Sometimes the holidays get me down. Too much jingle-ling-a-ling. Too much shopping, too much stuff. It makes me nervous! That’s why I try to get into the “service” thing… giving to others in the form of giving back with my time. Altruism becomes the “heart” of my year-end mission.

(This is me shopping, after all. I got into  "giving tangibles" as a way of showing thanks with the fabulous GAVINA non-breakable wine and champagne glasses.)

In this 2011 holiday season I volunteered for one of my favorite causes: the Everychild Foundation. I love this organization because it answers the much needed call to support local programs that directly serve children suffering from disease, disability, neglect and abuse. EC has a unique donation structure in that a single grant is given per year to one recipeint. A grant screening committee made up of EC members annually reviews hundreds of applications  selecting two top contenders for the membership (two hundred women) to vote on. This year the Centinela Youth Services received Everychild's 1 million dollar grant. Fair, equanimous, and a gift with impact: a key component to successful charitable giving. 

My humble service this year manifested when EC’s founder, Jackie Caster (I call her our fearless leader for truly she is) asked me to help out with the “Everychild Within Us” CD launch. Part of this campaign was to organize a party at Fred Segal’s Zero Minus Plus in Santa Monica. The event turned out two of the featured artists on this uplifting compilation CD produced by the Everychild Foundation along with Greg Bell and so many others. * The party started to "roll" when Tim Wilson shared his sensational “chops” on the keyboard while shoppers, including Everychild members and friends like Tony Brown and family listened in. “Count On Me” singer –songwriter, and co-producer of “Everychild Within Us” Katrina Carlson was there to support the effort. I love this song! It is inspirational, bold, thoughtful and her voice just goes to my heart. When you listen to the CD, be sure to pay special attention to the thoughts and wishes of the local children whose holiday wishes are tastefully interspersed thruout the CD. The children participate in the HOLA project which provides tons of extracurricular activities for Los Angeles inner-city school children. Hola was the 2007 Everychild grant recipient. 

Go to www.everychildfoundation.org to hear bits from the Everychild Within Us CD and to learn more about this wonderful foundation.

 Left to right: Jackie Caster, Katrina Carlson, Jim Wilson, Me

Left right right: Katrina Carlson, Jim Wilson, Greg Bell and Jackie Caster

Jim Wilson at the keyboard

Left to right: Olympia Aguillon, Jackie Caster, Tony Brown and Phillppa

To learn more or order the CD visit www.everychildfoundation.org .