In August of 2005, my life was ultimately changed with the arrival of Hurricane Katrina. As a New Orleans native, it was almost unbearable as we watched helplessly from our hotel room in north Louisiana as our City was submerged in water. The months that followed were undoubtedly the hardest of my life. But, we managed to pick up the pieces, move on, and create an even better life largely because of the generosity of friends, family and even complete strangers.
My family and I were overwhelmed by the outpouring of concern, love and kindness we received. My oldest daughter was only 6 months old at the time, and thankfully does not remember a thing. However, my husband and I feel like it is very important to “pay it forward” and teach our children how to be generous, loving and kind to those in need.
While generosity is very important, as the Mom of two daughters, I want to instill strength, courage and confidence in my girls so that they may achieve their dreams and make a difference in this World. I share these values with the creators of American Girl. From the website:
“At American Girl, we celebrate girls and all that they can be. That’s why we develop products and experiences that help girls grow up in a wholesome way, while encouraging them to enjoy girlhood through fun and enchanting play.”
My oldest daughter was introduced to American Girl last year when “Santa” brought her a set of “Bitty Twins” and she has indeed been enchanted ever since. So, when I learned of American Girl’s new charitable initiative, Shine On Now, I was honored to be selected as a Parent Partner. From the press release:
“To foster a spirit of goodwill and help make the world a brighter place, American Girl is introducing Shine On Now™ — a new charitable initiative that harnesses the collective power of girls to help others in need. Through Shine On Now, American Girl is calling on girls across the country to help the company give $1 million in clothes, books, dolls, and money to the following four organizations: Kids in Distressed Situations, Save the Children U.S.A., National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions, and National Wildlife Federation.
Beginning July 13, 2010, girls can visit shineonnow.com to contribute a free ‘star’ to the effort. The goal is to collect one million stars by the end of the program on July 31, 2010. In addition, for every star a girl contributes (she can donate up to 100 each day!), her name will automatically be entered in a daily drawing to win a new My American Girl™ doll.”
Lily (with my help, of course) has already signed up as an American Girl Ambassador and downloaded the kit. She has decided that she will work to donate her stars to K.I.D.S. which helps children in need after natural disasters. I feel like this is a great way for Lily to learn about people less fortunate than she and what she can do to help.
In addition, American Girl is launching Innerstar University which is a virtual world where girls can learn to be their best in a safe and fun virtual world. Access to Innerstar University is free with each 18-inch My American Girl doll.
As mentioned above, for every star a girl contributes, her name will be entered in a daily drawing to win a new My American Girl doll. This is a new, expanded and more contemporary line of dolls! There will be even more customization options so girls can make their dolls look exactly like them!
Make sure you don’t miss a thing! Follow Shine on Now on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube!
GIVEAWAY
American Girl wants to honor the girls that are making a difference in their families, schools and communities. Right here at Experimental Mommy, you can nominate a deserving girl to win her very own My American Girl doll which she will have the opportunity to fully customize! One winner will be picked from Experimental Mommy!
How to enter:
1. Nominate a deserving girl who has made a difference in her family, school, Church or community. Please describe her selflessness and acts of kindness and generosity. Please do not disclose her name in your comments.
Additional entries:
1. Follow @agshineonnow and @BridgetteLA on Twitter and tweet this giveaway using #shineonnow. One tweet per day is allowed!
2. Fan Not So Blog and Shine on Now on Facebook and let them know you saw the giveaway on Experimental Mommy!
Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on July 31st. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.
My niece truly is a ‘good’ kid. Her folks have always tried hard to teach both of their children the value of volunteering and giving back. My niece has volunteered at local agencies for quite a few years. First with her Mom and Dad at the local food bank, and now she is 10 and a ‘regular’ volunteer, she is able to help more since she is out of school for the summer on days when her parents cant be there too (the staff know her and supervise her) I am really proud of how she thinks of others first, and herself second. I hope she continues to have this mindset, and have no doubt by ‘giving’ of herself, she is gaining in so many ways she isn’t even aware of yet!
