~Cause Of The Week 10/7: CAUSE OF THE WEEK~
Current mood: optimistic

Color A Smile collects colored drawings and distributes them to Nursing Homes, Waiting Rooms, and Individuals all across the country. Their goal is simply to make people smile!

What a fun project to do with your children, or nieces and nephews, or classroom, or even yourself on a boring afternoon- (we won't tell you still like to color!)

It is not necessary to register or signup, and there is no long~term commitment. Simply color a picture, or a lot of pictures and mail them to the address below. From there they'll be distributed to nursing homes, assisted living facilities, waiting rooms, and group facilities. They do have some guidelines to follow, such as:

* Choose cheerful, colorful themes. (Avoid "Get Well")
* Do not put a date on any drawing.
* Use crayon, marker, or colored pencil.
* Do not use glitter, paint or paste.
* Sign the front of the drawing with your first name & age.
* Use one side of the paper only. (No fold over cards)
* Use standard 8 1/2 X 11 letter paper, or the color page paper on the website.

You can find out more info at: http://www.colorasmile.org

The address to send the drawings to is:
Color A Smile
PO Box 1516
Morristown, NJ 07962-1516

Currently listening : Smile By Vitamin C Release date: 1999-06-29

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~Cause Of The Week 10/1: TOYS OF HOPE~
Current mood: hopeful

www.toysofhope.org

The mission of Toys of Hope is to provide toys, books, clothing, activities and other items to needy and homeless children and their families. The guiding principal behind the Toys of Hope mission is that all children, regardless of financial status, race, religion or nationality, are deserving of those things which can help give them a happier and more fulfilling life. A now toy can mean everything to a needy or homeless child. It provides fun and enjoyment and gives a child a sense of pride in having something of their very own. Toys of Hope also provides essential items to needy families so that they can become more self sufficient and in turn help to improve their children's lives.

Toys of Hope operates all year round and relies solely on volunteers to accomplish its mission. There are no paid employees and ONE HUNDRED PERCENT of all funds contributed goes towards helping needy and homeless.

Established in 1994, Toys of Hope was founded by a young woman, Melissa Doktofsky, who realized that many children grow up under difficult circumstances. Some are homeless and are forced to live for periods of time in shelters. Others are recent immigrants living in overcrowded apartments. Many live in single parent households where a new toy is a luxury. Melissa thought how wonderful it would be if all of these children could have a new toy to play with - something that would give them enjoyment, help them through difficult times and show them that there were people in the community who truly cared for them.

At first, Melissa purchased toys with her own money and delivered them to shelters, community centers and needy homes. She contacted clergy members and arranged to deliver toys and clothing anonymously to the doorsteps of families in need. Over time, scores of local community groups have come to rely on Toys of Hope for help in supplying needy children with toys and other items.

From these beginnings, Toys of Hope has grown through the generous support of dozens of individuals and local businesses. The organization relies solely on the efforts of caring volunteers to accomplish its mission of helping children in need. Toys of Hope does not have any paid employees or professional fund raisers. It does not maintain or pay for an office. Storage space for the toys it collects has been graciously provided by a local building management company. In sum, Toys of Hope has no overhead expenses. One hundred percent of all money donated goes towards helping children and needy families.

Toys of Hope operates all year round and is involved in many programs in addition to distributing toys. Of course, at Christmas time we are busy delivering thousands of toys to needy children, but we don't stop there. Toys of Hope supplies toys, as well as clothing, books, school supplies and other necessities to underprivileged children and their families all year long. Toys of Hope also sponsors kids to attend summer camp.

Toys of Hope believes that teaching kids to help others is one of its most important functions Every year, girl scouts, boy scouts, cub scouts, and students from elementary school through college, pitch in to help collect and distribute toys, or to help out at our charity events. By doing so, they are made aware of the plight of the needy and learn the joys of giving and the value of community service.

Toys of Hope is a not for profit corporation registered with the State of New York and the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) organization. Contributions are tax deductible.

