Ladies’ Home Journal We Volunteer Awards Winners

November 22, 2011 at 9:51 am , by Amanda Wolfe

We’re so proud to highlight the women who won our second annual Ladies’ Home Journal We Volunteer Awards, a partnership with WE tv. Our goal was to find rockstar volunteers who are quietly making a big difference in their communities, and these three amazing ladies do not disappoint. Tessa Wehrman (left) volunteers with two groups to help disabled kids and adults, Holly McKay (center) has taught “mad scientist” lessons at her local elementary school twice a week for years, and Alison Bearman (right) volunteers 5 to 6 days a week at her local animal shelter, helping to find loving families for rescue dogs.

We honored these amazing women at our annual awards luncheon (with fabulous presenters Andie MacDowell, Sara Gore and Diann Valentine) and it was a seriously inspiring—and tear-inducing—day. Learn more about our second place and people’s choice award winners below, and read about grand prize winner, Tessa, in her magazine feature.

Read more

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Do Good For Free: Give A $25 Kiva Loan

November 18, 2011 at 9:18 am , by Amanda Wolfe

I’ve always been intrigued by Kiva, the microfinance site that connects you with women entrepreneurs around the world to help them provide for themselves and their families by lending them money. It’s such a great way to make a big impact with at a fairly small cost to you—and your loan will eventually be repaid so you can reinvest in another worthy woman. Win-win! But I never actually took the plunge (I know, shame on me). That’s why I was so excited when our friends at Kiva offered an amazing opportunity: The first 3000 LHJ readers to go to Kiva.org/LHJ and sign up can give a FREE $25 loan. It’s the perfect way to try Kiva at no cost to you.

So I was excited to finally give it a try and let me tell you — it was hard to choose. I wanted to help every woman that I clicked on! When their loans are funded, Ana Cecilia in El Salvador will buy tires for her auto repair shop, Naimajon in Tajikistan will purchase fabrics and gold embroidery thread for her sewing business, and Sama in Togo will buy groceries for her small market. I eventually decided to give my free $25 loan to Flaviana (picture above) to buy supplies for her beauty salon in the Philippines. She has four school-aged children and her goal is to use her income to pay for their education.

It was so rewarding to know who I was helping (and why) that I am definitely going to give another loan — this time on my own dime. What can I say, I’m hooked. So what are you waiting for? It’s free, people! Go to Kiva.org/LHJ now to give your free $25 loan. It only takes a few minutes (unless you just can’t decide like me) and I promise you it’s worth it.

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An Amazing Girl Who Does Good

November 10, 2011 at 10:29 am , by Cassie Tucker

It’s hard to preach positivity when you think about the state of our economy or the rising cost of gas (don’t even get me started)! Yet here at LHJ, we like to spend our time commending people who make a positive impact on the world. I am inspired by fifteen year-old Hannah Taylor from Canada. At age 8, she started the Ladybug Foundation to help the homeless and “connect even more hearts in caring for each other.”  Today, Hannah’s Ladybug Foundation supports over 50 shelters, missions, soup kitchens and food banks across Canada. The most remarkable aspect of Hannah is her humble nature. As she told me, she hopes “to be remembered as an ordinary human being who believes in the power of caring.”

To learn more about this amazing girl—and maybe inspire your own kids to do good—grab your teenage daughters and sons and check out the documentary Hannah’s Story, which airs this Sunday, November 14th at 10:00 p.m. EST on the Documentary Channel. [For more information or to request DOC in your area, you can visit documentarychannel.com]. It is impossible not to be inspired by Hannah. She’s proof of how much impact one little girl can make when she has a big heart.

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Win a ‘Girls Night Out’ courtesy of StubHub!

