Breast Cancer Awareness Month

It’s time to show your pink!

October is Breast cancer awareness month, show your support by…

1. Wearing pink!

2. Buying products that support breast cancer. They usually have a pink ribbon on the product.

3. Go to http://thebreastcancersite.com.  All you have to do it click a button, to support it.

4. Create something at your school, maybe have everyone wear pink and donate a dollar to go toward breast cancer.

5. Search for a breast cancer walk in your area by going to http://ww5.komen.org/findarace.aspx

6. Go to circleofpromise.com to learn how to get more involved.

Give Big! October Charity of the Month is Pennies for Peace

How can you make a tremendous impact on world peace, education, and girls?  Donate to Pennies for Peace or the Central Asia Institute, both of which are helping to promote education and literacy, especially for girls.  If you don’t want to read my whole blog post, then trust me on this, and find a way to give to this organization which is building schools and doing more for peace in our world than we could ever imagine!  It only costs $1 per month for one child’s education in Pakistan or Afghanistan, and only a penny to buy a pencil.

Recently I read, Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin.  I had been wanting to read this for sometime, but it wasn’t until I found out my kids school was integrating this book into a service learning project that it made it’s way off the bookshelf.  Once I started reading Greg’s story, I was totally and completely inspired on so many levels. 

Basically, Greg had been an avid and expert climber in one part of his life.  During a near death experience on K2 he drfited into a tiny village in the Karakoram mountains in Pakistan.  He was so touched by how they helped him and by how little the children had, he promised to return and build a school.  I was deeply touched by many aspects of Greg’s story:  from his description of his own journey, the hundreds of roadblocks he overcame, and his ability to be a peacemaker during these very tenuous times. 

He now has built over 55 schools, especially for girls.  Much of the area Greg has been building schools with his organization has been an area where the Taliban has recruited young people.  Greg Mortenson is an unsung hero in many ways and I can see how he is doing more for World Peace than most of us can imagine.   You won’t be disappointed by reading Three Cups of Tea  and I hope it inpspires you to donate a penny or two, or three, or more to this incredible mission!

Give Big! September Charity of the Month is ICA

We hope you’ll join Girls With Dreams in supporting our September Charity of the Month, International Crisis Aid.   We are so excited about the work this organization is doing, Girls With Dreams is participating in their 5K Walk for Freedom on Saturday September 19th from 7AM-10AM.  Will you join us?

One of the programs of International Crisis Aid is to rescue children from sex trafficking around the world.  ICA currently has 6 rescue homes.  Proceeds from this event will be used to open a home in St. Louis for American children victims of sex trafficking.   This is a huge problem many people don’t know about.  Currently over 300,000 American children are at risk of trafficking into the sex industry (US Dept of Justice)!

Even if you can’t join us for the walk, please consider giving a donation of any amount here.   Please feel free to join our Girls With Dreams team if you do register for the event!  Registrations for the walk are at www.crisisaid.org.

How You Can Help Save a Teen

I recently met Caylee, who works for International Crisis Aid, an organization that combats the commercial sex industry worldwide.  I asked her to share a little more about the problem, so we can be aware of what is happening to our sisters here in the United States and around the world.  Here is what she had to say:

“The commercial sex industry is overwhelming. How overwhelming you ask? Well…it is in fact currently the third largest black market in the world affecting over 12.3 million children and adults who are forced into slave labor or sexual servitude at any given time (2009 Trafficking in Persons Report, which can be found HERE.) Can you imagine? That is more than double the population for the entire state of Missouri.

The University of Pennsylvania carried out research and recently discovered that within the United States there are conservatively 300,000 children at risk for being commercially sexually exploited in the sex trade this year. Wow…and that is just the tip of the iceberg.

After several discussions with the FBI regarding the enormity of this problem in the United States, International Crisis Aid has decided to open the first home for domestic victims of sex trafficking.  As we begin our fundraising efforts for the SAFE campaign we have been consistently confronted with two questions that we love to answer and hope that answering them here might be helpful:

1.  The problem seems overwhelming– is it even worth attempting to change?

YES!  Absolutely! Here at International Crisis Aid we have seen the enormity of this problem in many countries across the globe and understand that it can definitely seem hopeless.  However, we want to assure you…it is NOT.  In fact, people like you are the reason that International Crisis Aid has been able to extend hope to into the lives of hundreds of men, women, and children around the world!  We thank you for your partnership in confronting what seems like a hopeless problem with HOPE that endures!

2.  “DOES THIS REALLY HAPPEN HERE IN THE UNITED STATES?”

The answer, sadly, is…yes.  In fact, it happens all over the United States which is why International Crisis Aid is committed to multiple homes across the United States which will serve women and children who are rescued from these situations with a place for holistic care and rehabilitation.

We understand that this situation is difficult to wrap our minds around.  In fact, we are grateful that the vast MAJORITY of us really have to work to try to understand what these women and children have gone through.

To donate to the work that we are doing to combat sex trafficking, click HERE.

“I’ve been through war zones & refugee camps. Seen orphans, widows, sickness & disease. But nothing grasps my heart like the face of a young girl that has been held captive by sex trafficking.”

