Just finished putting together a (less than) 5-minute video set to our USCS theme song, “We Can Change the World,” and featuring photos from some of the awesome almost-sleepovers that took place in 2011. Let me know what you think…I’d love to hear!
So many incredibly thoughtful and incredibly creative folks have joined with us to make a difference in the last 15 months–folks whose genuine passion inspires me on a daily basis…
Folks like Amy and Maura, North Carolina and Kansas City moms who made a difference with their girls and a whole bunch of friends last October. Check out these two beautiful videos of that very special almost-sleepover night! Thanks for sharing!!
USCS & Ashley's Ice Cream joined forces in 2011 to raise more than $6,000 for child-centered charities.
WOW!!! Within the last week we learned that not only is USCS a finalist for the 2012 Make a Difference Day All-Star Award (complete with a nationwide online VOTE to determine the winner, February 15 through 29, and a $10,000 prize for charity!!) but that USCS had been nominated for and had WON the 2012 Connecticut Red Cross Community Impact Youth Award, because: “Your commitment to making a difference in the lives of others through your United States of Community Service exemplifies the values and mission of the Red Cross.”
WOW!!! Pretty heady stuff for all of us–and a pretty fabulous honor both for USCS and for the 1,200 kids nationwide who joined forces with us in 2011. We’re learning as we go around here. Next up: Building a foundation to support and grow our kid-powered community service organization and figuring out (through trial and error, I’m sure!) just what’s involved in the online voting process (my head is spinning)! Wish us luck–and make sure to VOTE!
“Nothing is impossible, the word itself says ‘I’m possible’!”
― Audrey Hepburn
If someone asked me a year ago if I thought our little-project-that-could would inspire 1,200 kids in at least 26 states to get involved in community service, I probably would’ve shrugged my shoulders (and secretly hoped they were right). After experiencing the magic of this year’s USCS Make a Difference Day Almost-Sleepover, I am incredibly grateful that so many families joined us on our quest. Thank you!!!
Looking forward to Saturday, October 27, 2012…and to seeing what the New Year brings!
How are you planning to make a difference in 2012?
Between incorporating and figuring out Facebook and Twitter and now getting started on our USCSNOW.ORG blog, we’re learning as we go around here!
What would happen if we taught our kids to ask “why not?” Encouraged our kids to think outside the box? Empowered our kids to take their ideas…and run with them? Sure, some of their ideas are pretty far out (they still haven’t perfected their flying machine–not yet), but some of their ideas are pretty darn right-on-the-mark! I want my girls and their friends to believe that they can reach for the stars. Sure, it might require a bit more (and in a case like this, a lot more!) time and effort, but what an amazing payoff in the long run. Think about it: If we teach our kids at a young age that they can reach for the stars (and that the only failure is the failure to try). And if we teach our kids at a young age that helping others is their responsibility (not just something you do for school credit–or because it looks good on a resume), they will make a difference in the lives of many. They will change the world for the better.
We’re reaching for the stars with our nationwide kid-powered USCS Make a Difference Day Almost-Sleepover. You can ask us why we’re aiming so high, but I think you already know what we’ll say:
Why not?
That’s what The United States of Community Service is all about.
Here’s what I was thinking as I answered an email from a mom in North Carolina who read about the girls in USA WEEKEND, blogged about it, and whose 7-year-old daughter will be hosting her own almost-sleepover this fall: By the time October 22nd rolls around, my girls and all of the other kids involved in this quest will, in effect, “know” kids in all 50 states. Talk about an incredibly educational, amazingly fun, outrageously life-changing experience for everyone involved–from coast to coast and everywhere in between! I have a feeling that our state-by-state getting-to-know-you Q&As are just the beginning of what will turn out to be many beautiful friendships.
USCS: A community of do-gooding, positive-thinking kids and their parents who truly believe that they can make a difference in this world. I have to say that I’m proud to be a member of such an amazing group of people!
Between the 2011 National Make a Difference Day Awards luncheon, a private meeting withCongresswoman Rosa DeLauro, the monuments and memorials on the National Mall and a tour of the White House, it’s hard for me to choose my one favorite moment or even my top five favorite moments of our trip to Washington, D.C. Turns out that choice is not so hard for the girls.
If you ask the girls, the choice is clear–not fuzzy (though the word “furry” might fit; or should I say hairy?). In fact it’s pretty darn black-and-white. And of the four-legged variety. Their hands-down (or should I say four-paws-down?) favorite moment was the moment they spotted First Dog Bo, romping on the White House lawn. Bo, the Obama’s beautifully groomed (boy, was his coat shiny), beautifully trained (with a big white house full of tourists, he’d better be) Portuguese water dog, getting a little exercise on a beautiful spring morning in D.C. Even better? While we were taking our tour (accompanied by our lovely Connecticut Coast Guard connection, Erica–who was kind enough to take a photo of our group), Bo and his trainer walked right by us, down one of the many White House hallways (which are large enough to be considered rooms in their own right)!
The girls would’ve loved to reach out and pet the First Dog and ask all those questions they ask everytime they spot a furry friend, though they knew all the answers for this one (What kind is it? Portuguese water dog.Is it a boy or a girl? Boy. How old is he? Bo is two-and-a-half years old. He came to the White House as a 6-month-old in 2009, as a gift from Senator Kennedy to Sasha and Malia. What’s his name? Bo, of course.), but they restrained themselves. Actually, we restrained them–rather than risk being tackled by security!
What a wonderful warm-and-furry moment to share with friends. Woof!
Our USCSNOW letterhead, envelopes, press kit stickers, fun stickers, business cards, note cards and a beautiful 6-foot banner to use at our April 6th press conference, all generously donated by AlphaGraphics New Haven (www.agnewhaven.com), have helped to transform this kids-and-mom project into a full-fledged top-notch nationwide community service event. Thanks for your generosity, John and Jim Cunneen, and your talent, Hillary Talmadge, of AlphaGraphics New Haven!
This entire project–from the minute the decision was made to expand the girls’ almost-sleepover into a community event to the national recognition for that event to this year’s nationwide plan–has been an absolute whirlwind. But it has been the best experience to share as a family, with friends, and with such amazing partners!
