Thank you SO much for sharing your story. Sounds like you are off to a great start for a fantastic cause.

I look forward to hearing your progress.

Nice job!

Merrill

My son was part of a pilot program with his middle school classroom and the B&G Club last year. His class is made up of kids with learning and/or behavioral disabilities who just don’t thrive in a typical classroom setting. The High 5 Adventure Learning program worked wonders for these kids, and no one wanted to see it end. So, in comes Nancy ready to apply what I’ve learned from my friends, colleagues, and clients in the MRA over the years–I just GOT PEOPLE AROUND A TABLE! Obviously, I learned a bit about recruiting, too, as we had the RIGHT people at the table. (Not bad for a transcription company owner, huh? See, I do pay attention once in a while…)

Just two meetings, three weeks, and a mere $1000 in seed money later, we rolled out Friday Night Friends just this past week! I’ve been busy today responding to all positive feedback, as my company provided those initial dolllars. FNF is a family fun night targeted but not limited to kids with autism/Asperger’s/PPDs and aimed at teaching and enhancing social skills. Activities are built around an Adventure Learning model: http://www.high5adventure.org/about/index.html.

Everyone involved in that planning/design team shared a goal to build community and a sense of place for these kids and their families. It’s a broad category since IEPs are given to children with needs that range from simple speech impediments to severe cerebral palsy and everything in between. With privacy issues and other barriers involved, we knew this was a difficult group to target. Understanding this from the outset, it was agreed to grow the group organically and keep our expectations very low.

Well, Friday Night Friends was an amazing success by any measure! We had 30 people from 9 different families, and all the kids and adults participated happily!

Any parent who’s been through the IEP process for his/her child knows what a difficult journey it is, no matter what the particular need is. Because of the stigma associated with “special needs” kids, it can be a lonely road, too, wet with tears, and it’s easy to get mired down in what’s already a broken, difficult-to-navigate system. We need a safe place to share our respective journeys and offer encouragement and the benefit of one another’s experiences.

Now that the need has been recognized and responded to, the ball is really rolling. Based on the emails and phone calls this morning, I’m confident that this program is only going to continue to grow. I believe it may even emerge as a model for other communities.

Despite the naysayers about the economic times we’re in, I’m not worried about funding, either. My company is sponsoring the summer schedule of five evening sessions, and I understand we’ve got an unsolicited pledge from a local pediatrician who heard about it on the golf course over the weekend!

Where do I think the MRA should be targeting their dollars? I’d say towards any entity involved in enhancing science and math education at any level. Federal and state mandated programs/testing are killing our schools, diminishing the academic experiences of our children, sucking the life and soul out of our teachers, and dividing our communities as we all vie for shrinking pieces of the pie. I believe it would be a good long-term investment for research-based organizations to target dollars where they’re so sorely needed.

Congratulations on running and completing the Race. The Race for the Cure is an enormously worthwhile cause. I have run the Race in the past in honor of a close friend’s mother who passed away of cancer. When you participate in an event like that you do so obviously to help the cause, but what you don’t realize is what you get in return. The amount of energy you put into helping others is returned to you ten-fold. You begin to become less self absorbed. You stop focusing on the things you don’t have and realize how fortunate you are for what you do have. You feel as though you are part of something much bigger than yourself; that your efforts can make a difference and you become a much better person for your participation.

As for corporations, I fully believe in their social responsibility to give back to their communities; which is why I head up M/A/R/C’s philanthropic efforts. At M/A/R/C we feel our efforts can have the greatest impact at the local level and as such we are supporting several local charities this year. We are in the process of formalizing a partnership with a local elementary school to provide much needed class room assistance and financial support in the form of donating uniforms, supplies and books. We are collecting donations for the local SPCA, food for local food banks and adopting families in the Adopt-a-Family program. The national charities are not left out though. In May, employees from our Greensboro office ran the Winston-Salem Race for the Cure raising nearly $500 for the cause and plans are being made to participate in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Walk later this year. All these activities have a great impact on our local communities, but they also have a great impact on our work environment at M/A/R/C with employees who know they are making a difference.

Giving always feels so much better than receiving.

Cancer has stricken many people I love and care for. I am a supporter of the American Cancer Society and participate in many of their walks and benefits.

I love this proverb…
“If you have much, give of your wealth; If you have little, give of your heart”

Colleen

Ginger

I commend your commitment to great causes! I think giving back is so important and try to work as much into my own schedule. It’s important in our personal lives - and in our work lives.

At Lightspeed we launched “Bigger Than Lightspeed” and each year we select a charity that means something to all of us globally. This past year’s cause was Children (very broad) and we had fun with work-related spelling bee competitions, slumber parties (pay to have someone wear something silly!) and other office fun. The best part was doing something fun together based on something bigger than the work we do everyday.

Keep up the great work!

Anne

I really like the idea of the MRA getting involved in a charity. What if two or three national ones were selected and then sent to the members to pick one. I think it should be a two year selection. Then, all across America members of the MRA can either join in or give to. Not only will be it be good for the soul of each MRA member, it will show the Corporate world that the MRA cares about our society. It could also be a way of sending a message to “john doe America” about what it is that we do and why they should participate in the studies we conduct. We may even want to ensure we pick a charity that someone in the MRA has done significant work for. The media coverage could be great for both causes.

Those are my two cents.

I’m proud of everyone that gives of their time and physical resources as well as money.

Connie

Giving my time both locally in the Philadelphia area at Inglis House (www.inglis.org) as a candy-stripper and board member as well as with other local and national charities through walks/runs, balls and fundraisers plus internationally has changed my life.

Working with parapeligics and quadrapegics at Inglis House and malnurished kids in India really puts things in perspective. Live every moment to the fullest and share you time and love with those that need you.