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Arbonne Angels ASAP Women and Children's Shelter Barenaked Ladies Bikes for Buddies Braveheart Callee Connon Christmas Bones Christmas gift Cindee Connon Clouds Connecticut School Shooting Costco Empty Bowls Feeding America Tampa Bay Florida Powerball Fly A Little Higher Gingerbread Bones Homemade Dog Treats Hunger Relief Jeff Patterson WFLA Jenerosity John Gray Kindness Day Tampa Bay Laugh at Funerals Leave a Legacy Lottery Hope love NBC Kindness Day One Week osteosarcoma Pilot Dog Rescue Pilots N Paws Sandy Hook Suncoast Animal Rescue Sword Ultimate Mix Tape Valentines Day waiting in line WFLA Kindness Day William Wallace Winn Dixie Charity Young Entrepreneurs Young Philanthropists Youth Volunteers Zach Sobiech

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Angels in Honor of the Sandy Hook Children & Teachers

I can’t just sit here and look at the pictures of the 20 children who were killed in Newtown, CT.  I have to do something to honor their lives.  Today, I was sharing the same sentiments with my friend, Kimberly Davis.  Kimberly told me that 26 Christmas trees were anonymously donated from North Carolina in honor of each of the lives lost.  Those trees have been placed along the road to Sandy Hook Elementary.

MIKE SEGAR/REUTERS/LANDOV

MIKE SEGAR/REUTERS/LANDOV

Kimberly had an idea to donate 26 angel ornaments to adorn each tree.  I suggested we go BIG and send one to each of the families as well, so that they will have a matching ornament to place on their tree each year.  Time is of the essence!

Kimberly and I are making a personal request for 50 people to join us in purchasing an Angel Ornament to be sent to Sandy Hook Elementary to decorate the trees and provide to the families. Nobody will profit from this effort; it is simply an act of Jenerosity. We are both purchasing Arbonne Angel ornaments on behalf of our families and Kimberly is covering ALL shipping costs for the ornaments. The cost per Angel ornament is $38.

The Arbonne Angel sparkles with hope and shines a light on the future. With kindness and Jenerosity, the Angels strive to make the world a better place.

The glass Arbonne Angel sparkles with hope and shines a light on the future. With kindness and Jenerosity, the Angels strive to make the world a better place.

We hope to have all 52 ornaments purchased by Wednesday afternoon so that they will make it to Sandy Hook by Christmas.  We will be accepting credit cards to expedite payment, so please message me if you would like to provide an Angel in honor of these victims.

Nothing can be done to reunite these devastated parents with their beautiful children.  Our hope is that random acts of kindness can remind them that they are not alone and that their children will not be forgotten.  Maybe some comfort can come from simple acts of Jenerosity.  I am sure that those beautiful souls are with their Angels in heaven right now.  Please help us spread those wings here on Earth.

I can't just sit here and look at the pictures of the 20 children who were killed in Newtown, CT.  I have to do somethin...

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Jen December 17, 2012 7 Comments 7 Children, Organizations & Causes

Teach Your Children Well…

It is never too early to start logging your community service hours and if you are 10 years old with a goal of getting into University of Florida, you might want to think about starting NOW!  My son wants to be a Gator and knows he has to earn his way to crocodilian status.  We are working now on improving his curriculum vitae.

Brooks recently celebrated his 10th birthday, which was a significant milestone.  Not only is ten “double digits,” but it is also the minimum age required to volunteer at Feeding America Tampa Bay.  I love food; my son loves food.  I work for Feeding America; now, my son volunteers there.

Brooks moves boxes in his University of Florida "swamp" shirt.

Brooks moves boxes in his University of Florida “swamp” shirt.

A few weeks ago, Brooks worked at a Mobile Pantry location where we delivered over 300 boxes of food to hungry families in less than two hours.  He was in charge of separating and moving boxes.  In full-blown, sweaty work-mode, Brooks managed to show his leadership and delegation skills like I had never seen before.  I was incredibly proud!

Brooks raised $96 in two hours at Winn Dixie in Madeira Beach. That provides 672 meals!

Brooks raised $96 in two hours at Winn Dixie in Madeira Beach. That provides 672 meals!

Yesterday, he joined me at a local Winn-Dixie Supermarket to collect donations and sell Empty Bowls made by local students.  These beautiful handmade bowls are each a precious work of art and represent the 700,000 bowls that go empty each day within our community. Each one is so unique.  It was fun to see people struggling over which bowl to select.  There are many uses for these bowls: decoration, jewelry holder, salt and pepper containers, soap dish, and ASHTRAYS.  Wouldn’t those children just love to know that they poured their hearts into making ashtrays!?!  The dentist in my family will get this fabulous bowl in her Christmas bag this year…

Who can resist a monster bowl with teeth like that???

