Habitat for Humanity

Unified Promise- I have talked about Because I Said I Would before the amazing Non-profit Matt and I have joined which is based on Promises Kept. Our local Denver chapter participates in monthly Unified Promises which is our Volunteer day! For January we promised to Volunteer for Habitat for Humanity and we did!

 Saturday Matt and I along with some other chapter members volunteered from 9-4 building new homes for Habitat! I was on the hammer in nails crew and I was OH SO Sore Sunday morning!

 What is so great is that every member who signed up... showed up! And we all worked our butts off but at the end of the day we were able to really see how much our efforts helped!

 There were 2 other groups volunteering with us today and we all worked on a set of 4 ROW Homes each at different stages of completion!

 Matt's framing crew got an entire 2nd floor framed out that day and the Habitat crew was so impressed... as was I!

Our February Unified Promise is a Blood Drive and yes, I will attend to help but will not actually participate because I don't feel like passing out in front of everyone!
As always to learn more about Because I Said I Would visit the website HERE

Eva Kor

Eva Mozes Kor was just ten years old when she arrived in Auschwitz. While her parents and two older sisters were taken to the gas chambers, she and her twin, Miriam, were herded into the care of the man known as the Angel of Death, Dr. Josef Mengele. Subjected to sadistic medical experiments, she was forced to fight daily for her and her twin's survival. In this incredible true story written for young adults, readers learn of a child's endurance and survival in the face of truly extraordinary evil.

The book also includes an epilogue on Eva's recovery from this experience and her remarkable decision to publicly forgive the Nazis. Through her museum and her lectures, she has dedicated her life to giving testimony on the Holocaust, providing a message of hope for people who have suffered, and working for causes of human rights and peace.

Hear me out.... I am not sure what word fits what I am trying to say but I have always been "intrigued" or "interested" or felt a "tug" towards the Holocaust. And what I mean is it blows my mind that something like this happened, like "how could this be true" and I need to find out all that I can. I like educating myself, I have read countless memoirs and historical fictions based on the Holocaust. Something about it touches my soul and I constantly look for more to read. And when you are talking about the death of 6 million humans none of what I am saying can truly express this in the correct fashion. I realize that. 

Last week I received the greatest gift, the memoir of Eva Korr pictured below back in Auschwitz.

 This picture below is a very famous picture from the day the death camp was liberated and those 2 little girls are Eva and Miriam. What they went thru and what they witnessed was beyond what one could comprehend especially for 10 year old little girls. Her story is told with love, truth, perseverance and forgiveness. And the rippled effect this had on their lives is something not all books cover and what I loved about hers.

Today Eva runs CANDLES a Holocuast museum and gives speeches on the atrocities that happened at Auschwitz. How I found about Eva is that she is a supporter and member of Because I Said I Would and gives speeches on behalf of this wonderful organization. You see she made a promise all those years ago to survive, because if she didn't survive her twin would also be killed. A 10 year old little girl having to make promises like that is mind blowing. 

 At our December monthly meeting Alex Sheen the founder of Because I Said I Would brought an autographed copy of her book to give away after telling her story and her promise... And I GOT IT. It was more than meant to be,  I read this in one sitting and I can't get this story, this life out of my head. I have spent much time staring at this autograph thinking about where the hand that wrote this came from, what it has been thru and I can barely comprehend it. It's.... well, there are no words.

 I would highly recommend this book to educate yourself or further educate yourself and read up on Eva Kor. You can visit her foundations site by clicking HERE
She gives tours of Auschwitz, which I would so love to do. Could you imagine walking the camp with a survivor? Hearing the stories in the place it happened by someone who witnessed it and experienced it? One day maybe.

Because I Said I Would.

For a few years now Matt (my husband) has gotten the pleasure of hearing Alex Sheen the Founder of Because I Said I Would. speak at Farmers Events. He always came home excited to share his story with me, so when I saw that Alex was starting a Denver Chapter.... it was a no-brainer for Matt and I. What I love is that most non-profit service groups are just for women but this is for anyone. Matt and I get to serve our community together while better ourselves and our relationship. Here is more..........

Because I said I would is an international social movement and nonprofit dedicated to the betterment of humanity through promises made and kept. Our Denver chapter seeks to end suffering establish peace and build happiness through local volunteer projects. As we help build a stronger community, our members also look to improve as individuals through our personal promises and thought-provoking learning opportunities.

