VolunteerSpot Makes Back-to-School Hassel Free
by Sue Scheff on Aug 17, 2010
It is that time of year again, and schools throughout the country will be opening as parents are scrambling. Have you considered starting a VolunteerSpot in your community? Learn more today! Here is the latest press release from VolunteerSpot. Read more about STARS filling and passing out 14,000 backpacks in Florida, with the help of VolunteerSpot – click here.
As massive budget cuts hit schools across country, free online tool makes it easy for parents to help our nation’s teachers
Back-to-school is right around the corner, and due to recent state-wide budget cuts, teachers and schools need parents’ help this year more than ever before. Parents will be asked to step-up and help in the classroom, the campus, and to support fundraisers. VolunteerSpot (www.VolunteerSpot.com), a free online coordination tool, simplifies the volunteer experience and makes it easier for more parents to get involved. Most importantly, VolunteerSpot is a proven success; the online sign up tool increases parent participation by 20% and raises school donation rates, too.
Any teacher or parent-leader can invite volunteers to sign up electronically through VolunteerSpot.com, and in two simple-clicks, parents can sign up for whatever activity and time works for them — from reading to the class or brining snacks to the Fall party, to helping in library or cafeteria, to staffing important fundraisers like the school carnival or stadium concession stand. VolunteerSpot even sends automated messages reminding volunteers of their commitments. No more “reply all” emails, late night phone tag, or disorganized paper sign-up sheets.
“Back-to-school is an exciting but stressful time for teachers and parent-leaders as they set up their classrooms and prepare for the year’s fundraising activities,” said Karen Bantuveris, Founder & CEO, VolunteerSpot. “It’s our responsibility as parents to help out in any way we can, and VolunteerSpot helps by making it easier for more parents to get involved at school.”
“VolunteerSpot made it so easy to sign up parents to read to my kindergarten class,” says Erin W., of Austin, TX. “I set up the schedule in a few minutes, and VolunteerSpot did the rest. Within 48 hours, all the spots were full and the best part is the kids love seeing their parents in the classroom.”
VolunteerSpot brings the simplicity of an online party invitation to school volunteering and makes it easy for anyone to ask for help. The site also provides unique tools, from free e-books, including the new “Room Parent Survival Guide,” and smart tips on everything from how to throw a successful school carnival or bake sale to Teacher Appreciation Week.
VolunteerSpot recently helped the Carmel Unified School District in California win a $100,000 donation when they were faced with the request to mobilize volunteers for the US Open. Asked to assemble a team to work approximately 14,000 hours over the course of seven days, the school district enlisted VolunteerSpot’s easy-to-use sign-up sheets, automatic e-mail reminders and organizational tools to ensure that the event went off without a hitch.
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About VolunteerSpotBased in Austin, Texas, privately held VolunteerSpot (www.VolunteerSpot.com) is a free Web-based organization tool that powers grassroots volunteering at school and in the community. Founded by ‘mompreneur’ and PTA leader, Karen Bantuveris, VolunteerSpot’s easy online sign-up tool saves time, streamlines communication and makes it simple for more people to get involved. VolunteerSpot has help organize more than a quarter-million volunteers since its public launch in April, 2009. VolunteerSpot is perfect for coordinating groups for anything – PTA activities, classroom helpers, carnivals and festivals, tournaments, VBS, service projects, mentoring sessions, group campouts, ministry meals, book fairs, swim meets, and more…. VolunteerSpot, DOING GOOD Just Got Easier!!!
Tags: Community Service, Parenting, parenting advice, Parenting Blogs, Parenting Resources, Parenting Teens, Teen Help
Sue Scheff: Helpful Hearts – Community Giving Care Packages to Our Troops – Pay it Forward
by Sue Scheff on Jul 22, 2010
Whether you are five, fifteen or fifty years old, almost everyone is aware of our troops and their dedication to our country. During a time of economic hardship for many families, job loss and some people losing their homes, it is rewarding when we see our community coming together to give all they can to the people that are giving themselves to our country.
