Help the Bed-Stuy YMCA Send Some Ubuntu to South Africa!

Come on out to the beautiful Bedford-Stuyvesant YMCA this coming Saturday, August 20th, for food, music, raffles, and tons of community fun…all to benefit the YMCA Teen Zone in South Africa! 

The international YMCA is doing a world of difference by serving and supporting the upcoming generations of children and teens around the globe.  Having done some volunteering myself in South Africa a few years ago, I’ve seen the devastating affect apartheid has had on the region…and also how insulating and healing a strong sense of community can be!  What better way to spend a sunny Saturday afternoon than by sending some of our own ubuntu all the way to South Africa!?!

(For those of you who are unfamiliar with the term ubuntu, just think “I am, because we are…”)

As this particular part of Brooklyn is well aware, the YMCA is crucial in developing strong, socially responsible communities by promoting youth development, healthy living, and love for volunteerism. 

Come on out to the Bedford-Stuyvesant YMCA (1121 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn NY) this Saturday, August 20th, from 3pm-7pm.  The suggested donation is just $5!

See you there!

Until next time, many cheers and much love! :)

xo,

Danielle

(the Enlisted Idealist)

Greetings, one and all, young, fine, and splendid folks…

This summer has been a hot one….so hot, in fact, that millions of New Yorkers have opted to stay indoors rather than coming out to enjoy (??) the inferno lately.  Indeed, the past few days, simply walking from street corner (A) to subway stop (B) (or even standing upright) has felt like a death sentence, let alone voluntarily running 12 (or more) miles through the sweltering New York City streets…

Wait, wait…WHO would want to do such a thing??

Allow me to introduce to you one of the bravest, sweetest, most awesome, and DEDICATED women I know, Krista Marie Miller!!  Krista has selflessly decided to run the world famous 26.2 mile ING New York City Marathon, and has such die-hard commitment, that she even sticks to her rigorous training regimen in the midst of one of the most hazardous heat waves on record!! Hooray, Krista!  What’s more, and something I didn’t previously know, is that everyone who runs the marathon pledges to raise money for some of the most fantastic charities in the world!  Krista’s charity of choice is Team for Kids.

Team for Kids helps organize youth programs which “combat childhood obesity and empower youth development via running and character-building programs in low-income schools and community centers in New York City, throughout the country, and in South Africa.”  Awesome!

In order to race, Krista needs to raise $2,620 to benefit Team or Kids.  As of now, she is 20% towards her goal, which is STELLAR, but she could definitely use some more help along the way.  Please consider donating as little or as much as you’d like to help this lovely young lady accomplish an utterly astounding goal!  

Click here to donate: http://www.runwithtfk.org/Member/PublicPage/6410

Until next time, many cheers and much love! :)

xo,

Danielle

(the Enlisted Idealist)

Above: Scene from the WWII Memorial in Washington, DC.  5/1/11

Dearest friends, family, and unsuspicious strangers,

The past few months have been an on-the-road, busy, dizzy BLUR of activity, and it’s high-time you’ve all been officially informed about the goings-on of Springtime!  (since it’s kind of already summer….) But anyway, away we go!

April and May brought an absolute FLURRY of activity, which began with my 10,000 ft skydive for Operation Freefall: The 2-Mile-High Stand Against Sexual Assault! Thanks to all of you wonderful givie-givers out there, WE (yes, we) were able to raise more than $1,000 towards aiding the recovery of victims of rape and sexual assault. HOORAY!!  Yes, flying high through the sky was an unbelievable, surreal experience, but the real reward was being able to do it for a great cause.  I encourage everyone who reads this to get involved next year for a charitable experience you’ll never forget or regret. :)

The very day after I jumped out of the plane, I was lucky enough to jump on a Washington, D.C. bound charter bus with 80 World War II veterans for the Honor Bus. For those of you who aren’t in the know, the Honor Bus is literally a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to chaperone some very brave, wise, and wonderful old men (and women!) down to see the WWII monument, built in their honor.  Most of these veterans who fought for our freedom decades ago have never seen their own memorial, and subsequently, never been properly thanked for their selfless service.  There wasn’t a dry eye in the crowd when the National Anthem played, and the vets were saluted for their sacrifices.  To top it off, many of them proclaimed that it was “the best day” of their lives…AMAZING!!  I’m very thankful to have played a small role that day.  Hooray for the Honor Bus! :)

Last, but OMG-not-least, came the 4-day, freaktastic, volunteering fun-for-all that defies explanation (and most people’s imaginations)…HOBY!  HOBY, otherwise known as Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership, is an annual seminar for high school sophomores, where volunteers and facilitators (like me) spend 4 straight days teaching these young rock-stars how to move and shake the planet for the greater good!  The transformations the students undergo - from the moment they begrudgingly arrive, followed by the first time they open up and start to shine, to the last day when they leave, fully prepared to use their strengths for greatness - is mind-blowing…  

Throughout the seminar, we are able to teach the right skills to put real power into the hands of some of today’s brightest youth.  It is an annual challenge that literally helps secure the future of our world, and makes me (us?) feel rejuvenated for the next year to come!  What an OUTSTANDING (wink, wink) adventure!

