Thanks to The Weekly’s year-end Monterey County GIVES campaign, it is super-easy to make the most of any size donation you make to Community of Caring Monterey Peninsula – and other non-profits serving Monterey County!

Every dollar you donate through December 31st is eligible for a match from the $100,000 that’s been raised!

Visit www.montereycountygives.com to learn more about how you can maximize your investment! Thank you for helping to make a difference!

Kicking off with a return visit to Monterey Peninsula Unified middle and high schools, the program will also debut in Gonzales. The schedule includes both Parent/Community Nights and Assembly Events at the following locations:

• 9/26 – 6:30 p.m. Parent/Community Night, Seaside High School library
• 9/27 – Student Assemblies, Seaside High School & Seaside Middle School
• 9/27 – 7:00 p.m. Parent/Community Night, Gonzales High School gym
• 9/28 – Student Assemblies, Gonzales High School & Fairview Middle School
• 9/28 – 6:30 p.m. Parent/Community Night, Marina High School gym
• 9/29 – Student Assemblies, Marina High School & Los Arboles Middle School
• 9/29 – 6:30 p.m. Parent/Community Night, Monterey High School cafeteria
• 9/30 – Monterey High School & Walter Colton Middle School

CCMP is incredibly proud of our partnership with these learning communities and our shared commitment to cultivating caring communities for students and their families. Join us and remember: ALL KIDS, OUR KIDS: Be there for them – every day!

WE care! 

LET THE CARING BEGIN

     How wonderful that The Herald’s View on Monday identified a need to establish a regular reminder that there is enormous value in even the smallest act of kindness – those acts that create caring communities! Not so very long ago, right here in Monterey, just such a day was established.

“Dare to Care Day”, organized by Community of Caring Monterey Peninsula, challenges students in local “Community of Caring” schools to engage with their families and neighbors in random acts of caring. Over the years, The Herald has provided coverage of those activities!

When it was established, organizers agreed the event should tie to a day that already had name recognition. For marketing reasons, they declared Earth Day in April as the date for an annual celebration of “Dare to Care Day”. What better way to show we care than to care for our planet, right? True, but as suggested in The Herald’s View, caring for each other has enormous value, too.

Intentional acts of caring for others included activities like delivering flowers to a neighbor, helping someone cross a street, carrying groceries – even holding open a door. Small steps up from basic good manners and simple ways of respecting each other.

But what about other national days that (celebrate caring acts? “Pay It Forward Day” is in April, too.

Can’t wait until Spring to be the change you want to see in your world? “Make a Difference Day” in October, an event publicized by USA Today Weekend, has inspired award-winning local projects.

“World Kindness Day” is celebrated November 13th while “Universal Children’s Day” is celebrated November 20th, as proclaimed by the United Nations in 1954.

Rather celebrate for a week? “Random Acts of Kindness” suggests you do just that in February!

Ideas this big can’t be contained in a day, a week or even one part of the country. Check out “Pass It On” and discover a movement circling the globe!

All these celebrations offer opportunities and ideas for folks of all ages to put into practice the simple lessons learned in kindergarten. What better way for adults to be consistently better role models for the children in our communities!

But children are citizens of our communities now, not just in the future. By remembering to direct kindness at them, too, we are building assets that will be rewarded with the best possible return on investment: “Champions” who continue to build a legacy of caring.

Great ideas bear repeating and new habits take practice. Every day is full of opportunities to “Love Your Neighbor” in innumerable small ways.  The ideas of pancake breakfasts, block parties and holding hands with strangers on the beach should not be overlooked. And the elimination of talk radio and a positive focus in media are both extremely enticing! Since a journey starts with a single step, check out www.communityofcaringmp.org and take a moment to think about how you’ll care for others today – and every day.

Since it is The Herald’s View that there is a need to establish a day when we celebrate each other, perhaps you’ll partner in promoting this worthwhile movement by setting off a few fireworks of brotherhood. Let the celebrations begin!

