PJ Lewis’ Post

5 questions about giving every family should answer 💌 As you gather with family this giving season, consider how you're fostering a legacy of generosity. In this episode of FaithFi, Laurie Farquhar, NCFSF President, shares five essential questions designed to help start conversations about giving with kids and grandkids. Listen today at https://lnkd.in/eTCiwi6P

HOPE - Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences recently shared a post showcasing HOPE Champion Roger Sherman sharing the HOPE Framework with a group of parents while he comforted a baby. You can see the post here: https://shorturl.at/jwBM0 This post got me thinking about the kinds of reactions I typically see in public when a child is distressed and needs comfort. I can think of many examples of folks grumbling, sometimes loudly, about the baby crying on the airplane or the child bawling on the floor at the mall. Instead of seeing a distressed child in need of comfort, or an overwhelmed parent in need of support, they see an opportunity to criticize a stranger's "poor parenting skills". What if we replaced reactions of shame/blame with reactions of curiosity and compassion? What if we looked for ways to model the Four Building Blocks of HOPE* in the way we chose to respond to distressed children and overwhelmed parents? What we might see? - We might ASK the parents if they could use a hand. A simple offer of support to parents can help them feel supported instead of judged, which by itself could enable the parent to rally and re-approach their distressed child with renewed energy. This also provides an example to parents that encourages them to view asking for and receiving help with parenting as safe and productive. The Rugged Individualism that American culture is organized around discourages us from asking for outside help, especially in the personal area of raising children. By providing assistance to a parent in need of support, we directly communicate to them that help is available from their community, as well as counteract the shame that we often feel when asking for help. Considering the Four Building Blocks of HOPE, this best supports the building block of Relationships by teaching parents that they can engage in relationship with their community members to receive support in parenting. - We might INTERACT with the distressed child. We could ask about what is upsetting them or distract them with something entertaining. This could help the child refocus on something other than the triggering event, which can help the child begin to calm down. This type of engagement is part of how children learn to self-regulate, which makes this a perfect example of supporting Emotional Growth, one of the Four Building Blocks of HOPE. - We might ENCOURAGE our own children, if they are present, to interact with the distressed child. Children develop self-awareness and self-regulation from interactions with other children. Like the examples above, this strategy could support the Emotional Growth and the Relationship Building Blocks of HOPE. These examples show that there are many opportunities to promote the Four Building Blocks of HOPE. As community members, we ALL have a role to play in supporting Positive Childhood Experiences. *Unfamiliar with the Four Building Blocks of HOPE? Read more about them here: https://shorturl.at/nCKT8

The case study for Childhood Dreamstakes, a campaign we crafted with Gus for Comic Relief US, is now on our site. By donating to help end childhood poverty, entrants had the opportunity to crush a car in a monster truck, devour a life-size cookie of themselves, befriend a penguin, and much more! From helping brainstorm prizes (surreal wonders as if dreamed-up by a child) to crafting a campaign identity (pulling inspiration from retro game shows) to rendering 3D models (can we get a little more cotton candy on this castle, please?), it was an absolute pleasure to craft the world’s silliest prizes for a world without childhood poverty. It all culminated in building a website that not only served as a beautiful stage to let our renders shine, but effortlessly integrated within the larger Comic Relief ecosystem and their preferred donation platform. Special attention was paid to creating a frictionless UI/UX that guided users to donate generously to a great cause. So, if you happen to see a hot air balloon with someone’s face on it, or a giant science fair volcano erupting, know that it’s more than a delightfully absurd celebration. It’s a symbol for a little less childhood poverty, a little more childhood. https://lnkd.in/g2QArr-g

US CHARITY SPOTLIGHT Blessings in a Backpack Their Mission Blessings in a Backpack mobilizes communities, individuals, and resources to provide food on the weekends for school-aged children across America who might otherwise go hungry. Their Vision Every school-aged child in America has the nourishment needed to learn and grow. As a leader in the movement to end childhood hunger, Blessings in a Backpack strives to ensure children do not go hungry on the weekends by empowering individuals and communities to take action. Why Do They Do It Did you know that 9 MILLION CHILDREN* are experiencing food insecurity? That’s one in eight American children who may be struggling with access to food. The consequences of hunger are much more than a growling stomach. Poor nutrition can result in a weaker immune system, increased hospitalization, lower IQ, shorter attention spans, and lower academic achievement. Children are fed during the school week by federal government programs. They want to make sure they’re getting nutritional meals over the weekend, too. Blessings in a Backpack is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. During the 2022–2023 school year, they distributed more than 3.3 million bags of ready-to-eat food to children at 1,270 schools in 46 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. GIVE NOW! https://lnkd.in/et2_bhX #uscharity #usnonprofit #charity #nonprofit #give #donate #volunteer #BlessingsinaBackpack #foodinsecurity

🌈💫In a world often overshadowed by negativity and conflict, the enduring presence of humanity and kindness shines through in countless ways.🌍 Acts of compassion and generosity remind us of our shared human connection. From community volunteers helping those in need to strangers offering a simple smile or a helping hand, these moments of kindness ripple through society, fostering hope and unity. 🌈💫 Stories of individuals and organizations making a difference abound: neighbors supporting each other during crises, medical professionals going beyond the call of duty, and everyday heroes showing extraordinary empathy. These actions, big or small, reaffirm our belief in the goodness inherent in people. Charitable initiatives and grassroots movements further demonstrate this spirit. Whether it's providing meals to the hungry, sheltering the homeless, or advocating for social justice, these efforts illustrate a collective commitment to creating a better world. Social media also amplifies these positive stories, inspiring others to act with kindness and compassion🌈💫. 🌈☑️🌍Despite challenges and uncertainties, humanity's capacity for kindness prevails. It is this unwavering spirit that nurtures resilience and cultivates a sense of community. Ultimately, the everyday acts of kindness we witness and partake in serve as a testament to the enduring power of empathy and compassion💝🌍

