You may be a veteran at volunteering, but how about your family?  Since beginning this column and my blog, two questions I frequently get asked are: “How do I get my kids involved?” or “I want to find a volunteer project in the community for my family?”

For a family, it could be as a scary as introducing a new vegetable at the dinner table. But like eating veggies, giving back is a great thing to learn young and ultimately leads to a healthier lifestyle. To help you and your family kick-off 2012 making a difference, here are three websites to have on your radar.

For Kids and Teens: GenerationOn
You are never too young to start making your mark on the world. This is the core philosophy of GenerationOn, the youth division of Points of Light Institute. This resource has brought the nation’s leading youth service organizations under one umbrella to give kids the opportunity to learn about the issues in their communities and access the tools they need to help.  Simply put, GenerationOn connects kids to causes and projects by engaging them online, in an exciting, kid-friendly way.  (Note: Remember, for our kids, the online community is an important part of their life and it is a great platform for them to find purpose in giving back to help others.) generationon.org

For Young Adults: One Percent Foundation
The One Percent Foundation is a nonprofit organization committed to engaging young adults in philanthropy. The Foundation is one large giving circle, which means it creates a community where young people can pool together their funds in a collaborative effort to have a bigger impact on causes most important to them. This resource not only educates young adults on best practices of being philanthropic, it also raises awareness for the important issues affecting our world.  While mostly focused on twentysomethings, this is an organization that can get high school and college students started.  (Note: This is also something that you can do just with your own family. Have your kids pool a portion of their allowance, match that amount, and then decide together who it should help.) onepercentfoundation.org

For Families: Doing Good Together
Doing Good Together is a website that I recently came across and immediately was inspired. I stand behind their belief that by spending time with loved ones while also helping the larger world, leads children to become compassionate, aware of social issues, and ultimately develop a lifelong habit of giving. This grassroots organization provides tips, ideas and tools to engage your family in charitable activities that can make a difference in your community.  From the environment to the elderly, they have practical ideas that carry inspirational impact for your family to experience. doinggoodtogether.org

I am always excited to hear about creative ways people are giving back and helping those causes that matter most to them. Please send me an email, kate@kateatwood.com if you’d like me to share your story in 2012.

The holidays are a time for us to remember to be thankful for those who surround us throughout the year, but it is also a time to remember those who may be forgotten, to remember the many who feel alone on the holidays.  While Operation Never Forgotten is a non-profit organization with a mission focused on remembering our deployed military, veterans and fallen soldiers, I’m inspired to spread the operation to make sure everyone in our community is remembered this holiday season.

Here are a few suggestions:

A Soldier: Send a care package to a soldier through AnySoldier.com. This site helps you identify what to put in your care package and allows you to select a soldier or soldiers to receive your holiday treat.

A Homeless Mother and her Child: Gather your book club or just your neighbors and host a “PJ party.” This is not your usual PJ party. A good friend shared this idea with me after having contacted the local Atlanta Day Shelter for Women and Children, and asking about their biggest needs. Their answer: pajamas. So have all your guests bring in a pair of pajamas, either for an adult or a child. You can then deliver the batch to the shelter just in time for the holidays.

A Doctor or Nurse: While most of us get to spend the holidays at home with our loved ones, there are certain folks who don’t get that chance.  Spend a day baking goods or making flower arrangements and deliver them to the nearest hospital for the doctors and staff to be put in the break rooms. This is a wonderful way to thank those who are the ultimate caregivers in our community. Be sure to call ahead to make arrangements for your delivery.

A Senior: Take some of your extra time around the holidays and spend it with our seniors at an assisted living residence or local senior center. This is especially good for teens and young adults who have time off school. I suggest bringing some cards and games, and planning to spend an afternoon with a senior who may not get as many visitors over the holidays.

A Furry Friend: I never leave out our furry friends. Pack a holiday bag of treats, a leash, and some towels, and donate them to the Atlanta Humane Society or any area animal shelter. I like this one for kids because then they can participate in dropping off the gifts and visiting with the animals, who also like the extra TLC during this time of year.

