Aubrey Week 13

Hope For Haiti

This article talks about an event that was created to raise funds for disaster relief after the terrible earthquake struck Haiti. Many different celebrities arranged a benefit concert and phone-a-thon. George Clooney was the host of this event and many well-known artists performed in the concert. They sang different songs as a tribute for the for the Hope for Haiti foundation. This event is an example of one that uses celebrities our well known figures to help raise funds. I liked this source because I thought it was going to a great cause but also because I saw this event on TV and thought they did a wonderful job with putting it together.

Aubrey Week 12

Relay for Life

Even though most people have heard about Relay for Life, I thought it would be a good source to talk about because it is a perfect example of a foundation creating an event where all the funds go towards a certain cause. Relay for Life is an event organized by the American Cancer Society in which different groups and organizations come together and camp out and walk about a track in the "walk for life." I have participated in many Relay for Life events and it was such an enriching experience. I chose to talk about this source because as a walker, you can see first hand where your money is going and talk to some survivors. American Cancer Society works hard to make this a great event and has changed the lives of millions.

Aubrey Week 11

New Global Citizens

New Global Citizens is a foundation that is based off of student run projects around the country. Students get together and create fundraisers in their community. When they have the funds that they need to make their projects successful, the students go and physically help those in need. Whether it be going on a mission trip or going to clean up a school, there a kids all over the country working to make a difference. I really liked this source because it showed a different perspective of a way to help. I like this foundation because they perform hands on activities to help others.

Aubrey Week 10

Children's Investment Fund Foundation


"The Children's Investment Fund Foundation aims to demonstrably improve the lives of children living in poverty in developing countries by achieving large-scale, sustainable impact" (CIFF UK). I really liked this source because this foundation has an aim to help many different subject areas such as child survival, hunger alleviation and nutrition, educational achievement and economic development. These are just a few of the goals they have set for their foundation. They believe that every child deserves to survive in a safe environment and they will do anything to make that happen. "Our hope is that CIFF's journey will be useful for all who aim to make development more impactful".

Aubrey Week 8

http://www.charitywater.org/about/mission.php>

I feel that this website and article is a good source for my paper because it talks about a foundation that raises money all over the country so that they can build clean water wells in third world countries. This company organizes large events in New York, Chicago and California. These events include galas and banquets with many celebrities involved and usually featured in "People" magazine. I really liked this source because it shows the depth that this company goes into to make their foundation a success. Aside from the events, they have a campaign going that is an interactive system where people all over the country can donate right on the website and in time they will be able to see pictures video of exactly where their money is going. 

For Sydnie: Week 9

http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/obesity/facts.htm

I think that this article will be good for you because it is from a very credible source. The CDC is the website for the Center for Disease Control and their website provides many facts and statistics that will aid you in writing your paper. It also provides examples of ways to prevent childhood obesity.

For Connor: Week 8

http://dailycaller.com/2011/08/26/after-disasters-social-media-struggles-to-keep-up-with-expectations/

I thought that this would be a good article for you because it talks about the response of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in the aftermath of natural disasters.

Week 7: Aubrey

http://www.cff.org/aboutCFFoundation/NewsEvents/2011NewsArchive/11-29-Great-Strides-Stories-Macis-Miracle-Miles.cfm

I think that this article is good for my topic because it talks about an event held by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation called Great Strides. Great Strides is a 5K walk with efforts to raise money for a cure for Cystic Fibrosis. This event is similar to Relay for Life in that they are taking steps towards finding a cure for a serious illness. They raise money all year leading up to the event and take pledges and it is the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s largest national fundraiser. This article talks about one little girl who suffers from Cystic Fibrosis and how Great Strides has helped her and her experience at the walk. I feel like this article is good for me because it talks about a non-profit organization that hosts an event in order to raise funds for research and plans to make a difference in the community. 

Week 7: For July

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21956337

I think this article will be good for you because it talks about a recent event that has directly affected Puerto Rico. This article talks about how different companies reacted to this event.

