The Arthritis National Research Foundation

The Arthritis National Research Foundation has been providing research grants for over 40 years to young scientists who dedicate their careers to the treatment, cure and end of arthritis.

In the United States, arthritis is the leading cause of disability with more than 46 million Americans suffering from this disease and its related complications. Many people associate arthritis as an older person’s disease. However, arthritis touches people of all ages and there are over 300,000 children in the United States who suffer from it.

I recently had the pleasure of meeting one of these children, Kelly Rouba. At the age of two, Kelly was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. She has suffered and endured great pain and now at age 29 is the national spokesperson for The Arthritis National Research Foundation. The foundation's grant guidelines is to fund at least one juvenile arthritis project a year. In July 2009 the ANRF introduced The Kelly Award in honor of Kelly. This award is a special designation of $75,000 which will be awarded each year to a grant recipient who is studying juvenile arthritis.

I applaud Kelly for her strength and determination not to let this disease control her life. With the creation of this award there is hope that the end of juvenile arthritis is in the foreseeable future.

You can visit The Arthritis National Research Foundation at http://www.curearthritis.org for more information.

Meet Shara Lawrence-Weiss

Shara Lawrence-Weiss from MommyPerks.com is one of the people who has generously supported our Locks of Love campaign on the MommyPerks.com website as well as their Facebook page. While discussing our promotion with Shara I learned that she has donated hair to Locks of Love and is another inspiring story we wanted to share with you.

It was about nine years ago when Shara decided to donate her hair to Locks of Love. She was in "a rather unhappy place back then" and believes that by helping others your own unhappiness becomes less consuming. After learning about Locks of Love from a friend, Shara set out to research the organization and their donor requirements. Needing a minimum of ten inches of hair, Shara started letting her hair grow. When she finally met the ten inch requirement Shara headed to a salon that cut her hair, free of charge, and mailed it to Locks of Love.

When we asked Shara how she felt about donating her hair she responded, " first and foremost it was empowering. Knowing I was helping a child and giving the gift of hair to a little girl who would otherwise be bald…was amazing." However she did have some reservations with the ten inch requirement and would have liked other lengths to be accepted.

Once cut, it was a shock to Shara to see her hair so short. However, Shara thinks about donating her hair again. If she does, she plans to grow it even longer so when the ten inches come off she is still able to sport her "mommy ponytail."

Thank you Shara for sharing such a valuable gift with children in need.

Great Young Chef Contest

KIWI magazine is a national parenting publication focused on helping parents raise children in a healthy, green way. The goal is to introduce parents to the latest in natural and organic living.

Every year KIWI Magazine sponsors the Great Young Chef contest and right now they are searching for the next Great Young Chef.

The contest is open to all boys and girls ages 4 years to 17 years old. Each contestant must submit a video of them making their own original recipe or a photo of the finished product. Recipes must be included with the video or photo submissions. KIWI Magazine's sponsor's ingredients must be included in the original recipe. Click here for a link of sponsors.

Prizes include:

• Grand Prize: $2500.00 and a feature in KIWI Magazine

• First Prize: $1500.00 and a feature in KIWI Magazine

• Second Prize: $500.00 and a feature in KWI Magazine

• Honorable Mention" $250.00

If you have a culinary expert in your house enter between now and March 31, 2010. All video and photo submissions can be done online by clicking here.

Good Luck!!!