We can all agree that the holidays are an important time for everyone to feel joy. Let’s make our own Operation Never Forgotten in Atlanta by lending our helping hands and caring hearts to those in our community who need us most during this time of year.

Happy Holidays!

This month I am going to take a break from profiles and write instead about a pressing problem in our community and our nation. With Thanksgiving around the corner, it seems fitting to talk about childhood hunger in America.

I was recently introduced to this problem in my new role as the executive director of the Arby’s Foundation, the charitable arm of the Arby’s Restaurant Group. This fall we launched a new mission to help end childhood hunger in America because every child deserves to learn, play and grow. I’ve learned quickly just how much a child’s access to wholesome meals every day affects their ability to learn and grow.

Did you know that more than 16 million children in America struggle with hunger?  That equates to 1 in 5 children in the U.S. who do not get the proper meals they need. There are approximately 700,000 such children in Georgia. The latest USDA reports show that this number is at an all-time high in our nation’s history.

Here are three key things to know about childhood hunger in America:

• A hungry child in America doesn’t know where his or her next meal will come from, some going days without proper nutrition.
• Childhood hunger in America doesn’t exist because of a lack of food. The problem exists for such reasons as education, outreach and access to programs that are there to help.
• The impact of hunger is universal in a child’s life. It affects everything from their ability to concentrate to their ability to get proper sleep. A hungry child frequently gets sick and falls behind academically and socially.

The good news is that this problem is solvable and that you can be a big part of the solution. A leading organization in the fight to end childhood hunger in America is Share our Strength. This November marks the one-year anniversary of their No Kid Hungry Campaign. To honor this milestone, here are a few fun and easy ways you can support No Kid Hungry and join the fight to end this pressing problem in our nation:

1.)  Sign the No Kid Hungry Pledge: Visit strength.org and take the pledge to end childhood hunger.  This is a simple and free way to add your voice to support this movement in America.  You can help Share Our Strength reach their goal of 100,000 pledges by the end of 2011.

2.)  Hold a Great American Bake Sale at your office or holiday party: Who isn’t baking over the holidays? Plan a bake sale and help raise funds while building awareness about an issue that is often ignored: childhood hunger in our own backyard.  To learn more and register your bake sale, click on the Great American Bake Sale tab at strength.org.

3.)  Visit an Arby’s Restaurant near you: Shameless plug, but by visiting an Arby’s during the month of November, you and your family can make a $1 donation that all goes to support the No Kid Hungry Campaign. As part of Arby’s commitment to the Arby’s Foundation mission, and to the families we serve, we now offer healthier choices on our Kids Meal menu, so you can also talk about healthy choices with your kids while sharing about No Kid Hungry.

November is not only the one-year anniversary of the No Kid Hungry Campaign it is also the month that kicks-off the holiday season. Everyone deserves to experience joy around this time. Remember that some families need our help to do so. Be sure to give thanks this month by giving back to our community.

To learn more about the Arby’s Foundation, visit arbys.com/Foundation.

More from Kate…

What inspires you?
People. Life is so much about who you surround yourself with along the way. I often think by losing the most important person early in life, (my mom), I’ve realized early on just how important and impactful it is to have good loving people around you every step of the way.

What is your favorite part of your job with Kate’s Club?
I’m an entrepreneur, so my favorite part of my job is that I get to carry around big visions and see them realized through my work. Although I’m not an artist in the traditional sense, I like to think I create societal art in the form of communities. Nothing is more satisfying to me than bringing people together, people who may not otherwise ever cross paths, but because of the community that has been created for them, their lives are forever changed.

What challenges you?
Life. Life is challenging. People everywhere seek fulfillment out of life, and to achieve that, no matter who you are or where you live, that journey is a challenge. But a good challenge. And I think if people took on that challenge with others, rather than alone, it would be a better journey. 

What is the best piece of advice you’ve received?
This is hard for me to answer because I have received such great advice about life and about career. But I think in all facets of life the best piece of advice is “you are not alone” – whether starting a company, overcoming an illness, or facing adversity, we aren’t meant to do any of it alone. A great quote I heard once was, “The difference between being ordinary and extraordinary is that the extraordinary ask for help.”

