Operation Fury Soldiers

In April of 2008 I was on my way to Knoxville, Tennessee to represent HR Florida and the Big Bend Society for Human Resource Management at the Southeastern Regional SHRM Student Conference and HR Games. While on layover in the Atlanta airport I found a seat and open power outlet to plug in my laptop and get some work done. Shortly thereafter I noticed soldier after soldier arriving at the gate directly across from me. A few minutes later more and more soldiers continued to arrive at the gate. Before long there were upwards of 100 to 200 soldiers in the gate. I wasn’t really sure what to think.

Time went by as I buried my head in returning emails. A soldier came and sat near me to use the same power outlet for his laptop. I asked him where he was from and where all the soldiers were going. He responded with a blank face, “We have all just finished a two week leave and are on our way back to Iraq.” I quickly learned that his name is Robert (Sergeant to be exact) and is the same age as me, 26. He is part of the 67th Specialized Search Dog Platoon, Canine Company, 5th Engineer Battalion, 5-55 Engineer Brigade.

To be honest with you I didn’t really know what to say and I didn’t want to pry into experiences revolving around the war as I wasn’t sure how he would respond. I stuttered a few times trying to dance around the subject when I just came out and asked how he was doing. It was as if he was waiting for me to ask. Robert described how hard his military experience with the war has been on his family, especially for his wife and small child. I gave him a business card and told him if he felt like it, he could email me whenever he wanted. I also told him I was interested in sending over a care package.

Before long it was for me to catch my flight, but not before I had to maneuver my way through a sea of camouflage. Seeing all of these young soldiers awaiting their return to war is something that is burned into my memory. The experience truly put things in perspective for me.

Since that day, Sergeant Dami has contacted me via email and provided me with some ideas for care packages. After a few emails back and forth I asked myself how I could do more to show my support and we came up with a project, "Operation: Fury Soldiers." I am gathering the names of soldiers and their dogs in his unit in order to provide information on all of them including needs and a few wants in addition to toys for the dogs. My plan is to put all the information together into a package of some sort and offer them up to friends, family and co-workers to "adopt". If you're interested let me know!

Back to the Basics

After a few months getting away from the original meaning behind this blog, I venture back towards my true intentions with this post. I have been doing a lot of volunteer work over the past six months since my return from Europe. Most recently I have been involved with some fundraising efforts for a local group called Tri-for-Gey.

Professor Steven Gey, a Constitutional Law professor at the Florida State University College of Law was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease in 2006. ALS is a fatal illness that affects thousands of people and is a crueler disease than most because while those afflicted lose all muscle control, their minds are left intact. Patients literally become prisoners in their own bodies.

Being highly respected in his field and loved by his students, it is no surprise that a group of over 40 current and former students, friends and colleagues joined together and created Tri for Gey. This group of individuals competed in the Red Hills Triathlon as a way to help fund the fight against ALS. Bringing news of this event and the story of Professor Gey to the public, the group sought sponsorships and donations in hopes to raise $10,000. The group far surpassed their original goal and raised an incredible $40,000 for the ALS Therapy Development Institute.

This year, the group has grown to over 70 members and they have set their hopes high in raising $60,000. As of today they have raised just over $42,000. These empowered individuals will compete in the Red Hills Triathlon on Saturday, April 5. The race includes a third of a mile swim in cold swampy lake water, a 16 mile bike ride over hills and a 3.1 mile run.

Professor Gey has inspired countless students and he is the motivation for Team Gey. While there is currently no treatment or cure for ALS, the team’s motto is “We are going to ‘Tri for Gey’ because, as Professor Gey stated, ‘maybe we'll get a last-minute cure after all!’”

I was able to offer donations from a professional organization I am a member of, Big Bend Society for Human Resource Management, to Tri-for-Gey totalling just under $250. If you are interested in finding out more, check out http://www.active.com/donate/tri-for-gey-ii.