Aubrey: Week Six

The Everychild Foundation

I believe that this database is a good source for me to use because it provides a full and complete description of The Everychild Foundation. The Everychild Foundation has a mission to help youth who are suffering from disease, abuse, poverty and so on. The Everychild Foundation works hard to create an executive board who organizes project grants to help schools and educational facilities. There is a very extensive process to choose which program they will award the grant to. Their mission is to encourage students to stay in school and finish the education they need. Also, they try to encourage the community to spread the movement around the country, not just in one location. I like this database and the foundation because they are a philanthropy that uses hands on activities and efforts to make a difference in the lives of youth. The Everychild Foundation is a great organization that strives to maintain the education of the youth of America. 

Week 6: For Sydnie

http://aspe.hhs.gov/health/reports/child_obesity/

I feel that this website is good for you because a lot of great information on your topic, childhood obesity. Also, I think the most important aspect of this website are the graphs and statistics showing rates of childhood obesity between different ages throughout the years.

For Connor: Week 12

How Social Media is Shaping Disaster Response

I believe this is a good article for your paper because it explains how we rely on the social media for any type of disater to recieve information on our loved one and what is really going on. But, the media doesnt always tell us what we need to know.

Sydnie: Week 12

http://www.livestrong.com/article/517636-homecooked-meals-vs-fast-food-meals/

Home cooked meals are obviously healthier than fast food. Fast foods are typically higher in calories, saturated fat, sodium, and sugars. However, regardless of fast foods being unhealthy, people continue to eat. Why? Because of the fast paced schedule that consume our daily lives. Although home cooked meals take more time to make, it is still much cheaper than fast food. Also, the food is fresh and free of any contaminants. Eating out all the time significantly elevates the risks of health problems and obesity. In a recent study, participants who ate fast food more than twice a week gained about 4.5 kg and were twice more resistant to insulin. Fast food meals also differ from home cooked meals in terms of serving sizes. Compared to eating at home, serving sizes in a restaurant are twice the size of what is considered normal in the household. Therefore, eating at home is way more beneficial than eating fast food. 

For Aubrey: Week 11

Philanthropy Journal

I think this website will be very helpful for your topic because it is a worldwide philanthropy journal. On this site, you will find nonprofit news and resources, top stories on what events have happened and their turnouts, blogs, and much more. It is a very up to date site and has a tab to learn how their fund-raising works.

Sydnie: Week 11

Why Low Income and Food Insecure People are Vulnerable to Obesity

Childhood obesity greatly effects the lives of children who come from low income families. In a national study, “children from lower income households, had more than two times higher odds of being obese than any children from higher income households.” Healthy food is often way more expensive than the foods of high fat and energy. Low income families are limited to a food budget and therefore, it is easier to purchase cheap foods that are filling. Also, it is quite possible for low income families to have an unsteady form of transportation. There is over 23 million Americans who do not have a grocery store within a mile of their homes. Instead, these neighborhoods are packed with fast food restaurants and convenient stores; increasing the chances for a person to be obese. 

For Connor: Week 11

Backchannels on the Front Lines: Emergent Uses of Social Media in the 2007 Southern California Wildfires
I am unsure if you have already come across this article in your research or if it has already been suggested to you. However, I do believe that this article will benefit you in that it is a study dedicated to the use of social media in the 2007 Southern California Wildfires. The study focused on "backchannel" communication, and how it is dispersed among people.

July: Week 11

Geographic Variability in the Incidence of Coral and Octocoral Diseases in the Wider Caribbean

By testing 19 different coral reef sites, the scientist involved attempted to characterize the diseases and syndromes found across the wider Caribbean. They associated the decline in reef health to the evolving diseases in syndromes commonly found in the Caribbean environment. This source supports my thesis in that it give another aspect to the deterioration of coral reefs by natural forces.

For July: Week 10

Puerto Rico Waters

This is a scholarly article that talks about how the rivers in Puerto Rico are being dammed and is having negatively ecological effects on them. Construction is ruining the waters and causing native mammals to go somewhere else. This article talks about the problems, solutions, and alternatives of damming Puerto Rican waters and I think it will be a good addition to your notes.

