It’s that time of year that we fill our hearts with love and joy while reflecting on our many blessings. We tend to surround ourselves with family and friends that we know and love and many of us will get an overwhelming sense to give back during the holiday season. T Brothers is a big believer in giving Back to the community and hope that you will open your hearts, schedule, and/ or wallets to those causes that are near and dear to your heart.
This Holiday season T Brothers Tile has chosen 3 charities to support: Opportunity Village, The March of Dimes, and Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.
Here is some more information on our charities that we supported this season and 7 Ideas on how you can give back!
OPPORTUNITY VILLAGE: Las Vegas, NV
(www.oportunityvillage.org)
Opportunity Village is a not-for-profit organization that serves people in the Southern Nevada community with intellectual disabilities, to enhance their lives and the lives of the families who love them. Opportunity Village is dedicated to helping people with severe intellectual and related disabilities become the very best they can be. Through vocational training, community employment, day services, advocacy, arts and social recreation, citizens with severe disabilities are able to find new friends, realize future career paths, seek independence and community integration and unleash creative passions.
Visit the Opportunity Village Magical Forrest to see the T Brothers Tile Christmas Tree. Local companies have donated their time and money to create a Winter Wonderland in Las Vegas. Visitors will see hundreds of trees with various themes, it truly is a “Magical” experience.
Tickets for Adults start at $11.00, Children start at $9.00.
MARCH OF DIMES:
(www.marchofdimes.com)
This great foundation focuses to prevent birth defects and infant mortality. The March of Dimes has led the way to discover the genetic causes of birth defects, to promote newborn screening, and to educate medical professionals and the public about best practices for healthy pregnancy. The March of Dimes has supported research for surfactant therapy to treat respiratory distress and helped initiate the system of regional neonatal intensive care for premature and sick babies. Recent focus has been geared towards a Folic Acid Campaign, which achieved a dramatic reduction in the incidence of neural tube defects, birth defects of the brain and spine.
T Brothers Tile donated a Kitchen Remodel, with Granite Kitchen and Island counter tops with a Tile Mosaic back splash. Kitchen photos to follow once winner has claimed the prize.
MAKING STRIDES AGAINST BREAST CANCER: AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
(www.makingstrides.acsevents.org)
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer is the largest network of breast cancer awareness events in the nation, uniting nearly 300 communities to finish the fight. Every breast cancer walk and event is an incredible and inspiring opportunity to honor those who have battled breast cancer, raise awareness about what we can do to reduce our breast cancer risk, and raise money to help the American Cancer Society fight the disease with research, information and services, and access to mammograms for women who need them.
See Below for photos of Brandy Hulslander and Courtney Sanner “Making Strides” at the 10/05/2013 walk at the JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort in Summerlin.
We have put together some ways that you can give back to the community and spread the Holiday Cheer.
- Serve at a Soup Kitchen. Volunteering at a local soup kitchen during the holidays is a great way to have a hands-on experience with community service. I guarantee you will have a newfound appreciation for the food on your own table. Search for a soup kitchen near you by checking out DoSomething.org. (ex. Las Vegas Rescue Mission)
- Make cards for hospitalized kids. This act of kindness takes almost no time at all, and it will instantly brighten a child’s day. Get together with your friends and personalize greeting cards with watercolors, glitter, stickers, and stamps. Make sure to write a sweet message inside too.
- Adopt a family. Have you ever wondered what it would feel like to be Santa? The Salvation Army must have had this question in mind when they started their Adopt-A-Family program. They match an impoverished family with a group of people who plan to provide an entire Christmas for their “adopted family.” You can sign up with your family or a group of friends to shop for your adopted family’s presents on their Christmas list and deliver them on Christmas morning. Go to Salvation Army to learn more.
- Donate a Christmas tree to our troops. This great cause allows Americans to donate Christmas trees to a group of U.S. troops who are overseas during the holidays. The process is pretty simple: Just go to one of the tree lots that are participating all over the country to purchase a tree. They will place it in a FedEx truck that’s already on the lot, so you will literally be able to see your tree waiting to get shipped off to American soldiers. To make donating even easier, just plan on buying your own Christmas tree at one of the lots that participates in this program so you can buy another one for our troops while you’re there. Visit Trees for Troops for more details.
- Donate your Unwanted Clutter. Assess what you have in terms of clothes and shoes, and figure out what you absolutely don’t need anymore. Separate the things that are still gently used and in good condition—this will be your donate pile. Make sure you’re giving away items that you would want to receive (no undergarments or tattered clothes ladies). Then, just place the things you’re going to donate in a box or a bag and contact Goodwill, or Savers—they will even come pick it up for you!
- Bring Goodies to a Nursing Home. While holiday baking with your little one is a special tradition, take it a step further this year by bringing homemade goodies to a local nursing home. Have your child help drop off the food gifts and talk to residents in the community — especially those who don’t have regular visitors.
- Go Caroling. Give your family and neighbors the gift of song this season by organizing a night of caroling. Your level of vocal skill doesn’t matter — most Christmas carols are easy to sing or hum. Simply gather a few other parents and friends and print off song sheets to help kids learn all the words.
Whether you support all of these, or none of these, we urge you to get involved!
