Dollar Philanthropy

Barrel of Monkeys: A Theatre Group that Makes Kids Playwrights

Barrel of Monkeys (BOM) is an ensemble of actors and educators that creates an alternative learning environment in which children share their personal voices and celebrate the power of their imaginations. Barrel of Monkeys is an arts and education company that teaches creative writing through specialized workshops in under-resourced public schools and then adapts and performs the student's writing using professional actors into in-school performances.

Barrel of Monkeys primarily works with the Chicago Public Schools, however, the organization has also worked at other Chicago area educational institutions. Since it's inception Barrel of Monkeys has taught and/or performed for over 93,000 students.

In 2005, BOM worked with 2500+ 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th graders who had literacy problems as well as significant deficits in self-esteem and confidence and helped them find their creative voices through their writing workshops. With its small staff of 4, board of 14 and artistic ensemble of 35 BOM has been able to document some great outcomes:

• BOM raises student enthusiasm for language arts by providing an interactive residency that creates a joyful environment to express ideas, followed by a hyper-energetic performance of students' writing.

• BOM builds self-confidence in self-expression and self-esteem by providing workshops that create a safe and supportive place to explore thoughts and ideas, while validating those ideas through high-quality professional performance.

• BOM builds confidence in English writing skills for all students by providing creative writing alternatives that include storyboards, student dictation and one-on-one writing workshops.

Additionally, in 2004 BOM was recognized and awarded a grant by the National Endowment of the Arts.

Having taken a class or two in language arts education, I quickly learned that for kids who have never been read to, one has to get really creative when trying to engage them in writing and other language arts.  Creative writing and helping them find their voice is by far one of the greatest tools that can even the playing field with this group of kids.  They just love it and they learn spelling, reading and grammar so quickly when they are encouraged to find their creative voice. To add a performance aspect to the stories only makes it better.  Not only are kids given the tools to express themselves, but they also get to see it performed in front of their friends.  These kids must feel really special when the BOM folks come to visit.

Send Your Dollar Today

Your donation to BOM can help fund these workshops.  It can give them even more tools to make these performances extraordinarily special.

By Mail: Make it out to Barrel of Monkeys.

              Send it to:
              BARREL OF MONKEYS
              2936 N. Southport
              Suite #210
              Chicago, IL 60657

For Credit card donations of $5 or more: Click here to use Just Give

For Credit card donations of more than $10:  Click here to use Network for Good

Character Education Worksheet for Sharing

A few weeks ago I wrote about the importance of teaching our children about sharing.  I've gotten a lot of good feedback on that post. 

A teacher friend of mine suggested that I as I write about topics related to giving back and philanthropy that I develop worksheets that can be used in the classroom.  She told me of her struggles with finding the time to develop short little exercises that can be used in character education efforts.  She also told me that she would do more if she had access to brief exercises that she could have on file to use when she has a moment or two to fill in. 

So with her great suggestion, I have developed a short exercise for sharing.  You can be as creative as you would like with this but a simple way to use this is to pass out individual copies, give the class 5-10 minutes to complete, ask the children to share their answers to specific questions to create a lively discussion on the importance of sharing.

So without further adieu.....  Click below to download the worksheet.  It is in PDF format, so you will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader to open it.

Download sharing_exercise.pdf

Let me know what you think of this and ways it can be improved. Also if you have a creative way to use it or have a great story about how you used it, please be sure to leave a comment.  As others find their way to this post, they could benefit from you "sharing" your experience.

More Shout Outs for Dollar Philanthropy

I do a lot of reading of other blogs, so I'm thrilled to learn of others reading the stuff going on here. 

First, I'm a little late with this on September 7th, Giving Back: A blog for New Philanthropists gave DP a shout out. Click here to read.

Also On Philanthropy, picked up my post on Girls For a Change and featured it on their news section. Click here to read-- you may need to scroll down to the September 14th post.

Thanks for the shout out.

