Aggies for a Cause: Freshman Leaders in Progress Help School in Need

Written by Marketing Intern Roslynn Fitch 

I had an amazing opportunity to travel to Galveston, Texas with 50 other Aggies from Freshmen Leaders in Progress to assist some schools in need. 

We made the two-hour drive to Galveston on Friday evening, with hopes that we would be able to make a substantial impact. We headed to three different job sites on Saturday morning, all located at elementary and middle schools. 

One project helped in the transition of a more up-to-date system for their literacy library. Another hauled mulch so that the school could revamp their butterfly garden. The last site, the one I was at, had us tear down an overgrown garden area and pull out all the weeds so that the middle school could have a garden for their special needs program. It was an incredible experience to witness so many Aggies selflessly serving, so that these children could have an enjoyable and fulfilling learning experience.

Here are some before and after shots of the site I was working on: 

Celebrity for a Cause: Madonna's Charity, Raising Malawi School for Girls

Written by Marketing Intern Rose Provine

Madonna is continuing to make a difference in the lives of many disadvantaged children. The pop icon is doing even more to expand the reach and influence of her charity, Raising Malawi School for Girls.

Raising Malawi, founded in 2006, attempts to end poverty and hardship endured by two million orphans and vulnerable children in Malawi. The organization aims to provide these children with nutritious food, proper clothing, secure shelter, formal education, targeted medical care, emotional care and psychosocial support.

Malawi is the fourth poorest country in the world, and their people are faced with disease, drought, poverty and a lack of critical resources on a daily basis. 

Madonna has been working to expand her organization, as she no longer wants to reach just hundreds, but thousands of girls. She has already made a tremendous difference in Malawi, as her charity has given life-saving treatments and care to over 66,000 children and caregivers living with HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases. She has also made a substantial impact in the areas of poverty, orphans, children’s mental health, and education. To see even more details, visit this website: http://www.raisingmalawi.org/pages/progress

To support poverty or HIV/AIDS by shopping, visit Uptown Liz.

Celebrity for a Cause: Nicole Kidman Fights for Gender Equality in Haiti

Written by Marketing Intern Nandini Kavuri


Since the devastating earthquake in Haiti, many people from all over the world have been working to help rebuild the country.  The Oscar-winning actress and UNIFEM Goodwill Ambassador, Nicole Kidman, has recently visited the country to help raise awareness about gender-based violence.

During her visit, Kidman saw how the national disaster was affecting girls and women. The current lack of security and inadequate shelter has caused them to be increasingly vulnerable to sexual and physical violence. 

Even before the earthquake hit, violence against women and girls was extraordinarily high. A national census in 2006 found that one in three women in Haiti had experienced violence.

The average annual income, education and opportunities for women in Haiti are significantly lower than they are for men. Kidman is stressing the importance of long-term initiatives that will advance women’s livelihoods and increase gender equality.

To find out how you can get involved in this important cause, visit UIFEM.org.

To support disaster relief or women's empowerment by shopping, visit Uptown Liz.

Brides for a Cause: Gowns Granting Wishes

Written by Public Relations Intern Britnee Brotherton

Many girls dream about their “big day” throughout their childhood and on into their adult life. The cake, the dress, the guests, the music and of course the groom. Now women can turn their unforgettable day into another woman’s experience of a lifetime!

Brides Against Breast Cancer has taken a front seat in the fight against breast cancer. They give brides-to-be the opportunity to shop top designer and quality wedding dresses at very, affordable prices. These dresses are donated from manufacturers, designers and newly married women. All of the proceeds from the sales go to the Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation. Making Memories “grants wishes for metastatic breast cancer patients, while continuing to support, educate and increase resource awareness.”

How can you help? Brides Against Breast Cancer are currently in need of contemporary gown styles, slips and veils dating from 2005 to present.  There are options for those who have not said their “I do’s” recently or at all. You can make a donation at http://pinkenvelopeproject.org/ or check out their calendar to shop for your dream dress at a gown sale near you!

Visit Uptown Liz to read about how breast cancer changed the founder’s life and get your daily dose of retail philanthropy!