LiveSTRONG Challenge

I am personally a huge fan of Lance Armstrong and what he has accomplished as an athlete for himself, the sport of cycling and the fight against cancer. Today, the Lance Armstrong Foundation provides information and support for millions of cancer patients and survivors across the globe. Furthermore their goal is to unite people to pursue an agenda focused on prevention, access to screening and care, improvements of the quality of life of cancer survivors and investment in research. It is truly an extraordinary organization.

Each year they hold an event called the LIVESTRONG Challenge. The LIVESTRONG Challenge is the LAF's signature fundraising event. This series of walking, running and cycling events takes place in cities across the country, enabling anyone to support the LAF's mission to inspire and empower people affected by cancer. Choose your Challenge - walk, run, ride or volunteer; then choose your city: Portland, Austin or Philadelphia. You can become an individual LAF fundraiser or create a team of family, friends and/or co-workers. LAF will provide support through Challenge mentor programs, online Challenge tools and Challenge message boards where you can connect to fellow participants. If you can't participate, consider making a donation to an existing participant. Unite in the fight against cancer. Register today for the LIVESTRONG Challenge. Together we will make a difference. Check out the LAF website and educate yourself. See what you can do to help out, even if all you do is buy some merchandise, like some LIVESTRONG bracelets. Every little bit helps.

30 Games for 30k - Have you made your donation?

This post is a follow up to an earlier post on 30 Games for 30k, a fundrasing campaign for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

I had the honor of meeting the Colin (pictured right) and Kyle (pictured left) O'Grady in person last night at a friend's house. We got to talk about their trip thus far and what they are looking forward too.

The guys are really chill and very passionate about their cause, which should be an inspiration to us all. I know it may be hard for you to make the contribution you may want to but I encourage you to do what you can. Every little bit helps and adds to the many other donations being made on a daily basis.

I believe in the value of philanthropy as its fundamental importance was instilled in me while attending undergrad. It takes a lot to do what Colin and Kyle are doing but they stepped up to the plate and ran with an ingenious idea. How awesome it is that they were able to combine two things that they are incredibly passionate about into the trip of a lifetime. What I find most inspiring is that they are paying for this trip completely out of their own pockets from money that they have saved up for the past year or so. 100% of the donations go to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

As of today they have raised $4,399.00 out of their $30,000.00 goal. Yes they still have far to go but there is still plenty of time. Their trip ends on August 10th watching their hometown Angels in style. I don't want to sounds like Sally Struthers and those depressing "save the children" commercials but really, stand up and do something positive if you can and donate. Like I said, every little bit will help. Whether you can donate $10, $50, $100 or $1000, it all goes to support an amazing cause.

If you would like more information on Kyle and Colin and 30 Games for 30k visit their website at http://www.30gamesfor30k.com/.

Other links:

30 Games for 30k's Flickr Page - The photos are amazing and I am now utterly jealous of the guys for going on this amazing trip across the country!

30 Games for 30k's Map of the Trip - Check out a Google Map of their entire trip. It is impressive.

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Team in Training - The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training® is the world's largest endurance sports training program. The program provides training to run or walk marathons and half marathons or participate in triathlons and century (100-mile) bike rides. Since 1988, more than 300,000 volunteer participants have helped raise more than $700 million.

Lastly, here are some recent news stories on the guys and the campaign. Thank goodness for Youtube!

Live Earth

Live Earth is a 24-hour, 7-continent concert series taking place on 7/7/07 that will bring together more than 100 music artists and 2 billion people to trigger a global movement to solve the climate crisis.

Live Earth will reach this worldwide audience through an unprecedented global media architecture covering all media platforms - TV, radio, Internet and wireless channels.

Live Earth marks the beginning of a multi-year campaign led by the Alliance for Climate Protection, The Climate Group and other international organizations to drive individuals, corporations and governments to take action to solve global warming. Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore is the Chair of the Alliance and Partner of Live Earth.

Live Earth was founded by Kevin Wall, the Worldwide Executive Producer of Live 8, an event that brought together one of the largest audiences in history to combat poverty. Wall formed a partnership with Al Gore and the Alliance for Climate Protection to ensure that Live Earth inspires behavioral changes long after 7/7/07.

