Communities in Schools: Empowering Students to Stay in School and Achieve in Life

Communities In Schools works within the public school system, determining student needs and establishing relationships with local businesses, social service agencies, health care providers, and parent and volunteer organizations to provide needed resources.

Many children face challenges both inside and outside the classroom. Through a school-based coordinator, Communities In Schools strategically aligns and delivers needed resources so that students can focus on learning.

The Communities In Schools network is active in 25 states and the District of Columbia. Our nearly 200 local affiliates serve the lowest performing schools and the students most vulnerable to dropping out. Check our list to see if there is an affiliate near you.

Find your affiliate:  Click here.

Volunteering in America

Volunteers are resolute in their commitment to serving their neighbors and communities, with 62.8 million adults volunteering almost 8.1 billion hours in local and national organizations in 2010, service valued at almost $173 billion. Explore this website for the most comprehensive data on volunteering ever assembled including volunteer profiles for all 50 states and the District of Columbia as well as hundreds of metropolitan areas, rankings, demographic trends, and profiles of volunteer organizations making an impact on some of our nation's toughest challenges.

Did you know that your family could be leaving an important mark in American history, simply by giving time and service to your community? The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the federal agency for volunteering and service is an important part of communities. This month, CNCS released new data on volunteerism. Volunteering in America is the most in-depth report on national service – spotlighting:

·         who volunteers
·         what cities have the highest rates of volunteerism
·         how Americans are serving their community.

You can follow CNCS on Facebook and Twitter, or learn how you can volunteer in your community at www.serve.gov.

Ride with Me for Autism 2011

Ride with Me for Autism

A Great Ride for a Great Cause

The American Academy of Pediatrics announced in October, 2009, that one out of 91 children is being diagnosed with autism today and 1 out of 58 boys are affected. Tragically, roughly one percent of American children are now on the autism spectrum. There is a great need for families to obtain early intervention services and ongoing support for their loved one(s) throughout their life span. This puts a great emotional and financial hardship on the majority of families, because services and support do not come easily.

Ride with Me for Autism enables us to raise funding for Autism awareness, to give assistance, provide support and to help fulfill the needs of families who battle with Autism.

Read more.

HANDY: Help Abused Neglected Disadvantaged Youth

Get involved in your community

HANDY, Inc. is an award winning non profit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1985 to meet the fundamental needs of Broward County's foster care children and those who have been placed in the care of non-relative and relative caregivers under protective supervision.

We provide direct services to children ages birth to 23 years who have been removed from their homes due to domestic violence, substance abuse, physical and/or sexual abuse, and abandonment. We serve older youth who are aging out of the foster/relative care system. We serve youth who may be homeless or on the verge of homelessness. We do not discriminate – we help the children who need help.

In Fiscal Year 2008-2009 HANDY provided free services to a total of 1,932 children touching their lives 16,500 times.

HANDY’s programs provide children with safety and well being, education, social and recreational activities, and advocates to give these children a voice.

All programs are provided free of charge to children/youth thanks to the support of philanthropists, corporations, foundations and grantors.

HANDY, Inc. of Fort Lauderdale will be named the National Sun Life Rising Star in the non-profit category during the First Annual Sun Life Rising Star Award National Summit at Sun Life Stadium in Miami, FL on February 25th & 26th. By winning the award, HANDY will be presented with a $50,000 grant.

HANDY, Inc., which stands for Helping Abused Neglected Disadvantaged Youth, is an award-winning nonprofit organization founded in 1985 to meet the fundamental needs of Broward County’s foster care children.

HANDY was selected as a National Rising Star for the success of its programs, which provide children with:

·         Life Skills
·         Tutoring
·         Mentoring
·         Scholarships
·         Emergency food/rent/clothing assistance

HANDY ascribes to a philosophy rooted in one-on-one attention and personal investment in each individual, the results of which are remarkable: 98% of students who participate graduate from high school, and 100% of HANDY’s high school graduates enroll in college. 

In one success story, LaGary Roberson of Ft. Lauderdale was able to get a $5,000 scholarship through HANDY so he can attend Broward College, with hopes of transferring to Florida Atlantic University to study for his Bachelor's degree in sports medicine.

