Blog Updates

Wildlife scored a small victory on Saturday, June 28. After seeing my neighbor’s already well-fed cat kill a bird defending its young, Sonia Sommers was able to save one of them from a similar fate.

A two-week-old house finch is now residing at Aark Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, where it will be cared for over the next four weeks and then released. According to Zack, who is holding the bird, the group will take in wildlife even without a donation, so it’s good to know that the $100 will help cover some additional costs.
[By Sonia Sommers]

Tim Brooks and his girlfriend were at a local restaurant and the way to spend the $100 challenge fell right into his lap. One of the waitresses at the restaurant is a single mom, who works as much as possible, but still needs to be home to watch her 8 year old daughter when a babysitter is not available. Consequently, she struggles to make enough money to pay all of her bills, let alone have any extra spending cash for her and her daughter.

While Tim and his girlfriend were eating and chatting with this waitress, she had a small breakdown. She shared how she had to explain to her daughter why she had to cancel their cable service, and why her daughter could not get new toys like all of her friends. This conversation would not have been easy for any parent to share and it obviously took a toll on her.

Tim knew he wanted to do something for the waitress and/or her daughter; he started thinking of different options. As the bill was being passed on, Tim started telling the waitress about the $100 Challenge, and the desire to do something special for her daughter.

It was decided that a toy shopping spree would be perfect! Over the weekend, the mom told her daughter that they had to go to Toys “R” Us to get a small toy for a birthday party. Tim and his girlfriend met them at the front door of the toy store.

Tim told her daughter that her mother has shared that she has been an extremely good girl recently and deserved to get new toys. The little girl’s reaction was priceless as they watched her pick out the toys she wanted. Everyone had a little fun as well.

The most moving part was when everyone was saying our goodbyes. There were big hugs from the mother and daughter, and as the daughter was getting in the car she says, “Mommy, now we can give my old toys to other kids that need them.”

“Overall, it was a pretty moving way to spend the challenge. I was able to brighten up a little girl’s life as well as, to help a mother give something she normally couldn’t do for her daughter and to hear the daughter say she wanted to give as well.” [By Tim Brooks]

As part of an introduction to Corporate Visions, Chief Executive Officer, Joe Terry, introduced the $100 challenge. Cassie Calster, located in Doyle, Pennsylvania, chose to give $100 to the Central Bucks Family YMCA. This YMCA is a great organization that promotes healthy living, youth development, and social responsibility in Doylestown and the surrounding communities.

Cassie walked into the office and advised them that she would be offering $100 to the next person who comes in to inquire about a membership or any program at the Y. The $100 can be used towards their first monthly payment or application fees.

As a yoga instructor at the YMCA, Cassie has seen many benefits yoga provides members and the community. After yoga class on Saturday, she waited in the office for the next lucky person to arrive. A few minutes later, Sam came in to register her kids for summer camp. After registration was completed, Cassie introduced herself and gave Sam a $100 bill to use towards camp fees.

A little shocked and surprised, Sam was very grateful. Attached is a photo of Sam and Cassie.
[By Cassie Calster]

The Seattle Team [Eric Beckman, Kris Axell, Bill Patterson, Meredith Rae, Eileen Suico, Christine Horvath, Nerissa Ong, and James Melillo] were able to make it out yesterday and had the most perfect warm weather to get some urban farming done at Alleycat Acres.

The team volunteered 2 hours of their time at one of the farming site right down the street from the Seattle office. Alleycat exists to (re) connect people, place and produce through building a network of community run farms. Their key is to create healthy communities. It is for people to get involved and volunteer and take home some produce, anything leftover in the week is given to the food banks.

It is a non-profit company that seeks out private landowners who are interested in donating a plot of land to be used for greater community involvement to run a community farm. Each site has a farm manager that hosts work parties every week with volunteers that come and do various projects and farming around the farm.

Yesterday[June 30, 2014], the 8 members went out and did some sheet mulching, weeding and planting under the hot sun. [See photos of the team in action]

For additional information about Alleycat Acres, please visit their website: http://www.alleycat-acres.org/ [By Christine Horvath]

The High Desert Museum in Bend, Oregon opened in 1982, brings regional wildlife, culture, art and natural resources together to promote an understanding of natural and cultural heritage of North America’s high desert county. The museum uses indoor and outdoor exhibits, wildlife in natural-like habitats, and living history demonstrations to help people discover and appreciate the high desert environment.

Mission: Though exhibits, wildlife, and living history, the High Desert Museum creates learning experiences to help audiences discover their connection to the past, their role in the present, and their responsibility to the future.

Purpose: To enable a deeper understanding of the region’s arts, culture, history and natural sciences through the presentation and interpretation of visual art exhibits, historical artifacts, living history performances and wildlife encounters.

[Left to right: Jan Michelson, volunteer; Molly Black, Assoc. Director of Development; Amy Merrill, volunteer; Earl A. Chiles, major donor of Spirit of West Hall where exhibit is currently on display]

On Friday night, June 20th, Amy Merrill, CVI Resource Manager who works in Bend, Oregon,volunteered for the opening of the “In the Dark” traveling exhibit from the Cincinnati Museum Center with hands-on experience activities exploring the nocturnal world and the species that are adapted to it.
[By Amy Merrill]