A Fool-Proof Way To Make It To Heaven

Some people donate millions of dollars to charity; others volunteer thousands of hours to their cause. While that’s all good and nice, their work or their money stops as soon as their eyes close...permanently. So you ask, how on earth (or in the afterlife for that matter) can someone still have the ability to help out our planet? The answer lies within the Ecopod.

The Ecopod is a coffin made of 100% recycled newspaper, finished with a colored sheet made of silk and mulberry leaves. What’s more is that it comes in four different shades of colors: blue with doves, green with a Celtic cross, red with an Aztec sun, and a baller gold leaf version applied solely by hand. Now when you lay to rest folks, you’re not only going out green, you’re going out in style. And what dead person wouldn't want that?

To top it off, these Ecopods aren't only extremely stylish, they are far more affordable than that of the traditional sepulchers made of chipboard and laminate. Starting at about seven hundred and fifty pounds (about fifteen hundred bucks give or take), these eco-friendly coffins wont burden your family in today’s cruel economy.

Everyone can give a few dollars to a foundation and anyone can volunteer their efforts for a couple hours a week. However, if you’ve resolved to be more eco-conscious in your everyday life, why stop in the afterlife? Have YOU helped save the world today?


For more information, visit: inhabitat.com

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The King of Atlanta, The Champion of Sustainability: Meet Lewis Perkins

Sustainability is vital in order to stay afloat in a rapidly changing world. Not only are serious changes imperative, being able to predict upcoming trends can help anyone progress forward in today’s society. No one knows this more than THE champion of sustainability himself, Lewis Perkins.

Prior to starting his consulting group, New House LLC, which works with Fortune 500 companies as well as mid-size businesses to develop strategy and solutions to maintain their competitive edge, Perkins dabbled (and continues to do so) in consulting and working closely with various non-profits and foundations to improve their marketing strategies.

Perkins has also served as a board member of GOAL: A Girl’s Journey of Growth, which promotes self-esteem, self-awareness, and respect for individual differences in women and girls alike. Additionally, Perkins volunteered at many other charitable organizations such as Eve Ensler’s V-Day, Men Stopping Violence, and The Captain Planet Foundation.

Currently, he is an advisory board member for Sustainable Life Media and The Green Chamber of The South. With all of his demanding engagements, one would assume that this guy’s “little black book” is jam packed!

When he’s not kicking his feet up in his current home town of Atlanta, Georgia, Lewis Perkins is busy jet setting to various cities, speaking to the public regarding methods to remain a stalwart in such a capricious time and market. And we all know that the final answer to this sustainability question comes down to one thing: Go green people! Have YOU helped save the world today?


For more information, visit: lewisperkins.com

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Clothing AND Care: By Invitation

Not only is it making strides on the runway, CAbi is making changes in women’s lives all around the world.

The upscale women’s clothing company has helped to empower and elevate impoverished women world wide via the Heart of CAbi Foundation. For the second time around, CAbi is funding micro-loans for women living in poverty, irregardless of their location.

Recently, CAbi’s Heart of CAbi Foundation partnered with Opportunity International to enable women to meet their families’ needs for food, shelter, and education on a global scale. To date, over $20,000 has been donated solely by CAbi customers and the number continues to grow exponentially!

Established in 2005, The Heart of CAbi Foundation had one goal, and one goal only: to fulfill its mission to provide poor and disenfranchised women around world a greater opportunity to excel in their dreams and ambitions through donations of CAbi clothing, financial support, and various volunteer efforts.

Through its humanitarian efforts, CAbi clothing is an easily recognizable franchise all over the planet. Financial support and over one million articles of clothing have been given to organizations that are dedicated to impacting the lives of those in need where ever the cause may lead. American Red Cross, Child Hope International, Food For the Poor, and the International Princess Project are among just a fraction of the generous foundations in which CAbi has helped to sponsor.

Whether you’re in the mood for a shopping party with your closest friends, or just need to buy a classical blazer for an upcoming board meeting, CAbi has got you covered. Furthermore, you can rest assured that not only are you investing in top-of-the-line material for your backside, CAbi is making donations from your purchases to cover that of the less fortunate women among us. CAbi is giving a whole new look to the phrase, “Girl Power!” Have YOU helped save the world today?


