Make 2017 your best year ever! You’re already moving for a cause which means you care about your health while doing good for the world. Keep that good going and do even more by joining the Johnson & Johnson New Year’s Challenge.
From Today, December 31st through January 8th, you’ll have the opportunity to earn New Year’s badges when you run, walk, bike, skip or dance for Operation Smile, Save the children, Girl Up and Sight for Kids.
Want to make your impact go further?
Download the free Johnson & Johnson Donate a Photo app to make your photos do good, or help fund a global health project to improve the health of others through CaringCrowd®.
Today is #WorldAIDSDay. Our sponsors Johnson & Johnson are challenging YOU to raise awareness for those impacted by the AIDS epidemic all over the world.
On World AIDS Day, we remember, we hope, and we keep working toward an HIV-free world. World AIDS day is about living, stories of hope, and progress. See stories of progress and how you can make a difference at jnj.com/HIV.
To help spread awareness with Charity Miles, we challenge you to dedicate your miles to RED, and participate in our World AIDS Day Challenge!
It’s easy!
Today (12/1) through 12/10, simply log miles for (RED).
When you move for (RED) for the next 9 days (until 12/10), you’ll earn virtual badges that symbolize Awareness (any distance!) Progress (1 mile), Research (2 miles), and Hope (3 miles) to support those impacted by the epidemic, as well as the individuals and organizations making a difference.
You’ll receive the badges inside of the app, as well as in an email sent the next day. Please save or screenshot your badge image and share to Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram with the tags #WorldsAIDSDay and #JNJ.
Collect ‘em all, and SHARE to help spread awareness around the hope, progress and research actively happening thanks to the support of great organizations like Johnson & Johnson!
We’re excited to announce our first challenge of the holiday season, Gifts of Joy Challenge presented by Johnson & Johnson!
From today until Giving Tuesday (11/22) we’re celebrating the great work done by our charity partner, Save the Children. Every year Save the Children has a Gifts of Joy catalog, where you can buy gifts for families in need in honor of people you love.
The Gifts of Joy Challenge is themed around different gifts available in this year’s Save the Children, Gifts of Joy.
Soccer Ball Badge- Log at least 1 Charity Mile for Save the Children.
Goat Badge- Log at least 3 Charity Miles for Save the Children.
School Clinic Badge- Log at least 5 Charity Miles for Save the Children
Water Point Badge- Share your Charity Miles to Facebook or Twitter.
This holiday season, you have the chance to send a girl to school, provide an essentials kit to a refugee child, or help a family in need with life-saving livestock. When you buy from the Gifts of Joy holiday catalog Johnson & Johnson will match your gift up to $450,000, here.
This week’s Charity Miles Team Spotlight is on Blue Saw Nation. Dr. Andrew C. Guyader started the team to encourage his students to get moving before his 7am class. For logging Charity Miles students can unlock “insider information” for exams as a reward for making their miles matter.
I (Dr. Andrew C Guyader) teach engineering mechanics and created a teaching pedagogy using colors - one of them being “blue” which has morphed into The BlueSaw (@bluesawatx) (engineering talk removed) I need my students to find internal forces and The BlueSaw gives them the ability to do it! I
We have class early in the morning - 7am early and for 180 people to file into an auditorium to listen to me….. We have two hurdles to conquer. One is waking up BUT a better one is going to sleep. Exercise is a part of that. Students walk around campus more than they realize so collecting these miles could and should add up quickly and maybe it will get someone to get a little more exercise than what they normally do - a great thing for college age students! Maybe that gets them to bed a little earlier and eating a bit more healthy. Hopefully, the snowball rolls downhill and momentum drives the group. Macro-level group dynamics.
The students have a great opportunity to develop a sense of charity and donation even though they probably do not have much exposable income. Charity Miles is a great way for this group to be a vehicle for charity - they have the energy and time to do it. Better yet. everyone can contribute. Even if they do not have a cell phone or one that can carry this app, they can get someone else to do it.
I’m offering some “insider information”. for the entire class based on the performance of team: BlueSawNation. If we hit some goals then triggers happen in terms of say a hint sheet heading into an exam or number of questions on an exam or practice problems released heading into an exam, etc.
It is an all or nothing proposition for the entire class. Yes, is all about leverage but this is very soft pressure. It’s easy for me to keep them thinking about internal forces in engineering mechanics. The BlueSaw says it all.