– Pat Bradley, President & Founder ICA.

Looking for Teen Volunteers

Girls With Dreams is looking for teen volunteers and interns to be a part of an exciting movement of teen girls who are up to big things. We are looking for creative, talented, enthusiastic girls who want to blog, be involved in video production, share their stories, and much more.  We can’t wait to hear from you!  Send your information to info@girlswithdreams.com.

Make a Difference With One Click a Day

Here are a few very simple ways you and other teens can make a huge difference with just a click of a button.

• Go to www.freerice.com to help end world hunger.
• Check out  www.thehungersite.com and all you have to do is click a button and you give 1.1 cups of food.
• There you can also support Breast Cancer, Child Health, Literacy, Rain Forest, and Animal Rescue.  And, you can sign petitions to help end those problems all around the world.

It Only Takes One

We all want to help out the world. We all should know that not everyone in this world is lucky enough to have most of the stuff we often take for granted (like our computers, sleeping in a bed, or even living in a house).

There are millions who live in poverty, and as sad as it is, there is a way you can help. Go to www.one.org and it’s as simple as putting in your email address and your zip code. That’s it. Their goal is to get 2 million people to fight against poverty, and this is a way you can help.  If you want to read more you can go to www.one.org/about

Simple Mother’s Day Ideas

Mother’s Day is right around the corner and we thought you’d want to hear a few simple ways to wow your mom and make her feel really special. Whether you are reaching out to your mom, grandma, or another special woman in your life. We’d love to hear more of your ideas, too! Please send them to info@girlswithdreams.com.

• Send a free e-card via sites such as www.hallmark.com.

• Make your own card complete with favorite photos of you and your mom. You could also write a short story or describe a favorite memory. Includes words of wisdom she’s shared with you that really stand out.

• Ask her to describe her perfect day, and try to deliver. Maybe it means she has quality time with you and the rest of the family, or maybe it means that she doesn’t have to cook or clean for a day. It’s going to be different for every mom, but get the whole family in on it and make the day all about her!

• Rent her favorite movie and get some of her favorite foods.

• Decorate her home office with fun shapes and bright colors. She’ll think of you every time she gets to work.

• Does your mom love chocolate? Make her cookies with lots of love or another treat she loves.

• Plan a special day together. Remember that this doesn’t have to be just on Mother’s Day.

• Visit www.allmomsgotoheaven.com to nominate your mom for a special award and browse their great gifts.

• Check out the unique and creative gifts at In the Pink Designs.

Whatever you decide to do will be great as long as it comes from the heart!

Insights from the Go-Giver Tour

My friend Lyn Graft just told me about the Go-Giver Tour and the nationally bestselling book The Go-Giver by Bob Burg and John David Mann. Although it’s more of a business book, the ideas and the inspiration behind the tour are relevant to everyone. It’s powerful stuff!

On their way down to Orlando to meet Bob Burg, the amazing entrepreneurs who started the Go-Giver Tour stopped here in St. Louis as well as a few other key cities. Gilbert Melott and Bradley Will were especially inspiring. Gilbert talked about a new book he read called Peaks and Valleys that argues whenever you are in a major valley, you are about to climb an awesome peak.

I know I was in a lot of valleys when I was a teen, whether I was stressing about my grades, my friends, or even obsessing about my weight. Some of those valleys were very dark. What a great analogy to think about, though. Next time you’re in a valley, it’s really important to surround yourself with quality people. Don’t try to deal with this on your own. Too many girls (me included, as a teen) are afraid to share what their secret is or what they’re dealing with. You are going to make it through this and you don’t have to be alone. Check out this video for more on this subject.

Then, Bradley shared he wants other entrepreneurs and people to find their passion. I couldn’t agree more! That is why we have Girls With Dreams. It’s critical to figure out what you’re good at, what your passions and gifts are, and then go out and use them! I know this is really hard as a teen because you might feel pulled in many directions. In contrast, some feel no pull whatsoever while others have a direct and clear path. No matter how you feel, know that it’s okay. We have a ton of great resources here to help you figure out tough questions. You can even check out this video for more information.

Finally, The Go-Giver is based on 5 laws: value, compensation, influence, authenticity, and receptivity. The ultimate message is Give More! One point that stood out to me was, “The most valuable gift you have to offer is yourself”. Have you ever thought along these terms? How good are you at being true to yourself? Are you easily swayed by your friends or do you feel like you can pursue your own beliefs, interests, and talents? How much of a giver are you? How can you give more?

If you’re intrigued by these ideas or have ever considered being an entrepreneur, check out the book and the entrepreneurs who were inspired to start the Go-Giver Tour.

Use Your Prom Dress to Help Other Girls

Are you going to Prom this year? Have you ever imagined what it would be like if you weren’t able to go to Prom because you couldn’t afford a dress? That’s the case for thousands of girls. Guess what? You can help! Whether your Prom’s around the corner or you just kicked off your dancing shoes, consider donating one of your old prom dresses to help another teen girl. Many schools organize dress drives, so ask around to see if you have one at your school or start one of your own!.

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