For more information, visit: cabionline.com

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Chicago is Setting Goals Higher Than Its Sears Tower

Traffic: The one word that sparks the most the most irate, intense, and annoyed emotions (also known as “road rage”). Some cities have learned how to deal with the incessant problem through the use of metros such as Washington DC, and others, such as Los Angeles, just altogether fail at providing a solution to overpopulated highways. However, the city of Chicago has come up with a new innovative transportation method to keep the highways happy and its people healthy.

The whole idea is pretty straightforward: one card that grants access to the trains, buses, and a local car-sharing program. The Smart Card is Chicago-based nonprofit I-Go Car Sharing’s idea to extend public transportation to include public cars.

According to a recent study, most of the cars that inhabit the windy city sit parked ninety-five percent of the time! This statistic provided the motivation for I-Go CEO Sharon Feigon to promote the Smart card idea. "We have to make better use of our assets," says the CEO. "We want to integrate the public-transit systems and car sharing any way we can, and sharing one card is a good way to demonstrate that these different ideas are linked."

The pilot program started over a year ago with over five thousand Smart Cards and more than two hundred “shared” cars. Now, the idea has flourished and inspired other cities all over America to follow suit in creating new ways to link different forms of public transportation to promote efficiency in addition to being eco-friendly.

What’s next on tap for the home of “Da Bears?” Shareable plug-in hybrids that can power up at kiosks with real-time info on buses and trains. How’s THAT for a game-changer, America? Have YOU helped save the world today?

For more information, visit: www.fastcompany.com

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“Here He Comes To Save The Day”: Superman Lengthens His Legacy Through Charity

It’s a bird! No, it’s a plane! No, it’s SUPERMAN!

Even after his death, Christopher Reeve, America’s superhero, is continuing to live up to his superhuman responsibilities.

The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation is dedicated to curing spinal cord injury through generous funding of innovative research in addition to improving the quality of life for people living with paralysis through grants, information, and advocacy.

The Foundation’s beginning stems back over two decades when the American Paralysis Association was formed by a group of people that refused to accept the notion of spinal cord injuries being irreparable, in 1982.

Following his horrific equestrian injury in 1995, Christopher Reeve sought out the guidance and help from this organization which ultimately not only inspired Reeve to continue living, but motivated him to create a foundation that helped others in the same life-threatening predicament.

Sadly, Reeve met his demise on October 10, 2004. However, his legacy is now being carried on through his foundation and the many people who’s lives he has changed. Before he passed, Reeve noted, "When the first Superman movie came out, I gave dozens of interviews to promote it. The most frequent question was: What is a hero? My answer was that a hero is someone who commits a courageous action without considering the consequences. Now my definition is completely different. I think a hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles. They are the real heroes, and so are the families and friends who have stood by them."

Whether the victim is in need of some financial aid due to the lifestyle change, or just need to seek answers or advocacy from the emotional and physical trauma in which a spinal injury has caused, the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation is here to allow those effected to move forward. Unlike Superman, this generous foundation isn't here to just fleetingly save the day; rather, it seeks to improve these peoples’ lives by trumping any borders or limitations in which society has placed on those injured. Have YOU helped save the world today?

For more information, visit: christopherreeve.org

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Missing a Mirror? Look No Further Than Sicily

Sicily has just announced the creation of the world’s first Molten Salt Solar Plant. The purpose of this innovative plant is to produce power from the sun, but at night-time.

The road to achieve such a ground breaking achievement as the Molten Salt Solar Plant was long and confusing one, similar to its name. However, because of its creation, more options have become available to feed the world’s growing need for power.

Since molten salt is able to reach very high temperatures (over one thousand degrees Fahrenheit) in addition to its ability to hold more heat than the synthetic oil used in other CSP (concentrated solar plant) plants, the plant is able to continue to produce electricity even after the sun has set.

While photovoltaic solar panels work by directly producing electricity from sunlight, rendering them inefficient at night. CSP plants, on the other hand, use mirrors to concentrate sunlight and produce high temperatures in order to drive a turbine to generate electricity. Although CSP plants have been in existence for many years, the Archimede plant in Sicily is the first instance of a facility that uses molten salt as the collection medium.

The Archimede plant has a capacity of five megawatts with a field of 30,000 square meters of mirrors and more than three miles of heat collecting piping for the molten salt. The overall cost to build such an avant-garde plant is staggering. The plant took over 60 million Euros to build, which proves that the costs to find greener technology certainly doesn’t come cheap.

