Tagged: diabetes

OPI & City of Hope

I know that I always feel a little bit better when proceeds from items I purchase go towards a good cause.  Companies like Sevenly and TOMS are already capitalizing on society’s social mindedness and now, OPI is donating a portion of their proceeds to a great cause – City of Hope.

George W. Schaeffer, President and CEO of OPI Products, Inc., is being honored with City of Hope‘s Spirit of Life award for his philanthropic contributions.  City of Hope is a leading research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases.  George established the George W. Schaeffer Endowment for Innovation in Diabetes research and along with OPI is raising funds to aid in the fight against diabetes.

What does buying your favorite OPI polish have to do with it?  If you buy Cajun Shrimp, You Don’t Know Jacques, Bubble Bath or Strawberry Margarita, 50 cents of your purchase will be donated to the City of Hope.

To learn more, please check out City of Hope on Facebook and Twitter!  Don’t forget to follow OPI as well for updates on their latest collections.  You can donate today by texting “GiveHope” ($10) or “GiveLove” ($5) to 27722 and join George and OPI fund research for new treatments and along with City of Hope, finding a CURE for diabetes!

Don’t forget to pick up one (or all) of these best-selling polishes at your favorite Ulta location!

Light It Up Blue

April marks Autism Awareness month and today, April 2nd, is World Autism Awareness Day!  What do you know about autism?  I have to admit, before college I was not very aware of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or autism.  And then I met Ashley.  She was an education major at Luther College who specialized in Special Education.  Ashley was a strong advocate of autism.  I learned so much from her and how common it really was in children.

Did you know that ASD affects 1 in 88 children, and is most common in boys?  Autism Spectrum Disorder is a disorder of brain development.  There are many degrees of autism, many of which have to do with social interaction, communication (nonverbal and verbal) and repetitive behaviors.

Autism is a very complex disorder, however, many with ASD excel in art, music and math.  Matt Savage was born in 1992 with autism and at the age of 8 had already been labeled a jazz prodigy.  Ah-mazing, right?!

Autism is much more common than you and I think.  According to AutismSpeaks.org, more children are diagnosed with autism than, “are affected by diabetes, AIDS, cancer, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy or Down syndrome, combined.”

It’s not only more common, but it’s growing.  Please help these young boys and girls!  Autism affects 1 in 88 children and autism research receives less than 5% if the research funding of less prevalent childhood disease.

Here are some ways you can help:

Please consider helping in any way you can!  Are there buildings in your city that have been lit up with blue lights tonight?  Look at the Sydney Opera House!  BEA-utiful!