Get free 8-inch one-topping pie at Wolfman Pizza for party favors

Thursday, September 3, 2009 by Planet Janet.

Due to overwhelming community support and interest, Wolfman Pizza is extending Birthday Blessings’ “Goodies for Good” campaign through Labor Day.  So head to Wolfman Pizza with your kids and teach them a lesson about giving, while enjoying some uber-delicious pizza!

Read the details below.

9-1-2009 press release (Wolfman Pizza Goodies for Good) 

Posted in CHARLOTTE, N.C., Philanthropy, nonprofits and volunteerism - CHARLOTTE,, Birthday Blessings, Cusine, N.C., Around town - CHARLOTTE, N.C., Business and retail - CHARLOTTE, N.C., Cuisine - CHARLOTTE, N.C., Parenting - CHARLOTTE, N.C. | Print | No Comments »

Birthday Blessings and Beyond blog on MomsCharlotte.com

Thursday, August 20, 2009 by Planet Janet.

Thanks to  for debuting Birthday Blessings’ first blog!  Click here to take a sneak peak into one of the fastest-growing nonprofits in Charlotte, NC.   Get volunteer executive director Amy Cervantes’ take on why she gives so much of her time to the homeless community, and learn why the Blessing Baskets program means so much to Charlotte philanthropist Heather Gibbs of Joe Gibbs Racing.   I’ll give you a hint:  To teach invaluable lessons about giving to their children.

Blogs | MomsCharlotte.com

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Eating ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery today = helping Charlotte homeless kids

Wednesday, August 19, 2009 by Planet Janet.

As some of you well know, I volunteer a lot of my time with Birthday Blessings.  Well, I am at it again, and I have another great way for Charlotte families to pitch in and help our struggling homeless community.  Did you know that as of May 2009, there are 2,989 children enrolled in CMS who have no place to call home?

  Well, Birthday Blessings coordinates with A Child’s Place (who compiled those stats, by the way!) to help make birthday dreams come true.  For more information about our partner, A Child’s Place, click here.

For details about how you can help starting today from 12-4 p.m., click here.  

Thanks, Charlotte MomsLikeMe, for the free press!  And, while you’re checking out the cold, hard facts (get it?  “Cold” Stone Creamery) , check out the site while you’re there!

Posted in Philanthropy, nonprofits and volunteerism - CHARLOTTE,, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Birthday Blessings, CHARLOTTE, N.C., N.C., Around town - CHARLOTTE, N.C., Business and retail - CHARLOTTE, N.C., Getting personal, Parenting - CHARLOTTE, N.C. | Print | 1 Comment »

FOLLOW-UP to “13-year-old Park Crossing boy needs a miracle”

Friday, August 14, 2009 by Planet Janet.

Many people in south Charlotte, NC, have been touched by the near drowning of Ian Shaver (see my original post about Ian here), and many thoughts and prayers have gone out to the Shaver family.  Now I’m happy to report some good news.

As of yesterday, Ian is off the ventilator and is doing remarkably well!  Folks, please keep that positive energy flowing.  Hopefully soon we’ll hear that Ian is getting ready to join his friends at school

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

Can you move AND meditate at the same time?

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 »

Juvenile diabetes walk April 18

Sunday, February 15, 2009 by Planet Janet.

William Hoskins was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes in September 2008.  The Hoskins are friends of mine, so the news really hit close to home, especially since I have two boys of my own.  Did you know 40 children every day are diagnosed with juvenile diabetes?  Pretty staggering statistics.William and his parents, like so many millions of others, want a cure for juvenile diabetes.  If you want to help them towards this goal, please join William’s Wild West Walkers on April 18th at the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s Walk to Cure Diabetes.  For more information or to make a donation, go to www.jdrf.org and search for William’s team.

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Friday Friends bridges cultural and religious divides in Charlotte

Wednesday, February 11, 2009 by Planet Janet.

I just caught wind of the Friday Friends program through Kathleen Carpenter, the director of children’s religious education at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Charlotte.  Led by the executive directors of Mecklenburg Ministries and Charlotte Rescue Mission, participants in these monthly meetings come together to discuss topics such as “What concerns you most about building inter-racial, inter-group trust in our city? What would you like to ask your partner that you think might be risky to ask?”

