Good Search

I've been lazy, errrr, testing out this new search engine created to donate money to your favorite charity local or national.

Good Search, http://www.goodsearch.com/ is a new way to search for what you need on the web (powered by Yahoo). I, personally, am a a die hard 'googler', but for a good cause I every-once-in-a-while use my Good Search tool bar and send a penny to the Union Gospel Mission of Seattle.

The cool thing about this search is that you can send your search money to ANY NP or School participating in the United States.

For All You Debaucherous Donator's

Just Cauz is an really amazing group of Young Seattle Professionals who do all sorts of good good things for Our City. They do what I am trying to do but with a real web site, real events, and REAL success. And as my attempt to fit in with the "cool kids", I'll be HERE on April 5th.

I'll be at the Casino Night with my roommate and BFF. If you come, let me know, we can bet on Black 13 swig Vodka Tonics while planning our next step.

We Made it!

Seattle,

The GBNB team rocked the climb. Not only did we come at it with good spirits and a Gucci Hobo bag FULL of donations - we had Borat, a go-go dancer, a doctor and four other amazingly inspiring climbers!

The top tier of our team climbed in 15 min. The rest of us followed 3-4 minutes behind.

All in all the event was a success (we raised some serious dough, had a great time, and introduced people to new people who are now their own group of people).

GBNB is planning more "Get your ass in shape for a good cause" event for the future.

A HUGE THANK YOU to all of you who donated on my behalf and to all of you who donated to the team. It sounds cheesy, but it's totally true - We worked hard because you shelled out. THANK YOU!

Here are a few photos. As soon as I retrace my steps and find my camera - we'll have more group shots and shots of group shots after the climb (we joined the stragglers form The Dash at Fado's for Whiskey, Rubens, Beer, and Butt Guitar)

One Step at a Time

We have decided to climb. The team name is Giving Back is the New Black. Email mail me at amanda.akin@gmail.com for the password. We'd love to have you all and haul your ass up a little over 1,300 stairs. And when we're all done, we can high five and hug and then go brag to our friends that we are 1,300 steps ahead of them for Bikini Season and have earned 1,300 new points with Karma.

We are fundraising like crazy. If you join the team, I ask you do your best to harass your co workers and family for at least $150.00 on your behalf. My personal goal? 500.00. I love a challenge so if you can beat me, I'll take you out to dinner. Promise.

And if you'd like to donate on my behalf, follow this link below. And if you do, I'll promise to think of you every step of the way.

Link: http://www.active.com/donate/2008bigclimb/bc08AAkin1

Seattle, this week will be dedicated to Leukemia Fundraising and finding new volunteer opps in out city. I am on the phone and connected to email all week talking with coordinators, VP's, and other volunteers to find out what our city needs. And I promise to make sure the events, organizations and causes are varied.

Stay tuned. If you like Spring Cleaning, Babies, the Elderly, Animals, the Environment and in general have a brave and kind heart - you'll like what I'm putting together.

See Sound Has a Heart of Gold

Check it out:

Tonight @ 5:30pm
Live Music and Silent Auction to support Leukemia and Lymphoba

Drink and Appetizers
Dancing and Mingling
Bidding and Winning

For a good Cause.

I'll be there right before my date. Hope to rub elbows with some of you!

See Sound Lounge in BellTown between 1st and 2nd on Blanchard.

Because I was born with Ovaries

I watch Oprah (when my schedule allows), today was one of those days. I happen to catch Drew Barrymore donating a check for 1 million dollars to The World Food Program. It's a mission that is close to her heart. A mission that she dedicated 2 years of her life to before she became an ambassador. The World Food Program was not impressed by Drew's Celebrity status or her pocket book. But they were impressed by her passion for children and the people in Africa.

We all know that Oprah gives back - for her, Giving Back is the New Platinum. But for you and I and you out there with an extra fifty-dollars in your pocket - you can make a difference for very little.

You all know I prefer to give back face to face, hold hands and lock eyes with the people you are helping. But, sometimes Program's need money. And with this one? It takes VERY little to do a WHOLE lot - One Cent a day, Fifty-Dollars a year can fill a child's cup.

Admittedly, I have a hard time clicking a few buttons on-line a feeling good about giving back. But Ms. Barrymore made a poignant statement on Oprah's show. She said "I know we all like to give locally, but we NEED to give globally too." I agree 100 percent. And I don't quite have the funds to fly my arse to Africa. So I'll be clicking HERE to make a difference.

If Yo Yo Ma and Dr. Seuss were to make a baby...

It may grow up to do something along the lines of THIS:

KING FM, the Seattle Classical music station is doing a drive for new or gently used Children's books and Classical Music CD's.

