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It’s Party Time with BalenaProductions’ 5th Annual Charity Stream
It’s Party Time with BalenaProductions’ 5th Annual Charity Stream
BalenaProductions is back and ready for their 5th annual Dreamscape Foundation charity stream event! After crushing last year’s goal, Steve (Balena), Ron (Rigg3l), and Ted (ApocHedgie) are ready to make an even bigger impact this time around. Starting at 8pm (EST) on Sunday December 15th the team will be raising money for Toys for Tots and Friends of Foster Children Forever. With a whole lot planned, plus prizes and giveaways, it’s sure to be an all-out party….Mario Party that is!
Let’s Meet the Team
All long time gamers and friends, Steve, Ron, and Ted all got started on Twitch streaming their playthroughs of games. But what keeps them there today is all the possibilities a stream holds. Steve (Balena) being a natural foodie at heart, loves chatting with his viewers and having deep, heart felt conversation about food. While Ron (Rigg3l) on the other hand tends to go a little past just chatting in his streams. When asked about his favorite stream activities he had this to say, “Either playing competitive games or just playing rage inducing games and yelling about them”. Definitely on the competitive side, Ron keeps his things interesting but it’s always in good fun.
Ted (ApocHedgie) is a multiplayer kind of guy. Whether it’s hosting a server for a bunch of friends or just playing in a big group, Ted loves the social aspect of gaming. Aside from playing big group games, Ted also lets his viewers who donate choose his next game. Which isn’t always a good thing for him! “I love when people donate to make me play whatever game they want, most of the time they make me play horrible things that shouldn’t even exist, but sometimes you get a nice guy who just wants you to play something good for once”, said Ted. Lucky for Ted, during the stream the guys will be playing Mario Party on Gamecube. Playing as DK (Steve), Wario (Ron), and Waluigi (Ted) to battle it out for that first place win, things are bound to get heated!
How the Gang Got Together
Steve and Ron first met way back in the 4th grade and have been friends ever since. Together they started their own Youtube channel (BalenaProductions) and began making videos. Using animations and voiceovers of their favorite characters, primarily Sonic the Hedgehog, they created dozens of short clips for fun. As their channel grew and grew, they knew they needed to step up their content. Steve set out trying to find some new animations and mods, and in 2012 met Ted. As Ted put it, “he had some high quality standards for videos”, but once Steve saw what he could do, they began working together on some videos. While working on the videos, they started becoming friends more than colleagues.
Eventually, Steve introduced Ted to Ron and the rest of their friends. At that time, Steve and Ron had switched from making episodes of their popular Youtube show Pixel Brains and began streaming them live on Twitch. According to Ted, “when they started doing PixelBrains streams instead of episodes, I was occasionally invited (more and more) to co-host with them”. They had a blast streaming together, and “since then Ted has been a very regular guest on Pixel Brains” said Ron. Fast forward 7 plus years later and the group is still going strong!
Every Little Bit Helps
We all know there are people out there who are not as fortunate as some of us. The right thing to do is help out when you can to give them hope and a chance at changing things for the better. This is just another thought these friends have in common. Over the years, Steve has partnered with the Dreamscape Foundation and other nonprofits time and time again. This year, in the 5th annual Dreamscape stream he is looking forward to lending a helping hand while having a ton of fun. As a charity stream veteran, he had a message for other streamers thinking of giving it a shot, saying “Every little bit helps”! This simple sentence has some powerful meaning. Too many times streamers are afraid their stream won’t raise enough to matter. But it isn’t all about the amount raised! Spreading the word and educating people on the cause you’re supporting is enough in itself.
Alongside Steve in past Dreamscape charity streams, Ron is a big supporter of volunteering as well. While most of his work has been in support of the Dreamscape Foundation, he has also gone outside the realm of e-based volunteering. When he was still in school, Ron had the opportunity to take part in helping out his local community. He and a group worked to help clean up trash and litter in parks around their area. Now ready for the next charity stream Ron had some final words to share, “Never stop believing in yourself. Each day brings new challenges, try your best to overcome them and never be afraid to ask for help along the way”! Despite what life throws at you, there is always hope and a way to overcome the obstacles.
Similarly to his partners, Ted has been a constant supporter and volunteer for the Dreamscape Foundation charity streams. But before they began streaming, he still did his fair share to give back. He knows how important local organizations and their programs are to the communities they serve. Their only purpose is to help those who need it, but without outside support they won’t get much accomplished. That’s why Ted has volunteered multiple times to help local charities with anything he could. From shipping and receiving, to freshness tracking of food items, he was up for anything they needed him to do. Going into this year’s charity stream, he is looking forward to not only helping those in need, but being a role model to other streamers looking to do the same. It’s not hard to do, “just get out there and do it! Find a charity you like, advertise as best you can and try to raise some money and awareness for your favorite charity! Every bit counts, so don’t get discouraged if you can’t raise a million bucks”!
