Heifers on the Red Carpet

Posted on February 21, 2013 by Austin Bailey

The awards season is here, and we at Heifer International are beyond delighted to accept this nomination!

This week we learned that we’re finalists for a min Best of the Web Award for work on our brand new tablet edition of World Ark magazine. min, short for Media Industry News, is a resource for magazine and media professionals to learn about the latest trends in the field. Heifer is a finalist in the digital magazine category, competing against the likes of dash magazine, EBONY.com, EE Times, Golf Digest, Golf Magazine, Popular Science and WIRED.

World Ark, the quarterly print magazine for Heifer donors and anyone interested in hunger and poverty, has had an online presence for years. But in December of 2012 we launched an interactive tablet edition for iPads and Androids that incorporates news from the field, facts about development work around the world and ways readers can get involved, along with dynamic, gorgeous design by the talented screen wizards at Bates Creative. This tablet version is free and available on the App Store or on Google Play. The Spring 2013 edition should be available within the week.

Here’s a sneak peek of the cover of the Spring tablet edition.

Sure, we’re new to this scene and just beginning to get a handle on the amazing new ways we can reach, inform and inspire readers via a tablet format. But we’re hopeful this nomination will help us spread the word about the brilliant and hardworking Heifer project partners that we feature in each issue.

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Around the Web: Wooden Ark, Singing Talent and a Piggy Bank

Posted on March 3, 2013 by Linda Meyers

Every Sunday we highlight some of the people who are funding our work creatively or helping us spread the word of our mission online. If you spot Heifer International while you’re surfing the web or know of a fun or creative fundraising effort, please share it with us here in the comments.

Photo credit: Chicago Tribune

Holy Cross Catholic Church in Deerfield, Illinois, is treating Lent as a time to help somebody else, and not simply give something up. The church is seeking donations for Heifer and created this wooden menagerie to represent each of the animals. How cute its that?

Photo credit: MorristownGreen.com

Katherine Merwin, along with her musical partner Julia Cipriani won first prize in Morristown’s Got Talent! They plan on donating some of their prize money, Julia to her long-time Guatemalan pen pal and Katherine to Heifer. Thanks for putting your talents to great use!

Starting about three years ago, a woman gave extended family members each a white piggy bank and asked them to deposit extra pocket change into the bank. At Christmastime, they combine the money collected and guess the total amount. Whoever guesses closest gets the choose where to donate the money. They’ve given to Heifer International, World Vision, and this year, the local YWCA. A great idea and a reminder that just the little bit of change in the bottom of your purse or pocket can add up.

Photo credit: Oshun Spirit

You can help beeeeee the change in the world! Twenty percent of profits from the sales of Oshun-branded items will be donated to Heifer International. And according to Oshun Spirit, they have supported our honeybee program since 2001.

We were saddened to hear this week that Bill Williams, the man who donated the land for what is now the Heifer’s Learning Center at Overlook Farm, in Rutland, Massachussetts, passed away. When he donated the land, it became home to animals, mostly goats, that were shipped to villages in Guatemala and Honduras. Heifer changed its model for distributing animals from local sources, and the Learning Center was born.

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Around the Web: Students of All Ages Giving in Creative Ways, and an Easter Egg Hunt

Posted on February 24, 2013 by Linda Meyers

Photo credit: The Living Principles

Now this is a great idea: Swipe Out Starvation, started by students, gives students the choice to allocate unused food allowance credits to hunger-relief efforts instead of buying unnecessary items just to use up their credits before they expire. Purdue tried the program for a week in 2011, and within five days, and $1,300 was donated to a local food bank and Heifer International.

If you are around the Chattanooga, Tennessee, area on March 24, be sure to attend St. Luke UMC’s Easter Egg Hunt to benefit Heifer.

I came across this story of Dr. Camille DeClementi, who paid off her student loan payments in 2011 and decided to use that money in 2012 to donate $50 to a different charity each month, including Heifer International.

Photo credit: examinar.com

The children and youth of St. Thomas More held a livestock market to share with parishioners the gifts each animal provides when you give through Heifer. Booths were set up in the parish hall to share how pigs, sheep, goats, llamas, rabbits, chickens, honeybees, water buffalo, trees and heifers can help the rural poor throughout the world. Those attending were asked to donate the full price or funds toward the purchase of livestock or tree seedlings.

Photo credit: todaysthv.com

“Last year in Mrs Riley’s class, we bought a goat. This year I think we can buy something bigger. How about a heifer?” This comment from a 4th grader at Forest Park Elementary, right here in Little Rock (where Heifer International headquarters lives), sparked a classroom project that will change a family’s life.

