Philanthropic Ways To Get Involved In Your Own Neighborhood

November 11, 2015 by

Being involved in philanthropy is a great way to give back to your community and contribute to making the world a better place. These days in our busy and overscheduled world, it can become hard to find the time to attend philanthropic events or groups. It is easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives, and feel like we don’t have the time or energy to give back to the community in a big way. However, giving back isn’t measured by the amount of money you donate or the number of fancy events you attend. There are plenty of ways to be philanthropic right in your own neighborhood.

If you’re looking for a way to give back to your community with a group of people or by yourself, here are a few ideas to get the ball rolling.

Clean Up! You don’t have to be an official cleaning crew to get to work! Gather a few families, friends or do it by yourself! All you need is some trash bags and some gloves. Head to a place that could use a little love, and leave it better then it was when you found it. Maybe you’ll even inspire others to do the same.

Offer to help. Is your neighbor going through something that makes life stressful? New babies, moves, or the loss of a relative can really throw people for a loop. If you know someone who might need some help, show up at their house with a simple meal, or maybe mow their lawn. Small gestures can make all the difference during a stressful time, and giving back can happen even on the simplest level.

Sing a Song. You have the potential to brighten the day of an entire retirement home by walking in and signing ONE song. It’s something so simple, but so greatly appreciated by the residents. It doesn’t need to be anything fancy—folk songs and old standards are great, because everyone can sing along. Bonus points if you can bring someone who knows how to play a guitar or piano!

Keep Someone Company. Many communities have senior centers with programs linking seniors and younger people, offering companionship and company for an hour here and there. Childrens Hospitals are another great place to go and spend time with someone who could really use the company and conversation. Do a search for your local centers and hospitals and inquire how you might help.

Plant Something. Want your neighborhood to be a little greener? Make it happen! Organize a planting party and beautify your surroundings. Whether you’re building a community garden or planting some flowers in your neighbor’s yard, you are giving back to your community in a big way! Just make sure to check with your city to ensure you’re planting in the right areas, especially if you’re planting trees.

Neighborhoods are made great by the people within them, so don’t be afraid to lead the way. Your efforts will come back to you tenfold, as you enjoy the neighborhood that you’ve fostered!

Filed Under: Charity, Mark Bronner Diamonds, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , ,

19 Amazing Diamond Facts

November 11, 2015 by

I found this infographic to be both helpful and interesting, and I hope you enjoy it!

amazing-diamond-facts-infographic-by-whiteflash

Filed Under: Mark Bronner Diamonds, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , ,

People Undergoing Root Canals May Have Gained A Powerful Yet Tiny New Ally — Diamonds

November 1, 2015 by

People undergoing root canals may have gained a powerful yet tiny new ally — diamonds.

rare-oval-diamond

More than 15 million painful-yet-necessary root canal procedures are performed in the U.S. each year to protect us from tooth infections. But complications such as infection can arise post-surgery. Teeth infections can lead to tooth loss which is something the UCLA School of Dentistry is trying to prevent! In a new study at UCLA, they have found that these post-surgery infections can be warded off by a girl’s best friend: diamonds!

Nanodiamonds, specifically, were the subject of the researchers’ study. Thousands of times smaller than a human hair, at about four to five nanometers in diameter, nanodiamonds have the shape of very tiny soccer balls and are the byproduct of diamond mining and refining. They’ve also been widely explored for use in dentistry, cancer therapy, and regenerative medicine, among other applications. Combining the nanodiamonds with current root canal therapy, scientists at UCLA fortified a material that could significantly improve the outcomes of root canal patients.

Typically during a root canal, the area inside a tooth where there are nerves and blood vessels are is removed by dentists and refilled with a polymer called “gutta percha.” The purpose of the polymer is to act as a sealant and prevent future infection. However, gutta percha isn’t always successful in ridding a tooth of infection, in part due to the material not being a complete solid.

Using a compound that consisted of nanodiamonds and the traditional gutta percha mixture, the team at UCLA conducted an experiment on human teeth. One set of teeth was tested with nanodiamond-reinforced gutta percha while another set was tested with gutta percha by itself.

The traditional gutta percha mixture left small gaps in the canal — making the tooth susceptible to harmful bacteria. However, as predicted, the nanodiamond gutta percha mixture proved much stronger than traditional methods. By eliminating space for bacteria to fill within the tooth, the nanodiamond mixture allowed for a lower chance of infections or other complications following a root canal.

“The nanodiamond-enhanced gutta percha combines many desirable properties into a single platform, including vastly improved mechanical characteristics and the ability to combat bacterial infection following a root canal,” said UCLA study author Dong-Keun Lee in a press release.