Charity Miles Ambassador and Adventurer Jennifer Lecorchick rode a 50 mile bike race with Charity Miles!
Hincape Gran Fondo - Greenville, SC The race began at 9am with a temperature of 43* (beginning) 53* (end) The Medio route (50 mile) was an intermediate ride through the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains with 1500 feet of climbing and some amazing views. The ride began in South Carolina, just outside of Greenville and ventured into North Carolina before returning to the starting line in SC.
My cycling training began in May of this year with an original goal of completing my first triathlon. Little did I know how much I would fall in love with my bike.
Once I completed my triathlon, adjustments were made to my training program to help prepare for the rigors of the Hincape ride. Longer training rides and hill work took over my training plan.
This 50 mile ride was amazing and cannot wait to do it again! Throughout my training, I cycled for several different charities: Pencils of Promise, Habitat for Humanity, ASPCA, Girls on the Run. I’m always amazed at how quickly the miles accumulate while on my bike and thankful that I am helping others while doing something that I love! Especially with great friends!
One of the most life altering events I have experienced thus far came in the form Alzheimer’s disease. My grandfather died of Alzheimer’s and his journey through the disease and ultimately his death touched me in a very deep way. He died Easter morning three years ago with family having been there constantly remembering and honoring his life.
After his death, I wanted to become involved in ending Alzheimer’s so I sought out the Alzheimer’s Association. My experience at the Alzheimer’s Association has been fantastic. It has been such an honor to be around people so devoted to ending Alzheimer’s and supporting those with the disease and their families. As a volunteer, I have been blessed with the opportunity to be a support group leader for the adult child caregiver’s group and later for a teen group.
Right around the same time I happened to go to the Education Symposium that the Alzheimer’s Association presents every year and saw a table about a program called the ALZ STARS. This program featured opportunities for people to enter into marathons, half marathons, triathlons, and other activities to raise money. I was hooked by the idea and entered into my first triathlon. Why a triathlon? For years I had said that I would never do a triathlon because of fear for one and two because I thought that it would be way too hard. So what better way to honor the memory of my grandfather than going on a journey that is scary and hard. I successfully finished and as the saying goes the rest is history…. My life changed and I have since continued on in my triathlon journey which has cumulated this season with my first Ironman still honoring on my grandfather and raising money for the Alzheimer’s Association.
Charity Miles has only sweetened the journey. I learned about Charity Miles when I was reading a copy of Runner’s World. I downloaded it immediately after reading that section because it was such a perfect way to keep bingeing awareness to the Alzheimer’s Association when a workout posted on my Facebook page. Additionally, I could keep raising funds all along my triathlon journey. Bonus - More people become aware of Charity Miles and will hopefully give it a try to find the cause that means something to them. I love inspiring others to get out to find a form of exercise that makes them happy and a cause that inspires them.
My goal in raising funds and awareness has always been and always will be to help bring an end to Alzheimer’s disease. I know from personal experience what it feels like to watch someone I love go through this disease and I never want any family/friend/acquaintance to lose someone to Alzheimer’s. Whenever I step out my door to go for a run or go for a bike ride turning on my Charity Miles allows me to work towards my goal and reminds that even a simple step has the power to change the course of the future.
Charity Miles Champion Melissa plays flag football for BVBDC for Alzheimer's Association in memory of her grandparents. See how she turned her passion for running into a way to raise money to help end Alzheimers.
Running relieves my stress, helped me land a husband and keeps me in shape! My love for running began about 15 years ago when I was in high school. I used running as a form of stress relief when I was not playing basketball or volleyball. I ran to my friend’s houses to hang out, I ran to practice, I ran all over my small hometown of Westborough, MA. In college, I used running as both a stress relief and a method of keeping off the “freshman 15.” No matter what happens in my life, I know that I can turn to a quick 3 mile jog for alone time, comfort, stress relief, and weight loss.
Running also reconnected my college friend, now-husband, and I about 4 years ago. He challenged me to sign up for my first race the “Friends of the W&OD 10K.” We made it an annual race together once we started dating and haven’t missed a year! I’ve since completed several races to include 3.2 for 32 Virginia Tech Remembrance 5K, Army Ten Miler, Nike Women’s Half Marathon, and Rock ‘n’ Roll Philly half marathon. Training for these races showed me that if I set a goal, I have the drive, self-discipline and dedication to reach it. In the midst of the running fun,
I decided to get involved with Blondes vs. Brunettes (BVB) DC. BvB DC is a non-profit, 100% volunteer-driven group of young professional women who play flag football in support of the Alzheimer’s Association. We fundraise, train, plan social events and volunteer in our local community for our cause. Every dollar we raise goes directly to the Alzheimer’s Association National Capital Area Chapter.
