Wednesday, May 23, 2012
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Displaying items by tag: Charity

(Gulf Shores)

Zumba Fitness by Sandy is holding a Zumbathon Friday March 25th from 6:00-7:30 in Foley to benifit the American Cancer Society.

Published in Health and Fitness

GULF SHORES, AL – A coalition of state and industry leaders initiated by the Alabama Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce and the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce will announce a series of new strategies to help businesses Survive, Sustain and Succeed during the oil crisis. The Coastal Resiliency Coalition (CRC) will hold a press conference on Thursday, August 12, at 9:30 a.m. at the site of the new Business Support Center on Faulkner State Community College’s Gulf Shores campus. Mayors from Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Foley will join leaders from the tourism, real estate, retail and fishing industries.

Interview opportunities with:

· Coastal Resiliency Coalition Chairman Bob Higgins

· Chamber Executives Linda Whitlock & Donna Watts

· Business Support Center Director Norman Schuehman

For more information contact Paige Rucker at 251-978-1150 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Location Details:

Faulkner State Community College

Gulf Coast Culinary Institute Dining Room

South end of campus

Published in Local News

After what must have been a few painful days of trying the areas best recipes, the finalist of the 3rd National Shrimp Festival Zatarains Chef Challenge have been announced.

Congratulations to the 5 finalists in the 3rd Annual National Chef's Challenge (presented by Zatarain's)... Top 5 finalists: Island Grill at the Island House Hotel, Rum Runners, Villaggio Grille, Flippers Seafood & Oysterbar, and Big Fish Restaurant & Bar.
The 5 finalists will compete on Thursday for the title & the winner will be announced Friday, October 8th @ the Shrimp Festival!
Published in Local News
(ARA) - Some research suggests volunteering can have a positive effect on overall health and well-being - and may help improve your disease. Many Americans who suffer from chronic conditions can get involved with volunteering to stay active.

And, for the more than 1 million Americans with the chronic condition rheumatoid arthritis (RA), volunteering may help them better manage the disease. RA is an autoimmune disease that affects the joints and can cause pain, disability and leave people feeling limited or isolated by their disease. Women are two to three times more likely to have RA than men, and the disease is most commonly diagnosed between the ages of 30 and 50.

A new nationwide initiative - Hand in Hand for RA - aims to change that by demonstrating to people living with RA that they can do more. In fact, results of a recent survey showed that a majority of people with RA want to be more active and not feel limited by their condition. Moreover, four in 10 want to give back through volunteering or public service to prove they are not limited by their RA.

"It's the first time that we are bringing together people living with a form of arthritis like RA who would otherwise be held back a little bit by their condition, and give them an opportunity to help out in their community," says Seth Ginsberg, co-founder and president of CreakyJoints, a grassroots arthritis group and a supporter of the Hand in Hand for RA campaign. "We want people to go to the handinhandforRA.com Web site where they can find resources or share their stories of things they've done in the past, and help out a little bit."

Lending a helping hand
Debbie McGrady, 55, of Greenwood, Ind., has joined the campaign and gives back by driving senior citizens in her local community to doctor appointments and to run errands.

"When I was diagnosed with RA 11 years ago, it was pretty devastating for me," Debbie says. "But after seeking out the right doctor and working with him to get my disease under control, I also changed my life - started eating healthier and exercising more often; then I found volunteerism. It's just been a wonderful thing for me. It takes the focus off your disease and you can help others."

Many ways to give back
When it comes to public service, there is something for everyone. The following are a few activities that may be well suited for those with RA. These include low-impact activities that are easy on the joints, and options that provide enough flexibility for even the busiest of schedules.

* Answering telephone calls for a local crisis support or charity hotline
* Reading to seniors at a local community center or retirement community
* Working at voting booths during election season
* Visiting hospitals or nursing homes to spend time with the patients
* Mentoring youth
* Volunteering at an animal shelter
* Joining a local gardening group or community beautification project

Before starting on any new activity, it is important to talk first with your doctor about what volunteer activities would be the best to pursue.

Get started
For more information on how to get involved with Hand in Hand for RA or to post your personal volunteering story and send kudos to current volunteers, visit www.handinhandforRA.com.

Hand In Hand for RA is a national awareness campaign developed by Genentech and Biogen Idec with the grassroots advocacy group CreakyJoints.

Courtesy of ARAcontent
Published in Community Cares
(ARA) - More and more people are resolving to be more giving, and to share what they have with the less fortunate. The current economic climate, however, presents something of a challenge to people who want to give, but lack the budget to do so.

Americans are known for their generous and giving spirits, as well as for their ingenuity, so it's no surprise that they have worked out ways to satisfy the desire to help others without having to sacrifice. If you look in your community, you'll surely find a host of meaningful ways to help others. You can also expand your generosity to act globally, too. Here are some creative ways to give that won't cost you cash.

