La Canada High School seeks gently-used piano

Posted on 24. Feb, 2010 by kchristieh in education, music

Do you have a gently-used upright piano gathering dust? Give it new life and get a tax-deduction by donating it to the La Canada High School instrumental music program. Funds are tight, so please consider doing your part to keep the music coming.

If you’re interested in donating your piano to this incredible program, please contact Fernando Aenlle-Rocha at or .

Please spread the word to anyone else you know who might have a piano to donate!

Donate gently worn shoes to Haitian earthquake victims via Sport Chalet

Posted on 17. Jan, 2010 by kchristieh in international, non-profits

Hopefully the 28 pairs of gently worn shoes my family and I cleared out of our closets will help make life a little more comfortable for Haitian earthquake victims. I’m just about to drop them off at Sport Chalet, which is partnering with Soles 4 Souls by collecting shoes at all 55 of its stores until January 31st to send to Haiti.

I especially tried to part with sandals and durable shoes and sneakers, since I figure that as a tropical country the people there probably prefer warm weather shoes or shoes that can handle walking over rubble. But I included a few nicer pairs of shoes, since at some point people will be ready to wear more dignified clothing.

I hope that time comes soon.

I pray that my size 7 wide shoes wind up on the right (and left!) feet.

How you can show appreciation to the firefighters and other emergency workers

Posted on 04. Sep, 2009 by kchristieh in inspirational people, local news

I’m incredibly impressed by the eagerness of everyone in this community to express appreciation to the firefighters and other agencies who helped to save our homes and keep us safe. They risked their own health and safety to do so, and some of them have lost their homes, suffered injuries, or even lost their lives.

This morning I attended a meeting at La Canada City Hall to brainstorm ways in which the community can band together to show that it cares. More details will be forthcoming, but we’re eager to work together as a team to show the magnitude of our gratitude.

Please save the following dates and times. Please wear red, white and/or blue to each of them.

• Thurs., Sept. 10th at 5:30 pm: Picture at Memorial Park of as many citizens as possible to include with thank-you cards to every department and agency that helped.
• Sat., Sept. 12th at 9:00 am: Meet at the Community Center of La Canada parking lot to carpool to the memorial service at Dodger Stadium for LA County Firefighters Ted Hall and Arnie Quinones, who gave their lives fighting the fire.

Please note that all events and efforts described here are for anyone to attend, not just La Canadans. I don’t know what’s being organized in neighboring communities, but we’re all one when it comes to thanking these brave men and women.

Firefighting agencies expressed to Mayor Laura Olhasso that they would rather not have a party or picnic in their honor. After the fires are put out, they’d rather return home to spend much-appreciated time with their families. Therefore, the city will put its effort into raising funds to distribute to the fallen firefighters’ families, other firefighters who have lost their homes or been injured, the Wildland Firefighter Foundation, LA County Firefighters, and other agencies that have helped in this effort. Please check back to see more details about where how donations will be accepted.

I am in awe of people who put their lives on the line so that others may be saved. They should be honored as the heroes they truly are.

Why I give money to the Father of the White Monkey

Posted on 22. Feb, 2009 by kchristieh in inspirational people, international, religion

Can you imagine putting yourself in mortal danger by training medics and bringing humanitarian aid to besieged people in an ongoing civil war? Would you bring your spouse and young children behind the enemy lines?

Several years ago I heard the founder of the Free Burma Rangers speak, and that’s exactly what he does. He’s the son of missionaries and a former U.S. Special Forces major, so he’s well-equipped to risk his life to bring medical care and hope to the ethnic Karen people of Burma. In order to shield his identity, he’s referred to as “Father of the White Monkey” in the recent Atlantic article, “Lifting the Bamboo Curtain.” Here’s how he describes his work:

“We stand with the villagers; we’re not above them. If they don’t run from the government troops, we don’t either. We have a medic, a photo­grapher, and a reporter/intel guy in each team that marks the GPS positions of Burmese government troops, maps the camps, and takes pictures with a telephoto lens, all of which we post on our Web site. We deal with the Pentagon, with human-rights groups … There is a higher moral obligation to intervene on the side of good, since silence is a form of consent.