How do you spend your down time and how do you juggle such a busy schedule?
This is all part of my journey. I can find myself so driven and passionate about my work that sometimes I don’t leave time for down-time. But I’m getting better about knowing my limits and making sure I build in time for me. I believe you can have it all, but you can’t necessarily have it all at once. So you just have to take life one day at a time, and do what wakes you up excited and lets you go to bed exhausted.

What do you consider some of your greatest achievements both professionally and personally?
Personally, my achievements are really found in my friends. I have always had great friends in my life. They have loved me and supported me and kept me striving to be my best, even during difficult times. 
Professionally, I think the ultimate achievement was just taking the risk to start Kate’s Club. Everything that happened from that was a result of that first step. I didn’t appreciate it as much at the time, but now I really appreciate it, especially as I am taking the first step in my next endeavor.

What do you see as the keys to being your “best self”?
I truly believe to be your best self, you have to take time to be a part of something bigger than yourself, and reach out to help others. When I was a motherless adolescent, I struggled in so many ways and my spirit suffered greatly from that loss. I never would have thought that by starting Kate’s Club and giving back to other kids who shared that similar loss would I connect with the happiness and healing that I have since. Now I truly believe my message to others is that your best self is found when you help others.

You can read the full article here: http://www.bestselfatlanta.com/Best-Self-Articles/Life-Enrichment/Kate’s-Club.html

I met Blake recently at the Apex Society’s “Power 30 Under 30” awards, where I had the honor of presenting him with an award.  He shares with Living by Giving about his organization beremedy, and his vision to connect individuals to those who need help the most.

Tell us a little about beremedy. I recently read it was named one of “3 best Twitter usages worldwide” by CNN.
beremedy is the simplest way to help other people.  It is an organization connecting people who need help with those who want to help, via social media.  We feel that most people would help others if they simply knew the needs in their local community. Through applications like Twitter and Facebook, beremedy alerts people when someone in their community needs help. It takes little time for our members to step-up and make a difference.

What was the moment that made you decide you wanted to do something to get connected and have impact in our community and around the world?
My whole life I have been drawn to help people in need. Then, I realized that we can communicate a message to potentially millions of people at one time through social media.  I thought to myself, “what if we leveraged that potential to communicate messages for good to millions of people?”  Then I set out to create a sustainable model to do it.

Sounds simple enough, but I know starting-up a business is tough stuff; what has been the most rewarding part?
No doubt it’s the people helped at the end of each day. Giving a little more hope to someone than they previously had. Each day I have a purpose to get out of bed.

What is your wildest, biggest dream for beremedy? In 10 years, describe what you’d like to see beremedy accomplishing?
It doesn’t matter if it’s a natural disaster or helping a middle school student who needs a pair of shoes, if someone wants to get involved and help, I want them to turn to beremedy.  And while I can’t give away the secret sauce, I am excited to say we’re creating new technology that’s going to change the way people help those in need.

That sounds very exciting! For someone out there looking to find a connection to a cause or purpose in their community, what advice would you give them to get started?
Decide what type of cause motivates you and begin to look around your city for ways people are supporting that cause. Most of the time, you can just walk in an organization and they’ll embrace you.  As you find great non-profit organizations, I would love for you to have them register on beremedy.  We want to connect more people to these organizations and aid them with their mission.

Very cool Blake. As I said to you many times, I'm honored to know you!  I know great things are going to come from beremedy for our communities and our world!

***

Here are 3 things you can do to be a part of beremedy.

1.  “Like” beremedy on Facebook, Twitter and/or get our email. You can immediately get started helping others.

2.  Send any non-profit organizations to our website (www.beremedy.org) and let them know we’d love to help them.

3.  Tell other people about us and make them act on Step 1.  The more people we have involved, the faster we can grow to help more people.

Hi Lisa, I know you are a very busy woman, so thank you for your time. I’m excited to learn more about the mission of the Grady Health Foundation and its role within the overall Grady Health System. Can you share a little?

Grady Health Foundation is the fundraising arm of Grady Health System. Our primary focus is in identifying and securing the resources (financial and in-kind) to support the many service lines at Grady Hospital, Atlanta’s Premier Level 1 Trauma Center. 

