Believe it or not – it’s time to sign up for the annual Monument 10k again to take place on March 29, 2014. Simply head over to the Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10k website to register. You can join an existing team, create your own, or even manage an existing crew.
The VCU Massey Cancer Center (HDL, Inc. Massey Challenge) and Kids Run RVA are this year’s event charities. VCU Massey Cancer Center is the official charitable fundraising partner of the Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10k presented by MARTIN’S. Consider making a donation to either of these organizations when you register (optional).
Register by December 31, 2013 and you can save up to $15 on registration for the 10k (before 12/31/13 fees are just $30; fees after March 1 are $45).
You may want to consider joining Team CJ (CJSTUF.org) benefiting CJ’s Thumbs Up Foundation this year. We’ve seen lots of great work from this non-profit organization as they raise funds to help parents and children dealing with the expenses and hardships faced when childhood cancer strikes. They have a goal of 500 members for Team CJ – simply click on Team CJ and use the password ‘butterfly’ when you sign up.
You can also participate in the 10k Healthy School Challenge presented by the Virginia College Savings Plan too.
Join the 10k Healthy School Challenge and show how active your school is by rallying students to take part in the 10k on March 29, 2014. The middle and high schools with the highest percentage of students participating win cash! Click here for more information.
There are lots of other great teams and organizations represented so choose one and get started now. You can also join one of the area locations for 10k training through the YMCA. They offer special rates for low-income individuals who would like to take part too. You do not have to be a member of the YMCA to participate in their training programs for the Monument 10k. Registration for training closes on January 31, 2014 (reduced rates available through January 17th).
Donations to the VCU Children’s Hospital (2012) and Community Clean Up (2010)
Do what you can, with what you have, where you are
-Theodore Roosevelt
If the word Philanthropy connotes an act of giving reserved only for the wealthiest or most privileged families, think again!
To be a Philanthropist simply means to DO GOOD by sharing your talents, interests, and resources of time, money, or voice. Acts of giving will look different for every family, but any effort, big or small, which blooms with intention to directly or indirectly improve the human condition now or for future generations, that’s Philanthropy!
How wonderful that no one need wait a single moment to improve the world.-Anne Frank
Ready to get started? Here are a few ways you can cultivate a philanthropic spirit in your home:
Practice: The best way to begin to establish a new routine is to practice the desired behavior or skill. Integrate a tradition of giving, and communicate and nurture in your family life a value that says giving back is an important and worthwhile responsibility. Let the seasonal changes inspire your opportunities to give back, but don’t save all your love for the Holiday.
Lead by example: Invite your kids to observe and participate in your grown-up acts of philanthropy, whatever they may look like. Demonstrate your personal commitment to the causes your family chooses to support and work alongside your kids to accomplish shared goals. By working together you’ll foster a deeper connection with each other and develop a greater sense of purpose and belonging within the context of your community.
Identify or create an opportunity: Consider the shared interests of your family members, your combined availability, and the amount of time or money that you feel you can give. Let your child decide how he or she wants to get involved. Think big! Think small! Think local! Think International! The opportunities you choose should encourage a sense of awareness, appreciation, curiosity, and compassion for others. Above all else keep it fun and age appropriate.
Document and celebrate your efforts: Keep track of the work your family does, the causes you contribute to, the events you volunteer for, or the small acts of kindness that you offer to others. Maybe you’ll take photos or video clips, keep a family journal, or create a wall hanging or poster to display in a common area of your home. However you choose to document your adventures, regularly review and celebrate all the ways your family works together to make your world a better place to live.
Life is a gift, and it offers us the privilege, opportunity, and responsibility to give something back by becoming more.-Anthony Robbins
Now that you’ve considered your family’s capacity for giving back you are ready to choose an organization, cause, or activity to invest in!
Other Resources and Inspiration:
If you’re looking for simple, family friendly activities that you can carry out on your own, check out this eBook about Family Volunteering. It’s full of great ideas from A to Z.
Also visit GenerationOn for online resource guides that cover topics like how to engage your family in local volunteer opportunities, how to plan a community service project for your family, instructions for at-home family service projects and more!
And here are a few books to add to your library:
Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.
-Dr. Seuss
Kate Hall
The 4th Annual Women’s Conference is Saturday, October 26, 2013 at the Richmond Marriott Downtown and it’s a day filled with great speakers and lots of valuable information. If you’re an entrepreneur, mompreneur, or just interested in what’s going on in the world of business, health, and social media, you’re going to love this conference! The event is free to all participants.