Sydnie: Week 10

Children's Aid Society

The Children’s Aid Society is a great website to find statistics and general information about my topic of childhood obesity. According to the New York City Department of Health, 43% of public elementary school students are overweight and 76% of New York City children are not getting the recommended five daily servings of fruit and vegetables. This society helps kids in poverty thrive for success. In 2003, this organization came out with Go!Healthy, a program to educate children on healthy cooking and eating. This website contains youtube videos of events planned to encourage children to live a healthier life as well as blog tabs of different subtopics regarding childhood obesity. The Children’s Aid Society conducted a study showing the effects of bad eating habits while sitting in front of television. This website is very helpful towards my topic and I believe I will use a lot of this information in my paper.  

For Sydnie: Week 10

About Childhood Obesity
This is a fact sheet about obesity in adolescence, it has statistics, and potential risk factors, and things that can be done to reduce obesity in adolescences. 

July: Week 10

Reefs at Risk in the Caribbean

Reef fisheries are a vital to Puerto Rico, as it is a food source and employment source for many of the people that live on or near the coast. Reefs at Risk in the Caribbean outlines the threatened coral reefs, pollutants causing distressed coral reefs, and a list of human activities that affect the reefs. This article is beneficial to my research because it is and overall view of all the reefs in the Caribbean not just the ones in Puerto Rico. So, it is a source that I can use to compare the reefs in Puerto Rico to other reefs in other tropical places that are under the same influences.

For Connor: Week 9

Media and Natural Disasters

I think this is a good article relating to your topic because it tells different stories within every country, where the media has interfered and not given enough information on what has happened. These examples cover stories on earthquakes, food shortages, hurricanes and explains the direction of the media. Hopefully, you will be able to mention some of these examples as support for your paper.

Sydnie: Week 9

Milestones Programs

Childhood obesity can cause children to develop a very serious eating disorder or engage in compulsive overeating. This website provides information on a recovery treatment center for those who suffer from eating disorders. Milestones Programs is a therapeutic community that approaches the problem and addresses it both aggressively and emotionally. This prevention program treats patients in a non-hospital setting and has recreational activities to keep them focused on their main goals. Visitors are welcomed as they please and certain health insurance covers all expenses. This place is a great way to help prevent childhood obesity from continuously occurring. 

For Connor: Week 8

The Role of the Media and Media Hypes in the Aftermath of Disasters
I'm not sure if you have already taken a look at this article, but I think it would help your research. It lists several different disasters that have happened over the past ten years or so, and how it affects people's perception on their health.

July: Week 8

Potential Effects of Runoff, Fluvial Sediment, and Nutrient Discharges on the Coral Reefs of Puerto Rico
Coral reefs are a vital part of Puerto Rico in that it creates biodiversity which attracts tourism, it is a home to many commercial fish and seafood species, and it is a natural barrier against threatening storm waves. Coral mortality rates have been rising due to an increase in "fluvial sediment from modified watersheds, eutrophication from agrochemical and sewage discharges, dredging, turbidity from ship traffic, and an increase in water temperature." This is the "cornerstone" publication for my research, it targets exactly what I am researching, the effects of high nutrient concentration on coral reefs in Puerto Rico.

For Aubrey: Week 8

Kicks for Kids

Hey girl, I believe this is a good website for you to check out because it tells stories from children of worldwide events they've participated in. New global citizens is a program where people sign up to fully impact the lives of others in helping them through whatever they struggle in. Thousands of individuals under the age of 25 come together in forming this organization. Their mission statement, menu for special events, and personal stories are all included within this site.

Sydnie: Week 8

Pediatrics

Parents play a pivotal role in the early dietary experiences within children and adolescents. The first influences act before birth in which the mother focuses on maternal nutrition and promotes optimal growth in the womb. Infants are born with a sweet tooth, general indifference for salt, and rejection of sour and bitter. Therefore, sweet flavors are easily accepted in transition to solid foods. The role of eating socialization also shapes food acceptance patterns. Children eating alone is very unusual and social eating environments illustrate the appropriate normal nerving size. Children draw from the eating behaviors of those around then and strictly enforce them. For example, if a peer doesn’t like the vegetables, neither will the kid. Children constantly eat throughout the day and it is imperative for parents to control their child’s eating preferences and intake regulation.

