tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80072428122724472972024-03-13T10:46:41.707-07:00Our Good News NetworkCarousel Dressagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01424232890332771401noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8007242812272447297.post-11096835259114523132013-12-12T16:36:00.003-08:002013-12-12T16:36:45.909-08:00Beautiful storyThis is a beautiful story <br />
<a href="http://www.viralnova.com/tutu-cancer-pictures/">www.viralnova.com/tutu-cancer-pictures/</a><br />
<br />
Carousel Dressagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01424232890332771401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8007242812272447297.post-26409855958731506912013-08-26T06:15:00.002-07:002013-08-26T06:15:55.121-07:00This is what I'm talking about! So wonderful!<a href="http://www.dailygood.org/view.php?sid=264">http://www.dailygood.org/view.php?sid=264</a>Carousel Dressagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01424232890332771401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8007242812272447297.post-63793034573021792792013-08-14T05:49:00.001-07:002013-08-14T05:49:41.924-07:00Awesome<iframe src="<a href="https://www.facebook.com/video/embed?video_id=1406862426203629">https://www.facebook.com/video/embed?video_id=1406862426203629</a>" width="600" height="480" frameborder="0"></iframe>Carousel Dressagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01424232890332771401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8007242812272447297.post-46234255485852687752012-12-31T09:50:00.001-08:002012-12-31T09:50:50.405-08:00People Can be amazing :)<div class="bd" id="yui_3_5_1_1_1356976144842_656">
<div class="first" id="yui_3_5_1_1_1356976144842_655">
<span class="yom-figure yom-fig-left" style="width: 310px;"><img alt="Keira, wearing one of the shirts her dad created for his new company Keira's Kollection. (Photo: Kevin Wagstaff/KeirasKollection.com)" height="176" id="2513808" name="2513808" src="http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/rSKxGp6hqM0BFGQqPZXYQg--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NTt3PTMxMA--/http://media.zenfs.com/en-US/blogs/partner/470_2513808.jpg" title="Keira, wearing one of the shirts her dad created for his new company Keira's Kollection. (Photo: Kevin Wagstaff/KeirasKollection.com)" width="310" /><span class="legend">Keira, wearing one of the shirts her dad
created for his new company Keira's Kollection. (Photo: Kevin
Wagstaf …</span></span>After reading about a girls' T-Shirt printed with <a href="http://shine.yahoo.com/parenting/epic-t-shirt-fail-quot-im-too-pretty-to-do-my-homework-so-my-brother-has-to-do-it-for-me-quot-2537106.html;_ylt=AjvqRphPZrlAqg1tQB1NRHXThqU5;_ylu=X3oDMTFnMTFlb21tBG1pdANCbG9nUG9zdEJvZHkEcG9zAzEEc2VjA01lZGlhQmxvZ0JvZHlBc3NlbWJseQ--;_ylg=X3oDMTJzZ3ZtNW5uBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDOGQxNGZkZDMtNzU3YS0zYjQyLWI5OTMtNjMzZTg2MTkxOTZhBHBzdGNhdANwYXJlbnRpbmcEcHQDc3RvcnlwYWdl;_ylv=3" id="yui_3_5_1_1_1356976144842_654" rel="nofollow">"I'm Too Pretty to Do My Homework so My Brother Has to Do It For
Me,"</a> Kevin Wagstaff was appalled. But instead of venting to his friends or
<a href="http://shine.yahoo.com/fashion/french-elle-articles-racist-remarks-sparks-boycott-222900939.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">vowing not to buy</a> the shirt, the single dad
decided to do something about it. <br /><br />"Seeing that shirt kind of was just
like, 'Boom! Light bulb moment'," Wagstaff, who has a 6-year-old daughter, told
Yahoo! Shine in an interview. "I rolled my eyes and thought, 'This is a problem
that's snowballing in the wrong direction'. I thought to myself, 'If someone can
approve this, to put this out, they must feel like there's a market for it.' So
I'm thinking that I want to create a market that's the inverse of that."