October 27, 2011 at 4:44 pm , by Rachel Shippy

As an ESPN Sportscaster, Erin Andrews knows a thing or two about holding her own in a seemingly male-dominated sports environment. Now huddling up with the “Girls’ Night Out” campaign supported by StubHub.com, Erin hopes to encourage more ladies to do the same. “Women love sports and they know just as much as men do,” Erin told us. “It’s about good food, good times tailgating, and a chance to get together and be fanatical which, I think, is the same thing that drives men to sporting events.” We agree! But not only can you have a girls’ night out, you can also help a girl {or guy} out because a portion of all tickets sold to specified Girls’ Night Out events will benefit TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors). “[TAPS] was one of the biggest reasons I was excited about this partnership,” Erin said. “To be able to raise money for these people, especially right now, is so important.” Well, if supporting your favorite team AND a great cause isn’t reason enough to call up your girlfriends, StubHub is sweetening the deal for our Ladies’ Lounge readers.  Just leave us a comment about your favorite team to watch with gal pals in the comments section below, and you’ll qualify to win a $500 gift card for use on their site! So c’mon ladies, and be a good sport.

*Official Rules

 

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Pink Products GIVEAWAY for Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

October 10, 2011 at 10:05 am , by Rachel Shippy

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month! With so many “pink products” now available in stores and online, we wanted to give you a chance to win the entire collection of our favorite Do Good-ies donating to this important cause. Write a comment about Breast Cancer Awareness in the section below for a chance to win everything you see pictured here! Learn how these products are giving back and where you can buy them to sport your own pink pride.

Ford Warriors in Pink  (2 tees, hoodie, and travel mug – as seen in our October issue!)
Get them here!  100% of net proceeds help support Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Avon Nailwear Pro (Nail enamel in ‘Pink Power’ – as seen in our October issue!)
Get it here! 100% of net profits donated to the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade

Elaine Turner (Studded leather wrap bracelet)
Get it here!  100% of the proceeds from these bracelets will be donated to the Nellie B. Connally Breast Cancer Center at MD Anderson

KitchenAid Cook for the Cure

Get it here! KitchenAid’s pink items benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure   all year long, not just October. In honor of the 10th anniversary of this partnership, KitchenAid is committing to a minimum of $450,000 in donations to Komen in 2011, supported through the sale and registration of pink KitchenAid products together with celebrity chef auctions and grass roots efforts that encourage cooks to get friends and family involved.  

Smashbox “O-gloss”
Get it here! Through the end of October, the entire purchase price will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation

Ghirardelli Intense Dark Chocolate Bars (20 total, 4 flavors)
Get them here! Through the end of December 2011, specially marked pink ribbon packages of Intense Dark™ will carry a code inside the package redeemable for a $1 donation to the National Breast Cancer Foundation

Counting for a Cause (Rose gold-dipped bracelet)
Get it here! 50% profits from each sale benefit The Karmanos Cancer Institute

Yoplait Bag with BCA products (Two coupons for FREE  yogurt, tote bag, journal, keychain, pen, and pink lid collection kit)  Get Yoplait yogurt at your local grocery store to ensure freshness! Yoplait donates 10 cents for every pink lid redeemed by December 31, 2011 to benefit their Save Lids to Save Lives campaign  {up to $2,000,000.00}

Pure Fiji Frangipani products (Hydrating body lotion, coconut sugar scrub, coconut milk bath soak, body butter, nourishing exotic oil, handmade coconut soap, and island candle)
Get them here! 10% of all sales from the Frangipani line that are purchased during the month of October will be donated to Susan G. Komen. Pure Fiji is also donating products to the survivors that participate in the Susan G. Komen race in Denver, Colorado.

Glass Eye Studio & Seattle Chocolates (Hand- blown glass white floppy bowl with strawberry crème truffles)
Get it here! Through the end of October, for every set purchased a $10 donation will be made to Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Taylor Kenney (Poppy Earrings – as seen in our October issue!)
Get it here! 30% of sales will be donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Susan G. Komen For The Cure’s ‘Promise Me’ (Fragrance)

Get it here! With every fragrance sold, a donation of 13.5% of sales is made to Susan G. Komen for the Cure , with a minimum guarantee of $1,000,000 dedicated to breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment.

