It wasn't till I saw this video that I realized the impact of my partnership with Mattel and our Ghouls Helping Ghouls campaign. Amazing kids I have never met, like Gracie, are learning how fun and easy it is to turn any social event into a chance to give. I'm so grateful to have been given the platform on Monster High's website and to be inspired by someone like Gracie.
Spotlight Warrior: Teagan Stedman
LemonAID Warriors is all about turning your passion into action, and 13 year old Teagan Stedman has been doing that for 5 years. He combined his compassion for kids who have cancer with his love of music and created Shredfest, a battle of the bands for kids to raise money for pediatric cancer. My band, R.I.P. Adam Buttons, got the chance to participate this year with some awesome young bands.We won 3rd place and we're so proud to be a part of such an amazing event. Check out a clip of our song "Paul Is Dead" at Shredfest 5!
LemonAID Warriors on KTLA!
My warriors and I were featured on the KTLA morning news. Thank you KTLA for helping us raise awareness for our cause and spreading the idea os philanthro-parties!
LemonAID Warriors Wat3r:Walk 2013!
My favorite philanthro-party every year is my birthday Water:Walk. Your next philathro-party could win you $1,000 for your favorite charity. Keep it simple and easy. It doesn't have to be as big as my water walk. I have 5 of these grants to give away. But HURRY! Contest ends soon. Watch this video and learn how to get involved!
FREE LemonAID Stand Kits and MORE!!
I chose to work with Blood:Water Mission when I first started out as a young(er) philanthropist, not only because of the amazing work they do to find sustainable solutions for the water crisis in Africa. But also for the way they support their supporters. They teach me SO much about the cause and give me tips and tools for putting my passion into action. Click here to get your start! Free LemonAID Stand kits and donation information!
How to HOST a Philanthro-Party
Here's a simple equation to follow; Your Passion + Your activity + LemonAID twist = Philanthro-Party!
Your Passion: Do the things you are passionate about. It might be sports, music, art, dancing, or even shopping or make up or video games!
Your activity: Do the activities you are already doing. Like birthday parties, back yard BBQs, team parties, holiday gatherings, or school dances.
Your LemonAID Twist: find a cause that can benefit from your celebration!
Check out the chart below !
#3 CHARITY CHECK
You worked hard for your donation, right? Choose your charity organization wisely. 1.Explore the internet! You probably know of the big famous organizations. But a quick search might lead you to a smaller charity that’s a better match! That’s how I found Blood:Water Mission. I stumbled on them and saw they already had a LemonAID program and so we partnered. I supported them and they give me posters and tattoos and a tshirts and sent speakers to my events and made educational videos. Click here for an interview I video taped with my partners at Blood:Water Mission.
2. Go Local; Learn about charities in your area. Giving isn’t always about raising money. Local charities have hands –on volunteer opportunities. They can send you volunteers or speakers for your PhilanthroParties.
3. Charity Check! How does a kid figure out if their donation will be spent wisely? It’s not easy. You’d have to ask tough questions like, “What’s your overhead ratio?” and “Are you investing sustainable solutions?” or “Can I see profiles of your board members?” These short-cut sites give helpful online tools so you can check your charity!
#2 CHECKLIST
If you're throwing a big party, this check list can help. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE CHECKLIST
Recruit co-hosts!: Pick friends with varied strengths. The Organizer, for details. The Foodie, for treats, The Cheerleader, for energy!
Pick a Date: Pick it at least 3 weeks way. Check school calendar and friend’s birthday dates to make sure there are no conflicts.
Make Invitations: I like wwwpunchbowl.com for custom web-based invites. A donation icon lets guests can donate when they rsvp so even if they can’t come, they can still make a donation. They also have a pot-luck sign up.
Invite a representative. Invite your chosen charity to send a rep. They can talk about the impact of your party and give you a deeper understanding of the issue.
Menu!! Get creative. Choose food to match your theme! Keep it simple. Make a shopping list or set up a potluck sign up.
Props! What supplies do you need for your activity. You and your co-hosts can probably scrounge your homes and find what you need.
PR. Get the word out! It’ll inspire more philanthroparties and raise awareness to your cause. Speak at your school, church, or club. Email local media. Go big!
Online Campaign. Friends and family who live far away or can’t come can still participate! Lots of fundraising and action sites out there
Poster Pre-Party: Make signs with facts about your cause. Write it out instructions for your activity. Make a huge re-useable PhilanthroParty banner for the next party
Assign Volunteers. Ask guests to pitch in. Let them know their job in advance. Greeter. Donation collector. Activity volunteer. Clean up!
School Community Service Hours. Reward your volunteers! Get permission to award them community service hours.
Pix and Video: Document and share the party and the impact you made. Post it! It will inspire others to party with a purpose.
Write. Blog. Post. Images are powerful but so is the written word. Write articles for the school paper or guest blog on your charity’s site.
Thank You Cards: A MUST. Paper or electronic. Doesn’t matter. Calculate the impact you’ve made so everyone can share the success!
