From Erika Athanas - Please read!!!

www.4goodcommunity.org info@4goodcommunity.org volunteer with your kids...join the movement!!

What is 4GOOD?? If you have been thinking about volunteering and giving back to your community, but you are too busy to figure out what to do?  Then join 4GOOD- we can help.  If you want your children to understand the true meaning of kindness and compassion, then volunteer as a family with 4GOOD. 's mission is to help families actively participate in volunteer activities to foster the values of kindness, compassion, tolerance, community responsibility and good citizenship. Wouldn't it be nice if the next generation learned from an early age how important these simple traits are? Maybe there would be more compassion in our busy society and we would all slow down just enough to pay more attention to our surroundings, our community and our families. Since August 2009, 4GOOD has been finding, creating and participating in family friendly volunteering opportunities.  We started as a group on Facebook just 7 months ago, and now we are a Non Profit Organization working on securing our 501(c)3 status.  We need your help so please read below, do what you can and most importantly... volunteer with your kids...join the movement!!!

MORE INFO ON 4GOOD Check out our calendar of events click here for calendar link You will find: suggested "family friendly" volunteer events 4GOOD participating events where we will participate in an event with our members as a Team soon there will be 4GOOD sponsored events that we will host.   At the moment we are only concentrating on Southern California events, however, part of our plan is to create chapters throughout the country so we can foster the values needed to support the important national movement that has taken hold this past year.  Most importantly our goal is to to lead by example so our children understand the impact they can have and as they get older, increasing the chances that these values will be instilled in the fabric of their being.  Research shows that children whose parents set the example of giving back and provide volunteer opportunities for them to partake in, are 2 times as likely to volunteer as adults than children who are not exposed.  Not only is 4GOOD providing a way for families to volunteer together, we are also creating our own community within the community we are serving.  By working together as a group of like minded people, we believe we can build the motivation and focus needed to create a lasting legacy, 4GOOD!

HOW YOU CAN HELP Check out our Website:www.4goodcommunity.org Become an official 4GOOD member- Fill out the membership form on our website- or click right here you will receive updates on events and news about the organization Even if you don't live in LA, become a member anyway, you might be inspired to do something in your community and if your interested in starting a chapter in your own city or town, let us know.  info@4goodcommunity.org   Look at our Calendar of Events-Click here to connect We have 2 exciting 4GOOD PARTICIPATING events coming up: March 13th- Packing a Million Meals for Haiti – email us @ info@4goodcommunity.org if you are interested and I will sign you up on our 4GOOD Team at Volunteer Match. April 17th- Nothin' But the Sand-  email us @ info@4goodcommunity.org if your interested and I will sign you up on our 4GOOD Team at LA WORKS. Check out the other exciting suggested events that are all family friendly   Donate- CLICK HERE We are currently awaiting our 501(c)3 approval, until then any donation even if only $5 would help more than you know. Donate directly to 4GOOD through the safety of Paypal, no need for a Paypal account just use your CC - CLICK HERE.  All Donations will help the organization get off the ground, but the bulk of these donations will go directly to the causes we are supporting for each event.  If you would like further clarification on where your donation will be going please contact us at info@4goodcommunity.org Follow us and Share PLEASE: Our BLOG Twitter Facebook Page- become a fan Facebook Group Other things we need (yourself or others in your life that might be able to help): Please spread the word - share us on your FB page, twitter, linkedIn…forward this newsletter to your  friends  and family.  Ask them to become members through our website or send them this link: Membership Form Graphic Artist - with some experience in product design who is willing to volunteer some time helping to design Web Site Help- if you know about website design and management we could really use your help Accountant- knowledge of non profit regulations regarding we could use your help Funding- if you have connections with any companies or corporations who might be interested in donating product for future events, advertising on our website or blog, or small cash donations to help us get off the ground…keep us in mind when you see future newsletters or news about 4GOOD PR & Marketing - we need help creating press kits, getting our name and message out there with local newspapers and magazines, connections with editors or newsgroups, or any other marketing ideas. What You will see in the future: 4GOOD product like t-shirts, magnets, tote bags, etc...that you can buy to help raise money for the organization and get our name out there. The History Behind 4GOOD   I have always felt a pull towards wanting to take part in community service, but I always made excuses about how busy I was- I never followed through.   Last August, I was laid off from my job and suddenly there were no excuses left.  So, my husband Peter, myself and our good friends Katie and Jeff Goldman were talking about what we could do and include our kids in the process.  We made a commitment together to go in search of finding family friendly volunteer opportunities that were appropriate & interesting for our young kids. It was not easy to find organizations that accommodated families and included young kids in the volunteer process....we couldn’t believe it!! There you have it....that is how 4GOOD was born…the 4 of us started a group on Facebook and in a short time gathered loads of friends and friends of friends all with the same goal.  After searching around, we finally found some unique volunteering opportunities which enabled us to have a hands-on way to show the kids about giving back, by walking-the-walk together, as a family unit and as members of a giving community.  Since August 2009, we have participated and created a number of great events and it's been an amazing process as we watch our kids partake.  Truly inspiring and heartwarming. After a great deal of research and discussions with other parents, it was clear to us that there was a great need to bring easy access to families like us who have the right intentions but can’t find the time to commit because it’s not convenient enough.  That is what 4GOOD will do…provide accessible family friendly volunteer opportunities and a few other great things along the way.  We will keep you posted!!!   Thank you for your help and support!!!  I look forward to seeing you and your family at one of our events!!! Erika Athanas President ~ Executive Director erika@4goodcommunity.org