<br /><br /><a href="http://shine.yahoo.com/beauty/teenage-girl-wins-victory-seventeen-photo-retouch-battle-161000901.html" rel="nofollow">Related: Teenage girl wins victory in Seventeen Magazine retouching
battle</a> <br /><br />A year later, he's launched his own company, selling T-shirts
that encourage, support, and inspire girls to be their best selves. The shirts
at <a href="http://keiraskollection.com/" rel="nofollow">Keira's Kollection</a>,
which is named after his daughter, are stamped with messages that any parent
would be proud to see their child wear. <br /><br /><span class="yom-figure yom-fig-left" style="width: 310px;"><img height="310" id="2513810" name="2513810" src="http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/HvRicvipscrHlYzS1NV6WQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NTt3PTMxMA--/http://media.zenfs.com/en-US/blogs/partner/470_2513810.jpg" title="Kevin Wagstaff and his daughter, Keira. (Photo: Kevin Wagstaff/KeirasKollection.com)" width="310" /><span class="legend">Kevin Wagstaff and his daughter, Keira.
(Photo: Kevin Wagstaff/KeirasKollection.com)</span></span>"Be Confident. Be
Different. Be Yourself," <a href="https://keiraskollection.com/shop/confident-tee-2/" target="_blank">one
shirt declares</a>. On another, <a href="https://keiraskollection.com/shop/adventure-tee/" target="_blank">adorned
with the flowers and butterflies</a> that little girls love, features 10 key
attributes that we all want for our kids. The words -- like "positive,"
"loving," "healthy," "creative," "adventurous," and "independent" -- form the
figure of a pony-tailed girl standing confidently with her hands on her hips.
It's the logo for Keira's Kollection. <br /><br />The Denver-based dad says that he
was aiming to create "that positive charge that I think young girls need." And
his daughter loves the shirts. <br /><br /><a href="http://shine.yahoo.com/helping-kids/help-children-low-self-esteem-153300328.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Related: How to help children with low
self-esteem</a> <br /><br />When Keira saw the final product, "I explained to her
that I want all these things for her, and that I want these things for all girls
and women," Wagstaff says. "She was like, "Yeah, that makes sense'."
<br /><br />"She loves the one with the flowers and butterflies on it<a href="https://keiraskollection.com/shop/adventure-tee/" target="_blank"></a>," he
says. It's girly and strong at the same time, so girls know that they don't have
to choose between pretty and powerful. "There's a proper way to mix these things
together," he explains. <br /><br />The 100-percent cotton shirts are designed by
his brother, graphic designer and digital media consultant <a href="http://pendulumproductions.com/" rel="nofollow">Michael Wagstaff</a>. They
range in price from $12 to $20, and come in sizes and styles for toddlers,
girls, and women. <br /><br />"Girls emulate what their parents do and what older
girls do," Kevin Wagstaff points out. "It's been good to see some of my adult
female friends embrace the shirts." <br /><br />He hopes to eventually partner with
a charitable organization that helps girls and promotes good self-esteem.
<br /><br />"I do want to make a real-world difference with this," he told Yahoo!
Shine. "There's always room for another brand that can do good, that can push
against the avalanche of media or bad advertising."</div>
</div>
Carousel Dressagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01424232890332771401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8007242812272447297.post-3062613587810583672012-12-31T05:19:00.001-08:002012-12-31T05:19:49.511-08:00Stop Staring and Start Learning!<h1 class="title">
The Most Inspirational Stories of 2012</h1>
<br />
<h2 class="desc">
Once called "The World's Ugliest Woman," <a href="http://aboutlizzie.com/">Lizzie Velasquez</a> was born with a medical
condition so rare that just two other people in the world are thought to have
it. She weighs just 60 pounds and has no adipose tissue, and cannot create
muscle, store energy, or gain weight. She inspired women the world over earlier
this year when, during an interview with CNN, she said that people <a href="http://shine.yahoo.com/beauty/lessons-worlds-ugliest-woman-stop-staring-start-learning-184400606.html">"should
stop staring and start learning."</a> Since then, she told Yahoo! Shine, she's
been flooded with speaking requests and supportive emails. In 2013 she's hoping
write her third book (her second, "Be Beautiful, Be You" came out in September),
continue her work as a motivational speaker, and meet as many people as possible
in 2013. <br /><br />"There are so many different people out there with so many
different stories," she told Yahoo! Shine. "Hearing their stories is what
inspires me. That's what keeps me going." <br /><br />Yahoo! readers called
Velasquez's story one of the most-inspirational pieces they read in 2012 and <a href="http://shine.yahoo.com/beauty/lessons-worlds-ugliest-woman-stop-staring-start-learning-184400606.html">praised
her for her inner beauty and strength</a></h2>