The 5th Annual Dreamscape Charity Stream
Keeping the tradition alive for the 5th consecutive year, Balena Productions is back at it again! Coming together to support the Salvation Army’s Toys for Tots and Friends of Foster Children Forever, they are looking to demolish last year’s results. Prizes, giveaways, and great games are on deck for this event with an epic Mario Party battle being the forefront. The smack talking has already begun with Ted feeling real confident in his Waluigi skills and getting Ron as flustered as possible after each win! Will Ron make Ted eat those words? Or will Steve, keeping quiet, come out and surprise them both. To find out and see all the other fun ideas they have planned, make sure you tune in this Sunday December 15th beginning at 8pm!
But having fun and playing games isn’t all! All those who donate will receive a thank you gift and raffle entries for a chance to win 1 of 2 Grand Prizes. Please see below for the giveaway breakdown:
(please note, all prizes ship US only)
- Tier 1 – $5:
- 1 Random Steam Key
- 1 Raffle entry to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- Tier 2 – $10:
- 1 Random Steam Key
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 3 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- Tier 3 – $20:
- 4 Random Steam Keys
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 5 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- Tier 4 – $50:
- 4 Random Steam Keys
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 1 $10 Nintendo eShop Gift Card
- 5 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- 5 Raffle entries to win a $100 Amazon gift card
- Tier 5 – $100:
- 4 Random Steam Keys
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 1 $10 Nintendo eShop Gift Card
- 1 Mystery Funko Pop
- 5 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- 10 Raffle entries to win a $100 Amazon gift card
- Tier 6 – $250:
- 4 Random Steam Keys
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 1 $10 Nintendo eShop Gift Card
- 1 Mystery Funko Pop
- 1 Nintendo Switch Joy-Con 4 in 1 Charging Station
- 5 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- 20 Raffle entries to win a $100 Amazon gift card
- A featured article on our Blog Page
As always, donations are never required and we ask you only give what you are able! We hope to see you all there and we can’t wait to get this party started! To keep up with the guys as they get ready for Sunday please feel free to follow them on their socials! Balena Productions Twitch, Balena Productions Youtube, Ron (Rigg3l) Twitch, Steve (Balena) Twitter, Ted (ApocHedgie) Twitch and Twitter!
« Previous
The Force Is Strong With Dreamscape’s Next Charity Stream
The Force Is Strong With Dreamscape’s Next Charity Stream
Sleppyy Blog Image
The Holidays are right around the corner, and to help everyone get into the giving spirit, Dreamscape Foundation will be teaming up with Twitch Streamer Sleppyy for another charity stream event! Raising money to support children and families in need, Sleppyy is ready for another opportunity to give back and help as many people as she can. Beginning on December 15th at 10 am AEST (December 14th at 7 pm EST), Sleppyy will be kicking off her 10+ hour stream, packed with music, prizes, giveaways, and a whole lot more! So let’s meet our host…
How a Shy Teen became an Inspiration to Thousands
For as long as she could remember, Sleppyy has always wanted to be a streamer. When she was younger, she loved watching videos and following her favorite Twitch channels. But she was still too nervous to try it herself. That is until two short years ago when she and a group of friends decided to give it a shot together! After that, she kept doing it occasionally and recently, with the help of a friend, found the motivation to pick it up regularly. She used the drive she felt from being productive when giving her all to streaming, to break through that shy barrier that kept her back. Now, what drives her is the community she has developed. The positive vibe they all share is fantastic to her, and to be able to have a place she can do the things she loves and have people enjoy it just as much as her! Today, her channel has skyrocketed and continues to grow. With over 10,000 followers, Sleppyy is excited to host a charity event and sharing her passion for volunteering with her community.
A Young Girl with a Passion for Giving
Sleppyy has a long history of volunteering for charity. Throughout her life, she was influenced by her family, who knew the importance of giving back to help those less fortunate. She was raised to be thankful for everything she had and knew it should not get taken for granted. As she got older, she began volunteering on her own for various causes. In fact, for over a year, she made it a point to volunteer at least once a month! Only being 18 years old, it became clear to us she was well beyond her years.
Most recently, she volunteered with an organization helping disabled individuals have the chance to take part in activities they once loved or never thought they’d be able to. She and a group of teens around her age, helped several people spend the day surfing! Balancing the boards, guiding, and helping them through the water, they gave these people the chance to feel free and capable. She explained, “Seeing how happy they were made it worth it.” For Sleppyy, having the opportunity to see things from their perspective and how much they loved it was more than enough reason to be there. She has also volunteered for the Pyjama Foundation, an organization helping foster children throughout Australia. She helped run their Christmas party and passed out gifts and toys to all the children. Now she is ready to do more and help even more people in need. Only this time, she is taking things into her own hands and putting on an event she knows her community will support and love!
