December Brings SO Much Beautiful and LIGHT!

See BeautifulTM is thrilled to name (drumroll, please!) St. Anne's Center, The Lantern House, Pet Area as our Non-Profit of the month!

 

When it comes to seeing beautiful, one of the most wonderful parts of what we get to do is raise awareness for, and donate to, wonderful non-profit organizations. December's featured organization, St. Anne's Center, specifically the Lantern House Pet Area, leaves us completely inspired. Honestly, it's a perfect way to round out the 2012 year with a non-profit who's dedicated to transforming them for others! We are honored and humbled to support a beautiful organization built upon changing the way we support, love, and interact with each other and the world. 

Why the Pet Area of the St. Anne's Center Lantern House?
Spend five minutes talking to the inspiring, giving, dedicated board member, Michelle Perry, and you'll understand. We learned about the Pet Area by our routine visits to Michelle's blog, Gospel of Goose. The Pet Area of St. Anne's Center, soon to be the Lantern House, is a must. The St. Anne's Center, started in 1981 by a group of like-minded people, exists to support community members with basic food, clothing and shelter. The current facility contains room for hundreds to sleep and space for even more to eat from their soup kitchen. A new center, The Lantern House, is currently under construction - which is thrilling because the new center will include (another drum roll, please) a PET AREA! The current space does not have room for pets, and by law pets are not allowed inside the Center. Michelle, one of many who spend a great deal of time making St. Anne's Center a place full of love, noticed some of the visitors to St. Anne's Center needing to keep their pets in outdoor lockers to ensure their warmth and safety through the night. While we're hard at work supporting community members, keeping basic needs met, pets are an inextricable part of this community that cannot be ignored - and with the new Pet Center, they'll be right at home too. The new St. Anne's Center, The Lantern House, provides a beacon of light for pets and their people. The new pet area will be equipped with room for furry friends to romp around in lush grass, and sleep in heat and air-controlled kennels. Just as plans for the main building of the Lantern House reflect a great desire to make all inside feel welcome and loved, the Pet Area honors the same philosophy. Every living being should receive this comfort and acceptance and love in life.

The Lantern House. Can't you just envisions pups and their people frolicking around with acceptance, love, and happiness?

How does the Pet Area of the Lantern House see & spread beautiful?
There are so many ways we're inspired by the Pet Area and the myriad ways this space will help so many see beautiful. Here are just a few; the Lantern House Pet Area will:

• provide a comfortable space for people to bring their pets, inspiring them to seek comfort and love themselves;
• provide resources for pets to live comfortable, healthy, happy, belly-rubbed-full lives;
• invite people to engage in service in their community to create more beautiful in the world; and
• offers a community space where pets and people alike find friendship and kindness through a light of hope and a world of love.

How will See Beautiful™ support the Lantern House Pet Area?   Great question! See Beautiful™ donates 20% of every product SALE (not proceeds, but the WHOLE SALE) to the Lantern House Pet Area throughout the month of December!

Come find ways you can provide more service around the world and help others do the same by connecting with the amazing Lantern House, currently the St. Anne's Center, in the following ways:

• Visit them on the web, learn more about and support their beautiful work HERE.

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Are you looking for a for a tangible reminder to see beautiful, or know someone who needs one? Check out our See Beautiful™ products (and feel good knowing a portion of proceeds from every purchase is donated to charity. This month 20% of all product sales will be donated to St. Anne's Pet Area at The Lantern House. Click HERE to learn more.
 

November Brings SO Much Beautiful (and Opportunity)

See BeautifulTM is thrilled to name (drumroll, please!) Everyday Service as our November Non-Profit of the month!

logo used with permission and linked back to site

When it comes to seeing beautiful, one of the most wonderful parts of what we get to do is raise awareness for, and donate to, wonderful non-profit organizations. November's featured organization, Everyday Service, leaves us completely inspired. We are honored and humbled to support a beautiful organization foundationally built upon changing the way we each interact with each other and the world. 

Why Everyday Service?
Spend five minutes talking to founder, Bonnie Nelson, and you'll feel more beautiful. Your conversation will leave you inspired and you'll understand that the passion behind Everyday Service that is transforming lives. The organization "showcases the experiences of Everyday Humanitarians and awesome organizations dedicated to making the world a better place." Seeing beautiful yet? Yeah, we thought so!  