Friends For a Cause: Lupus Foundation of America

Written by Marketing Intern Rose Provine

You never realize the severity of a disease or sickness until you or someone you love is directly affected. Unfortunately, this has been the case for me over the past week. My friend’s struggles have led me to the complete understanding and realization that lupus is a painful and lifelong disease.

My friend, Charlene, was diagnosed with lupus at the age of 13. Lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease that occurs when your body’s immune system attacks your own tissues and organs. Inflammation caused by lupus can damage any part of the body, including skin, joints, kidneys, blood cells, heart and lungs. Her case was very rare, as lupus normally strikes women of childbearing age, and more commonly ages 30-45. 

I never realized the extremity of this disease until this week. I knew Charlene had struggled with this for the majority of her life, but I never saw her at her worst. I found out she was in the hospital on Tuesday morning and visited her later that day. I was shocked with what I found. My fun-loving and energetic friend was not herself. She laid on the hospital bed, unable to move, speak, or even breathe on her own. It hurt me to see my friend in so much pain, and made me appreciate both her and life so much more.

There is currently no cure for lupus. However, The Lupus Foundation of America is a national nonprofit health organization dedicated to finding the causes and cure for lupus. It provides support, services and hope to all people affected by lupus. You can visit this website to learn more or to make a donation.

 Charlene and I in December

Charlene and I this January, right after she got the tubes removed and was able to breathe on her own again.

To support other diseases by shopping, visit Uptown Liz.

Kids for a Cause: Birthday Party Raises Money to Help AIDS Orphans (Kids Caring 4 Kids)

Written by Marketing Intern Rose Provine         

A few of Chicago’s most giving eighth graders came together and made a difference for hundreds of orphans in Africa. 

Twins, Emily and Cara Mattaliano, and their cousin, Natalie Noland, were inspired after a guest speaker challenged the students to make a difference in children’s lives in Africa at a school assembly.

The three girls decided to throw a combined birthday party, but it was far from ordinary. The invitation suggested making a donation to Kids Caring 4 Kids in lieu of presents. Their party was intended to specifically benefit kids in Africa living with AIDS.

The girls ended up raising $800 dollars from the 50 party attendees. According to Kids Caring for Kids, $800 can:

• Feed 130 kids a nutritious lunch every day for a month at Hope for Life Center, Kenya – a community center built largely with funds from KC4K.
• Provide 80 mosquito bed nets to protect 80 children and their families from malaria, the biggest childhood killer in Africa.
• Provide food, clothing, and school fees for two Kenyan AIDS orphans for a year who live in a dorm built with funds from supporters of KC4K.

You can visit http://www.aids.org to learn more about HIV/AIDs or to make a donation.

To support victims of HIV/AIDS by shopping, go to Uptown Liz.

Take Initiative for a Cause: Be Your Own Health Advocate

Written by Uptown Liz Public Relations Intern Britnee Brotherton

At one time or another, I, like most women, am guilty of being stubborn, hard to budge, set in my ways, or headstrong. One area in particular being personal health. It is vital that women take initiative and learn to be their own health advocate, especially when it comes to cancer. One great resource that ladies everywhere can and should use as a reference is “15 Cancer Signs Women Ignore” on WebMd. To some, these signs may seem like normal nuisances or occurrences, but it is vital to your well being that they do not go unnoticed. Signs that should not be ignored:

1. Unexplained Weight Loss

2. Bloating

3. Breast Changes

4. Between-Period Bleeding or Other Unusual Bleeding

5. Skin Changes

6. Difficulty Swallowing

7. Blood in the Wrong Place

8. Gnawing Abdominal Pain and Depression

9. Indigestion

10. Mouth Changes

11. Pain

12. Changes in the Lymph Nodes

13. Fever

14. Fatigue

15. Persistent Cough

To read more about each of these and how to determine if you may be suffering from one of them read the entire article on WebMD.

Uptown Liz is a company that encourages and urges people everywhere to serve as their own health advocate. The founder’s sister, Liz, who died of breast cancer at just 28 years old, did not ignore her early signs of the disease. Sadly, after misguidance from a medical professional, the breast cancer took over until it was too late. Let Liz’s story be your example. Listen to your mind and body, and know that even if a doctor is not willing to run the right tests you CAN find one who is! Go on. Be hard-headed about it!