What You Need to Know
Beginning at 10 am AEST on Monday, December 15th (US: December 14th, 7 pm EST), Sleppyy will be starting off her 10+ hour stream for the Dreamscape Foundation, helping raise money for children and families in need! From singing and playing songs on her Ukulele, to talking about life and what people are going through, Sleppyy will have something for everyone to get involved with. She is excited to see the loving and caring side of her community, but also to show them hers. Because this event is just as much for them as it is for the people they are helping. The support her community gives her is incredible, and she is ready to give back to them as well. As a thank you, all donors will receive a gift and be entered into a raffle drawing for one of the grand prizes! Based on the donation, the rewards and prizes are as follows: (please note prizes ship the US only, and all other donors will be awarded additional e-gifts instead)
- Tier 1 – $5:
- 1 Random Steam Key
- 1 Raffle entry to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- Tier 2 – $10:
- 1 Random Steam Key
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 3 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- Tier 3 – $20:
- 4 Random Steam Keys
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 5 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- Tier 4 – $50:
- 4 Random Steam Keys
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 1 Star Wars Yoda Collectable Cup
- 5 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- 2 Raffle entries to win a $100 Amazon gift card
- Tier 5 – $100:
- 4 Random Steam Keys
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 1 Star Wars Yoda Collectable Cup
- 1 Mystery Funko Pop
- 5 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- 6 Raffle entries to win a $100 Amazon gift card
- Tier 6 – $250:
- 4 Random Steam Keys
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 1 Star Wars Yoda Collectable Cup
- 1 Mystery Funko Pop
- 1 Ukulele Bundle with carrying bag, strap, and picks
- 5 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- 10 Raffle entries to win a $100 Amazon gift card
- A featured article on our Blog Page
So make sure to mark your calendars and tune in to enjoy all the fun! Sleppyy’s community welcomes everyone and especially for this event, regardless of your ability to donate. Though donations are much appreciated, they are never expected or required, and Sleppyy asks for people only to give what they can afford to! Be sure to keep up with Sleppyy as she prepares for next week, by following her on Twitch, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube!
We hope to see you all there!!
By: Nicholas Sibilia
« PreviousNext »ThePhatBandit’s Month-Long Charity Stream Marathon
ThePhatBandit’s Month-Long Charity Stream Marathon
Erick, also known as ThePhatBandit to his Twitch community, is teaming up with the Dreamscape Foundation for a Charity Stream event like never before. Erick first got into streaming on Twitch through his longtime hobby of gaming. As a regular gamer, he found out about Twitch and started watching other streamers and personalities. After a while, he realized he had the resources to create a channel of his own, so why not? To him, it was more of a way to play games with his friends and connect with a broader community. His only goal was to have fun, make people laugh, and make even more friends.
An Open Community that Became Family
ThePhatBandit Twitch Channel is open to everyone looking to have a good time and interact with new people. Whether you are a longtime viewer or just checking it out for the first time, he is quick to invite you to join in and play along with him online. Erick strives just to be himself and network with people around the world he would never have met otherwise. Aside from just playing games, he is very vocal with his community. They talk a lot and consider it like therapy, talking about good days, bad days, whatever, and just hashing things out. When I asked him what he enjoyed most about streaming, he replied, “The comradely and the relationships we built just through our community and other streamers’ communities.” He went on to explain people had tuned in to watch the stream, never knowing them before, and eventually became friends he talks to daily. To Erick, Twitch is a place for people to have fun, play the games they love, and make new friends that’ll last a lifetime.
Familiar Territory
Cut from the same cloth, he has been a longtime believer in charity work and helping those in need. So much so, his full-time job is with a nonprofit organization we are proud to call a neighbor here in Naples, FL. The Friends of Foster Children Forever is an organization dedicated to fulfilling the needs of every child who enters or is at-risk of entering the foster care system throughout Collier County. Their primary focus for the children is to help them reach their full potential in life through education and enrichment opportunities, as well as simply enjoying being a kid. One of Erick’s favorite outreach events was when they took a large group of 40+ to a theme park. He remembers the look of pure happiness on each of their faces. Not because it was just another enjoyable day to a group of kids, but he knew for some it was their first time at a theme park and for others, their first time leaving their home town. Erick loves what he does and is excited to be able to combine his passion with his channel as a way to give back and help even more people.
The When, What & Why?