As the President of the Grady Health Foundation, what is your day-to-day like?

As President of the Foundation, I am responsible for building and nurturing relationships, promoting the “Grady Brand” and raising funds to support the institution.  Our job is to ensure that the entire community is engaged with Grady – aware of our services and willing to experience our health system. Currently, we are winding up a 5-year, $325M Capital Campaign which started in late 2008. To date, $318M has been raised in about half the time and we hope to close the campaign victoriously by the end of 2011 – two years ahead of schedule.

Wow! That is no easy task. But I can see why they have you leading the charge.  Why is healthcare a passion for you? 

My father was a primary care physician, specializing in Internal Medicine.  His love for medicine and focus on good health was inspiring.  I was taught at an early age that your health was paramount and it’s an area where you can have control if you chose to accept the responsibility.  He also stressed that access to healthcare is a right, not a privilege that affords you independence and an opportunity to excel.

With passion, comes a dream.  What is your dream for healthcare in America?

My dream for healthcare in America is universal access and optimal, individual health status. Americans today believe that we have the best healthcare; this statement is simply not true. Studies have shown that our outcomes are not always best e.g. OB Care & Delivery. Sweden has some of the best outcomes in terms of birth weights of babies born.  Our system also excludes some 40-50 million Americans. How can that be good? From a public health perspective, if any of these folks contract a contagious infection, it could/can spread very quickly and affect an entire city, county, state or even the country.  The lack of access to healthcare is the #1 health crisis in the US.

The Foundation has some unique ways that the community can get involved, including the upcoming Rock-N-Ride on June 25th. Tell us a little about this event.

Rock-N-Ride is our signature summer event with the theme of “Motorcycles & Music”. We have partnered with the Gold Shield Foundation on this initiative; Gold Shield is a non-profit that supports public safety personnel who are injured or killed in the line of duty.  Therefore, the event will honor our first responders – law enforcement officers and firefighters – from across the state.

We will begin the ride in Roswell at Killer Creek Harley-Davidson and we expect 1,000 bikers to take part. Registration begins at 11a and kick-stands up at 2p. Riders will arrive in Atlanta at Hard Rock Café at 3p and the “Party of Peachtree” – coined MusicFest – will begin with Mother’s Finest headlining the event. Presenting Sponsors are AirTran Airways and Hard Rock Café; Premier Sponsors are Full Throttle Magazine & Killer Creek Harley-Davidson; Promotional Sponsors are 97.1The River and WSB TV, Q&A Events, Lawbike.com and Budweiser.

Sounds fun! Lisa, you have been a leader in the Atlanta corporate and civic communities for decades, why is it important for individuals to be involved in their community?

We are our community; it is up to us to ensure that we leave this earth better than we found it for the next generation. I have decided to lead by example – to get engaged and stay engaged.

For someone out there looking to find a connection to a cause or purpose in their community, what advice would you give them to get started?

Pick your passion – e.g. animals, education, healthcare, housing, seniors – and find an organization that supports the needs of that area of concern. There is always work to be done; decide where you will leave your ‘fingerprints’ and dare to make a difference!

Thank you so much Lisa. Your words and actions, both, continue to inspire so much good in Atlanta.

Come out and join Lisa and her team at the 2011 Rock-N-Ride presented by AirTran Airways.  A motorcycle ride to help raise funds for the Grady Health Foundation and Gold Shield Foundation.

WHEN: Saturday, June 25, 2011      

TIME:   Registration for the Ride begins at 11:00 AM; Ride Starts at 2:00 PM

MusicFest to follow Ride

For more information and to register, click here

Dear Friends,

It is with great excitement that I share with all of you the news regarding my next professional adventure.  I am honored and excited to have accepted the opportunity to be the new Executive Director of the Arby’s Foundation.  Yes, that is Arby’s as in roast beef and cheddar, and no I will not be on TV singing “It’s Good Mood Food”…well not yet at least. I could not be more excited about the opportunity: the thrilling challenge and the great potential to CHANGE LIVES.