(maybe) Unlike you, I don't have a ton of used Children's Books or Classical Music CD's laying around (if they do a drive for washed up one-hit-wonders, that'd be awesome), but you know who does? Half Priced Books and they run anywhere between $1.50-$3.00/book. And the best part about this entire Book/CD Drive (errr, besides playing a role in expanding the creative horizons of children who may not have otherwise had this opportunity?) - the drop of location. You can drop your book or CD at any Cafe Ladro Locations. And when you do, have a soy latte and GIANT peanut butter cookie for me (they are the nearest thing to heaven we have in this city)



Half Priced Books Locations:

Greenwood: 9241 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle - (206) 297-6820
UDist: 4709 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle - (206) 547-7859
Capitol Hill: 115 Belmont Ave E, Seattle - (206) 267-7777

Sole Searching

Seattle,
We have a really exciting giving back opportunity in front of us. The wonderfully brilliant ladies over at Girl Power Hour have asked me to put the word out about Soles 4 Souls. It's a world wide organization that was organized in the wake of the Asian Tusnami. They also lend a hand after Katrina. And since becoming a real non-profit they distributed product to people in need in over 40 countries on 5 continents, including the U.S., Honduras, Guatemala, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Swaziland, Sudan, Uganda, Romania, Iraq, Peru, Thailand, and Nepal.

Next Thursday, February 21st, the ladies at GPH will be collecting shoes for Soles 4 Souls.

Here is where you come in...

THIS Sunday, February 17th, I'll be driving around collecting your donations, should you have any. Soles 4 Souls collects gently used mens, womens, and children's shoes. If you have donations, please email me at amanda.akin@gmail.com.

Or should you feel obliged, come and join myself, Darnell, and a whole host of other ladies at TWIST (2313 First Ave, Seattle, WA 98121) in BellTown from 630-830pm.

Come on Climb the Stairs! Climb Them!

Woot Woot! (sorry, I've been bombarded by bad 90's one-hit-wonders lately)

Seattle, We're Climbing! Stay tuned for GBNB details, fundraiser's and fashion forward climbing attire.

It's going to be a good time, promise.

High-fives and Sweat Bands,
GBNB

Serving Food is the Disco Dancing

Seattle,

We had so much fun on Wednesday. There were laughs, high-fives, and lots of stories. The Gentlemen were extremely greatful for a change in cuisine (we had tacos from Taco del Mar severed to order, salad, fruit, vitamin water, and apple and cherry pie).

Nine Lives Willy was there, along with all the other familiar faces. Next time we serve, you should come. We all decided we'd rather be serving on any-given-Wednesday than anywhere in Bell Town on a Friday Night, promise.

Taco's and Ay Ay Ay's,
GBNB

To Climb or To Dash

Hi All!

I hope this finds you and your 2008 full of fun events and all sorts of good things :)

We've got a Giving Back Dilemma...The St. Patrick's Day Dash and The Stair Climb for Leukemia are on the same day (Sunday March 16th, 2008). I am sure you are with me when you think, "how do I have the MOST fun and make the biggest impact?" Right?

So, here I am testing the waters - What do you all have in mind? I had planned on forming a team for the Climb and doing a fundraising event close to the date of The Climb. And we all know The Dash can be loads of fun and I could create a fundraising event around it.

Have any of you signed up for either? I'd love to have your feed back so together, we can make the biggest impact and have the most fun!

Running Shoes and Sweat Bands,
Amanda

Going Down for Something Good.

Vertical Express helps benefit the Heuga Center for MS (Multiple Sclerosis) located in Colorado. I know this isn't a local effort, however, we have to wait until September to give big to our Local MS Chapter. And, as most know there is something in what ever we have here in the Pacific Northwest that makes me and you and you over there in the East Side more susceptible to MS (for more info go HERE)

I know LOTS of you head out to Crystal Mountain every weekend. Why not gather 2 other ppl, click here, and let your co-workers know you'll be hitting the slopes for a good cause.

Heck, if you create a team and a profile, I'll donate money myself. Just send me your link at amanda.akin@gmail.com.

For Complete info on Vertical Express at Crystal Mountain go HERE

Serving Opportunity January 30th

Hi All!

I hope at least one of your was out an about in the AMAZING weather we had today. How much do you love this city when the sun is shining? I have a feeling I ran into one or more of you at the Ballard Farmers Market, thanks for saying "hi" :)

On January 30 I'll be spear heading a dinner at the First United Methodist Church on 5th and Columbia. For you non-denomination folks -this church simply lends their basement to the people who run the house, it's got nothing to do with God, but a whole lot to do with love. So, if you like love but stay away form God, this is a good opportunity for you!

We'll be serving food to 45-50 men at 5:30 in the evening. We've got Taco Del Mar doing the catering, so well need at least 6 sets of hands to serve the food. We'll also be putting together snack bags for the men to take to work the next day which will require participation before the 30th. So if you want to take part, but can't make the 30th, you should volunteer for snack bags :)

I have all the supplies that we need. I just need you, and you, and you.

I've had more fun hanging out with these guys on any given Wednesday than I've had on a busy Friday night in Bell Town. If you're in, let me know @ amanda.akin@gmail.com.

ps- You'll have the chance to meet Nine-Lives-Willy

A Round of Applause...

...to you all! The Blanket and Toiletry Drive was a lovely success. I plan on organizing and dropping off all the goods next weekend. If you have a last minute contribution, let me know, I'll swing by and grab it.


Stay Tuned for more Volunteer Opportunities in January.

UGM Donation Pick-Up This Saturday

If you are participating, first and foremost, thank you! Second, Please let me know. Feel free to send me an email to amanda.akin@gmail.com.
Please include:
your name, address, and let me know where you'll stash your donations (preferably somewhere dry). If you would like a receipt for your donation, please include the amount of your donation and a SASE so I can send you your receipt.

Oh, also let me know if you'll be home. My puppy and I will come in and thank you personally :)