Reaching Out Foundation: Practical Assistance for those Living with Cystic Fibrosis

This week we're breaking new ground here at DP and are highlighting our first health-related nonprofit organization. After hearing the story yesterday from Andrea, a friend of a friend, I must admit I'm excited to craft this post and introduce this organization to you and tell about a fundraising event they are having on October 6, 2006. When you read the story, you will understand why.

The Story

It started two weeks ago when my friend Russ told me of a woman with which he worked.  "I've told her to get in touch with you.  She's got something you have to hear about." He was right.  The conversation with Andrea started with and humble, "I don't think this is really important, but I suppose to help you understand I ought to tell you the story that leads up to this event."

What she told me was-- that due to a calling off of an engagement, she had been left with unused, nonrefundable deposits on facilities and services. "I had a friend in high school who had cystic fibrosis and died because of it, so it seemed perfect for me to use the deposits to go toward an organization who helps people with cystic fibrosis." EEditorial side bar:  How cool, selfless, kind, and admirable is that? 

What came out of Andrea's initial act of generosity was an organized event with additional sponsors with the goal of raising funds for the Reaching Out Foundation.  The event is called "Laugh and a Glass and it will be held on October 6, 2006 from 8-11 at the Houston Mill House in Atlanta."  If you are interested in attending please go to the webpage http://www.laughandaglass.com. Tickets are $40, in advance, and ALL the proceeds will got to Reaching Out and will be used to help people with cystic fibrosis.  The ticket includes an improve comedy performance by Dad's Garage as well as live music, dessert, silent auction and... wait for it.... an open wine & beer bar.  Sounds like fun to me!

About Reaching Out Foundation

Reaching Out Foundation is an all volunteer organization (we like that here at DP cause that means all the money goes to the mission!) started by Susan Burroughs, a adult with CF who is double lung transplant recipient.  Their mission is to provide educational and financial resources to patients and families with Cystic Fibrosis.  In 2003 they provided assistance for 148 families. They work through the referrals of health care professionals and social workers to identify families and individuals who could benefit from their services which include:

• Emergency assistance to provide funds for families who money for room and board to be near their family members while they are hospitalized.
• Insurance Assistance to provide funds to help pay for for co-pays, COBRA payments and premiums so that individuals with CF can get the insurance they need to get proper care.
• Nutritional Assistance to provide funds to help people pay for prescribed nutritional supplements for CF patients.
• Creative Educational programs that provide much needed illness education that helps CF patients become more actively involved in their health care.

Realizing that not everyone can attend the wonderful event, I would encourage you support the Reaching Out Foundation's efforts to help those with CF.

Send Your Dollar Today

Online through their website:  Click here

Via Mail Payable to Reaching Out Foundation:

Cystic Fibrosis-Reaching Out Foundation, Inc.
PO Box 870747
Stone Mountain, GA 30087

Via Network for Good (Donations of $10.00 or more): Click here

Special Note:  Thanks Andrea for sharing your story.

Dollar Philanthropy Good Cause, Be Someone is Highlighted on CNN

In July 2006, DP highlighted Be Someone as the good cause of the week. 

Be Someone uses chess as a metaphor.  They use the game as a way of introducing you to five key characteristics needed for success:  Love, Honesty, Respect, Responsibility, and Patience. When teaching chess, Orrin discovered that kids are hesitant to study chess because they feel they will fail or lose.  He stresses that you simply cannot win unless you are in the game.  This is the philosophy he teaches to kids. Success cannot occur unless you are in the game.  Therefore, youth need to be actively engaged in making life decisions.

I'm happy to announce that Orrin was recently interviewed on CNN about his work and philosophy.  Click here to see the video:  http://us.video.aol.com/video.index.adp?mode=2&guideContext=65.72&pmmsid=1705893

With school starting and BeSomeone Programs starting up, Orrin is in need of funding to support the participants. So if you haven't already, please consider sending your dollar today.

