Making a difference!

Last week I shared some information on the Wags & Menace Foundation this week it is about the awareness this foundation has achieved.

Success stories for Wags & Menace Foundation!

Second Chance Humane Society

The Wags and Menace Foundation Medical Fund

 

Second Chance is excited to announce its new partnership with The Wags and Menace Foundation to develop The Wags and Menace Foundation Medical Fund.

http://www.secondchancehumanesociety.org

http://wagsandmenace.org/images/secondchancehumane.jpg

Humane Society of Boulder Valley

Unsung Hero Award

The Wags and Menace Foundation has won the Unsung Hero award.  Cindy's foundation has helped raise money for many life saving medical equipment needs at the veterinary clinic at the humane society. Also has sponsored many sick and homeless animals that needed medical attention and care. I hope all of the medial equipment and needed care will help them beat the odds and save more lives.

Check out Cindy's Website ~ success stories ~and view all the great things this foundation is has achieved.

Leader of the Pack!!!

Wags and her brother Menace created the Wags & Menace Make a Difference Foundation in 1996. With the help of their owner, Cindy Lee, they raised money and awareness for three animal shelters and an animal hospital to help homeless animals to get well and get adopted. They also welcomed numerous homeless animals to stay overnight with them so Cindy Lee could present them on Petline 9. Every animal presented during the past eight years has been adopted.

Wags and Menace - and Cindy - were the very first “Leaders of the of the Pack” at the 2000 Furry Scurry, benefiting the Denver Dumb Friends League. They became the first ever back-to-back “Leaders of the Pack,” raising $14,000 in 2006 to lead the Furry Scurry in 2007, and raising over $35,000 in 2007 to lead the race in 2008. Cindy is now one of the top individual fundraisers in the nation for a single event. Additionally, they raised over $5,000 in 2006 and lead the Wag’N Trail in 2007, benefiting the Buddy Center in Castle Rock. This is the first time Denver Dumb Friends League has ever had the same person lead both races. Wags & Menace even created and sold their own calendar and raised over $6,000 that was donated to Denver Dumb Friends League as a memorial to Nick Petry, Cindy Lee’s godfather.

Wags became a Certified Therapy Dog, visiting hospitals, schools and libraries. She developed her own fan club, full of people who felt better at the hospital or nursing home because of her visit, children learning more about animals in classrooms and libraries, and challenged children who became interested in reading because Wags was there to encourage them. In December, 2006 Channel 9 aired a story about Wags & Cindy, highlighting the therapy dog whose therapy sessions became therapy for herself.

Wags and Menace participated for many years in the Mutts & Models Fashion Show, benefiting Harrison Memorial Animal Hospital, and have sponsored an exam room there for many years. In 2000, Cindy Lee inspired and helped create the Pets & Vets program. To date, over 1,000 Girl Scouts have completed the one-day program, learning from Cindy and others about furry first aid, veterinary careers, animal awareness and education, and earning a pet merit badge in the process.

Cindy and Wags & Menace volunteered for over 11 years at Good Samaritan Pet Center, becoming involved in many fundraising events and raising money to provide medical care for many foster animals.

Wags eventually developed lymphoid cancer, endured months of treatment, and succumbed in January 2006. She helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars over her 11-year lifetime to help animals, and is sorely missed by all who knew her. Wags truly made a difference for children, including hundreds of special needs kids.

In 2006, Cindy Lee adopted Baxter, a Newfoundland/Border Collie mix. Sadly, Baxter only had six months to learn the ropes of the foundation from Menace, who passed away later that year. When Cindy and Baxter met, he was six months old and weighed only 24 pounds, having suffered severely from previous cruelty and abuse. As new CEO of the Foundation, Baxter is happy, healthy, and on his way to certification as a Therapy Dog. He will continue the legacy of service begun by Wags & Menace.

Cindy Lee has been an animal lover her whole life. Born and raised in Connecticut, she moved west, attended and graduated from the University of Denver, and has been here ever since. In 1996 Cindy began volunteering with Denver Dumb Friends League, Table Mountain Animal Center, Harrison Memorial Animal Hospital and Good Samaritan Pet Center, and has wholeheartedly supported Wags & Menace, Baxter, and their Make a Difference Foundation ever since. Inspired by her rescued dogs, her dynamic enthusiasm has brought hundreds of others into their efforts to help animals here in Colorado. 