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Around the Web: Kissing a Goat, Spare Change, and Bees for Bach

Posted on February 17, 2013 by Linda Meyers

Photo credit: Mike Haskey, Ledger-Enquirer

Administrators and faculty at the St. Luke School in Columbus, Ohio, kissed Lilly the goat Friday, rewarding the students for raising more than $2,000 in January for Heifer International. The project was one of the school’s many mission efforts each year, which have benefited a variety of local, state and international organizations.

Photo credit: clintonnc.com

North Carolina’s Lakewood FFA members collected spare change to support Heifer International, raising more than $300. They chose to purchase a pig, honeybees, two flocks of chickens, a goat, and the agricultural education needed to care for and manage these resources.

Photo credit: The Hour Online

J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences oboe and voice students will perform in the “Bees for Bach” concert, a fundraiser for Heifer International, on Sunday, Feb. 17, at Good Shepard Lutheran Church in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Every year the first-grade classes at Columbus Magnet School in Connecticut hold Big Bag Lunch, a market for the entire school community, held in the first-grade hallway. It is the culmination of a social studies class on farming and a science class on parts of a plant, with math integrated into the market as students weigh produce, inventory items, and count money. For the second year in a row, students sold reusable grocery bags designed by students on the design committee to promote environmental awareness and to raise money for Heifer International.

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Around the Web: Inspired by a Goat, 40 Days to Give

Posted on February 10, 2013 by Linda Meyers

Photo credit: A Yellow Springs Blog

The kids at First Presbyterian Yellow Springs are inviting you to a Pancake Supper fundraiser on February 12, with donations going to Heifer International. If you like wheat, gluten-free or blueberry pancakes and boiled Yellow Spring eggs you won’t want to miss out!

During Lent, members at St. Andrews United Methodist Church in Mottville, NY, will save coins to donate to Heifer International. “We’re going to have 40 days to give up to give back,” Rev. Val White said. “At every meal, you put a coin in the bank. If it’s pennies, that’s fine. If every family member puts in a penny, that’s going to be a good amount after 40 days to give.”

Beatrice’s Goat

The diversity club at Eagle Heights Elementary School is tackling everything from bullying to poverty and hunger. They started the year out with a bake sale, inspired to help Heifer International after reading the book Beatrice’s Goat. The students made all the goodies to sell at school and raised enough to buy two goats and a beehive.

The students at Dogwood Elementary are collecting pledges, reading books and buying animals as part of Heifer International’s Read to Feed Program. In fact, they raised enough to buy three-plus Arks full of animals. Watch the video of the news report on wreg.com.

This Valentine’s Day, Roz Warren is thinking outside the box this year and tells us to Say It With Chickens in this entertaining blog post.

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Around the Web: Ceramic Bowls, Ornaments and Weaving for a Great Cause

Posted on January 27, 2013 by Linda Meyers

Art students at Cretin-Derham Hall and Nativity of Our Lord Elementary School in St. Paul, Minnesota, will be selling their handmade ceramic bowls at the annual Empty Bowls Benefit on Feb. 6. Proceeds from the event will go to Heifer International.

Holy Apostles Youth Group. Photo credit: The Post-Journal

Many thanks to The Holy Apostles Youth Group, who donated to Heifer International, purchasing shares in chicks, pigs and llamas.

Mom blogger Meagan Paullin says her favorite nonprofit is Heifer International, according to Babble Voices post: 17 Mom Bloggers Share Their Favorite Nonprofits to Support in 2013. She said, “I love the way Heifer International helps build up a whole community. Instead of just giving people food because they’re hungry – they bring in chickens, teach them to raise them, give them the resources that they need. Then they have eggs to eat, or to sell. They can breed and raise more chickens, to feed their family. Then, after they grow enough, they are able to give a small herd of chickens to the next family in their community.”

The St. Bernard’s Art Club for Charity surpassed its goal of raising enough money to buy a water buffalo through Heifer International. In fact, they raised $370 from selling their Christmas ornaments and weaving in November and December, and decided on two shares in a sheep, one share in a pig, one share in a trio of rabbits and a flock of chicks in addition to the water buffalo.

Students at Trinity Episcopal Day School are in the middle of their “change for change” fundraising project for Heifer International. Grades are competing to see who can raise the most funds; the 8th graders are in the lead as of January 17 with $106, but it’s still wide open with and end date of February 14. Simply put by 10th grader Alex Miller, “It’s always good to help other people.”

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Around the Web: A Big Goal, Study Trip, Celebrity Tips, and Kissing a Pig

Posted on January 13, 2013 by Linda Meyers

Patrick Rothfuss, author and brainpower behind Worldbuilders, which is fundraising with auctions and giveaways. Exciting opportunities include a chance to join him on a weekend visit to Heifer Ranch, a chance to play Dungeons & Dragons with Pat and other authors, and much more. This year’s Worldbuilders is quickly coming to an end, so you’ll want to check out his blog and help him reach his $500,000 goal to benefit Heifer International
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Sara Steinlage carries firewood as part of her chores in Mpomgwe, Zambia. Photo credit: Sara Steinlage, Northwest Arkansas Online.