Ok, that about recaps everything that has happened with me over the past few months…but in the coming weeks, I’m thrilled to share some amazing stories about the awesome things other people are doing to help out in their local communities, as well as our global community.  :)

Until next time, many cheers and much love! :)

xo,

Danielle

(the Enlisted Idealist)

resolvecommunity:

I am writing to you from the back of the van with the windows down on a beautiful spring day. Being on the Resolve Tour has been amazing. Every single night is so different because of the people, the venues, and the local cultures. Each place we have visited has had it’s own unique sense of…

Yo, I’m a hater…

And while I don’t normally condone anything so dark and nasty, hating malaria is one of the few (very few) cases where I will make an exception. Because I really, honestly, truly, madly (deeply?) HATE malaria…and so should you!

Ummm… I’m an undereducated in the field of public health.  What’s malaria again?:

Allow me to shed some light on topic…  Malaria is an infectious blood disease caused by a parasite that is chiefly spread through the bite of an infected mosquito.  Symptoms typically appear 9 - 14 days after the bite, and include fever, headache, vomiting and flu-like symptoms.  Now, anyone who has ever had the flu knows how miserable it is…but the truth is that we (in 1st world countries) don’t tend to suffer long because we enjoy abundant access to proper medical treatment.  Although malaria is entirely treatable (not to mention preventable), victims in Africa (where malaria runs most rampant) don’t have access to proper treatment.  The ugly result is between 1 and 3 million malaria-related deaths every year.  What could be sadder than millions of potentially preventable deaths?  The VAST majority of those who die are young children.  …And that is why I hate malaria.

Daaaamn…The impact must be huge!:

No kidding.  Infected children miss school and, therefore, fall behind on their already precious education.  Infected adults miss work, which reduces already low household income.  Beyond that, tourism, which is one of Africa’s few economic mainstays, drops drastically during a malaria outbreak, which inevitably results in the decline of foreign investments.  According to Malaria No More (malarianomore.org), Africa’s estimated economic loss as a direct result of malaria last year was more than $30 million… Wow.

How can we do?:

I’m tickled you asked :)  The answer?: The fantastical organization, Malaria No More, and malarianomore.org!!  According to their homepage, Malaria No More, “was born of a simple, startling insight: that ending malaria’s death grip on Africa is the best humanitarian investment we can make in the world today” (malarianomore.org).  As it turns out, thousands of fellow malaria haters agreed, and this wildly popular and celebrity-studded effort (Elizabeth Banks LOVES this) has made a ridiculously huge impact on the lives of millions of malaria sufferers.  In fact, due to the great work of Malaria No More, malaria related deaths in Africa are actually down 10% since last year!  Amazing!

Since 2006, Malaria No More has distributed over 2.6 million treated mosquito nets to people who had none, drastically reducing infectious bites, and subsequent deaths.  Imagine…such a simple solution has actually saved millions of lives!!!  The organization is also working round the clock to ensure families are properly educated about the causes of malaria, and also have adequate access to life-saving vaccines and medical treatment in case of an outbreak.  They are also continuously working to create sustainable solutions to stop outbreaks from happening in the first place.  

Friends, be sure to check out malarianomore.org ASAP, and help this organization keep its promise to END malaria completely by 2015!!

Until next time, many cheers and much love! :)

xo,

Danielle

(the Enlisted Idealist)

Ok….Ummm…WHAT!?!

That’s right :)

Ever since my first ride in an open-hatch Chinook as a wee-little Marine, I have had the undeniable, incredible, insatiable (irrational??) urge to flail myself out/off of anything more than 50 feet above street-level….in the most psychologically sound sort of way! :)  Maybe it’s the air up there that makes me dizzy enough to think I can fly, or at least wonder what it feels like to do so, but regardless, I am FINALLY giving myself the chance!  And the best part is, it’s not just for me….It’s to benefit all survivors of rape and sexual assault, via Operation Freefall: The Two-Mile High Stand Against Sexual Assault, and SOAR (Speaking Out Against Rape).

Operation Freefall, eh?  What’s That?:

In short, Operation Freefall began a decade ago, when, on the anniversary of her rape, SOAR founder Kellie Greene made her first skydive.  In doing so, “she took a day of personal tragedy and turned it into a day of triumph” (Operation Freefall).  AMAZING!!  10 years later, Operation Freefall has raised over $1,000,000 in funds to aid victims of sexual assault, increase outreach in local communities, aid in the the recovery and rehabilitation of assault survivors, and educate lawmakers and law-enforcement officials about sexual assault, just to name a few, among a bevy of additional services.  Furthermore, Kellie’s initial jump has evolved into a celebrated nationwide tradition, as thousands of men and women now jump “with” her via jump-zones scattered all across the country every year.  And this year, I will be joining the ranks!! Hooray!!! 

