Isn't It Time You Started Giving Back

One of my New Year's resolutions was to give more to charity in 2009 than I did in 2008. One of the ways I am going to do this is through a new blog I have started called Charity of the Day. I encourage you to check it out. The first charity that I featured is the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. This charity is very close to my heart. My grandfather battled the disease for years before he was taken away from us. I plan on featuring a different charity as often as I can. Times are tough right now. People are hurting, and for those of us who are strong mentally, physically and financially, we need to help those in need as best we can.

I want to challenge you to make 2009 your best year ever. If you have a charity that you're trying to bring more awareness to, visit Charity of the Day, and let me hear about it.

Until later, make it a great day!

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Support Our Troops - Give To The USO

I don't care if you're a Democrat, Republican, Independent, Libertarian, member of the Green Party or any other political affiliation, there's no denying the fact that our young men and women who are in Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan and other places around the world need our support.

They are there, and we are here. We have the freedom to speak out against the war. We have the freedom to speak out for the war. We have the freedom to do and say anything we want in this great country BECAUSE of the sacrifice that these men and women have made and are making for us.

That is why I support the USO, and I hope you will as well. Contrary to what you may think, the USO is not a government organization. They rely on you and me to support them. And, according to their website, 89 cents of every $1.00 goes directly to supporting our G.I.'s. That's impressive. If you're not familiar with the USO, visit their website and read more about them. They're the ones who brought performers such as Bob Hope, Kid Rock and Robin Williams overseas to entertain the troops. They supply the troops with pre-paid phone cards, care packages and support for the families who are left behind while their loved ones are overseas.

If you'd like to join me in supporting the USO, visit their website and click on the GIVE NOW button. You can give as little or as much as you like. Every little bit helps.

Thanks and make it a great day!

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Support The Troops - Send Them A Free Gift

I've been watching the HBO mini-series Generation Kill, which follows a platoon of Marines as they make their way through Iraq at the beginning of the Iraq conflict. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend you watch it as it's a rare look at what our soldiers are facing right now in Iraq.

HBO and it's partners have teamed up together to send the troops some specific items that the troops have requested. They're items such as band-aids, lotions, beef jerkey, magazines, etc.

If you go to this page on HBO's website, you can send the troops one of the items for free. There's no catch. Just visit the page for complete details. This is only going to be up for a limited time as they'll need to send the items over very soon. Don't miss this opportunity to help our troops.

Thanks and make it a great day!

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An Update On The Lilli Grace Memorial Foundation Golf Tournament

I received the following email today from a friend who I featured a short while back. He was trying to raise money for the Lilli Grace Memorial Foundation:

Thank you again for posting the information about our golf tournament for the Lilli Grace Memorial Foundation. I just wanted to give you an update on how it went. The tournament was a blast and on top of a beautiful day for golf, we raised over $30,000 for the foundation!!!! 5 of us are headed to Fletcher, NC on May 18th to ride in a Century (100 mile) bicycle ride with Team in Training. The Lilli Grace Memorial Foundation will be making a $5,000 donation to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society that weekend!

It just goes to show what you can accomplish when people come together for a great cause. Thank you for your support and for always reporting the good news, seems the media is afraid of it! You can view pictures of the tournament on www.lilligrace.com . We will be posting pics and updates throughout the year.

Eddie, I'm glad I was able to help spread the news about the event, and thank you to all the Positive Pelham readers for your support! This is what it's all about. Sharing good news while helping those in need.

Make it a great day!

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Please Donate To The Walk Of Life For Cancer Research

Hello everyone,

A friend of mine is trying to raise money for a very worthy cause. It's The Joy to Life Foundation and they are holding the Walk of Life, a 5K run/walk through downtown Montgomery, AL, which will be held at Cramton Bowl on April 19, 2008. The Walk of Life is the major fundraiser for the Joy to Life Foundation. It is intended to raise awareness and dollars to help pay for free mammograms for women under 50 years of age. He's trying to raise $5,000, and right now, he's at $750. Think you can help him out? Every little bit helps!

To donate, please visit this page.

Let's help him reach his goal: Forward this to a Friend

Thanks and make it a great day!