How does Everyday Service see & spread beautiful?
There are so many ways we're inspired by Everyday Service and the myriad ways they see beautiful. Here are just a few; Everyday Service:

• shares inspiring lessons and stories of world changers;
• provides resources and information for everyone to find ways to engage in Everyday Service;
• invites people to engage in service in your community to create more beautiful in the world; and
• offers opportunities for other non-profit organizations to receive funding for their important work.

How will See Beautiful™ support Everyday Service?   Great question! See Beautiful™ donates 20% of every product SALE (not proceeds, but the WHOLE SALE) to Everyday Service throughout the month of November!

Come find ways you can provide more service around the world and help others do the same by connecting with the amazing Everyday Service in the following ways:

• Visit them on the web, learn more about and support their beautiful work HERE.
• Like them on Facebook HERE.

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Are you looking for a for a tangible reminder to see beautiful, or know someone who needs one? Check out our See Beautiful™ products (and feel good knowing a portion of proceeds from every purchase is donated to charity. This month 20% of all product sales will be donated to Everyday Service. Click HERE to learn more.

A Barred Owl Release is Beautiful!

We have no words to describe how special this video is us. You have to see it and have chills with us too. Please see the beautiful video from the World Bird Sanctuary! They shared the release of one of their rehabilitated barred owls in honor of See Beautiful. It brought us to tears to see how much more beauty they're creating in the world for ALL! Thank you World Bird Sanctuary for all you do!!! We're incredibly humbled and honored to have supported such a wonderful cause.

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Are you looking for a for a tangible reminder to see beautiful, or know someone who needs one? Check out our See Beautiful™ products (and feel good knowing a portion of proceeds from every purchase is donated to charity. This month 20% of all product sales will be donated to Realize Your Beauty. Click HERE to learn more.

October Brings SO Much Beauty & Realization

See Beautiful™ is thrilled to name (drum roll, please!) Realize Your Beauty as our October Non-Profit of the month!

Logo used with permission and linked back to RYB

When it comes to seeing beautiful, one of the most wonderful parts of what we get to do is raise awareness for, and donate to, wonderful non-profit organizations. October's featured non-profit of the month, Realize Your Beauty, leaves us completely inspired. We are honored and humbled to support a beautiful organization foundationally built upon changing the way young people, literally, realize their beauty. 

Why Realize Your Beauty?
Spend five minutes talking to founder, Stacey Lorin Merkl, and you'll feel more beautiful. Your conversation will leave you inspired and you'll understand that the passion behind Realize Your Beauty that is transforming lives. Working strategically to promote "positive body image and eating disorder awareness by way of theatre arts," Realize Your Beauty invites children and adolescents to better understand the dangers of disordered eating while encouraging them to love themselves exactly as they are! Ah, can we say, "Beautiful!," people?  Oh, yes we can!

How does Realize Your Beauty see & spread beautiful?
There are so many ways we're inspired by Realize Your Beauty and the myriad ways they see beautiful. Here are just a few; Realize Your Beauty:

• promotes positive body image by way of theatre arts;
• travels to schools, festivals and local theatres to present educational plays, presentations and workshops;
• invites young people to explore and question images of beauty that are placed in front of them, and expand their understanding of the fundamental difference between ‘being thinner’ and ‘being healthier;’
• helps children and adolescents discover a new way of thinking about themselves, their bodies and about beauty (RYB, 2012).

How will See Beautiful™ support Realize Your Beauty?   Great question! See Beautiful™ donates 20% of every product sale to Realize Your Beauty throughout the month of October!

Come "realize your beauty" and help others do the same by connecting with the amazing Realize Your Beauty in the following ways:

• Visit them on the web, learn more about and support their beautiful work HERE.
• Like them on Facebook HERE.
• Tweet with them HERE. 

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Are you looking for a for a tangible reminder to see beautiful, or know someone who needs one? Check out our See Beautiful™ products (and feel good knowing a portion of proceeds from every purchase is donated to charity. This month 20% of all product sales will be donated to Realize Your Beauty. Click HERE to learn more.

September Brings SO Much Beautiful (and Humanity)

See Beautiful is thrilled to name (drum roll, please!) Advance Humanity as our September Non-Profit of the month!

Logo used with permission and linked back to site.