* Find nonprofits that offer unique ways to make a difference. The more technology develops, the more we're able to connect with others around the world and help alleviate global poverty. The Web site JoinMyVillage.com, presented by the humanitarian organization CARE and the food company General Mills, invites people to help fight poverty in Africa. Simply log on to JoinMyVillage.com and join a village team. With that simple act, you'll unlock $1 to help people in Malawi, one of the poorest countries in the world. You can keep unlocking dollars by answering fun quiz questions or by inviting friends to participate (up to $5 per person per day, $150,000 in total). In just one week, you can unlock enough to buy a new secondary school uniform for a girl in Malawi, which will enable her to attend school. (Just one additional year of education will increase her earning potential by nearly 20 percent over her lifetime and open new doors to the future.) If you're in a position to make a personal donation - even as little as $10 - your contributions will go doubly far because General Mills will match them dollar-for-dollar (up to $500 per donor, another $150,000 in total). JoinMyVillage.com also has rich stories, and regular progress reports on the women and children you are helping in Malawi. It's a great way to teach children about international development and how to be good global citizens.

* Use your talents. Do you have a way with words and a passion for language? You might just be a great volunteer to help adult and child immigrants improve their English skills. Maybe you've got a green thumb - there are charitable organizations that need help with grounds-keeping projects. And if you're a real authority on the ins-and-outs of your city, you could serve as a guide for new immigrants struggling to learn about how to get around, where to go shopping, and the details of everyday life that make a big difference in adjusting to a new society. If you love the arts, you could serve as a docent at your local art museum and introduce people to the treasures that are on display there. Whatever your hobby or passion, you can almost certainly find a way to translate it into volunteerism.

* Mine your house. Donations don't have to be in the form of cash. There are lots of local organizations that accept gently-used clothing, household goods, cell phones and more. Just keep a few things in mind when you're adding to your donation pile. First, make sure that the item is usable. Broken toasters or splintering wooden spoons, torn shirts, or pants with loose seams - they're not going to serve the people who benefit from the charity. Also, make sure that any items you donate are clean - wash, dry, and fold all clothes and double-check that any household items you're dropping off are dust- and gunk-free. Consider what you would want and be able to use if the proverbial shoe were on the other foot and you were looking for donated items.

There is truth in the old saying that it's better to give than to receive. Studies show that people who volunteer are often happier and healthier than their peers. In fact, if you give of yourself, you'll find that you receive, too, in the form of new friends and experiences that make your life richer.

Courtesy of ARAcontent
Published in Community Cares
(ARA) - Some research suggests volunteering can have a positive effect on overall health and well-being - and may help improve your disease. Many Americans who suffer from chronic conditions can get involved with volunteering to stay active.

And, for the more than 1 million Americans with the chronic condition rheumatoid arthritis (RA), volunteering may help them better manage the disease. RA is an autoimmune disease that affects the joints and can cause pain, disability and leave people feeling limited or isolated by their disease. Women are two to three times more likely to have RA than men, and the disease is most commonly diagnosed between the ages of 30 and 50.

A new nationwide initiative - Hand in Hand for RA - aims to change that by demonstrating to people living with RA that they can do more. In fact, results of a recent survey showed that a majority of people with RA want to be more active and not feel limited by their condition. Moreover, four in 10 want to give back through volunteering or public service to prove they are not limited by their RA.

"It's the first time that we are bringing together people living with a form of arthritis like RA who would otherwise be held back a little bit by their condition, and give them an opportunity to help out in their community," says Seth Ginsberg, co-founder and president of CreakyJoints, a grassroots arthritis group and a supporter of the Hand in Hand for RA campaign. "We want people to go to the handinhandforRA.com Web site where they can find resources or share their stories of things they've done in the past, and help out a little bit."

Lending a helping hand
Debbie McGrady, 55, of Greenwood, Ind., has joined the campaign and gives back by driving senior citizens in her local community to doctor appointments and to run errands.

"When I was diagnosed with RA 11 years ago, it was pretty devastating for me," Debbie says. "But after seeking out the right doctor and working with him to get my disease under control, I also changed my life - started eating healthier and exercising more often; then I found volunteerism. It's just been a wonderful thing for me. It takes the focus off your disease and you can help others."

Many ways to give back
When it comes to public service, there is something for everyone. The following are a few activities that may be well suited for those with RA. These include low-impact activities that are easy on the joints, and options that provide enough flexibility for even the busiest of schedules.

* Answering telephone calls for a local crisis support or charity hotline
* Reading to seniors at a local community center or retirement community
* Working at voting booths during election season
* Visiting hospitals or nursing homes to spend time with the patients
* Mentoring youth
* Volunteering at an animal shelter
* Joining a local gardening group or community beautification project

Before starting on any new activity, it is important to talk first with your doctor about what volunteer activities would be the best to pursue.

Get started
For more information on how to get involved with Hand in Hand for RA or to post your personal volunteering story and send kudos to current volunteers, visit www.handinhandforRA.com.

Hand In Hand for RA is a national awareness campaign developed by Genentech and Biogen Idec with the grassroots advocacy group CreakyJoints.

Courtesy of ARAcontent
Published in Health

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