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Golf Tournament To Support The Lilli Grace Memorial Foundation

I received an email from a reader (Thanks Eddie!) of PositivePelham.com the other day. He's going to be participating in a golf tournament to raise funds for a very, very worthy cause. I'm going to let him tell you what it's all about. Here is his email:

Won’t you help me honor Lilli’s legacy?

Lilli Grace Register was born through the miracle of research and technology. This miracle allowed her father, who fought two previous episodes with cancer (Hodgkins Disease Lymphoma), to actually conceive a child with his wife. Lilli Grace, who truly lived up to her name, was filled with great joy and had a smile that would light up a room. After only a short 18 months, this special child was tragically killed in an accident and I am asking for your help in continuing her legacy.

On April 21st, I will be participating in a significant and meaningful golf tournament as part of The Lilli Grace Memorial Foundation fund raising efforts. The Foundation provides support to many organizations leading the way in cancer awareness and child safety in the home. It is a proud supporter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (through Team in Training), the The Two-Day Breast Cancer Walk and www.kidsandcars.org ..

My request is simple and straightforward. Would you consider sponsoring me to help these wonderful organizations continue in their much needed work? The easiest way is to simply visit www.lilligrace.com , click on the Donate button and make a SECURE donation using a major credit card through PayPal. When people come together in Grace, great things can be accomplished….. let’s help find ways to support and help those in need.
Thank you for making a difference!



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Mysterious Man Gives Couple $100,000 Check In Restaurant

Here's something that doesn't happen very often. This couple was eating in their favorite bar and grill, and an older gentleman walked up to them and started a conversation. The next thing they knew, he gave them a check for $100,000. I think I'm eating in the wrong restaurant.... Enjoy!

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At Least One "Hilton" Family Member Is Doing Something For The Good Of Man-Kind

While Paris Hilton seems intent on spending every dime of the Hilton fortune, her grandfather, Barron Hilton is intent on giving it all away...to charity that is...

Barron has more than $2.3 billion to his name, thanks to a large inheritance from his father, Hilton Hotel founder, Conrad Hilton. And, he's pledged to donate almost all of his fortune to the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, which is a charity created by his father that provides funding for education, clean water, housing, and other causes.

To read the complete article about Barron's incredible good deed, please go to this page on BusinessWire.com.

Make it a great day!

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Daily Positive News Briefs - Thursday, November 22, 2007

Gimundo.com - A Piggy Thanksgiving, and Other Fun Facts About Turkey Day - Excerpt from this article: "The real first Thanksgiving actually took place in Berkeley Plantation, Virginia, back in 1619. And the Virginia settlers didn't feast on a turkey dinner, either: According to historical records, their meal consisted of ham or bacon, and maybe a few oysters."

HappyNews.com - Celebs Serve Holiday Meals to Homeless - Excerpt from this article: "Kirk Douglas, Harrison Ford and other celebrities shared the Thanksgiving spirit Wednesday by serving hot meals to homeless people on Skid Row."

HappyNews.com - Tired on Thanksgiving? Don't Blame Turkey - Excerpt from this article: "While there is an amino acid in turkey that induces sleepiness, experts say it's much more likely the reason you're tired after having Thanksgiving dinner is a combination of simple factors: you ate and drank too much and didn't sleep enough."

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Daily Positive Briefs - Monday, November 19, 2007

Gimundo.com - An Anonymous Donor Gives $100 Million to Needy Town

GoodNewsBlog.com - Drivers Miracle Escape

HappyNews.com - Bush Praises America's Giving Spirit

NYTimes.com - Last-Second Rescue Saves Driver From Train and Baghdad Starts to Exhale as Security Improves

USAToday.com - Wedding Ring Recovered 34 Years After Deadly Tornado

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Winfrey Showers Macon, Georgia Audience With Gifts

From HappyNews.com - Oprah Winfrey, kicking off a series of shows highlighting towns across the United States, concluded a taping in Macon on Saturday by doling out gifts large and small to audience members.

Under the theme "Oprah's favorite things," she showered the crowd with presents ranging from refrigerators to camcorders to wrapping paper. The show will air Tuesday.