Now, as I mentioned, this is a charity stream event like never before for Dreamscape! You may be wondering what is so different this time around? Well, ThePhatBandit has decided to step things up a bit! Rather than streaming for a day or 2, he will be turning this charity stream into a month-long Marathon Event!! Beginning on November 15th and ending on December 15th, Erick will be raising funds to help with our holiday efforts. All proceeds will be used to support various children and families in need throughout the Holiday Season. From adopting families to donating to shelters and foster homes alike. As always, we will be giving thanks to our generous supporters with thank you gifts and entries into our raffle drawings. The awards will be on a tier-based system, ranging from t-shirts and steam keys to Funko Pops and your favorite Call of Duty collectible character figures. Not stopping there, we will send a couple of lucky winners away with our raffle prizes of various Amazon gift cards, with the grand prize being $100! See our prize chart here:
All donations are welcome and beyond appreciated, but are never required! Erick encourages everyone to join in, no matter his or her ability to support. His community is a place for everyone to have fun and join in on the games and conversations. He will be playing various video games, including the new Call of Duty Modern Warfare! Additionally, he will be opening up several discussions around the charity, which we are supporting, and give you his honest thoughts on the matter. As Erick mentioned during his interview, “there is always a way to help out, even if it’s just educating and informing people on a need.”
To keep up with Erick and join in his community, we encourage everyone to follow his Twitch Channel, Twitter, Instagram, and to check out his organization, The Friends of Foster Children Forever!
« PreviousNext »How a Father’s Loving Act Went International
How a Father’s Loving Act Went International
To a father, his children are a true gift and treasure. They always wish the best for them and would do anything to see them happy. For Gavin Leonard, he just wanted a way to be closer to his daughter and create memories that would last a life time. About 2 years ago, he began writing children’s books to read with his daughter. He never expected this small fatherly act would connect him with people and organizations across the Globe.
Gavin’s Inspiration and Motivation
From the moment Gavin laid eyes on his daughter, he knew he would do anything for her. As she got a little bigger, he started thinking of a way to remember the adventures they had together for when she was older. A friend told him how he began a blog to keep track of all the adventures he had with his kids, Gavin couldn’t help but love the idea. He began doing just that and to his surprise, found people were actually interested in following his posts. At the time, Gavin didn’t know where this would lead but luckily enough, his love for his daughter would open doors he couldn’t imagine.
When family and friends came to visit, they would always comment on how beautiful she was and that she could be an actress or model. Gavin knew they meant well, but to him it was a bit strange to think of a new born in this way. Additionally, they would always call her a “princess” but Gavin began replying, “she’s not JUST a princess”, for he knew she would be able to do anything she dreamed of. The reason Gavin felt this way came from the books he read to her. To him, they were always the damsel in distress and in need of being saved. Not his daughter! She would be strong and capable on her own. He often made comments about this to his wife, until one day she said, “if you don’t like the books you read… then write your own!?”. And so, he did!
The ‘Not Just a Princess Book Series’ is Born
Gavin made a plan and wanted his princesses to get away from the typical fairy tale and make it more real. So, what better title for the series than “Not Just a Princess”? His initial plan was to have his daughter (the princess), have a job and need to solve a problem that came up. But after a while, he knew she would need help and began creating new princesses. The common theme throughout the previous 6-book series is the princesses’ strengths, smarts, and abilities to work together to help one another overcome their problem. He wanted a story for everyone and made the princesses different in all aspects including being different culturally, appearance, etc. He never expected the books to be published but his daughter loved them so much he figured why not try.
The Newest Princess and the International Connections she made
Most recently, he decided to go further and include a second princess with a disability. Gavin wanted to show the world the truth of people differently abled. Instead of talking about a disability, he wanted to spread awareness that people have all different strengths and weaknesses no matter who they are. He thought back to his time living with family in China. While there, he spent a lot of time with his niece Nora, who has down syndrome and learned a lot for himself. When I had the opportunity to speak with him, he told me a story of what truly opened his eyes. “Nora loved water”, he said. Her and her siblings would often swim and play. One day when he was with them, he had been throwing Nora’s siblings into the water for fun, when Nora asked to go next. He hesitated out of care and in fear she may get hurt or scared. But her father set the record straight and what he said to Gavin really stuck with him. He said, “she’s just like her sisters and she can be thrown too.” Gavin went and threw her next and after seeing her joy and excitement, he realized nobody should ever be treated differently like that. In honor of his niece, this story follows Nora, a champion swimmer with down syndrome, and how she helps the others solve a problem.
But it doesn’t stop there. For this story he wanted to do more than just spread awareness but instead, use it to give back in a better way. Gavin began looking for local charities and connected with Down Syndrome Ireland and the Special Olympics. After hearing all that Special Olympics does for their athletes across the globe, they decided to begin promoting it worldwide. That led to Gavin connecting with us at the Dreamscape Foundation and other nonprofits as well. He explained he planned to donate all proceeds from the book’s sales to different charities and wanted to connect to as many as possible.
