National Foundation for Credit Counseling Urges You to Protect Your Identity This Week!

Did you know that even the most responsible of us can become a victim of identity theft? The nonprofit organization, National Foundation for Credit Counseling, has teamed up with Council of Better Business Bureaus to bring you Protect Your Identity Week.

Now more than ever it is important to protect ourselves and our families from theft and invasion, as nearly 10 million Americans were victims of identity theft last year, making this the fastest growing crime in America! Everyday we may be putting ourselves and our families at risk by simply writing a check, using a credit card or even our ATM cards. So the best protection against identity theft is education. By visiting www.ProtectYourIDNow.org, you can take a quiz and assess your risk of ID theft and learn helpful tips to keep you and your family safe. Additionally, the Web site allows you to find PYIW events in your area. Workshops, shredding and credit report reviews are some of the events taking place across the nation from Oct 17-24.

Since this crime is not going anywhere, it is time for us to fight back! Identity Theft comes in many forms, from Financial Identity Theft, to Government to Medical, and can be accomplished by practices such as:

• Dumpster Diving

• Skimming

• Phishing

• Changing Your Address

• “Old-Fashioned” Stealing

National Protect Your Identity Week is October 17-24th. Visit www.ProtectYourIDNow.org, where you will learn important tips and receive information on ways to get involved in National Protect Your Identity Week events.

Learn more today to start protecting yourself and your family for the future: www.ProtectYourIDNow.org

And be sure to check out Poor Than You and Money Under 30 for great features on Protect Your Identity Week:

http://poorerthanyou.com/2009/10/18/protect-your-mail-national-protect-your-identity-week/

http://www.moneyunder30.com/seven-signs-risk-identity-theft

Protect Your Identity Week Website:

www.ProtectYourIDNow.org

NFCC Official Facebook Page:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/NFCCDebtAdvice

NFCC Twitter Updates:

ww.twitter.com/nfccdebtadvice

Today is World Sight Day!

As caring individuals, we do our very best to ensure the people we love around us are safe and healthy. Unfortunately, in developing countries, this is a much more difficult task.

ORBIS International, a non-profit, global development organization is on a mission to eliminate avoidable blindness in developing countries. ORBIS envisions a world where no one is needlessly blind, where quality eye care, education and treatment are available to every human being.

Now it’s time for us all to get involved, as TODAY, October 8^th is World Sight Day! You can help by setting aside one day during the Month of October to inform your friends, family, and fellow Blog readers about this initiative.

Did you know that an estimated 45 million children and adults are blind worldwide… and every year between 1 and 2 million more will lose their sight. What makes these facts even more upsetting is that 75 percent of cases could have been prevented, or their eyesight restored, if only people had access to proper eye care. Unless steps are taken now, it is estimated that by the year 2020 blindness will affect more than 76 million people! There is hope though. ORBIS, with support from Alcon, carries out programs onboard its Flying Eye Hospital and at hospitals in developing countries to help the blind see. While they are in these countries, ORBIS also trains local doctors and nurses in the latest sight-saving techniques so that they may gain the tools and knowledge needed to carry on the work that is done.

This year, ORBIS International will be giving everyone an xclusive inside look to see the great work that goes on first hand! These inside accounts are called “Eye Reports,” and will be added to the website weekly to include inspiring moments from the field.

Want to check out the latest news and updates? Simply visit: http://www.orbis-eyereports.org and be sure to check ORBIS out on Facebook!

NESTLÉ(R) COFFEE-MATE and Dress for Success Want You to Be a Part of Something Big

Want to be a part of something big? Now is your chance! NESTLÉ® COFFEE-MATE is teaming up with Dress for Success to give deserving women the tools they need to achieve financial independence. Dress for Success is a non-profit organization that promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools that will help them thrive in work and in life. By going beyond the clothes, Dress for Success helps disadvantaged women become more self-sufficient. And now, NESTLÉ® COFFEE-MATE is donating $50,000 to Dress for Success. But with a little help from you, the total goal of $150,000 can be reached, as it is the smallest steps that can make a big difference!

A simple word of encouragement can give a person the confidence she needs to land a job and change her life. By visiting http://makeeverycupcount.coffee-mate.com, you can send a Cup of Confidence note to help inspire a Dress for Success client. NESTLÉ® COFFEE-MATE will donate fifty cents to Dress to Success for every Cup of Confidence note sent. Your note will be given to a woman who visits Dress for Success for inspiration on how to thrive in work and in life. COFFEE-MATE will donate an additional fifty cents when you share your Cup of Confidence note on Facebook or post a badge on other sites.

Program ends 12/31/2009 or when total donation amount of $150,000 is reached, whichever occurs first. Limit one Cup of Confidence note per person, per email address. Visit http://makeeverycupcount.coffee-mate.com for all details.

And while you’re helping others, you can also think about the ways in which you can help yourself. If you’re looking for simple ways to lessen your own economic woes, NESTLÉ® COFFEE-MATE has you covered as well! Focus on the necessities and lessen your out of home spending on coffee drinks. While visiting http://makeeverycupcount.coffee-mate.com you can check out the “Calculate Your Savings” feature, where you’ll find out just how much money you’d save by making a cup of coffee with COFFEE-MATE at home. In today’s new value focused economy, every penny counts and the small decisions you make, such as choosing to enjoy a cup of coffee at home, can deliver big savings over time.

