Established in 1984, Boundless is dedicated to improving the lives of marginalized youth, adults and children at risk through a unique combination of counselling, social rehabilitation, alternative education and outdoor adventure.

Working in partnership with Ontario-based community agencies, mostly from Toronto, their program strives to prevent crime, promote alternatives to drug abuse and strengthen the bonds of families and communities ravaged by poverty, violence and mental illness across the Canadian province.

As well as their outdoor programs, Boundless also run community leadership initiatives, the issuance of high school credits, counselling/tutoring and social rehabilitation training. Their mission is to employ a non-traditional approach to education that is sensitive and motivating, and which builds the focus, vision and independence of participants.

Boundless works in close collaboration with roughly 50 agencies that represent health care providers, children’s mental health agencies, community centres in at-risk neighbourhoods, drop-in and recreation programs.

Their programs include:

• Youth. Supporting at-risk youth to complete their high school education and integrate into the community.
• Family. Supporting parents and children with social skill development and decreased aggressive behaviour.
• Mental Health. Using social rehabilitation to help those suffering mental health issues to feel less isolated and become more independent and healthy.
• Aboriginal. To help native youth in foster homes and receiving treatment for substance abuse to re-acquaint with their culture and nature, in collaboration with Native Elders.
• Acquired Brain Injury. A dedicated program centre to help sufferers of acquired brain injury to rehabilitate into everyday life through work, fitness, education and friendships.

As you can see, Boundless isn’t tied to one cause, but helps across a huge amount of need. 12for12k is delighted to be supporting them for April, and extremely grateful for any support you can offer for this wonderful organization.

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Post tags: 12for12k april charity, boundless, youth and mental health programs

One such organization is the XXI Century Kids 1st Foundation, based in Chicago. The main aim of the foundation is to combat the lack of self-esteem and childhood obesity. To do this, the foundation raises funds to organize summer camp programs, after school programs, healthy eating programs and much more.

The foundation is currently in the running to be awarded $50,000 towards their goals by the Pepsi Refresh Project. This is a great grassroots initiative by the soft drinks company that donates the funds to the charities that receive the most support and recommendations through their site.

12for12k would love to help XXI Century Kids 1st Foundation to help get closer to their goal, and would love your help to do so. All you need to do is head over to their page on the Pepsi Refresh site and vote for their cause (you can even do this by using your Facebook account).

Thanks for your help and support as always – you’re awesome!

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Post tags: pepsi refresh, xxi century kids 1st foundation

There are fears that there could be more than 100,000 fatalities and countless more injured and missing. This is the immediate impact. Long-term there is the threat of disease, illness, malnutrition, and much, much more. 12for12k is asking for your support to help the people of Haiti.

We are partnering with Hope for Haiti to raise much-needed donations to send to this humanitarian emergency. The immediate funds will go to helping the survivors with aid, shelter, food, medication and other essentials. Then there is the long-term need from there.

I know this is just after the holiday season. I know this is coming off the back of a year when people suffered financial strain. Yet we showed last year how much the 12for12k community cares, and the change we can make in whatever way we can. Please help us help Hope for Haiti and show our continued caring. You can use the donation widget below, which uses Paypal and goes directly to Hope for Haiti itself. 100% of your donations go to Hope for Haiti (12for12k is a fully volunteer-based call-to-action with no admin costs), and $0.95 of every dollar goes to the humanitarian program needs.

Thank you, and let’s make whatever difference we can. And please, we’d love you to tweet this on Twitter, share on Facebook/display as your status, email folks to come here – we can really help together. You can also copy the embed code and display the widget on your own blog/site to spread awareness.

• Suggested tweet: We all share the same planet – here’s how to show our brothers and sisters in Haiti we care http://bit.ly/8XelzH #12for12k

• Suggested Facebook status: 12for12k is supporting Hope for Haiti – please help however you can http://12for12k.org/2010/01/13/12for12k-supports-hope-for-haiti-please-help/

You can read Hope for Haiti’s press release about their aid program here. Additionally, you can follow their progress in Haiti via the Hope For Haiti Twitter account.

• Hope for Haiti is a registered 501-c charity and has 4-star approval of Charity Navigator.

© 12for12k for 12for12k, 2010. | Permalink | 46 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: 12for12k, haiti earthquake, hope for haiti

Four years ago, the world watched in disbelief as a hurricane ravaged the city of New Orleans. Fifteen years ago, the world finally paid attention to the worst genocide since the Holocaust. One million Rwandans were massacred while the international community largely did nothing.

In both of these communities it was women who shouldered the burdens of rebuilding both their neighborhoods and their families.

In a post-genocide environment Willa Shalit spearheaded the Path to Peace project that developed an American market for Rwandan women’s crafts.

The collection creates trade partnerships with artisans in recovering regions to bring the power of change to Africa, Indonesia and New Orleans. Most notably is the Macy’s Path to Peace “O Bracelet.”