Carousel Dressagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01424232890332771401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8007242812272447297.post-88954087038219251382012-09-23T05:33:00.002-07:002012-09-23T05:33:24.487-07:00Nice :)<a href="http://www.lolzstudios.com/">http://www.lolzstudios.com/</a> Super fun!!!!Carousel Dressagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01424232890332771401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8007242812272447297.post-59748948883129226702012-02-20T08:11:00.000-08:002012-02-20T08:12:02.918-08:00This is fun :)A good lesson for all to consider.<br /><a class="uiPhotoThumb largePhoto" title="" href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3178270464301&set=a.1176970273047.2027792.1491821872&type=1&ref=nf" rel="theater" target="" ajaxify="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3178270464301&set=a.1176970273047.2027792.1491821872&type=1&ref=nf&src=http%3A%2F%2Fsphotos.xx.fbcdn.net%2Fhphotos-ash4%2F409102_3178270464301_1491821872_33194518_1820170354_n.jpg&theater&size=800%2C400" ft="'{"></a><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1176970273047.2027792.1491821872&type=3" target="" hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=1491821872">Wall Photos</a><br />The Mayonnaise Jar When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, wh...en 24 hours in a day is not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and two cups of coffee.A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him.When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and fills it with golf balls.He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured it into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous “YES”. The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed. “Now,” said the professor, as the laughter subsided, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things - God, family,children, health, friends, and favorite passions. Things, that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the things that matter like your job, house, and car. The sand is everything else -- the small stuff.” he said.“If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued, “There is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that areimportant to you...” he told them.“So... pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Worship with your family. Play with your children. Take your partner out to dinner. Spend time with good friends. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the dripping tap. Take care of the golf balls first -- the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled and said, “I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.”Carousel Dressagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01424232890332771401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8007242812272447297.post-65842754590910702002011-12-18T05:31:00.001-08:002011-12-18T05:31:43.289-08:00Be Positive"I don't believe you have to be better than everybody else. I believe you have to be better than you ever thought you could be." - Ken VenturiCarousel Dressagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01424232890332771401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8007242812272447297.post-65803072610782309542011-12-12T06:38:00.001-08:002011-12-12T06:38:51.112-08:00Dalai Lama<a href="http://www.facebook.com/DalaiLama/posts/10150424080527616" hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=339188887615">Dalai Lama</a><br />My hope and wish is that one day, formal education will pay attention to what I call “education of the heart.” Just as we take for granted the need to acquire proficiency in the basic academic subjects, I am hopeful that a time will come when we can take it for granted that children will learn, as part of the curriculum, the indispensability of inner values: love, compassion, justice, and forgiveness.Carousel Dressagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01424232890332771401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8007242812272447297.post-50892293827411887602011-11-21T10:17:00.000-08:002011-11-21T10:24:53.422-08:00From the Stable to Stepping Out!<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kKXfSbquGag/TsqXcDZgytI/AAAAAAAAASI/im-5f4WanxU/s1600/FashionShow3.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 259px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kKXfSbquGag/TsqXcDZgytI/AAAAAAAAASI/im-5f4WanxU/s400/FashionShow3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677516788458375890" /></a><br /><div>You're invited! We are gearing up for our annual fashion show to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's 2012 Equestrian of the Year Competition. More information coming soon!</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B0fteOd4OMU/TsqWKB5LpzI/AAAAAAAAAR8/y3rbGOB-G0I/s1600/FashionShow.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><br /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><u><br /></u></span></div>Carousel Dressagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01424232890332771401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8007242812272447297.post-83846764559936647032011-11-20T16:22:00.000-08:002011-11-20T16:27:26.436-08:00Good NewsIt is funny. I have no time for this blog, but it is constantly on my mind. Good News. We need that!! So much sadness going on. So lets celebrate some of the good people in this world. In my neighborhood I have super friends that are so giving and compassionate. You must have good stories too. I want to be able to have a happy story of hope and help on this blog once a week. Sooooooo please help me with that! What are your stories. We want to know. Email me <a href="mailto:totallynancy@yahoo.com">totallynancy@yahoo.com</a>Carousel Dressagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01424232890332771401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8007242812272447297.post-11761891119455210282010-12-21T17:01:00.000-08:002010-12-21T17:05:22.401-08:00Man Rescues Baby HummingbirdThis is soooooooooooooo cute! ENJOY!!!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.wimp.com/babyhummingbird/">http://www.wimp.com/babyhummingbird/</a>Carousel Dressagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01424232890332771401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8007242812272447297.post-10497824483333519442010-11-20T13:54:00.000-08:002010-11-20T14:18:51.476-08:00Harmony<div> If you had a chance to watch the special on ABC friday Nov. 19 "Harmony" Prince Charles discusses the state of the environment and pleads with us to start to make changes. It is a fantastic special. With luck it will be aired again. A small write up can be found at abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=12165172</div>