By Kathi Speller, Executive Director

What better way to kick off “Random Acts of Kindness Week”! Since “kindness” comes from “caring”, we at CCMP are huge fans of this kind of celebration. We know there are loads of acts of kindness and caring taking place every day, but just in case you need a reminder of how little effort it takes to make a difference, here’s some ideas: download our suggestions for Acts of Caring, by clicking on the Values tab on our website. Or visit these two awesome websites: http://www.randomactsofkindness.org/ or http://www.onemillionactsofkindness.com/

A writer since childhood, Ruth has gained recognition for the facilitated learning benefits of her reader-illustrated books. Sparking imaginations, exploring new ways of learning and engaging young readers are just a few of the exciting discoveries achieved through this process. The books are now available on Amazon – the perfect gift for encouraging young readers in your life!

We love that Ruth brings the same passion to her involvement with C.C.M.P. that led her to create such innovative and entertaining books. Her enthusiasm for empowering children to reach their full potential is making a difference – in all her endeavors. Watch her interview and learn more by visiting Betina’s and Bailey’s website, too!

Congratulations, Ruth! We celebrate your success and are excited about all the possibilities in the New Year!

by Lilli-anne Price

Meet the Artists & Celebrate!

December 5th, 2010

4:00 – 6:30 p.m.

Everyone involved was challenged to make a difference – and so were the readers and viewers.

CHOICES engaged students at Alisal High School and Chalone Peaks Middle School to set their sights on higher education goals for success in life; Teen Truth Live blew the roof off middle and high schools in Monterey Peninsula Unified School District with a call to be more compassionate and stop bullying and school violence. It was easily the most exciting and high-impact week CCMP has ever seen – and the fun continues this week at Washington Middle School in Salinas!

How will you make a difference this week?

CHOICES presentations will be held at:

• 10/19-20 at Alisal High School, Salinas
• 10/21-22 at Chalone Peaks Middle School, King City
• 10/25-26 at Washington Middle School, Salinas

Teen Truth Live, an inspirational bullying prevention program, is being presented on the Peninsula through both Parent Previews for the communities at 6:30 p.m. and student assemblies, dates/locations as noted:

• 10/19 Monterey Parent’s Preveiw, Monterey High School
• 10/20 Student assemblies: Monterey High & Colton; Parent’s Preview, Seaside Middle School
• 10/21 Student assemblies: Seaside High & Seaside Middle School; Parent’s Preview in Marina at Los Arbloes Middle School
• 10/22 Student assemblies: Marina High and Los Arboles Middle School

More information is available at www.choices.org, www.teentruthlive.com or calling Community of Caring Monterey Peninsula, 831.655.4755

Schools are back in session and making plans to schedule CHOICES in the upcoming weeks. More presenters are needed to meet increased requests so Presenter Training has been scheduled as follows:

Monterey Adult School, Del Monte & Casa Verde, Monterey
Friday, August 20th, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and
Saturday, August 21st, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Salinas Salvation Army, 2460 N. Main Street, Salinas
Friday, August 27th, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and
Saturday, August 28th, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Reserve your spot NOW by calling 831.655.4755 or emailing CHOICES@CommunityofCaringMP.org

The “Launch Year” of CHOICES Monterey County was a success worthy of celebration!

More than 2,000 students participated in the workshops at middle schools throughout the County facilitated by more than 30 trained volunteer presenters. Many of these CHOICES Champions came together on August 10th to be honored for their service by the CCMP Board of Directors and educators.

Dr. Nancy Kotowski, Superintendent for Monterey County Office of Education assisted in the acknowledgment of the impact this program makes in the lives of 8th graders as they prepare for the critical transition to high school. The validation of their efforts was important to those who attended – AND they all noted that the real reward came from seeing students become empowered to take a lead role in their educational process.

Care for your community and make a difference in the lives of young people by supporting CHOICES! Find out how; you’ll be glad you did!