From solar powered vehicles to using molten salt and mirrors, the world is constantly striving to fulfill its needs for more power and more energy. The Molten Salt Solar Plant is hoping to help address the energy crisis, in leaps and bounds. This goes to show you that some of the world’s most likely problems, yield the most unlikely answers. Have YOU helped save the world today?



For more information, visit: inhabitat.com

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Nourishment on Wheels, Fresh Off the Farm

There is a new type of bus driving around our children’s neighborhoods. But this isn't your local yellow school bus summoning the kids to school each morning. Rather, this innovative bus is delivering much more to our youth that just a mode of transportation: it’s giving them a fresh, balanced diet-fresh off of the local farm.

Behind the register (and the wheel) is Mark Lilly, former restaurant manager who thought up and acted on the idea of delivering fresh farm goods to impoverished city areas.

Inspired from tending to his mother’s kitchen garden while she traveled overseas, Lilly had his “eureka moment” in June 2009, when he witnessed an informative and motivational documentary regarding the hazards of industrial food production, known as Food, Inc. Immediately upon viewing the piece, Lilly thought of all the ways he could make a difference in people’s lives. His dream has now materialized into a $3,600 school bus. And the rest is history.

Lilly remade the vehicle, using reclaimed barn wood and burlap, into a moving farmer’s market; but one that would help those most in need. Lilly now spends his days driving up and down interstate 95 visiting urban neighborhoods of Richmond, Virginia where nearly 4,000 families live more than a mile from a grocery store and often don't have access to a vehicle to get there.

According to a USDA survey, these barren urban areas, also known as “food deserts,” affect about twenty three million Americans; of these, nearly seven million are children. Not only is it hard to get to the store, affording nutrient-rich foods that are freshly grown off the farm are far too expensive for these families to afford.

So, how does this former restaurant manager turned charitable care-giver afford to donate such organic delicacies? Along with the money he acquires from selling his produce in more affluent neighborhoods, Lilly molded partnerships with many farmers who share the same views as he.

Eating the best produce and following a healthy nutritious diet shouldn't be exclusive to certain sectors within society. Now, with Lilly and his frequent bus stops, many people have the option to eat like kings, without necessarily spending like them. Lilly is showing another side to the benefits of this modern-day “meals on wheels.” Have YOU helped save the world today?

For more information, visit: people.com

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Peet’s Is Not Your Average Cup of Joe

America is fixated on attaining its energy from the almighty coffee bean. From fast food chains, grocery stores, cafes, or Starbucks, over half of the population is running into these locations for their morning “kick in the butt!” One coffee chain, however, is paving a way not only to greener business, but to greener growing.

Peet’s Coffee and Tea started off as a small coffee roasting company created in 1966 that prided itself with specialized coffee beans and complimentary customer care. Since its beginning, Peet’s has sought to uplift everything in which it’s engaged, from its coffee growers to its customers.

Peet’s supports organizations and programs that educate growers on improving their coffee quality; that way, we all win! In addition to progressing their quality of coffee, Peet’s also strives to improve its farmers quality of life.

Since 2000, Peet’s coffee has been actively involved in Technoserve’s East Africa Initiative. Technoserve is a company that empowers people in poor rural areas through business training. Additionally, Peet’s has become highly involved with KIMSSA (Kidane Mehret Self-help Association) which is an Ethiopian tutoring and vocational school for underprivileged children, which coincidentally is also run by one of their long time coffee suppliers. The Butterfly School is another one of Peet’s benefactors since the coffee company has helped fund the creation and activities of the school that is located in the remote highlands of Papua New Guinea.

In addition to funding socially responsible and beneficial institutions and projects, Peet’s also follows a strictly green regimen when it comes to the creation of its coffee. The coffee beans are roasted in the nation’s first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certified roasting facility, developed by the US Green Building Council. This means that they reduce their energy use by forty percent due to their innovative heat exchange technologies and HVAC systems. Furthermore, their water usage is reduced by eighty-seven percent because of their efficient landscaping and irrigation systems.

Whether it’s a mocha latte, Frappacino, or just a plain old cup of coffee, Peet’s is now providing a way for Americans to enjoy their daily beverage guilt-free and consciously-safe. After all, who said quality and quantity can’t go hand in hand? Have YOU helped save the world today?



For more information, visit: peets.com

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Dreams Are Sent Soaring in the Mile High City

Whether you’re in awe of stepping foot in four states simultaneously at the Four Corners, learning about the rampant tales of the late cowboys and indians, or enjoying a Broncos game in the enormous stadium, the state of Colorado is a mecca for both history and culture. To top it off, its capital city is now creating a way for all people, both rich and poor, both young and old, to enjoy something that trumps even the tallest of borders: art.