Besides a shared history of tragedy, what do the women of New Orleans and Rwanda have in common?  An usual sisterhood, in the shape of a bracelet that’s first woven by Rwandan women and then finished with intricate beading strung together by artisans in New Orleans.  And in another unique partnership, two American powerhouses, Oprah and Macy’s, have teamed to make these bracelets available for purchase at Macys.com.  The Macy’s Path to Peace Sister Bracelet is not the first Oprah venture featuring jewelry created by women in Rwanda.

In less than two years the project has achieved unparalleled success in bringing economic security to the women of Rwanda. Their are several items including bracelets (O Bracelet and Sister bracelet), necklaces, baskets (which are the number one export out of Rwanda under the African Growth and Opportunity Act) and bowls.

Focused on trade, not aid, the Rwanda Path to Peace project puts the power of opportunity into the hands of the women of Rwanda, providing not only income but the chance to take an active role in the shaping of their future.

You, too, can show support for the movement by purchasing the products and/or talking about it online.

Here’s a tweetworthy statement to get you going:

Beautiful products with a beautiful story. http://bit.ly/ZRfpl #path2peace

Please copy/paste and share with your Twitter friends. Thank you.

This was a guest post from 12for12k supporter Sarah Evans.

© 12for12k for 12for12k, 2009. | Permalink | 3 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: 12for12k, path to peace, rwanda and macys

With chapters in New York, Philadelphia, Nashville and Miami, Musicians on Call bring live and recorded music to the bedsides of healthcare facilities. This helps complement the healing process for patients, families and caregivers. This is provided in a number of ways.

Bedside Performance Program

Volunteer artists give live performances in-room for patients that are too ill to leave their beds. To date, Musicians on Call have played for more than 150,000 individuals and their families. They also have 32 regular scheduled weekly performances at 27 facilities throughout the four cities they currently cover.

CD Pharmacy Program

Musicians on Call also provide hospitals with complete CD libraries, as well as personal CD players for the patients to use – all free of charge. Thanks to this, there are currently 310 CD Pharmacies throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and Dublin in Ireland.

Project Playback Program

As well as the volunteer artists who help Musicians on Call achieve their aim, the charity also has a program that gives patients the chance to have their own music recorded and produced. By using special software, patients can compose their own songs and work with volunteer professionals – artists, producers and more – and get help in the writing an recording process.

How Can WE Help?

Now in its tenth year, Musicians on Call has recently launched their One Song campaign. For just $10, Musicians on Call can bring one song to the bedside of those the charity benefits the most. Our donations will mean the following:

• $10 brings one song to the bedside of a patient in a healthcare facility

• $50 brings 5 songs to the bedsides of patients in a healthcare facility

• $150 brings music to 15 patients through MOC’s Bedside Performance Program

• $250 buys 20 “Discmen” for a CD Pharmacy so patients can listen to music in their beds

• $500 brings the Performance Program for three weeks to a healthcare facility

• $1000 brings the Performance Program for six weeks to a healthcare facility

• $2500 creates a CD Pharmacy in your name or in honour of someone

• $5000 brings the Performance Program for six months to a healthcare facility

• $10000 brings the Bedside Performance Program to a healthcare facility for one year

It’s clear to see that Musicians on Call offer an important and much-needed service. With $10,000 providing enough to maintain a whole facility for a year, it’s easy to see the difference we can make with our support. You’ve continuously shown how much you care throughout 2009 – let’s show Musicians on Call and the people it helps how much we care as well.

© 12for12k for 12for12k, 2009. | Permalink | 7 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: 12for12k, 12for12k charity

Kilos4Kids is the name given to one man’s tribute to his daughter. Rodney Stafford is the father of Tori Stafford, the little 8-year old girl who disappeared in April 2009 while returning home from school in Woodstock, Ontario. Her body was later found and two local residents charged with her murder. The story touched every single person in Canada, and many beyond.

Rodney is currently riding a bike across Canada to raise funds and awareness for Child Find Ontario, a Canadian non-profit offering support and help for families with missing children. Rodney’s aim is to cycle from Woodstock to Edmonton in the Canadian province of Alberta – a journey of 3,400 kilometers. When he reaches Edmonton, he will release a single purple balloon on a mountain that Tori visited.

So how can you help?

Rodney’s journey is being shared via his blog. There is a donation button there if you wish to support financially. You can also share Rodney’s progress – and offer your support – via the Kilos4Kids Twitter account. Additionally, Canadian businesswoman Shannon Boudjema has offered to donate $100 to Child Find if the Kilos4Kids Twitter account reaches 500 followers – currently it’s at approximately 400.

I can’t imagine losing a child. I don’t know if I’d have the strength to do what Rodney is doing. What I do know is that I can offer my support. Hopefully you can too.

Danny Brown, 12for12k.

© 12for12k for 12for12k, 2009. | Permalink | 4 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: charity bike ride, kilos4kids, rodney stafford, tori stafford