For the Children!

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month and I want to introduce you to Selena.



When her parents deserted her at 9 months of age, little Selena weighed only 12 pounds. Her biological parents left her with Selena's great aunt and all the baby did was scream. She'd never known love -- had never been bathed.



Selena's new mommy took the infant to the doctor and found that she had Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS). Since then, she has also suffered a stroke and has cerebral palsy. Selena has left side brain damage and only 10 percent vision in her right eye. She is unable to use her right hand and didn't walk until she was 4 years old -- and then only with the help of braces and a cast.



Selena is now 6 years old and has migraines every day. She suffers from major speech delay and uses sign language. She does attend school but is 3 years behind. And she's no stranger to doctors and specialists.



Even with all her problems (and because of her adopted mother's love and selfless nurturing), Selena has a radiant smile and is her "mommy's" pride and joy -- her "precious angel"!



Unfortunately, abuse stories like Selena's are not that uncommon.



Every 10 seconds a child is reported abused or neglected. . . Every single day in the United States, 4 children die from child abuse. . . 79% of the children killed are under the age of 4 years. . . Shaken Baby Syndrome is widely unknown and rapidly growing. . . these tiny victims range in age from a few days old to a few months old.



The stories are horrific: Little Beaunca was only 2 years old when she died from a beating by her mother because she spilled juice on the floor. James was only 3 years old when he was kicked, punched and shaken to death by his father because he was playing too loudly while his father watched a football game. 22 month old Miguel was beaten to death for having an accident in his pants.



Of the thousands of children who survive such abuse many will experience physical and mental injuries for life. Some of the results include severe brain injury (like little Selena), seizures, mental retardation, paralysis, loss of hearing, blindness, learning difficulties, delayed development, cerebral palsy and more.



I invite you to make a difference and consider becoming a voice for these voiceless children. Visit the website, Children Without A Voice USA (www.ChildrenWithoutAVoiceUSA.org). This organization's founder, Lin Seahorn, is our very own Director of Together We Can Change the World Day! Lin is a survivor of abuse and the foster care system (there are currently 1.5 million children in the system) and has been fighting child abuse in the U.S. for over 25 years.



If you need help or suspect child abuse, call this 24 hour Hotline number: 800-4-A-CHILD (800-422-4453). You may save a child's life by making a simple phone call!



Please help raise Child Abuse Awareness in the U.S. during the month of April by wearing and distributing blue ribbons to everyone you know. Or you can order blue ribbon pins (25 cents each) at: 800-924-2643 (National Exchange Club Foundation in Norfolk, VA). Why the color blue? Because it reminds us of the horrible bruises born by these tiny, voiceless victims.



Life is precious -- and everyone deserves love, security, and support.



Make it a great year!

Sandi Valentine



P. S. To help little Selena directly, visit www.ChildrenWithoutAVoiceUSA.org. Read her story, look at her pictures (she's beautiful!) and then follow the link to her special website.



We BELIEVE that Together We Can Change the World!

Quotes Of The Week

"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; to leave the world a little better; whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is the meaning of success." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson



"In helping others, we shall help ourselves, for whatever good we give out completes the circle and comes back to us." ~Flora Edwards



"Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson






We're on a mission and want to invite you along! We exist to help make a difference in our world by helping to create massive funding for organizations, businesses and individuals AND helping children in the U.S. and around the world through Someone Believes In You!, our TWCCTW Foundation, and One-Child-At-A-Time Program. We believe that together, we can change the world! To learn more about who we are and what we're about use this link.

Someone Believes In You! NEW

Together We Can Change the World has just added a new division! Someone Believes In You! offers daily emails with powerful stories that encourage, motivate, and inspire. We all need to know we are special, valued and capable of achieving all we were created to achieve. Give someone (or yourself) the daily gift of empowerment to believe in their dreams. Every subscription provides a fr*ee subscription for a foster or at-risk child. Visit Someone Believes In You! to see sample stories, certificates, testimonies, and to find out more. Then snag your subscription(s)! Help us change the world -- one person at a time!










Don't think because you're only one person you can't make a difference! You can. . .



. . . help a child who's suffered abuse or neglect. Become a Court Appointed Special Advocate (www.nationalcasa.org), which involves reviewing a case, and recommending to the court what you believe is best for the child. No legal expertise is required. (Idea taken from our fr*ee E-book, 101 Ways Women Can Change the World. (TogetherWeCanChangeTheWorldPublishing.com).




