TICKET TUESDAY!

MUSIC MONDAY! This Music Monday, SOAR Nation is spotlighting Jersey City band, Devi.  Comprised of front woman and lead guitarist, Debra Devi, along with drummer, Brian Hudzik and bassist, Dan Grennes, Devi comprises various styles of music to create a unique musical sound.  With Debra’s powerful vocals and the bands rock and roll sound, this band is one for music lovers to be on the lookout for.  

The band’s debut album, Get Free, is available for download at the SOAR Nation music web store.  With lyrically moving songs and even a few covers on the album, including Del Shannon’s, Runaway, and Neil Young’s, The Needle and the Damage Done, Devi proves themselves both as talented musicians and lyricists.  

To preview and purchase the album: http://www.soarnation.com/music/devi-get-free.html

Selfless Sunday

The Chronicle of Philanthropy featured an article earlier this month about the rise in donations towards health care non-profits in 2011.  According to the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy, donations rose more than 8% last year and raised roughly $8.9 billion in donations.  The president of the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy, William McGinly, is quoted saying that he is glad people are starting to donate again.  He says that people are becoming ‘more mindful of the needs of medical institutions in general’.   

At SOAR Nation, we also believe in the importance of healthcare and medical institutions.  We work with a non-profit called Costs of Care.  This non-profit aims to help doctors realize the impact their decisions in the emergency room have regarding the monetary costs patients endure.  Costs of Care provides both doctors and patients with vital information they need to help deflate high medical bills.  

To read the entire health care donation article, click the heading above or click here: http://philanthropy.com/article/Giving-to-Health-Care/134808/ 

WE CARE WEDNESDAYS

Recently, I wrote about the need to put things in perspective.  Katie Meyler, founder of More Than Me, is a great example of a young woman, who put things in perspective and decided to make a positive change.  Meyler, along with several other leaders of non-profit organizations, were honored at the New Jersey Monthly Seeds of Hope luncheon this past September.  The event was a way for the community to give thanks to these great leaders who strive to make a difference in the world.

Growing up, Katie Meyler, thought she lived in a poor and struggling household.  It wasn’t until she was exposed to the poverty on a youth group trip to Central America that she realized she had the ability to help others in need.  She became dedicated to helping the children she met on her trip and was inspired to help young girls in Liberia receive the education they deserved.  Scared and unsure of how to start her non-profit, Meyler realized it wasn't about her anymore.  There were children counting on her and that is why she named her foundation More Than Me.  To date, roughly 100 girls have been able to go to school because of Meyler’s dedication.

Check out an article posted about the Seeds of Hope luncheon and be sure to take a look at Katie Meyler’s website where you can meet some of the amazing kids she helps.

Seeds Of Hope Article: http://bernardsville-bedminster.patch.com/articles/more-than-me-founder

More Than Me: http://www.morethanme.org/index.html

MUSIC MONDAY!

Need some new music?  At SOAR Nation, we have an array of music for you to purchase.  This Music Monday, we are spotlighting hip hop artist, John Robinson, and his album, I Am Not For Sale.  First known as Lil Sci from the trio Scienz of Life, Robinson has done many collaborations with MF DOOM, Flying Lotus and Jneiro Jarel.  

Esther, Mother of Elizabeth our 1st student 

More Than Me is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing young girls in Liberia, West Africa an education.  The More Than Me Foundation is raising money to send 500 girls to school.  Thus far they have received $54,394 in donations from generous people around the country.  They need an additional $45,606 to reach their goal of $100,000.  

Check out ways you can help other girls like Elizabeth, who are part of the More Than Me Foundation: