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 »

My post on “Birthday Blessings and Beyond” blog

Thursday, September 3, 2009 by Planet Janet.

My post rounds out a swell two weeks of blogging.  Thanks to MomsCharlotte.com  for hosting Birthday Blessings’ first blog, “Birthday Blessings and Beyond.”  Sharing our Birthday Blessings stories was such a gift, so thank you so much for reading and getting involved!  It really does take a village.

Blogs | MomsCharlotte.com

Posted in Philanthropy, nonprofits and volunteerism - CHARLOTTE,, Birthday Blessings, CHARLOTTE, N.C., MomsCharlotte - CHARLOTTE, N.C., Getting personal, 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

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

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 »

13-year-old Charlotte boy needs a miracle after near drowning

Saturday, August 8, 2009 by Planet Janet.

The following is an email I just received about 13-year-old Ian Shaver, who nearly drowned in Park Crossing’s pool in just 3.5 feet of water.  His condition is critical, and the family is asking for your help.  So for those of you who pray, pray.  For those of you who do not, send Ian all the positive energy you can muster, and let’s witness a miracle!

{Read email below}

Good afternoon friends & family,

I have an immediate prayer request on behalf of our friends, the Shaver
Family. Young Ian is fighting for his life right now in the Levine
Children’s Hospital Pediatric ICU. Our families are friends and Dan and I
also are involved with the Youth Sports as coaches in our community.
Yesterday at 10:45 am EST his oldest son Ian was playing a game with friends
in their neighborhood pool located in the Park Crossing Subdivision in
Charlotte, NC. It’s just like when we were kids, they were trying to see who
could hold their breath the longest underwater. Ian won the game but lost
much in the end. Ian was found unconscious in the Park Crossing Neighborhood
Pool in 3 ½ feet of water.          

His Father Dan has asked me send this to everyone I know and requested that
everyone forward it to their prayer lines immediately. Again, your prayers
are requested by the Shaver Family. It has been determined that Ian’s heart
did stop, and there could be brain damage. But right now there are bigger
issues. He is currently on a breathing machine and they are keeping his body
temp at 94 degrees to keep the brain from swelling. It is estimated that he
was under water for approximately 1 minute and he took in some pool water
that went right into his lungs. The chlorine and other chemicals have
dissolved the lungs interior lining which protects the lungs. His levels of
carbon dioxide increased in his blood yesterday afternoon and they had to
have an emergency procedure done at 7:00 pm EST last night. This was a very
hard decision as he only had a 50/50 chance that he would survive the
procedure. But without it, he wouldn’t have lived through the night due to
carbon dioxide poisoning. At 10:00 pm EST last night we were informed that
Ian survived the procedure and it was slated as a success!

Ian currently is in a medically induced coma and will remain there during
his recovery. He is on a type of bypass machine where his blood is going out
of the body, being cleansed, and then placed back in the body. He is also on
a ventilator as his lungs are not working at all. This is where they need
your immediate prayers!

Ian’s lungs must start working again in order to take him off the breathing
machine. His parents, Dan and Lisa, along with their other two sons, Zach
(10) and William (6), need your prayers. Please be specific and pray that
Ian’s lungs are going to recover and begin to work again. Please join me and
the many others that are seeing this e-mail request and pray for Ian Shaver
to have a complete recovery! This is very serious and I an is in a very
critical point in his recovery process. Both Ian and his family need your
prayers as his life is 100% in God’s hands. The Shaver’s know this and have
handed Ian over to God and wish that He would allow them more time with
their son if it is His plan.  

Thanks in advance from the Shaver Family and mine……..

Eddie Blanton

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

Pregnant again and don’t need presents?

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 »

Party with Monkey Joe’s and Birthday Blessings on July 31

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 »

Stay in the know with Birthday Blessings on Facebook

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 »

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.

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