I was incredibly impressed by him (and his family). He’s brave, honest, hardworking and loyal. I feel completely confident that my donations to the Free Burma Rangers are used wisely and have an incredibly positive impact.

If you want to learn more, visit the Free Burma Rangers website. It uses photos and stories to document what the FBR relief teams have found on their missions. Note: it’s not for the faint of heart, for the Burmese Army has perpetuated some horrific atrocities.

Someone should make a movie about the Father of the White Monkey. In the meantime, I’ll keep donating, praying for them (I have a Memo to Me reminder to do so every day) and will make sure to wear the Good Life Club t-shirt he gave me to Curves tomorrow.

Is it against your religion to donate your organs?

Posted on 29. Jan, 2009 by kchristieh in health, inspirational people

NO! According to organdonor.gov, all organized religions not only allow, but ENCOURAGE organ donation!

I learned this because Tina, one of our local Girl Scouts, has mounted a campaign to sign up people to be organ donors for her Gold Award project. I think that’s a great idea. Here’s a quote from the email I just received from Tina:

A common misconception is that people who are brain dead can come back to life. This, in fact, has never happened before – brain death only lasts for up to 48 hours before a person is actually dead. Most people get this mixed up with comas. A coma is when a person has lost consciousness for an extended period of time, and a few people have actually awoken from them. However, brain death is when all blood flow is cut to the brain, an irreversible action. No one in a coma will ever be asked to give up their organs.

Also, this has nothing to do with scientific research. Your body will not be dissected or taken apart – all useful organs will be removed from the inside, but your outside will look exactly the same.

So, if you’re not already signed up to be an organ donor, visit Tina’s site at http://recyclemeplease.info/ and learn how to donate. It’s shocking how few people sign up to donate, but it’s amazing how many lives it could save.

If you or a loved one were in need of an organ, wouldn’t you wish more people were registered?

Smile on the outside and you’ll smile on the inside

Posted on 20. Aug, 2008 by kchristieh in disabilities, my life, non-profits

My mother always told me that what mattered was what a person was like on the inside, not the outside. Yet, when I got my braces off the week before freshman year of high school, I was thrilled. I’d had either crooked teeth or braces for my whole life, and for the first time I actually felt moderately attractive. I gained confidence, and started high school on the right foot.

My son got his braces off yesterday, right before sophomore year of high school. Here’s a before / after pic:

He’s already an attractive, confident guy (yeah, I’m biased!) but I think it’s cool that the smile on the right is so much bigger.

Not only did this remind me of my own braces experience, but it made me think about the kids with cleft palates that are helped by Smile Train. A cleft palate makes it look like the upper lip is attached to the nose. It’s the #1 birth defect in developing nations, and occurs in anywhere from .4 to 3.6 per 1000 births, depending upon ethnicity.

So I was amazed that when my son picked up our mail yesterday, for the first time there was a letter from Smile Train requesting a donation. It only costs $250 to cover the cost of cleft surgery, a FRACTION of what we paid to give my son his dazzling smile, so we’re in. How can you say no to these faces, and who can beat that timing?

“Sometimes just a smile on our face can help to make this world a better place.” (Robert Alan)

Donate blood platelets NOW!

Posted on 20. Jul, 2008 by kchristieh in health

When my son was in elementary school, one of the boys in his boy scout den was diagnosed with cancer. I rallied the troops and got lots of people to donate blood for him at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. I’ve always had a problem with needles, but I really wanted to donate, so I went too. Big mistake. I nearly fainted, and the head of the blood department came up to me and looked me in the eye and said, “I never want to see you here again.” I promised him that instead of donating, I’d get other people to donate.

It’s that time.

Chase Crawford-Quickel was recently profiled in the July 14th LA Times story, A mother blogs about cancer. Chase is an Orange County 18-year-old who thought that he’d beaten cancer several years ago, only to have it return. His mother’s blog says that yesterday’s surgery was delayed because Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) didn’t have enough platelets for Chase. Eventually they operated, even though Chase didn’t have as many platelets as the doctors wanted.