Because I said I would Denver is a force for good in our community. Our members hold a meeting each month to plan unified charitable promises, act as an accountability support group for individual promises and to learn new and interesting ways to get better with commitment. After planning our unified charitable promises, we execute these projects in a separate gathering every month or every two months.

WHAT DO OUR CHAPTERS DO?

Accountability Support for Members

1. Work together as a support group to help members meet their commitments and keep their individual promises.

Unified Charitable Promises in Denver

2. Make and keep unified promises as a team to help people and causes in their local communities.

Thought-Provoking Content and Learning Topics

3. Improve and refine the practice of keeping promises by learning about how promises and humanity are affected by history, psychology, philosophy and culture. We will also learn practical methods that make us better at keeping promises.

This week Matt and I volunteered with Because I Said I Would and packaged Welcome Boxes for Refugee families new to the US and Denver! Best of all, later this week Matt and I will get the pleasure of delivering 2 boxes to 2 families right before Christmas!

Last month I volunteered by cooking and serving a meal to this wonderful Denver organization that helps children thru the grieving process. 

If you are in Denver and you are looking for ways to give back in the New Year, please join! You can click HERE to learn more about joining! Here is the group at the November meeting with the founder Alex.....

Alex does Ted Talks, does motivational speaking world wide and has a wonderful heart. I also love seeing other people's promises and they can be as small as wanting to work out more to a huge gut wrenching story like this one.....



If you have questions or want to come with me shoot me an email nsavage@live.com our December meeting is tonight!!

#givingtuesday

Today I wanted to share with everyone a few of my favorite charities for Giving Tuesday! Maybe you will donate today or maybe this will just inspire you to find your own favorite place to give back this Holiday season!

**The first is local and Matt and I just went to a charity event a few weeks ago for this organization!

Here is their Mission: Loving kids, families, those in need with food and financial assistance while restoring dignity and hope for a better future!
To learn more or see how you can help or donate click HERE

** Next up is a wonderful organization that was founded by a friend of mine, and I love donating to this incredible group!

Learn about what 41 does for their community..........

To shop for a great cause or to donate to the organization click HERE

** I love this organization and in the past I have sponsored an elephant for a year and one day I hope to travel there to volunteer!

Born from one family’s passion for Kenya and its wilderness, the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is today the most successful orphan-elephant rescue and rehabilitation program in the world and one of the pioneering conservation organisations for wildlife and habitat protection in East Africa.
To learn about adopting an elephant click HERE

** Lastly is another wonderful organization that I love, The Gentle Barn

Ellie Laks founded The Gentle Barn in 1999; it was a dream of hers since she was seven years old. Animals were always very healing and nurturing to her as she faced the challenges of growing up, finding herself, fitting in, feeling understood, etc. She majored in special education and psychology, and with her special love of animals and children, The Gentle Barn was a perfect way of putting all her talents and passions into one.I love all the good this place does for animals in need and they do such a wonderful job at truly sharing with other the compassion we all need to God's creatures. Click HERE to donate

ONE Night to Give Back...

Last Night was the Charity Event partly thrown by my Real Estate Company and my mentor, the proceeds went to SECOR, here is a little more about this organization and last night...

One Night to Give Back

November 13, 2016, Charity Event with dinner, drinks and auction items galore!

South East Community Outreach provides funding for those in need during financial distress, kids who are on free lunch programs to eat on the weekends and a variety of other support for families in Douglas, Arapahoe and Elbert County. Did you know that 1 in 9 families in Douglas County are living in suburbon poverty? It could even be your neighbor.
Their website has additional content and information if you would like to look around or donate directly to this organization: www.secor.info

I helped do come planning for the event as well as the set up, I also got to do the events photography last night! Matt and I both donated gift baskets.... I did a wine and Italian dinner basket and Matt donated an awesome Farmers Insurance Golf bag, Balls and Beers! 

 I will say draping the lights and the tulle across the venue earlier in the day wasn't as easy as it might look! LOL! The event space was downtown and perfect for our 120+ guests!

 Here are some of the girls I work with at Realty ONE Group Premier! We all had a really nice time last night and it is always nice to get together outside of the office!

 SOooooo....... This happened, my husband won the bid on this Orange Crush helmut signed by the man, John Elway himself! It's all for a great cause and the proceeds of just this helmut that go to the charity are enough to fill up an entire truck of food for this food bank, so we did good!!