About Gabriel's Gift

There Mission:

Gabriel’s Gift mission is to assist families financially, emotionally and spiritually. Gabriel’s Gift will also strive to raise awareness about organ transplantation as well as help to raise money to expand research efforts in an effort to find a cure for congenital heart defects. We will also raise awareness about congenital heart defects within the community and medical indusrty.

Lastly, Gabriel’s Gift is putting together a network of mental health professionals to walk with families through the grief, trauma and bereavement caused by chronic illness. Gabriel’s Gift will provide hope, love and healing to those who are in the midst of chronic illness or whose child has been affected by congenital heart defects.

Meet Gabriel  

“Oh, the places you’ll go” by Dr. Seuss is an inspirational story for kids of all ages that was somewhat of an anchor for us during Gabriel’s hospitalization (and after!). We chose to open with this quote because we want you to first of all, have hope. Embrace it. The possibilities are endless and our story is just one of many that will inspire you to expect miracles.

We learned about Gabriel’s diagnosis while he was still in utero; we were fortunate enough to have an ultrasound technician who noticed something wrong with his heart and we were immediately referred to a specialist. After meeting with the pediatric cardiologist, we were presented with 4 options: terminate the pregnancy, compassionate care, the Norwood procedure or a heart transplant. After many sleepless nights and days spent in research, we decided to proceed with a heart transplant and began the process of finding the best Children’s Hospital in the nation for transplants. Imagine our surprise when we were informed that Denver’s very own Children’s Hospital has one of the best heart transplant programs in America!

Gabriel was born big and strong and was transferred to Children’s Hospital about 36 hours after he entered the world. When he arrived at Children’s, the Transplant Team worked around the clock to evaluate him, confirm his diagnosis and establish a plan of action. Within 24 hours, Gabriel was listed on the UNOS transplant list. We were told that the wait for a heart could be anywhere from 3 to 6 months and we prepared ourselves for the duration. However, we received a call when he was 13 days old that there was a match and the transplant team was flying out immediately to check it out. We waited on pins and needles to hear from the retrieval team while our family raced to get to the hospital.

At about 8:00 p.m., Gabriel was wheeled into the operating room while we walked beside his crib. We left him at the door and went out to the waiting room and settled in for the long night. About every hour, the transplant coordinator on duty would come out and give us updates; his chest was open, the team had landed with the new heart and was on their way, his old heart was out and his new heart was in. When his new heart started beating on its own, there were shouts of joy in the waiting room. It was now 3:30 a.m. and we were all physically and emotionally exhausted.

When we were allowed in to see Gabriel, it was a shock. He was swollen to about three times his normal size and had IV’s in at least 8 different places. There were so many medications flooding his little body but it was easy to see beyond the trauma of his surgery because we knew this was his only chance at survival. He remained swollen for quite a few days but eventually returned to normal. He opened his eyes, got his chest closed up and the ventilator removed. In less than a week, he was moved out of the Cardiac ICU and into the Infant Care Center. We brought him home 11 days after his transplant.

From GabrielsGift.com

Diana Joy raising funds and awareness.

I thought I would take a break and over the next few weeks spotlight the organizations that I support, and encourage you to check out these organizations that are making a difference.

Mission Statement:

To stop the cycle of abuse through raising awareness of all forms of child abuse; through community involvement such as education, mentoring, life skills training and advocates for youth we will stop the cycle of abuse and make the world a safe place for children of many generations to come. Which also includes: financially supporting safe houses, mentoring programs and other services that would otherwise close due to funding.

Diana joy background information:

Changing the world can seem pointless for one person to take on. However, there is one woman who has committed her life to better the world for children. Her name is Diana Joy.  She is the author of "Looking Through the Eyes of An Unseen Child" This book is about Diana's life growing up in a world of emotional, sexual, and physical abuse. How she faced her past and embraced her diagnosis of Multiple Personality Disorder. She faced all the evils of her past and turned it around determined to help others. www.unseenchild.com


Diana has not had an easy path but that doesnít stop her from fighting for her children. These children came from the streets of Denver, through the foster care system or from the safe houses. For a while her house was referred to as the "Throw Away House." Diana took in children who no one wanted and helped them realize their value. Some of these children were even labeled as one of the Top Ten Criminals of Colorado. That didnít stop Diana, however, and although the past wasnít easy, she remains a strong advocate for foster and abused children across the country.