So here’s what you should do today:

1. If you live in Orange County, go to CHOC and donate platelets. There’s a 99% chance you’re not a wimp like me, and this simple act could save a life. Literally. Please designate that Chase receive the platelets, but of course, anyone would appreciate them.
2. If you don’t live in the OC, visit your nearest hospital or Red Cross facility and donate blood or platelets. Again, what could be more meaningful than saving a life?
3. If you haven’t already done so, register for the National Marrow Donor Program. It’s simple, and doesn’t even require poking. I’m registered. If I can do it, you can too.

Do it. Let me know. I’ll give you a virtual pat on the back.

I’m making a difference as an international lender via Kiva

Posted on 19. Jun, 2008 by kchristieh in international, non-profits

A year ago, I lent María Del Roció González of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico $75 to help purchase a bread machine for her bakery. I did it via Kiva.org, which pooled my money with other lenders’ to loan Sra. Gonzalez a total of $1,200. She’s been paying it back on a regular basis, and made her final payment yesterday.

Instead of withdrawing the money, I chose to lend it to someone else. Whenever I lend to someone on Kiva, the first thing I do is search for a Hernandez. I figure they might be a distant relative. I actually found one yesterday, and decided to lend the money to Francisco Javier Saldaña Hernandez of Acuna, Mexico so that he can expand his small house. He still needs $400 to get to the $600 total that he needs, so click here to donate! At first I was hesitant: after all, he’s not using it to expand a business. But then, I figured that I was lucky to be a Hernandez in the United States, where banks are happy to lend far greater sums to me. Also, the agency that referred him to Kiva has a 0% default rate.

Of the 22 Kiva loans I’ve made, 10 have been paid back in full so far. It’s satisfying to know I’m able to make a difference in peoples’ lives.

What if David Rockefeller gave $100 million to public schools instead of Harvard?

Posted on 28. Apr, 2008 by kchristieh in education, things that bug me

How ironic that the following two news stories wound up next to each other on my LA Times news feed:

1. 
   The report, prepared by a youth group with help from Loyola Marymount, says that the conditions of their schools is contributing to a loss of hope and drive.

   A survey of 6,008 South Los Angeles high school students shows that many are frightened by violence in school, deeply dissatisfied with their choices of college preparatory classes, and — perhaps most striking — exhibit symptoms of clinical depression.

2. 
   David Rockefeller’s donation for use in the undergraduate arts and travel programs sets a new alumnus record.

   Philanthropist David Rockefeller donated a record $100 million to Harvard University’s undergraduate program, the largest gift by a Harvard alumnus in the history of the oldest and richest U.S. college, the school said Friday.

Good for Harvard. But honestly, aren’t those students already provided for? Imagine what $100 million could do for the public school students in South Los Angeles…

My husband might be a bone marrow match for a sick little girl

Posted on 26. Mar, 2008 by kchristieh in health, inspirational people, my life

My husband got a phone call this evening from the National Marrow Donor Program saying that his bone marrow might be a match for a 6-year-old girl with leukemia. Before they do further tests to determine compatibility, they wanted to make sure he’d be willing to be a donor if he’s a perfect match. Being the wonderful guy he is, of course he said he would. After all, wouldn’t you be willing to put up with a sore back for 4-5 days or slight flu symptoms for a week to save someone’s life? I HOPE SO!!!

It’s easier than ever to become part of the registry. Visit the National Marrow Donor Program website to see where you can donate. They’ll either swab your cheek or take a small blood sample. Then, just make sure you keep your contact information updated when you move.

He should find out if he’s a match in a few weeks. I hope that either he is or someone else is.

And I hope that if you’re not already registered as a potential donor, that you do so right away. After all, wouldn’t it be awful if someone died when you could have saved them? Or if someone didn’t register that could have saved you…or your child?!?

