My Year of Giving

WEEKS FIFTY - FIFTY-TWO: December 13 - Christmas Post - Final Post

2010-12-13T06:57:00.001+10:00

This is my final post on this blog.
The year is almost over....already!!

I have decided not to do it again next year.
My $5 each week was coming from NOT buying magazines and with a royal wedding imminent, I'll need to buy magazines again next year!
And I plan to give in other ways.
This blog was a way for me to give to a variety of charities, while at the same time, raising awareness and possibly encouraging others to donate as well.
It didn't quite have the impact I was hoping for, but I hope it did some good.

There are 3 weeks left so I'm putting them together for a triple Christmas donation to a very special cause.

The charity I have chosen to give $15 to for my final post is

The Royal Children's Hospital Foundation

Anyone with kids, and those without, must feel for any child (and their familiy) who has to spend Christmas in hospital. This is a charity I love to donate to at Christmas time. They have a variety of ways you can give...

You can give to the B105 Appeal (which is officially over but you can still donate)
You can give to the Regional Radio Appeal
You can give to the Kids Christmas Appeal
or you can sponsor a bauble

As we live in a regional area, I'm giving to the Regional Radio Appeal.

Please join me.

Thanks to those who followed this journey for the year.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

WEEK FORTY-NINE - 6th December

2010-12-06T06:36:00.000+10:00

I know Movember is officially over, but a friend's husband participated and this week I'm supporting him...better late than never!

"Funds are committed to men’s health partners, the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and beyondblue: the national depression initiative and the Movember Foundation. Together, the three channels work to ensure that Movember funds are supporting a broad range of innovative, world class programs in the fields of research, education, support, and awareness."

If you would like to make a general donation, click HERE.

I'm supporting Mark, you can too by clicking HERE.

WEEK FORTY-FIVE - FORTY-EIGHT 8th - 29th November

2010-11-05T18:54:00.001+10:00

Tomorrow I'm very excited to be going to a Girls Night In.
It's going to be fun and it will raise funds to help fight women's cancer.
As this is a real life event that I'm actually attending and it's for such a great cause, I'm spending 4 weeks worth of donations.
Thanks Janita (the busiest person I know) for hosting it!!

If you would like to help Janita hit her target of $400, please click here to donate too.

WEEK FORTY-FOUR 1st November

2010-10-30T07:18:00.001+10:00

Some of the cool tweeps over on Twitter have come up with a brilliant idea.
Melbourne Cup Day stweep!
Bern Morley is organizing the fabulous event.

I'm donating $5 to Young Care.

Right now, there are over 6,500 young Australians with high care needs living in aged care - simply because there are very limited alternatives. (The Senate Community Affairs Reference Committee 2005)

If you want to join the stweep, click here.
If you want to donate to Young Care, click here.

WEEK FORTY - WEEK FORTY-THREE: 4th - 25th October

2010-10-18T07:13:00.001+10:00

Sarah over at Just Me is doing a wonderful thing this month.
She is participating in Frocktober.
Frocktober aims to help improve the outlook for women with ovarian cancer by supporting the quest for a suitable early detection test through fundraising for the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation.

Click here to see Sarah in her frocked up glory every day.

And click here to join me in sponsoring her.
(Don't forget to add her registration number - 600504)

WEEK THIRTY-NINE- 27th September

2010-09-27T14:26:00.000+10:00

This week's donation is for Asho, who is an Australia Zoo Wildlife Warrior Joey Ambassador.

You can read all about it here on Cate's blog.

If you want to donate too, just click here.

WEEK THIRTY-EIGHT - 20th September

2010-09-27T14:19:00.000+10:00

This week's donation is for Ailish, who is an Australia Zoo Wildlife Warrior Joey Ambassador.
You can read all about it here on Cate's blog.

If you want to donate too, just click here.

WEEK THIRTY-SEVEN - 13th September

2010-09-27T12:24:00.001+10:00

After receiving shocking news that one of the beautiful little girls I taught in Year 2, 9 years ago, had committed suicide, this week I'm donating $5 to Lifeline - Suicide Prevention.
If you would like to donate too, click here.

