Do You Wanna Do Good?
September 3, 2008
Find out how at San Francisco’s Do Good.
Do Good helps you support issues that mean something to you: homelessness, animal rights, the environment, and more.
Go to www.sfgate.com/dogood
Homeless Meters
May 14, 2008
San Francisco is installing old parking meters in its most panhandled areas.
All coins deposited in the bright orange meters will go to charities that help the homeless.
Read “S.F. parking meters retooled to aid homeless” at www.sfgate.com.
Isabel Allende’s Heroes:
February 7, 2008
“Women who care for others, support their families, struggle with poverty, abuse and repression, and also manage to love and sing in spite of all the odds.”
“We believe that if we empower a woman, we save a family, and if we help families, the community at large benefits. By empowering women we can change the world. An empowered woman will educate her children and raise strong daughters.”
–Author Isabel Allende, whose Isabel Allende Foundation supports Chilean and San Francisco Bay Area non-profits such as Homeless Prenatal, Women’s Recovery Services and Mujeres Unidas y Activas.
20 Questions for Isabel Allende
February 5, 2008
1. What is an irresistible human trait?
Kindess.
2. What is the highest form of giving?
To give time and love.
3. What is your most positive flaw?
Generosity.
4. What skill do you wish you possessed?
I wish I could sing beautifully.
5. Which is more important: security or passion?
Passion. I am not interested in security, it’s boring and it’s also an illusion because life is risky and no one can be totally safe all the time.
6. What is your driving force?
Feminism. The desire to be independent, free, and fend for myself and my children.
7. Who are your favorite writers?
Too many to name them.
8. Who are your heroes?
Women who care for others, support their families, struggle with poverty, abuse and repression, and also manage to love and sing in spite of all odds.
9. What does the Isabel Allende Foundation do?
My Foundation tries to empower women and girls in the areas of education, health and protection. We believe that if we empower a woman, we save a family, and if we help families, the community at large benefits. By empowering women we can change the world. An empowered woman will educate her children and raise strong daughters.
10. Name three things that empower women.
Women need educational skills to support themselves. Health is essential, and that includes prevention and contraception. Women should be organized, keep in touch with each other and be informed, because isolation makes them vulnerable. Together they are strong.
11. Name three Bay Area nonprofits that need support.
Homeless Prenatal.
Mujeres Unidas y Activas.
Women’s Recovery Services.
12. What is the sweetest smell?
The smell of a baby.
13. What is the loveliest sound?
The laughter of children.
14. What do you do to relax?
Write.
15. What is your daily creed?
Do no harm and do good whenever possible.
16. Which novel is in your carry-on bag?
I travel all the time and in my carry-on there are always six or seven books. I don’t have just one book with me. I seldom read a book twice because there are too many good writers out there and not enough time in my life to read them all.
17. Where (and/or with whom) do you feel truly at home?
I feel at home where Willie, my husband, is. It can be in a plane, on a safari in Africa or underwater. He is my home.
18. What motivates people to give?
In most cases, the motivation to give is simple generosity and compassion, but I have heard that some people give to show off their wealth. It used to be diamonds, now it’s philanthropy. Excellent! The motivation doesn’t really matter, as long as they give.
19. What is a food you couldn’t live without?
Water.
20. What is the soundtrack of your life?
Silence. The sounds of Nature are enough for me.
Five early birds got the $…
November 29, 2007
…if not the house in yesterday’s Dream House Raffle Early Bird drawing (at which a total of $43,500 was awarded).
A $2.1 million CA Dream House will be awarded at the Grand Prize Drawing on February 9, 2008 (as will 349 other prizes ranging in value from $300 – $25,000). All proceeds raised will go to Community Action Marin.
Price of each raffle ticket (the ultimate adult stocking stuffer): $150.
Raffle Prize: $2.1 Million California Dream Home
September 5, 2007
Community Action Marin is raffling off a $2.1 million house in order to fund its mental health, homeless, childcare, food, & HIV/AIDS programs. The 4400 square-foot “dream home” (bay views, chef’s kitchen, library suite, infinity pool, gated entry) is located in San Rafael, CA. Each raffle ticket costs $150. For more information, go to www.camarin.org. For photos of the house, check out www.marinraffle.com/Photos.aspx.
On Aloha Hiatus
June 29, 2007
Help the hungry & homeless in Hawaii by donating to the Institute for Human Services.