I am a fan of yours and fanned Shine on Now also- told them you sent me- FB is under my name.
I follow you both as @tannawings
http://twitter.com/tannawings/status/17289121876
6/28 tweety
I’d nominate my neighbor (9 years old) who is involved in swimming & gymnastics. She helps others by babysitting and just being sweet to the other kids in the neighborhood.
I nominate my daughter who is a great girl. My husband and I are both active duty military members who frequently go on temporary duty (TDY) and deploy. Even though we are deployed or TDY, she still makes sure she keeps her grades up and does her chores. She is a great big sister who helps with her sister and talks to her about her feelings. She also helps other kids who’s parents are deployed/TDY by talking to them and letting them know that she has gone through the same thing and has felt the same way.
I would like to nominate my sweet daughter, she is a wonderful student, she is above average in her studies. She is so smart, that the teacher wants her to help some of the other students with their classwork. She has lots of friends and she enjoys having them over for cookouts and parties. When someone is sick, she cares for them just like a little mother. She would love and make over this doll, just as if it were a real little girl. I believe that she deserves a doll like this for being such a precious little girl.
I follow @agshineonnow and @BridgetteLA on twitter @sexyknickers68 / Retweeted – http://twitter.com/Sexyknickers68/status/17295335267
I fan Not So Blog and Shine On Now – Paula Caudill
I would nominate my 8 year old niece. She’s such a giving and affectionate girl. She helps her Mom in so many ways and especially with her two brothers. She belongs to Brownies and helps her Mom lead the troop. I’d really love to win this for her.
Thanks so much.
rickpeggysmith(at)aol(dot)com
I’m a Fan Not So Blog and Shine on Now on Facebook (Margaret E. Smith) and posted the following on their wall:
Margaret E. Smith Thank you so much for offering your American Doll Giveaway on Experimental Mommy
Thanks so much.
rickpeggysmith(at)aol(dot)com
there is a girl who lioves down the street- her paremts have lost their jobs, and she comes to mow to help them
I nominate my daughter. She is a wonderful, beautiful person. She owrks very hard at school, is wonderful to her friends and is an example to her peers as far as the way she treats others. She always encourages her friends who might doubt themselves and takes under her wings those kids who are teased by others. I am very proud of the person my daughter is.
http://twitter.com/sohamolina/status/17302109845
http://www.facebook.com/shineonnow?v=wall&story_fbid=140132572663432&ref=mf
I was a sub at a very nice school this year, and I bonded with a “dream” student. She was always doing what was right, and she helped me right till the very end of my long-term sub assignment. She was willing to do whatever it took.
Retweet – http://twitter.com/Sexyknickers68/status/17306312291
I would like to nominate my oldest daughter. She is very caring and artistic, she takes the time after school to tutor not only her younger sister but their neighborhood friends. She takes the time to create special cards for family, friends and classmates on a regular basis. She made a card for the neighbor who lost their cat, she really takes the time to care about the people around her.
http://twitter.com/tannawings/status/17318644524
6/29 tweety
My daughter is a beautiful girl and loves people. She is 7 years old and she gets more joy out of helping others than helping herself. Whether it is at church, school or even at home with mom she gets true joy out of knowing that she can be of help. I actually had to convince her just yesterday that she really didn’t want to help me clean the toilet in her brothers bathroom!
My oldest grandaughter is such a great person,she is active in her church where she helps with the food bank,an she collects for the local school yard sale for her class to get money for extry supplies,goes with me to the nursing home an loves visiting with the elderly,she is only 10 yrs old an knows what it means to give back to a community,im very proud of her,for being 10 yrs old she is showing that she has a big heart an loves people an animals,she loves going to the animal shelter with me to volunteer,but wants to bring all of them home!we have adopted a few,but no more for now,thanks for the chance to brag on my special little lady
vlbelk(at)hotmail.com
I am a fan of Not So Blog and Shine on Now on Facebook and wrote on their wall (Mary Happymommy)
Fan Not So Blog and Shine on Now on Facebook
commented on their wall that you sent me
http://www.facebook.com/shineonnow?v=wall&ref=ts
vlbelk(at)hotmail.com
Follow @agshineonnow and @BridgetteLA on Twitter and tweet
http://twitter.com/vickiecouturier/status/17326908268
vlbelk(at)hotmail.com
I nominate my grandaughter.who lost her American Girl Doll to a house fire that started in her bedroom .would love to replace it.