When it comes to seeing beautiful, one of the most wonderful parts of what we get to do is raise awareness for, and donate to, wonderful non-profit organizations. September's featured non-profit of the month, Advance Humanity, leaves us completely inspired. It's significant that we feature Advance Humanity in September, as this month marks the year anniversary of the official Advance Humanity movement. Launched on World Peace Day, September 21st of 2011, founder Travis Hellstrom writes, "I chose this day to launch because I want it to be a reminder that each of us can do something, no matter how small, to change ourselves and change the world" (Hellstrom, 2011). We are honored and humbled to support a beautiful organization foundationally built upon changing the world together - "advancing humanity" really. Fostering an environment where humanity can focus on "doing more of what we love everyday, becoming better people, staying inspired, living simply, being happy and working with others to do amazing things (Hellstrom, 2011)," Travis Hellstrom does a whole lot of seeing beautiful!
Why Advance Humanity?Advance Humanity is a space for anyone, created for everyone, to see more beautiful in themselves and the world. Offering a hub of inspiring resources on their website, Advance Humanity brings inspiration from many organizations to one space. The resources showcased invite opportunities for us all to connect in a kinder, better, more beautiful way. Peace Corp member, author, former safety patrol position holder, husband, and how-may-I-serve-humanity-better seeker, Travis Hellstrom, shares ways we might "advance" ourselves, thus humanity, through four different facets through Advance Humanity: 1) inspirational writing; 2) inspirational projects; 3) inspirations for us all; and 4) resources to connect with others who want to advance humanity as well. 

How does Advance Humanity see & spread beautiful?
There are so many ways we're inspired by Advance Humanity and the myriad ways they see beautiful. Here are just a few; Advance Humanity:

• is built upon the understanding that as we connect in kind, better, beautiful ways the world becomes a better place;
• shares inspiring people, resources and projects we can all become a part of together to make the world a more beautiful place;
• recruits everyday humanitarians who are interested in changing the world together (we're happy to be a part of this growing movement);
• honors the mission to serve by continuing to do so in many capacities around the world (ex. Check out The Unofficial Peacecorps Volunteer Handbook written by Travis Hellstrom).

How will See Beautiful support Advance Humanity?   See Beautiful™ donates 20% of every product sale to Advance Humanity throughout the month of September!

You can go ahead and connect with the Advance Humanity in the following ways:

• Visit them on the web, learn more about and support their beautiful work HERE.
• Like them on Facebook HERE.
• Tweet with them HERE. 

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Are you looking for a for a tangible reminder to see beautiful, or know someone who needs one? Check out our See Beautiful™ products (and feel good knowing a portion of proceeds from every purchase is donated to charity. This month 20% of all product sales will be donated to Advance Humanity. Click HERE to learn more.

July Brings SO Much Beautiful & BOOKS

See Beautiful is thrilled to name (drum roll, please!) the Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy as our July Non-Profit of the month! When it comes to seeing beautiful, one of the most wonderful parts of what we get to do is raise awareness for, and donate to, wonderful non-profit organizations. July's featured project of the month, the Ferst Foundation is near and dear to our hearts and  leaves us completely inspired. We are honored and humbled to sponsor such an important non-profit organization who has impacted the lives of thousands of children and their families! We have no doubt their work will leave you moved as well!

Logo used with permission and linked back to site.

The Ferst Foundation provides books to children in the state of Georgia from birth to age 5 free of charge! Every child enrolled in the Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy receives a book in the mail (addressed to him/her) every month; this is sixty books over the first five years of a child's life. This, our friends, is awesome!

Why the Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy?
This one was easy - so easy. At absolutely no cost to families, children receive wonderful books every month for FREE! Free! Free! Here's the skinny: Researchers suggest that one in five children in the state of Georgia lives in poverty. With staggering rates of poverty, purchasing children's books is often at the end of a wish list for supplying needs; however, children's literacy rates have a direct correlation with success later in life. Bringing a book into the home, not once, but sixty times, over the first five years of a child's life fosters beautiful opportunities for families to spend time exploring literacy, literacy learning, and the world through books - wonderful, glorious, books!

How does the Ferst Foundation see & spread beautiful?
There are so many ways we're inspired by the kind, beautiful people at the Ferst Foundation and the myriad ways they see beautiful. Here are just a few:

• Provides 60 children's books for FREE to enrolled children across the state of Georgia;
• Supports early literacy learning through family activity and discussion guides accompanying books;
• Fosters community outreach and development through the sharing of early literacy learning activities and importance;and
• Engages community members in thoughtful consideration of book selections that reflect the face of Georgia's children, and children around the world!

How will See Beautiful support the Ferst Foundation?   See Beautiful™ donates a portion of every product sale to the Ferst Foundation throughout the month of July!