<br /><div> Prince Charles is our new hero! Although the most publicized part of his interview ends up being about Camilla being Queen, this is far from the point of the special. Try to check it out, and anything else you can find about Prince Charles and the environment!</div>Carousel Dressagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01424232890332771401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8007242812272447297.post-73683205667615693402010-11-13T04:49:00.000-08:002010-11-13T04:52:11.656-08:00FunYou have to check out <a href="http://www.thefuntheory.com/">www.thefuntheory.com</a> . Such great ideas! Definitely Good News about humans.Carousel Dressagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01424232890332771401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8007242812272447297.post-29031211173451290412010-10-23T05:18:00.000-07:002010-10-23T05:19:16.603-07:00Some people just want to do Goodcheck out <a href="http://www.membersproject.com/">www.membersproject.com</a>Carousel Dressagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01424232890332771401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8007242812272447297.post-7257519505560183892010-10-12T04:42:00.000-07:002010-10-12T04:48:50.983-07:00Echoinggreen.org<i><em> </em></i><br />2010<br />Anna Elliot<br />Bamyan Media<br /><a href="http://bamyan.org/" target="_blank" jquery1286883575687="53">http://bamyan.org/</a><br />Community Improvement & Economic Development, Education & Youth Leadership<br />The Bold Idea:<br />Bold Idea: Produce reality TV competitions in developing countries to celebrate social entrepreneurs and educate millions of viewers on what it takes to build successful social ventures.<br />Who dreams of a future as a social entrepreneur? Creative innovators and entrepreneurs around the world have found breakthrough solutions to pressing issues of poverty, unemployment and environmental degradation—but the majority of youth in developing countries have never heard of a "social enterprise," let alone imagined starting one. How ordinary citizens manage to overcome financial and social barriers to begin new ventures is little understood, especially in communities that stand to gain the most from greater employment and civic engagement. Increasingly, governments and NGOs are recognizing the importance of these entrepreneurial innovators in creating sustainable ventures that drive lasting social change; they lay the foundation for a more engaged, responsive civil society. Bamyan Media was founded to globally distribute and co-produce an original Reality TV competition that rewards the courage and initiative of social entrepreneurs, while teaching the skills needed to lead a successful business. They seek to harness the power of mass media to inspire the next cohort of youth leaders and accelerate the spread of social innovation. Through popular TV, Bamyan works to make social entrepreneurship a heroic yet realistic aspiration for all.<br /> <a class="image" href="http://twitter.com/home/?status=Congrats%20@bamyanmedia%20on%20becoming%20an%20@echoinggreen%20fellow%20-%20http://bit.ly/cqM0l6" jquery1286883575687="54"></a><br />Biography:<br />Anna Elliot produced the pilot program, “Dream & Achieve,” in Afghanistan, where it aired on the largest national TV channel and became the #1 surprise hit. An estimated 7 million Afghan viewers watched contestants pitch and launch their ventures, and voted for their favorites with SMS messaging. Thousands of participants were linked to practical, local resources for help with finance, training, and business development.<br />Moment of Obligation: What experiences led to the desire to start your own organization?I had been working and visiting Afghanistan on and off for a few years, and it had become increasingly clear to me that peace-building was inextricably linked to economic opportunity. I spent quite a bit of time watching the amazingly popular national pop idol contest with my Afghan colleagues, and I began to imagine an entertaining TV competition that would inspire ordinary Afghans to rebuild their country using social enterprise. I pitched the concept to the main TV network and potential sponsors, and amazingly enough everyone loved the idea. We soon began production on the series, Dream & Achieve. After a whirlwind nationwide launch, 2 months later with the top 20 semifinalists gathered in the studio, the real power of the series struck me. On that very day, the headlines announced $21 billion was pledged at a donor conference in Paris to “rebuild Afghanistan.” Yet before me stood the most dignified and promising men and women who, against all odds, were doing just that: recycling plastic, building low-cost housing, employing ex-combatants, and growing (unbelievably flavorful and organic!) produce. United by a desire to learn and change, they were determined to see their country emerge from the endless cycle of war and poverty, and to rebuild communities with their own hands and ingenuity. I realized then that this series could be a key to unleashing social entrepreneurship on a massive scale. A year later I founded Bamyan Media to bring