use refillable water bottles (like Sigg or Klean Kanteen) rather than buying bottled water, by providing them with a list of TapIt partner cafes where they can fill up their bottles for free. They started the project in 2008 in NYC hoping to expand across the country. You can find partner cafes in other cities as well now, including Minneapolis, Ann Arbor, several cities in California, Florida, Washington, and others. If you have a favorite local cafe or restaurant, let them know about this site. Look for a sticker in the window and ask them to refill your bottle! It's a great and easy way to save a little money (less bottles of water purchased) and help the environment.

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Thanks for all of your congratulations, good wishes and notes of encouragement! My foot is feeling much better and the boot is definitely the reason, but it is a bit annoying. I'll deal with it though. I need to make sure it heals right. I actually just realized last night that this is going to be my first weekend in a very long time that won't include running. Even the weekend before the marathon I ran the Poland Spring Marathon Kick-Off race with NYRR. What do I do with all this extra time? I'll go to the gym, but it won't be the same, especially since the only cardio I can do is the recumbent bike. The weather is supposed to be nice on Saturday, so Woody and I are planning to go to the Union Square Farmer's Market, but I'm not sure how long I'll be able to walk around. I think I'll spend time reading, blogging, who knows. What do you do when you need to fill running time? Suggestions welcome!

The Do Gooders List

Today I am starting a new monthly post. On the first Friday of each month I will tell you about a few companies, big and small, new and old, that are making an effort to do good things for the environment or the community. Send me an email if you know of a company you’d like me to mention.

Now, on to today’s Do Gooders:

1. Toms Shoes: Started by Blake Mycoskie after befriending children while visiting Argentina and realizing they had no shoes, Toms Shoes donates one pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair purchased. Shoe drops have happened all across the world, including here in the U.S. They make three basic styles now, in multiple colors, patters, and fabrics, for men, women and children. You can purchase them online or at many stores across the country. There are also several ways you can get involved if you’re interested in doing more than just purchasing a pair of shoes.

2. The Bolder Mat Company: This one is for all the yoga and pilates fans. Send your old yoga mat to The Bolder Mat Company and they will clean and refurbish it before donating to a yoga inspired charity across the country. There are organizations that teach at risk populations the benefits of yoga and your mat will help support their cause. You pay the cost of shipping, but they’ll send you a $5.00 coupon off your next purchase from their website.

3. Nugaard Designs: Two friends, Alessandra Feio and Erica Pacey, founded this independent jewelry company. Their beautiful designs are inspired by the natural beauty of their native Brazil and they work to be ‘eco-conscious’ in all aspects of their business. They use natural Brazilian materials such as golden grass, real leaves from exotic trees, and “Olho de Boi” seeds from Jatoba trees. In addition to the green practices they follow in their offices, production, and business travel, they also work with Trees for the Future to plant a tree in Brazil for every piece purchased from their FLORA collection.

4. Habana Outpost: This trendy hub in the Fort Greene neighborhood of Brooklyn is the sister restaurant of the celebrity filled Soho Cuban restaurant, Café Habana. The Brooklyn location is (according to their website) NYC’s first eco-eatery. A few of their green initiatives include: solar panels for electricity, the use of 100% biodegradable plates, 100% compostable cups and cutlery, a compost & recycle station, a human powered bike blender (you’ll appreciate your drink even more after you’ve peddled for it!), and a rainwater collection system that provides water for the toilets and garden. They also work with local community groups and have created Habana Works Inc., which provides free programs for the community that show how we can help our planet. The food isn’t too bad either!

5. New York Road Runners Foundation (NYRRF): Created in 1998 by the New York Road Runners, the foundation’s mission is to create running-based programs that promote children’s physical fitness, character development and personal achievement in under-served communities. There are now programs in over 250 schools and community centers, servicing 50,000 children across America and in South Africa. The foundation provides children with a strong understanding of how to live a healthy and productive life while teaching them valuable social skills. Their work is essential in combating the childhood obesity epidemic while boosting children’s self-esteem. The work of the foundation relies on monetary donations by individuals and corporations as well as time and talent of volunteers. Team For Kids is a running team that raises funds for the foundation while training and running in half and full marathons. Since 2002, TFK has raised more the $12 million to support the cause.

Have a great weekend!