Merry Christmas!

I Saw Mommy Kicking Santa Claus: The Ultimate Holiday Survival Guide (Kindle Edition) by Ann Hodgman

Let's face it: sometimes the joys of Christmas are enough to make us
want to run away from home—with all of the eggnog, of course. But with
a little wry humor, Ann Hodgman is here to tackle Christmas stress and
bring cheer back into the holiday. Delving into such diverse topics as
making Christmas for kids and adults, how many traditions are just too
many, and much more, I Saw Mommy Kicking Santa Claus is full of helpful advice, recipes, and true holiday horror stories to let you know you're not alone.

• Kindle Books include wireless delivery – read your book on your Kindle within a minute of placing your order.

I love this time of year because it is ideal for someone with my condition –
the giving condition.

I have always enjoyed showering my friends, family, and
even complete strangers with random acts of kindness. Just a few days ago I had
the double pleasure of treating my mom to some delicious ice cream, and then blowing
away the stand worker with a tip toward her “Tips for College” fund. These
things are great for the getter, but are absolutely awesome for me. I must
admit that I do them a little selfishly. I love seeing the look on people’s
faces when I surprise them with an act of giving.

The Holiday season is usually the time we take to do
outward expressions of kindness. And, I’m going to highly advocate that you do.
Nonprofits are hurting during this economic crunch time. Reach outside of your
family and friends and give to a charitable organization this year. Consider
donating time and things, but mostly money as that is what they really need.
They need our $5 here and there. Because as you know with pennies, they add up!

So, if you want to find a charitable organization to give
to, or check on the credibility of one, here are a few resources: Better
Business Bureau, Guide Star, and American Institute of Philanthropy. Then you
can consider making giving a family or group event. Gather your best friends, and
suggest that you give to a charitable organization instead of exchanging
Christmas presents this year!

NPC: Tell us a little bit about your organization, Wishing Star.
Why was it started?

Sarah Carpenter: Wishing Star began in 1983 by a woman named Karen
Kurowski. She was a school teacher in the CDA area. She had a student who had
cancer, but the child passed away before she was able to do something special
for her.  She resolved to found a wish granting organization so that she
could serve these children and their families. The first wish was for an 18
year old boy with cancer. She pulled the community together and they were able
to send him to a Raider’s football game and he got to meet some players. The
wish childpassed away two weeks later. Twenty six years later Wishing Star has
granted over 1,130 wishes, serves children all over the region and continues to
serve each and every one of these families long after wishes are granted.
 

NPC: Who does it
serve?

Sarah Carpenter: Wishing
Star serves children ages 3-21, living in Eastern or Central Washington or Idaho and suffers from a
life-threatening illness.

NPC: How long have you been in operation?

Sarah Carpenter: 26
years, since 1983

NPC:  How many people did you serve your first year? And, this
year?

Sarah Carpenter: In
Wishing Star’s first year, three wishes were granted. Last year, 36 wishes were
granted.

NPC: What is your
most difficult challenge as a nonprofit?

Sarah Carpenter: Helping
others understand and walk the very long journeys of families caring for
children with life-threatening illnesses. We set ourselves apart from
other wish granting organizations as we serve families long after wishes are
granted.  
 

NPC: What was
your most difficult challenge starting out?

Sarah Carpenter: Learning
abundance based fundraising.  I was forced into the fundraising world
after years of creating good programs and doing good referral work. I struggled
in the fundraising sphere until I came across Lynn Twist’s abundance model and
the Benevon, mission focused approach to raising friends and funds.

NPC: What advice would you give to someone who wants to start a
nonprofit?

Sarah Carpenter: Stay focused on your mission. Live your
mission. 
 

NPC: How can
people get involved?

Sarah Carpenter:
There are many
ways to become involved with Wishing Star. Every volunteer is different and
participates in a different way.

Time: Help serve the mission by giving your
time. Become a wish conductor.  Joining a chapter is a great way to become
involved in wish granting, special events and more.C

Support/Talent: Wishing Star grants a
wide range of wishes for children. We often rely on the community for help to
make connections to grant a wish.

Donations: Support Wishing Star through donations,
sponsoring a wish or event, Christmas Giving Program, and participating in
fundraisers. Donations can be in the form of money or in kind gifts.

Make a Referral: Anyone can refer a
child suffering from a life threatening illness.  

NPC: Is there
anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

Sarah Carpenter: All families face remarkable challenges and are
at-risk in today’s rapidly changing world.  Families with life-threatened
children are incredibly fragile and vulnerable. Siblings need support as they
are often caregivers. By pair caring volunteers to these families we provide an
added layer of support. Healthy and helpful relationships are important to all
families and especially to our wish families.  The amazing fact is that
our volunteers often report how much improved their own lives are as a result
of being given the gift of helping wish families.  

*Sarah Carpenter is the Program Director of Wishing Star Foundation. For more information, please visit the website at www.wishingstar.org.