Currently listening : Toy Story: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack By Randy Newman Release date: 2001-03-27

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~A *6 Degrees* Experiment To Support Breast Cancer~
Current mood: determined

Currently listening : Just Stand Up! By Stand Up to Cancer Release date: 2008-09-30

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~Cause Of The Week 9/24: CHEMO ANGELS~
Current mood: hopeful

www.chemoangels.com

Chemo Angels is a volunteer organization dedicated to adding a ray of sunshine to the lives of those undergoing IV chemo treatment. They believe people going through the physical, emotional, and mental rigors of chemotherapy deserve some encouragement. Many Chemo Angel volunteers are cancer survivors themselves, or people whose lives have been affected by cancer in some way, though this is not a requirement. The common denominator is a desire to brighten the lives of cancer patients while they are going through this challenging time.

There are many different ways to be involved in this wonderful program, such as applying to be a Chemo Angel, Card Angel, Senior Angel, Support Angel, or help the organization with financial donation, or donate another useful object they may need.

Learn more at www.chemoangels.com

Currently listening : Angel of Mine By Monica Release date: 1999-01-19

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~Cause Of The Week 9/17: AFTER THE STORM~
Current mood: overstimulated

~So sorry for the delay in getting this up: my home computer somehow contracted a nasty virus that is making it impossible to get anything done, so I had to wait & post from work this morning. Heather~

AFTER THE STORM

Help Hurricane Gustav evacuees by mailing a box of protein or energy bars - Clif, Kashi, Quaker - any kind will be greatly appreciated.

Address: 12 Baskets Food Bank, 1520 29th Ave., Gulfport, MS 39501Send cans of tuna or chicken (other canned goods are welcome too) to:

Houston Food Bank, 3811 Eastex Freeway, Houston, Texas 77026

You can also donate funds online: www.houstonfoodbank.org

You can also donate to:

The Red Cross to provide food, medicine and shelter: http://www.redcross.org/

The Atlanta Humane Society to take care of abandoned animals: http://www.atlantahumane.org/

Currently listening : After the Storm By Monica Release date: 2003-06-17

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~Cause Of The Week 9/10: TWIN TOWERS ORPHAN FUND~
Current mood: pensive

The Twin Towers Orphan Fund was founded on September 12, 2001 for the sole purpose of providing educational and welfare assistance to the children who were orphaned (who lost one or both parents) by the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. The mission of the Twin Towers Orphan Fund is to provide long-term higher educational assistance and mental and physical healthcare assistance for (a) children who lost parents in the World Trade Center, at the Pentagon, or onboard the four downed airliners, and (b) children of victims of future terrorist attacks.

The mission of the Twin Towers Orphan Fund is to help mitigate the damage caused by the terrorist acts of September 11 by ensuring the children of the victims have as normal a life as possible. To do so, the TTOF provides long-term higher educational assistance and helps meet mental and physical health care needs for children who lost a parent in the World Trade Center, at the Pentagon, or onboard the four downed airliners.

During its first seven months, more than $4 million dollars was raised to support the children of 9/11. During this same seven months, all expenses were borne from the pockets of the dedicated co-foundersand by monies donated specifically for expenses. Beginning the 2nd quarter of 2002, TTOF implemented a 90 percent model where 10 percent of donations are used for ongoing program expansion, administrative overhead and awareness efforts. During the following two years, an additional $3 million was donated, bringing the total to $7 million dollars.
During this same period of time, nearly 700 higher educational savings accounts had been established in the names of the children, an additional 51 children had received direct assistance for higher education expenses and 68 had received assistance for physical and mental healthcare expenses; this totaled nearly $3.5 million. 
More than 1,000 children in 18 states, including 30 babies born after 9/11/01, have registered with the TTOF. An average of 40 children - per year - will begin their college education over the next 18 years. If 2003 is an accurate indication of future TTOF registrations though, this number will increase each year by 15 percent.

Early on, the fund's goal was to raise $50,000 per registered child. Currently, there is nearly $7,000 available per child to cover both higher educational expenses and health care expenses. Over the next 20 years, an additional $45 million is required if we are to ensure quality health care and higher education for the children of 9/11.

For more information on the many different ways you can help, please visit: http://www.ttof.org/

Currently listening : 9-11-01

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~Cause Of The Week 9/3: POP TOPS FOR HERMANSKY PUDLAK SYNDROME~
Current mood: determined

You may ask what it HPS? Hermansky Pudlak Syndorme is an autosomal recessive metabolic genetic disorder that is characterized by albinism and a bleeding tendency. Which means both parents have to carry this recessive gene.

