When young, great minds get together to decide how they can positively help to clean the environment, and then put their plan in action, it is a great inspiration to others. A concerned group of four young adults decided to walk across the United States picking up trash along their two thousand mile journey. All four of them are University of Maryland alumni who decided that they could use the youth they possess to physically challenge themselves for the next several months. What a great undertaking, there is something about taking care of the outside of the earth that is good for the inside of the individual. I am honored that Davey, one of the organizers expressed that he was inspired by One Million Acts Of Kindness. This generation is going to do great things for this world.
Visit the website pickupamerica.org to follow their daily travels as they involve communities and individuals along their journey. Pick Up America is currently in their third month of an eight month adventure.

Bogart gets attention everywhere we travel. Students on campus miss their dogs while away from home at school. He has become the surrogate dog to hundreds of kids who need a dog “fix”. This past weekend Bogart could have been the Blossom Parade Grand Marshal with as popular as he was the two days prior. He is one fine dog.
Bogart had three previous owners before he came into my life at the age of 1-1/2. The breed of a dog needs to be researched before moving forward to make a commitment of having one as a pet. All three previous owners didn’t do the due diligence. Lucky for him, they all found someone to pass him to when the novelty wore off.
In my travels over the past year, I have seen countless dogs who were alongside highways, many I’m sure were left behind by their owners, or more correct; “dumped” by their owners. Family pets should be found a home if one can no longer care for them. The unwanted litters of puppies or kittens can be avoided with a call to your local ASPCA. The ASPCA has a very extensive spay/neuter database, you can visit their website at aspca.org for free and low cost spay/neuter locations.

Three months off and no jobs in sight. The prospect of finding employment this summer is not going to happen for many. One in five students will have to find other opportunities. Whether in middle school, high school or home from college for the summer, students will be finding nothing but time on their hands. Millions of kids with nothing to do, but do for others. The opportunity to spend a summer volunteering is now becoming a first-choice option for students. Never has the need been greater and the interest been higher. Charities across the country were wise to market their cause on campuses across the country during the school year. An army of kids is at their disposal and the kids are answering the call in record numbers. This generation is proving that they are interested in helping others; doing good while times aren’t so good.
There are many volunteer opportunities listed on the internet, one site makes it easy by matching the availability of need with the zip code entered by the prospective applicant, it is called volunteermatch.org. Don’t let the summer pass by without helping others if you can.
One other thought, how about having a lemonade stand to raise money for childhood cancer research, visit AlexsLemonade.org to get the details on this very important cause.

Across the country, during the next couple of weeks, money will be raised for children’s cancer research. Alex’s Lemonade is a wonderful organization which was started in June 2000, by a four year old girl named, Alexandra “Alex” Scott. Having childhood cancer, inspired Alex to have lemonade stand to raise funds for cancer research, her first stands raised $10,000. Within four years, every state had at least one stand during this nationwide event. In 2004, Alex’s brave battle ended. The annual tradition of Alex’s Lemonade Stands, continue in her honor, to this day. To date, over 30 million dollars have been raised.
Recently, I had the honor to talk at a benefit for Mia Strobel, another young girl with cancer. It was there that I met a woman named Melissa, who is very dedicated employee of  AlexsLemonade.org. The Kindness Bus Tour will be in Philadelphia on June 12th for “Lemonade Days,” the annual event of this great organization. Please visit their website to sign-up to have your own lemonade stand to help bring an end to this terrible affliction.