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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Pepsi Cleaning Up The Gulf? Let’s Drink To That!

Pepsi is now not only pleasing your taste buds, it’s pleasing our planet’s oceans and wildlife as well. Pepsi is taking a stand against the infamous oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico through its widely popular and charitable Refresh Project.

The drink and snack powerhouse recently announced that it will donate an additional $1.3 million in grants next month solely to projects that inspire innovative ideas to help communities in the oil-affected five state region: Texas, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama.

Pepsi felt a need to step in and offer a hand as the situation in the south seems to be spiraling out of control. And it couldn't come at a better time. Starting July 12, anyone may start submitting their ideas for helping people in the five-state region. However, Pepsi notes that it will not accept ideas for cleanup efforts or aiding the environment as other agencies are currently covering these horrific issues.

"It just seemed like a natural evolution of the program," says Lauren Hobart. The chief marketing officer ads that she expects Pepsi to do similar efforts focusing on specific events or locations in the future.

So act fast America, this opportunity to have Pepsi fund your Gulf-saving idea only lasts for one month. Mull your idea around, publish and promote it on refresheverything.com, and help improve the lives of millions of Americans affected by such a devastating situation. Have YOU helped save the world today?


For more information, visit: today.msnbc.com, refresheverything.com

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Food For Thought

The city of Charleston, South Carolina is not only making its mark on the culinary stage but on the charitable front as well. Soup kitchens throughout the area are preparing to serve more than 20,000 meals that will be prepared by top local chefs thanks to a new community initiative that they hope will soon gain attention worldwide.

This innovative initiative, known as Charleston Chefs Feed the Need, is a coalition of fifty-two of the area’s most delectable and notable restaurants. Not only will the food be aplenty, those on the receiving end will have a hard time matching its unforgettable taste!

The program was first established by Mickey Bakst of Charleston Grill at Charleston Place Hotel in conjunction with the Greater Charleston Restaurant Association.

This initiative is the nation’s first organized relief effort in which meals will be served by the hospitality community on a year-round basis. Bakst hopes that soon his game-changing idea will carry over to other cities nation-wide.

Feed the Need couldn't arrive at a more perfect time. With foreclosures and layoffs at an all-time high, an influx of American families with children are triggered to depend on food providers for their sustenance. As a result, local food providers have incurred more than a thirty-six percent increase in demand just last year.

At Brushfire, we hope that this nourishing initiative with spread like wildfire around our great country and abroad. After all, there’s nothing more satisfying that helping and feeding a fellow comrade in need...sort of like “chicken soup for the soul!” Have YOU helped save the world today?


For more information, visit: charlestonrestaurantassociation.com

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Packing Dreams in the Penske

With the economy steadily remaining at an all-time low, many Americans are in need of a little help this year. And what’s better than getting that help from the Today show’s Al Roker and his“Lend a Hand” program.

In its ninth consecutive year, “Lend a Hand” continues its mission to help small charities across the country that are striving to improve the conditions within their communities. Hitting the road with a few brave camera men all packed into the Penske, Al Roker has begun his goodwill road trip in San Francisco. The week long trip continues across our great nation making stops in Bozeman (Montana), Des Moines (Iowa), Memphis (Tennessee), and Rye (New Hampshire).

As Al makes his pilgrimage around the country granting aid to various charities, many different company’s are following suit and jumping on the bandwagon to “Lend a Hand.” For example, Troxel Helmets donated over $10,000 worth of helmets to the Eagle Mount Charity. United Airlines upped the ante and donated over one million to the “Lend a Hand program as well.

More and more dreams are coming true with every stop that Al and his Today crew make. As their journey comes to an end, the dreams and aspirations in which they've granted to those in need, have only just begun. Have YOU helped save the world today?


For more information, visit: www.today.msnbc.com, rocksf.org, eaglemount.org, iowahomelessyouth.org, newballet.org, HON.org

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Not Your Ordinary “Leave It To Beaver” Neighborhood

America is loaded with the suburbs. You know the type: undistinguishable houses, half acre lots, kids riding their bikes up and down the sidewalks, dogs barking, neighbors waving hi to one another, Honda Accords parked in the driveways. However, there is a new sheriff in town. Earth Haven eco-village is adding a twist to the modern day ‘Green Acres.’

Founded in 1994, Earth Haven is comfortably situated on three hundred and twenty acres in western North Carolina. The inhabitants of the eco-village take full advantage of the culturally rich and biologically diverse countryside, and demonstrate holistic, sustainable culture. Put in layman’s terms, Earth Haven is like it’s own medieval city-state.


Today, Earth Haven boasts about sixty members within it’s illustrious borders. Although most of it is still under construction, Earth Haven’s permaculture site plan includes residential neighborhoods and compact business sites, in addition to areas suited for orchards, market gardens, and wetlands. Their near-sighted goal is to increase their population size to one hundred and fifty, with just over fifty-six homesites.

Interestingly enough, members of Earth Haven govern themselves with a consensus decision-making process and a Council and committee structure. They own title to their land which has been financed from private loans from members. Members also pay their share of the cost of the land simply by leasing homesites from the community.

Members of Earth Haven have the opportunity to create and operate their own environmentally-friendly businesses within the eco-village. From a permaculture nursery, carpentry and home construction, tool-rental, solar system installation, plumbing and electrical installation, candle-lanterns and other wooden craft items, this modern day civilization should give the Amish a run for their money (and their horses).

With their own ecologically sound businesses and sustainable living mechanisms, Earth Haven eco-village is so efficient, the outside world will barely even know it’s there...after all, isn’t that what it’s all about? Have YOU helped save the world today?

For more information, visit: earthhaven.org

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Saving the Planet Never Looked So Good

Growing up on the Mississippi delta, one might expect a young boy to pursue a career in football (playing for Ole Miss), take part in a marching band (for the Ole Miss football team), or find a vocation that can generously give back to his alma mater; that’s right, you guessed it, Ole Miss.

Matt Mahler is clearly the exception. Having descended from trappers, Mahler became closely acquainted with the wildlife and ecosystem that inhabited the coastal wetlands of southern Louisiana. This exact place is where Mahler drew his inspiration to create his now one year old business, Tierra Ideas.

Tierra Ideas takes wasted materials from various industries and transforms them into stylish bags for anyone to wear. His first successful attempt at this innovative idea of recycling waste into useful products came when he found Performance Bikes. Performance Bikes is a cycling shop that initially discarded over twelve tubes a day from each of its ninety stores nationwide. When Mahler approached the company asking to re-create its waste into useful handbags, the staff exuberantly agreed.

Today, Mahler works with fifteen Performance Bikes shops in the vicinity of his home in North Carolina. When he’s not crafting luxurious handbags from inner tubes of tires, he is constantly experimenting with other wasted “want-nots” such as: sails from boats, car headliner, seat belts, and fabric from seats on Delta airlines. Yes, we said Delta airlines. Random, huh? Not so...

Turns out that an airline seat can only be washed ten times before the fabric must be thrown away due to minimized potency of their flame retardant chemicals, as stated by government decree.

Currently, Mahler has about 5,300 pounds of used airplane seat fabric, which is sadly only one third of Delta’s waste. Along with his trusted tires and whatever else he chooses to recycle, Mahler is creating environmentally friendly bags today, and granting them new life for tomorrow. Have YOU helped save the world today?

For more information, visit: thedailygreen.com, www.tierraideas.com

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