Who can resist a monster bowl with teeth like that???

My son got an introduction to the public this weekend.  He was surprised by the Jenerosity displayed by so many people who had so little.  These sweet bowls made by sweet children made people smile.  Just one day after the horrific shooting at Connecticut’s Sandy Hook Elementary School, we found ourselves remembering the innocence of those schoolchildren.  So many people wanted a little token of love from a child to take home with them - a symbol of purity, Jenerosity and good nature.  We long for a life filled with more monster bowls and fewer senseless tragedies…where children can realize their dreams by working hard and improving the world around them…where they can plan what they want to be when they grow up and attend the college of their choice, even if their endeavors are reptilian in nature!

It is never too early to start logging your community service hours and if you are 10 years old with a goal of getting i...

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Jen December 16, 2012 No Comments 0 Children, Food & Beverage, Organizations & Causes

Eat Your Cereal!

My son doesn’t eat cereal, but if he did I bet he would not appreciate it to the same extent as those of us who grew up prior to the Video Game Age.  Back in the day  (yes…one of my favorite phrases), parents showed their Jenerosity by buying the cereal that contained the best prize or contest to enter.  Opening up the cereal and digging to the bottom to get the goods before your siblings woke up was the highlight of every new box.

Nowadays, kids don’t care about cereal like we did.  It is just that…cereal.  It is not a toy or a component of pop culture.  It is not something you talk about at school.  It is not worth switching brands to something less desireable just to experience the joy of discovery.  Those were the days of eating two bowls just so you could open the new box sooner. Those were the days of studying the milk carton to see if you knew the person on the back. Those were the days of fewer choices and less pressure to buy Organic, fat-free or low-carb.  We didn’t have fancy video games or expensive forms of entertainment.  We had rollerskates, bikes, chalk, Cracker Jacks and cereal boxes.  Life was simpler and cereal was appreciated…a symbol of Jenerosity from parent to child.

While I appreciate so many of today’s conveniences, I find myself often longing for the days when Jenerosity was less complex and when people were more appreciative of the simpler things…the days when something as simple as buying the cool box of cereal pleased your kids.  Mine wants bacon and eggs everyday.  Does that tell you something?

My son doesn't eat cereal, but if he did I bet he would not appreciate it to the same extent as those of us who grew up...

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Jen December 12, 2012 No Comments 0 Children, Food & Beverage

Bikes for Buddies

Callee's Bikes for Buddies

Some kids are born entrepreneurs, some are born philanthropists, but few are both.  Meet Callee, age 8.  She lives on my street and sets up her lemonade stand every weekend from noon-3:00 (and even some days after school) to raise money to buy Christmas bikes for children at the ASAP Women and Children’s Homeless Shelter in St. Petersburg, FL.  I don’t drink sugary beverages so I must admit that I snub the lemonade every weekend, driving by with a simple wave and a smile.  Today, I decided to walk down and pay a visit to the growing operation.  Sometimes Jenerosity is simply stopping to support your local lemonade stand.

I learned a lot about Callee’s home-grown charity.  She accepts cash donations and used bike parts/accessories.  $10=1 Helmet; $50=1 new tricycle, 12″ or 16″ bike; $60=1 new 20″ or 24″ bike.  Last year, she donated 27 new bikes, 2 used bikes, 14 new helmets, 2 used helmets and 9 ride-on toys.  She often has friends join her to assist by waving at cars and pouring beverages.  Today, Eva (also age 8) was assisting.  Eva’s birthday is next week and she has asked that her party-goers bring items for needy pets at the local shelter in lieu of gifts.  How many kids do you know who would forfeit their birthday gifts for a chew toy?  Not many.  I, for one, wasn’t about to give up my Rick Springfield tickets at that age!

My husband and I just had to make a donation…how could we resist?  Unfortunately, while we were making the transaction, Callee’s banner (with heavy wooden poles) collapsed and hit her in the head.  She was really shaken up but, fortunately, not seriously injured.  I know firsthand how difficult it is to secure unrestricted donations for capital improvements; I hope she puts our $20 toward a new sign.  Next week, I will take my 10-year old down there to meet her in hopes that her Jenerosity will rub off on him.  And he won’t know that I have already targeted her as potential daughter-in-law material.  Smart, cute, generous and 8 years old.  She is perfect for him!

All kidding aside…if you would like to donate to Callee’s Bikes for Buddies, please let me know and I can assist with facilitating your donation.  Or…you can donate to the wedding fund if you prefer <wink, wink>.

Some kids are born entrepreneurs, some are born philanthropists, but few are both.  Meet Callee, age 8.  She lives on my...

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Jen December 01, 2012 11 Comments 11 Children, Organizations & Causes, Sports

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