As some of you know, as a partner with Bcauz Marketing for the past year, I have been consulting with Arby’s on their Foundation’s new strategic direction. I was honored and exhilarated when they approached me with the opportunity to join the team formally in this role.  The first BIG task will be the launch of its new strategic platform later this year.  Stay tuned for that exciting news.

One of the great things about this opportunity is that it allows me to continue to pursue my personal heart-filling “Living by Giving” passions, first and foremost being Kate’s Club.  Furthermore, I will continue to be based in Atlanta and champion great volunteer opportunities in our city and beyond.

As I start this new chapter I look forward to strengthening the idea, through this blog platform, that giving is a lifestyle choice we make to improve both the lives of others and our own lives.  I feel so lucky I can continue my own pursuit of happiness by joining a new work family at Arby's who strive to strengthen their business and their communities...every day.

-Kate

O’Brien’s organization, Embraced, exists to ensure that all people have access to quality orthopedic and prosthetic medical equipment that can improve the quality of their lives. The mission of Richards’ foundation, Frankie’s First, is to fight literacy in Georgia by providing books to children in need.   

Living by Giving discusses the impact of their work on the Atlanta community and beyond:

First, can you both tell us a little about your organizations?

Richards: The purpose of Frankie’s First is to get on-reading-level books into the homes of students in need. It is critical that students have a literary environment inside and outside of school, yet so many of our students living in high-poverty areas do not have access to books at home. Frankie’s First exists to change that.

O’Brien: Embraced is a nonprofit organization that provides orthopedic and prosthetic equipment to those in need, both locally and globally. Embraced sets up collection bins in doctors’ offices, gyms and schools that collect equipment. We redistribute it to those in need.

Why did you start Frankie’s First?  What was your inspiration?

Richards: In 2002, during my very first week as a teacher, a 7^th grade student named Frankie Ann asked me to walk her home from school. She lived in a very impoverished neighborhood and had a closet-size room that she shared with her little brother.  Next to her bed was a stack of Scholastic Book order forms.  When I asked her why she had so many order forms, she explained that her grandmother, who was her primary caregiver, could not afford to buy her books, but she wanted to become a better reader, so she read those advertisements every night before she fell asleep.  Seeing Frankie’s passion for reading stifled by her lack of resources at home ignited a fire within me. I began this journey as a teacher and advocator and finally was able to fulfill my dream of incorporating a foundation driven by this mission.

As a young founder, what has been the biggest challenges you have faced in getting Embraced off the ground? What has been the biggest reward?

O’Brien: Anything worth doing in my opinion, is difficult.  So, I understood that taking on the challenge of starting a nonprofit at the worst economic time, compounded with the fact that I was just 24 years old, definitely put me at a disadvantage. However, I chose to concentrate on my strengths, which are determination, an entrepreneurial spirit and an undying commitment for all to have access to healthcare. Instead of focusing on grants, which can be hard for any young 501c3 organization, I chose to create an event called Battle of the Burgers, which netted close to $40,000 in its first year. Along with great challenges also come great reward, and the biggest reward has been seeing the people, who at first were reluctant to buy into our mission, now understanding and fully endorsing Embraced.

What is your dream for Frankie’s First and Embraced, respectively?  If money, time and resources were not an obstacle, what would you like to achieve with your organization?

Richards: I dream of having a dedicated, reliable group of staff members and volunteers at Frankie’s First, who desire to positively impact literacy in the homes of students in Atlanta.  I would tackle my list of Atlanta’s most underserved communities and one-by-one ensure that every student had at least one book he or she could read at home.

O’Brien: My dream for Embraced is to provide a resource to those in need. Mobility is so important to me. I am grateful for my ability to walk, run and just move around. I hope that for those that do not have that luxury, whether it is because they are uninsured and can’t afford crutches or because they are missing a limb, that Embraced is able to assist them in becoming mobile again. I do see Embraced growing into a national platform, being able to fully serve the healthcare needs of so many Americans while bridging the gap between the budget deficits of hospitals, health clinics and government programs such as Medicaid.