(By the way, don’t forget to become an organ donor either! Remember, you can’t take it with you…)

Trevor Kott, the cute little guy pictured to the right, died before a bone marrow match could be found. Let’s not let it happen again!

POSTSCRIPT:

In early May, we received a letter stating that circumstances have changed, and the patient is not ready for a transplant at this time. Hopefully it’s because she’s gotten better without it…

Should we throw money at the schools? Yes.

Posted on 02. Mar, 2008 by kchristieh in education, startling statistics, things that bug me

Want to provoke me? Then say this,

“Throwing money at the schools won’t fix them.”

If that’s true, then

• Why do some people pay $25K a year for their kid to attend private school?
• How would we pay the teachers required to reduce our class sizes down from 31 per class in the high school?
• How would our school district pay for art, music, drama, counselors, librarians, computers and more if parents didn’t generously donate to PTA, Boosters, the Educational Foundation and more?

My husband and I attended the LCF Educational Foundation fundraiser last night. It was great to see old friends, make new ones, and raise loads of money for the schools. Our community’s lucky that it can supplement the meager money it gets from the state. Even with what the parents chip in, our district spends $6,875 per child. Unfortunately, today’s Pasadena Star News says that the state budget shortfall is expected to shrink our school district’s budget by about $2 million, or 6% of the total. That’ll be tough to do without impacting classrooms.

I recently sat on a panel with a member of the Westport, CT school board. He told the audience that his district was getting SmartBoards into the classroom. I laughed, as there’s no way we’d have money for that. I looked their district up on GreatSchools.net, and their high school spends $15,610 per pupil. It’s no wonder they have one teacher per 10 kids.

We only dream of such things in California…California dreaming, on such a winter’s day…

Kiva loan paid back: time to lend to someone new!

Posted on 04. Jun, 2007 by kchristieh in cool websites, international

The Bank of Kathy has a perfect record so far! I just received word that Maria del Carmen paid back the money I loaned to her through Kiva to purchase merchandise for her retail store. She’s right on schedule! I had lent her $50, which was only a portion of the $825 she got from myself and others. She’s the third person I’ve lent to who’s paid off her loan.

If you’re not familiar with Kiva, it facilitates microlending by allowing people to lend money to others around the world who have been pre-approved by local partners. You can donate any amount you want, and the money isn’t released to the applicant until it’s all raised. I like to lend to many people at one time, so that I can spread out the impact my money can have.

I decided to re-loan Maria’s money to Anselmo Carrizales Márquez:

Anselmo is married and has three children, ages 2, 5, and 9. He used to have a grocery store, but three years ago, when his last child was born, his wife had complications with the birth and was in the hospital for a while, and the medical bills absorbed all the savings they had, along with any capital to reinvest in the store. At that time he decided to close the store and start selling bedding. He started out offering his products to friends and relatives. Finding good results, he started selling from house to house, taking orders. Fortunately he has seen his business, and his orders, grow.

In order to increase his sales, Anselmo knows that people want to know the quality of a product before they order. He is asking for a loan in the amount of $750 to buy merchandise that he can show to customers. He will pay it back over a period of 6 to 12 months. Your help will contribute to the growth of this business. Anselmo and his family need your support, without a doubt.

Everyone deserves a chance. Especially a family where the mom had to be hospitalized after childbirth.

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The Darfur Puppy vs. 21 Million Starving Africans

Posted on 10. May, 2007 by kchristieh in articles, international, my life, religion, things that bug me

Why are even caring, generous people more moved by the plight of one needy child than the despair of millions? Nicholas Kristof examines this question in today’s NYTimes column, “Save the Darfur Puppy.”

In one experiment, psychologists asked ordinary citizens to contribute $5 to alleviate hunger abroad. In one version, the money would go to a particular girl, Rokia, a 7-year-old in Mali; in another, to 21 million hungry Africans; in a third, to Rokia — but she was presented as a victim of a larger tapestry of global hunger.

Not surprisingly, people were less likely to give to anonymous millions than to Rokia. But they were also less willing to give in the third scenario, in which Rokia’s suffering was presented as part of a broader pattern.

