Goodbye

Hi everyone! I realize that is has been awhile since I have updated this blog site. I have recently had several big changes in my life and have had much less time to devote to other things, one of them being this small blog design business and everything that goes with it. I hate that I haven't been able to devote the right amount of time to ScrapBlog Designs by Hilary and I haven't been able to give it my "all". Because of that, I have arrived at the decision to step away and close up shop. At this point in time I am unsure of whether this will be temporary or something more permanent.

I want to say that I feel very honored to have the privilege of working with all of you. I have exchanged countless e-mails with many of you and now even read many of your blogs. I consider many of you friends and I would love it if you kept in touch. Please still feel free to e-mail me with any blog-related questions and I would still be more than happy to change out any photos on blog headers. Thank you all!

October's Cause of the Month is Susan G. Komen for the Cure

I want to start off by saying that I did not forget about the Cause of the Month for September. With moving, the beginning of the school year, and work September was a very busy month for me. While I didn't intend on taking a break from blog design during September, it turned out that's what I needed to do. Therefore, the Cause of the Month also took a break for the month of September. But now that it's October and things have settled down a little bit, the Cause of the Month is back!



October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so I thought it would be fitting for Susan G. Komen for the Cure to be the Cause of the Month. Susan G. Komen for the Cure was also the Cause of the Month last year and, seeing as this cause is very near and dear to my heart, I am happy to have it for the Cause of the Month this October as well.

"Susan G. Komen fought breast cancer with her heart, body and soul. Throughout her diagnosis, treatments, and endless days in the hospital, she spent her time thinking of ways to make life better for other women battling breast cancer instead of worrying about her own situation. That concern for others continued even as Susan neared the end of her fight. Moved by Susan’s compassion for others and committed to making a difference, Nancy G. Brinker promised her sister that she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever.

That promise is now Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, the global leader of the breast cancer movement, having invested nearly $1.5 billion since inception in 1982. As the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists, we’re working together to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure®, and generous contributions from our partners, sponsors and fellow supporters, we have become the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world."

For every blog layout purchased during the month of October, five dollars will be donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. If you would like to make a donation without purchasing a blog layout, you can click the PayPal Donate button on the top of the right sidebar or you can donate directly through their website.

Locks of Love

Wow, I can't believe how fast the summer is flying by! The Cause of the Month for the the month of August is Locks of Love. Locks of love is...

"...a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada under age 21 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis. We meet a unique need for children by using donated hair to create the highest quality hair prosthetics. Most of the children helped by Locks of Love have lost their hair due to a medical condition called alopecia areata, which has no known cause or cure. The prostheses we provide help to restore their self-esteem and their confidence, enabling them to face the world and their peers."

Their mission is to...

"...return a sense of self, confidence and normalcy to children suffering from hair loss by utilizing donated ponytails to provide the highest quality hair prosthetics to financially disadvantaged children. The children receive hair prostheses free of charge or on a sliding scale, based on financial need."

For every blog layout purchased during the month of August, ScrapBlog Designs by Hilary will donate $5 to Locks of Love. If you would like to make a donation separately, you can do so by via the PayPal Donate button at the top of the right sidebar. You can also make a monetary donation through their website here. Their website also provides information on how to donate hair and other ways to help.

July's Cause of the Month: Project Night Night

Where I live, we are deep into the summer and have had sizzling hot high temperatures to show for it! I hope everyone is staying cool and enjoying the summer season! Mine has been pretty busy, so I apologize that this post is a little late. The Cause of the Month for July is Project Night Night.

Here's a little bit about Project Night Night:

"Project Night Night donates over 25,000 Night Night Packages each year, free of charge, to
homeless children who need our childhood essentials to feel secure, cozy, ready to learn, and
significant. Each Night Night Package contains a new security blanket, an age-appropriate
children's book, and a stuffed animal -- all nestled inside of a new canvas tote bag. By providing
objects of reliable comfort, Project Night Night reduces trauma and advances the emotional and
cognitive well-being of the children we serve.

Every child who receives one of our Night Night Packages leaves the shelter owning a book which
encourages reading and family bonding, a security blanket which can be cuddled, and a stuffed
animal which can become a cherished friend. We have one objective – to deliver our Night Night
Packages to every homeless child in the country who needs one."

For every blog layout purchased during the month of July, ScrapBlog designs by Hilary will donate $5 to Project Night Night. As always, if you wish to make a separate donation, you can click the PayPal Donate button at the top of the right sidebar or you can make a donation directly through their website. If you would like to donate items for the Night Night Packages, here is some information on how to do so.

June's Cause is Homes For Our Troops

Hello, June! I had a fabulous Memorial Day weekend and I am so glad summer is here. For those of you that had the day off yesterday, I hope you enjoyed your long weekend. In keeping with the spirit of Memorial Day and honoring our veterans and current servicemen and women, the Cause of the Month for June is Homes For Our Troops. Here is a little bit about them:

We are Homes for Our Troops, a national non-profit, non-partisan 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2004. We are strongly committed to helping those who have selflessly given to our country and have returned home with serious disabilities and injuries since September 11, 2001. It is our duty and our honor to assist severely injured Servicemen and Servicewomen and their immediate families by raising donations of money, building materials and professional labor and to coordinate the process of building a home that provides maximum freedom of movement and the ability to live more independently.

