Thursday, July 30, 2009 by Planet Janet.

You’re a mom with another baby on the way.  Your friends and family want to throw you a baby shower.   As far as you’re concerned, you have all you need and don’t want any more.

Have a baby shower anyway, and donate the proceeds to Birthday Blessings, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit that is taking flight, with opportunities for affiliate chapters to start up across the U.S.!

To celebrate the expansion of their Blessing Baskets program, which benefits homeless babies, I propose a challenge.

Bring gift cards and baby-care essentials to any Charlotte Monkey Joe’s this Friday, July 31, where your kids can “jump for a cause.” Discounted admission and food, with 20% of the proceeds going to Birthday Blessings.

I can’t tell you how impressed I personally am by Monkey Joe’s.  My PTO did a fundraiser there last year and made a ton of money!  I’ll be at the Pineville location at 10 a.m., so come say hi!  Read full details here.

Let’s show the world how Charlotte can rally for the homeless.

Posted in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Birthday Blessings, Philanthropy, nonprofits and volunteerism - CHARLOTTE,, CHARLOTTE, N.C., Parenting - CHARLOTTE, N.C., Business and retail - CHARLOTTE, N.C., Kiddie Chaos | Print | No Comments »

Saturday, July 25, 2009 by Planet Janet.

I wrote a story for University City Magazine last year about the Piedmont Unitarian Universalist Church’s Mindfulness Sangha (a.k.a. meditation group). My personal experience with this group was transforming, and I just love the venue.  Imagine a large, open room with a wall of windows, overlooking the nature outside.  Very conducive to meditation.

> > > Read the story, Aware in mind and body

Well, the group’s facilitator, Darla Davis, has organized an event led by Daigaku Rummé, an ordained Soto monk.  If you’re into meditating, come check it out!  See Darla’s details below…

DAIGAKU Rummé TO SPEAK IN CHARLOTTE

AUGUST 4th AT 7pm

Piedmont Unitarian Universalist Church

9704 Mallard Creek Road

“Zen Within Activity: How Zazen Relates to Everyday Life” 

Please join the Piedmont UU Mindfulness Sangha and the Charlotte Zen Meditation Society on Tuesday, August 4th at Piedmont Unitarian Universalist Church to hear Daigaku Rummé speak on “Zen Within Activity:  How Zazen Relates to Everyday Life.”  Meditation will begin at 7pm and be followed by Daigaku’s talk.

Daigaku Rummé was ordained a Soto monk by Harada Sekkei Roshi in 1978. For more than twenty-seven years, he practiced under Harada Roshi at Hosshinji Monastery in Fukui , Japan . Since March 2003, he has been on the staff of the Soto Zen Buddhism International Center located in San Francisco . He resides at the San Francisco Zen Center and is the translator of The Essence of Zen by Harada Roshi, which was republished by Wisdom Publications in 2008.

Please arrive promptly and enter quietly.  There is no charge but a donation basket will be available for expressions of generosity.  For directions to Piedmont Unitarian Universalist Church, please go to www.puuc.org

Posted in CHARLOTTE, N.C., Spirituality and religion, Around town - CHARLOTTE, N.C. | Print | No Comments »

Friday, July 24, 2009 by Planet Janet.

Parents, beat the heat and take the fun inside on July 31.  Bring your kids to any of the four Charlotte Monkey Joe’s locations to bounce for Birthday Blessings, a non-profit that throws birthday parties for local homeless children.  Birthday Blessings will gladly accept birthday presents, gift cards and party and goody bag supplies, all to benefit children living in seven area shelters and homeless CMS students.  RSVP on FaceBook here. Keep reading for more details…

YOU’RE INVITED! Add event to your FaceBook page    WHAT?  A fun-filled day of jumping and playing for just $5 per child, plus enjoy $2 pizza and nachos and lots of giveaways! WHEN?  Friday, July 31st, 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. WHERE?  All Charlotte-area Monkey Joe’s locations. Matthews: 10101-C E. Independence Blvd.  704-845-1150 Pineville: 601 N. Polk Street                             704-889-1211 University: 10215 University City Blvd.         704-549-1588 Lake Norman: 20310 Sefton Park Rd.           704-894-0038 WHY?  To help support the efforts of Birthday Blessings, a 501c3 non-profit organization bringing birthday joy and support to local homeless children and their families.  20% of the day’s proceeds from each location will benefit Birthday Blessings!   www.monkeyjoes.com   www.birthdayblessings.org

Posted in Philanthropy, nonprofits and volunteerism - CHARLOTTE,, CHARLOTTE, N.C., Business and retail - CHARLOTTE, N.C., Parenting - CHARLOTTE, N.C. | Print | No Comments »

Friday, July 24, 2009 by Planet Janet.

Every kid deserves a birthday party, right?  Join the Birthday Blessings group on Facebook, and help make homeless children’s birthdays special.  To learn more about opening an affiliate chapter in your area, please email contact@birthdayblessings.org.

> > > Birthday Blessings is also looking for corporate sponsorship so they can rebuild their website to accommodate their remarkable expansion efforts.  Contact JANET COOPER HAAS with any leads.  Thanks so much!

Posted in Birthday Blessings, Philanthropy, nonprofits and volunteerism - CHARLOTTE,, CHARLOTTE, N.C., Parenting - CHARLOTTE, N.C. | Print | No Comments »

Friday, July 17, 2009 by Planet Janet.

My favorite non-profit, by far, puts on birthday parties for homeless children.  Based in Charlotte, NC, they are now spreading the love across the country.  To learn how you can help or — better yet — get information about opening an affiliate chapter in your neck of the woods, go to www.birthdayblessings.org.

This video states, in a nutshell, what Birthday Blessings is all about.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Posted in Birthday Blessings, Philanthropy, nonprofits and volunteerism - CHARLOTTE,, National news, CHARLOTTE, N.C. | Print | No Comments »