Connect with the Ferst Foundation in the following ways:

• Visit them on the web and donate directly to them HERE.
• Like them on Facebook HERE.
• Tweet with them HERE. 

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Are you looking for a for a tangible reminder to see beautiful, or know someone who needs one? Check out our See Beautiful™ products (and feel good knowing a portion of proceeds from every purchase is donated to charity. This month a portion of all proceeds will be donated to the Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy. Click HERE.

June Brings SO Much Beautiful (and surfing)!

FEATURED NON-PROFIT OF THE MONTH

Logo used with permission and linked back to site.

See Beautiful is thrilled to name (drum roll, please!) SURFice Dog Ricochet & her Paws-abilities Projects as our June Non-Profit of the month!

When it comes to seeing beautiful, one of the most wonderful parts of what we get to do is raise awareness for, and donate to, wonderful non-profit organizations. June's featured project of the month, SURFice Dog Ricochet & her Paws-abilities Projects leave us completely inspired. We are honored and humbled to sponsor such an important non-profit organization who has impacted the lives of thousands people and share some information about the wonderful work with which Ricochet and her family are engaged. We have no doubt their work will leave you moved as well!

Ricochet is the only known dog in the world who surfs with people with exceptionalities. Internationally acclaimed, this four-year-old golden retriever is an inspiration to millions, a philanthropic role model, internet sensation, fundraising guru, community advocate, goodwill ambassador, and belly rub offerer. Oh yes friends, Richochet sees and surfs BEAUTIFUL! 

Photos used with permission and linked back to site

Why SURFice Dog Ricochet & her Paws-abilities Projects?
This one was easy - so easy. The work that Ricochet and her Mom are doing to improve the lives of others is beautiful. We couldn't NOT support their wonderful causes. SURFice Dog Ricochet is similar to See Beautiful in that they connect with others and seek to offer smiles and empowerment. Ricochet uses adaptive surfing experiences to 1) empower; 2) improve self-confidence; 3) raise awareness; 4) increase funding for various non-profit causes. Holding over 50 fundraisers and raising funds and awareness for more that 150 human and animal causes, they've surpassed the $100,000 mark and are working to pass $150,000. We want to be a part of the special and unique work Ricochet is sharing.

How does SURFice Dog Ricochet & her Paws-abilities Projects see & spread beautiful?
There are so many ways we're inspired by Ricochet and her Mom and the myriad ways they see beautiful. Here are just a few:

• Ricochet has her own Paws-abilities projects that she's supporting;
• Ricochet seeks out opportunities to help others fulfill dreams;
• Ricochet has her own anti-bullying campaign (awesome!);
• Ricochet paws it forward in beautiful ways - which you know we just adore!

Photo used with permission and linked back to site.

How will See Beautiful support SURFice Dog Ricochet & her Paws-abilities Projects? 

 See Beautiful™ 1) donates a portion of every product sale to SURFice Dog Ricochet & her Paws-abilities Projects throughout the month of June; and (special) 2) Be sure to check into the blog on June 8th to find out how you can be a special part of Paying It Forward by simply leaving a comment for Ricochet.

Connect with SURFice Dog Ricochet & her Paws-abilities Projects in the following ways:

• Visit Ricochet on the web HERE.
• Like Ricochet on Facebook HERE.
• Tweet Ricochet HERE.
• Watch Ricochet on You Tube HERE.

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Are you looking for a for a tangible reminder to see beautiful, or know someone who needs one? Check out our See Beautiful™ products (and feel good knowing a portion of proceeds from every purchase is donated to charity. This month a portion of all proceeds will be donated to Surf Dog Ricochet's SURFice Projects. Click HERE.

A Multifaceted See Beautiful™

Our commitment to helping others see and create beautiful in the world is multifaceted. Did you know this about us? Did you know that right this minute there's a snazzy See Beautiful™ website with goodies for you too? In case you haven't had the chance to play around on our home, we're inviting you today. It's like an invitation to come play for the summer (or winter depending on your relative location to the equator). We do hope you'll come play.