The Release and Final Details
Should all go as planned, the book is anticipated to be released in Ireland on October 24th, 2019. But you can purchase anytime through Dreamscape Foundation’s direct link!! The charities involved as of now include the Dreamscape Foundation, Special Olympics: Ireland, UK, Down Syndrome: Ireland, and US, and Brainwave UK. All of these organizations will have their own links available to purchase after the book is released! Those links will be used to directly support that organizations, or by purchasing from Not Just a Princess directly the proceeds will be distributed evenly to all organizations.
That is how what started out as a way for Gavin Leonard to share time with his daughter, turned into an international movement to spread awareness and give back to the disabled community. Gavin is an amazing guy and has nothing but love in his heart. On a final note, what he wishes to highlight most is how excited he is to be working with various nonprofit organizations on this project and to have the opportunity to raise funds for their continued good work!
To keep up with Gavin and the Not Just a Princess book series you can follow them on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
Written by:
Nicholas Sibilia
« PreviousNext »Dreamscape Foundation: A Charity for the Disabled & Our Community
Dreamscape Foundation: A Charity for the Disabled & Our Community
Founded in 2013, The Dreamscape foundation was created when the founder, Joseph Sehwani was diagnosed with a rare disease at the age of sixteen that took away his vision. Since then, Joseph has created a vision of his own for people suffering from rare diseases. Providing individuals with scholarships, job aids, education accommodations, health aids and all amenities to help them succeed in life. This foundation focuses on supporting their future to provide equality.
Accessibility First
We know that living with a disability can negatively impact one’s chances of success in education and employment, but at Dreamscape Foundation, we believe that we have the power to do something to address this. While nothing can prepare us for an unanticipated disability, Dreamscape Foundation offers hope. Our non-profit provides accommodations for individuals with disabilities in their pursuit of education and life-fulfilling work.
Our mission is to aid the small population of people affected by sensory impairments to help them achieve success and to fund a cure. We encourage the community to embrace the use of accessible technology to ensure independence. In the past, Dreamscape Foundation had partnered with IT consulting company Intone Networks and accessibility software company User1st to build out our accessibility platform. The program is unique in that we are not aware of any other non-profit organizations who are committed to holding accessibility to such a high standard and provide similar services.
Dreamscape Foundation’s Mission
The commitment of Dreamscape comes from Joe Sehwani’s struggles and difficulties after he lost his vision in high school at sixteen. It is a privilege to work with a charity that works hard to ensure others struggling with similar disabilities are well taken care of and know that they are not alone.The prevalence of visual disabilities also stands to show the need for support for those who are blind or living with low vision. Across the world, 285 million people live with some type of visual impairment, with 39 million living with blindness and 246 million with low vision. In the United States, those with a visual disability account for about 2.2% of the total population.
Without accessibility, we do a disservice not just to the quality of life for those living with a disability – we also prevent them living to their fullest potential. Our charity can better justify program expenses that involve accessibility. This is illustrated clearly when we look at the number of working-age persons with disabilities in the United States who are employed. Right now, that number is only 35% – Dreamscape believes that with accessibility, that number can be much higher.
Helping our Community
Dreamscape partners with many other charities on both a local and national scale with many different missions. We support local charities by partnering with them on fundraisers, campaigns and events as well as support them with various product donations. At Dreamscape, we’re committed to addressing these issues and advocating for the changes needed to help those living with disabilities. Although living with a disability can be a struggle, we are here to assist and support.
« PreviousNext »Adjusting to Challenges of Being a Young Adult with Disabilities
Adjusting to Challenges of Being a Young Adult with Disabilities
The transition into adulthood can be quite different for everyone, but nevertheless, still challenging. Waking up and noticing changes to your own body is a difficult time for any child growing up. Now, on top of that, imagine making that same transition with a disability.
Facing the real world
For most of us high school is the time of our lives. We get to see our friends everyday, 3 months off during the year, and the only thing we have to worry about is homework and if our crush likes us back. Being a teenager, it is only natural to focus on the things that make you happy, but did anyone ever stop to think about the other types of kids in high school? The ones who struggled or had it more difficult than everyone else. Not many people think much about it, so don’t feel bad. Having a disability means a lot of things and while you’re in school you can receive special education tailored to the specific disability. This is really great… until you wonder what happens after they are no longer in the school system. The reality is, this special education doesn’t help them prepare for adulthood or living on their own after high school. After they exceed the age limit, which in most states is 22, a lot of people lose their support services. For example, the service could be their pediatric therapies are terminated.
What happens next?