Sara Steinlage accompanied the Go Women Go Community group last November on a 12-day trip that included some Heifer International projects in Kenya and Zambia.

Congrats to Ben Magod on receiving the Bill Lee Scholarship given to student athletes with academic, athletic and civic accomplishments. Magod is a youth elder at First Presbyterian Church and has participated in mission trips to Heifer Ranch as well as Belize and Atlanta.

Photo credit: Livingston County News

For the fifth year in a row, St. Agnes School in New York raised money to buy livestock through Heifer International for needy families. This year, they raised enough to buy four to five water buffalo, which plow, haul and provide milk. As an encore, Principal Dr. Gerald Benjamin kissed a pig, a water buffalo being unavailable, and the sixth graders chose green, purple and gold to dye his hair.

Health Magazine talks about celebrities and the steps—big and small—they take to protect the planet. Longtime Heifer supporters Mary Steenburgen and Jane Kaczmarek are both featured: Steenburgen for her line of soy candles that benefit Heifer International, and Kaczmarek for being frugal at home by turning out the lights and opening windows instead of using the air-conditioner.

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Around the Web: Student Fundraisers, Homemade Jewelry

Posted on December 30, 2012 by Linda Meyers

“Los Alamos Middle School teacher Dana Kline and her hawks soar to new heights raising funds to benefit others through reading” in Heifer’s Read to Feed progam, where they earned $453.65 to purchase one llama, one pig, one flock each of ducks, geese and chickens, two hives of bees and three rabbits.

Photo credit: The Sun

One club at Osceola Intermediate School is knitting a path to social responsibility. During the club’s inaugural year, the club made a fleece blanket and auctioned it off to raise money for Heifer International and local food shelves. Since then, the Social Responsibility Club has become so popular they had to limit enrollment to just fifth graders.

Thanks to the efforts of Falling Spring Elementary School fifth-graders this month, and an idea from student Brynn Kegerreis, $360 was raised to purchase a sheep, goat and pig through Heifer International. When Kegerreis’ goal of $250 was passed, teacher Doug Shatzer dressed up like a cow and handed out ice cream to students. ”What amazed me the most is that Brynn came up with it all on her own,” said Shatzer. “She organized it, kept track of the money and put together the progress.”

If you like homemade jewelry, check out this story about The Gold Trout, which carries jewelry made by the owner’s 16-year-old niece; 100 percent of the proceeds go to Heifer International.

Photo credit: Plymouth-Canton Patch

South Canton Scholars Charter Academy students raised $297 for Heifer International through Holiday Dress Day. The student council decided to buy a flock of chicks, a sheep, a goat and a boost of nutrition package to help people around the globe.

Arellanes Junior High School students have participated in holiday charity projects to help end world hunger, gather food for a local food drive and create beanies for babies and adults with disabilities. This year they raised more than $400 in about three weeks for Heifer International, organized a food drive for a local foodbank, and created more than 400 hand-made beanies for a maternity ward.

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Around the Web: Christmas Budgets, Awesome Fundraisers, Spirit of Giving

Posted on December 23, 2012 by Linda Meyers

Jack Topchik shares some one-liners in this article, Savor Life, including one he got from an ad campaign, that can seem especially timely this time of year, including ”If your cup runneth over, spill some.”

Family finances may be forcing smaller Christmas budgets, but moms are hoping the changes they are planning this year will be a chance for something more meaningful for their families.

Daniel Dreifuss/Staff Bethany Hester holds her two-year-old son Asher as they hang homemade ornaments on their Christmas tree in their Orcutt home. Photo credit: Santa Maria Times/Daniel Dreifuss

Photo credit: Denver Post

Author and long-time Heifer supporter Patrick Rothfuss and his non-profit Worldbuilders has raised more than $1 million for Heifer International! This year’s Worldbuilders fundraiser runs through January 18, and all proceeds go to Heifer.

Andean trekking specialist Llama Expeditions is donating a llama through Heifer International and inviting kindhearted adventure travelers to join them this holiday season.

This lead definitely caught my eye: “Culinary arts students at Rocky Hill High School are doing their part to end world hunger.” These kids created and baked gingerbread houses to auction them off to benefit Heifer.

Here’s an interesting fundraiser: People bid on the opportunity to play Dungeons & Dragons with eight accomplished authors next January, including Patrick Rothfuss, who is mentioned above. All the proceeds go to Worldbuilders, the fundraising organization that gives its money to Heifer International.

