Announcement
- Every saint has a past, every sinner a future...
Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.
Romans 12:9-10 (The Message)
“Joy can be real only if people look upon their life as a service, and have a definite object in life outside themselves and their personal happiness”
~ Tolstoy
My blog
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This Too Shall Pass by Helen Steiner Rice
Monday, May 3, 2010 4:27AM / Standard Entry
If I can endure for this minute
Whatever is happening to me,
No matter how heavy my heart is
Or how dark the moment may be-
If I can remain calm and quiet
With all the world crashing about me,
If I can but keep on believing
What I know in my heart to be true,
That darkness will fade with the morning
And that this will pass away, too-
Then nothing in life can defeat me
For as long as this knowledge remains
I can suffer whatever is happening
For I know God will break all of the chains
That are binding me tight in the darkness
And trying to fill me with fear-
For there is no night without dawning
And I know that my morning is near.~ Helen Steiner RiceShare 
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LET'S PLAY!
Thursday, Feb 25, 2010 6:13AM / Standard Entry
This goes out to all the artists/designers/folks who have to deal directly with clients...
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This Is What I Did Today...
Saturday, Jan 9, 2010 11:15AM / Standard Entry
I never cease to be amazed at how selfish, uncaring and shallow the human animal can be. From small acts of rudeness at the grocery store to brutal acts of violence in the streets, have we become so wrapped up in ourselves that no one else matters anymore?Then my faith in humanity gets renewed when I get asked to do something like this...If you've been with me since September, you'll remember my friend Kirk who invited me out to California to work at the Life Changing Lives Charity Event (blog title "I Went Out There to Work" parts 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 )
Kirk called me today because he needed my help. He'd been asked to write a letter of recommendation to help a teenager win a lucrative college scholarship being given way by Coke. No problem! No one can write PR like Kirk. Small problem. Kirk does freelance PR, now, and no longer has snazzy corporate letterhead to put the letter on. That's when I got called. "How fast can you work?" was the only question. Kirk quickly filled me in a bit on Brant Whiting. I hadn't even seen the information yet, but I agreed to do it.OK God, if I'm gonna use these abilities You gave me to serve, you're gonna have to help me. I need inspiration, I need the computer to work right and I need to do this fast! Kirk's email arrived. Everything happened just as I asked and a pdf was on it's way to the desktop printer at The Dresser in Fullerton, CA (Kirk's wife's shop) 25 minutes later. Yay!25 minutes out of my life, and I might have just helped send a boy to college. I'll know in February... You might want to skim the next part, but I wanted to introduce you to the boy we're working for.* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *Dear Semifinalist Selection Committee,
I know that in common practice letters of recommendation are supposed to be kept brief so that the committee reviewing submissions can quickly get through the commentary on a large number of applicants. In the case of Brant Whiting (17), I ask your committee’s indulgence in allowing me to take a little more than the usual word count so that I can attempt to adequately communicate the contributions and leadership that I have personally experienced in working with a truly remarkable young man.I first encountered Brant in 2003-2004 when I was Public Relations and Marketing Director for IQAir Corporation. IQAir is the world’s largest manufacturer of ultra-high efficiency air filtration products for hospitals in more than 100 countries, and they are widely recognized as the top consumer air purifier manufacturer for homes with people with allergies, asthma, and other respiratory conditions. As part of my job, I was in charge of all of IQAir’s charitable giving and philanthropic projects – and that is how I came to first meet Brant Whiting.
At the time, I believe Brant was about 11 years old. He approached IQAir to ask if we would be one of the corporate sponsors for a project he had organized called “The Beanie Brigade.” The Beanie Brigade collected recycled beanie baby toys and sent them to our troops in Afghanistan and Iraq so that our soldiers could give them out to children in the war zone in an attempt to build better relations between U.S. soldiers and the citizens in these areas that were being ravaged by war and the many hardships that come with it. As PR director for a large international corporation, I was used to meeting requests for philanthropic funding. What I was not prepared for was to have an 11 year old boy meticulously detail for me a philanthropy that he had conceived on his own, personally raised the start up funding for, and successfully implement. Brant’s dilemma was that the Beanie Brigade had now grown so large and so successful that he needed corporate support just to keep up on the costs of shipping the thousands and thousands of Beanie Baby toys that were now pouring in to his drop off locations.
Brant’s presentation of the Beanie Brigade was remarkable, much better than the vast majority of requests that I received from experienced adult fundraisers – and I was more than a little struck by the fact that sitting across on the other side of my desk making this presentation was an 11 year old boy.