It was a great night and in a way a nice way to kinda open the Holiday season by doing something so nice! Happy Monday friends!

Colorado Wolf and Wildlife

Friday Mom, Dad and I took a day trip to Divide, CO population 210 BUT a nice population of foxes and wolves! I found this Sanctuary online and I am SO glad I did, The Colorado Wold and Wildlife Center was amazing, educational and in a breathtaking setting. This place is first and foremost committed to education the public on the crisis of the wolf population and their conservation efforts. Watch this video shot at the sanctuary to learn more.....

At the Sanctuary you get to take a 1 hour tour to meet all the wolves (foxes too), learn about them and watch them get treats. You guys, they are just like puppies.... for real. 

Take a moment to read how this lovely sanctuary got started, something we learned about was the "true pack" mentality of this amazing species. I mean we knew how bonded they are together but seeing it first hand and learning how important family is to these animals and how hard the grieving process is for them, it's incredible and sad considering how people are treating them.

The fox enclosure was so cute and these guys are little busy-bodies thats for sure! This one finally decided on a morning nap after a busy morning of digging holes!

When you look at them so close its almost hard to remember that this isn't a family pet but a wolf, and they were the sweetest!

These two are a mated pair who we learned like to occasionally battle back and forth for who is the Alpha. Bickering old married couple is right.

Just look how stunning they are and we got to hear them howl and talk to one another and it was beautiful!

We all had the best time and highly recommend this place to anyone traveling near Colorado Springs.

To learn more about the center, plan a visit or make a donation please click HERE

No. 41 Day!!!

"Do FOR ONE what you wish you could do for all." -Andy Stanley

When No.41 started, there were, roughly, 100 young adults over the age of 18 living in the Noel Orphanage. With no family and limited resources, the prospect of university or becoming gainfully employed was low. Along with that, confidence was low, dreams were small and hope was almost non-existent. It was important, not only to provide a means of sustainable employment doing a culturally relevant trade for these girls, but also to remind them that they were created for a great purpose, by an even greater God. We all have been given gifts and talents and, once realized, we should spend those helping others and that is where the feeding program came in.

In our village there are three secondary schools, grades 7-12, and these students go to school all day, most without eating. The schools, generally, offer a 20-minute break for lunch where children who live close enough or have money, may go home to go to the market to eat. Most do not.

All that has transpired at No.41 is beyond our wildest dreams. We have had ten girls move themselves out of the orphanage and we now have 19 enrolled in university. We have career fairs and business trainings, bible study and English class. I never believed this couldn’t happen, but I never imagined it would happen like this. No.41 is a testament to all that God wants to do in you and through you, if you’ll just say, yes.

What is the Goal of 41 Day????
(via www.no41.org)
On April 1st, we would love for you to join us, wherever you are, for a day of fasting and prayer for children around the world who go without lunch everyday, AND we are asking that you would donate what you would have spent on lunch, to feed our students in Gisenyi, Rwanda. Our feeding program, 1,200 students and teachers, provides lunch for one child for just $0.25 a day. How much do you spend on lunch?

$1 feeds 4 children for one day,
$5 feeds 20 children,
$10 feeds 40 children...

Our goal this year, on April 1st, is funding a whopping 41,000 meals! That's $10,250 or 1000 people giving up a $10 lunch. We have SO got this!

Y'all, changing the world FOR ONE, on 4-1, is really that easy.

All donations can be made here:
http://www.no41.org/faq#donate

Or if you would like to sponsor a student for the WHOLE year, it's $60 here:
http://www.no41.org/collections/169275-all-products/products/5444938-student-sponsorship



I have talked about this Charity several times before ( HERE )  and I went to school with Tara the founder of No. 41....I am constantly in awe of the work she has done. She is making a difference and I hope that thru this post I can make a difference in just ONE child's life. I pledge to donate $60 today and I encourage you to do the same! If you can't give $60 then Pray, Share this post, Fast or a donation of even $5 will make a difference. 

Make sure you get your 41 Day shirt HERE!!! I already have mine and I am wearing it as I type! By purchasing this shirt you will provide 68 LUNCHES!!!!

I hope you all will be as inspired as I am and filled with Hope that people are truly making this world a better place. It makes my soul smile to know that I can help even in the smallest ways. Happy 41 Day!