For Sydnie: Week 7

Percent Body Fat and Chronic Disease Risk Factors in U.S. Children and Youth is an academic study that shows the risk factors among children and youth.  They found a strong relationship between high fat percentage found in children and high risk for high blood pressure, glucose, insulin, and cholesterol levels. I think this will help you in your research because it shows the high risk factors of childhood obesity.

July: Week 7

Chemical Contamination in Southwest Puerto Rico is a survey of the contaminants in the coral reefs surrounding the island of Puerto Rico. It goes in depth with several visuals of statistical information of how much and where the contaminated reefs are. It also, compares the amount of chemicals in the coral to the chemicals found in the sediment nearby. To see if there's a relationship between contaminated coral and and runoff sediment from the mouths of nearby rivers. This article will benefit me in that it is exactly what I'm researching, contamination of the coral reefs in Puerto Rico.

For July: Week 7

Puerto Rico Water Resources

July, Im not sure if you have looked over this source yet but i feel that it can relate to your topic very much. It’s a website of research centers that focus on resolving national water resource problems in Puerto Rico, and train scientists through hands on participation. They have a link to their “Newsletter” that contains important information on all the research they have found along with on going projects they plan on becoming apart of to save the Puerto Rican waters.

Sydnie: Week 7

Childhood Obesity and Its Effects on Self-Esteem

This article contains basic information about children being overweight and how their body mass index can be measured. Obesity is one of the easiest diseases to diagnose but one of the hardest to treat. According to the Non-Toxic Kids Organization, 30% of American children are overweight and formal studies show that it heavily affects a child’s self esteem. Self esteem is a realistic respect for or favorable impression of oneself. We live in a society where media encourages the phase, “you can never be too skinny.” Therefore, obese children are drastically teased for being “different” and are then isolated from the rest of the group. Studies have shown that children with low self esteem are more likely to engage in the use of drugs and alcohol at a young age. Also, they are less likely to use birth control which results in a higher rate for teen pregnancy. Being obese at such a young age negatively affects many factors in a child’s life that no one should ever have to face. Isolation, depression, loneliness, social impairment, bullying, and self image are all issues that correlate to being overweight and having low self esteem. This is a major health concern that seriously impacts a children’s life and needs special attention from the family and friends for prevention. 

For Aubrey: Week 6

The Children's Investment Fund Foundation


This is a website of The Children's Investment Fund Foundation, an international organization that strives to ameliorate the live of children that live in poverty. I believe this article will help you because it shows a different aspect of philanthropy. 

July: Week 6

Coercive Harmony, Deep Capture and Environmental Justice in Puerto Rico

Coercive Harmony, Deep Capture and Environmental Justice in Puerto Rico is about how pharmaceutical companies in Puerto Rico have polluted the waters due to dumped hazardous waste. This article is great because it has an overall view of the environmental conflict in Puerto Rico and the strain it has put on the "corporate-community-government" relationship.

For Connor: Week 6

Media's Influence on Society

Connor, I think this is a great topic to write your paper on. Here is an article that goes into detail about mass media and then it focuses on how media influences the workplace, young people, public opinion, and violence. Also, under each category there are video clips of professionals talking and giving real-life examples of what we see in every day society.

Sydnie: Week 6

Just Do It?

According to this article from ABC News, gym classes are being cut out of children’s schedules to save money and stress raising test scores in reading and math. Statistics show that only about half of students nationwide are enrolled in physical education classes and as they continue onto high school, it decreases to about one third of them being enrolled. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that “More than 60 percent of children aged 9 to 13 so not participate in any organized physical activity during their non-school hours.” Which means, fewer kids are participating in outside activities and not making up for the lack of exercise from gym classes. Doctors are very serious about the dangers of childhood obesity and are warning parents to keep an eye out. Physical education classes held in school allowed children to participate in the recommended time of playing outside, and now that schools are taking this elective away, the importance of exercising in the home becomes more prominent. 