Awesome!  Now What?:

Well, now comes the fundraising part.  In order to make my jump on April 30, 2011, I will need to raise $1,000 towards Operation Freefall/SOAR by April 1.  Can I do it?  You bet I can! :)  But I need your help!  Please consider donating $1, $2, $20 (or more!), by clicking the title of this article.  You’ll be directed to my donations website where you’ll be able to donate to Operation Freefall and SOAR.  Naturally, it’s all tax-deductible, which makes it all the sweeter for you fine givers out there in Giverland to…well…give! :)

OR you can even sign up to make a jump yourself!! (Come on…don’t be scurred!)  ;)

In advance, THANK YOU, one and all, for donating to this amazing charity, and for helping me reach my goal of $1,000 to take this leap of faith.  I love ya ;)

And just in case the whole “click the title” business is confusing, you may also click the link below to donate towards my goal of $1,000: http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/danielle-guldin/operation-freefall-the-two-mile-high-stand-against

Thanks again, my friends! 

Until next time, many cheers and much love! :)

xo,

Danielle

(the Enlisted Idealist)

I’m listed in Tumblweeds, a user-generated community directory that rates Tumblr bloggers by their number of followers. Find me listed in #nonprofit, #activism, #charity

Something incredible has happened!!  (and no, it has nothing to do with robots or mysterious celestial goings-on)  In fact, it’s much greater than that…

Amanda Bankert, (yet another) fellow HOBY alum and a great friend, has secured an incredibly prestigious teaching position with the one of the most noteworthy non-profit groups affecting the world today, Invisible Children, with the Invisible Children’s Teacher Exchange Program. HOORAY AMANDA!!  

What is Invisible Children?:

Invisible Children is a unique and innovative volunteer organization which began after a group of 3 filmmakers from SoCal visited the African country of Uganda in search of a good story.  What they discovered there both disgusted and inspired them, as they witnessed the tragedy of a decades-old war that targeted innocent civilian children and turned them into human weapons…child soldiers. 

What did they do?:

After returning to the states, the documentary, “Invisible Children: Rough Cut,” was produced, spurring the nationwide response which eventually led to the creation of the non-profit group, Invisible Children, Inc.  Since then, thousands of volunteers have rushed to aid the country of Uganda, both domestically and abroad.  These passionate and fearless volunteers have helped foster an environment that encourages peace by addressing the need for education and economic development….And that’s why it’s so awesome that Amanda is one of these great people! YAAAY!!  She will spend 6 weeks in Northern Uganda this summer teaching children directly affected by the still-raging war.

What does she need?:

As amazing an opportunity as this is for Amanda, it is also really, really (like, really) expensive.  She needs our support!  You can help Amanda get to Uganda by following the above link and donating whatever you are able.  Not only will she appreciate it beyond words, but the lives of the children she will impact in Uganda will be forever changed….

Soooo… hop to it!! :)

Until next time, many cheers and much love! :)

xo,

Danielle

(the Enlisted Idealist)

Founded over 30 years ago by a group of friends who were just plain fed-up(!) with the serious social issues that plagued their fair city, New York Cares enlists over 48,000 people, annually, who help make positive change in NYCity a reality! YEY! :)

Through the New York Cares website (nycares.org), you can offer your pretty hands (and smile) to a mile-wide list of volunteer opportunities, including Citywide Days of Service, Disaster Preparedness, Youth Service Opportunities, just to name a few.  

Feel like taking action on an unlisted issue??  Awesome!  Unlike a bevy of other community-service resources which prescribe strict (and sometimes limiting) guidelines for area volunteers, New York Cares actually WANTS you to launch new projects! Really…they advertise it!!  You can become the team leader of your own cause and recruit other brilliantly like-minded helpers through the site.  Sweeeet :)

When it comes to giving back to a metropolis the size of a small country, no feat is too small.  Whether it’s arranging a basket of goodies for an underprivileged child, or tailoring a rally to benefit the billions of starving subway rats, New York Cares can help you accomplish the mission!

Until next time, many cheers and much love! :)

xo,

Danielle

(the Enlisted Idealist)

Merry Christmahanukkwanzicuh and Happy New Year to ALL!

Aight…it seems as though the Holidays have rather gotten in the way of updating this blog lately, which seems a little backwards, considering the holidays are a time when philanthropy is rumored to be paramount..right?  Even though we’re all supposed to be donating lots of money and time to a variety of charities around this time of year, the spirit of giving can become tarnished as the responsibility of the holidays quickly overwhelms even the jolliest of elves…  What can I say?  It just happens….

But it’s ok!  I have a quick and easy solution for those of you who still have the itch to give back this season…and all you have to do is go somewhere!  Easy!

Basically, when you’re packing to stay over at your best friend’s cousin’s house in Brooklyn (or Oregon, or San Fran) for the New Year celebration, why not pack a bunch of extra clothing you don’t wear anymore?  Then, upon arrival in Brooklyn (or Denver, or Altoona), all you have to do is unload your unwanted items at a used clothing drop-off, Salvation Army, or local homeless shelter.  You’ll have done something great for the local community, and simultaneously made room for the awesome howling-wolf screen-printed t-shirt you’ll win at the Polyanna :)  How nice!

Just a thought to help share the love :) 

Until next time, many thanks and much love! :)

xo,

Danielle

(the Enlisted Idealist)