Helpful Hearts was created three years ago by Brittney Welborn of Keystone Heights, Florida (Clay County) with the help of her family. Brittney Welborn’s brother serves in Korea, her sister is about to be sent to Iraq and her boyfriend is also in the military.
Now with the help of her friends, family and community, she prepares and ships care packages to our troops overseas. They have already sent more than 1,500 care packages, even more around the holidays.
According to First Coast News each bag is decorated by hand and each bag is put in a big box, delivered to the local post office to begin the long journey overseas. Watch video here.
Learn more about Helpful Hearts and how you can help by visit their Facebook page. Helpful Hearts is always looking for donations of food items like trail mix and sunflower seeds. Visit their Facebook page to find out how you can help donate.
Watch slide show and read more.
Tags: Community Service, Sue Scheff
Sue Scheff: Horses and Your Teens – Making a Difference with Children
by Sue Scheff on Jul 19, 2010
During the month of July it is National Make a Difference to Children Month. A time to recognize those that hare making a difference in the lives of children today.
Haven Horse Ranch is located in beautiful St. Augustine, Florida and offers several programs helping children learn Christian values and basic life skills to enhance their future.
About Haven Horse Ranch:
“Haven Horse Ranch believes that today’s youth lack opportunities to develop character and learn the consequences of responsible behavior. Haven Horse Ranch exists to present and model Christian principles to our youth, teaching the values of relationships, teamwork and individual character by building confidence and leadership.”
Haven Horse Ranch is a 20-horse, nonprofit, working horse ranch. They use horses to teach children basic life’s principles and Christian values. Haven Horse Ranch believe that better kids make for a better community. They exist to provide a safe, enjoyable environment where kids have fun learning about responsibility while growing in self-confidence.
Since 1990, Haven Horse Ranch have taught these principles to over 3700 youth through horse riding camps and clinics. These kids, ages 6-18, have seen their confidence and self-esteem grow and their character develop as they learned to be in control of and responsible for an 1100-pound horse.
Haven Horse Ranch also offers retreats for families. Find out more about their parent weekends. What a fantastic way to bond with your child or help with others.
During the month of July and always, try to find ways you can make a difference in a child’s life. You will be surprised, it is not only beneficial for the child, but you will feel good about it too. Remember, children are our future.
Learn more by visiting www.havenhorseranch.org.
Tags: Equine Therapy, Parenting, Parenting Teens, Parenting Tips, Sue Scheff
Sue Scheff: Parent’s Free Helpline – The Children’s Trust
by Sue Scheff on Jul 18, 2010
During National Make a Difference to Children Month it is a time to recognize and learn more about local resources to assist families that may be struggling or need help parenting their children.
The Children’s Trust Helpline 2-1-1 was established to assist families by educating and bringing awareness to health issues and children that may be having difficulties at home.
As The Children’s Trust moves ahead launching new programs and initiatives, it’s ever more critical to raise awareness – to keep parents and caregivers informed. They are committed to changing the lives of children and families, and are utilizing new and traditional media to communicate our message to those who need to know.
From toddlers to teenagers, The Children’s Trust Helpline has answers and resources for you. Simply dial/press 2-1-1 from any phone and you will have resources to call on.
As more families face losing their homes, loss of jobs, financial difficulties, etc… South Florida is working diligently to help children that need a little extra help. Whether it is finding appropriate daycare or experiencing a teen that is out-of-control, call 2-1-1 for help.
Learn more about The Children’s Trust Helpline by visiting www.thechildrenstrust.org.
Being an educated parent leads to having safer and healthier children.
Tags: Parenting, parenting advice, Parenting Blogs, Parenting Teens, Parenting Tips, Sue Scheff, Teen Help
Sue Scheff: Help Support Fresh Air Fund – Giving Needy Children a Summer of Fun
by Sue Scheff on Jun 23, 2010
As a guest post, Fresh Air Fund has asked me to help them promote their need for Host Families. The Fresh Air Fund is in need of host families for this summer. Host families are volunteers who open their hearts and home to a child from the city to give them a Fresh Air experience that can change lives.