Read about this mom’s quest to share the spirit of giving with her kids, despite a little bit of resistance. Luckily, her boys are fond of Heifer and the concrete idea of using their money to buy a flock of chicks to provide for a family.

Bates Creative Group, who partnered with Heifer to create our World Ark tablet magazine app, wrote a blog post all about it: Stop the Insanity With Innovation.

Who couldn’t help but read this story: HELPING HOOVES A Flying Moose Gifts Water Buffalo to Third World Family?

Gift Guides/Gift Ideas/Charities Lists
Thank you to all who mentioned Heifer in gift guides and in their charity lists. Here are some we came across this past week:

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Around the Web: Kids With a Cause, Tikkun Olam and Holiday Lists

Posted on December 16, 2012 by Linda Meyers

You’ll be impressed by 12-year-old Ryan Bell, who’s made a goal of raising $25,000 for Heifer’s Gift of Transformation. Ryan was born with Treacher Collins syndrome, a cranio-facial disorder. He sees the Gift of Transformation as a reflection of his own year of transformation, which has been full of extensive surgeries. NOTE: We are excited to share that Ryan has reached his lofty goal, but let’s see if we can help get him even further!

Ryan Bell and his sister, Meghan. Photo credit: New Haven Register

Thanks to the Congregation Shomrei Torah, who is promoting donations to Heifer this Hanukkah: “We’re really looking to help people around the world. In Hebrew we call it Tikkun Olam, which means ‘repairing the world.’”

Lucinda and Clara Becker manned a booth sponsored by Laguna Presbyterian Church to benefit Heifer International. They brought their own pet chickens to bring attention to their booth, and according to reports, it worked.

Clara and Lucinda Becker and their pet chickens. Photo Credit: Laguna Beach Coastline Pilot

Gift Guides/Gift Ideas/Charities Lists
Thank you to all who mentioned Heifer in gift guides and in their charity lists this past week. Here are some we came across:

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Around the Web: Gifts, an Inspired Book, and Some Cool Cows

Posted on December 9, 2012 by Linda Meyers

Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Nicholas Kristof says you can look to Heifer International for an unusual holiday gift in his recent post on the New York Times, Gifts That Change Lives.

For more unique gift ideas for the person who has everything, check out this blog post on Nanny Babysitter, 10 Alternative Gifts for the Person Who Has Everything.

Photo credit: Hartford Courant

Teresa Pelham bought a sheep (through Heifer International, of course) instead of “Large Plastic Items We Do Not Need,” and writes about it in the very entertaining Mommy Minute.

DJ Maht Wuyts will be playing music for 26.2 hours straight December 8 & 9 in this unique Mahrathon fundraiser for Heifer International. Rock on, Maht!

Moment magazine highlights our new Heifer at Hanukkah campaign with a post that starts simply: If you are still looking for an interesting Hanukkah gift this year, consider a goat.

Catholic San Francisco lists Heifer among the options in their story, A goat for Christmas? Options for non-consumerist gifts.

Photo credit: Iowa City Press-Citizen

Artist Marcia Wegman recently finished a book that includes paintings and stories inspired by a trip to Latvia to see Heifer International projects. “I hope (the book) raises an awareness about what Heifer does and what a difference they make in the lives of people in these countries,” she said. “And also shows people what a wonderful, beautiful part of the world it is.”

The Face of Malawi tells the story of Yohane Machira, a farmer who has a life full of optimism since he started raising goats he received from Heifer, despite his being HIV positive.

Photo credit: Abby Fortney, courtesy of vitamintalent.com

Vitamin T bought a few cows to help families send their kids to school, buy medicine and clothes, and improve their land. Read their entertaining post here.

Here’s some advice from Janet Bodnar on teaching kids to budget this season: Money Power: Kids can get financial education from holidays.

Heifer was also listed first in Forbes’ The A-List: What’s Hot for December 2012!

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Heifer Blog

The official blog of Heifer International

Category Archives: Heifer Around the Web

Heifers on the Red Carpet

Around the Web: Wooden Ark, Singing Talent and a Piggy Bank

Around the Web: Students of All Ages Giving in Creative Ways, and an Easter Egg Hunt

Around the Web: Kissing a Goat, Spare Change, and Bees for Bach

Around the Web: Inspired by a Goat, 40 Days to Give

Around the Web: Ceramic Bowls, Ornaments and Weaving for a Great Cause

Around the Web: A Big Goal, Study Trip, Celebrity Tips, and Kissing a Pig

Around the Web: Student Fundraisers, Homemade Jewelry

Around the Web: Christmas Budgets, Awesome Fundraisers, Spirit of Giving

Around the Web: Kids With a Cause, Tikkun Olam and Holiday Lists

Around the Web: Gifts, an Inspired Book, and Some Cool Cows