Decibels Foundation

This a great idea...it gets kids to do something fun and helps benefit a great charity. They pledge to wear the same shirt everyday for a week if they hit their pledge goal for the charity. This one benefits the Decibels Foundation, a charity that helps babies with hearing loss issues. 

The link is to help the daughter of an old college friend...please donate a few $$$!!!!

http://www.stayclassy.org/fundraise?fcid=234104

First Book

Anyone who knows me, knows I am a book junkie...can't have enough. They are an amazing resource not only for information, but to foster creativity, imagination and thought. Kids need books to help them develop these skills. This charity focuses on working with publishers to make books available to children in need.

http://www.firstbook.org/

Surfers Against Sewage

Having gotten sick many times from surfing in polluted runoff at surf spots around the world, I have been a big fan of Surfers Against Sewage. They are working hard to wage a war against coastal pollution and damn near anything else that threatens our coasts.

http://www.sas.org.uk/

A Liter Of Light

Useful, green, sustainable...all the things a good charity should be. This charity utilizes a .5 liter plastic bottle, water, and chlorine to create a 55 watt solar bulb.. The minds at MIT came up with it. Check it out...very cool.

http://aliteroflight.org/

Donors Choose - Teacher's "Kickstarter"

When the kids started school, it became very apparent that the teachers had very little resources for the materials they needed to do the best job possible educating the kids. Over the years I have heard countless stories about teachers spending their own money to out fit their classrooms.

This charity is kind of like a "Kickstarter" to help fund teachers needs.

 DonorsChoose.org is an online charity that makes it easy for anyone to help students in need. Public school teachers from every corner of America post classroom project requests on our site, and you can give any amount to the project that most inspires you.

Pick a project and help out!!

http://www.donorschoose.org/

National Parks Conservation Association

Now that the kids are a bit older, we have been talking more and more about visiting some of the national parks...I could not be more excited, as I have not been to as many as I would have liked to by now. These are truly national treasures, and as more and more open space becomes absorbed, they become even more so. Seeing the coyotes moving through the marsh this AM made me think about all the things we might see...

Help out if you can.

http://www.npca.org/

Springwire - Community Voice mail project

I like the idea behind this...helping homeless people stay connected with the support and family they need. It helps people without the means to afford communication to have a way to be reachable and accessible. 

Check it out.

http://www.cvm.org/

The Pajama Program

One thing my kids love to do is read and curl up in their pj's...especially in the cold winter months. This charity provides pajamas and books to needy children, so they can do the same. Great idea.

http://pajamaprogram.org/WordPress/

The Critter Connection

This one may seem a little odd to some, but I was amazed to find out what an issue it really is. I think a lot of times, all the focus is on the larger, cuter, more humanly connected animals. I know that when I grew up, there was always a guinea pig or hamster around, being babysat by one kid or another for a week or so...but where did these things end up?

This charity helps put some focus on these furry guys (and gals)...take a few minutes and have a look.

http://www.ctguineapigrescue.org/

Getting Back on Track...

Not sure if all that many folks are paying attention, but I'm sorry for the serious lack of posts lately. It amazes me how time can get away from you. That being said, I am going to work hard on getting caught up, and stay diligent to get this done daily.

Thanks!!!

Lucy's Love Bus

A really great guy I work with turned me on to this charity, which his daughter is involved in. It helps children with cancer deal with the pain of taking the cancer drugs. It's a grassroots effort, and my friends daughter is trying to raise $550 to help out...she is doing a 33 mile bike ride in Boston. Please check it out.