the model to other countries.Gall to Think Big: What has given you the ability to dream big and take on deeply entrenched social and difficult problems? (Such as experiences, skills, events, etc.)This is a tricky question. I mean, don’t we all dream big? I think it might be more about the (potential) execution of the dream—and in my case, that has had a lot to do with privilege, hard work, a bit of insanity, and being open to the fortuitous opportunities that have been sprinkled along my path. In terms of commitment to social change, that is not something that happens overnight, but for me has been a process of continually finding myself drawn to situations of injustice—and coming face to face with the resilience and dignity of people who suffer daily in prisons, slums, reservations, and war-zones. The great irony is that when you meet someone who owns two goats and a teapot and who can crack more jokes than you, laugh harder, and dance longer—then you tend to call into question all your notions of “development,” “happiness,” “civilization,” and “progress.” And if anyone else comes from a dysfunctional family—well, then you know just how difficult and intractable problems can be, and just how much potential there is for healing, transformation and hope! This outlook has probably carried into my work as well.New and Untested: What's innovative about your new idea for social change?Bamyan Media's essential innovation brings together two powerful trends: the coming-of-age of social entrepreneurship, and the extraordinary worldwide popularity of Reality TV. As a medium, TV has always offered the promise of widespread educational and social benefits, but the airwaves remain overwhelmed by profit-driven entertainment that ignores social impact. Bamyan Media has found a viable way to use reality TV for good, enabling the creation of content that is profitable, entertaining to audiences in the developing world, and responsive to the pressing need for local economic innovation. We also address a vital need in the development community, which is to identify, reach and enable the next generation of would-be entrepreneurs.Seeing Possibilities: What are the most important qualities to be a successful social entrepreneur?Integrity. An ability to live by your values and transmit them, inspiring others by your actions to do the same... Easier said than done! Increasingly, however, there is room for many qualities on the social entrepreneurship boat. It needs shy people, diligent people, academics, and accountants. It needs people who can change the tax code! So there is lots of room for all sorts of qualities that we don’t typically associate with the “bold and courageous, determined, passionate, innovative, social entrepreneur.” Upending entire world paradigms is no small task! It’s a team sport, and the more we get different players involved, the more exciting it will become.Which musical artists/albums get you going and keep you inspired?I love it all. I really mean that. Mongolian long songs, 70’s Mexican pop, Italo disco, early Hip-Hop, Corsican polyphonic singing!, Old-Time & bluegrass, Scandinavian fiddle, anything from BRAZIL, Kora music, French crooners & ballades, Afrobeat, Shakira’s take on disco, and my friends’ music (Nohow On, Rustybelle, Fear & Fancy, Julia Read!). Afghan music is a bit hard on the ears, except for Ahmad Zaher. And the 80’s will forever have my musical heart.What books do you recommend (pleasure, work and anything in between)?Anything by Joseph Campbell. Paul Hawkin. Arundhati Roy. Hafez! The great Russian authors. Mythology in general. Mount Analogue by Rene Daumal. Mullah Nasruddin, Anansi, Coyote & other tales of tricksters and wise fools. And oral stories from real people—those are the best.Which websites do you visit often (work and/or personal)?I tend to get sucked into the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/" target="_blank" jquery1286883575687="55">YouTube</a> & <a href="http://www.tumblr.com/dashboard" target="_blank" jquery1286883575687="56">Tumblr</a> treasure troves of humanity’s strange and hilarious presence on the internet pretty regularly.What advice or quote do you keep close to your heart as a social change leader?A powerful king, ruler of many domains, was in a position of such magnificence that wise men were his mere employees. And yet one day he felt himself confused and called the sages to him. He said: 'I do not know the cause, but something impels me to seek a certain ring, one that will enable me to stabilize my state. 'I must have such a ring. And this ring must be one which, when I am unhappy, will make me joyful. At the same time, if I am happy and look upon it, I must be made sad.' The wise men consulted one another, and threw themselves into deep contemplation, and finally they came to a decision as to the character of this ring which would suit their king. The ring which they devised was one upon which was inscribed the legend: This, too, will pass. --Idries Shah in The Way of The Sufi *Lots of cultures have similar versions of this story.<br /><br />Contact Us<br /><br />Echoing Green494 Eighth Ave2nd FloorNew York, NY 10001(Entrance on 35th Street)Phone: 212-689-1165Fax: 212-689-9010Email: <a href="mailto:info@echoinggreen.org" jquery1286883575687="60">info@echoinggreen.org</a><a href="http://www.echoinggreen.org/about/team" jquery1286883575687="61">Staff Directory</a><br />For PR, marketing, website, or speaking inquiries, please contact Lara Galinsky (<a href="mailto:lara@echoinggreen.org" jquery1286883575687="62">lara@echoinggreen.org</a>).<br /><br />To apply for an Echoing Green Fellowship, please visit our <a href="http://www.echoinggreen.org/fellowship" jquery1286883575687="63">Fellowship</a> section. Proposals submitted via mail or email will not be considered.