The symptoms are a visual impairment that involves legal blindness, a bleeding issue that can be mild to life threatening. There are however more serious symptoms such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease similar to Crohn's, Pulmonary fibrosis, which leads to scarring tf the lungs. People with pulmonary fibrosis usually die in their 30's and 40's.

Misdiagnosis is very common.

Karen Tillman (at www.myspace.com/karenshpskorner) is collecting pop tops from soda cans, juice cans, or any type of aluminum can with a pop top. This will be ongoing until March of 2009.

Why pop tops and not the whole can? Cans are messy, and take up more a lot of room than. They would also be hard for people to mail and send in, but pop tops, while small, do add up!

Please feel free to send your pop tops to
Karen Tillman
4114 landerwood Dr
Greensboro, NC 27405

Thanks so much in advance!

Currently listening : Soda Shop Pop: American Classics By Various Artists Release date: 2000-01-24

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~Cause Of The Week 8/27: BOUNDLESS PLAYGROUNDS~
Current mood: happy

http://www.boundlessplaygrounds.com

Boundless Playgrounds is a unique national, nonprofit organization that has, in a short time, built a reputation for excellence in working with communities throughout the country to facilitate the development of FULLY INTEGRATED UNIVERSALLY ACCESSIBLE playgrounds.

BOUNDLESS PLAYGROUNDS works with everyone - children, families, communities, schools, parks, civic groups, municipalities, hospitals, and other non-profit organizations across the United States and Canada, and around the world, to create playgrounds that can be universally shared by children of all abilities, including children with physical, sensory and developmental disabilities. With Boundless Playgrounds' HASBRO NATIONAL RESOURCE CENTER, which provides services to disadvantaged communities, the organization provides a wide variety of direct service, design and technical support to determined people and organizations that want to design and develop these special, and much needed, playgrounds.

The goal is to ultimately have fully integrated and universally accessible playgrounds in reach of every child. In the next five years, this translates to a goal of 1,000 playgrounds and integrated play for millions of children. It is an ambitious goal but, with sixteen Boundless Playgrounds projects completed by the end of this year and more than 100 others already in development, this ambitious goal is obtainable if more corporate support and increased funding can be obtained. Contributions for the completed playground projects, totaling more than $3,800,000 came from 14,000 individuals, 750 children, 320 businesses, 170 organizations, 78 foundations and 49 congregations of all denominations.

Is there a Boundless™ playground in your community that you would like to get involved with? Visit http://www.boundlessplaygrounds.com to find out! There are many other ways to help out as well.... all info can be found on the website!

Currently listening : World Playground By Various Artists Release date: 1999-10-12

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~Cause Of The Week 8/22: MAKE A CHILD SMILE~
Current mood: happy

http://www.makeachildsmile.org/

Make A Child Smile Organization, also known as MACS, has been a source of support to children with chronic or life-threatening illnesses and their families.

Each month, new children are featured. The stories of courageous kids that you'll read on this website will touch your heart. A picture and biography describing the child and information about their family is published on the site. Hundreds of 'net surfers', schools, service organizations, girls/boys scouts and church groups use the MACS site as a philanthropic project where they can send cards, letters and small gifts to the featured children and their siblings through postal mail.

In December of 2000, MACS was granted tax-exempt status so that it could expand its mission to include fundraising efforts in order to provide financial assistance to qualifying families for help with medical, funeral expenses or other costs associated with the child's illness.

Be sure to visit their website at: http://www.makeachildsmile.org/

And also be their friend here on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/makeachildsmile07

**ANOTHER GREAT WAY TO HELP: This week, MACS is a featured website on http://www.searchkindly.org/ ~ simply go to that website, cast your vote for 'Make A Child Smile', and a portion of the money raised this month will be given to MACS! Be sure to go and vote daily until Sunday, August 24th!**

Currently listening : Smile By Vitamin C Release date: 1999-06-29

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~Cause Of The Week 8/13: ANGEL FLIGHT~
Current mood: peaceful

Angel Flight was created by a group of pilots who believe in the benefit of volunteering. They strive to keep all aspects of the organization volunteer. They are a non-profit charitable organization of pilots, volunteers, and friends. They will arrange free air transportation for any legitimate, charitable, medically related need. This service is available to individuals, and health care organizations. They will also arrange transportation of those people who are financially distressed, or who are in a time-critical, non-emergency situation due to their medical condition.