Here's a blurb from their site:

Lucy's Love Bus is a non-profit organization that provides comfort to children with Cancer through integrative therapies. Millions of dollars are donated to Cancer research each year with only 3% funding pediatric research. With such little money, drugs are often experimental and toxic. These leave harsh affects that no medicine is able to fix. To relieve the pain from these drugs, children with Cancer seek help in integrative therapies; Acupuncture, Massage Therapy, Reiki, Equine Therapy, and much more. These therapies are very costly for families who are also trying to pay hospital bills. That is why we write $1,000 grants, which can cover a year of therapy. Here is a testimonial from 11 year old Stacy Lacroix, who is currently battling Leukemia. Her only Christmas wish this year was for people to make donations to Lucy's Love Bus...

http://www.lucyslovebus.org/

Groundswell International

I am fortunate enough to live in a country with an embarrassment of food, and the means to buy organic and local...this is not the case in many, many places. Groundswell International helps teach best practices for sustainable and environmentally healthy food growth. Well worth a read and a donation.

http://www.groundswellinternational.org

Ocearch

Watched them get their props on TV and it was absolutely amazing. Such an incredible project. Using the shark tracker to keep tabs on Mary Lee alone is worth a donation. Amazing project, with tangible results. Save the sharks.

http://www.ocearch.org

Beyond the Surface

This project just looks really cool, for many reasons. I think what drew me to it is the fact that I have 2 daughters, and can't believe that if the circumstances were different, how different their lives may be. The fact that they are utilizing the ocean and surfing as a leveling platform is just a bonus. Please check it out.

http://www.indiegogo.com/beyondthesurfacefilm/x/1757725

Help Mike Atta Fuck Cancer

Mike Atta is in a band called the Middle Class. They rock. He has cancer and needs our help to crush it. One way to help is to buy this cassette STUFFED with epic punk rock songs. $10 gets it in your mailbox, and helps some one fuck cancer. This is an easy one.

Do it. Now.

http://www.burgerrecords.org

ooops

Ok...so this is a bit more arduous than I originally thought...I have fallen way behind. But fear not fellow do-gooders, I do not give up easily. Stay tuned as I battle back from my lapse in posting, and PLEASE share...all these causes are good ones.

Jetty

After Sandy hit, one of the first companies to step up and help was Jetty. A super cool clothing company based near LBI, they created a very cool t-shirt, with the sales going to help fund local relief efforts. On top of that, they created a blog to show how the money was spent. They sold so well, that the site locked up for awhile.

Support these guys...they do lots of good stuff for the community...and they are just great to deal with. The link below is for the relief shirt, but be sure to check out their blog, as well as the other causes they support.

The relief shirts are back in stock. Go buy some. If you have a small business, consider buying some for your employees to wear like a uniform one day...you will be able to see just how much you helped.

http://jettylife.com/category/featured-products/

Trout Unlimited

I am anything but an avid fisherman. However, some of my best memories of childhood involved fishing...almost always for trout. St. Mary's in Ambler, PA is where my Pop and I spent hours attempting to snag some trout for dinner. I fell in often.

At any rate, this organization seeks to protect the fish and their environment...allowing future generations to build their own memories.

http://www.tu.org

Rainforest Conservation

If you haven't seen "Groundswell", hit up YouTube and watch the trailer. Patagonia helped put it together, and for as short as it is, it packs a serious punch. There are so few wild places left where people live off the land, it's critical we preserve every square inch that is left. Seek out the full length film if you can.

Also, if you have an iPad, head to iBooks and download the interactive ebook...it's amazing.

http://www.raincoast.org

Save The Waves

Keepers of the coast...what else can be said. They are protecting access, waves and ocean life. A worthy cause I donate to annually.

http://www.savethewaves.org

Surf For Life

Surf travel for a cause...waves, sun, and hard work to help others...sweet. I hope to be able to do this in the coming year. Take a few minutes to read through the site for the details...awesome.

http://www.surfforlife.org

Art Hatch

I love art...looking at it, reading about it, and trying to create it with varying degrees of success. Thanks to my love of bodysurfing, I was connected with a Facebook friend who is an amazing artist...he turned me on to Art Hatch, which supports students and budding artists. Supporting creativity and imagination is so key to a better planet.

http://arthatch.org

At the moment, they have an auction going on to raise $$, and there are so many good things to bid on, it's crazy.


http://www.distinctionart.com/current.php

oops...life.