Over the next two years, the team plans to optimize the nanodiamond-reinforced gutta percha formulation, and begin clinical trials at UCLA. To read more about this study or future research at The UCLA School of Dentistry, click here.

Filed Under: Charity, Mark Bronner Diamonds, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , ,

A Different Kind of Diamond

September 28, 2015 by

When we talk about diamonds, we usually reference jewlery; but diamonds also symbolize importance, unique qualities, and beauty that reaches way beneath our skin and touches deep into our hearts. The Four Diamonds Fund is an example of this beauty. It is a charitable organization based out of Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital, whose ultimate goal is to conquer childhood cancer. After all, children are the diamonds of the world – nothing can shine brighter than them.

Mark Bronner Diamonds

The Four Diamonds Fund was established in 1972 after Charles and Irma Millard lost their 14-year-old son to cancer. The name of the fund, The Four Diamonds, derives from a fantasy story Christopher wrote shortly before passing away from pediatric cancer. A fund whose foundations are built on compassion and hope, and whose objectives are built from love and support. A child whose dreams can live on through charity.

The fund assists children who are being treated through Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital, and their families by providing support, research, and valuable care. There is a three-pronged approach to the way the Four Diamonds Fund is organized and functions: through medical care, financial and emotional support, and through pediatric cancer research. Any child who is being treated for pediatric cancer at Penn State Hershey is eligible to take part in this program, in which the fund’s policy covers all medical costs not paid by insurance in hopes that families never have to see a hospital bill. Each year, there are around 90 new families that receive support.

Overall, The Four Diamonds Fund shows us that diamonds live deep within, through charitable acts, smiles, and most importantly, through love. Diamonds may be seemingly rare in the world of jewelry, but in our everyday life they surround us – they are our brothers, sisters, parents, friends, the people closest to our hearts.

 

Filed Under: Charity, Mark Bronner Diamonds Tagged With: , , , , ,

Giving Back: Diamonds International

September 14, 2015 by

Diamonds International is a nonprofit organization that supports dozens of charity causes in impoverished communities each year. Some of these causes include: funding education, construction efforts to rebuild areas destroyed by natural disasters, cancer research, providing treatment. You can find out about Diamonds International’s many locations and support a cause that you feel most connected with by visiting their website here.

Mark Bronner Diamonds

Diamonds International was first found on the Caribbean island, St. Thomas, and now holds over 125 stores across the world after just twenty years. The main goals of the organization is to sell high quality, affordable jewelry to various customers whose profits are donated to the many charity causes the organization supports. The organization’s owners and employees are unbelievable grateful for the opportunities they get to “say ‘thank you’ for allowing us to be part of your life than with a gift to make a less fortunate person’s life a happier one,” (Diamonds International Corporate Responsibility: What We Do).

Mark Bronner Diamonds

The organization gives back to communities all around the world, from the Caribbean, to Africa, Guatemala, and areas all over the United States. Diamonds International caters to various aspects of certain communities. For example, the Lend-a-Hand project that takes place annually in Aruba gets together 17 Diamonds International employees with teachers and member of the parents committee from Anglo Kleuterschool located in Madiki, Oranjestad to show the true essence of teamwork. In past years, remodeling of the school has been one of their largest projects, which included uplifting the playground, repainting classrooms, and ensuring that all areas of the school were safe and secure for students.

Diamonds International’s mission statement is “Making the world a bright place one gift at a time.” Which is exactly what they do.

Filed Under: Charity, Mark Bronner Diamonds Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

How to Make the Most Out of Your Community Serivce

August 28, 2015 by

Community service should be looked at in a positive light in order for you to get the most out of your experience. You may think back to a time when your parents forced you to volunteer at the local community center, or participate in a midnight run around Christmas time, and thought of it as a chore. But, if you change your mindset community service can be something you look forward to and dedicate to on a more regular basis. Here are a few tips to help you make the most out of your community service:

Mark Bronner Diamonds

First, helping others makes you feel good. Not only are you giving back to your community and helping those in need feel better, but the actual act of charity can elevate the levels of serotonin in your brain – making you feel great about yourself. By giving back, you recognize the power that a single person has on other lives, that you really can make a difference in the world, despite what you may have thought before.

Second, you can cater your community service to something you are passionate towards and therefore spend time working in a field you love. For example, if you love teaching and one day hope to become one (or if it’s just for fun), you can volunteer at after school programs and help children with subjects they are struggling in. This way, you can gain experience teaching all while helping children become better students and inspiring them along the way. If you are passionate about the environment, you may want to think about volunteering at a community clean-up day, or perhaps an event that raising awareness of pollution or anything else environmentally-related.

