Global Team of 200

I am so thankful that’s not the reason our shelves were bare. We’re fortunate, I get that, and it breaks my heart that not everyone can afford to provide their family with healthy food. Did you know there are more than 17 million families in the U.S. facing hunger? This is no longer an issue faced by developing countries, its an issue right here in our own backyards, with 1 in 5 children in America struggling with hunger. (via I’m Team No Kid Hungry, Are You?)

While its important to celebrate our progress, its equally important to continue working towards equality. As of 2011, there were only 12 women running Fortune 500 companies. And in 2011, 31.5 % of all lawyers are females, but only 19% of the equity partners are women. Gender equality isn’t just an issue for average women like myself, but it even impacts celebrities. Oprah has experienced immense success, and is on the Forbes Most Powerful Women List, no woman, including Oprah, is in the top 10 on the Forbes Rich List. How is that even possible? (via Women Can Be Anything, Anything but Equal #WomensDay)

My children ages 4 and 2, have never been in a Mother’s Day Out program or pre-school/daycare environment. Mainly, because I’ve been able to stay home with them while working, and we haven’t been able to justify the expense. (via Newtown Tragedy Sets Change in Motion)

This Valentine’s Day millions of people will receive candy, flowers, balloons, jewelry and more. Many singles and couples will go out for a romantic dinner or catch a movie. As they primp and prepare for their dates they’ll shower, shave their legs (hopefully just the ladies), and brush their teeth using clean, safe water. Most of them, myself included, do these ordinary things daily without giving much thought to having clean water. (via A Valentine’s Day Gift From the Heart: Clean Water)

I’ve been on the road all month, and I’m trying to make sure I keep burning up the steps and knocking out calories. My favorite part about all this is that not only am I getting personal health benefits from all this exercise, but I’m also helping my favorite charity with a free app called Charity Miles. This is a non-profit organization that let’s you earn 25 cents a mile when walking for your favorite charity, just teamed up with Shot@Life and the United Nations Foundation! (via Racking Up Miles for Shot@Life)

Remember when you were a kid in school and your favorite part of the day was recess, when you’d conquer the monkey bars and swing as high as the sky? After school you’d race home to play catch in the yard, shoot hoops at the basketball court, or meet friends in the park. Playing outside with friends was once the highlight of my day, so its difficult to understand why today’s children play less than any generation before them! (via KaBOOM! Why is Playing Outside so Important?)

In their fight to end trafficking, UNICEF’s newest ambassador is American fashion model and actress Angie Harmon. Harmon joins a distinguished roster of popular celebrities who have supported UNICEF causes over the years,including Danny Kaye and Audrey Hepburn, and newer celebrities like Laurence Fishburne, Selena Gomez, Téa Leoni, Joel Madden, Alyssa Milano, Marcus Samuelsson, and Sarah Jessica Parker, among others.The actress currently stars on TNT’s Rizzoli & Isles as the title character ‘Jane Rizzoli’. (via UNICEF is Working to End Child Trafficking)

January kicks off the awards season with the Writers Guild, Directors Guild, and Golden Globes. On January 10, nominees for the Academy Awards will be announced! While most of us aren’t eligible to vote for any of those awards, we can vote for a REAL hero this month! (via Vote for a REAL Hero #SocialGoodMoms)

Out of those deaths, 99% of them occur in developing countries. London-based Maternity Worldwide, works to ensure safe births and improve maternal health in developing countries. A million children lose their mother each year due to complications in childbirth or their pregnancy. Young women face an even greater risk: girls and young women 15-20 years old, are twice as likely to die in childbirth than those in their 20s. (via Maternity Worldwide Saves Lives in Childbirth)

When is the last time you survived on $0.40 for an entire day? While you might go 24 hours without spending money, the food you eat, the electricity you use, etc., must surely exceed forty cents. The average woman in the Namatala slum, located in Uganda, lives on approximately 1,000 Ugandan Shillings ($.40) per day. Can you imagine?!!??! (via 1000 Shillings: Unique Gifts That Give Back)