I secured the approval of our company founder and CEO, and IQAir became the full time mail sponsor of the Beanie Brigade. But quite remarkably, Brant’s follow through did not stop with his picking up a check every few weeks to cover postage. He asked if our employees would like to also include letters of support to our soldiers. I floated this suggestion at our next staff meeting, and it was very well received by our company employees.
And very soon I began to see the “vision” Brant had for asking if our staff would like to include cards and letters to our soldiers with the shipments of Beanie Babies. Simply stated – the soldiers wrote back. Soon, an entire wall of our office was covered with pictures of soldiers distributing the toys to children. We saw the bright smiles on the soldiers’ and children’s faces. (Often this was the first toy the child had ever received. These were children who lived in homes with dirt floors.) And the personal stories we received back from the soldiers touched us deeply.
There was the doctor who told me about the little boy who was terrified to get a shot of penicillin, but he mustered up his courage to get the shot when he learned that if he got it the doctor would give his little sister the stuffed pink lion she had fallen in love with.
I received a letter from a sergeant who had just lost 18 friends in a tragic helicopter crash, and the first package he opened after hearing the news was a box of Beanie Babies, one with a pin on it with the picture of a young woman who had died in Sept. 11. He wrote me “After losing so many friends in one day, opening that box reminded me of why we are really here.
And then there was the soldier who told me of the little girl clutching the blue teddy bear he had given her the day before – and she sat in the road next to an IED left by terrorist. He said he thought the little girl believed the terrorists wouldn’t blow up the bomb with her sitting next to it… and the gift of a little blue teddy bear saved countless lives that day.
But as a public relations professional, what really struck me about all of this was that an 11 year old boy had the vision of how to engage the employees of our company and not just make us financial supporters of his project. He knew how to actually get our staff to emotionally invest in the lives of soldiers and citizens in countries half way around the world – and he planned and implemented this project completely on his own initiative.
After the success we saw in working with Brant on the Beanie Brigade, we became corporate contributors to many other projects he developed: Read All Over, Just Do Right, Play It Forward, Yellow Ribbon Brigade, Choc Kids Cards, and 15 Pennies for Our Troops. To be honest, there were too many for me to even try to remember as I sit here and type, and each one of these philanthropies came from Brant’s creative vision and his ability to lead and inspire others.
My appreciation of Brant is not just my own. During the last few years I have been Public Relations and Marketing Director for the 25+ companies that make up The Stearns Corporation. Glenn Stearns, our Chairman, is widely recognized for the philanthropic work of The Stearns Family Charitable Foundation. Through Stearns I was asked to be on the Board of Directors for a book project that would recognize leading business leaders who have used their success to create successful philanthropies. These are business leaders who for the most part are themselves multi-billionaires, and they have built some of the most significant charitable organizations in the world. You cannot imagine my surprise when one day while reviewing who would be chosen for the book, I had another board member ask “Has anyone here heard of a young boy named Brant Whiting?” Had I heard of him! I’d watched him over the last 6-7 years launch numerous successful and well managed philanthropic projects. I cannot properly express the pride I felt that day when I saw Brant chosen as the ONLY teenager to be included in the book. (As a matter of fact, Brant is the only person included in “On Purpose” who is under the age of 50!)
When it was finalized that Brant would be included in the book “On Purpose” – I told the editor that I wanted her to include the story of how and why Brant has dedicated his life the way he has to so significantly give back to helping others. When Brant was only 8 years old, he suffered a full cardiac arrest caused by severe asthma. While recovering in the hospital, he made a pledge that he would dedicate this second chance at life that he was given to giving back to helping others. This was a promise made by an 8 year old boy, and now that he approaches 18 and his life as an adult – I can only imagine how much more this remarkable young man will contribute to giving back to the world around him.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *25 minutes. What do you think this kid will do with that education if he wins? I got to be part of that. Woooooooow....What are your gifts? Can you spare 25 minutes?Share
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We Party Like (PG) Pirates
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 4:35AM / Standard Entry
September 19th was International Talk Like a Pirate Day. We held our usual celebration and, instead of babbling on and on at you, I'ma gonna post the pictures now
The official banner that freaks out all the neighbors
Rhett's birthday is a few days before Pirate Day. Once again--just like boy-child's birthday--he could have a cake decorated anyway he wanted and chose a Boston Creme Cake instead. FIne. But I'm putting pirate candles on it
Pirate Day cupcakes part IPirate Day cupcakes part 2!The first arrival was this Mayfly. Dude! It's loooong past May!Last year we had some problems with kids dropping food on the carpet and walking over it.
