Personal Ramblings - Support REEL Academy

http://www.thereelacademy.org/about.html

Personal Ramblings - Life of Purpose

Friday morning I went to Santa Monica Pier to offer support to the Soldier's Ride of the Wounded Warriors Project. The ride is a bike ride by wounded soldiers and their supporters. I had a chance to talk to a couple of participants and was impressed by the spirit, motivation and sense of purpose of these wounded soldiers many who have lost limbs and suffered other serious injuries. I always find that whenever I volunteer I end up getting back more than i give. I came away with a renewed sense of perspective and motivation for my life. If you get a chance to support Wounded Warriors or similar projects I recommend you make the time to do it.

Contribution - Don't Forget Them

I received this letter of thanks for a small contribution I made. I appreciate the letter and I encourage you to not forget them and help in anyway you can,,,,,,



Dear John,

Thank You

Your support is a bright point of light for a wounded warrior.
This time of year, so many people light candles for the holidays, and that symbolism is not lost on us at the Wounded Warrior Project. For the severely injured heroes we serve, supporters such as you are like thousands of candles that give so much warmth and meaning this holiday season.

Through your support, you stand as a bright point of light in what for many wounded warriors is a dark and difficult time.

Your fidelity and partnership with the WWP mission are great blessings, and I'll be counting those blessings during the holidays this year. I cannot tell you how deeply I value the friendship the two of us share with our wounded warriors.

We at WWP wish you and your loved ones a very happy holiday season. Without your compassion, WWP's programs could not exist.

With my deepest gratitude to you during the holidays,


John Melia
Executive Director
Wounded Warrior Project

https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/

Make a Contribution - Operation Gratitude

Updated 12/16




http://www.opgratitude.com/

This weekend my daughter Sofia and myself volunteered and packed boxes to send to the troops for the holidays. It's a great feeling to be able to give a little of our time and effort to help those who do so much for us. We joined at least 800 hundred other volunteers on Saturday to pitch in and say thank you to our troops.

Saturday was a special day as Operation Gratitude reached the goal of 400,000 boxes shipped to the troops overseas. Kathy Ireland (model and CEO) was there volunteering and helping in the effort.

The volunteer effort has so far raised over $4 million and shipped over $40 million in goods. An Army Major spoke about how uplifting it was for his soldiers in Iraq when they would receive the boxes. He said it was especially important to the solidiers who didn't have any one writing to them.

Our family has previously sent our own personal boxes to a couple of friends who were Marines and were serving in Iraq and they were very appreciative to receive the boxes.

Sunday our whole family went back for another day of work and fun. We joined boy and girl scout troops, Junior ROTC groups from Van Nuys and Monroe high schools, a group of kids celebrating their friends Bar Mitzvah and a few hundred people volunteering.

Ben Affleck (actor and director) joined everyone to pack boxes and lend a hand for a good cause. Ben Affleck has helped Operation Gratitude over the years and was presented with an American flag that was flown over the battlefield in Iraq.

This holiday season go to the Operation Gratitude website and write a letter to a soldier, donate your old cellphones, write a check and lend a hand.....

Contribution - Make A Difference

A friend and associate of mine Marc Ambrose is growing a mustache to support a charity fundraiser for a middle school at Donor Choose.org. Check it out and make a contribution....

http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/viewChallenge.html?id=20062&category=36&zone=0

Thanksgiving Thought - Perspective and Blessing

This is from a 1990 study that has circulated on the Internet but it still probably holds true

If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75 percent of the people in the world.

If you can attend a church or synagogue meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture or death you are more blessed than 3 billion people in the world.

If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation, you are more blessed than 500 million people in the world.

If you have money in the bank, in your wallet and spare change in a dish, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week.

So this Thanksgiving be thankful but also think how you can make a contribution to others less fortunate.

Here are a couple of ways to make a difference:

http://tonyrobbinsibb.ning.com/

http://www.opgratitude.com/



Happy Thanksgiving

Warriors... In Their Own Words" - Event

Yesterday evening I attended an event at The Skirball Center, "Warriors.. In Their Own Words". Actor Kelsey Grammer was the host.

Many of the stars of the film and book, the warriors themselves, joined Mr. Grammer, who narrates the film, at the premiere. There was a cocktail reception, a screening of the film, followed by a brief auction, dessert, and book signing.

It was a very moving evening and movie honoring our "Warriors" who volunteered to serve our country. The stories of these soldiers were impressive and inspiring. I had the honor of meeting them and having them sign their stories in the book I purchased.


The Warriors project includes a special DVD and coffee table book that use compelling interviews with soldiers, current and retired, to take people inside the heart, mind, and soul of a warrior. The San Diego-based Lives Out of Combat Foundation (http://www.looc.org) produced the DVD and book as a way of honoring the men and women who have fought for our country by letting them tell their stories in their own words. The powerful interviews on the DVD and the stunning photos of each warrior make for a somber yet uplifting look into the guys (and gals) behind the guns—the human beings beneath the helmets.

Warriors...In their Own Words—The Book can be purchased for $29.99 from the Lives Out of Combat Website

Warriors...In their Own Words—The Movie can be purchased for $19.99

Or both for $46.99

Proceeds from then DVD and book will go to benefit "Freedom Is Not Free", a group that helps wounded veterans and their families.

I recommend you buy a few and give them as Christmas and holiday gifts.

http://www.freedomisnotfree.com

http://youtube.com/watch?v=NwYhuIZW1x0

http://www.looc.org

Thought for the Day - Contribution

"Everyone has the need to contribute. It is one of the six human needs. If you give from your heart, it will come back to you tenfold."
Anthony Robbins

Support the Success Foundation

Check out Success for Teens Book



http://www.successfoundation.org/book.html


Support the Success Foundation


http://www.successfoundation.org/foundation.html

Memorial Day - Thank You

In memory of my Dad Patrick Duffy who served in WWII in the Philippines.




Fallen But Not Forgotten




and a personal thanks to a friend Victor L (Sgt. Marines) who served in Iraq and a good friend's husband John J (Sgt. Marines) who is serving in Iraq today I say thank you to them and all the young men and women who serve. Be safe and return soon....

Make a contribution to an organization that supports the young men and women who serve.


http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/

http://www.treatsfortroops.com/

http://www.fisherhouse.org/

http://www.soldiersangels.org/

http://www.semperfifund.org/

http://www.frogfriends.com/

http://www.opgratitude.com/

Contribution - Personal Philanthropy - Give Back

There are many ways to make a difference. You don't need to be Chuck Feeney (see review below). Give of your time, your skills, your money. It's never too late or too early to contribute. It's never too much or too little to help. Here are just some groups deserving of your contribution:

Six Degrees - Be a Celebrity for Your Cause
http://www.sixdegrees.org/


Anthony Robbins Foundation - Empowerment
http//www.anthonyrobbinsfoundation.org/

Modest Needs - Small Change - Instant Difference
https://www.modestneeds.org/


Make a Wish - Granting the Wishes of Children
http://www.wish.org/

Harlem Children's Fund - Education
http://www.hcz.org/about/canada.html

John Corcoran Foundation - Literacy
http://www.johncorcoranfoundation.com/pages/home.html

Fisher House - Wounded Soldiers
http://www.fisherhouse.org/

Ashka - Social Entrepreneurs
http://www.ashoka.org/

One Voice Movement - Conflict Resolution in Middle East
http://www.onevoicemovement.org/wps/portal/OVFAQs#q10


What have you done today to make yourself feel proud ?