Check out http://makeeverycupcount.coffee-mate.com for all the details today and be sure to tell your friends and family! : )

Canon Creative Park Makes Learning Fun and Interactive

Parents and teachers know first-hand that creative thinking is a crucial part of a child’s development and universal education. So selecting projects that foster creative learning is extremely fundamental! However, having to come up with fresh, new ideas can often be a very nerve-wracking experience for both parents and teachers, leaving them with questions such as: Where can I go to find innovative projects? Will my kids stay interested? Where do I even begin? It is a difficult task to constantly come up with ideas, but luckily Canon’s Creative Parks for Creative Minds offers a free, online resource that can help bring fun, easy craft projects right into your home or classroom!

The Creative Park Web site offers ideas and templates with projects ranging from 3D Paper Crafts, to scrapbooks and calendars and even tips on digital photography, allowing children to expand their minds in an imaginative fashion. Creative Park is a simple, innovative way to teach children about geography, history, social studies, sciences and so much more. So whether your children want to build their very own Tower of London, or venture to the Great Pyramid, there is a template for every child’s imagination!

The smart ideas on Creative Park are both an easy and affordable way to turn your home or classroom into a creative environment. If you are interested in introducing Creative Park into your children’s education, simply visit http://www.learningtocreate.com to receive more information about this hands-on approach to learning.

Capture the imagination of your children today!

Enter the LMK Online Safety Sweepstakes Today!

As you may recall from the feature back in May highlighting this initiative, Girl Scouts LMK is an online safety campaign that aims to keep teens and parents informed and ahead of safety issues on the web. We are happy to announce the LMK Online Safety Sweepstakes from the “Let Me Know” partnership with GSUSA and Microsoft Windows.

You can enter today and be in the running to win a brand new desktop computer! There is no purchase necessary to enter the sweepstakes (see rules for details). Sweepstakes ends Monday, September 7 and the online entry form and official rules are found on the Web site: http://letmeknow.girlscouts.org.

Good luck!!

NFCC Offers “Financial Fast Facts”

With everything going on in the economy these days, you may not know where to go for advice. You find yourself asking: Who can I really trust? Who is reputable? Why do some companies charge me sky-high prices for mediocre advice?! All wonderful questions to ask yourself when dealing with such an important issue. The National Foundation for Credit Counseling (also referred to as CCCS or Consumer Credit Counseling Service locally) wants to help folks gain access to free information called “Financial Fast Facts,” brief videos that can be utilized with minimal effort and headache!

When you log onto NFCC’s Financial Facts , you can instantly watch short videos filled with great advice from Gail Cunningham, NFCC’s Vice President. She’ll share some quick tips that’ll get you on a smart financial track. Some of the important topics Gail covers are: “Changing Your Credit Card Terms,” “Dealing with Job Loss,” “Debt Settlement 101,” and more! Want to check it out for yourself? You can do so by visiting: http://www.nfcc.org/FinancialEducation/FinancialFastFacts/fff.cfm?v=CreditScorePT1Logo

NFCC is also offering visitors a free DVD with tips on how to avoid foreclosure, so be sure to sign up for that freebie while you’re on the website! http://www.nfcc.org/Housing/orderdvd.cfm .

To give you a quick background, NFCC has been around since 1951 and proudly continues to remain the nation’s largest and longest serving national nonprofit credit counseling network — offering reputable and free services! And as you see, NFCC is now taking those efforts straight to the Blogosphere and to Facebook!

You can connect to the latest news, updates and videos from NFCC by joining:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/National-Foundation-for-Credit-Counseling-NFCC/69791289272

www.MandelaDay.com: Make An Imprint Today!

Nelson Mandela has spent 67 years making the world a better place. Now it’s your turn to make a difference in your communities and around the world.

www.MandelaDay.com was created to inspire people to embrace Mr. Mandela’s values and make an imprint through service to their communities. Service could mean any number of community volunteer activities, such as feeding the homeless, being a big brother/big sister or visiting someone who is sick. Aimed at bringing together people around the world to fight poverty and promote peace and reconciliation, Mandela Day celebrates the idea that each individual has the power to transform the world and the ability to make an imprint. But boy do we still have work to do! Global movement for positive change begins with small actions, actions which we as Bloggers can help encourage through a voice online.

I encourage everyone to watch and share this moving video to check out some familiar faces already making their impact. You even have the ability to cut yourselves into the film and choose celebs to make your own fun, unique version! Simply sign up, log in, and start creating here! http://mandeladay.com/participate/inyourhands/

Will Rogers Institute and John Ratzenberger Join Forces for Diabetes Awareness

Diabetes Knowledge is the Key to Early Detection and Control

Did you know that Diabetes often goes undiagnosed, allowing many to cruise through 10 years of life without pinpointing what exactly is wrong? Some may wonder why they are always tired. Or maybe others wonder why their fingers are a little numb? Tiny abnormalities can easily get brushed aside or written off as a simple nuisance. But there may be a larger problem at hand, which can be caught early and kept under control with the proper knowledge. So why not educate yourself and loved ones?

