The gift of life

The holiday season is the time of year when people open their hearts just a little more, feelings of fellowship are inspired.  It is also a time when the needs of the less fortunate are more apparent.

Twelve Days of Giving  is a 12-day event that promotes giving, sharing, and inspiring good deeds.  The 12 Days of Giving will run through Christmas eve and on each day, remarkable people and the charities they support will be highlighted.

Heading up this project are Joseph Ranseth, Katie McCormick and Amy Neumann.  The goal? To raise over $12,000 for the highlighted causes.  It is miraculous to witness the positive impact of social media, for the benefit of society, when we band together for a collective good.

Of the twelve charities, I chose St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital because my heart goes out to innocent children with cancer.  I have encouraged my family to donate money to St. Jude’s this year instead of buying me holiday gifts.  I am blessed and do not need another sweater, purse or any similar token gifts.

St. Jude’s is the only pediatric cancer research center where families are not responsible for paying for treatment that is not covered by insurance.  Remarkably, no child is ever denied at St. Jude’s because of the family’s inability to pay.  Nevertheless, this organization desperately needs our support.  Let’s please help these children.  There is no better gift than the gift of life.
What a difference we could make if each of us would be willing to give up one Starbucks latte and donate to any of these 12 outstanding charities.
I have been daydreaming about each of my social media friends donating $1.00, or maybe even $5.00 each.  That would be a cause for joy and I would do cartwheels! Okay, I don’t know how to do cartwheels, but I could learn really fast! ツ
So how can you get involved?
To begin, please share this post on Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, your blog and other sites. You could also email it to your friends.  If you are able, please make a small (or huge!) donation at http://www.crowdrise.com/12DaysofGiving .
I am grateful for the opportunity to work with the #12DaysOfGiving team and am so excited to be a part of it.  As we enter this very important season of giving, I hope that you will help us make magic happen for people in need through the power of your social media channels!

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Happy Holidays to each of you!  Let’s get giving!
Photography http://www.photoree.com/
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=healthy+children&go=&qs=n&sk=&sc=8-16&form=QBIR
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5 Replies to “The gift of life

  1. ~ Dear Ann ~

    I don’t know how I came across you today, but I believe you must have been RT’d by someone who I follow. Regardless, I’m just now, late the same night (or early the following morning, however you choose to look at it) reading any new material associated with those who’ve intrigued me this past day via social media. Ann Tran, you definitely take the first place prize for that category!!

    Why I felt it pertinent to mention that I was unsure how I had crossed paths with you? I am taken aback by the alignment that I’ve seen in just taking a cursory glance into your life. I also happen to believe, or perhaps to hope, that people generally tend to bump into one another for reasons fairly significant. I did not search for related keywords, nor was I looking for anyone in particular.

    When I came across your name and read your short bio, I found excitement in seeing another person having an assortment of interests, especially including photography.

    For the last six months, I’ve been doing my best to utilize social media in exactly the manner that you have described- “Making magic happen for people in need…” I’m looking forward with excited anticipation for our chat tomorrow. I’m always up for constructive collaboration.

    Thank you for taking a moment to respond to my tweet! I’m grateful for you, my new friend!

  2. Loved the gesture Ann!

    I think it is indeed nice of you to have thought about the cause and take a step towards it.

    Coincidentally, I also just posted a post about charity on my blog- I guess Christmas IS the perfect time to start giving.

    Thanks for sharing 🙂

  3. Thank you Ann for taking the lead on this and being such a wonderful example of generosity and compassion. I love that you are doing with St Jude’s and the 12 Days Of Giving!!

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