Work Cited: Sealey, Geraldine. "No Sweat When Gym Class Cut." ABC News. 30 Sept. 2010. Web. 13 Feb. 2012. <http://www.ihpra.org/ABCNEWS_com%20%20No%20Sweat%20When%20Gym%20Class%20Cut.htm>. 

For Sydnie: Week 5

Obesity Epidemiology

I believe this source will be useful to you because it discussed childhood obesity in regions of the world, it has statistics, and it has causes of childhood obesity and possible ways to prevent it.

July: Week 5

Rio Grande de Manati

Rio Grande de Manati is a very popular river among the locals that is used recreationally. It was named an impaired water as of 2002 by the Environmental Quality Board because it was contaminated with livestock feces, urban runoff, and landfills and wastewater waste. I believe this article will benefit my article in that it is now a success story since the once contaminated water and has now been approved for recreation.

For Connor: Week 5

130 Doctors Without Borders Staff Disappear in Sudan

I believe this is an interesting article relating to your topic because it talks about how doctors without borders also go to areas of conflict and often find themselves getting into trouble. These doctors tried to help those in need and ended up disappearing and getting into more danger. Basically, what i'm trying to say is you can talk about the dangers doctors without borders face while trying to help others in need.

Sydnie: Week 5

Government Doc. Child Obesity

This article touches base with facts and statistics on the crisis of “childhood obesity.” In the case of obesity, one in every three children are born overweight. This is a serious healthcare problem and will continue to be a threat all over the world if people don’t start becoming completely aware of the consequences. Within the last 40 years, obesity rates for children between the ages of 6 and 11 have quadrupled while those between 12 and 19 have tripled. At this standard, children born in the year 2000, will be the first generation not to live as long as their parents. After screening, 42 percent of children in schools are either overweight or are in danger of being overweight. Children like this, suffering from weight issues are at high risk of dislipidemia, hypertension, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. 8 out of 10 states with the highest obesity rates are located in the south; Hispanics and African Americans are at an even bigger insecurity than Caucasians.

Aubrey: Week 5

Although this does not specifically talk about an event, I feel that this video relates to my topic because it talks about a charitable organization and the effects it has had on families in our society. Ronald McDonald house charities is a foundation based on helping families who have sick members such as children or parents. RMH hosts many fundraisers and every month has people come to the houses and cook dinner for the families living there. In this video, we can see how truly admirable this organization is.  Speaking from experience with volunteering with RMH, I know that it is so fulfilling to go and make dinner for the families. It is very eye opening and feels so great to know we are helping such wonderful people. I really liked this video because it displays that an event so simple as going to a specific location and making dinner for those in need can truly make a difference in someone's life.

For Sydnie: Week 5

I think that this will be a good video for you to watch because in it we can hear from experts and doctors as well as parents their take on childhood obesity. It also demonstrates the food that is being distributed in schools and the effects it has on children today.

Aubrey: Week 4

http://helpchildren.org/news-events/exclusive-wine-tasting-at-gavis-in-support-of-h-e-l-p-malawi/

This is an example of the invitation that was sent out for a wine-tasting event in order to benefit the HELP Malawi foundation. This event was held by a couple who owns Gavi's and they were willing to share the proceeds with the foundation. HELP Malawi's mission is to "promote sustainable primary education in impoverished African regions.  We work toward this mission by utilizing a child-centered and integrated approach to sustainable development and continued education." For this event, there was a $60 fee to get in and that money would go towards improving children's education in Africa. This relates well to my topic because the company, HELP Malawi, put together an event in which they charged an entrance fee, with the goal of raising money towards their foundation. 

For July: Week 4

http://prwreri.uprm.edu/documents/FS_2009.pdf

I feel that this will be a good resource for you topic. It displays what the University of Puerto Rico is doing to help their environment and water system and their motivation behind it. In this newsletter, they talk about different projects they are using for development.

For Connor: Week 4

I think this article will benefit you in your research because it is written by Dario Lince, a locum physician in British Columbia who tells about his experiences working with the Rural Specialist Locum Program.