That being said, you can use community service as a resume-builder to help you gain experience in a field that you are looking to make a career out of. This way when you are going for job interviews, your interviewer will not only notice that you have experience, but that you are an active member of your community and are so motivated to work in a particular field that you’ve done it for free. Side note: having volunteer experience in your resume always looks good.

Last, being involved in your community will help you develop strong relationships that will stay with you wherever you go. Committing to community service helps you make friends you may not have otherwise met or thought of speaking to, and you’ll realize that the world is filled with wonderful, different types of people with kinds souls.

Community service will lift your spirits on the world as a whole, and you will be astonished by how much of a difference one person can make.

Filed Under: Charity, Mark Bronner Diamonds Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Queen of Philanthropy

July 28, 2015 by

Mark Bronner Diamonds 55b46a307dbb6.imagePageants are renowned for churning out crown-worthy queens, each with their own “personal mission” to answer the many questions thrown at them during the Q&A portions of their competition. Topics range from solving world hunger, to fighting the AIDS epidemic, but few winners make good on their promises to change the world. McAlester’s pageant winner, Sanders, is looking to change that tradition.

Many philanthropic issues are used as a stage, a platform for attention. Sanders feels that if you’re to champion a cause, it needs to be seen through. “One in four children in America will grow up without learning how to read,” Sanders says. “Two out of three children who cannot read by 4th grade end up in jail or on welfare.” Pioneering her program “The Storybook Exchange,” Sanders hopes to get books into the hands of those young minds who so desperately need to be stimulated.

During the years following her coronation, Sanders’ program was able to give away 15,000 books to children in the surrounding area thanks in part to financial support from corporate sponsors. With lofty goals for this year, the philanthropic spirit still burns brightly inside this pageant queen. “This year I hope to give away 25,000 books, and this year we hope to get $5,000 [in corporate donations].” Encouraging anyone to give whatever they can, Miss McAlester believes that no donation is too small.

In a time where promises made eclipse promises fulfilled, Miss McAlester has risen above her peers. Deserving of the crown placed upon her head, this queen will not let her reign pass unmarked. Giving the gift of education, inspiration, and imagination to thousands is a treasure beyond measure, and one the people of McAlester are sure to remember. For more on the queen who truly rules, follow the link here.

Filed Under: Charity, Mark Bronner Diamonds Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

New York City Charity Events

June 25, 2015 by

Whether you are a resident of New York City, or just there for a visit, there are always ways for you to make one of your days spent in the big apple extra meaningful by devoting it to charity work. Organizations like City Meals on Wheels, the Robin Hood Foundation, Learning Leaders, and Seeds of Peace always have opportunities for you to lend a hand to help out those who struggle in NYC.

Along with these great organizations comes charity events that you won’t want to miss if you’re in New York. Year-round there are different events that you can partake in depending on what kind of charity or nonprofit organization you feel most strongly about. Whether you want to raise money for cancer research, promote a green environment, or improve education, there are plenty of philanthropy events that you can choose from.

Not sure what kind of organization you want to help raise awareness for? It’s always nice to gleam at what some of the most prominent figures in philanthropy and the arts are doing. Here are three of the most infamous charity events that take place in NYC throughout the year to help give you some inspiration:

mark bronner diamonds nyjl_wb13_final_09151

First is the annual New York Junior League Winter Ball, which usually takes place at The Pierre at the beginning of March. This event is the organization’s largest fundraiser of each year, and focuses on honoring seven outstanding volunteers. The New York Junior League is one of the oldest and largest women’s nonprofit volunteer organizations in the city and aims to give volunteers leadership skills needed to take charge and help change their communities for the betterment of humanity. Over 550 guests will attend this black tie event, which typically has a specific theme that attendees always admire.

mark bronner diamonds new yorkers for children

Second is the New Yorkers for Children Fool’s Fete, an event that brings together not only elite member on the guest list, but passionate volunteers who care whole-heartedly about the needs for foster children living in NYC and other parts of New York. Past attendees have included Selita Ebanks, Josh Hartnett, and Coco Rocha. In previous years, the event has taken place in mid April at the Mandarin Oriental.

mark bronner diamonds 04 FilmSocietyLincolnCenter_ElinorBuninMunroeFilmCenter40

The last charity event on this list is the Film Society of Lincoln Center’s Chaplin Award Gala, located in the Avery Fisher Hall section of the Lincoln Center. Typically, this event takes place in late April and has included guests like Barbara Streisand and Bill Clinton. The Chaplin Award Gala aims to support ongoing work in education, artist development, and cross-cultural film outreach – the core qualities of the organization.