Winfrey also toured downtown Macon and stopped by Nu-Way, a well-known hot dog restaurant, Friday afternoon.

Afterward, she proclaimed the hot dogs her favorite thing about the visit.

Macon spent as much as $20,000 to ready City Auditorium for Winfrey's visit. Her company, Harpo Productions, has offered to reimburse the city for some of the improvements to the historic building. For more stories like this one, visit HappyNews.com.

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Americans Are The Most Giving People On The Planet

This doesn't come as a surprise to me. As you know, I believe that many more positive things happen every day than negative things. And, Americans overwhelmingly give more money to charity than anyone else in the world. According to this USA Today article, Americans gave almost $300 Billion dollars to charity last year, and almost 3/4 of that came from individual donors. This proves my point. Americans want to live positive lives and they want to help others live positive lives.

Keep up the good work America! You are making a difference, no doubt about it.

Make it a great day!

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Rachel Ray Cooks Up a Prom For Enterprise High School Tornado Victims

Remember back in the spring when the tornadoes ripped through the Enterprise High School in Enterprise, Alabama. Well, here is a little follow-up to that tragedy from Showbuzz.CBSnews.com -- "Celebrity chef Rachael Ray served up a prom for some Alabama teenagers who lost eight classmates and their school in a tornado, her publicist confirmed Thursday.

Ray planned the menu and helped prepare dinner at Enterprise High School's prom, according to a statement from Ray's publicist, Georgianna Dente. The star of her own syndicated talk show, "The Rachel Ray Show," paid for the dance and filmed it for an episode..." To continue reading this story, please go to this page on Showbuzz.CBSNews.com.

I always thought she was a cool chef, but I like and respect Rachel even more now.

Make it a great day!

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AMillionThanks.org - Sending Thank You Letters to our Troops

While watching the Wachovia championships (PGA Tour event) on TV today, I saw an ad for a website called www.amillionthanks.org. The organization was started by a California teenager named Shauna Fleming about three years ago. They send thank you letters to our military personnel stationed all over the world. It's a really cool service.

Click here to learn how you can submit a thank you letter to be sent to our troops. And, from not until Memorial Day, you can drop off your thank you card at a Buick, Pontiac or GMC dealership. The following video will give you a little more insight into Shauna's organization.



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Website Promotes Direct Giving Over Charity Groups

Have you ever wondered if the money you donate to your favorite charity actually goes towards the people who need the money, or just to the charity's overhead? Don't get me wrong, charities are great and do an enormous amount of good work, but it would be nice if we knew that every dollar we donate actually goes to the people in need.

Well, one entrepreneur felt this same way. His name is Alexander Blass, and he has started a new website called, RealityCharity.com. In his own words, here is how Alexander describes the site:

"RealityCharity™ is the gratifying, new way to give™. RealityCharity™ is the world's first person-to-person giving website and social philanthropy community. We are creating a permanent paradigm shift in the world of philanthropy, fundraising and charitable giving. RealityCharity™ cuts out the middle-man between donor and recipient, allowing you to instantly change a life by making a direct and immediate donation to a specific person, family, cause, or organization of your choosing, who needs your help. We do not charge a processing fee or hold on to the funds. All the money goes directly to the recipient, immediately, less the minimal electronic banking fees we are charged to process the transaction, calculated to the penny.

People who need to raise money for virtually any reason -- in nearly 50 countries -- may create and post their very own personalized listing within minutes detailing their story and financial requirements, including photos and supporting evidence of their need. We employ rigid and sophisticated online identity verification techniques similar to those implemented by top financial institutions, and other top-tier web sites for which security is a priority, so donors can feel good about doing good.

After creating a donation page, Fundraisers may immediately direct their social network to their new donation page. Their friends and family can provide the initial beachhead of financial support, leave public messages of encouragement on the Donor Wall for others to see, and then forward the link on to their social network as well, and so forth, creating a viral giving effect. Generous people around the world looking to instantly change someone's life may search or browse the listings by numerous criteria, to find specific stories of real people and causes that resonate with them. Donors may then make an instant, secure, online cash donation directly to that individual using all major credit cards or directly from a bank account if they have a PayPal® account. The donations are electronically disbursed instantly and directly to the person or cause in need via our partner Paypal®, and RealityCharity does not charge any fee to the Fundraiser or the Donor.