What advice would you give to someone who is looking for a way to get involved in the community? How does someone take that first step to making a difference?

Richards: Decide what are you passionate about.  Whether it is art, literacy, sports, gardening, a disease or ailment that has touched someone you know, there are numerous ways to get involved and give back. To discover your passion and/or find an organization that matches it, visit websites such as www.givingpoint.org (this one is designed for teens.) They can be a big help to get you started!

O’Brien: There is no substitute for passion.  Find what it is that interests you, understand the needs of that particular interest, and be open minded about how you can make a positive impact on whatever it may be.

Help Wanted:

Ways you can help Frankie’s First:

Set-up a Collection Site: Additional businesses are needed to be central collection sites for new and gently-used books.

Volunteer: Help pick-up and distribute books at the designated collection sites.

Donate: Books are needed for pre-K through 12^th grade students, but the biggest need right now is books for 5^th-8^th grades. Cash donations are also needed to purchase books and to cover storage costs.

For more information about Frankie’s First, visit mrsgeorgiaamerica2010.blogspot.com.

Ways you can help Embraced:

Donate: Whether it is $20 or $200, financial support is needed to support programs and operations.

Skill-based volunteers: Professionals who want to volunteer their skills to reduce overhead/operational expenses.

To help, send an email to info@embracedatlanta.org.  For more information about Embraced, visit www.embracedatlanta.org.

This article can also be seen in Atlanta Intown Paper

Garrett has traveled the world as a young philanthropist, co-founding two non-profit organizations along the way. He is truly inspiring his peers through adventure and impact. If that isn’t James Bond saving the world, I don’t know what is.  And much like Mr. Bond, it’s nearly impossible to keep up with him, but I caught him long enough to answer a few questions and share some inspirational photos from his trip. Being World Habitat Awareness month, the timing is perfect. 
 
Kate:  So, Antarctica, huh. What exactly is the mission of your trip down there?  And how did this all come about?

Garrett:  As a kid growing up I was always interested in fire and ice.  Most children wanted to be an astronaut and land on the moon.  Not me--I wanted to stand on the Sun.  Once I realized that fire was out of the question I had to move on to ice and thus the trip to Antarctica.  I turned 30 and wanted to check off the 7th continent so I convinced a friend to skip studying for his Med School exams and join me.  We booked the Adventure Antarctica ship and away we went.  This year is all about seeking out the new frontiers in travel and service, and creating ways for people to enjoy and give back.  So far Antarctica and Cuba have caught my attention.

Kate: Wow! I love that. Travel and service combined; you are certainly an expert in the area.  Since it is World Habitat Month coming up in April, can you tell us about some of the cool wildlife in Antarctica?

Garrett: The wildlife is jaw dropping. The penguins, seals, whales, and exotic birds have rarely encountered human kind so it’s possible to get up close and personal.  I did kiss a penguin.  It was on my Bucket List and the highlight of my trip. Penguins live in colonies, very much look like they do in "Happy Feet", and are quite smart. To witness a seal sprawled out on an iceberg or sea kayak past a whale in the open waters of Antarctica is like nothing else imaginable. 

Kate: It is highly unlikely I will ever get to Antarctica, so I love seeing your beautiful photos. It seems almost dream-like. What has been the biggest surprise about the most mysterious continent on Earth?

Garrett:  I’m not counting you out; you may just get down there Kate. Surprisingly, it was not as cold as I imagined.  Also there is one post office on the continent; shipping time on postcards is about 6 months.  Penguins are quite friendly, icebergs look Alien blue in real life, and there is one Russian research station where everyone really does drink Vodka.   

Kate:  As you have now traveled to all 7 continents, what is the global problem you wish most to solve?  Or as I like to ask, what is your Living by Giving dream?

Garrett:  I want to make service sexy and easy.  I think we have been fooled in the philanthropy world.  Somehow growing up we were guilted into the idea that if you can't give a lot of time (weeks, months, or even years) then you are not making a difference.  Many programs are even set up with such an enduring commitment, and I believe we lose out on a lot of good people who could give a little bit and carry a BIG impact. I’m looking for those people.  I want people to engage in moments, and hours, and maybe even for a day if you can.  I want everyone to feel comfortable in getting the taste of philanthropy and never feeling bad about it because of the amount of time they spent.  Service can be done in a day and aggregated to make the same difference over time.  I want to build that platform globally to get the taste buds going.