      Angel Flight is financially supported primarily by pilots who fly the missions (by donating the use of their airplanes and operating expenses) and by contributions from individuals, service clubs, social and religious groups and corporations. Thy receive no financial aid from any government entity. There is never a fee of any kind, either to the patient or the health care provider for an Angel Flight. The costs are paid by the volunteer pilots.

Pilots who desire to become members should follow the instructions on the Pilot Page for submitting the required information.

Friends desiring to support Angel Flight may send tax-deductible contributions to the Angel Flight office at the address below.

Please direct any additional questions about the organization to the Angel Flight office listed below.

Angel Flight, Inc.
1515 East 71st Street, Ste. 312
Tulsa, OK 74136
Phone: 918.749.8992
Fax: 918.745.0879
Email: angel@angelflight.com
Web: www.angelflight.com

Currently listening : Leaving on a Jet Plane

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~Cause Of The Week 8/6: DO SOMETHING 101: SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR NEEDY KIDS~
Current mood: blessed

Currently listening : Back to the Old Skool: Hip Hop By Various Artists Release date: 2002-07-02

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~Cause Of The Week: 7/30: THE RAVEN FOUNDATION~
Current mood: optimistic

The Raven Foundation is brand new & and hoping to gain some "fans" on MySpace! Their goal is to educate people on thinking clearly and positively about the ways of the world today. Some of the topics include the conflicts of life, violence, human nature, the role of religion and the origin of human nature. To turn some of these things around, we all must become active to try to change the things in the world that we see might need to be changed, with an emphasis on the previously mentioned topics. They would love for you to check out our MySpace page to learn more about us, and hopefully become a regular to their ever-changing website at: http://www.myspace.com/ravenfoundation

Some of the goals they hope to acheive are:

1. Elevate the collective consciousness of why we humans act the way we do
2. Promote peaceful, ethical living
3. Encourage greater self-awareness of the role we play as individuals and groups in conflict and violence
4. Advance civil discourse and negotiated solutions to resolve contemporary conflicts at home, in our schools and in the work place
5. Promote healing, hope and reconciliation
6. Encourage truth-telling and justice in cooperation with victims of violence
7. Influence public debate on issues of religion and violence
8. Encourage effective interfaith and intra-faith dialogue
9. Foster communities of peace

Be sure to stop by & check them out! http://www.myspace.com/ravenfoundation

Currently listening : Blackbird By Alter Bridge Release date: 2007-10-09

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~Cause Of The Week 7/23: SOLDIERS’ ANGELS~
Current mood: grateful

'SOLDIERS' ANGELS' is a volunteer-led nonprofit, that encompasses over 20 different teams and programs.  They send letters, care packages, and comfort items to deployed American service members, and support their families here at home. They also provide assistance to the wounded, continuing support for veterans, remembrances and comfort for families of the fallen, and immediate response to unique difficulties. Through special projects, dedicated teams and individuals supporting our troops, they make a visible difference in the lives of our service members and their families.

Some of the unique programs you can become involved with through them include:

Adopt a Soldier - Individualized support throughout deployment

Angel Bakers - Homemade treats for the deployed

Blankets of Hope - Handcrafted comfort for the wounded

Cards Plus Team - Extra TLC for soldiers & families

Eagle Cane Project - Handmade canes for the wounded

First Response Backpacks - Supplies for wounded in-country

Guardian Angels for Soldier's Pet - Care for pets

Ladies of Liberty - Extra TLC for deployed females

Living Legends - Remembering the fallen and their families

Operation Outreach - Supporting families waiting at home

Operation Phone Home - Calling cards

Operation Top Knot - Handmade gifts & virtual baby showers

Portraits of Memory - Handpainted portraits of the fallen

Scarves - Handmade heat and sand protection

SOS:Kids - Helping deployed soldiers help local kids

Veterans Support - Assisting veterans facilities

Wounded TLC - Letters and care packages for the wounded

To learn more and/or get involved, please visit: http://www.soldiersangels.org/

Currently listening : Soldier Boy By The Shirelles Release date: 1995-07-14

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~Cause Of The Week 7/16: SUNKIST TAKE A STAND~
Current mood: optimistic

* Thanks to Katie in Arizon for passing this site my way! Great find, Katie! *

http://www.sunkist.com/takeastand/

Sunkist, with proud supporters Rubbermaid and Domino Sugar, is inviting kids 7 to 12 years old across America to Take a Stand® for their favorite charity. It's a rewarding way to squeeze some fun into summer and give back to the community.