After high school the average person will either go to college or go straight to working. Then, they will proceed on with their normal lives. But, For people with disabilities it’s not so simple. In 2014, a poll was taken of people 25 and older to determine the percentage of people with disabilities who have completed at least a bachelor’s degree. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics only 16.4% received a bachelor’s degree. After that, 25.5% received some college or an associate’s degree, 36.8% received a high school diploma and no college, and 21.3% received less than a high school education. These percentages are extremely low compared to the average person. This makes it more than difficult for these young adults to find jobs, or even live an independent lifestyle. Not to mention that on top of their daily struggles they go through the constant discrimination, dirty looks, and feeling as if they’re slowing the people around them down. Could you imagine what that life is even like?
A life of independence
You may now be wondering how someone with a disability could manage any sense of in-dependency. It’s not easy and sometimes, not possible. There are numerous reasons on top of being under-prepared by education on why it is incredibly difficult for someone to live on their own. These reasons could be that the family member or caregiver simply lacks the easily accessible comprehensive up-to-date resources, options and possibilities. Or, something that is out of their control would be that the funding is extremely scarce. It could also be something as simple as the person has spent too much time with their caregiver or family member. This is extremely typical because someone with a disability doesn’t have personal control of access to transportation or personal assistance. This also results in them having no experience in a social life, making it extremely difficult for someone to pursue a friendship or relationship. In spite of that, listed below are just a few options for a disabled person to begin living independently.
- Speak to your physician about local support groups
- Seek employment or volunteer opportunities
- Practice good health and nutrition/ remain active
- Join in on community activities
- Caring for a pet
We believe everyone can have an independent lifestyle. If you or a family member is struggling, remember no one is ever alone. The best thing to do first is contact your physician to see if they recommend any first steps to being independent. After that, give some of our tips a try!
« PreviousNext »Good360: The Charity That Never Stops Giving
Good360: The Charity That Never Stops Giving
Running a nonprofit and struggling? Maybe Good360 is exactly what you need! Take a deeper look to get the full effect of what this nonprofit is doing for the community around you.
The Mission
Good360 is a product philanthropy, partner based nonprofit organization. This means they work with large and responsible companies to donate their excess merchandise to charities or other nonprofits. They then partner with the charities and nonprofits to help them receive goods for their specific needs. Their mission is to help people, whether it be individuals, families, or a community, who are impacted by disasters or other challenging life circumstances. By providing nonprofits with the goods they need, they can free up their resources to spend on more important aspects of their organization including programs and events.
Good360 views the products as more than just stuff, to them it could be providing a bed to a child for a much-needed good night’s rest. Or even something as little as a pair of soccer cleats to help someone pursue their passion confidently. They have a 35-year track record and have distributed more than $9 billion worth of products. Currently their organization has 400+ corporate donors and 800,000+ nonprofit members. By doing this they are able to give old products new life and reducing waste by keeping it all out of landfills.
The hard workers of Good360 take pride in not only the product donations, but in their help with disaster recovery. In the first few days of a disaster they will be there for people who have been displaced from their homes. They could supply them with products including toiletries, socks, diapers for babies, toys, games, and snacks for kids. When it comes to clean up, Good360 will partner with other organizations to help provide various cleaning supplies to help with things such as the debris and mold. After the cleaning is complete, they will then work on getting donations of the reconstruction materials needed. These materials could be something as small as paint or as large as kitchen appliances. This is extremely important to them because it’s helping people get their homes and lives back. The best part about their disaster recovery is that even years after the impact, they will still be there to help people with things like mattresses, furniture and other home goods.
But wait, there’s more!
This organization even has a blog to discuss all of the wonderful nonprofits and donors they work with. A lot of their blogs will include information on how the programs have given back to the community. Their articles talk about a variety of different things. Some of them will have information on current or previous disaster relief and even articles about how they have helped women dress for success! You might even get a little emotional when reading their impact stories and true testimonies from the numerous lives they have helped and transformed. Not only do they have a great amount of pride and value in themselves but also in their partnerships. They are constantly talking highly of all the people they work with and this shows even when only reading one of their articles.
Dreamscape has recently had the pleasure of starting a partnership with Good360. We started in mid-July of this year, and we have been more than impressed. They have made it easy on us start to finish. The employees listened to what we needed and walked us through to make sure everything smooth and accordingly. We have had the pleasure of starting with two donors and they have yet to disappoint. This program has been a tremendous asset to our organization. We are supplied the goods and products that we need and give back to the community what we don’t. This program has also been extremely beneficial for us to partner with other nonprofits in our community. Anything that we don’t need or can’t use, we reach out to other local charities to see if we can donate to them. This is such a great asset for everyone because it helps us with creating relationships with other local nonprofits and it helps them get a donation of things, they need but don’t typically get. Aside from the products that Good360 has helped provide us, this has helped us with saving resources to use on other important things within our charity. For example, being able to receive the donated products this has made us be able to save and use our finances towards other things such as the prizes we give away during a fundraiser event.