For every blog layout ordered during the month of June, $5 will be donated to Home For Our Troops. If you would like to make a separate donation to be added to our total and donated at the end of the month, you can click on the PayPal Donate button on the top of the right sidebar. Or, if you would like to make a donation directly through their website, you can do so by clicking here.

American Red Cross

The Cause of the Month for May is the American Red Cross! I'm sure most of us have heard of the Red Cross or seen them in action but just in case you haven't heard of them or don't know what they are about, here's a little bit about them:

Since its founding in 1881 by visionary leader Clara Barton, the American Red Cross has been the nation's premier emergency response organization. As part of a worldwide movement that offers neutral humanitarian care to the victims of war, the American Red Cross distinguishes itself by also aiding victims of devastating natural disasters. Over the years, the organization has expanded its services, always with the aim of preventing and relieving suffering.

Today, in addition to domestic disaster relief, the American Red Cross offers compassionate services in five other areas: community services that help the needy; support and comfort for military members and their families; the collection, processing and distribution of lifesaving blood and blood products; educational programs that promote health and safety; and international relief and development programs.

The American Red Cross is where people mobilize to help their neighbors—across the street, across the country, and across the world—in emergencies. Each year, in communities large and small, victims of some 70,000 disasters turn to neighbors familiar and new—the more than half a million volunteers and 35,000 employees of the Red Cross. Through nearly 700 locally supported chapters, more than 15 million people gain the skills they need to prepare for and respond to emergencies in their homes, communities and world.

Some four million people give blood—the gift of life—through the Red Cross, making it the largest supplier of blood and blood products in the United States. And the Red Cross helps thousands of U.S. service members separated from their families by military duty stay connected. As part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, a global network of 186 national societies, the Red Cross helps restore hope and dignity to the world's most vulnerable people.

An average of 92 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in humanitarian services and programs. The Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on donations of time, money, and blood to do its work.

The American National Red Cross is headquartered in Washington, Gail J. McGovern is President and CEO, and Bonnie McElveen-Hunter is Chairman of the Board of Governors.

If you would like some more information on the American Red Cross, here is a link to their website. As always, $5 for every blog layout purchased during the month of May will be donated to the American Red Cross. If you would like to make a donation without purchasing a blog layout, you may do so by either clicking on the PayPal Donate button on the top of the right sidebar or you can make a donation directly through there site.

Make-A-Wish Foundation

The Cause of the Month for April is the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The Make-A-Wish Foundation is widely known and is one of the top wish-granting charities. In case you haven't heard about them and/or would like to know a little bit more about their mission, here is some more information about them:

"Since 1980, the Make-A-Wish Foundation^® has enriched the lives of children with life-threatening medical conditions through its wish-granting work. The Foundation's mission reflects the life-changing impact that a Make-A-Wish^® experience has on children, families, referral sources, donors, sponsors and entire communities.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation was founded in 1980 after a little boy named Chris Greicius realized his heartfelt wish to become a police officer. Since its humble beginnings, the organization has blossomed into a worldwide phenomenon, reaching more than 174,000 children around the world.

Although it has become one of the world's most well-known charities, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has maintained the grassroots fulfillment of its mission.

A network of nearly 25,000 volunteers enable the Make-A-Wish Foundation to serve children with life-threatening medical conditions. Volunteers serve as wish granters, fundraisers, special events assistants and in numerous other capacities.

As the Foundation continues to mature, its mission will remain steadfast. Wish children of the past, present and future will have an opportunity to share the power of a wish^®"

And here is a little bit about how they grant wishes:

There are four steps to granting a wish. Each step builds on the next to help create the amazing experiences that delight wish kids and their families. A wish experience is frequently a source of inspiration for children undergoing difficult medical treatments and a positive force that helps them overcome their obstacles. A wish experience is often more than a dream come true: It’s the catalyst that rekindles their belief in themselves and the promise of their future.

Step 1: Referral -We rely on medical professionals, parents and children themselves for referrals. Children who have reached the age of 2½ and are under the age of 18 at the time of referral who have not received a wish from another wish-granting organization may be eligible for a wish.

Step 2: Medical eligibility - We determine a child’s medical eligibility with the help of the treating physician. To receive a wish, the child must be diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition – i.e., a progressive, degenerative or malignant condition that has placed the child’s life in jeopardy.

Step 3: Finding the true wish - We send one of our enthusiastic wish teams to learn the child’s one true wish. These passionate volunteers connect with wish children and help explore their imaginations for the experience that will delight and inspire them.

Step 4: Creating joy - Our wish granters create an unforgettable experience driven by the child’s creativity. It’s an incredible experience that enriches not just the lives of the children and their families, but often an entire community.

For every blog layout purchased during the month of April, Scrapblog Designs by Hilary will donate $5 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. If you would like to make a separate money donation, you can do so by clicking the PayPal Donate button on the top right sidebar or you can donate via the Make-A-Wish Foundation website. There are many other ways to help besides donating money so if you are interested, here is a link to find out more information. I'm looking forward to see how much we can raise during the month of April!