Fell a little bit behind over the last few days....new posts coming!!!!!

PangeaSeed

For as long as I remember, I have had a massive love and curiosity for the sea. I never get tired of it...looking at it, swimming in it, reading about it, exploring the coast. And for equally as long, I have loved sharks. They are some of the most intriguing animals on earth. It makes me so sad that we are killing them all, and that the few shark attacks each year trigger mass slaughter and fear.

One of the biggest threats they currently face is "finning"...they are captured, have their fin hacked off, and are left to die...all for a bowl of shitty soup. It's absolutely horrific.

PangeaSeed has set off to stop this and save these apex predators that we absolutely need to have around. They have teamed up with MANY amazing artists and like minded people to help the cause.

Please take a look and buy some art, a t-shirt, a Sametan, educate yourself or just give them a few bucks to help the cause...

http://pangeaseed.com/

Change is Simple

Great idea...teach kids environmental and social responsibility through grassroots learning programs to make the world a better place. Started and run by some great local people. Please take some time and have a look at the site, buy a cool shirt or throw them a few dollars!

http://changeissimple.org/index.html

Fugazi Edits

Small one today, but an absolute no-brainer for anyone who likes Fugazi...and really, who doesn't like Fugazi?!?!

You get 3 CD's for $10, and all the proceeds go to 2 charities...see the link for details. Skip the Starbucks today and use that $$ for doing some good...plus you get some tunes!!!

http://www.chrislawhorn.com/

Surfing For Life

There are a million worthy cancer causes, but I came across this one via FCD and thought it was worthy of a post. Check out the link and buy a few bracelets next time you see them in the shop, or just throw them a few bucks...grassroots at it's finest for a good cause.

http://www.surfingforlife.org/

  I know I have been a little sporadic in my "daily" posts, and I apologize...the goal is to have shared and contributed to something worthwhile at least once a day. At the end, I hope to see 365 unique posts. That being said, I am always open to ideas. My goal is to just not give money everyday (which I can't afford!!), but to help out and donate my time whenever possible. Please feel free to send me anything you think I may be able to help with!!!!

Waves for Water

My friend Mike and I went for a paddle this AM...it was just a super beautiful morning to be in the ocean. It reminded me of how lucky I am to live in a place like I do, and have such great access to the ocean. It also reminded me of how treacherous living so close to the sea can be as well, and had me thinking about all those that are still recovering from Sandy. It's easy to forget that it happened when the sun is shining and the water is calm. Let's not forget, and lets keep doing what we can to help. One of the key organizations that was on the scene early was Waves for Water. They connected with many other like minded individuals and companies to help. You can donate directly to them, or you can buy a cool handmade bracelet with the proceeds going to them. Check out all there fundraisers too...lots of ways to contribute. Thanks!!!

http://www.wavesforwater.org/

http://fcdsurfboards.bigcartel.com/product/w4w-leather-bracelet-by-sweet-trade

Journey Forward

Not that long ago, a good friend's son was injured in a ski accident, and suffered a pretty bad spinal cord injury. The summer before the accident, I had been fortunate to surf with him a few times and got to know him a bit better...he is just a great, great kid. One of the things he wanted to do the most was get back in the water. With the help of many friends and strangers, he has been able to do that twice now. It is a moving experience not only for him, but for all those that can help.

A big reason, aside from his endless hard work and determination, has been Journey Forward. They have been absolutely instrumental in helping him regain strength and confidence. Here is a link to read more and donate:

http://www.journey-forward.org/index.htm

The last time he was out surfing, another friend made this great video of the day. Enjoy.

Team Brown Morning Surf Session 11/17/12 from Change is Simple on Vimeo.

Many thanks to my aunt and cousin for making a donation!!!!!