So we served all the food outside this year. Rhett built a frame for an awning and brought home some old banner material from work to use as the cover. FACTIOD: As an occupation, Rhett is in the field of graphics too--sign graphics. He manages the local office of a sign company. Their largest client is Spirit Halloween. If you live in the US, you might see a Spirit Store open by you Sept. 1 - Nov. 1. Go shop there! This held the pirate mints in case anyone had barnacle breath
This is our punch bowl before punch. Yes, it's tradition that there be plastic skeletons in the punch. There's a plastic eyeball too. That caldron holds several gallons so I only end up filling it twice.This is my niece Megan. I love her eye patch. It's drawn on. HA! Oh, she's single, btw. Megan's 23, comes from a good family, a college student studying to be a nutritionist and works at a daycare. And she's not high maintanence. No, she doesn't dress this way all the time.Meet little Miss Amber. She's three. She's also her mommy and daddy's "oops child."
There's 10 years between here and her older sister. Oops. She knows how cute she is and full of personality. I wish I had the camera when girl-child was teaching Miss Amber to impale herself on a sword. These guys lined the driveway. Got 'em last year at the post-Halloween sales 90% off! BONUS!Miss Amber again with my great-nephew Aidin. I'm still mad at my niece and her husband for making me a great-aunt. It's just not fair. I'm not old enough to be a great-aunt, darn it! Anyway, Aidin had a drawn on eye patch too.
Every year there's a battle between the HMS Facade and the Lustful Ghost. The Facade represents the British. We didn't have a British flag when we built her so a pair of Union Jack boxers fill the role
And the Facade throws out the first volley!There are better picture of the Lustful Ghost HERE!And hour and a half to fill 100 water balloons and 5 minutes to destroy them all!Aidin taking the ship! Arrrrrgh! What a good little pirateAnd here's Amber again. We have a couple of these miniature ships set up for wee-people. Amber spent a bit of time rolling around in this one then had a static "issue." Nice hair!And here's my tattoos. No, not real ones...maybe by next year though I'll let you guess where I wore them 
And lest I forget, the alllllll important list of Pirate Curses/Insults!Choose one from each column:ModifierLily-liveredBarnacle-bottomedChum-swillin'Kelp-festoonedRusty-hookedFish-sniffingWeevil-eatin'Figurehead-fondlin'Albatross-huggin'Hornswogglin'Frog-lickin'Bilge-belchin'Wench-wrestlin'Poop-swabbin'Grog-guzzlin'Porthole-pluggin'Seaweed-smokinNounsLandlubberRum potBilge monkeyKraakenSon of a sea cowGull-dropping collectorFancy ladSheep shaggerSea dogMonkey dancerCannon fodderFishmongerTreasure dropperParrot spankerThicky Dirty ol' saltSecond assistant cabin boyOur personal family favorites are:"Ya Figurehead-fondlin' Sheep Shagger!"and"Ya Porthold Pluggin' Parrot Spanker!"Share
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I Went Out There To Work - part 7
Saturday, Sep 19, 2009 11:43AM / Standard Entry
Kirk and Marianne had done a wonderful job making me feel at home. They truly have a gift for hospitality. I felt like a part of their family. It was kinda funny, the morning of the even, Kirk was handing me stuff he'd need that evening and I put it in my bag. Now the time was here and we were both off to find a place to change for the event. I dug into my bag and handed him his things. He smiled, "Bless you..." He'd totally forgotten about them.Remember the bathroom stall? They also make great dressing rooms. Heck, they were bigger than some department store dressing rooms!
Hair, make up, nails and dress... with the usual lovely expression on my face ::roll eyes::. But hey, you get to see the lady's room's sitting room! That's only one corner. It was big... Yes, I spent all evening in those shoes. Dr. Sholes gel insoles for heels are worth every penny!
Guests started arriving at 5:30, making their way down a spiral stair case, lined with a fireman honor guard, to a red carpet photo op.A few of the evenings celebrity guests:Joshua Allen and Katee Shean perform the dance piece "No Air" at the Life Changing Lives' fundraiser.
Elliott Yamin took a lot of pics with people and performed. What a nice guy. I mean really, truly genuine.
Haylie Duff and Nick Zano
Honoree Tibor Rubin, very special heroes, with Roy Firestone (the emcee). Mr. Rubin is a Jew who survived a Nazi concentration camp. After WWII, he made his way to the U.S. and joined the military. He fought in the Korean war, spent time in a POW camp and earned the Metal of Honor NINE TIMES! He was great. He said, "Did you know, if you win more than once, they still only give you one metal?" lol!
James Littlejohn from the Boys &Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley with Sugar Ray Leonard.