Now, I know you’re probably thinking that this is a scam because there can’t possibly be a nonprofit organization out there that does all of this. But, I’m here to tell you that this is not a scam and it is true. When we first heard about Good360 and all of the great things they do we were a little skeptical at first, but we cast our worries aside and gave them a try and now we are more than pleased with the outstanding partnerships we have developed.
The best part is whether you’re looking to receive products as a nonprofit, a person who is struggling, or a business who wants to donate their surplus of goods, Good360 has a valuable place for you.
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Understanding Bell’s Palsy
Understanding Bell’s Palsy
Without thought or effort, we all smile and laugh at jokes, blink our eyes regularly and taste food with every bite. None of us even contemplate not being able to do facial functions as simple as these. But for those battling Bell’s Palsy, it can be a frightening onset and realization of just how vital these functions are to us in everyday life. Where Bell’s Palsy isn’t usually permanent, it can feel as if it is never ending to those living with it. The purpose of this article is to educate readers on the symptoms, causes, and treatments for Bell’s Palsy and to provide resources to those looking for more information.
Understanding Bell’s Palsy and how is it caused
Bell’s Palsy is a condition in which one’s 7th cranial nerve (aka facial nerve) suffers damage or trauma, resulting in muscle weakness or paralysis. The facial nerve is connected to the muscles on one side of the face that control facial expressions, as well as blinking and closing your eye. Additionally, this nerve is responsible for sending signals to the tear duct, saliva glands, and the ear. In most cases, only one side of the face is affected and will only last for a temporary period of time.
Researchers believe the main cause of Bell’s Palsy is a viral infection such as meningitis, the herpes virus, Epstein-Barr and more. However, other cases have been linked to flu-like illnesses, chronic ear infections, diabetes, Lyme disease and severe trauma to the skull or face. People with diabetes or upper respiratory conditions are at a higher risk at developing the disease. Aside from these preexisting conditions, neither age (typically 15-60) or gender plays a factor.
Recognizing the symptoms and taking action
Considering the many functions of the facial nerve, Bell’s Palsy can lead to many symptoms and problems. Luckily most of the symptoms are painless but unfortunately, are visually detectable and not to be taken lightly. The prominent symptoms are muscle spasms, weakness, or paralysis to one side or in extreme cases, both sides of the face. Other symptoms include, but are not limited to, difficulty making facial expressions (ex. closing eye or smiling), headache/earache, increased sensitivity to light and sound, decreased sense of taste, and increase/decrease to tear and saliva output.
Though these symptoms may only cause slight discomfort or make one self-conscious about their appearance, proper precautions should be taken. For instance, with the inability to blink or close an eye, the eye will dry out and be unable to cleanse itself of germs or bacteria. Without proper care, an infection or damage to the eye can occur, potentially leading to vision loss. Covering the eye and keeping it from drying out are highly recommended to ensure there is no permanent damage.
Treatment of Bell’s Palsy differs depending on the severity of each case. Mild cases do not require treatment and symptoms will subside on their own over a brief period of time. However, for more extensive cases, medication is the most common form of treatment. Prednisone, a steroid used to help ease inflammation has been studied and shown to be the most effective drug for treatment. While the medication is running its course, eye protections becomes the next focus. As previously stated, keeping the eye protected and moist, especially at night are key factors to a full recovery. Lubricating eye drops and eye patches are both effective ways to keep your eye safe and well.
While medication is the primary source of treatment, other therapies also hold potential for small improvements to facial functions and relieving pain. These include physical therapy, acupuncture, and facial massages. It is always recommended to discuss treatment options and seeking additional help with your primary physician.
Current research and additional resources
Currently, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are responsible for conducting and supporting research on brain and nervous system disorders, including Bell’s Palsy. Their goal is to understand how the nervous system works and what causes problems to occur. One focus of the research is on learning the different circumstances that lead to nerve damage and the conditions that cause injuries or damage to nerves. For more information on studies and current research, please visit the NINDS website and view their Clinical Trial Studies. Lastly, for more information and resources you can view the Rare Disease Database by the National Organization for Rare Disorders.
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Friends of Foster Children Forever
Friends of Foster Children Forever
Have you ever wondered how foster children and families receive help and support? Well, we had the pleasure of speaking with Ann Hughes, the Executive Director of Friends of Foster Children Forever (FFCF), to learn what it truly is all about.
The mission behind it all
The Friends of Foster Children Forever is a local non-profit organization in the Southwest Florida area. They strive to help children all across the area to succeed in life. The organization provides a variety of tools and programs, from supplies to summer camps, but their largest is the Academic Mentoring Program. This is extremely important to them because being prepared academically, will set a child on the right course to success. This mentor program helps the children get excited for school and makes them hopeful for their futures. Aside from the mentorships, they provide after-school programs such as dance, and various sports. They also provide professional tutoring for children who are having a hard time in school or with certain subjects. These tutors will continuously work with them regardless of switching from home to home or school to school.
