Monday, March 28, 2011

Monday #12- Party With A Purpose!

Make Today Matter...


Facts:
  • Every WEEK there are:
    • 79,623births
    • 42,884 weddings
    • 5,812,037 birthdays
  • Birthdays are the #1 reason people celebrate.
  • There are millions of other gift-giving/receiving occasions every year, such as bat and bar mitzvahs, graduations, funerals, retirements, and debutante balls.
  • Every year, nearly 140 million people purchase and/or receive a gift card with an average value of $59.
  • $747 is the average amount spent annually on holiday gifts.
Take action today!

  1. Select a charity, cause, or purpose you wish to support.
  2. Decide which holiday or occasion for which you would like your friends and family to make a donation instead of giving you a gift.
  3. Provide your friends and family with the proper information to make their giving easier- web site, phone number, or address.
  4. If there is not a specific reason for having a party, make one up. Simply have guests bring a food dish or beverage along with money for your charity of choice or for someone in need.
You matter!

Something worth partying for...
If everyone give up their birthday gifts this year, more than $3 billion dollars can be donated to worthy causes or needy people. Friends and family donating money in your name can be much more rewarding than getting material gifts. Giving is a lot more gratifying than receiving, no matter the occasion.

(Adapted from Every Monday Matters: 52 Ways to Make a Difference by Matthew Emerzian and Kelly Bozza)

Monday, March 21, 2011

Monday #11- Register to Vote!

Make Today Matter...


Facts:
  • Voter registration has a dramatic impact on voter turnout.
  • In the 2004 presidential election:
    • 88.5% of registered voters voted--only 63.8% of total voting-eligible population.
    • 88% of registered men voted--only 62.1% of all men.
    • 89% of registered women voted--only 65.4% of all women.
    • 81.2% of registered 18- to 24-year-olds voted--only 46.7% of all 18- to 24-year-olds.
    • 92.1% of registered 65- to 74-year-olds voted--only 73.3% of all 65- to 74-year-olds.
  • Only 24% of Generation DotNet (15- to 25-year-olds) follow government and public affairs "very often," compared with 60% of pre-baby boomer voters, 50% of baby boomers, and 37% of GenXers.
  • The #1 reason people don't vote is because they feel their vote won't matter. Other reasons include too much negative campaigning, the sense that the political parties are too similar, an overall disgust with politics, and a lack of good candidates.
  • 71 million eligible voters did not vote in the 2004 presidential election.
Take action today!
  1. Register to vote by using the National Mail Voter Registration Form. Obtain this form online at www.rockthevote.com or www.eac.gov.
  2. Register in person at your local DMV, state offices providing public assistance or programs for the disabled, official campaign headquarters, armed forces recruitment offices, public libraries, post offices, public high schools, and universities.
  3. Pay attention to the registration deadlines in your state to ensure that you register in time to vote.
  4. Make sure friends, family, and co-workers are registered.
  5. Get informed on the issues and candidates.
  6. VOTE!
You matter!
The numbers don't lie...registered voters vote. 
Are you registered?

(Adapted from Every Monday Matters: 52 Ways to Make a Difference by Matthew Emerzian and Kelly Bozza)

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Girls vs. Boys in Social Media Giving


SEATTLE, WA (February 22, 2011) — According to a new 30 Hour Famine study, 4 out of 5 teens (80%) use social media, almost half (44%) say they’ve become more aware of the needs of others as a result of their use of social media like Facebook and Twitter, and about 1 in 3 (34%) “friend,” “like,” or “follow” charitable organizations or causes they believe in. 

The survey, commissioned by the international relief and development group World Vision, also reveals that girls are more likely than boys to say they’ve become more aware of the needs of others as a result of their use of social media (51% of girls vs. 38% of boys). The study was conducted online in January by Harris Interactive among more than 500 youth ages 13 to 17 years old. 