LaGary has been an active participant in HANDY’s LIFE program since 2006. He has transformed from a youth whose life was filled with violence and anger, to a young man whom others look to as a role model and mentor. Previous to his work with HANDY, he did not believe that high school and higher education were in his future. He has participated in the onsite virtual high school from 2007-2009 to complete his GED, attended all LIFE skills classes, attended tutoring three days a week, and has been a member of the HANDY LIFE Program Youth Advocacy Board. 

He has become a spokesperson to share his life struggles to youths like him. He also became an avid boxer through the LIFE boxing program as a way to channel his anger constructively. His passion for boxing led him to pursue a career to better understand the human body and athletic performance. He hopes to have his own facility where he can offer sports and conditioning to inner city youth so they can receive the same opportunities that were offered to him through the HANDY.

HANDY had previously won a $50,000 grant back in the fall as part of the Rising Stars regional competition.

They will be presented with the latest check at the national summit, which brings together student and nonprofit winners from the other six markets the Rising Stars program operates in, as well as educators and national education experts to discuss how to help at-risk students achieve post-secondary education amid rising national drop-out rates.

Local Celebs Venus Williams and Miami Dolphins wide receiver Davone Bess will also be guest speakers at the event.

Knit for Kids 2010

Knit for Kids is a global organization created by Guideposts.  As the holidays are here, times are tough in many areas and in many households, however when you give to others it can warm your heart and build your own family bond.

Knitting may seem old-fashioned to some teens, but isn't it a great opportunity to learn when you know you will be helping keep a needy child warm?  Many grandparents and parents have been knitting for generations - let's start this tradition now in your family.

Since 1996, when Guideposts Knit for Kids began, the program has grown beyond anyones imagining because of dedication and creativity. Thanks to many, some kids for the first time in their lives have had something new; for others, the sweaters are cherished hand-me-downs.

A “million smiles”, that’s a conservative estimate of how many people have been touched with joy by these gifts: the children who have received them directly or as a hand-me-down, their parents or guardians, and needleworkers like you who found your lives changed as you created these treasures with heart and hands.
Start your family tradition today through stitches of love.  Whether you are in Clay, Duval or St. Johns County, download the simple knitting patterns here and share them with your friends and family.

Do you prefer to crochet?  Click here for the pattern.

Get your teens involved today.  To learn more about Knit for Kids and where to send your sweaters, click here.

Read more.

Taylor's Closet: Making a Difference

In 2005, Ft. Lauderdale teen, Lindsey Giambattista founded Taylor's Closet, an organization, which is named after her twin sister that died at birth.  Taylor's Closet provides clothing to needy children throughout the world.

About Taylor's Closet:


Taylor’s Closet had its first outreach in early December, 2005. We set up a mini “shop” on the salon-deck of a large yacht in the Pompano Beach Holiday Boat Parade and invited girls from local foster care programs to come by and shop. There were some 30 girls on the cruise that night who were blessed with new clothes, and a handful of parents, kids and program administrators who got to see the love of Christ in action as well.

Since then we’ve seen God bless this ministry in some huge and wonderful ways. In December of 2006, we opened our first permanent “store” for foster girls. Several local businesses have put aside their business agendas to come alongside and help out. One in particular, RCC, designed and paid for the cost to build the store. We’ve had clothing donations from all over the world. - Taylor's Closet


As the holiday time approaches, it is time for you and your family to go through your closets and take up a collection to help those that truly need your generosity.  As the weather is getting cooler, even in South Florida, we need to take the time to be grateful for what we have and consider giving what we really don't need.

What happens in Taylor’s Closet is remarkable. Girls who have been abused, injured or who are just basically suffering from a lifetime of hopelessness, come in to our store and find out that someone cares – that all these beautiful new, designer clothes are there for them – completely free.

When Lindsey was asked in an interview by I Heart Dailey:

How can people help with TC?  Buy our products! We just launched a TC merch line. Go check it out. It’s really cute, and every penny goes to making girls in need feel beautiful!

Created by a teen with a dream, Taylor's Closet has proven to help thousands of children throughout the world.  Lindsey is truly a teen that inspires.  Learn more at www.taylorscloset.org. Watch video on sidebar.

Get your teen involved today!  Giving feels so good, encourage your kids to pay it forward!

Read more.