    My Living by Giving dream is for each of us to give a day during each vacation. Small actions lead to big results.  My goal is to set it up, make it simple, and engage the local community so the projects are meaningful.  Everyone travels, not everyone serves.  We can change that. 

Kate: Umm, that is brilliant Garrett!  Really, I love that dream. So, with that in mind, what advice would you give to someone who wants to get involved and make a difference in the world? Whether on a trip or in their own community, how would you help someone get off the couch and get started?

Garrett: Three pieces of practical advice:
From the couch: Check out www.Kiva.org  it's a great website where you can give a loan to an entrepreneur in a foreign country, read about their project, and support their efforts.  Also you follow their progress and the loan is paid back once the project is complete.  From the couch it’s a great way to save the world.

From a book: I would recommend "The Art of Non-conformity" by Chris Guillebreau.  It’s a book on lifestyle design and travel hacking.  It has great advice on getting off the couch, re-designing your life, and going for it.

From a human: Email me.  If you are heading out of the country, chances are I may be able to help.  You can reach me at Garrett.Gravesen@gmail.com

Thanks Garrett! I wish we could have done this over coffee, but as you continue your global adventures, we are so thankful for email and technology that allow us to share.  Here’s to wishing you great success in all your future service missions.

Garrett is also the co-founder of two successful non-profit organizations. Check 'em out:

HERO for Children

Global L.E.A.D.

Photos courtesy of Garrett Graveson

Philanthropy amongst families is certainly not a new concept in the world of charity, but these days we are seeing more and more families giving back together in creative ways.

It is an encouraging trend that has proven to bring families closer together and facilitate healthier communication within households. By identifying the right project, both parents and children can learn that volunteering is fun and rewarding at any age.

With summer around the corner, it’s a great time to plan a volunteer experience for your family.  Here are a few ideas to help get you started.

Take a family vacation that gives back. More and more opportunities exist today that allow you to plan a cultural adventure for your family that also incorporates a project to help people and places in need. Check out Earthwatch (earthwatch.org)for a real hands-on environmental adventure. If you are looking for humanitarian projects, a great resource is Cross-Cultural Solutions (crossculturalsolutions.org).

Host a neighborhood barbeque that is also a supply drive for a local shelter or food bank. Pick an organization such as Atlanta Community Food Bank (acfb.org) and include the list of supplies with your invitation, asking your guests to bring one item. Kids also enjoy doing this with birthday parties and other special occasions. Suggest having them collect supplies for an animal shelter, school or community center.

Set-up a lemonade stand and raise money for a cause. Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (alexslemonade.org) is a non-profit organization setting out to cure childhood cancer one lemonade stand at a time.  Check out the site and you’ll not only be inspired, but also informed and equipped with the tools to set-up your own lemonade stand.

Swim, bike, run or skate your way to a giving goal. A great way for you and your kids to stay active over the summer is to plan a fundraiser around a favorite sport or hobby.  Any activity can be built into a fundraiser for your favorite cause.  Plan a swim-a-thon, and get $1 pledges for every lap you swim. You can set a goal for each family member and collectively make an impactful donation to a charity of your choice.

For more tips, tools and ideas check out Hands On Atlanta – Family and Youth Volunteering (handsonatlanta.org) and The Volunteer Family (thevolunteerfamily.org)

No matter what you decide to do this summer, if you find some time to give to each other and the community, it is certain to be one filled with fun, love, and great reward.

Speaking of family volunteering, this March, Kate’s Club will be honoring the Ohlhausen Family: Katherine, Eric, Marshall and Wallis – an Intown family who have given in many ways to Kate’s Club over the past several years.

The Ohlhausens will be honored along with a Child Champion and a Volunteer Champion at the 6th Annual Kate’s Club Dinner of Champions. The event is being held Wednesday, March 23, from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Fox Theatre.

For event information, head over to katesclub.org.