A Promise is a Promise...

So, after SooperPhrend Carol D. offered up a cool, crisp Benjamin to each of our chosen charities, Fireandrabbits and I agreed to recreate our most embarrassing pictures.

Seeing how the deadline was the 15th, I'm a little late....but better late than never. Also, with the events of the past week, we all could use some levity......or horror....or nausea.

This is my embarrassing photo. I was around 4-ish, and I used to pretend that I was Magnum, P.I. The laundry basket was my bitchin' red Ferrari, and my shades were on point. My mom decided to capture the awesomeness, and this was the result. She has since threatened to put this picture on posters, t-shirts, billboards, etc. for all sorts of events, including my graduation from high school AND college. I have circumvented this by posting it on the interwebz.

Bad.Ass. Higgins needs to fetch me a drink.

So, for the charity recreations, Fire chose the Wounded Warrior Project, which helps veterans hurt in the line of duty. A great organization full of great people and well chosen. I have chosen Donna's Good Things, a charity run by a fellow blogger to do....what else? Good Things for people, especially for children struggling with a multitude of health issues. These are great organizations that can use all the help they can get, so if you have anything to give, please think of these people.

Fire has been a bit under the weather as of late, and has earned a pass on her recreation for the time being. When she posts her pic, I will repost this blog along with a link to hers. I would like to thank Fireandrabbits and Razorblade Brain for their generosity in taking up the mantle for this challenge, and a special thanks to Carol D. for bringing this about with her charitable donations. 

And without, further ado.....get your sick bags ready.....the 2012 re-creation of the infamous hamper pic.

Cannot be unseen. Also, laundry baskets have shrunk.

Dude, You've Got an Awesome Ward-Bro-be

What happens if you get a bunch of surfer bros that just want to chill and wear tanks with awesome pictures of them doing bro-like stuff? Well, if you're these guys, you create Mantanks.com. These guys have created a site where you can upload your own pics onto a tank top so you can totally bro out on the weekends.

Go ahead, tell him he's holding that wine glass wrong. The testosterbrone is too much.

Now, if you're looking to do something worthwhile with your textiles (see what I did there?), a family member of mine has actually created a charity that benefits the Los Angeles homeless. The charity is called Povertees, and they sell hand-crafted shirts and use the money to help out the less fortunate in downtown LA. If you have a minute and an extra buck or two, get a shirt or donate to them today! Go and like their Facebook page and visit their website!

Spending A Little Means A Lot....

With my own charity event fast approaching (This Saturday!!), I decided for this WWWednesday post to promote 5 websites where you can give small sums of money to do cool stuff.

I know everyone's money is tight and expendable income (if any) is next to none. That's where these sites come in. You can donate a little, and help make a big difference in someone's life (or a lot of people's lives!)

#5 - Kickstarter

Kickstarter.com is that show Shark Tank, but on the internet. Remember that show? People put together their business presentation, and investors decided whether or not to help fund their dream. Kickstarter is exactly like that. Regular people put together a presentation on what they want to do with YOUR money, and you choose whether or not to support them (financially). The really cool thing is most of these projects have perks for their backers at different levels, for instance, this project below is for a vegan magazine (Great....you're starting to influence me, Maggie!). For just a $1 donation, you get your name and website link on thier "backer" page of their website! Not a bad investment to get your name in front of a targeted market segment.....just sayin'

#4 - Kiva

Kiva.org is a microloan site, which means you donate $25 to a specific person or group, and they REPAY you. The goal here is to keep loaning the $25 to help as many people as you want to. Very cool website helping both the less fortunate AND the entrepreneurs mostly in third world countries. Oh yeah, and they have a better repayment rate than the ENTIRE MORTGAGE INDUSTRY.

Since Kiva was founded in 2005:

• 630,692 Kiva lenders
• $249 million in loans
• 98.87% Repayment rate

Not bad, peeps. Learn more here.