Food for Fines

Do you have overdue library books?  Are those fines mounting and your finances dwindling?  Starting Monday, November 8th thru December, 22nd, you can pay them off with food!

That's right, it's time once again for Food for Fines at St. Johns County Public Libraries System (SJCPLS). From November 8th until December 22nd, bring in your non-perishable, non-expired food items and wipe out $1.00 in fines for each item! Get rid of your fines while  benefiting those in need in our community!

As the holidays approach many people are having lean times, some are without jobs and/or losing their homes.  Food banks need to be replenished and our community needs to come together to help each other.
SJCPLS is also collecting Boxtops to benefit our local school.  You may have seen these on cereal boxes, paper towels, soups and other products, but did you know that each Boxtop earns 10 cents for schools! All branches of the St. Johns County Public Library System will now be collecting Boxtops for Education for schools in their communities. Please help support the education for the kids of St. Johns County by saving Boxtops from these products and simply dropping them off at your SJCPLS branch library.

Community service and family go together.  Get your kids and especially your teens involved in giving back this holiday season.  There are many ways they can help others including volunteering and donating to organizations that assist the homeless or others that are in need.

Giving is what the holidays are about.  Be the example for your children, get involved today.

Read more.

Prudential Spirit of Community Awards - Teen Volunteers and Community Service

Do you know a teen that are making a difference in the lives of others?  A youth that is reaching out in their community, giving their time, donating items or simply being part of an organization targeted at helping others?  Paying it forward is part of building a community. 

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards is the largest youth recognition program in the country based exclusively on volunteer community service. And what better way to recognize our young heroes and inspire others to follow their lead than honoring them with these prestigious awards?

If you know someone from grades 5-12 who has demonstrated outstanding volunteerism over the past year, then encourage them to complete an online application at http://spirit.prudential.com. State and national honorees will receive a cash prize, a trip to Washington, D.C., and an engraved medallion to thank them for the great work they have done. 

This is a great opportunity to reach out and recognize those that are exceptional youths and create a positive and inspiring environment.

If you are a junior or senior in high school, acquiring your community services can make a major difference on your college applications.  What most teens realize is that giving back is actually helping them to build their self-esteem and will give you a warm feeling.

Do you know a special youth today?  Nominate them and they may be rewarded!


Watch video for more information.

VolunTeens: Promoting Community Service

As schools have opened in many areas, many teenagers in high school that will be graduating this year and applying to colleges. They will need to consider their community service and volunteering hours.  Colleges have become more competitive and adding your volunteer services can enhance your college application and possibly be the deciding factor in being accepted into your first choice school.

VolunTeens.com is your source for opportunities for volunteer services in Broward County and Palm Beach County.  There are many chapters throughout the country.  Whether you are a teen seeking community service hours or an organization that needs volunteers, visit their website today for more information.

Volunteens.com is a website that assists teens in finding service opportunities that best fit each individual. Whether it is working with children, animals, or the elderly, volunteering is extremely rewarding.

Be an educated parent, your teens will have a brighter future!

Sue Scheff: VolunteerSpot - Giving To Your Community

It is VolunteerSpot!  The place that everyone can be part of.  It is about time management, it is about giving and it is about being part of your community.

Whether you are part of an outreach program in Duval County or a youth group in St. John's County, VolunteerSpot can help you organize your community to benefit your cause and activities.  Fundraising can be a stressful time, however with supporters behind you, it makes everything a little bit easier and your success that much greater.

A little history of this young organization:

VolunteerSpot launched in Spring, 2009 with the mission of enabling ANYONE to quickly mobilize and coordinate volunteers in their community, congregation and social network. VolunteerSpot’s simple sign up application makes it easy for community members to participate and say YES to volunteering. No waiting for approvals and passwords, no software to install, just easy, free scheduling and sign up tools for everyday heroes making a difference. 

Learn more about VolunteerSpot at www.volunteerspot.com and visit their Blog. Follow them on Twitter and join them on Facebook.

Watch quick video and read more.

Sue Scheff: The Association of Junior Leagues International Inc.

The Association of Junior Leagues International Inc.

For many years you may have heard of Junior Leagues, but what exactly is there mission and who exactly are they?