The Mile-High City is now offering a program that provides opportunities for some of its youngest and poorest residents to visit and learn from the city’s most prominent cultural institutions.

The Five by Five Program gives children and their families free access to over twelve museums and cultural venues, including the Denver Art Museum, Colorado Ballet, and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. These strictly VIP locations are now being made available to those whose last thing on their mind is which designer to wear to the next opera. Because such luxuries are being offered to these families, one would be correct in assuming that they have a lot to take away from the program.

And take advantage they have! In 2008 alone, over three thousand participating families clocked nearly thirty thousand visits to the different venues! "Eliminate the barriers to accessing culture, and our families will show up," says executive director Maria Guajardo. "As one father told me: 'I feel like the city belongs to me now.' "

Denver is providing unparalleled opportunities to those who would normally be pushed aside for the almighty dollar. Simultaneously, they are evening out the playing field and therefore asserting that the fruits of culture shouldn't solely be enjoyed by the wealthy. Have YOU helped save the world today?



For more information, visit: fastcompany.com

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Expanding The American Legacy

Republicans and Democrats (and everyone in between) unite! Former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush have joined forces in leading a major fundraising campaign to aid the Haitian people, also known as the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund.

Immediately following the earthquake in Haiti at the beginning of the year, President Obama asked the former American leaders to come together to not only assist Haiti in a time of economic strife and social turmoil, but to rebuild it back even better. Now that the initial efforts of immediate relief and emergency assistance have come to a close, round two of the fund’s tenacious efforts have now kicked in!

The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund’s newfound primary focus has now shifted to getting the country back on it’s feet, but healthier and stronger than before. In order to make steps in this direction, the fund now is targeting longer-term reconstruction, job creation, and the promotion of economic opportunity.

Both former presidents have pinpointed that the key to Haiti’s successful comeback is through its economy. Therefore, the aim of the fund is to promote an inclusive, diversified, environmentally-conscious and competitive Haitian economy that is decentralized and is easily integrated into the region. Furthermore, they seek to build an economy that motivates yet captures the entrepreneurial spirit of the Haitians in order to allow individuals, families, communities, and enterprises reach their fullest potential.

When it comes to taking sides as to whether who is helping out more, the choice simply doesn't exist. You see, helping others is universal and doesn't have any bias or pass judgement. The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund is trumping invisible political borders by uniting two American leaders, who share opposing beliefs in how to lead, but certainly not how to help. Have YOU helped save the world today?

For more information, visit: clintonbushhaitifund.org

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Out With The Old, In With The New

A few people in London are revolutionizing a somewhat old way of traveling by rail. The British design firm Priestmangoode recently unveiled the Mercury, a high speed train designed for low-carbon ultra-efficient travel.

And by high speed, we mean “strap on your seat belts” fast! The sleek double decker train is supposed to be able to easily hit speeds of two hundred and twenty five miles per hour. Rest assured kids, this isn’t your grandpa’s type of railroad.

The Mercury features an extended nose section that is vital to the aerodynamics of the train, enabling it to reach lighting-fast speeds. The interior, both modern and comfortable, contains windows that curve up onto the roof allowing for spectacular views on the top deck. I would imagine that’s only when the train is stopped since everything else would be a blur due to its incomprehensible speed.

With its state-of-the-art futuristic and enticing interior, accompanied with its quick and convenient speed, Priestmangoode’s Mercury should have no problem increasing its Facebook fan club base. To top it off, with its eco-friendly low carbon use, riding the train has never looked or felt so good. Have YOU helped save the world today?


For more information, visit: inhabitat.com

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Santa Clause Hits the Cold, Hard Streets of Chicago

An ongoing controversial battle between those who believe that drug addiction is a medical disease or those who think it is simply human weakness runs rapid throughout our cities’ streets. One man, however, is acting on his belief by medicating addicts in hopes to win the battle against drug addiction.

Greg Scott, Research Director of the Chicago Recovery Alliance, sees the 50,000 plus addicts in his city as victims in dire need of medical assistance and treatment. Scott’s typical day begins on the wrong side of Chicago’s railroad tracks. As he heads out on his mission throughout the most dangerous neighborhoods in the city, this medic seeks to grant aid to homeless addicts, especially those on heroin.