I Found $5 - 16th August

2010-08-16T09:35:00.002+10:00

I'm not supposed to resume donations until the 6th of September.
But this morning as I was walking home with my two year old daughter, after dropping my five year old boy at school, we found $5 on the footpath.
I've never been a "Finders keepers" (or "finds it keeps it" as my five year old says) kind of person.
But there was no one else around and it was too far from the school to take it back to the office.
So, as my usual donation amount is $5, I immediately thought of it as a free donation.

Who to choose?

As my Mum recently suffered a severe heart attack, I'm choosing...

Heart Foundation!

The Heart Foundation is dedicated to reducing the dreadful effects of the number of people living with, or dying from heart, stroke and blood vessel disease.

Even if you didn't find $5, you can donate too by clicking here.

WEEK TWENTY-NINE - WEEK THIRTY-SIX - 19th July - 6th September

2010-07-19T08:20:00.001+10:00

This week's donation is a special one because it's for my cousins.
So I'm changing the rules for this one and making a sizeable donation.
Instead of $5, we're donating $40. That's 2 month's worth!

In September my cousin Fleur is cycling from Brisbane to Sydney to raise money for Muscular Dystrophy.

She is doing this for her younger brother, my cousin Blair.

In her words...

My younger brother also has a Neuromuscular disorder and my family understands the daily challenges of everyday life for him. My brother is now 17; he did used to walk, play cricket even ride a bike. Those were challenges for him then, now he needs help even to lift up his arms. Although he misses out on everyday things kids do without thought he doesn’t complain.

If you would like to sponsor Fleur as well, click here.

See you in 2 months. :)

WEEK TWENTY-SEVEN & TWENTY-EIGHT 5th & 12th July

2010-07-05T07:37:00.000+10:00

It's Cate Bolt's birthday today and she has a special birthday wish.

She is asking for donations to the Orangutan Land Trust to provide permanent solutions for the long-term survival of the orangutan in the wild by ensuring safe areas of land for their continued existence.

The minimum donation is $10 so this is another double week. I hope you will join us.

See you in two weeks.

WEEKS TWENTY-FIVE & TWENTY-SIX - 21st & 28th June

2010-06-28T08:42:00.002+10:00

Last Friday was Red Nose Day.

I'm doing another double up donation today, because I thought my last double up covered last week, but I was a week behind. (I'm blaming aging for my memory loss!)

SIDS and Kids is dedicated to saving the lives of babies and children during pregnancy, birth, infancy and childhood and to supporting bereaved families.

With nine offices throughout Australia and a National office in Melbourne, SIDS and Kids areas of focus include bereavement support, education, research, national awareness campaigning, advocacy and fundraising.

Anyway, I'm more than happy to give a double donation of $10 to Red Nose Day as they are a most deserving charity.

I hope you will join me and my boy by clicking here to donate, too.

See you next week.
(I hope I don't forget!)

WEEKS TWENTY-THREE/TWENTY-FOUR - 7th & 14th June

2010-06-09T19:36:00.003+10:00

This week's and next week's donation is a $10 sponsorship.

This is a food and drinking water sponsorship for Indonesian children set up by Project 18.

Click on the link to see the amazing work they are doing. There are lots of ways you can help, too. Check it out.

WEEK TWENTY-ONE - 24th May

2010-05-24T10:56:00.003+10:00

This week we are donating to The Pyjama Foundation.

If you would like to donate too, you can by clicking here.

WEEK NINETEEN - 10th May

2010-05-10T10:04:00.000+10:00

This week my $5 and Isaac's 90c (he is choosing each week how much he wants to give from his pocket money) is going to sponsoring Planet You for Hush for Homelessness.

You can read all about it here on Cate Bolt's blog.

Almost 105,000 Australians have no place to call home. Of these people, around 50% are yet to have their 25th birthday and 10,000 are children aged under 12!

You can donate, too, by clicking here or on the widget on Cate's blog.

Please do.

See you next week.

WEEK EIGHTEEN - 3rd May

2010-05-03T11:37:00.005+10:00

This week is very special for me because my 5 year old boy has decided he wants to join with me in donating each week. He wants to give $1 to add to my $5 so we will be donating $6 this week.