#1 Philanthro-Party IDEAS
My Passion |
My Activity |
My LemonAID Twist! |
MusicOrganize a backyard talent show with friends. |
Memorial Day BBQ |
Guests bring items for soldier’s care packages to celebrate patriotic holiday |
Video GamesVideo Game tournament |
Rainy Day Hang Out |
Bring gently used toys or games to donate. |
FashionParty before the dance. Get ready together; hair make-up, dress up. |
School Dance or Prom |
Everyone brings a dress they’ve outgrown to donate. |
Make upMake-overs, spa crafts and mani pedis. |
Mother’s Day Brunch |
Have guests bring in toiletries to donate to woman’s shelter. |
BasketballGet pledges for team to make 100 free throws in 100 minutes. |
Team End of Season Party |
Get sponsors for free throws. Donate to adaptive sports team. |
CampingOutdoor sleepover. Bonfire. Marshmallows! |
End of Year Party |
Raise awareness for homelessness. Donate coats and blankets |
ArtCreate mini-masterpieces for Valentines cards. |
Valentines Party |
Cards are for your friends and make extra to donate to hospitals or soldiers |
SwimmingHave a trash scavenger hunt at the beach. Prizes for most plastic, most metal, most glass etc |
July 4th Beach Party |
Clean up the beach! |
Carnivals!Set up games using cans! Bowl with cans. Tin Can Stilts, Knock down can tower with tennis ball. |
Birthday Party |
Guests bring 10 cans as admission. Donate to food bank |
What's a Philanthro-Party?
Philanthropy: (noun)
The desire to help others through good deeds or donations.
Philanthro-PARTY: (noun)
A party with a purpose. Any gathering that makes "giving" part of the fun.
Invitations and IDEAS!
PUNCHBOWL.COM AND LEMONAID WARRIORS UNITE! How do you get a big company to listen to a kid with an idea? ASK! I use punchbowl.com for my Philanthro-Party Invitations because I love their donation icon. Since people who go to Punchbowl are already planning parties, why not display my Philanthro-Party ideas to turn their party into a chance to give. So I emailed the president, Mr. Douglas, and he called me back immediately and said yes. Then, I worked with Ariel and sent over my ideas. She created this section called Party with a Purpose. They also designed an actual Philanthro-Party Invitation.
TIP: Have a great idea? Don't sit on it. ASK!
CHECK OUT OUR PARTY WITH A PURPOSE site at punchbowl.com. Scroll down for SO many amazing philanthro-party ideas for every season!
A Day in the Life of a LemonAID Warrior
A Day in the Life of a LemonAID Warrior Here's a little video I made that gives you an idea of what it's like to be a LemonAID Warrior. It's just me and my warriors hanging out together, having fun, hosting a PhilanthroParty event and doing simple things that add up to big change. I made the movie as part of a contest for the Build a Bear Huggable Hero Awards.
Monster High
[br] MONSTER HIGH
MEET BOO-LU CERONE:
Look familiar? It’s Lulu…monsterfied. Seriously! The newest student at Monster High is a LemonAID Warrior named BOO-Lu. Lulu shared her action plans and PhilanthroParty ideas for Monster High’s Ghouls Helping Ghouls campaign. Check it out and Win $1,000.00 for your next PhilanthroParty!
Welcome Warriors!
WELCOME WARRIORS!
LemonAID Warriors helps you find ridiculously fun ideas to turn your compassion into action and start fixing our world, NOW. Don't wait till you grow up! Use the skills you already have. Do the things you're already doing. Just add a little LemonAID Twist, and you can create local and global change. One Philanthro-Party Event at a time!
CBS covers Water:Walk
Thanks CBS for coming out and spreading the word about need for clean water.
Water:Wak 2012 on CBS
Here's how I spent my 13th birthday party! It's my favorite Philanthro-Party ever.
Top Teens: Ventura Blvd Magazine
You will be so inspired to read about all the young people in my neighborhood. Thank you, Ventura Blvd Magazine for supporting our efforts!
Read more...
The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards: National honors for teen volunteers
LemonAID Warriors is grateful that companies like Prudential have programs The Spirit of Community Awards to support and encourage young change-makers. Share your work with your teachers and they might nominate you. Here is an article in the paper about all the California finalists. Click here to read more...
Build a Bear Huggable Hero Award
This article announces the winners of The Huggable Hero Award. Here is a movie I made when I applied. It shows a day in the life of a LemonAID Warrior. Check out the other winners and come up with Philanthro-Parties to support them!
Read more...
Spotlight Warrior: Dr. Jeni Stepanek
Dr Jeni Stepanek is the mother of my hero, MattieJT Stepanek,. He is a child poet and peace activist who taught me that "peace is possible when basic human needs are met). He inspires my work everyday. She provides support and advise for me and for my mom. She understand the life of a Warrior more than anyone on earth. I was awarded the honor of being certified a Peace Sponsor from Dr. Jeni Stepanek, from the Mattie JT Stepanek foundation. It's the award I value most. Join Mattie's Peace Club at mattieonline.com and take the Peace Journey. Maybe you can be the next Peace Sponsor.
[br] Lulu Cerone realized at a young age that she could “combine passions,” and in doing so, celebrate the things she enjoyed while also reaching out to help others celebrate life as well.
Read more...