Opiates, such as heroin, is the leading narcotic that takes lives, around 100,000 people per year worldwide. People either die from becoming infected by using dirty needles or they simply overdose on the addictive substance.

As Scott travels throughout the city, his main concern is not to get the users into actual addiction rehabilitation or treatment, but instead, to teach them safer injection practices by passing out thousands of new needles. Additionally, when a user is reported to have overdosed, Scott quickly rushes to person and injects them with an anecdote that rapidly reverses the hold of heroin on their brain.

To some, Greg Scott is seen as an enemy of the state; someone who is helping out those who aren't deserving of such kindness. On the other hand, he could be viewed as a modern day Mother Teresa; someone who is always given second chances to the fallen. Whether you agree with Greg Scott’s practices or not, you cannot help but appreciate this man’s love for all mankind. Have YOU helped save the world today?


For more information, visit: nationalgeographic.com

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iPhone 4: The ‘Apple’ of America’s Eye

If you’re one of the many people world-wide who spend their lives with an iPhone attached at the hip, ear, hand, pocket, purse, or Bluetooth, then perhaps this report will make you rethink your technological preferences.

The next time you purchase an upgraded iPhone (since Apple is averaging a new one every year), keep in mind you’re not just promoting the delicious brand. Truth be told, the manufacturer of the iPhone isn’t located in America, but in mainland China nonetheless. The Taiwanese company, Foxconn, has been reported to have abusive labor practices that are said to have violated the already lax Chinese environmental laws.

In May, Chinese environmental groups released a report to the public tracking the connection between heavy metal poisoning and IT production in the mainland. The metal components used to produce mobile phone batteries and printed circuit boards are both lead and cadmium.

More than four thousand Chinese people, unfortunately mostly children, were discovered to have unsafe levels of lead in their blood this past year.

A coincidence you ask? We don’t think so. Word on the street is that many of these powerhouse companies that enter China to manufacture their products usually shun environmental practices, and also have been known to build secret pipes that will pump untreated water directly to waterways. Furthermore, when the Chinese environmental groups asked these companies to provide more information about their Asian supply chains, Apple (along with eight other companies) has not responded, nearly fifty days later.

Is Steve Jobs squirming in his plush leather office chair yet? Not quite. Perhaps this will be a wake up call to Apple to keep a watchful eye over the origins of its product in order to retain its clean, fresh image it so imminently boasts today. If all else fails, maybe Mr. Gates can help out his rival to finance a few environmentalist groups over a couple thousand miles away. Have YOU helped save the world today?

For more information, visit: inhabitat.com

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Sweden Satisfies Many A Sweet Tooth

Rich decadent chocolate; Brawny and Fearless Vikings; Towering and Perilous Mountain Ranges. These are a few things that spring to mind when discussing the gloriously beautiful country of Sweden. But the dark chocolate isn’t the only thing on the menu.

After a recession nearly obliterated Sweden’s most industrial city Malmo in the 1980s, the city (soon followed by the rest of the country) was given a clean slate on which to start things anew. Come the dawn of a new decade, Malmo had transformed from an industrial powerhouse bogged down with pollution and litter, to an eco-friendly front-runner that is making waves amongst its nosey european neighbors.

The transformation was a long and arduous one, but one of necessity. Malmo created green neighborhoods out of old dilapidated tenements and ancient shipyards. Furthermore, most of the Western Harbour now runs solely on renewable energy, including wind and solar, while organic waste from the area is recycled into biogas.

In Augustenborg, roof gardens reduce runoff and insulate homes, while the carpool system and pedestrian and bike-friendly paths help cut down on vehicle use. Moreover, the city hopes to reduce its CO2 emissions by 25% between now and 2012, blowing the Kyoto Protocol’s 5% target out of the water!

Although considered a relatively smaller country amongst its excessively larger neighbors, Sweden is setting and obtaining colossal goals that are grasping world-wide attention. From it’s eco-friendly neighborhoods, to recycled biogas, Sweden is creating a new green lifestyle which is slowly and steadily gaining notoriety on a world-wide front. Have YOU helped saved the world today?


For more information, visit: fastcompany.com

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An Unbridled Passion for Life: The Story Behind the EAF

Accidents occur on a multitude of levels. They can happen in the car, on a plane, on the field, even on horseback. The Equestrian Aid Foundation was set up to assist anyone in the equestrian world who has suffered from the inconveniences of obtaining a life threatening illness, a horrific accident or injuries by providing direct financial support for their medical costs or other basic needs. Since I have personally been at the receiving end of this foundation, Brushfire felt it only necessary to highlight their powerful and charitable mission.