Origins Make a Difference (Skin Rejuvenating Treatment - as seen in our October issue!)
Get it here! Through the month of October, $5 from every North American sale of this treatment will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation

Bobbi Brown Pink Ribbon Collection (High Shimmer Lip Gloss & Lip Color)
Get it here! (while supplies last 10/1/11 – 12/31/11) Bobbi Brown will donate $10 from the sale of this limited edition set to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation

Ann Cares (Pink jewel ring – as seen in our October issue!)
Get it here! 70% of the proceeds benefit Breast Cancer Research Foundation 

Emma Stine (Blush Rosette Earrings)
Get it here!  30% of sales will be donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure 

Sonia Kashuk Proudly Pink (5 piece purse brush set – as seen in our October issue!)
Get it here! Available for one year, 15% of this set will benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation

 *Official Rules

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LHJ Presents Peace Unveiled and a Special Q&A With Producer Abigail Disney

September 27, 2011 at 2:18 pm , by Sonia Harmon

What if you looked at war as through the eyes of women? That’s the question at the heart of the new five-part PBS series, Women, War & Peace, which focuses on the perspectives of women living in conflict zones around the world. “We have this image of a male hero striking out into war,” says Abigail Disney, an executive producer. “And littering the sidelines, if they’re visible at all, are these women who don’t really matter. But there are no sidelines. Women very much do matter. We need to restore women to a story they’ve never been a part of.”

The series begins airing Tuesday, October 11^th. But this Thursday at 7:30 EST, LHJ will present an exclusive online sneak preview of Peace Unveiled, the third installment in the series, which follows three women in Afghanistan who are fighting for the right to be heard in their country’s political arena. (To see the preview log on to livestream.com/independent lens.) Afterward, stick around for a live online panel discussion with Disney and director Gini Reticker, where you can talk with other viewers about the film and submit questions for the filmmakers.

In the meantime, check out our interview with Disney (yes, that same Disney—Walt Disney was her great-uncle) about the series and what you can do to help.

How difficult was this series to film?

There were incredible difficulties in getting footage and getting the women to feel safe enough to talk to us because they were being threatened every day. Some of them were getting death threats in text messages on their cell phones while we were interviewing them. So it was hard, but we had to find women who were willing to step up and take a chance being on camera. Read more

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Become a Part of the Education Nation!

September 23, 2011 at 12:05 pm , by Sonia Harmon

Among the many hot button issues in our country, there’s one we should all be able to agree on: the importance of a great education. This weekend, NBC is starting a conversation on this topic in a major way with its Education Nation Summit, which kicks off Sunday at noon (EST) with the second-annual Teacher Town Hall on MSNBC. The live broadcast will be a discussion for and about teachers, and the challenges they face today. We talked to NBC news anchor Brian Williams, who will moderate the discussion, about this special initiative.

Ladies’ Home Journal: Tell us about NBC’s Education Nation project.

Brian Williams: When we do pieces on education on my broadcast nightly news, we always label them part of our Education Nation campaign. It’s just an enormous commitment by the network to say, “Look, we’re allowed to have issues that are important to us. We just don’t take a stand, but we’d like to be the conduit.” One thing we do that has become quite popular is the Teacher Town Hall. We literally have a tent on the skating rink at 30 Rockefeller Plaza and it’s just like being in the teacher’s lounge. Growing up as a kid, didn’t you always wonder what went on in there? So we let them blow off steam. It’s not a political debate, it’s not a NASCAR race—but it’s as exciting as gatherings go. It just happens to be about education.

What are some education issues you think people need to be more aware of?

Well, I just think people need to dive into the reform effort. Parents need to dial in, folks whose kids are grown and out of school who have time to volunteer and help out, they need to dial in, rich folks who have money to give. That’s the lesson I’ve learned, that when you stop going to PTA meetings and when your kids grow up and out, your obligation to education doesn’t end. In many ways it’s just beginning. You still have a lot to give.

Do you remember a teacher that really affected you as a kid? Read more

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