Change Through Giving

Give Kids the World Wish List

kati — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:45:25 +0000

After an extremely moving experience while on a volunteer outing with another organization, a CTG member suggested we adopt Give Kids The World as a 2012 Change Project. While we are in the process of scheduling a volunteer outing for later in the year, we decided to help collect items for the village’s Wish List for our February Change Project. A link to the list of all the items is copied below. We will be delivering the items after our February 20th meeting. If you’d like to help contribute, please get in touch with any member, and we will coordinate getting your items to be included with our delivery.

If you’re not familiar with Give Kids The World, it is a non-profit organization that exists only to fulfill the wishes of all children with life-threatening illnesses and their families from around the world to experience a memorable, joyful, cost-free visit to the Central Florida attractions, and to enjoy the magic of Give Kids The World Village for as long as there is a need.

The Village truly helps children and their families “forget” about the struggles they are enduring. While visitors are able to enjoy the parks and tourist attractions around the central Florida area, the village also makes every effort to build lasting memories. It is Christmas year-round at the village, and guests are always given presents to celebrate. It’s also always Halloween, with a trick-or-treat party every Monday evening. Plus, visitors can enjoy ice cream sundaes in their PJs every morning…or any time of day!

If you’d like join us in our efforts of collecting Wish List items for Give Kids The World, see below.

To learn more about Give Kids The World, visit http://www.gktw.org/about/. If you’re interested in joining us for our volunteer event later this year, email us!

Help Give Kids The World keep costs down – and smiles up – by donating goods and services from their Wish List. The list includes items needed for the daily gift-giving program, supplies for the Family Entertainment Program and items to help keep the Village sparkling.

View Wish List Items

Happy Birthday to…Us!

kati — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 13:48:43 +0000

The Change Through Giving ladies gathered recently (over cake of course) to celebrate our fourth birthday. Wow! It’s hard to believe that just four years ago, what started as an inspiration from Oprah and a few cookie-baking pals, has turned into an official 501c3 non-profit organization that has helped numerous organizations, families, individuals and furry friends. And now, we’re entering our fifth year and ready to accomplish so much more! Excited. Inspired. Grateful. Touched. Ambitious. Hopeful. These are just some of the words to explain how we feel.

We are committed to being organized with our plan this year. We do this with the simple goal in mind to share our Change Projects with our family, friends and facebook fans and encourage more people to help create change through giving. Oh, and that brings up a good point – just a reminder, when we say giving, we don’t always mean your pocketbook (although we certainly aren’t opposed to that, and now your donations are tax deductible…shameless plug). The “Giving” in our Change Through Giving name means so much more. It means giving of yourself; whether it be your creativity, your energy, enthusiasm or excitement. It can be giving a single can of food during our food drives or a single pencil for our back-to-school campaign. It can mean you help with our beach cleanup or you participate in our upcoming Change Through Challenge project. Or, it can simply mean you gave the energy to pass our messages along to your friends, or you took the time to suggest a charity for us to support. Whatever giving means to you, it can certainly be a very powerful force.

Let’s stay connected in 2012. We think you’ll find it’s a year to feel inspired, excited and very giving.

Make sure to like us on facebook to stay up-to-date on Change Projects and Events, and check the web site regularly for articles, pictures and updates. You can also email us at createchange@changethroughgiving.com.

We’re looking forward to another year of accomplishments, memories and fun. And then before we know it, it will be time again for another cake. This time with five candles.

Evening of Classical Music

connie — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 22:41:15 +0000

A BIG THANK YOU to Sofya Dudaeva for an informative and beautiful classical music event. Thanks to Change Through Giving and the generous contributions from the Parishioners at the Orthodox Church of St. Stephens, we raised $157.00 for The Ephraim Project. The Ephraim project started as a 501(c)3 in 2005. Their mission is to serve “the poorest among us.” For more information, go to www.theephraimproject.org.

A special thank you also to MICHAEL WILLIAMS SALON for their generous doorprize.

Christmas Jars were distributed the week of Christmas

connie — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 23:00:59 +0000

CTG members were busy distributing their money jars to folks in need. The jars, filled with money saved during the year, were given to a special person in need with the suggestion that if they found themselves in a situation next year to do the same, they should “pay it forward.”

Having a blast at our 4th Annual Shop for a Cause!

kati — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 15:57:11 +0000

The ladies of Change Through Giving kicked off the holiday season with our 4th Annual after-hours shopping event on Thursday, November 10 from 6 p.m. to 8.pm. in Winter Park. This year, in addition to Ten Thousand Villages, we had two new stores participating, Markdown Mary’s and Wearable Art. We appreciate the efforts of these stores to give back to the community. We all enjoyed wine, champagne and snacks, plus some great company while shopping for unique gifts, clothes, purses and more! What a fun night! We’re already looking forward to the festivities next year!

A portion of the proceeds benefited PACE Center for Girls. To learn more about this organization, click here.

Like us on our facebook page to learn about upcoming events!

Looking for a neat gift this holiday season that helps you give back and supports fair trade? Visit Ten Thousand Villages in Winter Park!

If you’re looking for one-of-a-kind clothing and accessories, Wearable Art and Markdown Mary’s are a must!