Filanthropy Friday - 2011 Review

I loved starting Filanthropy Friday.

First of all, it gave me something to write about every Friday (instead of "Fetus Friday" and "Baby-Free Friday").

Secondly, it gave me a specific time every week where I could focus on gratitude.

Thirdly, it gave me an opportunity to honor my family and friends by giving to charities that are important to them.

Lastly, it was a great way to mark time.  I can go back and read Filanthrophy Friday posts and remember what was happening during that week in my life. 

Here's a review:

1. Ronald McDonald House - $15
2. Farm Aid - $15
3. Personal Donation To A Fellow Blogger's Daughter - $10
4. Marathon Kids - $10
5. HAAM - Health Alliance For Austin Musicians - $15
6. Livestrong - $10
7. Personal Donation To A Fellow Austin Apartment Association Member's Son - $100
8. Donor's Choose - $20
9. The Critter Connection - $10
10. Easter Seals - $10; The American Red Cross - $10
11. Texas Campaign For The Environment - $15
12. Boys and Girls Club of Austin - $15
13. Rocky's Ferret Rescue & Shelter - $10
14. March of Dimes - $25
15. Planned Parenthood - $20
16. World Wildlife Fund - $25
17. Beatbullying - $15
18. Oxfam - $100
19. Girlstart - $15
20. Texas Freedom Network - $25
21. Homes For Our Troops - $35
22. The Innocence Project of Texas - $25
23. Kidsave International - $20
24. Family Eldercare - $20
25. Cancer For College - $25
26. The Rose - $50
27. Polly Klaas Foundation - $25
28. Harry Potter Alliance - $25
29. PE3 - $25
30. Personal Donation To A Friend of a Friend's Child - $25
31. Unicef - $50
32. The Cipher - $25
33. Chicago Cares - $25
34. Personal Donation To A Childhood Friend's Memorial Fund - $25
35. Cavalier King Charles Rescue - $25
36. United Way (Central Texas Wildfire Relief) - $10; Muscular Dystrophy Association - $20; Save A Limb Fund - $10
37. Texas Alaskan Malamute Rescue - $50 (I still start tearing up when I re-read this one).
38. A Liter of Light - $23.56
39. Great Strides Walk For Cystic Fibrosis - $20
40. Occupy Wall Street - $10
41. Great Dane Rescue of South Texas - $25
42. Bookspring - $25
43. The Center For Reproductive Rights - $25
44. The Doc & Gayle Young Food Drive - $40
45. Fisher House Foundation - $25
46. Green Doors - $25
47. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute - $15
48. amFar - $25; Bear Necessities - $25
49. Next Generation Nepal - $25
50. Make-A-Wish Foundation - $20
51. Foundation Communities - Adopted a Family For Christmas
52. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital - $25

According to my calculator math, that's $1,383.56 plus what we spent on Christmas presents and food for the family we adopted in December.

I'm sure that my friend Liz only approves of about 10% of these donations. She'll probably tell me not to waste my time in 2012 and just give the money to her, but I think she had a lot of fun donating money (and ridiculing me) in 2011. 

Here is Cub today - proving he's my son - starring lovingly at a piece of chocolate while we freeze our butts outside.