Mr. Audubon

My grandfather was my best friend. The house we recently moved to is right on the marsh, and the number and variety of birds I see everyday just blows my mind. My grandfather loved birds, and I have really fond memories of our walks in the woods seeing hawks, and crows harassing owls...now I see herons, geese, ducks, gold finches, blue jays, cardinals, baltimore orioles, woodpeckers and all kinds of things I don't recognize. Our resident hawk astounds me every time I see him...so, today, I threw a few $$ to the Audubon society, which Pop would have approved of wholeheartedly.

http://www.audubon.org

Alliance for A Living Ocean

So, today being my birthday, I realized how much I appreciate all the extra love...so, todays goal was an easy one. Smile a little more, engage people in meaningful conversation, hold the door open for a few more people, let a few more cars out, tip a bit more, listen a bit better. It felt really good...I hope everyone's birthday feels that good.

But at the end of the day, it didn't feel like it was enough, and I found my mind drifting a bit...Sandy had a big impact on me, as I spent so much time in LBI growing up...I donated as heavily as I could to the victims of that storm, but I started to think about the environmental impact. The Alliance for a Living Ocean was always a favorite place to visit, and the kids always learned something. Throw them a few $$ if you can to keep up the good fight.

http://www.livingocean.org

Big Brothers Big Sisters

So having recently moved, the wealth of what we really have has become embarrassingly apparent. One thing we have done for many years is donate as much as possible to Big Brothers Big Sisters. What used to be a postcard in the mail, became much more when a good friend started working for them, and my curiosity drove me to look deeper into the cause. That, and the fact that my wife's friend had such an amazing experience sponsoring a child...you just can't go wrong with this one. We put out another big pile of stuff to help the cause today.

http://www.bbbs.org/site/c.9iILI3NGKhK6F/b.5962335/k.BE16/Home.htm

Vini Reilly/Durutti Column

So, this pops up on my FB the other day. I have been a Durutti Column fan for as long as I can remember, and the sheer joy that Vini's music has given me over the years is immeasurable. The community that surrounds Vini and his music has gained me many new friends, and is just amazing.

The good news is that the donations came in so fast and furious, that 5 days later they stopped the effort. However, Vini can use all the support he can get to make music again...so please, seek out some of the Durutti Columns vast catalog, and buy a CD or album...you won't be disappointed.

Helping Vini Reilly ...

As previously mentioned on this page, my uncle - The Durutti Column's Vini Reilly - has hit a bit of a rough patch money-wise, and is currently struggling to cover basic outgoings such as rent, food, electricity, etc.

Some of you have mentioned that you'd like to make a donation to Vini, which is incredibly kind, so we've been working out the best way to do that.

As Vini doesn't have internet access, I'm going to use my PayPal account to receive any donations and forward them to his bank account.

John Cooper has looked into the PayPal situation and found out that using a donation button, as we’d previously hoped we might, results in fees being taken by PayPal even if they are personal payments.

So it seems the best way to do it is for people to just send a personal payment to my Paypal account, simply using my email address – mattreilly@hotmail.co.uk - as the ‘person’ receiving the money.

It also seems to be better to pay using your bank account rather than credit or debit cards, as that results no fee being charged.

Otherwise, it seems that about 5% of what people pay may be deducted in fees by PayPal.

Hopefully that all makes sense – the link to PayPal is:https://www.paypal.com/uk/webapps/mpp/send

Any donation, no matter how big or small, is very gratefully received.

Thanks in advance

Matt Reilly

The purpose of this year long excursion is to help, as well as share with others ways to impact the world around them for the better. The goal is to do something or contribute in some way (time, things, money...whatever helps), everyday, to something, small or large. Beyond that, my hope is that others will be inspired to do the same. 2012 has been a roller coaster of heaven and hell for so many...365 days of thoughtful attempts to change things could not hurt. Obviously, the beginning is going to be a bit self-centered, but I would love to hear about everyones passions...

365 days...here goes.