The Equestrian Aid Foundation (EAF) was originally started back in 1996 as an organization that would grant care for those equestrians diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. After ten years in action, the EAF has opened its blanket to cover “aid” to equestrians who have been disabled due to any type of illness or injury.

The funds donated to the EAF are used by the equestrians to provide various essentials that include medical needs, health insurance, food and housing, transportation, physical therapy, and so on. In order to minimize their operating expenses, EAF has come to depend on donations of office space, graphic design, and other administrative costs.

Anyone can appreciate the endless beauty and unbridled power of the horse. From the wide open plains in Montana that house herds of mustangs, to up and down both coasts that play host to the most paramount of horse shows, to the state of Kentucky that remains the first stage of the highly anticipated Triple Crown, our nation is enamored with these magnificent creatures. The EAF, on the other hand, allows us to appreciate the horses by taking care of those who actually feed, ride, train, and live within that equestrian realm. And that, my friends, is coming straight from “the horse’s mouth!” Have YOU helped save the world today?

For more information, visit: equestrianaidfoundation.org

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America: Home to the Free, the Brave, and the Volunteer?

Did you know that Americans spent over 100 million more hours helping out their communities last year? If that doesn’t grasp your attention, think about it in actual numbers. The amount of volunteers in the past year skyrocketed from 1.6 million to 63.4 million of our fellow Americans who lent their helping hands.

Out of those who decided to show their philanthropic side, women were the key factors that contributed to the massive jump in volunteers. In 2009, 36.7 million women were reported to have volunteered whereas in 2008, the number was a meagerly 1.2 million.

Overall, Americans set aside 8.1 billion hours to lend a hand with the typical volunteer donating fifty-two hours per year of their time. And who says we are a lazy nation?

What’s probably most surprising (and somewhat comforting) is that this influx of volunteers comes at a time when our nation is struggling to regain its economic footing amid sensationally high unemployment levels. In other words, since many people don't have the actual funds to give to charity, they’re translating their labor and time into valuable methods of aid instead. And we all know that quite frankly, time is money.

The top volunteer activity was raising money or selling items, followed by collecting and distributing food. Others enjoyed providing transportation, good old-fashioned labor, and tutoring or teaching. Most of these activities were served under religious organizations or social and community groups.

Considering our nation’s economic morale, Americans are extracting the positive out of an ordinarily morose situation, by helping those in need. People are turning in their own wallets and exchanging them for a set of gloves, shovel, a book, or a universally appreciated, smile. Have YOU helped save the world today?


For more information, visit: msnbc.msn.com

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Why It’s Always a Good Idea to Have a Billionaire in Your Corner

Well the word is out fellow social firestarters! Warren Buffet has now donated another $1.93 billion to five charitable foundations which is the third-highest amount recorded since the investor began donating ninety-nine percent of his own wealth in 2006.

On Thursday, Buffet generously donated 24.54 million Class B shares of his insurance and investment company Berkshire Hathaway Inc. The donation increased from $1.51 billion in 2009 because the Class B shares have risen over thirty-five percent in the past year.

And who are the lucky foundations who are enjoying the benefits of a generous and giving Buffet? About $1.6 billion of Berkshire shares this year went to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which addresses society’s problems such as education, health and poverty.

The Microsoft mastermind and his wife’s foundation aren't the only ones rolling in Buffet’s dough (not that they are really suffering anyhow). Other shares went to the Susan Thompson Buffet Foundation (named after Buffet’s late wife), in addition to foundations set up for their children, Howard, Peter and Susan.

When Buffet isn’t busy making the money in which he donates, or donating the money that he makes, he is calling upon others to give away some of their assets as well. Last month, Gates and Buffett called on American billionaires to pledge at least half their wealth to charity. Forbes magazine in March called them the world's second- and third-richest people, trailing Mexico's Carlos Slim Helu.

Although you don’t have to be a billionaire to make a difference in our world, having a little extra pocket change, like our friend Warren Buffet, certainly never hurts. However, Buffet looks beyond his wallet and strives to encourage others to follow in his footsteps of kindness and philanthropy. Have YOU helped save the world today?

For more information, visit: www.today.msnbc.msn.com

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