Be Free For Me Blog

Many of us have been following the ricework’s Brown Rice Crisps “Show Us Your Goodness” program which will award an inspirational charitable cause a $20,000 grant to assist them in promoting their mission and cause.

Just recently a panel of judges has selected 33 finalists from all of the entries and it is now up to all of us to VOTE for the People’s Pick Award charitable group winner!

I am happy to announce that the Canadian Celiac Association – Vancouver is one of the People Pick’s Finalists! If you want to vote for them… click this link, scroll down to #8 on the list (please note that the list of finalists is in alphabetical order only), and then click on the blue “Vote for this Charity” link.

Some of my other favorite finalists include:

Danny’s Farm – A group that provides vocational training and meaningful employment and volunteer opportunities for adults and teenagers with disabilities, especially autism. (Danny’s Farm is #11 on the Finalist List).

Spoons Across America – Works to influence the eating habits of children through hands-on education that celebrates the connection to local farmers and the important tradition of sharing meals around the family table. (Spoons Across America is #22 on the Finalist List).

A World For Fit Kids – Located in Los Angeles, this group is a leading nonprofit provider of after school physical activity and youth development programs for children and teens. (A world For Fit Kids is #1 on the Finalist List).

Show YOUR goodness… VOTE today for the cause that YOU support! Thank you riceworks, for your support and generosity!

BONUS: Download the $1.00 OFF coupon (USA Coupon and the Canadian Coupon) for riceworks gourmet brown rice crisps too! They are gluten-free and yummy!

Since starting BeFreeForMe just a little more than a year ago, I have been amazed by the outpouring of warmth, sharing and compassion of the BeFreeForMe members. There have been members who have been diagnosed with celiac disease for over 15 years that have contacted me to offer their mentoring and support to the newly diagnosed. I’ve been contacted by a grandmother that has children, and grandchildren, with numerous food allergies, as well as years and years’ worth of tried-and-true recipes that she offered to share with a young, scared Mom whose toddler had been recently diagnosed with numerous food allergies. I’ve had teachers contact me asking where they could find the best resources to educate themselves about food allergies and celiac disease, since they had children in their classroom with these diagnoses and they wanted to educate themselves in order to make these children feel as welcomed and involved as possible.

One of the things I hear over and over from people that have food allergies and celiac disease is their amazement over the sense of community and goodness that has come from others that share in the same diagnosis.

I am amazed myself.

This positive energy from the celiac & food allergy community, often through the support groups, has provided me with a positive and more manageable diagnosis, and I will always be grateful.

That is why I want to share with all of the BeFreeForMe members, Show Us Your Goodness, a program sponsored by riceworks® brown rice crisps that will donate $20,000 to an inspiring nonprofit organization or charitable cause.

During this holiday season, I encourage all of you to check out the Show Us Your Goodness website and nominate one of your favorite nonprofit organizations or charitable causes. Your charity can be local or national. Grassroots or established. Recognized or not.

Also, once the three finalists are picked, I encourage you to vote for one of the nominated groups (the voting between the three finalists will take place between March 16th to April 30th . I will also blog about the three finalists once they are picked!).

If you nominate your favorite charity, or you support one of the previously nominated groups, make sure you comment on this blog post and tell us what charitable group you support. Six (Yes…6!) BeFreeForMe members that post a comment will win a FREE CASE of riceworks® brown rice crisps!  The winners will be picked on February 16th, 2010.

Some of the charitable non-profit groups which I have volunteered for and supported are listed at the bottom of this email. All of these charities have in some way helped my health and touched my soul.  I look forward to hearing about your favorite charities too!

Happy Holiday… Be Charitable… Enjoy the Spirit of the Season… and, as always…

Be Free!
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Some of My Favorite Charities:

* Michael Carter Lisnow Respite Center
* Food Allergy Initiative
* National Foundation for Celiac Awareness
* Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network
* Canadian Celiac Association
* Celiac Disease Foundation
* Celiac Sprue Association
* Healthy Villi
* Project Just Because