Alzheimer’s awareness has a special place in my heart; unfortunately, this disease took both of my Mother’s parents. I witnessed my Dziadek (Polish for Grandfather) and Babcia (Polish for Grandmother) go from living their normal lives to slowly deteriorating mentally and physically to the point where they didn’t remember their own family members. I am on Team Blonde because my Babcia had the blondest hair you’ve ever seen on a 92 year old - she wouldn’t have it any other way! I know she looks down on me from time to time and is proud that I am following in her philanthropic footsteps.
When BvB teamed up with Charity Miles my two worlds were connected! I am able to log my miles and fundraise for Alzheimer’s all at once! Each mile I walk or run is tracked by Charity Miles, sponsored by Humana who donates money for every mile! Join our team at BvBDC in the Charity Miles app, and help us in our fight against Alzheimer’s!
Today’s Charity Miles Champion is Pippa. Pippa’s parents Patti Tempio-Wilson and Chris Wilson are Charity Miles Ambassadors who fearlessly advocate for animals, and are very active in local efforts to help dogs and cats to find their forever homes.
In March of 2015 Pippa was found pregnant and emaciated by a group that works specifically rescuing pregnant dogs from kill shelters in CA, she gave birth to 7 puppies in foster care, but only 2 survived, her adorable healthy puppies found forever homes as soon as they were old enough! Pippa was still skittish and although she was in a loving foster home, they were helping other animals and that was a bit overwhelming for her.
As part of a Mother’s Day initiative, Pippa was transferred to our local shelter, where we are active fosters and volunteers, Petaluma Animal Services. We got the call and went immediately to go pick her up!
She had not been eating, was scared, shaking, and pinned to the floor. She calmed down and started to trust us thanks to our dog Bacci, who put her at ease and let her know she was in good hands! She ate some chicken and curled up and fell right asleep. 😊
Over the next week, she got very comfortable and made herself at home! We were all pretty smitten with her and although she had a few meet and greets with potential adopters, they fell through for one reason or another. We took this as a sure fire sign that she was meant to be with us forever and we became official “foster fails” on Father’s Day!
When she first came to stay with us she could barely walk ¼ mile before she needed to rest, she’s now a full-fledged Charity Miles Ambassador Dog and can run a 10k with ease! We’re thrilled to have Pippa join Bacci as our training coach and help us prep for several half marathons.
Pippa has since helped us successfully foster many dogs and kittens for Petaluma Animal Services Foundation (PASF). PASF has pioneered the Foster to Adopt program, allowing pets and their people the chance to get to know each other in their new environment. This method produces excellent results with no pressure and no judgement if things just don’t work out. The staff stands by their animals and is always there to ensure training and transition success! PASF also helps our large transient community provide food and vaccinations for the pets of our homeless humans. In gaining their trust with compassion, respect and care, if/when these people in housing crisis decide to relinquish their pets, they do so knowing that PASF will make sure they are adopted into the right home!
You can support PASF through our booster campaign here. And of course, you can help animals in need all over the country by dedicating your Charity Miles to the ASPCA. Get started with the ASPCA SHELTER DOG CHALLENGE!
Charity Miles Champion Stacy Clark, logs her Charity Miles for the ASPCA, WHILE walking shelter dogs!!!! Volunteering and earning money at the same time.
I love volunteering my time with shelter dogs. I cannot begin to explain the feeling you get when a disheartened, lonely dog gives you a kiss and crawls into your lap, just absorbing your affection like a sponge, or how much fun it is to see the excitement of a dog about to head on a walk or play fetch.
Volunteering at the shelter is not only a fun way to give back, but also a wonderful way to feed your own soul. I get back just as much as I give when I am at the shelter. Nothing brings me more joy than to bring the joy out of them!
I am currently volunteering my time at Pet Refuge, a not-for-profit “no-kill” animal shelter located in South Bend, Indiana. What I love most about Pet Refuge is that they are determined to find a loving family for every pet, regardless of their age or any special needs they may have. They have truly made it their mission to find all the pets in their care a special, forever home.
You can help dogs in need by volunteering at a shelter near you! Visit ASPCA’s website to find a shelter near you.
