I would like to share with you a new and upcoming charity that is near and dear to my heart. Beverly's Birthdays are a charitable fund that wants to help the children of impoverished families and give them the birthdays' that they deserve with memories that will last a lifetime.
It doesn't take much, but with a $10 monthly donation, YOU can help this Pittsburgh-based charity giving those very opportunities to young kids. It's that simple. They do all the work with the party planning, budgeting, and overall fun while you get to know that you're doing something good for a little child.
I would like you to watch the youtube video that I made this year and consider tossing some money in this charity's direction so that you too can make a child's birthday a memorable one.
Also, a big thank you goes to the great group of people who host the #P4A every year. They bring attention to a lot of varied charities and causes that people need to know about.
Joe Paterno has quickly succumbed to lung cancer amidst a troubling time within the Penn State football program. Almost immediately, the fans and Penn State alumni have begun to pay tribute to a man who's iconic legacy formed an immortal caricature folk hero. We all knew a day like this would eventually come, but it still doesn't soften the blow. He formed a program for 60+ years while being credited by being a stalwart among changing NCAA football athletics. He did things his way; by an honor code. His teams weren't flashy - they didn't overboard their celebrations. And now that he's gone, the program will most certainly change to keep up with the evolving attitudes of the modern college athlete.
I once had the privilege to shake his hand when the Penn State/Pitt football rivalry was going to be renewed in 1997 season. He was doing a live outdoor interview with a Pittsburgh cable television station. While being still very green to the main campus that junior year, I chose to take off for the location with the intent of being in JoePa's presence. When I arrived, the interview segment had already ended. I was told that he had gone inside the Nittany Lion Inn and his car was parked nearby. I would simply wait around for 20 minutes with the hopes of meeting him. All I wanted to do was shake his hand and tell him how much he had meant to me. My patience was eventually rewarded and found classically eluding more public interaction. But this time, he saw me approaching with my hand outstretched. I told him thank you and pleaded for a victory over the Pitt program.
My emotions today are of sadness and anger. It's directed at the one University I've honed my journalism skills as well as once called my home. How could they callously dump an honorable man and refuse to give the benefit of the doubt. He deserved a hero's goodbye.
The Erie SeaWolves fans and Erie, PA community have a festival in support of a foundation called "Linked By Pink" for breast cancer awareness.
BrestFest is a music event with ALL ticket proceeds benefiting Linked by Pink - raising awareness of young breast cancer.
It's an all afternoon and evening affair with the gates to the Jerry Uht Park opening at 3pm and features a music band marathon concert featuring such acts as:
* 60 Inch Slick
* Rattlebox
* Kristen and the Cosmodauts
* Thirst 'N Howl
The Bands names are pretty clever and I am sure the festival will be a real production to not only help Erie, PA residents and visitors enjoy the beautiful weather this time of year.
Please consider checking out the organizing group's website Linked By Pink to make a donation or any other type of supportive gesture.
The city of Erie has a struggling economy, some depressed ecology, but fortitude in the spirit in which they can contribute to making a difference in cancer charity.
Backers of the Kanzius Cancer Research Foundation won't coast after winning a $250,000 grant from PepsiCo on Saturday.
The Kanzius Foundation's plan is to use radio waves in early detection and treatment as an alternative to harmful chemicals that in the past have been effective, but still took it's toll on the patients lives.
Your support means that the foundation will be able to hire a molecular biologist specializing in targeting cancer cells and a physicist specializing in nanoparticles.
The foundation will also have an infusion of money to do more fundraising, because donations and grants are key to pushing the Kanzius invention forward in the world of cancer research.
Anything that could stop the current way people are treated for this potentially deadly disease I am all for it.
Check out their website and see if they could help you.