Doctors Without Borders in British Columbia

July: Week 4

Groundwater Disaster in Puerto Rico - The Need for Environmental Education argues that although the industrialization of Puerto Rico through pharmaceutical companies has greatly benefited the economy, it has also had severe side effects on the environment. There are worries that toxic chemicals from the pharmaceutical companies have leaked into the groundwater system, which endangers the health of the population. This article will help me in that it specifies a major cause as to why the pollution of Puerto Rico’s waters are so important and how it impacts the people.

Groundwater Disaster in Puerto Rico - The Need for Environmental Education

For Aubrey: Week 4

America's Top Fund-Rasing Groups Face Big Trouble

Aubrey, Im not sure what your main points are for this paper but this article explains how some of the biggest charity's aren't raising as much money as they did last year due to the economy. Also, there is a link towards the bottom of the article that tells more about strong fund-raising tactics that help charities raise millions of dollars annually and achieve respectable gains. I was thinking maybe you can talk about how raising money to help others isn't always an easy thing to do and then lists some examples of what popular charities raised last year compared to this year.

Sydnie: Week 4

When it comes to childhood obesity, I believe what goes on at home influences greatly on the types of food children choose to eat. This video stresses the advantages of eating a healthy meal with parents in a home oriented environment. According to Dr. Keith Ayoob, a pediatric nutritionist, eating a meal at least 5 times a week with your family will decrease the chances of a child being overweight or having an eating disorder. It provides structure and a type of connection that allows the child to focus more on healthy eating. A recent study showed that when asked about ideas of health promotions, adolescents preferred face time with their parents over any meal at the kitchen table; whether it be breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Children engaging in these types of activities feel better about themselves as a person and are more likely to stay away from drugs, alcohol, or hanging out with the wrong group of people.

Aubrey: Week 3

http://m.voanews.com/english/rss.jsp;jsessionid=8E34D2E601E2005A494CE3B719E4D80F.aldo2?id=3132&rssid=25273271&item=http%3a%2f%2fwww.voanews.com%2ftemplates%2fSingleArticle-mobiletech.rss%3fcontentID%3d82282982&cid=25228001&show=full

For Sydnie: Week 3

For July: Week 3

Puerto Rico's Impaired Waters

I think this article can relate to your topic on water pollution in Puerto Rico because it lists some of the top water impaired spots in the area which can potentially be hot tourists attractions. It also talks about pollutants causing the impairments and its sources.  

Sydnie Swartz: Week 3

Overweight and Obesity

This article stresses the fact the childhood obesity is a major health concern that is growing at an alarming rate. In a case of obesity, one in every three children born in the United States are considered overweight. Since technology is constantly improving, kids are spending more time indoors than actually engaging in any physical activity throughout the day. This, dramatically increases the risk for serious health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, stroke, heart disease and heart failure. Although genetics are an important component in the causes of being overweight, it is not the only factor that should be focused on. Lifestyle pattens, lack of exercise and portion sizes contribute to the disease as well. Prevention programs are available to those children seeking help and practicing nutritional eating habits are definitely imperative to having a fulfilling, healthy life.

For Aubrey-Week 3

I believe this article will be useful in your research because your topic is on philanthropic events and Bill and Melinda Gates are one of the top philanthropists in the US. The article goes over how their foundation recommitted to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria by giving $750 million towards the cause.

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Commits $750 Million to Global Fund

July-Week 3

I am researching how Environmental Engineering can be applied to the environmental issues in Puerto Rico to help minimize them and prevent future damage. Puerto Rico Paradise Plagued with Pollution lists the plethora of problems with Puerto Rico, a commonwealth of the United States. It lists the major environmental concerns for the island such as, the closing of multiple beaches due to pollution by human waste, and the critical water supply reservoirs that are diminishing due to erosion. “On September 29, 2010, the EPA approved a list of 593 instances in which a pollutant caused impairment in the PR water body that keeps it from supporting its designated use for drinking water, swimming and recreation, fishing, or other activities specified by the commonwealth.” This quote pertains to my research question because it addresses how bodies of water in Puerto Rico are being wasted away instead of being utilized. Puerto Rico is a small island home to a diverse group of people, without freshwater civilization there would slowly dwindle away.


Puerto Rico Paradise Plagued with Pollution