For more information on various charity events and organizations across New York City, make sure to check out this link, which will provide an extensive list of NYC nonprofits.

 

Filed Under: Charity, Mark Bronner Diamonds Tagged With: , , ,

Shelter for Nepal

May 7, 2015 by

The average American citizen sleeps for about eight hours per night with a roof, pillow, mattress, and blanket in the comfort of their own home. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case for the residents of Kathmandu in Nepal.

Mark Bronner Diamonds

This past week, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 devastatingly affected everyone who lives in and around the city of Nepal. Over 5,000 deaths were confirmed last weekend when the earthquake hit. And, according to Philanthropy News Digest, “Upwards of 8 million Nepalese have been affected by the quake. Shelter is already presenting itself as a serious problem and, based on what we have learned from other disasters, particularly earthquakes, will continue to be a major problem,” (Shelter – Then, Now, and Later).

The Nepal government reported last week that more than 70,000 homes have been completely destroyed – so now, more than ever, is the time to act on behalf of those who really need us. If there is a local fundraising event in your town, choose to be a volunteer and help the millions in Nepal affected by this quake. Think about if your family lived in Nepal, wouldn’t you want the help? According to PND, “As of 2011, the average household size in Nepal was 4.7 – which means that upward of 329,000 individuals have been rendered homeless,” (Shelter – Then, Now, and Later). This means that out of the 8 million people who were victims of this earthquake, there are around 2.8 million displaced from their homes.

In addition, individuals who have been displaced from their homes are weak, sleeping outside, and don’t have access to food or water. For more information on the devastations of Nepal, read this article published by Philanthropy News Digest.

Filed Under: Mark Bronner Diamonds Tagged With: , , , , ,

Belgian Politician Warns Against Diamond Sanctions

June 16, 2014 by

(IDEX Online News) – The 36th World Diamond Congress has opened in Antwerp, with Minister-President of Flanders, Kris Peeters, cautioning of the “disastrous” affect that authorizes identifying with the jewel business could have. The Congress is the half-yearly gathering of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) and the International Diamond Manufacturers Association (IDMA).

Talking of the immense part of the precious stone industry in the Belgian economy – with turnover in 2013 of $55 billion – and the paramount connections that Belgium has, subsequently, with Russia, India and China, Peeters said that “investment assents identified with jewels can’t be permitted to happen”.

“Jewels are our area [flanders] and nation’s calling card,” he said. “They give work to 35,000 individuals in the Antwerp range alone. Authorizations would be a fiasco.”

The European Union has talked about conceivable approvals against Russia because of its movements in Ukraine. Around 70 percent of Alrosa’s precious stones are promoted in Antwerp.

Peeters additionally said talks were occurring at the territorial and elected level in Belgium in an offer to diminish work costs and present a ‘carat charge’ under which organizations would not be exhausted on the premise of their benefit yet on a rate of their turnover. “That would give Antwerp organizations a basic edge,” Peeters clarified.

In the interim, WFDB President Ernie Blom said the business required to make a reasonable procedure for how to achieve expanded gainfulness and to overcome difficulties, for example, the absence of worldwide non specific promoting.

He portrayed the jewel business as a standout amongst the most enacted on the planet and that intense money related controls as of late have hit gainfulness, subsequently making banks significantly more careful about giving to diamantaires.

Taking after Blom, Antwerp Alderman of Economy, Philip Heylen, said that Antwerp had flourished as a jewel place for more than 500 years because of its liberality, financing in engineering and comprehension that it couldn’t live alone and the need to work and create relations with others, saying that the city was home to 172 nationalities.

Antwerp World Diamond Center (AWDC) President Stephane Fischler said that despite the fact that precious stones are mined and fabricated everywhere throughout the world, Antwerp remained “the thumping heart” of the jewel business.

“Permit me to say a couple of words in regards to what AWDC, speaking to around 1700 jewel organizations here in the heart of Europe is centered around.

“Yes in fact we have been prudent pioneers for a long time. Yes for sure we accept that exchange more than governmental issues fabricates scaffolds, enhance dialog and cultivate fellowships. Yet additionally, that nobody ought to be left aside. That every one of those men and ladies burrowing or cleaning, here and there in conditions that must continue testing us, are a piece of this enormous jewel family and help immensely in making included quality.

“Along these lines, the AWDC, among others, gladly upholds the vital and highly perceived work of the Diamond Development Initiative.

“This industry can’t bear to deliver THE most novel and valuable, without keeping up all in all the most elevated notoriety in the eyes of governments and bu

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With:
Next Page »