Your gift of $24 becomes $48, good for TWO round-trip bus tickets from NYC to camp.
Make a gift before June 30th – and two inner-city childrens lives will be changed forever!
The Countdown to Summer 2010 is on and The Fresh Air Fund is in need of host families. If you or someone you know is able to host, please sign up now.
In 2009, The Fresh Air Fund‘s Volunteer Host Family program, called Friendly Town, gave close to 5,000 New York City boys and girls, ages six to 18, free summer experiences in the country and the suburbs. Volunteer host families shared their friendship and homes FOR up to two weeks or more in 13 Northeastern states from Virginia to Maine and Canada.
The Fresh Air Fund relies on donations to provide memorable summers to NYC children.
The Fresh Air Fund needs hosts for the summer of 2010.
More than 65% of all Fresh Air children are reinvited to stay with their host family, year after year.
Thanks to host families who open up their homes for a few weeks each summer, children growing up in New York City’s toughest neighborhoods have experienced the joys of Fresh Air experiences.
“It is rewarding to see the smile on our Fresh Air child’s face as she enjoys the simple things we take for granted…”
Friendly Town host families are volunteers who live in the suburbs or small town communities. Host families range in size, ethnicity and background, but share the desire to open their hearts and homes to give city children an experience they will never forget. Hosts say the Fresh Air experience is as enriching for their own families, as it is for the inner-city children. There are no financial requirements for hosting a child.It should be Volunteers may request the age-group and gender of the Fresh Air youngster they would like to host for up to two weeks. Stories about real Fresh Air host families and their New York City visitors are just a click away!
Click here to learn more about becoming a host or call (800) 367-0003!
Fresh Air children are boys and girls, six to 18 years old, who live in New York City. Children on first-time visits are six to 12 years old and stay for either one or two weeks. Youngsters who are re-invited by the same family may continue with The Fund through age 18, and many enjoy longer summertime visits, year after year. A visit to the home of a warm and loving volunteer host family can make all the difference in the world to an inner-city child. All it takes to create lifelong memories is laughing in the sunshine and making new friends.
The majority of Fresh Air children are from low-income communities. These are often families without the resources to send their children on summer vacations. Most inner-city youngsters grow up in towering apartment buildings without large, open outdoor play spaces. Concrete playgrounds cannot replace the freedom of running barefoot through the grass or riding bikes down country lanes.
Fresh Air children are registered by more than 90 participating social service and community organizations located in disadvantaged neighborhoods in the five boroughs of New York City. These community-based agencies are in close contact with children in need of summer experiences in rural and suburban areas. Each agency is responsible for registering children for the program.
Learn more – visit http://freshairfundhost.com/ - Watch the video below.
What do Fresh Air children enjoy? Help give them a gift of summer fun.
- Playing in the backyard
- Laughing in the sunshine
- Catching fireflies
- Riding bicycles
- Learning to swim
- Running barefoot through the grass
- Gazing at the stars on moonlit nights
- Building sandcastles
- Making new friends
- Simple pleasures of life away from the inner-city
Tags: Community Service, Sue Scheff
Sue Scheff: GirlUp Organization – Making a Difference in the World One Girl at a Time
by Sue Scheff on Jun 09, 2010
June 2010 marks another historic moment with the launching of a new global United Nations Foundation (UNF) campaign: Girl UP.
What is Girl UP?
Girl Up, a campaign of the United Nations Foundation, gives American girls the opportunity to channel their energy and compassion to raise awareness and funds for programs of the United Nations that help some of the world’s hardest-to-reach adolescent girls. Through Girl Up’s support, girls have the opportunity to become educated, healthy, safe, counted and positioned to be the next generation of leaders. Campaign supporters are encouraged to give a “High Five” to girls in developing countries by donating $5 or more to provide girls with such basic needs as access to school supplies, clean water, life-saving health services, safety from violence and more. To give a High Five and learn more, join us at GirlUp.org.