See Beautiful™:

• Celebrates the inherent beauty and strength of girls and women through empowerment; We provide an ever-growing list of wonderful resources for girls and women, as well as consistent blog features to empower all to see more beautiful in themselves and the world;

• Shares and supports the work of non-profit organizations committed to making the world a better place; We sponsor a non-profit organization every month who is helping to make the world a more beautiful place. In addition to showcasing their “beautiful” we also send a portion of all our See Beautiful™ product sales to the non-profit to support their important work;

• Honors stories and work of kind, selfless, individuals who inspire others to see beautiful; We feature “See Beautiful’s” who create and invite more beautiful in the world. From children’s books to songs to projects, we’re always searching for and sharing beautiful;
• Showcases opportunities to see beautiful in the world; We do this through our daily See Beautiful™ blog posts where we invite the world to come see more beautiful with us and we provide opportunities to see beautiful with them. We also design “Freebies” to help others pay it forward and make the world a better place; and
• Supports a commitment to making the world a better place through the design of eco-friendly, fair trade products that leave all seeing beautiful.We provide eco-friendly and/or fair trade products that serve as a tangible reminder for all to “See Beautiful.” 

 What's your favorite part of our website? Anything else we could do better? We greatly value your input and see beautiful perspectives. Let us know and we'll change some things around.  
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Are you looking for a tangible reminder to see beautiful, or know someone who needs one? Check out our See Beautiful™ products (and feel good knowing a portion of proceeds from every purchase is donated to charity. This month a portion of all proceeds will be donated to Guide Dogs of America. Click HERE.

May Brings SO Much Beautiful!

Logo used with permission of and linked back to Guide Dogs of America

See Beautiful is thrilled to name (drum roll, please!) Guide Dogs of America as our May Sponsored Non-profit of the month!

When it comes to seeing beautiful, one of the most wonderful parts of what we get to do is raise awareness for, and donate to, wonderful non-profit organizations. May's featured project of the month, Guide Dogs of America, leaves us completely inspired. We are honored and humbled to sponsor such an important non-profit organization who has impacted the lives of thousands people and dogs and share some information about the wonderful work with which they are engaged. We have no doubt their work will leave you moved as well!

Guide Dogs of America "provides guide dogs and instruction in their use, free of charge, to blind and visually impaired individuals in the United States and Canada" (Guide Dogs of America, 2012).  A special thanks to Becky, our See Beautiful woman of the Month, who unbeknownst to her inspired us to seek out such a wonderful organization to support!

Why Guide Dogs of America?
Since 1948 Guide Dogs of America has worked to provide guide dogs to their human partners. The founder, Joseph Jones, was denied a guide dog from other operating organizations at the time because he exceeded the age limit. At age 57, Jones worked to fight age discrimination and develop an organization who would see people as human beyond an age and dogs as guides beyond a companion. Because of the skilled training and expertise of the wonderful individuals at Guide Dogs of America, they make the lives of thousands better on a daily basis. As puppies graduate from their trainings and individuals are matched with their guide dog, lives are changed. Confidence is, in some cases, restored or provided to a state never felt. Their work is beautiful. They help us all see more beautiful in the world.

How does Guide Dogs of America (GDA) see & spread beautiful?
There are so many ways we're inspired by Guide Dogs of America and the myriad ways they see beautiful. Here are just a few:

• GDA provides guide dogs and their instruction in their use completely free of charge to visually impaired and blind individuals in the United States and Canada;
• GDA is expert at understanding and appreciating the individual uniqueness of each guide dog and owner to make the perfect match; 
• GDA staff are expert dog people! The public is invited to tour their facilities and public education is provided to the community free of charge! Come on, does it get any more beautiful than that?

How will See Beautiful support Guide Dogs of America?
See Beautiful™ donates a portion of every product sale to Guide Dogs of America throughout the month of May.

Connect with Guide Dogs of America in the following ways:

• Visit GDA on the web HERE.
• Like GDA on Facebook HERE.
• Tweet with GDA on Twitter HERE.

Below are some of Guide Dogs of America's newest puppies and graduates. Yeah,  I know, you're seeing beautiful!

Photo shared with permission by GDA.

Photo shared with permission by GDA.

Photo shared with permission by GDA.

We have communicated with Guide Dogs of America and requested that our May donation by made in memory of the only See Beautiful's Pet of the Month we've ever had, Sullivan. Sullivan passed away recently and we hope that in a small way this can honor the memory of the sweet dog who touched the lives of thousands. Always one ear up and one ear down, my friend. Seeing beautiful doesn't ever have to be the norm, it has to be you. Sullivan lived that and reminded children and adults alike to do the same. We're honored to celebrate his life through Guide Dogs of America.  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Are you looking for a tangible reminder to see beautiful, or know someone who needs one? Check out our See Beautiful™ products (and feel good knowing a portion of proceeds from every purchase is donated to charity. This month a portion of all proceeds will be donated to Guide Dogs of America. Click HERE.