Easy Entertaining for Beginners, by Patricia Mendez

You don't have to be professional chef or nervous wreck to host great
casual at-home entertaining. You will have all of your questions
answered, from what to serve to what to do. Even if you have never
entertained in your life, you can have a terrific time putting together
a superb celebration. Included are 13 delicious complete menus with
easy-to-follow recipes, full color photographs, ideas for music,
activities and drinks. Checklists ease readers step-by-step through
every phase of planning, preparation, and presentation. You will gain
confidence and have a terrific time putting together successful
celebrations. Occasions include: My First Cocktail Party, Family
Fiesta, Dinner with Close Friends, Guys Night Out, My First
Thanksgiving and more!

NPC:  Tell us a little bit
about your organization, THANKSGIVING FOR ALL. Why was it started?  

ORRIN: On our website is a detailed
description on HOW IT ALL BEGAN.

NPC:  Who does it serve?

ORRIN: THANKSGIVING FOR ALL is organized specifically to raise funds and find
product sources to provide turkeys and other food stuffs to small community
food pantries, homeless shelters, and other charitable organizations so that
all the less fortunate people can enjoy traditional Thanksgiving dinner.  

NPC:  How long have you been in operation?

ORRIN: Since 2000

NPC:  How many people did you serve your first year?
And, this year?

ORRIN: In November 2000, I used money I raised overnight
from friends and members of my church to buy 50 turkeys, celery, onion, apples,
and potatoes that were donated. With the help of many great supporters, we have
donated 160,000 servings of turkey since November 2000. 

This year I am still
working on raising money to buy turkeys. I try to buy as many as I can each
year with the money I earn between November 1st and about the 15th when I have
to order my turkeys.  Sometimes I can buy more turkeys at the last minute
or like my turkey miracle of 2007 and 2008. At the last minute just before
Thanksgiving I was given turkeys, I did not have to buy them. The story can be
found here.

NPC:  What is your most difficult challenge as a nonprofit?

ORRIN: Getting people to donate in time to put my order in.  People don't
want to talk about Thanksgiving until after Halloween, so it is tricky each
year.  

NPC:  What was your most difficult challenge starting out?

ORRIN: Getting adults to realize my dream and help me out. 

NPC:  What advice would you give to someone who wants to start a nonprofit?

ORRIN: Keep going
it gets better the longer you are at it.

NPC:  How can people get involved? 

ORRIN: They can donate!  See my website www.thanksgivingforall.org
 

NPC:  Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers? 

ORRIN: Even a young kid with a dream can make a difference.  Now that I
have done this for ten years and am 21 people really want to help more.

*Orrin David Herterich is the Executive Director of THANKSGIVING FOR ALL.

NPC:  Tell us a little bit about your organization, Free Costumes For Kids. Why was it started?

Chris McCarthy:  Free Costumes for Kids was the brainchild of my sons, Joe and Casey McCarthy.  They had added a line of Halloween costumes to their website, Gigaweb.com.  They knew that they would have returns and thought what better to do with them than give them to needy children.  Then they thought, why not ask people to also recycle their gently used costumes or donate new ones.   And, voila, Freecostumesforkids.org was born.
 

NPC:  Who does it serve?

 
Chris McCarthy:  Right now it is serving underpriviledged kids in Palm Beach County, Florida, but we are hoping to expand in years to come.  

NPC:  How long have you been in operation?

Chris McCarthy:  This is our first year.

NPC: How many people did you serve your first year? And, this year?

Chris McCarthy:  We are hoping to serve 1,000 kids this year.

NPC: What is your most difficult challenge as a nonprofit?

Chris McCarthy:  Our most difficult challenge this year has been getting drop off sites.

NPC: What advice would you give to someone who wants to start a nonprofit?

Chris McCarthy: Ask.  Nothing ventured, nothing gained.  People truly want to help, so if they can, they will.  

NPC: How can people get involved?

Chris McCarthy:  Send and email to ChrisMcCarthy@freecostumesforkids.org
or call   561 789-2421

    
NPC:  Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

Chris McCarthy:  We are changing lives, one costume at a time!  Whatever you have to share, can make a difference too!

*Chris McCarthy is the Vice President of Free Costumes for Kids. For more information, please visit the website at www.freecostumesforkids.org. 

We started by writing down books, magazines, websites, and other things that have been calling to us. Then from this list we were to see a theme emerge. I saw nothing. I saw a random list of information totally unrelated, so I thought. Then as I listened to other people describe what was happening for them through this process, I found myself becoming more and more open to the idea that there was some theme among my random things. There was!

I had listed: two theology books, one novel, a weight magazine, a home décor magazine, and two nonprofit blog. What occurred to me was that I was looking at the actual items and trying to make a connection. Then the light bulb went off, the connection wasn’t with the items, but my intention. I’m doing something NEW with these things. I’ve picked NEW reading material, and I’m trying to find NEW ways of attracting more readers to my blog. So, this must be my theme: “2008 the year of NEW THINGS.”

Stay tuned and see how this all works out.

I’m very thankful for a lot of things this year, and most recently for those of you that read this blog. What are you thankful for this year?