Working with the Unseen Child Foundation  Is a Smart Decision

The trend for consumers to demand more of corporations continues to grow. Businesses are expected to be socially responsible and use their valuable resources to address community concerns. The most significant tie between companies and their not-for-profit counterparts begins with strategic partnerships such as this. Not only do they affect the greater good of the community, but they also affect the bottom line.

Association with the right cause resonates with your customers

People have a more positive image of a product or company if it is known to support a worthwhile cause.

They are likely to switch from one brand to another that is similar in price and quality, if it is known to be associated with a good cause.

They agree that when they see information about a company's corporate citizenship activities, they are more likely to remember that company.

What you think about

“It isn’t what you have, or who you are, or where you are, or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy.  It is what you think about.”  Dale Carnegie

Your mind can be your worst enemy.  You may be one of many individuals that dwell on the things you cannot change, such as making someone love you, hire you, accept you or even acknowledge your worth.  When these things happen you begin to dwell on the what if’s, what if I had done this, maybe if I had done this, what if I had just said yes, etc. etc.

Instead of thinking you don’t have money for rent and getting stressed change your thoughts to when my rent is due I will find the resources necessary to pay my rent and then let go and let GOD” as you begin to believe it you will soon achieve it!   The wonderful world of “Law of Repetitive Effect:” The more often a person is exposed to a specific input, the more likely it is to be accepted and acted upon by the subconscious. With enough repetition your thoughts become subconscious one, which generates repetitive images, feelings, and action, which equal Mind-body habit. Your thoughts become things choose the good ones.

A great friend recently posted “Note to God in her blog http://unseen-child.blogspot.com and the following verse speaks volumes “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6—7)

Great Article ENJOY!

God is working, regardless of how you feel
by Rick Warren

That is why we must hold on all the more firmly to the truths we have heard, so that we will not be carried away. (Hebrews 2:1 TEV)
As you grow to spiritual maturity, there are several ways to cooperate with God in the process -
Believe God is working in your life even when you don't feel it. Spiritual growth is sometimes tedious work, one small step at a time. Expect gradual improvement. The Bible says, "Everything on earth has its own time and its own season." (Ecclesiastes 3:1 CEV)

There are seasons in your spiritual life, too. Sometimes you will have a short, intense burst of growth (springtime) followed by a period of stabilizing and testing (fall and winter).

What about those problems, habits, and hurts you would like miraculously removed? It's fine to pray for a miracle, but don't be disappointed if the answer comes through a gradual change. Over time, a slow, steady stream of water will erode the hardest rock and turn giant boulders into pebbles. Over time, a little sprout can turn into a giant redwood tree towering 350 feet tall.

Keep a notebook or journal of lessons learned. This is not a diary of events, but a record of what you are learning. Write down the insights and life lessons God teaches you about him, about yourself, about life, relationships, and everything else. Record these so you can review and remember them and pass them on to the next generation (Psalm 102:18; 2 Timothy 3:14)

The reason we must relearn lessons is that we forget them. Reviewing your spiritual journal regularly can spare you a lot of unnecessary pain and heartache. The Bible says, "It's crucial that we keep a firm grip on what we've heard so that we don't drift off." (Hebrews 2:1 Msg)

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Rick Warren is the author of "The Purpose Driven Life," now available in paperback from Saddleback Resources.

Are you sowing what you reap?

Did you know that there is a universal law called the principle of sowing and reaping? Are you sowing criticism, and reaping criticism, sowing negativity reaping negativity? If you are one of several that believe nothing ever changes, life is miserable, you never catch a break, everyone else seems to have what you should have etc. etc, etc. Guess what your thoughts becomes things and you are sowing what you reap! By making small changes in your choices like sowing generosity you will reap generosity, sowing happiness reap happiness it really is that easy.

Start today to change what you reap