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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

Wednesday, August 12, 2009 by Planet Janet.

With the Charlotte unemployment rate hovering around 12%, something just has to be done.  Well, The Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County is doing its part to help.  They will be opening a Job Center at the Main Library in December, but job-related training and assistance will start at PLCMC locations in September.

If you appreciate PLCMC and want to help them make room for the new Job Center, read the details here.  Or, if you can’t help out Aug. 24-29, I’m sure there will be more opportunities coming up in the future.  Way to go, PLCMC, for doing your part!

PLCMC: About Us: Press Release - Library launches new initiative to help jobless in Mecklenburg County

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

Saturday, August 8, 2009 by Planet Janet.

Some people know this about me, and some don’t.  My first baby, Cooper, died on his due date in February 2001.

> Read Cooper’s story, as I told it at KinderMourn’s Memorial service in December 2007.

KinderMourn literally saved my life.  If it weren’t for their Empty Arms support group and my grief counselor, Christine Crawford…well, let’s just say it wouldn’t be pretty.  So when I opened the paper to see KinderMourn featured in the Observer today as a focus of Charlotte Mission Possible, I jumped for joy.

> Read a snippet of the Observer article.

The United Way debacle has really hurt this organization, and that directly hurts local families who really need KinderMourn’s guidance through grieving.

> Want to help? 

Charlotte non-profits are all tightening their belt straps, and some are even closing.  There’s no easy answer, but I think there’s hope.  If only each of us would vow to do one charitable activity or make one charitable donation per month (don’t focus on size or amount, now — just do whatever you can), can you imagine how Charlotte would look in 2015?

Posted in Philanthropy, nonprofits and volunteerism - CHARLOTTE,, CHARLOTTE, N.C., Getting personal, Pregnancy and neonatal loss | Print | No Comments »

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 »

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 »