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Doing Good Together Newsletter )
Helping strengthen kids and communities through family volunteerism... September 2007
in this issue
  • Fund Raising Events- A Positive Influence
  • Building a Stronger Understanding of Illness and Disease
  • Did you Know?
  • Family Story
  • News From DGT
    •


    Now that your school year routine has begun again, resolve to integrate a few hours of family service into your family's busy schedule. This way, you can let your calendar reflect your family's values and priorities rather than letting other agendas determine your calendar. Read our family story to see how one mother and daughter made time for each other and for the community this fall. Have a wonderful school year!



    Jenny Friedman, Executive Director

    		Fund Raising Events- A Positive Influence
    Crop Walk

    Make a Difference... Looking for a way to spend time with your family that supports a good cause-and gets your heart pumping? Or perhaps you have a friend or family member who is struggling with a serious health issue and you'd like to show your support. All are good reasons to walk, run or bike for a cause. There are walks/runs to fight hunger, and even to support animal rescue, literacy, housing or hospice. Most of these events raise funds to ensure quality care and find cures for diseases, however, such as cancer, juvenile diabetes or ALS. (For a list of events and the causes they support, visit the Charity Mile website.) After you sign up, make it an annual family tradition. .

    Photo: Crop Walk to Fight Hunger

    		Building a Stronger Understanding of Illness and Disease
    The book <i>Defiance</i>

    Talk About It ... If you're doing a family walk, run or bike ride to raise awareness of and combat a particular disease, talk to your children about the event in age-appropriate ways.

  • If you have a friend or family member struggling with the disease, discuss additional ways you can help ease the burden-cooking a meal, sending a card or babysitting. Ask your kids what would cheer them up if they were ill.
  • If your child is old enough, explain the impact of the disease on the body, and discuss why you think it's important to provide resources to support stricken people and to find a cure. However, also reassure your children that most of these diseases are not contagious and that they are safe.
  • Describe how the money you raise might be used, and focus on the positive difference your family can make by doing your part to fight the illness

    • Learn About It ... .If you have a preteen, recommend that s/he read Defiance by Valerie Hobbs, the poignant story of an 11-year-old boy with cancer. For younger children (ages 4 to 8), the inspiring Lemonade Club by Patricia Polacco is a must-read. Both stories can help begin a conversation on the impact of life-threatening diseases and how to provide support.

    Photo: Defiance by Valerie Hobbs

    		Did you Know?

    Roughly 80% of nonprofit funding comes from individual donors, not foundations or wealthy corporations. Your dollars do matter, so contribute what you can to causes you believe in.

    		Family Story
    Heidi Adelsman and her daughter Sofie

    For Heidi Adelsman, working to assist the HIV/AIDS community is the result of personal and international experiences. In 1994 Heidi lost her brother, Michael, to AIDS. To honor him, and because AIDS has been so devastating in east Africa where she lived for a year in 1983, Heidi is passionate about her efforts. She first rode on the annual Red Ribbon Ride, a four-day, 300- mile bike trek though southern Minnesota that raises money for AIDS research and organizations.

    Three years ago she switched to the Minnesota AIDS Trek. It's a ride that requires less training, so she can spend more time with her twins Sofie and Kyle, born three years after Michael died. This year Heidi raised funds and rode 75 miles from Hinckley to Duluth, on a portion of the 21st annual Minnesota AIDS Trek.

    Read Full Story

    Photo: Heidi Adelsman and her daughter Sofie

    		News From DGT

    This past summer DGT completed its school and faith group models, which provide blueprints for making family service part of one's mission. Now with the new school year beginning, more than a dozen organizations-including schools, churches, and community and parent groups-are introducing family service to the folks they serve using the DGT model. If you'd like to learn more about our customized assistance to organizations, please contact us.

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