At RealityCharity, we are passionate about providing a fun, easy, and direct way for people to help each other. Think of us as the "eBay of philanthropy."

Personally, I was wondering about fraud on the site. It seems that they have a system of verifying the identity of individuals who are requesting money, so you can feel comfortable that the person you are giving to is actually a real person. I'm sure a lot of people will try to buck the system, but at the same time, the site probably will help a lot of people who are truly in need. Besides, you can give as much or as little as $10. Give the site a visit and check it out for yourself.

Good luck and make it a great day!

The Real Phil Mickelson

First, I want to congratulate Phil for winning the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. Phil blew away the field shooting a final round 66 to win the tournament by five shots. This is Phil's 30th career victory, which puts him in select company as he now has more career wins at age 36 than Lee Trevino, Johnny Miller and Ben Crenshaw had in their entire careers.

I have been a fan of Phil Mickelson's for a very long time. He's one of those golfers that I've pulled for for years and have always assumed he was a a nice guy considering how polite and nice he seems on television. Back in 2004, I was at the Masters on Sunday when he won his first Masters title. My wife and I were positioned to the left of the tee on #10, and after Phil teed off, he walked down the left side of the fairway passing directly by us. We both smiled and gave him a "Go Phil", and he did something that many professional athletes don't do, he smiled, tipped his hat and said, "Thank you and thanks for coming out." That may not sound like much, but try that same scenario with many other professional athletes while they're in the heat of the battle, and you're more likely to get ignored, glared at, or at best, a quick nod.

But, one nice "thank you" does not necessarily mean that the real Phil Mickelson is a nice guy. It means he's polite and respects the fact that the fans are as much a part of a golf tournament as he is.

What does make him a nice guy is a story I just read in this week's Golf World. The title of the article is, "Conrad Dobler's Favorite Golfer." Unless you are a die-hard historian of professional football, you probably have never heard of Dobler... Neither had I until I read this article. Conrad was once called the "dirtiest player in the NFL".

Because NFL players of the distant past did not make that much money, and the NFL's disability plan doesn't amount to much, Conrad lives a nice, but not too extravagant lifestyle considering he's had numerous surgeries on both knees. But, Conrad's entire life changed back on July 4, 2001. He and his wife Joy and their six children were relaxing while waiting for friends to come over for the holiday. His wife Joy was in their hammock and accidentally fell out of the hammock and couldn't feel anything. She's been a quadriplegic ever since. After numerous surgeries, doctor visits, etc., Conrad has had to downsize and sell almost all of his assets to keep the family afloat while paying for Joy's rehabilitation.

Enter Phil Mickelson. Phil's lawyer, Glenn Cohen, called Conrad up one day and told him that Phil had become aware of his situation and wanted to pay for his daughter Holli's college education. Conrad couldn't believe it because he had never met Phil and still hasn't to this day. Conrad asked Cohen why Phil was doing this, and his response was, "Because he can."

Phil does stay in touch with Holli who is now a sophomore at Miami of Ohio. She waits tables and has a heavy load of classes and currently has a 3.8 GPA. The first year, Phil sent $20,000, and he has promised cost of living increases every year promising $22,000 and then $24,000.

This random act of kindness by Phil has changed the lives of more than just Holli. It has made Conrad a better person, and it's given Joy the will to walk again. She's already made great strides and hopes to one day get out of the wheelchair for good. Phil has invited the entire family to the Memorial Tournament in May, and the family can't wait to meet him in person. As Joy says, "If there's anything he's missing in his life, it's a set of wings. He's an angel. And if I can when I see him for the first time, I'm going to go up and give him a big hug."

BECAUSE HE CAN! That is the real Phil Mickelson.

To me, this story embodies what it means to be successful. Being successful means having the ability to help others "because you can." There are so many people who could help others, but they choose not to. I'd like to challenge you to look for areas in your everyday life where you can perform a random act of kindness. You'll be surprised how many situations come up where you can help....

If you'd like to share your random acts of kindness with our readers, drop us a note on the comments page.

Good luck today and make it a great one!

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