One of my blogging buddies is raising money for a wonderful cause so our donation is going to support Lucy this week.

Lucy is aiming to lose 20kgs and complete the McLaren Vale 20km half marathon on October 10th 2010 and hopes to raise at least $500 for the Starlight Foundation who brighten the lives of seriously ill and hospitalised children, and their families, throughout Australia.

If you would like to help Lucy get to her goal, you can donate too by clicking here.

I wish it was more, Lucy.
One donation of $5 isn't much.
But many donations of $5 can make a difference.

See you next week.

WEEK SEVENTEEN - 26th April

2010-04-26T19:32:00.000+10:00

This week's donation is going to The Smith Family.

The Smith Family is a national, independent, social enterprise that supports disadvantaged Australian children to create a better future through education.

If you would like to donate too, you can by clicking here.

WEEK SIXTEEN - 19th April

2010-04-19T07:13:00.000+10:00

Last week I chose to give to Arthritis Australia and as they had a minimum donation amount of $10 and I have only budgeted for $5 per week, I am not donating today.

Or I am...the second $5 to Arthritis Australia!!

See you next week.

WEEK FIFTEEN - 12th April 2010

2010-04-12T04:43:00.001+10:00

This week I'm being a little selfish. But I'm also thinking of special people like Naomi & teddybear21 when I donate today.

Today's donation is to Arthritis Australia.

I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis when my first baby was a few months old. My specialist tried to encourage me to stop breastfeeding him earlier so I could begin methotrexate treatment. I refused however, until he was ready to stop, which he did at 10 months old. I was on the medication for less than a year because we wanted another baby and I had to be 'clean' for at least 3 months before we could even try.

Now I have my two babies, and I will be on methotrexate indefinately...until someone says the magic words, "We have developed a cure for Rheumatoid Arthritis."

Once again, there is a minimum donation of $10 on this website, so I will not be donating next week.

I'm hoping my $10 is multiplied today by other generous readers of my blog (as is my hope every week).

You can donate too by clicking here.

WEEK FOURTEEN - 5th April 2010

2010-04-05T07:18:00.002+10:00

This week's donation is to Project Compassion.

This one brings back memories of going to Mass with my family and teaching in Catholic schools. Every Easter Caritas Australia runs their annual fundraising and education campaign. It is a time to reflect upon the significant issues of peace, justice and development.

A small collection box is sent home with every child in a Catholic school and there is a large box in the classroom for donations.

If you would like to donate, too...click here.

WEEK THIRTEEN - 29th March 2010

2010-03-29T06:41:00.000+10:00

I'm donating to another children's hospital this week, one closer to home, the Mater Children's Hospital. My heart breaks for parents of sick or injured children, and of course the kids themselves.

The Mater Foundation is having their annual Easter Appeal. The Mater Little Miracles Easter Appeal, 22 March to 18 April, 2010, aims to raise $1 million for sick and injured babies and children at the Mater Mothers’ and Mater Children’s Hospitals.

You can help little miracles happen at the Mater this Easter. Purchase Miracle MaX merchandise or make a donation by clicking here. We have two MaX toys and they are gorgeous.

The Mater Foundation is a leading philanthropic organization funding life changing health care and medical research at the Mater Hospitals and Mater Medical Research Institute.

WEEK TWELVE - 22nd March 2010

2010-03-22T08:15:00.000+10:00

This Friday is Bandaged Bear Day. I saw a poster for this on a shop window and looked it up online. I had considered donating instead to a children's hospital closer to home but discovered that the Mater Children's hospital in Brisbane has an Easter Appeal so I will donate to them next week. The more donations to children's hospitals the better, I think!

So this week's donation is going the Children's Hospital at Westmead in Sydney for their Bandaged Bear Day appeal. You can donate too by clicking here.

WEEK ELEVEN - 15th March 2010

2010-03-15T06:45:00.000+10:00

A very special person who I've come to call my Twitter friend and my blogging buddy asked me just after I started this blog if I could donate to the Emily Tapp Melanoma Foundation for the week of her birthday.

Janelle's birthday is this Saturday. On her birthday last year she discovered she had melanoma and was told she probably wouldn't see her next birthday. Well, she's as tough as the cookies she bakes and in 5 days will prove her doctor wrong.

