Movember Movember! Face Grown & Hand Brushed

I’ve said before, I love having a blog so I can share all kinds of super special information with friends and family, along with the hundreds occasional picture of my kids. This includes offering up space on my blog when cool friends, like Jessica, have something important to share too.

So in the spirit of a lazy southern afternoon, go get yourself some sweet tea and gather ’round the center island and check out Jessica’s guest post below.

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During November each year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men’s faces, in the US and around the world. With their Mo’s, these men raise vital funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and other cancers that affect men.

I know what you are thinking…yet another charity, yet another request for a donation. When I first heard of it, I thought “oh great, just another excuse for my boyfriend not to shave…” but the following statistics SHOCKED me.

•  1 in SIX men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime
• A man is diagnosed with prostate cancer every 2.2 minutes
• 1 in 2 men will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime
• 24% of men are less likely to go the doctor compared to women

So yes, while donations are appreciated, raising awareness is probably the most important part of this campaign.

Let’s face it; men are stubborn and occasionally indifferent towards their health. Prostate cancer funding and knowledge is significantly behind causes such as breast cancer, as studies show that women are more proactive and aware of their health.

With Movember, big steps have been taken towards changing attitudes and habits relating to men’s health around the world. Via the moustache, Movember aims to fulfill its vision of having an everlasting impact on the face of men’s health by continuing to spark conversation and spread awareness of men’s health issues each year.

So spread the word, and if you can, donate some MO-ney for a great cause, because let’s face it, as much as the women in me can sometimes forget it, men help make the world go round. They are fathers, husbands, brothers and sons. Let’s all do our part to keep it that way.

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Do you want to get involved with Movember or learn more information? Go HERE!

Make Your Mark Week – Kids and Teens Take Action

I am very excited and honored to feature another guest poster here at In The Kitchen!

Please grab yourself a cup of coffee and gather ’round the center island for some great information on a growing global youth service movement from Jessica Kirkwood, VP Interactive Strategy, Points of Light Institute

PS…If you decide to eat some cookies with your coffee, I won’t tell anyone!

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As a strong believer in the role community service plays in helping young people enhance their education and contribute to society, I’d like to invite you and your family to join me and my family and participate in a program that is very close to our hearts.

Next week, generationOn, the youth activation division of Points of Light Institute, will launch its annual Make Your Mark Week, October 16-22, an initiative that strives to inspire and mobilize youth to use their energy, ingenuity and compassion to “make their mark on the world” through hands-on service.  During the week, young people will take part in small acts or service projects that together make a big impact on their lives, their communities and the world.

Research has shown that young people want to make a difference in the areas that matter most to them.  Because of this, generationOn has chosen five service and project areas for Make Your Mark Week 2011 including animals, environment, homelessness,  hunger and literacy.

Right now, projects are being planned across the country.  In Nebraska, first through fifth grade students at Columbia Elementary School in Omaha will make their mark by creating rope devices that will be used to train service dogs to open doors, refrigerators and other various items.  In Georgia, members of the Boys & Girls Club of Southeast Georgia are using their artistic talents to produce containers featuring plaques that encourage residents to recycle their waste.

What are you and your family going to do to make your mark?  With a goal of reaching 100,000 young people, I encourage you to get involved and make your mark in your local community by visiting http://kidsvolunteer.generationon.org to pledge an action and join the movement.

It’s easy!

Together, we can help kids truly make a difference.