This isn’t surprising to me. I admit that I’m more likely to respond to a personal funding request than to a global one. Clearly, I’m not alone:

“Our capacity to feel is limited,” Paul Slovic of the University of Oregon writes in a new journal article, “Psychic Numbing and Genocide,” which discusses these experiments. Professor Slovic argues that we cannot depend on the innate morality even of good people. Instead, he believes, we need to develop legal or political mechanisms to force our hands to confront genocide.

It’s wrong, but when I know who’s receiving my aid, perhaps I’m more trusting that my money will definitely make a difference. I know it’s irrational, and it bugs me. A corrollary would be when I buy a new skirt or something else I don’t really “need,” even though that money could make a much bigger difference in someone else’s life. Kristof continues,

Even the right animal evokes a similar sympathy. A dog stranded on a ship aroused so much pity that $48,000 in private money was spent trying to rescue it — and that was before the Coast Guard stepped in. And after I began visiting Darfur in 2004, I was flummoxed by the public’s passion to save a red-tailed hawk, Pale Male, that had been evicted from his nest on Fifth Avenue in New York City. A single homeless hawk aroused more indignation than two million homeless Sudanese.

Several years ago the beloved crossing guard at my kids’ elementary school lost his adult son. Thousands of dollars poured in to help him pay for funeral expenses, even though he never said he needed financial help. Yet, when high school kids try to get people motivated to donate money to help kids in Uganda, very little is raised. Kristof says that perhaps the best way to get President Bush to pay the proper attention to Darfur would be to represent its problems with a sad little puppy.

So maybe what we need isn’t better laws but more troubled consciences — pricked, perhaps, by a Darfur puppy with big eyes and floppy ears. Once we find such a soulful dog in peril, we should call ABC News. ABC’s news judgment can be assessed by the 11 minutes of evening news coverage it gave to Darfur’s genocide during all of last year — compared with 23 minutes for the false confession in the JonBenet Ramsey case.

If President Bush and the global public alike are unmoved by the slaughter of hundreds of thousands of fellow humans, maybe our last, best hope is that we can be galvanized by a puppy in distress.

He’s probably right. And I’m probably no better than anyone else in this regard. I think we all need to work on putting our compassion into action.

Kiva – loans that change lives

Posted on 08. Aug, 2006 by kchristieh in international

I think microlending is a terrific idea. The concept is that if you can lend someone a small, targeted amount of money so that they can start or enhance their own business, that little bit of money can go a long way in changing peoples’ lives.

Even so, I always figured that microlending would be done by people with lots of money. That was until I heard of Kiva. If you’ve got at least $25.00 and a Paypal account, you too can be a microlender. Just donate to one of the third-world entrepreneurs they profile on the site, and if all goes well they’ll pay you back your money. Then, you can donate again!

I loaned some money to Angel Peralta (see picture) so that he can expand his retail food business in Ecuador. What I donated helped complete the loan he needed. Now I can’t wait to hear how he does! It’s probably a human trait to want to know something about the people you give to. But, it’s still important to give to causes even when you don’t know all the personal stories.

Doctors Without Borders Speaker in Pasadena

Posted on 13. Mar, 2006 by kchristieh in articles, international

Here are some more heroes you should know about: the brave and talented women and men of Doctors Without Borders (aka MSF, Médecins Sans Frontières). They risk life and limb to provide medical care to the world’s sickest and neediest people, and support themselves primarily through private donations.

I just returned from hearing the group’s Executive Director, Nicolas de Torrente, speak in Pasadena. His talk reiterated what Nicholas Kristof’s article says in my previous posting, that Africa is in the midst of a huge humanitarian crisis, and much of the world is ignoring it. Here’s a snippet of what the Doctors Without Borders website says about Chad:

So what can we do? Lobby politicians, write blogs and get the word out, pray and donate money are the best options I can think of right now.

Many thanks to Julie for inviting me to this talk!! This was part of the Distinguished Speaker Series at the Pasadena Civic Center.