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How Your Family Can Make A Positive Impact

What does citizenship mean to you? Regardless of what state we live in, we are all part of the United States of America. We can look selfishly at our citizenship and only see what’s in it for us, or we can do the opposite and try to make our neighborhoods, schools, and environments better places. We can invest in the people in our local community. Let’s not forget a big part of America’s founding culture was for people to have dinner together, for neighbors to know each other and for people to help each other out.

Statistics show knowing about our country’s history – our Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and other important documents and events – helps us become more familiar with it. Our citizenship will mean more to us and we will want to give back out of gratitude.

We can be good citizens by knowing our history, investing in our local community, and having an attitude where it is better to give than to receive. Genuine love and appreciation of your home country will lead to small acts of service that help others.

Here are 10 ways your family can make a positive impact:

1. Help your kids share the love by donating gently loved toys at American Kidney Service, North Fulton Charities, Foster Care Support Foundation, Atlanta Mission
2. Start your spring cleaning early by sorting through your unused clothing and furniture and donating it to your local Goodwill, local thrift store, Dress for Success Atlanta or the Furniture Bank of Metro Atlanta
3. Prep and Deliver Meals with Open Hands Atlanta
4. Support Grieving Families and Their Children at Kate’s Club
5. Spend quality time with Elders playing games and creating smiles at A.G. Rhodes
6. Recycle with Live Thrive Atlanta
7. Explore Historical Sites and Landmarks in Your Community
8. Join in on Friday Fun Night at My Sister’s House
9. Gardening at Lost Corner Preserve
10. Become a member of Pebble Tossers and Start a Ripple of Giving

Make a commitment to your community by being an active citizen!

Live in the Joys of the Season

Joy is defined as a feeling of great pleasure and happiness. This holiday season experience the joy of service with Pebble Tossers. Volunteering brings the joy of serving others, the joy of connecting with your community, the joy of personal development, and the joy of spreading the holiday cheer this season. Many families in crisis experience hardships making this time difficult to find joy. When people face a crisis they are unable to adapt to, they desperately need a support structure to help them cope. Having an army of people ready to serve means the world to them. As we celebrate many holidays with our community, we hope to empower you and your family to get involved and make a difference!

Ten Atlanta Teens Awarded $1,000 grants to help those in need due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Ten Atlanta Teens Awarded $1,000 grants to help
those in need due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Pebble Tossers announced grant recipients from a pool of nearly 50 applicants

(Atlanta, GA, April 7, 2020)…Pebble Tossers, Atlanta’s leading youth development nonprofit organization, awarded ten $1,000 grants to greater Atlanta teens. Each grant is being used to provide immediate assistance to low income/at-risk youth and their families in greater Atlanta affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pebble Tossers selected ten grant recipients from 48 applications and each winner developed a concept encompassing an innovative, goal-oriented project. Based on grant guidelines, each project will be developed and executed rapidly to ensure immediate impact on the community.

“The creativity and ingenuity presented in all of the projects was inspiring. This opportunity came up quickly and our local youth continue to amaze us with their passion and commitment to helping their community,” said Jennifer Guynn, Founder + Executive Director, Pebble Tossers. “Our youth want to have a voice in providing solutions during this COVID-19 crisis. These ten grants provide them with a platform and an opportunity to make a significant impact in their community.”

The winning projects range from creative food drives and care packages to 3-D printing of masks and software tutorials. All recipients of donated items are at-risk community members and organizations hit especially hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. A complete list of winning projects is available on the Pebble Tossers website, www.pebbletossers.org.

Announced only ten days prior to awarding the grant, Pebble Tossers quickly mobilized its community of nonprofits and youth volunteers to spread the word of the opportunity. The original $10,000 grant was provided to Pebble Tossers by Halle Tecco.

To learn more about the Pebble Tossers COVID-19 Youth Impact Grant and its winners please visit: www.pebbletossers.org/COVID19grant

About the Grant

The grant program, quickly organized by Halle Tecco beginning March 19th, started as an initial investment of $50,000 by Ms. Tecco and quickly grew to $400,000 as additional donations poured into the fund. Within days, 362 applications were submitted and Pebble Tossers was one of 36 nationwide recipients. The proposals were based on the following criteria:

  • The non-profit is solving an emergent problem created by COVID-19 vs. supporting ongoing operations stretched by COVID-19.
  • The use of funds is clear, compelling, efficient, and measurable.
  • The non-profit has a leadership team and board which is diverse and representative of the population they are serving.
  • The organization has already shown commitment to ameliorating the impact of COVID-19 (e.g. this isn’t a new program they invented to get a grant).
  • The non-profit is a registered 501(c)3 or is working with a registered fiscal sponsor.
  • More details: https://medium.com/@halletecco/supporting-the-helpers-during-covid-19-7cd506ec219d

About Pebble Tossers

Pebble Tossers is the premier local youth service organization focused on providing families with a comprehensive path to youth development through service to others, from preschool to graduation, or “nap to cap.” Customized programming empowers youth to lead by providing them with resources and age-appropriate opportunities. With Pebble Tossers, volunteers sign up, show up, and serve to create a ripple of giving in their community.

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