Giving Inspiration from Around the Country!

Salute to all the Do-Gooders, Change-Makers and People who do Giving for a Living! Here’s a great way to start your Holiday off with a smile by checking out some giving inspiration from around the country.

In Atlanta:
Recently Atlanta Notables including Celebrity Chef Rob Gayle, Nascar Driver Nicole Lyons, Former NFL athletes Stevie Baggs Jr, Tyrone Poole and others joined forces with Celebrity Charity Wishes for the 3rd annual Bears For Buddies at Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta.  This initiative was created by Lenora Bobo and Toni Brown to gift and grant the wishes of terminally ill children. This year, Commissioner Stan Watson presented a special proclamation to the organization for their dynamic work.

Thereafter they joined Comedian Rodney Perry and Dr. Rondrick Williamson at the Ronald McDonald house for a private dinner with the families of various patients.  With a healthy menu sponsored & prepared by Chef Rob Gayle, the families also enjoyed live music, teddy bear gifts and photo-opp’s with their favorite local celebrities.

Photo Credit : Aric Thompson // Dream Photography Group

In Washington, DC: 
The FitFam Foundation hosted the Breathe, Stretch, Sip: Mental Fitness Awareness Brunch earlier this month, BCG was a media partner. Guest speakers and panelists included: Esther Boykin, Co-Founder and CEO Group Therapy Associates, Gee Sanders, Operations Director, Coaching and Matching Division of Paul C. Brunson Agency, Annette Kielkopf, Yoga Instructor and CoFounder of The Source Yoga and Nyasha Chikowore, Clinician, University of Maryland School Mental Health Program.

The discussion centered around a few key themes, Quality Relationships: maintaining self-awareness in relationships; trusting yourself enough to put yourself out there, Being present (not dwelling in past mistakes or worrying about tomorrow’s decisions), Self-Care and Self-Compassion and Embracing vulnerability as a strength and not a weakness and not being afraid to ask for help.

In New York:
Emmy winner, Dr. Bill Cosby hosted the TMCF 25th awards Gala on Nov. 11, 2013 with 1400 guests (including 500 students), alongside Redskins Alfred Morris, MC Lyte, and Jennifer Holiday opening with her Grammy Award-winning hit song,” And I Am Telling You I Am Not Going.” TMCF’s Board Chairman Jim Clifton and his wife Susan announced they were donating $1 million dollars to the organization.

Johnny C. Taylor Jr. , TMCF President and CEO highlighted, “Our scholars are living proof of why higher education is such a good investment.” The gala featured multicultural- line up: Miss America 2014, Nina Davuluri , who embodies the spirit of many Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in showcasing and celebrating diversity through cultural competency encouraged students to ‘dream big’ and stay true to themselves. Honorees of the year included Janice Bryant Howroyd , Larry Waters, Dr. Wayne D. Watson, Ph.D. and Johnson & Johnson. Throughout the night, Congressman John Lewis (GA-5) held a VIP book signing for “March Book One.” General Dennis L. Via, Lt. General Arthur J. Gregg (Ret.) and several Congressmen also joined the fundraiser.

Other VIP guests included Senator Michael Brown (DC), Former Editor-in-Chief Essence Magazine: Susan Taylor , HBO’s Jermaine Crawford , Saxophonist Ski Johnson, Fox News Kelly Wright and Juan Williams , Grammy and Golden Globe Winner Jerry “Wonda”, Duplessis, Real Housewives of Atlanta, Dwight Eubanks , and Calvin Klein’s first African-American fit model, Stephanie Duncan.

Remember there are a million ways to give back, if not with your money than with your time and service. We have so much to be grateful for so always pay it forward.