Do1Thing Blog

Writer Betsy Franco read about the Do 1 Thing project in People Magazine and felt compelled to do her 1 thing to help.

She did it unassumingly, without any fan fare had we not wrote to inquire about the unusual amount she donated, $412, we would never have know. Betsy writes young adult novels, compile anthologies of teen writing, and write picture books and poetry. “Whenever I receive money, I give a percentage to an organization I care about. Since I’m totally into helping teens, I noticed your article in People Magazine and intended to donate to you. I recycled the magazine, thinking the article would be online. When I couldn’t find it, I scavenged through a big bin of recycing to retrieve it. I really wanted to donate,” she said

We share this with you because every doing 1 thing really does make a difference. The funds Betsy donated will be used to help print, frame and travel the “Young Faces of Homelessness” photographic exhibit.

Here’s to you Betsy!!!

Redbubble.com features Do1Thing as the “Artist of the Month”.

Redbubble.com writes “Do 1 Thing is the vision in action of Show Me a Sign. Please take a moment to learn more about what they do, and be inspired.
♥So our first featured work this month by Do1Thing is the stunningly beautiful image of Ronald Foster spent most of his life living in dozens of foster homes. At 18, he aged out of care. At 19, he’s homeless.”

“This month, the *color-me-club champions those people who found themselves in the thick of life’s muck. The theme of ‘Impaired’ can be interpreted as facing overwhelming odds, finding yourself in absolute dire straits, lost in depression, cripped by injury, but amongst all that, still expressing the heroic strength and ethic to overcome. It can be captured by showing a community coming together to rebuild after disaster, or a depiction of one of history’s greatest heroes.”

Talented people doing outstanding work yet still realizing there are so many people so much less fortunate than themselves.

The folks over at deviantART is sponsoring an art competition with proceeds going to Do1Thing. Check it out! Just one more ingenious way people are Doing 1 Thing to help homeless youth.

Theresa Ng
Age 24 , Boston MA
Place in care at age 15 – aged out
4 homes, 3 different social workers & 3 different high schools

She has 1 birthday wish.

I was born premature 2lbs and 10 oz, my birth mother passed away from lymphoma when I was 5 months old.
At age 3, my father married my step mother, who was mentally and physically abusive. My father carried on the cycle of “neglect” from his family history.

Now looking back I was quiet person, didn’t do drugs and got good grades. But what I didn’t have back then was my voice, to ask for all the things I needed and the courage to speak. My childhood has silenced me along with all of it’s horrors.

In fourth grade I finally got the courage to report it while my best friend at the time held my hand. There was no life boat.
In ninth grade I broke down and became depressed and no longer saw the light in life.

Finally at age 15 I was placed in foster care. I was placed in 4 homes, 3 different social workers, and was in 3 different High Schools.
At age 18 I aged out of the system, dropped out of school to support myself. I refused to go to job corp, because I wanted a High school Diploma and not a GED. I wanted the normal experience, something all my friends around me got. I highly don’t recommend going this route. I support Job Corp very much.

My journal entry on my 18th birthday read “Happy Birthday me, I’m turning 18. Honestly I am freaking – scared…”

Scared to death, of trying to find where I was going to sleep, and eat. I had so many doors close, and so many people turning there back. My best friend and mentor “RD”, believed in me, but didn’t see how it was possible. “Next to homeless and wanting desperately to get a high school diploma.” Something needed to be done. He finally brought me to his church pastor. Saving grace. Thank God! I was linked up to a family that provide me room and board in exchange for helping w/the kids, meals, and etc, and a chance at getting my high school diploma! I repeated my junior year. My senior year had my own place, and at one point juggled 3 jobs and full time high school.

2004 I finally graduated with a high school diploma!!! I was the keynote speaker at the Department of Education Conference, MA. ” (About) Over coming homelessness in High school.” In front of 400 teachers and social workers.

Today, I am proud to say that “I have beat the odds.”
I am a member of Foster Care Alumni of America (FCAA)

FCAA’s mission is to connect the alumni community and transform policy and practice, ensuring opportunity for people in and from foster care. I am currently trying to put an MA Chapter together.

I am an avid foodie, I love to cook, and bake, comedy improv lover and Big thinker. I enjoy rock climbing ( indoors that is.) I have two note pads next to my bed, one for recipe and menu planning, and the other for all my “big ideas” in hopes that someday I will turn my dream of owning my own non profit helping foster youth into a reality. I’ve been dreaming since 2002, cause no child should have to experience what I have.

No child asks to be placed in the system, no child asks to be homeless on their 18th birthday either.

I will be turning 25 in May. (May is also National Foster care Awareness Month) I am very excited and happy to announce this will be my 2nd annual using my birthday “instead of gifts” to donate to an organization that helps with foster care youth that are aging out of the system, that will experience homelessness. I started to donate my birthday to causes because I am just one person who has a big enough voice and heart.

I wanted to do something, to help. I want my experience to inspire people to help, and also bring healing and hope to those who have to age out of the system. And to create awareness.
I am happy to say I have chosen do 1 thing! My wish for foster youth that are aging out for the system, is to have a fighting chance, and a hope to lead happy, healthy lives.
No child asks to be placed in the system, no child asks to be homeless on their 18th birthday either. So help by doing 1 thing.

My 25th b-day wish to support homeless foster youth!

Photojournalist Ben Garvin produced a moving video portrait of homeless youth Russell Daye for the Do 1 Thing project in March. This month he was awarded first place by the National Press Photographer’s Association for the video.

WATCH VIDEO

Props to Ben Garvin and the rest of the photographers and videographer’s who continue to produce outstanding work to raise awareness for the more than 1.3 million homeless youth in America.

See Ben’s video here:

1st place Individual Video – Video Portrait of Homeless Youth Russell Daye. Produced for do1thing.org
Ben Garvin

About Ben:
BEN GARVIN is a staff photojournalist (stills, video, audio) for the Pioneer Press in St. Paul, Minnesota. His work has appeared in Time Magazine, Newsweek, People, US News, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and others. He has been a featured speaker for the National Press Photographers Association and numerous colleges and universities. His recognitions include 2007 Minnesota Photographer of the Year and first place awards in audio slideshow, video, and still categories from the National Press Photographers Association, the Minnesota Press Photographers Association, the Associated Press and the Society for Newspaper Design. He earned a degree in visual journalism from the Rochester Institute of Technology and, before moving to Minnesota, worked for the Christian Science Monitor in Boston and the Concord Monitor in New Hampshire where he was named 3-time New Hampshire photographer of the year. Mr. Garvin lives in South Minneapolis with his wife Jessica and two boys.

http://tinyurl.com/ccmtgs