Last summer over 15,000 kids from every state in the U.S. and every province in Canada signed up to Take a Stand. Sunkist also received tremendous support from officials across the country as mayoral proclamations were issued in cities such as Buffalo, Dallas, Los Angeles and Pittsburgh.

Take a Stand knows how much kids want to help make a difference! And with a little encouragement and a lemonade stand, families can squeeze their way into raising money for their favorite charity.

You may not realize it yet, but you and your lemonade stand will be a powerful force in your community. Not only will you make your family proud, you will have a chance to talk to your friends and neighbors about an issue that is important to you.

Kids across America have already helped raise money for the victims of Hurricane Katrina, the American Cancer Society, American Red Cross, Children's Miracle Network, among various other local charities. Now, it's your turn to show that kids can make a difference!

In 2008, Sunkist anticipates distributing 20,000 free lemonade stands for the Take a Stand® program. Based on eligibility, the free lemonade stands will be distributed on a first come, first served basis and limited to one stand per household.

To be eligible for a free lemonade stand, you must:

• Register on the Sunkist.com Web site starting May 1, 2008
• Have a child between the ages of 7 and 12 years old
• Live in the continental United States or Canada (sorry, we cannot deliver to P.O. Boxes)

Distribution of free lemonade stands may end at the discretion of Sunkist, due to undeterminable circumstances.

Sunkist incurs the shipping cost for each stand, however, by accepting a free lemonade stand participants understand that all expenses incurred to run the stand are the sole responsibility of the participant.

It is at the participant's discretion to donate the money to the charity of their choice.

Visit http://www.sunkist.com/takeastand/ to sign up & get started!

Currently listening : Pocketful of Sunshine By Natasha Bedingfield Release date: 2008-01-22

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~Happy 1 Year Anniversay To *6Degrees*! Feedback Please!~
Current mood: fabulous

This week marks exactly one year since *Six Degrees* has been up & running, and I'd really love some feedback as to how people are using the site, both organizations and users alike! So please, if you could, I would like to invite as many of you as possible to answer the following questions. Please answer honestly. If you prefer to answer somewhat more anonymously, you can Copy & Paste the questions to message me privately. Thank you so much in advance!

1. DO YOU READ THE CAUSE OF THE WEEK EVERY WEEK? ARE YOU A SUBSCRIBER OF THE BLOG?

2. ARE YOU A MEMBER OF THE *6DEGREES* MYSPACE GROUP LOCATED AT http://groups.myspace.com/6DegreesToMakeADifference? IF SO, HAVE YOU POSTED OR REPLIED TO ANYTHING RECENTLY?

3. DO YOU READ, RESPOND TO, OR REPOST ANY OF THE BULLETINS PUT OUT by *6DEGREES*?

4. WHAT CAUSES IF ANY, HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT THROUGH *6 DEGREES* THAT YOU HAD NOT BEEN AWARE OF BEFORE?

5. HAVE YOU DONATED TIME, MONEY, RESOURCES, OR ANYTHING ELSE TO ANY ORGANIZATION YOU'VE LEARNED ABOUT ON HERE? IF SO, PLEASE SAY WHICH ONES.

6. DO YOU FIND THE SITE EAST TO USE? CAN YOU THINK OF ANY IMPROVEMENTS IT MAY NEED? ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR CONCERNS?

7. IF YOU ARE AN ORGANIZATION, HAVE YOU NOTICED ANY NEW VOLUNTEERS/MEMBERS/PARTICIPANTS WHO SAID THEY LEARNED OF YOU THROUGH *6 DEGREES*?

Currently listening : Flashdance-What a Feeling (Make It Happen) Release date: 2005-07-05

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