I'm Making A Wish
I'm blessed and I know it.
So many people walk through the days of their lives without a moment of true peace. They never have enough; usually pertaining to the things that matter the least. I'll call that existing; maybe even surviving...not LIVING. Gobble, gobble, gobble...it's the American Way. "Who Gets Screwed Next?" being more the anthem than "Who Gets Helped Next?".
Times are tough right now. Our economy is in the toilet and people of virtually every strata are feeling the pinch. It's during times like these that so much and so many can and do fall through the cracks.
Often times the most vulnerable among us are the first to feel left behind as we scramble to make ends meet and take care of those closest to us. No shame in wanting the best for ourselves and our loved ones, however it's incumbent upon all of us to remember the importance of giving back.
Time. Attention. Money, Service. Care. Passion. All are worthy commodities which become the life's blood of our local charities. It is and always has been in the doing; not the talking about doing. So, look around and find out more about local charities which might speak to you. Help children, animals, the elderly, the sick - make it personal and make it stick.
My brother has CP and my grandfather died from complications due to having Alzheimer's Disease. I have a personal stake in championing those two worthy causes. I do what I can and I'm amazed by the tireless efforts given by people on the front lines. Ed Block Foundation is near and dear to my heart. I'm fully aware of the devastation that child abuse can have on our society. Many times - abused children grow up to be abusive, unhealthy, unhappy adults. We all pay the price. The people running Ed Block are growing a fantastic local charity into a national presence dedicated to protecting abused children.
For the past few years I've been truly honored to help the Nicole Van Horn Trust Fund. A local charity - a little engine that could - which serves to do nothing more than bring joy to the lives of sick children in our area. A labor of love established and run by Nancy and Vance Van Horn, the Nicole Van Horn Trust Fund makes a difference. Take a moment to read, learn, know more about this special local charity. (see links below).
Join me this Sunday afternoon for the 12th Annual Nicole Van Horn Trust Fund Fundraiser - Auction and Bull Roast. For more information -
http://www.nvhfund.org/HOME.html
Recently, I reconnected with old friends and was made aware of yet another worthwhile local charity. I'm so thankful for the opportunity to join with my friends and neighbors - in helping a new chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation take flight. Make-A -Wish is fully dedicated to making wishes come true. The wishes come from our children - those most in need of brighter, happier, more blessed days - granting those wishes is our job.
This Sunday morning I'll be at The Padonia Park for the Make-A-Wish Kids Triathlon...the first event sponsored by our new Baltimore Chapter. Check out the link below for more information and swing on by if you can.
- Damon 'THE BULLDOG" Yaffe
MORE INFO FOR MAKE-A-WISH:
Contact Information:
Baltimore Regional Office
9475 Deereco Road, Suite 306
Timonium, MD 21093
Phone: 410-580-9474
Fax: 410-453-9434
rrose@midatlantic.wish.org
Contact: Robin Rose – Baltimore Regional Director
Robin oversees the Baltimore office of the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of the Mid-Atlantic. The Baltimore service area includes Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Caroline, Carroll, Dorchester, Harford, Howard, Kent, Queen Annes, Talbot Counties, and Baltimore City
Website: www.midatlantic.wish.org
Refer a child: Call the Foundation's medical outreach coordinator at 301-962-9474 or visit www.wish.org/refer