<br /><a title="Mike Lynn" href="http://www.echoinggreen.org/fellows/mike-lynn" jquery1286883575687="64"></a><a title="Diana Propper de Callejon" href="http://www.echoinggreen.org/fellows/diana-propper-de-callejon" jquery1286883575687="65"></a><a title="Wendy Kopp" href="http://www.echoinggreen.org/fellows/wendy-kopp" jquery1286883575687="66"></a><a title="Leslie Crutchfield" href="http://www.echoinggreen.org/fellows/leslie-crutchfield" jquery1286883575687="67"></a><a title="Sara Horowitz" href="http://www.echoinggreen.org/fellows/sara-horowitz" jquery1286883575687="68"></a><a title="Ashni Mohnot" href="http://www.echoinggreen.org/fellows/ashni-mohnot" jquery1286883575687="69"></a><a title="Samah Salaime-Egbariya" href="http://www.echoinggreen.org/fellows/samah-salaime-egbariya" jquery1286883575687="70"></a><a title="Van Jones" href="http://www.echoinggreen.org/fellows/van-jones" jquery1286883575687="71"></a><a title="Ilann Maazel" href="http://www.echoinggreen.org/fellows/ilann-maazel" jquery1286883575687="72"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.echoinggreen.org/node/1922" jquery1286883575687="86">Anna Elliot featured in the New York Times</a>Carousel Dressagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01424232890332771401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8007242812272447297.post-45023628519887849072010-09-27T18:32:00.000-07:002010-09-27T18:35:55.946-07:00Newman's Own FoundationNewman's Own Foundation awards $25,000 grant to The EQUUS Foundation<br /><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103383569679&s=1630&e=001vBArJQ1iOh5jNCywSdryQDg4fz07AIdQTAizJACxZxHozUfOQjG22sewTSsF5Ufia8VD3LvwjBhDev6eageu9tf3BJAVsQu0N_HHNMJRl4jnRQpXkrV7EXK6InbnerQD" shape="rect" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a>WESTPORT, CT - May 10, 2010 - The EQUUS Foundation received a $25,000 grant from Newman's Own Foundation to support its mission to educate the public about horses; provide financial support through the award of grants; offer insight on management and financial practices of the charities through a thorough review of their operations; and provide a network of interested individuals for volunteer recruitment."We are so grateful to Newman's Own Foundation for their generosity, especially now in these difficult times for charities," said Jenny Belknap, EQUUS Board Chairman. "This grant will help us build a more sustainable environment for horses and for the people whose lives they are benefiting, and enhance the ability of charities across America focused on equestrian and horse-related issues to accomplish their missions. What a majority of the general public is not aware of is in providing horses with homes and useful lives, people benefit, especially children."The EQUUS Foundation is making a difference in the lives of thousands of horses and people across America. Grants were awarded in 22 states in 2009 in three mission areas: charities that advance the equestrian sport, charities that promote horse health and welfare, and charities that involve horses in providing services to the public. Just one of the over 50 programs currently funded by The EQUUS Foundation is a therapeutic riding program started in 2008 for autistic children at the Giant Steps School in Southport, Connecticut. The Fairfield County Hunt Club in Westport, Connecticut, generously donates the facilities and horses for the weekly program of forty-five minute lessons. Horses are also donated by the Bridgeport Police Mounted Unit. "Even though forty-five minutes might not seem like a significant amount of time, what transpires in that time can be incredible!" said Susan Weber, the program's certified therapeutic riding instructor. The very first year of the program, one of the students was a teenage boy who was described by his teachers and therapists as very angry and frustrated. He was also non-verbal and didn't make eye contact. They all hoped that this young man would benefit from riding. The rhythmic motion of a horse can calm the mind and soothe the senses. Therapeutic riding is emerging as a primary therapy for autism.""The problem was actually getting him ON a horse. He was determined not to get in that saddle", Susan explained. "How do we convince him that riding is a good thing?""Well, after thirty minutes of the instructor getting on and off the horse, the aide getting on and off the horse, and our other volunteers getting on and off the horse, this young man swung his leg over the saddle and got on! And within two minutes he transformed from a belligerent and stubborn boy to a calm and tranquil rider, humming and moving in sync with his equine partner.""The following week, not only was he the first one up on the mounting block, he was the only rider who didn't use a hand-hold or grip the saddle for security! If you come by while the program is running - you'll recognize him - he's the young man with the big smile on his face!"For more information about The EQUUS Foundation, visit our website at <a style="COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103383569679&s=1630&e=001vBArJQ1iOh423G6-kVVyYnKVOa1p2bq2mq7NmhFai7qi_gijZEiUOzLohf8rLOxnPNrOxdLs0RaC8hU9Z8hZfP_OkD3raGNMgMFtqt0Q-o-ipSirMylvBA==" shape="rect" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.equusfoundation.org</a> or email us at <a style="COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline" href="http://us.mc555.