Astronaut Charlie Duke! He told awesome stories about going to the moon and working for NASA.
Broadway star Jennifer Lewis. Soon after this photo was taken, I heard Ms. Lewis tell her assistant she needed to find the ladies room. I approached and offered my assistance. Even getting directions to the potty, Ms. Lewis was gracious. See behind her? That's the staircase at the end of the Hall of Mirrors that everyone came down.
Most of the cast of The Sopranos was there. They sat down front at the gala. They were a fun bunch. Later, after dinner, was the live auction where they sold some big, high ticket items. One of the things up for bid was Dinner with The Sopranos the next even there at the St. Regis. One of the actors (I wasn't a fan of the show so I don't know his name, the big guy in the middle) stood up during bidding and announced, "and after dinner, we'll all jump in the hot tub!"
There's a bunch more great pictures HERE.I was standing not far from the door leading to the terrance and noticed the oddest phenomenon. People couldn't find the door! They got their pic taken and walked past it. Then they'd stand there dumbfounded. If they kept going straight, they ended up in the restrooms. If they turned down the hall, they ended up in the volunteer rooms. This looks like a job for *insert trumpet fanfare!* Volunteer Guest! That would be me. So I stayed there by the door and helped hapless celebs and rich people find their way to the silent auction.After the photos, guests made their way a few yards down the hall to a door opened onto a terrace. The terrace lead to another staircase that lead down to the lawn of the St. Regis where the silent auction was taking place.
The Back of the St. Regis, overlooking the silent auction.The silent auction...When the silent auction was done, everyone came back up the stairs to the Grand Ballroom for dinner.A good pic of the ballroom and a couple knuckle heads
Me, all ghastly pale and washed out, and the centerpiece. Hey, you can see one of my "removed wings" scars...
Wouldn't be a proper AnD blog without food pictures. After a salad of Boston Lettuce with roasted baby beats, pistachio crusted boat cheese and truffle vinaigrette dressing, were were served this Kalbi marinated beef tenderloin with wasabi mashed potatoes and ginger-chianti reduction (aka really tasty gravy). Sorry, no pic of dessert. The St. Regis warm chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce was gone before I remembered. Did I mention the chocolate sauce was inside the cake? Yeah. And it came pouring out when you cut into it... Ummmmm....
So I'm sitting there, minding my own business, eating away and happen to notice two people standing behind me talking. Wow. Another celeb! I stood up and asked for a pic. She was very gracious.Me and former American Idol runner up Brooke White. I chopped me out of the pic cuz the look on my face was waaaaaaay too dumb and my eyes were close. No, you can't see it.
Then Brooke signed grandma's autograph book too. She has such pretty handwriting. Brooke commented on my book, "Wow, this is really pretty." When I told her where I got it, she was all "oooo" and "aaaah..." That was a pretty kewl moment.
Jennifer Lewis sang the National Anthem as Challenger the Bald Eagle took a flight across the ball room. I knew this was coming so I was ready. Helps when you know the PR guy. Kirk was very glad Challenger didn't poo on his way across the room. lol!After dinner were several presentation from representitives of Wounded Warrior, Boys and GIrls Club and Make A Wish Foundation. Each presentation was done by someone who'd been benefited by the organization itself. I had to keep remembering my non-waterproof eye make up to keep from crying. All the presenter's stories were very moving.The evening finished out with several live performances by Bo Bice, Brooke White, Elliot Yamin. Honoree awards presented and the live auction items were sold. Things like a LA Lakers suite for you and 11 friends, two elevated ringside seats at the Pacquiao-Cotta Title FIght in Vegas, and Ultimate Nascar Experience, a LAPD Helicopter Ride-Along, a Navy SEALs Experience, a City Slickers getaway in Montana, tickets to the last season of Oprah (yes you read that right...), four tickets to the Grammys and after party passes and, of course, the above mentioned dinner with The Sopranos.Before everyone called it a night (and/or headed to the after party reputed to be gaining strength upstairs), Elliot and Brooke both did one more song and then Bo rocked the house.It was an amazing evening after an amazing day. I went out there to work! And I got a day crammed full of things and people I would never forget. That evening, we went home and sat around on the couches with the dogs--my new best friends beagles Cooper and Paisley and their sister, a dog adopted from a Navaho reservation, Ahtay--reflecting on everything. Kirk was glad it was over--he'd spent most of the summer working (and stressing) on it--but thought everything came off very well. He was pleased. I was exhausted and thrilled.And I still had one full day left in CA ahead of me.TO BE CONTINUED...Share
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