Live Earth will stage official concerts at Giants Stadium in New York; Wembley Stadium in London; Aussie Stadium in Sydney; Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro; Maropeng at the Cradle of Humankind in Johannesburg; Makuhari Messe in Tokyo; the Steps of the Oriental Pearl Tower in Shanghai; and HSH Nordbank Arena in Hamburg.

Live Earth concerts will be broadcast to a live worldwide audience by MSN at www.LiveEarth.MSN.com. It will also be broadcast on XM Satellite Radio on channels 40-46.

With support from the U.S. Green Building Council, creators of the LEED Green Building Rating System, Live Earth will implement new Green Event Guidelines. All Live Earth venues will be designed and constructed by a team of sustainability engineers who will address the environmental and energy management challenges of each concert site, as well as the operations of sponsors, partners and other Live Earth affiliates. Each venue will not only be designed to maintain a minimum environmental impact, but will showcase the latest state-of-the-art energy efficiency, on-site power generation, and sustainable facilities management practices.

Live Earth is a project of the SOS campaign , which is using a powerful multimedia platform - films, television, radio, Internet, books, wireless and others - to move people to combat the climate crisis.

Educate yourself! Visit their website at http://www.liveearth.org/.

DISPATCH: Zimbabwe

The economic crises in Zimbabwe is worsening at an alarming rate. At the beginning of 2007, Zimbabwe’s inflation rose to 1,281.1%, the highest in the world by far. Unemployment is over 85 %, poverty over 90 %, and foreign reserves are almost depleted. Over four million persons are in desperate need of food. One in four citizens are HIV positive. Coupled with severe malnutrition, thousands are dying every month. To do something as simple as buying a loaf of bread is near impossible for most zimbabwean families. Combined with a consistent lack of potable water, power, perpetual regional drought, over all environmental degradation and the recent displacement of hundreds of thousands desperately poor from urban areas, the country is on the brink of ruin.

July 31, 2004 marked one of the most memorable and moving days in the life of DISPATCH. 110,000 of you came together to celebrate an amazing eight-year run that would conclude that day in Boston, Massachusetts. You all blew the band away.

Brad, Chad and Pete have truly enjoyed the time that's passed since then, focusing their efforts on new career paths. During these months and years, the band has been moved by tragedy and devastation in all parts of the globe. The tsunamis in Southeast Asia. The hurricanes in the United States. The genocide in Darfur. As individuals, each of the guys have done work to try and make a difference. As DISPATCH, they feel like they can do more.

On Saturday, July 14, 2007, Brad, Chad and Pete will reunite as DISPATCH for "DISPATCH: ZIMBABWE," a concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City. All of the money raised from ticket sales will go directly to charities that are fighting disease, famine and social injustice in Zimbabwe; a portion will be allocated to local charities that the band supports here in the States as well.

Do what you can. Educate yourself. Make a difference. Visit www.dispatchmusic.com/zimbabwe for more information. Add them as a friend on MySpace. Every little bit will help.

Get your own Box.net widget and share anywhere!

Promo

Add to My Profile More Videos

Vignette

Add to My Profile More Videos

30 Games for 30k

I recently became aware of an awesome cause through some friends here down in Florida. My friends here in Tallahassee have a friend, Colin, that they went to school with at FSU. This summer he and his brother Kyle are embarking on an incredible cross-country World Series of Baseball trip to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society .

It is definitely a worthwhile cause to become aware of. The guys have a website, a flickr page and a YouTube channel as of right now where they will be keeping everyone up to speed on the status of their trip.

Just today a message went out through Facebook announcing that the guys approached ESPN and will be interviewed on ESPN Radio at 5:30 Central Time.

Visit

www.30gamesfor30k.com to find out more information on the cause and the trip and PLEASE DONATE! 100% of the proceeds go to leukemia and lymphoma!

Also, if you have a Facebook account, join their group at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2409310823. Invite others to join too!