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=equus@equusfoundation.org" shape="rect" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" ymailto="mailto:equus@equusfoundation.org">equus@equusfoundation.org</a>.Carousel Dressagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01424232890332771401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8007242812272447297.post-23638027678758263842010-08-12T17:41:00.000-07:002010-08-12T19:01:58.502-07:00Alex's Lemonade Stand<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Soon after Nancy and I decided to make Our Good News Network, I came across an article about Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation. The story about Alexandra Scott, the founder, astonished me. Before telling you about the foundation, you must first meet Alex: </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kcDF-Px48nM/TGSU-i28VGI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/4msZ0RDaF1s/s320/photo_about1a.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504688446783640674" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 296px; " /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"Shortly before her first birthday, Alex was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a type of childhood cancer. On her first birthday, the doctors informed Alex's </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">parents that if she beat her cancer it was doubtful that she would ever walk again. Just two weeks later, Alex slightly moved her leg at her parents' request to kick. This was the first indication of who she would turn out to be - a determined, courageous, confident and inspiring child with big dreams and big accomplishments. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">By her second birthday, Alex was crawling and able to stand up with leg braces. She worked hard to gain strength and to learn how to walk. She appeared to be beating the odds, until the shattering discovery within the next year that her tumors had started growing again. In the year 2000, the day after her fourth birthday, Alex received a stem cell transplant and informed her mother, "when I get out of the hospital I want to have a lemonade stand." She said she wanted to give the money to doctors to allow them to "help other kids, like they helped me." True to her word, she held her first lemonade stand later that year and raised an amazing $2,000 for 'her hospital.'</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"><p style="margin-top: 0.6em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;">While bravely battling her own cancer, Alex continued to hold yearly lemonade stands in her front yard to benefit childhood cancer research. News spread of the remarkable sick child dedicated to helping other sick children. People from all over the world, moved by her story, held their own lemonade stands and donated the proceeds to Alex and her cause. </span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0.6em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;">In August of 2004, Alex passed away at the age of 8, knowing that, with the help of others, she had raised over $1 million to help find a cure for the disease that took her life. Alex's family - including brothers Patrick, Eddie, and Joey - and supporters around the world are committed to continuing her inspiring legacy through Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation."</span></span></p></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></strong></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Full Name</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">- Alexandra Flynn Scott</span></span></span></div><p style="margin-top: 0.6em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 18px; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Birthday</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">- January 18, 1996</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0.6em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I'm Alex, I'm 8 years old. I have Neuroblastoma and I raise money for pediatric cancer research with the help of other kids and grown ups through my lemonade stand. I give the money I raise to research to find cures for pediatric cancers.</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0.6em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 18px; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Who do I live with? </span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br />My parents, my brother Patrick, my brother Eddie, my brother Joey, my dog Shammy, and my cute kitten Herbert.</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0.6em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 18px; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Where do I live?</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br />I live in Pennsylvania, right down the street from Philadelphia.</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0.6em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 18px; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Favorite Colors</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> - Blue and Purple</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0.6em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 18px; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Favorite Animal</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> - Penguin</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0.6em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 18px; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">School</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> - 2nd Grade</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0.6em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 18px; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Favorite part of