When I came to Charlotte from Miami in 1997, I was surprised how segregated our city was.  In fact, it still is in so many ways.  The Bible Belt isn’t home to only Christians; Charlotte is blessed with rich multicultural and religious diversity.  It is the mission of this group to engage in conversation with those who are different from you.

If you’re interested in getting involved, Mecklenburg Ministries is holding a Friday Friends Festival next Thursday, Feb. 19, at the Atrium Uptown from 5:30-7:30 p.m.  If you would like to attend, please RSVP at events@meckmin.org or call 704-565-5455.

For more information about this group, check out this link:  Mecklenburg Ministries - Friday Friends.

Posted in Philanthropy, nonprofits and volunteerism - CHARLOTTE,, CHARLOTTE, N.C., N.C., Around town - CHARLOTTE, N.C. | Print | No Comments »

MomsCharlotte, Maggiano’s and Pure Romance teach 50 moms how to spice things up

Monday, February 9, 2009 by Planet Janet.

My buddy, Jennifer Rothacker, with MomsCharlotte put this free event together.  And I have to say bravo to MomsCharlote, Maggiano’s and Pure Romance for making it a fun way to spend my Saturday morning.

Executive chef Delfino Netto and managing partner Antonio Tillery wowed the crowd and demonstrated how to create Maggiano’s famous tiramisu in our own kitchens.  And the tiramisu — my absolute favorite dessert — delizioso!  I enjoyed watching this comedic pair.  They really could do stand-up.  Maggiano’s even gave everyone 15% off if we stayed for lunch.

Maggiano’s is a shining example of how to give back to the community.  They also were a sponsor at the 2009 Chocolate Ball this weekend, which raises funds for Substance Abuse Prevention Services, a non-profit agency serving our community since 1971.

My Saturday morning concluded with a Pure Romance party.  If you’ve ever been to one of these things, it’s a fun time to spend with your girlfriends.  Pure Romance national director Staci Chryst gave us tips on how to rekindle our relationships, and each mom came home with a little bag filled with {cough} goodies to help us spice it up in the bedroom.  Lots of giggling and lots of fun.

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Former homeless woman’s inspirational Towers of Flowers

Friday, February 6, 2009 by Planet Janet.

Did you catch the story about Kinya Smalls in the local section of today’s Observer?  Once down and out in Charlotte, including a four-month stint in a homeless shelter, Smalls is moving her floral business from her home into her new office digs in March.

I find her so inspirational, because she verbalizes her dreams out loud.  Smalls told The Observer’s Mark Price, “My dream is to one day be the Wal-Mart of flowers, with Towers of Flowers franchises throughout the United States, employing women from shelters, giving them hope.”  We should all be so bold.

It was the Ada Jenkins Center that came to her rescue in 2007, and look how far she has come.  If only all the homeless in our city were so lucky…

So, if you need to purchase a flower arrangement or want Smalls to design your dream wedding bouquet, call Towers of Flowers Florist at (704) 892-9800.

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

Kick-ass music for a cause this Friday night to benefit Levine Children’s Hospital

Tuesday, February 3, 2009 by Planet Janet.

Prepare for the Brubeck Brothers Quartet (Dave’s sons), Jim Donovan (Rusted Root), Jim Brock and Jim Roberts to knock your socks off on Friday, Feb. 6, starting at 6 p.m.  Vinx will start the party off right, and local weatherman Larry Sprinkle will emcee.  And I’m sure, since this is a drumSTRONG event, the beat will go on well into the night!

Fabulous hors d’oeuvres, open bar and over 100 exciting silent auction items including signed Lance Armstrong jerseys and posters, Willie Nelson, Mickey Hart, Stephen King and other celeb. autographed items, vintage wines, travel, restaurant and  spa packages, ’Meet and Greet’ Mickey Hart, premium Dead tix, a rare dw Timeless Timber drum kit and MUCH more.

Donations to Levine Children’s Hospital through Scott Swimmer’s non-profit, DrumsForCures, will be matched Dollar for Dollar! Click here to order tickets and learn more.

So, will I see you there?

Posted in Philanthropy, nonprofits and volunteerism - CHARLOTTE,, CHARLOTTE, N.C., N.C., Around town - CHARLOTTE, N.C. | Print | No Comments »