So as a special birthday request this week's donation goes to a charity that is informing the public about awareness, early detection and prevention of melanoma.

You can donate too by clicking here.

PS This cause is close to my heart because my Dad is also a melanoma survivor.

WEEK TEN - 8th March 2010

2010-03-08T05:00:00.002+10:00

I am doing another sponsorship donation this week. But this time for a new charity.

My sister, Michelle, is participating in the Live Free Walk to raise funds for Teen Challenge .

This charity gives young people who struggle with life-controlling problems a second chance at life. The program aims to eliminate their self destructive habits by meeting the needs of the whole person... not only dealing with the addiction, but also rebuilding their self-image, work ethic, spiritual awareness and relationships.

Sponsor Michelle by clicking the donate button on Michelle's page.

PS - HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MICHELLE!!!! xxxx

WEEK NINE - 1st March 2010

2010-03-01T06:24:00.000+10:00

This week I'm doing something I don't intend to do very often. I'm donating to the same charity two weeks in a row. But as my father-in-law is bravely battling lymphoma at the moment, I think it is very fitting.

Last week I sponsored Karen & Riley, my beautiful friend and her son, who are both shaving their heads for the World's Greatest Shave.

This week I'm sponsoring another beautiful person, the inspirational Cate Bolt. Read all about why she is shaving her head here.

The Leukaemia Foundation's World’s Greatest Shave is one of Australia’s biggest fundraising events. Money raised is used by the Leukaemia Foundation to fund free services to support patients and families living with leukaemias, lymphomas, myeloma and related blood disorders. It also funds blood cancer research to find better treatments and cures.

Sponsor Cate by clicking here. I hope you will join me.

See you next week.

WEEK EIGHT - 22nd February 2010

2010-02-22T11:29:00.000+10:00

My dear friend that I haven't seen for far too long is doing a very brave and generous thing. She and her son are shaving their heads for The Leukaemia Foundation's World's Greatest Shave

I'm giving my $5 for this week to Karen & Riley. They would love it if you could give, too.
Their goal is to raise $5000. Good luck Karen & Riley!!

Or you can sign up, join a team, sponsor a shaver, or make a general donation by clicking here.

See you next week.

WEEK SEVEN - 15th February 2010

2010-02-15T08:06:00.000+10:00

This week a friend on Twitter, @carly_grace suggested the Hugs for Hearts charity which coincides with Valentine's Day.

Money raised from this event goes to the Heart Foundation.

I've donated my regular $5 and you can, too, right here. Hope you do.

See you next week. :)

WEEK SIX - 8th February 2010

2010-02-08T06:58:00.000+10:00

I have met some amazing and wonderful people on Twitter. Two of the most inspirational tweeps are @catebolt and @rickads. They have 9 children and at the end of last year this family, due to unfortunate circumstances, lost their home. I was inspired by Cate to donate to Vinnies in Week Two. And this week I have chosen to donate $5 to "Cate's Cause" An Appeal against Homelessness.

I hope you'll donate with me.

WEEK FIVE - 1st February 2010

2010-02-01T10:19:00.000+10:00

Today's $10 donation goes to (this feels like an awards ceremony and I'm announcing the winner!) Beyond Blue. I usually make $5 donations but this website only accepts minimum donations of $10 and as it is a cause so close to my heart I'll just pretend I'm not buying two magazines this week.

Two weeks ago I learnt that my brother had been diagnosed with depression. He is only 13 months younger than me and we have always been very close. At Christmas I knew something was wrong and so did he. Fortunately he sought help and is currently on medication and today has his first session with a counsellor.

Just about everyone I know has a family member or someone very close to them affected by depression. If you do, how about joining me and donating as well. You can do it easily online here.

And while I'm over at this blog today, Life and the Memoirs has tagged me to share '25 random things about me' here. I love these kinds of lists so let's go...