GIRLS MORE CHARITABLE?
  • Girls more likely than boys to “friend”, “like” or “follow” charities they support and causes they believe in (41% vs. 27%)
  • Girls more likely to support charities symbolically (43% vs. 31%) and vocally (38% vs. 27%)
“While social media may be decried by some for the time teens today spend on it, the truth is it can help today’s youth learn more about important things in life. More than 2 in 5 teens say they have become more aware of the needs of others because of their use of social media, which helps spread the word among their circle. This is teens using social media for social good,” says Regina Corso, Senior Vice President, Harris Poll Public Relations and Youth Research with Harris Interactive.


What do YOU think? 

Is teen involvement in social media positive or harmful? Can social media be used to change our world for the better? 

Visit our Girls Inc. Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Girls-Incorporated-of-the-Northern-Sacramento-Valley/159259326686 and “like” us today! 

Monday, March 14, 2011

Monday #10- Change Your Lightbulbs!

Make Today Matter...

Facts:
  • 75% less energy is used with an ENERGY STAR-labeled compact fluorescent lightbulb (CFL) compared to a standard incandescent lightbulb (regular lightbulb).
  • ENERGY STAR was introduced by the EPA as a voluntary labeling program designed to help businesses and individuals choose energy-efficient products wisely and better protect the environment.
  • CFLs last up to 10 times longer and save $30 over the life of the bulb.
  • CFLs are safer because they produce less than 100 degrees F of heat compared to halogen bulbs at 1,000 degrees F.
  • Replacing 1 bulb prevents the release of 300 lbs of carbon dioxide in just 1 year.
  • Switching just 1 bulb in every household would reduce carbon dioxide by 90 billion lbs a year.
  • If every home replaces 5 frequently used lightbulbs with CFLs, close to $8 billion a year in energy costs could be saved.
Take action today!
  1. Buy a package of CFL bulbs today.
  2. Refer to the lumen or light output on the product packaging as your guide to determine correct wattage.
  3. Replace at least 1 regular lightbulb with a CFL bulb. The more bulbs you change, the better it is for the environment and your wallet.
  4. Place qualified CFLs in the fixtures you use most frequently.
  5. Use qualified CFLs in the fixtures that are hard to reach such as ceiling fans, other ceiling fixtures, and enclosed outdoor fixtures.
  6. Call your local waste management company to ask for proper disposal methods: CFL bulbs should not be thrown away in your home or office garbage can. Many major retailers also offer take-back programs.
You matter!
Finally...A bright idea.

The amount of pollution equivalent to the emissions of 2 million cars can be removed from the atmosphere if every household in America replaces 1 lightbulb with an ENERGY STAR-qualified CFL bulb.

Just 1 bulb. Will you do it? How about 5?

(Adapted from Every Monday Matters: 52 Ways to Make a Difference by Matthew Emerzian and Kelly Bozza)

Monday, March 7, 2011

Monday #9- Protect Yourself With Internet Safety!

Make Today Matter...


Facts:
  • 61.8% of all households have a computer.
  • 54.7% of those households have Internet access.
  • 9% of identity theft information is obtained online.
  • 1 million Internet users believe they have received a phishing email. (Phishing is the act of sending an email to a user falsely, claiming to be an established legitimate enterprise in an effort to steal the user's personal information.)
  • 3.8 days is the average life span of a phishing Web site.
  • 2 million adult Internet users experience Internet identity fraud annually-5,479 a day.
Take action today!
  1. Create a password that has a combination of upper- and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols for unlocking your computer and for accessing Web sites. Use a different password for each site.
  2. Never use an automatic log-in feature that saves your username and password.
  3. Always log off the Internet or your computer when you're finished.
  4. Avoid storing financial information on your computer.
  5. Use anti-virus software and a firewall.
  6. Do not open emails sent to you by strangers.
  7. Forward spam that is phishing for information to spam@uce.gov and to the company, bank, or organization impersonated in the phishing email.
You matter!
Are you protected?

The emotional impact of Internet identity fraud has been found to parallel that of victims of violent crime. Remain cyber-safe by protecting your computer as if it were your wallet. 
Practice safe surfing. You'll be glad you did.

(Adapted from Every Monday Matters: 52 Ways to Make a Difference by Matthew Emerzian and Kelly Bozza)