Hosted by Senator Mark R. Warner, VCU Medical Center, Virginia State University and Virginia’s Community Colleges.
And there’s one more BIG reason you may want to attend. Our own Kate Hall is a panelist on the topic of social media! Who better to talk about optimizing social media for your business than the Richmondmom.com founder?
Putting Social Media to Work for You
Facebook is great for staying in touch with friends and sharing pictures. You get all your news from Twitter. But do you know how to unlock the full potential of social media and put it to work for you? This session will share best practices for maximizing social media – an important platform for networking and showcasing your professional profile. The content you post every day is building your personal brand – make it count! A strong personal brand online is an important factor for potential employers and clients. Join our panelists to learn the best way to use different social media platforms to your advantage.Moderated by Addie Bryant, Office of Senator Mark R. Warner
Latryce Noel, Public Relations & Marketing Specialist, Virginia State University
Judi Crenshaw, Communications & Marketing Manager, Virginia Council on Economic Education
Kate W. Hall, Founder/Writer Richmondmom.com
Kendall Morris, Founding Partner, Create Digital
You will also enjoy hearing from Mary Foley, Emcee, Author and Radio Host, along with other great speakers. Click here for the full agenda.
Fun and engaging topics include information on:
It’s an inspiring day for women that you don’t want to miss. Click here for details and take advantage of this free conference to get your creative juices flowing and create the life you’ve always wanted!
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You may have seen our recent contest for Dream Dinners and a free Pizza Family Night. Or you may have entered our contest. Congratulations to Barbara Blankenship who won this delicious prize!
And now, everyone should head out to Dream Dinners and check them out. You’ll love their easy to prepare meals – and you’ll find that it can even be fun! Here’s what our contestants had to say about Dream Dinners. Let us know what you love about Dream Dinners by leaving a comment below.
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You will love Dream Dinners! Click here to learn more about them. You can prepare your own meals in their kitchen and leave the mess to them – or they will prepare the meals and you simply pick them up. It’s that easy.
Dream Dinners is an advertiser on Richmondmom.com
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Phyzique Fitness and Wellness is holding a 5K Family Fitness Challenge.
Saturday September 28th, 2013
8:00am-10:30 am
Rain date: September 29th, 2013 from 8:00am-10:30 am
If you are pregnant, a mom-to-be, or a mom, you don’t want to miss this opportunity to learn more about healthy nutrition for babies and moms. It’s a special event to help women make more informed decisions about nutrition for healthier babies during pregnancy and healthier children as they grow, learn, and develop. Seating is limited so register soon – it’s FREE!
Monday, September 23rd / 6:00 to 7:30PM
Lauren McCorey
Lauren is a Richmond native who recently gave birth to her first son in December. She has worked closely with local farms, midwives, pediatricians, dietitians, the Weston A. Price Richmond Chapter, as well as Nourishing Traditions to help her navigate the complicated decisions that face women today from pregnancy to first foods to overall more proactive, healthier lifestyle choices. Her passion is helping others develop their own improved ways of living and wants to share with moms some information to help them make more informed decisions. Lauren recently graduated with her Master’s degree in Sport Leadership from VCU, works as a swim coach for NOVA of Virginia Aquatics, and is a birth/postpartum doula.
No other culture is as thoughtless about preparation for pregnancy and babies as our own. This class hopes to help inform pregnant women, moms and moms-to-be on special nutrient-dense foods, their timing and preparation during pregnancy, lactation and child growth.
FREE!
40
There is limited seating/availability for all classes and events and you must register ahead of time.
Register online for the class now.
Call the customer service desk at 804-359-7525.
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I want my body back!
And now you can have it.
FIT4MOM Richmond is offering their new fall Body Back session beginning the week of September 9, 2013. Get started September 9 and you’ll be in fantastic shape before the winter holidays for sure! To find out about the expertly qualified trainers, visit this link.
FIT4MOM is the country’s largest fitness program for moms offering pre and post-natal fitness classes for every stage of motherhood. And we can all use a little extra help getting or keeping our body in shape. The experts at FIT4MOM know how to make it work too. They’re moms who have experienced some of the same challenges we all face before and after pregnancy.
Body Back® is a results-based workout designed for moms who want their body back, whether they just had a baby or their last child was born twenty years ago! Most importantly, it will help women unlock their personal possibilities in an inspiring and powerful environment.