1. I've been to 36 weddings.
2. I've been to 11 countries.
3. I've been to 2 Australian states (need to do something about that!!)
4. I'm left handed but play sports with bats or racquets right handed, although at one stage for tennis I was serving right handed and playing left!
5. I've done up to 4th Grade Piano exams with honours.
6. I have 3 earrings, 2 in my left and 1 in my right ear.
7. I have lived in 8 houses, 2 flats, 2 townhouses and 1 old monastery.
8. I have taught in 6 schools.
9. I had my tonsils out at 25....OUCHIE!
10. I share my birthday with Guy Sebastian, Keith Urban, Hillary Clinton, Bob Hoskins and Jaclyn Smith.
11. My favourite colour is pink, even my wedding dress was pink!
12. I am the oldest grandchild on both sides so I have no older cousins.
13. I have 11 cousins.
14. When I was born I had 3 grandparents and 2 great-grandparents.
15. I am the same height as Sarah Jessica Parker, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jessica Simpson, Gillian Anderson and Amy Winehouse.
16. My favourite sport is tennis.
17. My mum is 20 years and 11 days older than me, that makes it very easy to remember her age.
18. My favourite animals are cows, cats and dolphins.
19. When we were kids my brother, sister and I had a pet calf called Princess.
20. I love red wine and bubbly wine.
21. I love watching ballet and most other forms of dance.
22. I've seen Billy Joel, Phil Collins, Dire Straits, Michael Jackson, The Rolling Stones, Kylie Minogue, Des'ree, Hunters & Collectors, The Whitlams, John Farnham, John Williamson, Jon Stevens, Kate Cebrano, Hoodoo Gurus, Vanessa Amorosi, Human Nature, Savage Garden, Vika & Linda Bull, The Cranberries, Ian Moss, Daryl Braithwaite and David Campbell LIVE!!!
23. The most famous person I've chatted with is Daryl Braithwaite.
24. My parents met the Duke and Duchess of Kent.
25. My sister (3 1/2 years younger) and I used to pretend we were twins when we went out clubbing in our 20s.

Done!
And now I tag Caz over at The Truth About Mummy.
Have fun, Caz!!

WEEK FOUR - 25th January 2010

2010-01-25T06:22:00.000+10:00

As we drove to the Sunshine Coast yesterday we passed a car with 'Angel Flight' on it.
As angels have a special meaning for me this week I took that as a sign.

So this week's $5 donation goes to Angel Flight Australia
It's not as easy as typing in your details and hitting send this time. You will have to download the form in either PDF or Word form, fill in your details, then e-mail it. But, go on, it's worth the effort.

Who's feeling generous this week?

WEEK THREE - 18th January 2010

2010-01-18T08:46:00.001+10:00

This week's donation was a fairly obvious choice. Originally I wasn't going to donate to this cause because I had intended to choose charities closer to home. But when a disaster of this magnitude occurs I think the world needs to respond.

The earthquake in Haiti is a major disaster.

The difficult part was choosing which organization to donate to. I have chosen the Australian Red Cross.

My $5 isn't much but lots of $5 would make a bigger difference. Who's with me?

WEEK TWO - 11th January 2010

2010-01-11T10:06:00.000+10:00

This week I have been inspired by Cate Bolt's Open Letter to the Prime Minister & The Premier of Queensland to donate $5 to Vinnies as Cate herself has asked for no donations for themselves but to give to Vinnies or the Salvos.

Can you spare a few dollars to donate, too?

And while you're at it, how about e-mailing the Prime Minister (http://www.pm.gov.au/PM_Connect/contact_your_pm_form) and The Premier of Queensland (thepremier@premiers.qld.gov.au ) Cate's letter. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could make a difference?

WEEK ONE - 5th January 2010

2010-01-05T13:07:00.000+10:00

This is my first donation for the year.
This week I have chosen to donate $5 to the McGrath Foundation.
I saw on The Today Show this morning that it is Jane McGrath Day at the cricket. And that is when the idea popped into my head.
Now, I'm waiting for a sign to see who I'll choose for next week.

And So I Begin....

2010-01-05T13:01:00.000+10:00

Oh my God, I have started yet another blog!
I am a blogaholic for sure!!
But this one is a good one (not that the others aren't).
This one was born from my Brilliant Idea .

I have decided to donate $5 to a worth cause every week for this whole year.
And I am dedicating this blog to charting my chosen charities.
I hope you will follow it and maybe even donate something yourself.