Behind the scenes
There are a lot of great things provided, but what does it take for this organization to successfully help? Well, the community around them of course! Aside from the wonderful employees, the volunteers are a huge asset. From mentors to running summer camps, FFCF is always looking for help from their local community. On top of providing your time, all donations are welcome and extremely helpful as well. The donations help pay for the professional academic tutors, field trips for the kids, and supplies needed to help. In addition to donations, they hold fundraisers including this years back to school drive, being their most successful one yet! This year, more nonprofits and groups participated than ever before. They were able to distribute 150 backpacks, with 500 still left to give. On top of the backpacks they were able to provide uniforms for children whose school does not supply them. The organization is always prepared by providing an emergency backpack for the children who are taken from a home in an emergency or short notice. These emergency backpacks include, clothes, pajamas, blankets, tooth brush/tooth paste, and a stuffed animal or toy.
Upcoming events
Including everything they provide, the FFCF also encourages field trips for the children. They have different trips based on age groups. For the elementary school kids they will take them to Legoland, and for the high school kids they will take them to Busch Gardens. These field trips allow the children to have an outlet by spending time focused on fun and excitement rather than the stress they undergo on a daily basis. Also, during Christmas time, the organization does a gift giving. What this entails is, they will pair the children up with a volunteer and they go to pick out gifts for their family from Walmart. Then later in the year, for the caregivers/guardians they will take them to pick out toys and gifts based on what their child likes. During the holidays they provide wrapping paper, and on December 21st, they will be holding a Holiday Toy Fair.
Hope for the Future
We asked Ann what her favorite part of working for the organization was and this is what she told us.
“It gives foster children hope for a better future, they start with kids when they are infants and will follow them into their 20’s in some cases.”
This is extremely important for a child as they grow because it provides comfort and stability to have people who will continue to work with them regardless of how much they move around. By providing that stability, the children have a better opportunity in having a wonder and successful future.
Anything helps, even if its just your time. So, if you are interested in foster care, volunteering, or donating to the Friend of Foster Children Forever please click on the link below and follow their website.
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Child Abuse & Neglect Awareness
Child Abuse & Neglect Awareness
Everyone knows that child abuse and neglect is a problem worldwide, but people aren’t truly aware of how severe this problem is.
The facts
In 2017, according to the American Society for the Positive Care of Children, child abuse reports involved over 7.5 Million children in the U.S. alone. 4.1 Million of those cases were for maltreatment and only 3.2 Million received prevention and post-response services. That is less than half of the total reports! They also reported an estimated 1,720 child deaths in that same year. This means that almost 5 children died each day due to abuse. Within these reports, 71.8% of the children were under the age of 3, and 49.6% were under the age of 1. These statics are just from the United States alone, who knows how high the number would raise if we took reports from across the world!
Knowing the indicators
There are numerous different ways to tell if a child is being abused or neglected. Children can have both physical and emotional indicators that things aren’t going right behind closed doors. A child can be very wary to tell anyone if someone close is hurting them in any way, so pay close attentions to the signs. Different signs of physical abuse are if a child shows any unexplained bruising on their face, torso, back or even thigh area. Another indicator is bruising in various stages of healing or even in a cluster form showing regular patterns. Abusers will use various objects reflecting a bruise shaped as an electric cord or belt buckle. Watch out for a child having any unexplained burns, typically this will be on their soles, palms, and back area, reflecting a cigar or cigarette mark. The child could even have immersion burns or a burn reflecting flat or curling irons. The other indicators are in a child’s emotional behavior. If a child is wary of adult contact or apprehensive when other children cry this could be a sign of physical abuse. They can be taken to an extreme and act out in an aggressive manner, be frightened of their parents or even afraid to go home. Pay close attention to these signs and always report any suspicions you may have.
Don’t be afraid
People often wonder who can report child abuse, but the answer is simple and it starts with YOU! Anyone can report abuse, and in fact if they see any signs they should do so right away. It is not often people realize this issue isn’t just a family problem but a social one as well. When making a report you can do so out of good faith and don’t necessarily need physical evidence. There are many different ways to report signs of abuse or neglect. Contacting law enforcement or any type of child protective services is the first step. After that, a few good actions to take are jotting down notes on what you witnessed and how it harms the child, or how you intervened, and the person continues to overstep boundaries. It is also good to have as much information as possible when making a report, i.e. name and age of child, where the victim can be located, contact information of the guardian, and type of abuse or neglect.
It can be a bit intimidating to make a report of child abuse or neglect, especially if it is a close family member or friend. Remember, you could save a life by simply speaking up for those who aren’t able to do so for themselves. It is never too late to do the right thing!
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