Archives for August 2018

Happy Monday! Monday’s don’t always have to be terrible. Set your intentions for a great week by joining in on one of these local happenings supporting great causes!

 

SBN on Tour at Red’s Best

Wednesday, August 15^th 10:00 am to 11:30 am

Red’s Best

37 Fish Pier Street West, Boston

Red’s Best, a Boston based seafood wholesaler, aggregates catch directly from over 1,000 small, independent New England fishing boats annually. Red’s Best mission is to sustain the livelihoods of American fishermen and their families while sustaining fisheries for harvest.

Join the Sustainable Business Network of Massachusetts for a tour of the Red’s Best fish pier facility and let’s talk about where our fish comes from and why it matters. For more information and to register, click here.

 

WCI’s 5th Annual Family and Guardian Agency Picnic

Wednesday, August 15^th 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Arsenal Park

485 Arsenal Street, First Floor – WCI, Watertown

Want to get involved? Want to meet people? WCI (Work, Community, Independence) has lots of volunteer opportunities available at the picnic. Please contact Joe Donati at (508)284-4034 or jdonati@wearewci.org. For more information and to register, click here.

 

Cornhole Tournament for a Cause

Thursday, August 16^th 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Chopps American Bar and Grill

1 Burlington Mall Road, Burlington

Cornhole for a Cause! Join CHOPPS American Bar and Grill for a special Cornhole for a Cause competition to benefit Mass General Hospital for Children Cancer Center. Cheer on your favorite cornhole team on the terrace at CHOPPS while enjoying bites from Executive Chef Steve Zimei and tastings from local Massachusetts breweries. Along with Master Mixologist Michael Ray, from Proximo and Sweet Treats from Ice Haus. For more information, click here.

 

BarkHappy Boston: Pupsicles Pawty Benefiting Missing Dogs Massachusetts

Saturday, August 18^th 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Bent Water Brewing Company

180 Commercial Street #18, Lynn

Let’s savor the dog days of summer with a fun Pupsicles Pawty! Enjoy an afternoon of cool beers and cool pupsicles for a great cause, Missing Dogs Massachusetts. They’ll keep you busy with brewery tours, doggy pools and a dog training demo from Theresa Giannino of Gone to the Dogs. For tickets and more information, click here.

 

Wicked AUsome Harbor Cruise

Sunday, August 19^th 4:30 PM – 8:00 PM

Boston Harbor Cruises

1 Long Wharf, Boston

Set sail with Friends of the Wicked AUsome Project for what will definitely be a high point of the summer, the Wicked AUsome Boston Harbor Cruise! This is their 2nd Annual Harbor Cruise and will take place aboard the Rendezvous, a private yacht, that will cruise the Boston Harbor and all of it’s beautiful views of the city. The Wicked AUsome Foundation is a charitable organization committed to promoting Autism Awareness and Acceptance in the community through educational and peer-buddy programs and to enrich the lives of people with Autism through social clubs and events. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.

The weekend is upon us yet again! Let’s celebrate with three stories of people who made a difference this week.

Back to School Best

Via WBRC

Manager of the Perfect Line Barber Shop in Alabama, Robert Banks, gave out 100 free backpacks and haircuts to kids in his community to ensure they look their best on the first day of school. This will be the third year he has held the “Annual Back to School Support & Supplies” event in his barbershop. He believes that you can change the future of your community just by showing kids their potential. This event isn’t all Banks does to give back. Throughout the year, he gives free haircuts to kids of all ages who maintain an A.

A Leap of Faith

Via USA Today

Officer Jessie Ferreira Cavallo saw a boy running along the Saw Mill River Parkway in Yonkers, NY on her way to work this past Friday. Right before her eyes, the 12-year-old boy climbed over a guardrail and jumped off an overpass. Without hesitation, Jessie pulled her car over, grabbed any first-aid materials she had and jumped right behind him, ultimately saving his life. Because of her bravery, and the others who stopped to assist, the young boy survived.

Small Favors

Via ABC 13

As many of you have probably heard, the devastating Carr Fire is currently burning in Shasta and Trinity Counties in California. During this time, thousands of northern California residents have been asked to evacuate their homes. Susan and Jeff were two residents who left their home for a few days. Upon their return, they found a note on their door from a firefighter telling them that he had watered their garden while they were gone. The couple is now looking to track down the firefighter so they can thank him properly.

No matter how big or small the action, everybody has the chance to make a difference every day. Whether it’s in your own life or the lives of others, we hope you always choose the path of change!

It’s a new week and a fresh start to make a difference in your community. Check out these five local opportunities to get involved this week.

 

Housing Families Young Professionals Presents: Cornhole for a Cause

Wednesday, August 8th

5:30 – 9:30 pm

Ned Devine’s

1 Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston

Join Housing Families for a cornhole tournament as they raise funds to help families and children who are experiencing homelessness. First prize for the tournament winner is two tickets to the September 24th Boston Red Sox game versus the Orioles! For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.

 

15th Annual Shooze Cruise

Wednesday, August 8th

7 – 10 pm

Bay State Cruise Lines

200 Seaport Blvd, Boston

The Shooze Cruise is a signature boat party hosted by the Emerging Leaders of St. Francis House, Boston’s largest homeless day shelter. Attendees are asked to bring a pair of new men’s shoes to donate as they board the cruise. Join the Emerging Leaders on board the Provincetown II for a night of dancing and celebration, all while helping Boston’s most vulnerable. Food is generously provided by North 26 Restaurant of Boston. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.