You can donate your dollar in several ways:

1. Paypal by using the "Click to Donate" here buttons on this page on Be Someone's site.  Be sure to send a little extra (25 cents or so) to offset the paypal charges to Be Someone.
2. Network for Good:  For donations of $10 or more.
3. Or By Mail payable to "Be Someone"

Be Someone

7148 Stonebrook Lane

Lithonia, GA  30058

Tags: Orrin Hudson, Be Someone, Chess, youth chess programs, CNN, urban youth programs, character education

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Inspired Altruism: This 7th Grader is Brilliant

Taylor Berey, an 7th grader from Arizona, needed to complete a charity project for his Bar Mitzvah.  He could have done most anything, but what does he choose to do...  Being an animal lover himself, he decided to bake dog biscuits and sell them to raise money to give groups of homeless children trips to the zoo.  Read more here.

Taylor has raised $5800 ($500 more than he needed) to send 800 kids to the zoo. 800 Kids!!!!

He plans on using the extra money to make the trip even nicer-- perhaps a ride on the merry-go-round or a goodie bag. 

See... small things can make a really big difference.  I bet those kids have a great trip to the zoo.

Way to go Taylor!!!

Girls for a Change: Harnessing the Creativity of Youth for Social Change

As a teenager, I was a member of a youth team that every summer planned and implemented weekly community projects.  We had a wonderful set of adult leaders who allowed us to come up with the idea and then helped us acquire the resources (money, equipment, transportation, advice) we needed to make a good project plan that assured success.  We learned some great things about ourselves and others during those summer projects.  Looking back--- now more than ever I understand what a blessing it was to have the support of those adults who allowed us the opportunity to grow and develop an understanding of what it is like to serve others. 

Not Every Girl is as Blessed as I Was

Thus my story illudes to why this organization found a place in my heart and a place here at DP. Girls for a Change  (GFC)is a nonprofit organization based in California, "catalyzes professional women to support urban middle and high school girls to become social change makers and innovators, by empowering them to design, lead, fund and implement social change projects that tackle problems they face in their neighborhoods. As an organization, GFC is committed to giving all girls the opportunity to invent and experience the spark that comes with seeing their own ideas take form and make a difference."

How it Works

Similar to my experience, GFC supports the formation of Girl Action Teams,5-10 girls from an urban school or community. The teams meet twice a month along with two women coaches.  The beauty of this idea is that the teams are small enough that mentorship can occur and each girl gets an opportunity to significantly contribute.  The coaches help the girls to identify a problem in the community that they feel passionate about. Then as the adults that worked with me, they help them create a project plan and work toward it over the course of the school year to tackle that problem.

The girls are no slackers either.....They are really tacking huge issues. 

• Peer pressure
• Healthy relationships
• Animal cruelty
• Dating violence
• Breaking the cycle of homelessness

Take a look at the some of the other team projects here.  Take a look at their blog for posts from GFC members.

Additionally they have been well recognized in the Bay area for their work.  Click here to read more. 

The organization is working to grow another branch in Phoenix, Arizona.

Send Your Dollar Today!

Your dollar can go to supporting one of the teams that are forming as we speak.  For more information on these teams or the organization you may e-mail: [email protected]

Girls for a Change is set up to accept donations by Credit card and Check.

• You can use your credit card to donate through their site:  Click here
• Or you can mail your check payable to: "Girls for a Change"

Girls For A Change
PO Box 1436
San Jose, CA 95109

Corporate sponsorships and In-kind donations are also needed.

Update:  This post has been higlighted as news at OnPhilanthropys' blog. Thanks! Click here to be directed to their site.

Special Welcome to On-Philanthropy Readers I appreciate you dropping by.  I hope that you will peruse the site and accept our challenge to give a dollar a week or give to organizations that speak to your heart.

Dollar Philanthropy gets a "Shout Out" from Everyday Giving

I am a regular reader of Everyday Giving Blog because of the great and simple ideas that Roger Carr provides for making a difference in your corner of the world.  So I was honored and awestruck when Roger recognized Dollar Philanthropy as another easy way to make a difference.

Read about it here.

I have included a link in the sidebar to Everyday Giving.  Be sure to add his feed to your list.