Read more:

Welcome to the website of The Association of Junior Leagues International Inc. And welcome to the world of over 160,000 women in 293 Leagues in four countries who make a difference in their communities every day through their volunteer efforts.

As we travel across the Association, we are truly humbled, moved and awed by the amazing work the women in this organization do, continuing the work that women as Junior League members have been doing for over 100 years. Our website celebrates the energy, vision, determination and savvy of our Leagues and their members.

We hope you'll take the time to read about what Leagues today are doing. We hope you'll consider joining a League, sponsoring one of our activities or attending an event. And we hope you'll share our passion for this remarkable organization and its members.

Visit http://www.ajli.org/ for more information and find your local chapter today. Start making a difference in lives in your community.

Sue Scheff: Walk With Me Broward - 2010

Easter Seals has many events to raise money and awareness to those with disabilities. Coming soon is Walk With Me Broward 2010! This is a great experience for the entire family. On April 24th, 2010 at Markum Park in Weston, there will be a 5K Family Fun Walk.
Registration begins at 8:00am and the walk begins at 9:00am.

Money raised through Easter Seals Walk With Me will support a variety of local services in South Florida including: Children's Therapy Services; programs for children with autism spectrum disorder; Child Development Center; Culinary Arts High School program; Adult Day Care for individuals with Alzheimer's disease and memory loss; and in-home respite care.

For more information contact Paula Mejia at 305.547.4713 or pmejia@sfl.easterseals.com .

Sue Scheff: Students Offering Support

SOS means a lot of things to different people, however in South Florida, SOS is Students Offering Support which is a non-profit organization designed to bring a positive impact into our community through charitable causes and much more.

The mission of this club is to introduce high school co-eds to the impact that they can have on their community as they themselves conduct the business each year of identifying community needs and creating a plan of fund raising and service that will assist in meeting those needs. Our goal is to fulfill this mission while providing an enjoyable and fun means of uniting our community youth.

Read more about their recent events. Click here.

Sue Scheff: Lotsa Helping Hands

Lotsa Helping Hand's mission is to provide the communication resources facilitating a world where caregivers feel empowered to ask for help, and in so doing, improve their own health and quality-of-life; volunteers can become part of the solution when family, friends, neighbors or colleagues are in need of help, and community becomes a recognized way to find meaning in both giving and receiving.

Lotsa Helping Hands community helps build emotional and spiritual support as you face the many issues surrounding everyday caregiving. They offer assistance for military families, elderly, schools, parenting, religious groups and more.

Sue Scheff: I Care I Cure - Bring awareness to a gentler cure for childhood cancer

The I Care I Cure Foundation supports the development of, and raises public awareness about, cutting-edge, targeted therapies for childhood cancer, so that the treatment of childhood cancer will be gentler and more tolerable.

We want to challenge the public's acceptance that treatment for childhood cancer requires painful and embarrassing side-effects and life-long health disabilities, isolation from friends and family, and short and long-term psychological devastation. By educating the public about scientific breakthroughs in genetic childhood cancer research that are within reach but seriously underfunded, we can quickly raise money to fund research grants and provide seed money to researchers for new studies.

By seeing how close we are to more humane treatment for childhood cancer, we know the public will demand better treatments, NOW.

One more child's life that is lost to cancer is one too many!

Visit http://www.icareicure.org/index.php to learn more.

Sue Scheff: Becca' Closet - Teens helping Teens

Prom season is around the corner! What that means is the teenage girls will be in search for that perfect dress, shoes, accessories, and of course those nails and hair design to meet the times.

What about those that are less fortunate? Especially with a difficult economic season, many parents may not be able to give their teenage girls the little extras that can help a teen feel good about themselves, or even allow them to attend a prom.

On August 20th, 2003 our community suffered a loss of a beautiful, inspirational, young 16 year-old, Rebecca Kirtman, in a tragic car accident. Her family and friends continue Becca's love, generosity and passion to give back to her community. Becca's Closet lives on.

It's just a dress...but it's so much more!

In the Spring of her Freshman year at Nova High School in Davie, Florida, Rebecca launched a dress drive to provide prom dresses and accessories to high school girls who could not afford to purchase them. Rebecca was a passionate, bright, fun-loving young woman who loved being with her friends and felt that no one should miss a high school event because they couldn't afford to be there. She saw the inequity in the situation and sought to change things. During the Spring of her sophomore year, Becca single-handedly collected and donated over 250 formal dresses and helped hundreds of girls across South Florida attend their High School proms in style.


