Geez, it’s hard to believe that we are now into the fifth month of the year.  Time flies when you are doing good stuff.  Thanks to all who journeyed over to the Beyond Fences website last month and donated, volunteered, or just sent some good vibes to that awesome organization.

May’s charity of the month is our neighbor just around the corner, SAFEchild.  Child abuse and neglect, sadly, is a common problem.  1 in 7 children have experienced abuse and/or neglect in some form in the past year and that is likely an underestimate.  That’s why it is so important to support an organization like SAFEchild who’s mission is to eliminate child abuse in Wake County.  Here’s a bit about them.

SAFEchild – which stands for Stop Abuse For Every child – supports families having a wide range of needs. Expertly trained professionals and volunteers build strong families in which parents nurture thriving children.
SAFEchild annually protects 13,000 children, empowers 1,650 parents through education and support programs, and guides 12,000 Wake County first graders through the school-based Funny Tummy Feelings program.

OUR BELIEFS 

• Every child has the right to grow up in an environment free from abuse and neglect.
• Child maltreatment should never be condoned or tolerated.
• The family is the fundamental resource for the nurturing of children, and children have a right to their families.
• Families are diverse and have a right to be respected.
• Families can grow and change. With support, information and community resources, most parents are capable of creating safe, nurturing environments for their children.
• All families experience periods of stress and crisis, and not all families are consistently able to produce a non-abusive, non-neglectful home environment.
• Seeking support and information, encouragement and community resources is a sign of family/individual strength.​

OUR GOALS 

• Prevent child abuse from ever occurring.
• Empower parents and caregivers to move toward healthy family relationships by breaking negative parenting patterns.
• Provide specialized intervention and treatment that promotes recovery, healing and promising outcomes for children, families and the community.
• Educate and raise awareness about the issue of child abuse in Wake County.

Please head on over to their website at safechildnc.org to read more.  Donate if you can, sign up to be a volunteer or visit their wishlist and see if you have any items that can be donated.  Thanks so much and have a great month of May!

Thanks so much for visiting last month’s charity, the National Inclusion Project, and helping out if you were able.  We know it’s greatly appreciated.

If you are the happy owner of a furry, four-legged friend you know that as soon as the weather warms they are ready to get out and run about in complete oblivion of the pollen pollution plaguing us right now.  That’s why it’s so important that these sweet creatures have a place to run and play.  Therefore this month’s charity of the month is Beyond Fences.
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Here’s a bit about Beyond Fences.  “Many under-served neighborhoods lack access to basic pet care resources. Beyond Fences works to fill that gap. We honor people’s love for their pets and proactively reach out to the community to build trusting relationships with families and make connections to keep people and pets happy, healthy and together. We believe that a lack of financial means does not equate to a lack of love for a pet, and we seek to spread this principle through a philosophy of understanding and non-judgment.”  Their Fence Program provides free fences and doghouses to dogs living on chains.  But beyond that program, they also have a spray and neuter program, and outreach and wellness program, and a shelter intervention program.  Please head over to their website, beyondfences.org, and read about everything they do for all the furry four-legged in our community and while there please make a donation or consider becoming a volunteer.  They are a wonderful organization.  Thanks!

We thank you so much for taking the time last month to visit the Southern Coalition for Social Justice website to learn more about their wonderful organization.  Hopefully, you were also able to give a bit of time or money.

Time flies when you're doing good stuff and we are already here at our March Charity of the Month.  If you know someone who is intellectually or developmentally disabled you know that they are some of this earth's most beautiful humans.  Their love knows no bounds.  That's why this month's pick is the National Inclusion Project.  Here's a bit about them.

"We work to make the inclusion of children with disabilities the EXPECTATION, not the exception.  All too often, children with disabilities and their families find their recreational and social options extremely limited or segregated to special programming. The National Inclusion Project works to bridge this gap by providing recreational programs and community organizations the tools and training they need so that children of ALL abilities have the chance to play, laugh, and learn TOGETHER.

WHAT WE BELIEVE
The National Inclusion Project operates on three core beliefs:EVERY child can participate,
EVERY child can make a friend and
EVERY child can succeed.

WHAT WE DO
With those beliefs in mind, we've made it our mission to make the inclusion of children with disabilities the EXPECTATION, not the exception.

HOW WE DO IT
​We work with community organizations and recreational
programs, providing them with the training, tools, and support
they need so that children with disabilities can be included in ALL
of their activities and programs."

The story of how this organization was born is very sweet, please head over to their website to read all about it, www.inclusionproject.org.  There are so many ways you can help this awesome organization - become a volunteer, be a GEM, send a kid to camp, or just give a one-time donation.  Every child should have the opportunity to be included.

​Hi everyone, I’m Izzy. Although part of the Phoenix crew, I don’t really have a title. I guess you could say I’m just a magical fairy who does stuff behind the scenes. This information is utterly insignificant other than I wanted to let you know who the author was behind this post.

Everyone who knows Lacie knows that she has an enormous heart and she loves to splash rays of sunshine on local charity organizations. Sadly, the pandemic put a damper on such events last year, and this year’s gathering and giving may be thrown out the window too. So we’ve come up with something a bit different. Each month we’ll spotlight a local organization that reaches out and shines much-needed love on our community. We hope that, should one or more of these organizations tug at your heartstrings, you’ll hop on over to their website and give money, time, or supplies. We are all suffering from pandemic exhaustion but many of these organizations are really hurting so whatever you can muster up would be a great help.

Many of us know why it’s so important to support our family and loved ones who suffer from mental illness. 2020 has been especially difficult. So for January, we chose to spotlight the National Alliance of Mental Illness of Wake County.

Here’s just a snippet about NAMI.
Mental illness is plagued by a stigma that prevents people from accessing the treatment and support to lead a life of recovery. We are committed to diminishing the stigma and improving access to resources so that all those affected by mental illness feel welcome in the community. NAMI Wake County provides support, education, and advocacy to individuals, families, and caregivers, living with mental health challenges, to lead better lives.

Please head over to the NAMI of Wake website, nami-wake.org, and read more about this wonderful organization. While there, please considering donating, or check out the many other ways you can give. To celebrate the first charity of the year, Phoenix is donating $100 and we hope you’ll find it in your hearts to give too. Thanks so much for participating. You guys are awesome! #givingfeelsgood

We're so excited to give our $4045 donation to these wonderful ladies from JDRF the other day! Thank you so much for all that you do 💙 thank you to the hardworking Phoenix crew and thank you to all of our fantastic clients that came out to support our fundraiser, you make this possible! ​

Can't make it in?  Feel free to head over to our JDRF page and donate online.