school</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> - Everything</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0.6em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 18px; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Favorite Food </span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">- French Fries</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0.6em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 18px; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Favorite Book </span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">- Junie B. Jones Series and The Little House on The Prairie Books</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0.6em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 18px; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Favorite Movie </span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">- Scooby Doo</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0.6em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 18px; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Favorite TV Show </span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">- Pokemon and American Idol</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0.6em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 18px; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">What I want to be when I grow up</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> - Fashion Designer</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0.6em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 18px; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Favorite Activity </span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">- Making stuff and designing clothes</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0.6em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 18px; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Place I most want to visit</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> - France</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0.6em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Favorite Sport </span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">- Soccer</span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; font-size:medium;">Alex's legacy has lived on and since the founding in 2000, they have raised more than $30 million. The money raised goes towards research projects, travel programs to help support families of children receiving treatment, and developing resources to help people everywhere affected by childhood cancer. This year's annual lemonade day was the tenth anniversary of Alex's first stand. Families around the country participate, setting up their own lemonade stands for the weekend and donate all of the proceeds. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; font-size:medium;">To learn more, make a donation, or set up your own stand, visit www.alexslemonade.org!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; font-size:medium;">-Ariel</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>Carousel Dressagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01424232890332771401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8007242812272447297.post-18812146640881208022010-08-11T17:51:00.001-07:002010-08-12T18:47:45.432-07:00Our InspirationThe story that inspired us to start this project is something we read on Yahoo in March! It was such a beautiful story we told everyone we know about it. We were so excited that such a wonderful thing happened to such fabulous people that were just trying to do something to help people. What was even more fun is that when people found out about it. People like you, you stepped up to the plate and did something. In the end this wonderful lady was able to raise over $100,000 for two sadly necessary foundations : Keep a Breast Foundation and Boarding for Breast Cancer.<br /> The story is about Jodie Nelson a 34 year old professional surfer who stand up paddle boarded from Santa Catalina Island to Dana Point. Jodie Nelson did this 39.8 mile paddle in 9 hours to raise money and awareness for breast cancer. The inspiration for her trek was her best friend Angela Robinson who is battling breast cancer presently. Jodie said that what she did could not be compared to the difficult fight of cancer patients, but she wanted to do something to inspire her to keep fighting.<br /> What happened during Jodie's trek was a miracle. A 30 foot Menke whale, Jodie fondly named "Larry" joined her for two hours of her trip. He not only swam beside her, but played with her, blew bubbles at her and swam under her paddle board. These kind of encounters with the shy Menke whale are practically unheard of.<br /> Larry took her mind off the task for two magical hours, but her mind never strayed from the cause. "I can't even begin to compare what I did to what cancer patients are going through," she said. "But I wanted to put myself out there in a dangerous and scary, overwhelming situation; something that was big and just to show people that you can win that battle with that big, scary thing called cancer.<br /> Before Jodie started her trek she had raised $9000 for her foundations, already a great contribution. However, because of "Larry" and the extra exposure she was able to get because of his participation she has raised over $100,000!!!<br /> You can find the fantastic story on <a href="http://www.paddlewithpurpose.com/">www.paddlewithpurpose.com</a> as well as make a donation and follow Jodie into her next adventure.<br /> Thank you for tuning in!<br /><br />.Carousel Dressagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01424232890332771401noreply@blogger.com0