In a world often overshadowed by negativity and conflict, the enduring presence of humanity and kindness shines through in countless ways. Acts of compassion and generosity remind us of our shared human connection. From community volunteers helping those in need to strangers offering a simple smile or a helping hand, these moments of kindness ripple through society, fostering hope and unity. Stories of individuals and organizations making a difference abound: neighbors supporting each other during crises, medical professionals going beyond the call of duty, and everyday heroes showing extraordinary empathy. These actions, big or small, reaffirm our belief in the goodness inherent in people. Charitable initiatives and grassroots movements further demonstrate this spirit. Whether it's providing meals to the hungry, sheltering the homeless, or advocating for social justice, these efforts illustrate a collective commitment to creating a better world. Social media also amplifies these positive stories, inspiring others to act with kindness and compassion. Despite challenges and uncertainties, humanity's capacity for kindness prevails. It is this unwavering spirit that nurtures resilience and cultivates a sense of community. Ultimately, the everyday acts of kindness we witness and partake in serve as a testament to the enduring power of empathy and compassion in our lives.

🌟 Empowering Communities: Bridging the Gap Between Corporations and Non-Profits 🌟 As professionals, we often find ourselves deeply committed to fostering positive change in our communities. Today, I want to share a vision that holds immense potential for impact: the powerful collaboration between corporations and non-profit organizations. Regardless of our roles within our respective companies, we possess the ability to forge meaningful partnerships that can uplift and empower those in need. If there's a non-profit you deeply resonate with, take a moment to envision the transformative impact that could be achieved by joining forces. For me, that organization is Cradles To Crayons Inc, specifically their Philadelphia Chapter. Their dedication to providing essential resources and educational support to children in need resonates deeply, particularly in a city like Philadelphia, where over 300,000 children grapple with poverty. It's crucial to recognize that these children are not just statistics; they are the future of our community. By empowering them with the tools they need to thrive, we're investing in a brighter tomorrow for everyone. So, I urge you: if there's a cause close to your heart, don't hesitate to reach out. Forge connections between your company and the non-profit sector. Together, we can create a ripple effect of positive change that reverberates far beyond our individual efforts. Let's work hand in hand to build a future where every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential. Together, we can make a difference. 💫 #CommunityEmpowerment #CorporateSocialResponsibility #PartnershipsThatMatter https://lnkd.in/dw4VTbUs

Update! Update!! Update!!! Our fundraiser awareness program is today, and we're over the moon with joy at the magic we'll be creating today with Gloce Kids🥳🥳. We have a lot of activities planned out: - Craft sessions - Math and spelling bee competitions - Face painting and many more..... Watch this space for more updates. If you snooze, you lose😂. #VolunteersWeek #SponsorAChildToday #HappyHandsFoundation #HandinHandForChange  #ScholarsProgram

💚Thank you to every individual and organization that helped make this a wonderful 2023!💚 Click & watch this quick recap!

Superbowl Squares for the kids! In an effort to raise money for the Miles for Miracles Team from Boston Children's Hospital for the 2024 Boston Marathon I am lucky to run in, I am doing a Superbowl squares fundraiser to support these brave kids! $20 per square, 50% of the proceeds supports his fundraising goal, and 50% goes to the winners following each quarter ($250 for 1st, 2nd, 3rd quarters and final score). How it works: Once all the squares have been selected, we will randomly pick numbers from 0-9 for each team in the Super Bowl, and assign that number to a particular row or column. These numbers represent the last number in the score of each team. In other words, if the score is AFC 17 - NFC 14, then the winning square is the one with an AFC number of 7, and an NFC number of 4. Since this is a Fund Raiser, 50% of the proceeds will go to the Charity Organization, and the other 50% will be distributed among the Users with a Winning Square. GET STARTED Use the following links to either enter your picks or show the current picks. Enter Your Picks ($20.00 per square) FIRST Click on the link to choose your squares. https://lnkd.in/e8kB2gty Username: Marathon Password: Chuck Show All Picks https://lnkd.in/eP-xbVq3 THEN Venmo your payment to @chuckblanchette please add comment: Squares for The Kids! Your support means the world. With your help, we can directly impact the lives of these courageous children and their families by: - Providing critical medical care to kids, including those from your community - Offering specialized care for complex diseases, unmatched anywhere else - Backing over 3,000 researchers developing groundbreaking treatments and cures - Funding patient programs like music and art therapy, bringing joy during hospital stays - Assisting patient families in crisis with urgent needs like food, clothing, and housing - Delivering compassionate, leading-edge care to every child in need We're already 64% to our $10,000 goal, and with under 100 days left until the 2024 Boston Marathon, every step counts. Your donation matters—thank you for considering and for being part of this incredible cause! Join us in making miracles happen. Donate today: https://lnkd.in/ezBNJVKe Together, let's support these incredible kids and their families! 🌟 #MilesforMiracles #BostonChildrensHospital #BostonMarathon2024 #DonateForACause #BCH #childcare #pediatrics #pediatriccare #pediatriccardiology #bostonmarathon