A few weeks ago, I decided to push past only blogging about my life and experiences. In addition to my regular list posts, I’ll be featuring interviews with artists, entrepreneurs, chefs, musicians, filmmakers, etc. I can’t WAIT to show you guys what I have in store.

This week, I checked in with my close friend, Nicolle and her friend Ashley. The two have been busy with a Washington D.C. based charity, Hands on DC, that helps raise money to rebuild local schools. Nikki’s dedication to the cause inspired this post. Charity has always been a big part of my life.

My mom taught me to give back. I remember one day, after we went out for breakfast, she spotted a man she knew from our church. She greeted him, and privately shared with me how she knew he was going through a tough time. His wife had been suffering with Alzheimer’s. We went to leave, and without mentioning to him, paid his bill.

Since that time, I’ve tried to give back. I worked with the Key Club in High School (ironically, with Nikki), volunteered my time with youth organizations, donated to the Salvation Army, etc. My favorite charity, Oceana, gets a lot of my money. I’m a sucker for cute animals, and if I was more science-savvy, I’d want to be a marine biologist.

Back to Nikki. I was curious about her most recent venture, so I asked her and Ashley if they would mind sharing.

M: What got you guys interested in Hands on DC?

A: This charity is important because it gives children in DC, which is a location notorious for areas of extreme poverty, a chance to be educated in a beautiful environment conducive to learning.

N: I was lucky to grow up going to school with the best facilities, supplies, and teachers around. I know that not many kids in the DC area have the same opportunity as I did, and I wanted to help make their school a better environment.

M: What other type of charity work have you been involved in?

A: This is a first for me!! However, I plan on being a part of a wide variety of charities in the future.

N: In the past, I have worked at the National Wild Turkey Federation banquets. The NWFT not only promotes land conservation, but it raises money to take disabled Veterans on hunting trips.

M: What causes/charities do you believe have been overlooked the most?

A: I feel that charities involving other countries have been extremely overlooked.  Whether it be because of travel or the lack of publicity, it is something that people in the US have not been exposed to.

M: Who are your role models?

A: First and most importantly, my main role model is God.  I know that I can never be perfect or even come close to it, but much of my life and the things I do are impacted by my faith.  Another would have to be my mother.  She has always had a positive impact in my life.

N: My role models are my parents. They have both worked very hard for everything they have. No matter what I decided to do with my life, they have been there to support me. I try to be someone they are proud to call their daughter.

M: What other charities do you support?

N: I  purchase tickets to NASCAR races that are donated to soliders stationed near the track. That way, they are able to enjoy a day away and get to see a great race. I have also donated to the Rochester Humane Society.

M: If you could organize a charity to raise funds for any cause, what would it be?

A:  I would love to organize would be a religious based charity, where I could travel and aid third world countries in learning about religion. In the process, I’d help them build a community that supports that cause.

N:   I would raise money to help abused and neglected animals. It would help the animals be rescued and find new loving homes. If families fell on hard times, my charity would be able to help them so they didn’t have to give up their pets. I’m a huge animal lover. It makes me sad to think that some animals are treated so poorly. I couldn’t imagine having to give up my dogs because I could no longer afford to care for them.

Nikki and Ashley are both attempting to raise $100 for Hands on DC. You can join their efforts and donate here: Hands on DC Donation Page. To reward you guys for spreading the word, I’ll be conducting a giveaway.

Enter to win a Nautica bracelet to benefit my favorite charity, Oceana. 
To enter, just comment with your name below.
Giveaway ends on Thursday, May 3rd, 2012 at Midnight. 
 If you’re super nice,  you’ll share the link to Nikki and Ashley’s donation page.
Here it is again: Hands on DC Donation Page.
This giveaway has ended. The winner is Maura Andrews!

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