#3 - Donors Choose

I believe that children are our future. Teach them well, and let them lead the way. Show them all the beauty they possess inside.......

Donorschoose.org is a website where teachers around the country upload the projects they would like to do with their classes, and people can donate to fund those projects. Let's face it, for all the awesome they are, teachers don't really get what they need. Creative, motivated teachers need help from outside sources. I know a lot of teachers that spend thier own money on supplies for thier classes. Guys, they don't make a fortune, and that dedication needs to be recognized. 

Here's a project from a local high school (my kids' school didn't have any), if you care to donate!

#2 - Razoo

I'd never even heard of this site before today, but it runs along the same lines of the others, except non-profits and other foundations can set up and accept donations on razoo.com. They do take 2.9% as a "processing fee", which is shitty, but hey, they're trying to do some good.

#1 - Extra Life and the Most Awesome Fundraiser Ever

You guys thought you were going to get out of this without me plugging my charity? How long have you guys been reading my blog? ;) Extra life allows non-athletic introvert geeks such as myself feel important by providing them with a reason to play video games for 24 hours straight. What's that you say? Why should I donate money to play video games? Because your donations help the Children's Miracle Network, which does a lot of good for a ton of sick kids. So, on that note.....help me out by donating here to benefit Phoenix Children's Hospital!!!!!!!!

Yeah.....3 days to get me to $500. Let's do it, folks.

It's not who's the strongest or fastest, it's who does the most good...

Let me clarify this Extra Life donation drive I'm involved in. If you are my Facebook friend, you have seen my posts asking for money to play video games for 24 hours. I have a feeling some of you shook your head behind your screen and muttered something about "...ridiculous trying to raise money by playing games", or "he does that already, I'm not giving him MONEY for it", or "this is such a scam".
Look. It's not a scam. If you think it is, I have a different opportunity for you. I know this Nigerian prince that needs to wire his money over here. Just give him your bank account number and half of his fortune can be YOURS!!
First, let me explain why I am doing THIS event.
Perhaps you haven't heard about my heart attack. I would LOVE to do the marathon/walkathon/jump ropeathon/danceathon/bowlathon etc., but I would LOVE to not test the threshold of my INTERNAL CARDIAC DEFRIBULLATOR.

"Have you ever licked a 9 volt battery? Try licking an electricity transformer instead."
The simple fact is that this event is more my speed. While sedentary in nature, and not typically a fund-raising event, it is something that I can still do well enough to finish the event. 
The point I'm trying to make is that although the activity may seem sketchy to you, the reason for doing it is most definitely a personal matter to me, and many others who have had similar experiences.
Meet my niece, Anna:

About 3-1/2 years ago, Anna woke up one morning and couldn't tie her shoes anymore. When her parents asked her what was wrong, she couldn't form coherent sentences. They took her to a local hospital, then she was transported to Phoenix Children's Hospital. She had a subarachnoid hemorrhage.

See that white stuff inside her head? That's blood. That's not supposed to be there.
From the above link:

 Up to half of all cases of SAH are fatal and 10–15% of casualties die before reaching a hospital,^[1]and those who survive often have neurological or cognitive impairment.^[3]

Anna had to have emergency brain surgery. At 6 years old.

She made it through, and now is healthy and happy, thanks to the staff and surgeons at PCH.

Anna and her surgeon, Doctor Moss.
I hope this sheds some light on why I keep posting messages begging for donations for my event.
I want to help the people that helped my family. Anyone would do the same.
I know the economy sucks, and I know every penny counts in your personal budget, but anything helps.
I have recieved donations from:

• a retired government worker on a fixed income
• a mother of 3 that recently gave birth (do you know how much diapers cost?)
• a single mother of 3
• many people that probably couldn't "afford" it.

I understand the hardship of giving money away. But give PCH the first beer of your Friday night barhop, the first latte of your work week, or simply the change from filling up your car.
Please donate anything you can. I appreciate your support and time for reading this.
Donate HERE!