Will Rogers Institute has joined with John Ratzenberger, best-known for playing mail carrier, Cliff Clavin on Cheers to create awareness about diabetes education and stress the importance of early detection in fighting the disease. Ratzenberger has spent the last 14 years of his life promoting health literacy for Diabetes, educating as many people as possible on this potentially life-threatening disease. Since Ratzenherger’s son has Type 1 Diabetes, he understands the importance of catching warning signs early. “Diabetes kills four times as many people as breast cancer and AIDS combined. Four times! And costs $92 billion every single year in after-care costs such as: dialysis, blindness, amputations, and prosthetics,” Ratzenberger stresses.

In efforts to educate the general public, Will Rogers Institute and Ratzenberger are sharing important facts about Diabetes. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Type 1 or Juvenile Diabetes, is where your immune system actually shuts down insulin production.

• Type 2 or adult – onset Diabetes, occurs later in life, and involves the disruption in the delivery of insulin within your body.

• Diabetes is one of the largest risk factors for stroke and heart attack.

• It is important to take notice of warning signs early no matter what your age, as Diabetes can pop up later on in life.

• Fitness and nutrition play a huge part in your overall health and well-being. It is important to stay active and eat nutritious foods.

To hear more from Ratzenberger, and his mission to educate as many people as he can about Diabetes, please watch this very special announcement: http://www.westglen.com/online/17741.html .

Additionally, Will Rogers Institute is offering free pamphlets, enabling the general public an easy way to gain quick facts and learn more about Diabetes. “What You Need to Know” is available by visiting: https://secure.webaloo.com/wrinstitute/orderbooks.asp.

While you are at the website, check out ways in which you can get involved and support WRI. It is through the help and aid of the general public that keeps programs like this going strong! For more information, check out http://www.wrinstitute.org.

NEW ONLINE TOOL FROM NATIONAL HEADACHE FOUNDATION HELPS PEOPLE WITH HEADACHE

“Headache U” is first educational program of its kind,
matches sufferers with resources based on personal headache patterns

Headache can be a tremendous burden on the sufferer, but it doesn’t have to be if you understand it, prepare for it, and even try to prevent it. The National Headache Foundation has just introduced a new, cool and unique educational portal called Headache U. For some, headaches can get so severe that family, social and work life takes a serious hit, and who can really afford that? Worse yet, headaches are very personal, with combinations of triggers ranging from hormones to weather, stress to diet. So, the approach to headache care needs to be as personal as the headaches are.

That’s why Headache U is the perfect website for headache sufferers to turn to! It’s all about YOU, which can help people with headache take a personal approach toward getting relief.

By logging onto Headache U, you can begin to “Chart Your Course to Relief,” with the first of many educational resources to be introduced in the portal. This first-of-its-kind online and interactive personal headache care tool asks you questions about your own experiences and based on your answers, guides you to resources… tailored specifically to YOU! Because sufferers want to spend less time worrying about their next headache and more time enjoying life to its fullest, Headache U matches sufferers with resources based on personal headache patterns, providing the steps toward getting relief!

The NHF also really stresses the importance of becoming a student of your own headaches so you get to know your personal headache patterns. Maybe you can blame your parents! Did you know that migraines can be hereditary, and affect three times more women than men? Whatever the pattern may be, get out some paper and start taking notes!

Here are four simple strategies that will get sufferers on the right course:

• Realize that headaches matter and take them seriously, even if others don’t
• Learn all you can and become a student of your own headaches
• Track your headaches and try to find clues to triggers and solutions
• Take control and get the help and care you deserve: many resources are available.

In an effort to keep programs like Headache U going, NHF has recently launched an endeavor to help raise funds for future programs. To check out the details, and to learn more about Headache U, simply visit http://www.headaches.org.

To hear a great audio summary about Headache U, please visit: www.napsnet.com/radio/mp3/009691.mp3

June Marks First Ever Acne Awareness Month

According to a recent survey, more than half of teens (59%) said that they would be willing to stay off Facebook for a year if they could get rid of their acne forever! What’s more – 13% would actually pick one of their parents as a prom date to be zit-free for the rest of their lives!

June marks the first-ever National Acne Awareness Month – the perfect time to help teens take control of their acne. There are so many myths surrounding acne – that people with acne don’t wash their faces and/or eat poorly. But the truth is, even the cleanest and healthiest of us can be prone to getting acne! In fact, acne is a medical condition that can be treated, and has little to do with diet or cleanliness habits.

The AARS, with support from Galderma Laboratories, has developed a special announcement to educate teens on how to take control of their acne: to inform everyone on ways to take action when acne takes a hold of their lives: http://www.westglen.com/online/17612.html

Want more? Visit the brand new Web site, www.acnemonth.com, designed to help you get educated on ways to treat and prevent acne.

Now go help to spread the word about National Acne Awareness Month! Because the best defense is a well-informed offense!