To keep Becca's dream alive, countless dedicated people throughout the world have joined with her family and friends to provide opportunities for those who seek them. Our volunteers work toward a common goal initiated by Becca.

Since the inception of this wonderful mission, Becca's Closet has expanded into educational scholarships to recognize the exemplary efforts of young men and women who demonstrate Becca's spirit of generosity in their own communities.

Start a trend in 2010 - learn how you can give back to your community. Do you have a dress you can donate? Or do you know someone in need? Click here. Even if you are not in Florida, there may be a local chapter near you. Becca's Closet is a member of Donate My Dress Network.

Help put a smile on a less fortunate teen girl that may not be able to attend their prom.....

Also on Examiner with a video.

Sue Scheff: Help Take Action Against Hunger

Hunger - How is it possible in today's world?

By Christoper Burgess

Are you hungry? Hunger is a sensation millions experience, daily. We can do something about it, we can do more than you think, you can do something today (right now). Please read on - there is a hungry person and family near you and in this truly tumultuous economic year, every single dollar, minute or food item you donate can put food in to the mouths of those who hunger.

When I was a child I'd sometimes fuss with my food at dinner (the all time fuss-bucket winner was brussels sprouts (Brassica oleracea - Gemmifera Group) my mother loved them, they just weren't my favorite). My mother would have none of it, and would admonish me to clean my plate, eat my veggies and add, "Don't you know, there are starving children in China?" Clearly I didn't and the impudence in me probably offered to envelope and send the food to China vice my stomach, but what I didn't understand is, while there may very well have been starving children in China we didn't have to go so far, there were starving children much closer to home.

Read entire article here - and please consider donating.

Sue Scheff: No Idle Hands - Keeping Your Teens Busy

Visit www.NoIdleHands.org

Our Mission: To minimize exposure to acts of violence faced by inner city youth of Chicago by engaging and increasing their awareness to positive, productive, and entertaining activities taking place in their community.


Our Vision: Within the next three years, No Idle Hands will become the main distribution channel of youth event info utilized by organizations, churches and educators comprising more then one hundred thousand subscribers to its newsletter.

Need to be addressed: This organization wishes to address the high crime rate in the Chicago-land area among the youth. The idea is that if they are kept busy, they will be less likely to cause crimes or become victims of them. At this point, the level of success this project will have cannot be determined. Conversely we do know that without it, a record number of Chicago Public School children have become victims to violence over the past year.

Organization Activities/Programs: Initially, No Idle Hands will not be organizing activities but will focus on advertising the activities/programs of the numerous other organizations around the Chicago-land area. No Idle Hands seeks to be the central depository for all upcoming youth aimed events and programs. Through a regularly published newsletter and online calendar, we intend to keep educators, parents and youth informed of all the many outstanding and positive activities at their disposal. Organizations, churches, etc, will be able to go to the website and enter in all their respective event details to be added to the calendar. Individuals will also be encouraged to sign up for the newsletter in which we will advertise upcoming events and solicit participation.

Community: Our focus and resources will be used to work with organizations, churches, etc, that serve the city of Chicago. We will put an emphasis on their involvement in making this online calendar and newsletter a success. However, communities outside Chicago will be welcome to participate as well.

Sue Scheff: Top Ten Youth Volunteers - Receive Awards

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, the United States’ largest youth recognition program based solely on volunteer service. For their extraordinary efforts in serving others through volunteerism, ten middle and high school students from across the country were named America’s top ten youth volunteers for 2009 in a ceremony at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce headquarters, capping the 14th year of The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards.

Each year, The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards honors the outstanding community service of young Americans. The results are now in the top ten youth volunteers from the May 4th ceremony have been announced! Want to watch the winners receive their awards? I invite you readers to watch a webcast event, replaying all of the wonderfully inspiring moments and announcements:

http://www.visualwebcaster.com/event.asp?id=57997

You can get your children and community involved by encouraging them to visit http://spirit.prudential.com/ where they can find out how to become a nominee for next year’s honorary ceremony.