Adolescent girls have tremendous potential to be strong, bright, and curious leaders, sports stars, prime ministers — you name it. But adolescent girls in developing countries face a number of challenges that can make it difficult to fulfill their aspirations. Join Girl Up and you can help girls globally live their dreams.
Girl UP Facebook Group, is over 1000 voices and growing strong. Join today! Don’t forget to follow them on Twitter too.
With today’s strained economy, people out of work, stress in many homes combined with families losing their homes, we need to build hope and give help to the many kids that will be our future.
The world’s adolescent girls are tomorrow’s dreams. Be a part of making a difference, be part of GirlUp today.
Watch video introduction and read more.
Tags: Parenting Teens, Parenting Tips, Sue Scheff
Sue Scheff: National PTA Conference June 2010 – Forty Years of Helping Families, Teachers, Students and Schools
by Sue Scheff on Jun 02, 2010
June 10 – 13th the National PTA Conference will take place in Memphis, TN.
Are you aware that forty years ago this month, the National Congress of Colored Parents and Teachers (NCCPT) and the National Congress of Mothers united to form the National PTA, adapting the same mission they had operated under separately: to improve the education and well being of every child? Today, while many great accomplishments have been made there are still obstacles that we must conquer, both inside and outside of the classroom and across ethnic backgrounds. So at this year’s national convention there will be much to tackle:
- The nation’s K-12 public education system is in crisis.
- Our students lag behind compared to children in other countries in math and science – which is not a plus for their futures in a global economy and job market.
- And our schools also face widespread funding shortages, a childhood obesity epidemic and unbalanced academic standards all across the country.
In this LIVE webcast event from the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, National PTA President Chuck Saylors will be joined by actress, mother and National PTA Advisory Board member Tichina Arnold, National PTA representatives and Ambassadors; Tomeka Hart, Executive director of Memphis Urban League, University of Memphis student representative; as well as Barbara Andrews, director of Education and Interpretation for National Civil Rights Museum. They will be discussing the challenges of educating the 21st century child in today’s classroom, and what needs to be done to close the achievement gap in education.
Want to learn ways in which you can take a more hands on approach in your child’s education? You’re in luck, as during this webcast event you’ll have the opportunity to email your questions and have them potentially answered live during the event. Your readers can sign up to secure spots today by visiting: www.visualwebcaster.com/event.asp?id=69462
For more information visit www.pta.org
Sue Scheff: Teen that was beaten nearly to death, Josie Ratley, will be home soon – Be Generous, Supplies Needed!
by Sue Scheff on May 24, 2010
As Josie Ratley turns a page in her recovery, she will need the generosity and support of the community to help her family as they prepare for her to come home.
According to Jowharah Sanders, founder of the National Voices for Equality, Education & Enlightenment, www.NVEEE.com (pronounced “Envy”) and spokesperson for the Ratley Family, “There is a list of items the family will need at this time from the basic medical supplies, educational item, and a new home that will allow the family more space for a child whose primary form of transportation is now a wheelchair and a walker.”
Among the items specifically noted are:
EDUCATIONAL/REHABILITATIVE ITEMS
“Easy to read” books
Writing pads
Legos, blocks and any type of building items (to aid in motor skills)
Preschool learning toys
Electronic interactive learning items with batteries. The items include a Leap Frog learning Pad or leap Frog Computers and DynaVox EyeMax Educational Systems.
Magnetic letters and puzzles
Wall stickers in the shape of numbers of letters
Soft cushy balls in different colors (to aid in sensory development)
Learning CD’s and music for children.
