#iheartOC Giving Day -$2 million dollars can go a long way!

I’m thrilled to be a small part of the first ever OC Community Foundation #iheartOC Giving Day!
What is this “Giving Day”? (You’re thinking)
Well, Thanks for asking!
The short answer is:
OCCF is rallying together all the amazing folks in Orange County to raise $2 million dollars toward OC non-profits, within a 30 hour period – from 6am on April 21 to noon on April 22. #iheartOC
Easy, right!?!
And you have 350 charities to choose from!

Now, I’ve done the math and there are 3.114 million people in Orange County, so if everyone gives $1.56 during #iheartOC Giving Day then we can call it a day!
Who says small things can’t make a big difference in your community?
You know how I feel about that!
But I’m guessing not everyone in Orange County will pitch in, so you better donate at least $25 to make up for all the folks who might flake out. And it just so happens, that donations start at $25! 😉

The long answer is well, a lot longer:
One of the Charities on the list is Safe Families for Children. Our family has been extremely blessed to be involved with Safe Families. We have hosted 3 Orange County children.
Our first hosting was a 5-year-old homeless boy for 10 days, you can read about here, here and here. It’s a doozy!
And the third hosting was a 2-year-old boy who he lived with us almost 5 months, and we are still involved with his family today.

The hosting in the middle was a beautiful 3-year-old girl named Abby. You can read all about it here. Below is an excerpt from that post.

“But I couldn’t shake the feeling that it could be in Abby’s best interest to be adopted. If Casey was pregnant and made the decision to adopt her newborn, it would be considered a noble choice. To some, maybe even the highest act of love a parent can do for their child.
But Casey isn’t pregnant. She has 5 children under 9-ish, with 5 different men. She is a good enough mom and is overwhelmed.
I feel like there is some disconnect for kids like Abby.
How can spicy/sweet/smart kids like her catch a break?
Adoption?
Luck?
Fate?
Or people like you and me doing Small Things?
We don’t have to be asked to do a task – when we see we can help with something, we should.
Like $12 shoes that fit.”

I asked Cora what she thought of Safe Families. I was able to catch her response on video. My two favorite lines are: “Safe Families: if kids come to our house they become a Lawson…and if they are at they their house, they are still our family!”

After you’ve donated to one of these amazing Orange County charities, like Safe Families, you MUST enter to win $150 to grant to the nonprofit of YOUR choice! OCCF is giving away three $150 grants. It’s as easy as following the instructions in the box below! Enter the #iheartoc giveaway and show your love for Orange County. You have until April 20^th to enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Now that you have entered to help out your favorite non-profit, I’m going to gift you with this free printable. This is one of my favorite quotes. What a perfect reminder that even if we don’t have millions of dollars to give away, we still have the power to help others. I’ve made two per sheet so you can print one for yourself and gift another to a friend.
You’re welcome.