charity
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Good Scout.
Monday officially wrapped up the 2013-2014 Junior League year, though there are still a few things going on the rest of the month. It’s always sad to see a year end, but it’s also great to be able to look back at the impact we’ve made as a group of women on our community. This year, just counting two events, we raised a little shy of $150K. As in thousands. That’s a huge huge deal for our not so huge huge town.
During the year when there are a thousand meetings and I’m occasionally stressing on getting a million things done, the husband always asks why I do it when I don’t have to. It’s an easy answer: volunteering has always been a part of me. My high school emphasized community service, my sorority in college worked with the Make a Wish Foundation and Susan G. Komen, and Junior League fills my volunteer role as an “adult”.{<—how old do I have to be to stop using quotes here?} In between official fundraising and volunteer duties with specific organizations, I’m always willing to support another cause, either by participating or donating. I’ve always leaned towards the participation side; I like to get involved and get my hands dirty. Some people prefer to support causes financially instead. Sometimes there’s a crossover between the two, like riding a bike for 24 hours to raise money for cancer.
Good Scout is working on understanding the “donor experience” – why people choose to give the way they do and what ways they preferred to be asked to give or participate. They’re a “social good consultancy” that helps brands do a better job at doing “greater good”. They’re hosting an online focus group {several actually} to get a better picture of the why and how of charitable giving. If you’re like me, you’re asked a 1,000 times a year to give or help in some way or another, and that number seems to increase every year. Good Scout is looking to figure out what people prefer when it comes to being asked to give in order for brands or organizations to make a better impact. If you participate in one of the focus groups you’ll receive an Amazon gift card for $20. The online survey lists the dates and times of the focus group.
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Good Scout.
What drives you to give? Do you prefer donating money or time?
charity
The 4th and final challenge in the Beautiful Change Challenge is all about revitalizing your community: how “a group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world, so no volunteering opportunity is too small”.
I wholeheartedly agree. Every little bit counts. Every little bit counts when it comes to money, diet, exercise, and even social good. If everybody did one tiny thing to improve their community, it’d add up to an awful lot of good.
I did a lot of volunteering in college, from building homes with Habitat for Humanity to granting kids’ wishes through the Make-a-Wish foundation with my sorority. Once I graduated and got married, I felt a little lost without a mission to focus on or a way to productively contribute to my community. One of my friends had joined the Junior League and immediately piqued my interest.
I’d never heard of the Junior League outside of the book “The Devil in the Junior League” that feeds the stereotype that it’s an organization of rich, elitist, old-money women. In reality, it’s a group of women that want to make an impact on their community. What appealed to me most was that the Junior League didn’t just focus on one volunteer project; they spread their resources across many projects that all added up to make a huge difference.
I’ve been involved with the Junior League for the past four years. This coming year is particularly exciting because we’ll be putting all of our volunteer efforts into a local school. We’ll be helping with reading, education, feeding hungry kids, and much, much more. To hear this elementary school’s principal speak is invigorating and motivating. It’s going to be amazing what an impact this project is going to make on these students’ lives and I’m thrilled to be a part of it.
It’s an added bonus that Junior League has introduced me to my biggest support system and best friends, something I never expected. 
Some Junior League-related posts:
Denim & Diamonds
Touch a Truck {and Touch a Truck with babe this year}
Kids in the Kitchen: ACC Tournament
“Changing the world” sounds like a big task. It is a big task. But if we each start with our own communities, image what we could accomplish.
How do you contribute to your community? Do you volunteer?
A note from a Aveeno, the sponsor of the Beautiful Change Challenge:
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Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Aveeno via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Aveeno.
Fun
I’m fairly certain that it’s obvious that my world resolves around this little guy.
But yesterday we packed him up and shipped him off to Grandma and Grandpa’s for the night so we could go to the Denim and Diamonds party at the Junior League Showhouse.
I got a much needed hair cut, painted my nails, and actually put on makeup. Life of luxury, I tell ya!
We donned our denim and diamonds and headed off to Adamsleigh Estate, the house that will be transformed into a masterpiece by a group of talented designers over the next few weeks.
It was so cool to see the “before” version of the house- the stone walls, the servant quarters, the bajilion and one bathrooms, and the rooms that just kept on going.
I’m not much of a history buff, but seeing the house made me want to learn about it’s story and it’s past once the Showhouse tours start. I mean, there was a safe hidden in what looked like an old-fashioned locker room/closet- there’s got to be a good piece of history there!
My pictures are all cell phone pictures, so they’re not great, but they definitely captured the fun night full of friends and laughter. How can you not laugh at the hazards of an old house: bathrooms that lock people inside! {We weren’t locked inside fyi, that’s the outside of the door—>}
Can’t wait to see the house after it’s transformation!
Thoughts
* The sun has been all kinds of shining this week- thank goodness. And yes, my cheeks have already felt the familiar sting of sunburn. I really hate the smell of sunscreen and the feel of it on my face, so I rarely put it on “just because”. I got a sample of L’Oreal’s Revitalift Miracle Blur in the mail last week- it’s a matte primer/moisturizer/skin smoother that I thought would help out my sad skin with that chronic mommy-fatigue look. I can’t say it makes a huge difference in that regard, but it’s SPF 30 and feels so super smooth and soft on my face. Yay sunscreen!
* This weekend is the first of many events for the Showhouse that Junior League is designing this year- it’s a huge fundraiser for our community and only happens every 4 years. I’m thrilled about the party because the husband is actually coming with me- hooray for a date night and socializing with people that can converse back with real words!
* This hard apple cider is insanely good. Not like ‘good for a gluten-free substitute for beer good’, GOOD good. The ginger flavor is the absolute best. {Note: got this free a loooong time ago, then bought for myself.}
* Yesterday was RD day. Lindsay has a great list of RDs who blog!
* I’m still loving my Ellie gear. Don’t forget you can 20% off right now!
* In the ever elusive search for the enigma known as work-life balance, I’ve got a new gig, but we’ll talk about that another day.
What are you up to this week?
Fun
This weekend Junior League hosted their annual Touch a Truck event- it was too fun and too cute to not share some pictures.
Touch a Truck is a day for kids to come out and see and climb in big, bad trucks in person: army tanks, security trucks, milk trucks,18 wheelers, you name it, it was there. Plus pony rides, face painting, live music, and food.
The day turned out gorgeous- a little windy, but 75 degrees and sunny. After the abnormally cold weekend we had before this one, I was a little worried- but it couldn’t have been more perfect.
This year the Junior League has placed over 100 volunteers and given more than $76,000 to local community programs.
My favorite. 
A tie-dye bus!
Trucks can be pretty too. 
Art projects.
Curious George!
Cookie decorating.
Vendors.
{We’re getting a Whole Foods in the Spring!}
PONY RIDES!
Dancing in the street parking lot.
Not everyone likes trucks. 
Bouncy houses!
Cute.babies.everywhere. Kelly’s twins!
Guess I’ll actually be bringing a baby to this next year?! Yikes.