Little things make BIG differences!



Another great way to make a difference is by signing up for a Together We Can Change The World DAY project in your area (or register yours!) and multiply your efforts.



Feeling the tug on his shirt sleeve, Pete looks down into the sad eyes of Jacob.



"Mr. Pete," has asks, "Can I play today?"



"Of course, Jacob!"



Boys just like Jacob come every Saturday morning to be part of the neighborhood recreation program. Many of them do not have dads to spend time with them. Pete has been involved as a volunteer now for about six years. His week would not be complete without spending each Saturday morning play games with anywhere from 30 to 50 boys.



It all started when his next door neighbor, Sam, came to tell Pete he was taking a new job and would be moving. His neighbor was concerned about the city recreation program where he volunteered.



"Pete, would you ever consider working at the rec program?" Sam asked.



Initially Pete had thought he wouldn't have time. After all, he had his own two sons who needed his time and attention. But Sam pointed out that Pete's own sons could be involved, too.



It has been a great experience for all three family members. In fact, Pete says it has brought them closer together. Each week they look forward to not only spending time together, but to making a difference in the lives of boys who long for someone to care about them.



For two hours each week, Pete sees the sad eyes of boys like Jacob light up.



"These little guys just need to hang out with someone who cares about them," Pete shares. "Not only that, but my life -- and my boys' lives -- are enriched as well!"



Pete is not only a volunteer at the recreation center, but regularly speaks to groups throughout his city encouraging others to be involved in volunteer service.



Pete's passion is evident as he shares, "Whether it be working with kids, the homeless, domestic violence victims. . . it doesn't matter. Just get involved and make a difference!"



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Special Week Celebrations: North American Occupational Safety & Health Week (5-10), National Blue Ribbon Week (6-12), National Week of the Ocean (6-12), Explore Your Career Options (7-11), National Public Health Week (7-11), National Work Zone Safety Awareness Week (7-11), National Networking Week (7-13)



Some of the April Month Celebrations: Alcohol Awareness Month, Amateur Radio Month, Autism Awareness Month, Cancer Control Month, Celebrate Diversity Month, Couple Appreciation Month, Financial Literacy Month, Global Child Nutrition Month, Informed Women Month, Injury Prevention Month, International Customer Loyalty Month, Jazz Appreciation Month, Month of the Young Child, Month of the Military Child, National Car Care Month, National Child Abuse Prevention Month, National Decorating Month, National Donate Life Month, National Humor Month, National Kite Month, National Landscape Architecture Month, National Occupational Therapy Month, National Parkinson's Awareness Month, National Prepare Your Home to be Sold Month, National Pecan Month, National Pet First Aid Awareness Month, National Poetry Month, National Sexual Assault Awareness Month, National Youth Sports Safety Month, Pharmacists War on Diabetes Month, Physical Wellness Month, Prevent Lyme in Dogs Month, Prevention of Animal Cruelty Month, School Library Media Month, Straw Hat Month, Southern Belles Month, Women's Eye Health & Safety Month, Workplace Conflict Awareness Month



2008 has been declared: International Year of Languages, International Year of Planet Earth, International Year of the Potato, and International Year of Sanitation

Did You Know?

The American lobster can move through the water at a rate of up to 25 feet per second.

Remember:
Shop Rex's Store http://www.mypowermall.com/Biz/Home/12520 for your EVERYDAY needs!

Just For Fun

This week's brainteaser: My brother Mark says he is able to place a bottle in the middle of a room and by crawling on the floor, he can slide into it. How can this be?



Last week's brainteaser: We have two similar coins and we make one spin on the edge of the other. How many times does the spinning coin turn on itself each time it makes an entire lap around the stationary one? Answer: Two turns on itself. You can actually try this yourself.

Tips & Tricks

Nail Polish, Measuring Cups and Baby Bottles

Use an easily seen color of nail polish to trace over the numbers on your measuring cups - it will last much longer than the paint the company uses (or make raised markings easier to read). This also works well for marking dosage levels on baby bottles and medicine cups.

Will You Help?

Will you help us get the word out to your friends and family? Invite them to sign-up for this newsletter or forward this one to them.



Together we can change the world!




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