 

Sip, Shop & Support Dress for Success Boston

Thursday, August 9th

6 -8 pm

Industrious Boston Seaport

22 Boston Wharf Road, 7th Floor Boston

Join Dress for Success Boston for an evening of wine tasting, networking, shopping and raising money! Shop an array of local vendors and artisans and 15% of your purchase will directly support Dress for Success Boston. For more information and to register, click here.

 

Wishes on Lockdown 2018

Thursday, August 9th

6 -9 PM

Alibi

215 Charles Street, Boston

Join Paul Grossman and The Wishes on Lockdown Committee as they celebrate their 3rd annual Wishes on Lockdown to support Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island! Hosted on Alibi’s beautiful patio at The Liberty Hotel, the event is a great excuse to get out with friends, meet other young professionals in Boston, and support an amazing charity that grants wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.

 

Race 4 Research 5K & Walk

Sunday, August 12th

8:30 am to 2:00 pm

ALS TDI

300 Technology Square, Cambridge

On Sunday, the ALS Therapy Development Institute will be hosting the Race 4 Research 5k. ALS TDI is the world’s largest ALS research center, and it is located right here in Cambridge. All of the funds raised during Race 4 Research go straight to their lab, with the hope of finding a cure for this horrible disease. For more information, to register or make a donation, click here.

It’s the beginning of a new month and the perfect time for a fresh start. Let’s enter into August the right way with the top three feel-good stories of the week.

Helping Hand

Via Washington Post

Jack Ryan Edwards was walking through his local grocery store in Baton Rouge with his father when something caught his eye. The 17-year-old has autism and it isn’t unusual for him to get fixated on things. Jordan Taylor, an employee at Rouses Supermarket, noticed Jack staring at the orange juice. First Jordan asked Jack if he wanted a bottle, but received no answer. Something in him told him to ask if he wanted to help him stock the shelves. The two boys refilled the shelves for about half an hour. Jack’s father decided to capture this beautiful moment and share it online, receiving praise from hundreds of thousands of viewers. People have been moved by such a simple yet extraordinary act. It’s what you do when nobody’s watching that is the true test of character.

Hungry for Success

Via NY Post

Web developer David Casarez earned a bachelor’s in management information systems from Texas A&M University and went on to become a web developer for General Motors in Austin. He had a dream of starting his own tech startup, so he decided to cash out his 401(k) and drive to Silicon Valley. He eventually ran out of cash and was soon living in his car. About a month ago his van was repossessed and he’s been sleeping in the park ever since. This was the last straw for David. He grabbed a piece of cardboard and wrote “HUNGRY 4 SUCCESS. TAKE A RESUME.” He put on his best shirt and tie and hit the streets with resumes in hand. A woman pulled up and asked if she could take a picture of him to post online. The post of Casarez and his sign has since been retweeted more than 50,000 times and liked almost 70,000 times. David has received hundreds of job offers and is shocked by the response.

When Life Gives You Lemons

Via WCVB

Officers Donald DeMiranda and Ryan Moore of the Falmouth, MA Police Department were recently shot and wounded during a disturbance call. Nine-year-old Joe Ledwick decided to set up a lemonade stand to raise money for the two wounded police officers. When Joe showed up at the Falmouth police station, officers were shocked when he put a box containing $1,591.09 on the table.

No gesture is too small or dreams too big. Each and every one of us has the ability to make a difference, how do you plan to?

Did you know that of the over 21,000 homeless children in Massachusetts, only one in four will graduate high school? With basic needs not being met and constantly moving around from community to community, it can be difficult for them to get a quality education. School on Wheels, a non-profit based out of Bridgewater, MA, is working to give these students a fighting chance at a successful future.

Originally started in California, School on Wheels was brought to Massachusetts in 2004 by teacher and child advocate Cheryl Opper after being inspired by the foundation’s mission. Cheryl began running School on Wheels Massachusetts (SOWMA) out of her own home in Easton, training tutors at her kitchen table and filling her basement with donated school supplies. Today, the organization runs out of 18 program sites and has three main programs:

• Tutoring and Mentoring

School on Wheels recruits and trains volunteers who provide weekly one-on-one tutoring and mentoring to students grades K-12. They work on reinforcing grade level learning skills, school projects, and boosting the child’s confidence, both academically and socially. SOWMA tutors work with 280 students per week.

• Backpacks and School Supplies

It’s difficult to succeed in school without the right tools. That’s why SOWMA provides a brand new backpack filled with books and supplies to every student. These materials are collected throughout the year through donations and fundraising drives. Last year alone, 2,892 children across Massachusetts received new backpacks.

• High School Plus

Graduating high school is a tremendous accomplishment for students who are homeless, but SOWMA is determined to inspire students to continue their educations. High School Plus is a program designed to help their students stay engaged in their education and pursue a college degree or vocational certificate. The program offers tutoring, assistance with SAT/ACT registration and the college application process, and much more. This program places special emphasis on “unaccompanied youth,” students aged 16-22 who are not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian. These students account for more than 50% of those enrolled in the High School Plus program. As of June 2018, the program has a graduation rate of 100% and currently has 44 students enrolled in college across New England.

School on Wheels operates out of 18 sites in 11 different Massachusetts communities including Attleboro, Brockton, Dorchester, Fall River, Middleboro, New Bedford, Norwell, Plymouth/Kingston, Stoughton, Taunton and Weymouth. Because all of their tutors are volunteers and they look to donations, both monetary and of school supplies, to support their programs, they rely heavily on the kindness of others. If you’re interested in finding out more about how you can get involved, click HERE.