Body Back® clients experience targeted high-intensity workouts, inspiration and motivation in every class. When done in conjunction with founder Lisa Druxman’s Mama Wants Her Body Back meal plan and workout DVDs, moms have a surefire combination for success.
Beginning Week of September 9
They have 4 different times for Body Back to choose from at convenient locations around Richmond.
What Does Body Back® Include?
The workouts have been clinically proven in a university research study to help moms lose the weight and return to their pre-baby body composition and confidence. Moms all over the country are achieving results that they never dreamed possible.
Fit4Mom is also offering a Stroller Stride special during the month of September. Wondering what Stroller Strides is all about?
Stroller Strides® is a stroller-based fitness program designed for moms with little ones. Each 60-minute, total body workout incorporates power walking, strength, toning, songs and activities. Certified fitness instructors offer a variety of fun class formats both indoors and outdoors.
All locations also offer a free Plum Moms Club so moms can form lasting friendships with other moms through organized play dates, moms’ nights out, and activities for the whole family.
Stroller Strides has several convenient locations and it’s a great way to enjoy time with other moms and kids, and get some exercise all at the same time.
September Stroller Strides Special
Visit the website for more information.
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Most all events are free.
HCA is an advertiser on Richmondmom.com
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Get ready for Richmond Restaurant Week and some delicious food and fun!
It’s all to help raise money for FeedMore and Meals on Wheels. Restaurants are donating a portion of their sales to these organizations.
April 22-28, 2013 is the spring event and it happens again October 21-27, 2013. Each time you go out to dinner at participating restaurants during Restaurant Week, you contribute to the local economy and help eliminate area hunger through a partnership with The Central Virginia Food Bank and Meals on Wheels.
Many participating restaurants are offering delicious dinners for $25.13.
The cents represent the year we’re celebrating. The whole dollar amount helps support the Central Virginia Food Bank and Meals on Wheels and the costs associated with Richmond Restaurant Week.
Participating restaurants include:
Visit the website to learn more. Some restaurants may require reservations so plan ahead. Help support FeedMore and Meals on Wheels in a unique way – and enjoy delicious local food in the process!
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Here’s some exciting news for Richmond moms – you’re going to love the new Fit4Moms! Thanks to Rachel formerly of Mom’s Treehouse for transitioning these fantastic programs so we can continue to enjoy them. See Rachel’s announcement below.
Announcing…
Fit4Mom Richmond is ALL NEW!New ownership! New classes! New Energy!
As the seasons change, I am very excited to announce that the Fit4Mom business ownership is changing as well!
I am thrilled to announce that ASHLEY DIGBY will be the new owner of the Fit4Mom Franchise in Richmond!! She will be taking over managing all Body Back, Stroller Strides and Fit4Baby classes.
I was very drawn to Ashley and her energy and passion for taking this business to the next level. She has so many great ideas on how to increase attendance at Stroller Strides classes and how to continue amazing Body Back classes! Her excitement is contagious, and I know everyone will benefit from her leadership!
I will still be involved helping Ashley transition into her new role and will continue teaching classes in the future. Ashley’s temporary email is [email protected]. Please feel free to contact her with any ideas or suggestions you have. See below for her SPRING SPECIAL!
Thank you for your love and support over these last 8 years. I have experienced no joy like raising my daughters while building this business. I know Ashley will do the same!
In good strides,
Rachel Pustilnik
Please join us outdoors for Stroller Stride classes held in Richmond and Short Pump beginning April 1, 2013.
Outside Stroller Strides Classes starting April 1. Held rain or shine!
Mondays and Wednesdays at 9:30am
Hungary Creek Middle School (4901 Francistown Rd, Glen Alen) meet the first parking lot on the right.
Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10am
Maymont Children’s Farm (corner of Spottswood Rd and Shirley Ln) meet in the large grassy area near the tram stop.
Purchase a monthly membership now through April 15th
and your registration is only $25 (regular price $75)!
You will also receive a free goodie bag when you sign up for unlimited monthly classes at $59/month!
PLUS all new members will be entered in to win a FREE month!!!
Save the Date for our Grand Opening Event on May 4th.
We will feature new programs and special promotions. Stay tuned!!
All new Body Back session begins May 6th.
Stay tuned for class location and times! Get ready for summer with this incredible weight loss program.
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