My 8 year old daughter enjoys Sunday school, ice skating and playing the keyboard. She is always thoughtful and trying to help out those younger than she is.
I would nominate my daughter. Even at her age she has compassion for others and is always willing to help people out. She will often stop and help people without prompting, such as helping someone in the store pick up something they dropped. She helps with many chores, even at a young age. And it is amazing to see her make decisions, not to benefit only herself, but keeping the feelings and wants of others in mind. The cutest thing is how much she takes care of her younger sister. For her birthday, she received two Zhu Zhu Hamsters (different styles) and automatically, without thinking about it, she hands one to her sister and says “this one is for you!” She is constantly sharing with others around her. I am proud of the way she is growing up and look forward to watching her help many others as the years progress!
Thank you for this wonderful giveaway!
girlygirlugh at gmail dot com
I follow both of you on twitter and I tweeted!
http://twitter.com/girlygirlugh/status/17361461619
girlygirlugh at gmail dot com
I am a FB fan of both of yours and wrote on their wall that I saw the giveaway here. Screen name: Jessica Hendrickson
girlygirlugh at gmail dot com
http://twitter.com/tannawings/status/17392618417
6/30 tweety
My daughter is very young but I’m already amazed at her thoughtfulness towards her schoolmates and those in need. She donates a portion of her modest allowance to charities that address issues she has developed a passion for. She is so quick to figure out what would help a friend or stranger alike.
http://twitter.com/sohamolina/status/17419486846
I nominate my niece. She is a excellent student and is always helping her younger siblings and cousins with reading books.
Retweet – http://twitter.com/Sexyknickers68/status/17433718647
I nominate my granddaughter because she always uses proper manners, listens to her mother and myself, is super fun to be around and helps at her church.
kport207 at gmail dot com
Daily tweet:
http://twitter.com/girlygirlugh/status/17458634281
girlygirlugh at gmail dot com
http://twitter.com/tannawings/status/17472890701
tweety
I nominate my daughter who spends her Saturdays at the no-kill pet shelter helping take care of the animals.
follow both and tweet http://twitter.com/5memb/status/17497294326
Retweet – http://twitter.com/Sexyknickers68/status/17515976510
I nominate my niece she has helped her Mom with things she needs done and also her Grandma who has a termanel illness
pattifritz2000 at yahoo dot com
thanks a bunch!!!
fan on facebook
pattifritz2000 at yahoo dot com
thanks a bunch!!!
I would nominate my daughter. Born a micro-preemie, she has struggled to survive in this world. She has been/is going through so much, yet she always has smiles for everyone, is sweet and charming! I know she’s gonna do great things when she grows up and will be/is an inspiration to others!!!
Daily tweet:
http://twitter.com/girlygirlugh/status/17541865387
girlygirlugh at gmail dot com
http://twitter.com/tannawings/status/17550109261
tweety!
Retweet – http://twitter.com/Sexyknickers68/status/17605171818
Daily tweet:
http://twitter.com/girlygirlugh/status/17620581869
girlygirlugh at gmail dot com
I would have to nominate my 10 year old daughter. She has such a big heart and is a natural care giver. Her teachers have for two years now buddied her up with an autistic student in her class. She loves being there for the student to help them remember to get their supplies ready for the next task. I love having a daughter with such a big heart!
My daughter has read all of the American Girl books I know she would love this!
http://twitter.com/tannawings/status/17628512476
7/3
tweety
Retweet – http://twitter.com/Sexyknickers68/status/17663810693
Daily tweet:
http://twitter.com/girlygirlugh/status/17694570637
girlygirlugh at gmail dot com