ART SUPPLIES
Artist sketch pads or water color pads
Pens
Colored pencils
Paints and brushes
PERSONAL ITEMS
Towels
Wash cloths that are white
Queen-size bedding and queen-size
Waterproof mattress covers
Gift Cards
MEDICAL ITEMS
Regular Gauze (size 2×2 and 4×4)
Rolled Gauze (2″)
Normal saline
Gloves
Medical tape
Allevyn (Adhesive Hydrocellular Dressing) in both sizes, 3x 3 and 5×5
Blue Chux Underpads or any type of disposable changing pads.
The requested items can be DROPPED OFF at the following locations:
Gallery 101
501 N. Andrews Avenue, Suite 103
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Fache Arts
750 NE 124 Street, Suite 2
North Miami, FL 33161
The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale
1799 S.E. 17th Street,
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
Or you can MAIL YOUR DONATIONS to:
NVEEE
PO Box 23837
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33307
(954) 561-2626
** Please make checks payable to NVEEE/Josie Lou Ratley
For more information, please visit Pray for Josie Lou Ratley Facebook Group.
Please forward this list to all your friends in your contact list. If everyone gives a little, there will be a lot!
Tags: Community Service, Sue Scheff
Sue Scheff: Embrace School Climate and Make Your School and Community a Safer Place for Kids and Teens
by Sue Scheff on May 16, 2010
No matter where you are in our country, school climate is critical in our childrens lives. Today with the headlines ripping with text rage, text threats and hit lists, bullying, beatings, teen bomb scares and more, there has never been a more crucial time to educate parents, teachers, schools and students about prevention of school violence and the need to learn about healthy living.
School Climate is an educational resource that is working diligently to bring together everyone to benefit our communities and school districts.
About School Climate:
Our goal is to promote positive and sustained school climate: a safe, supportive environment that nurtures social and emotional, ethical, and academic skills.
CSEE is an organization that helps schools integrate crucial social and emotional learning with academic instruction. In doing so, we enhance student performance, prevent drop outs, reduce physical violence, bullying, and develop healthy and positively engaged adults.
For more than a decade CSEE has worked together with the entire academic community-teacher, staff, school-based mental health professionals, students and parents-to improve a climate for learning.
We help translate research into practice by establishing meaningful and relevant guidelines, programs and services that support a model for whole school improvement with a focus on school climate.
Join School Climate on Facebook and follow them on Twitter. Also follow them on through BullyBust.
Is your school safe? Do the students feel safe? Measure your school climate today! Click here.
Be an educated parent, you will have safer and healthier teens. Read more.
Tags: Bullying, Community Service, Parenting, Parenting Blogs, Parenting Resources, Parenting Teens Online, Parenting Tips, Sue Scheff, Teen Help
Sue Scheff: Teens Helping Special Needs Teens Through Friendship and Acceptance – Circle of Friends
by Sue Scheff on May 13, 2010
Being a teenager can be difficult. Keeping up with the trendy clothes, hair styles and hanging with the cool group is all part of being a teen in high school today. However when it comes to teens with special needs, having a friend is one of the hardest parts of going to high school.
Circle of Friends is changing that one school at a time. Circle of Friends is a social skills programs for teens and adults with disabilities such as autism, through understanding, acceptance, friendship and inclusion. Going into local high schools, teens are changing lives. They provide valuable support and friendship to those with disabilities. Teens and adults that were once isolated and lonely with their disability are now experiencing living through Circle of Friends. From a simple phone call, to going out to eat, Circle of Friends is providing a sense of normalcy to people with disabilities.
Special events are planned such as dances and organized outings to the movies and shopping help these disabled people learn better social skills and enhances their communication skills with others. Circle of Friends helps make dreams come true for these otherwise isolated teens and adults with disabilities.
A priceless gift that Circle of Friends creates is the gift of giving. Teens that take part in Circle of Friends are influenced by bringing an awareness of understanding and acceptance to those that have disabilities. It is true, it just feels good to give!
Encourage your school and community to open a local chapter today. Read Ella’s story. Learn more, click here.
Watch video and be inspired to start your own chapter today! Read more.
Tags: Autism, Autstic Teens, Community Service, Sue Scheff, teens volunteering
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