The Entertainment Industry and Volunteerism

October 18, 2009 by Barbara Jacoby
Filed under Creating Happiness

During the next week, more than 90 of your favorite TV shows on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox will carry messages to encourage its viewers to get up off of the couch and volunteer. A number of celebrity public service announcements will also air and if you are fans of “Desperate Housewives” and the daytime soaps, “All My Children”, “General Hospital” and “Days of Our Lives”, you will see storylines regarding the subject of giving back.

I must say that for me personally, it took awhile to figure out a way that I could be part of such an effort by utilizing some skill that I might have. After all, lots of the opportunities that I would see needed certain training or knowledge that I didn’t have and sometimes were being held at hours that didn’t work with my schedule. But I was not deterred and I finally found a group that was making blankets for children in distress. The blankets are given to children that are in hospitals or in shelters or they are provided in holiday baskets or to children that survive catastrophic events such as hurricane Katrina.

This is ideal for me as I can make the blankets and still sit on my couch, often times watching my favorite TV shows at the same time. I was excited that I had such an opportunity that I could do something to help within my own timeframe. But what I found is that once I found one thing to do, I soon found a second one when I learned that the high school male lacrosse team in my area was raising funds for breast cancer research. Although I wasn’t up to doing the walk or the run and I didn’t have extra money to contribute, I did volunteer to do a press release and find contacts at the local TV stations and newspapers in an effort to get publicity for the event.

I have also kept an eye opened for other projects in my local community and this coming weekend, Kirk and I are going to the local armory on Saturday morning to put together packages that will be sent to the armed forces overseas. Some of us will write letters, some will pack the boxes, some will keep the items stocked, some will address the packages, some will complete international paperwork, etc. but the most important thing is that there is something for everyone to do if they choose to join in.

What I have found is that no matter who you are, you have the ability to do something to help others. And there is no better feeling than the sense of accomplishment that you have when you give back to your community. Many of us have needed help from others in our lives and we know how grateful we were when someone stepped up to the plate to help us. I really hope that you will make the choice to volunteer during this multi-year initiative, “iParticipate”. Your time and efforts will be appreciated so much more than you will ever know.

I always love your comments.

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Tags: All My Children, breast cancer research, charity work, Days of Our Lives, Desperate Housewives, EIF, Entertainment Industry Foundation, General Hospital, giving back, I Participate, iParticipate, iparticipate.org, service, soap opera volunteer, volunteer, volunteer work, volunteering

http:/www.softlocksonline.com/ Amy Niceswanger

Hello Barbara,

Thank you for sharing my story about helping others. I am a 3.5 year breast cancer survivor. As a result of losing my hair due to chemo in 2006, I promised myself to do something to help other women facing hairloss due to cancer. Soft Locks Caps & Hats…A Wig Alternative as created and now my website and store are open!!! I am so excited because I have put SUCH long hours and months into this. I have probably given away as many hats as I have sold. Please take a moment to look at my website and I would really appreciate your comments. I hand sew EVERY hat with hair attached and would never sell or give one away that I would not wear myself. The media section on the home page tells you how Soft Locks was created.
Thank you for your time Barbara…blessings to you for what you are doing!!!
Have a great day!!

Amy Niceswanger
Zanesville, Ohio
- http://LetLifeHappen.com Barbara Jacoby
  
  I am more than happy to share here what you have created in an effort to help women who have lost their hair due to chemo. It is great that you are providing an alternative to those who would prefer this option. I wish you all the best with your new business as I know that you have put your heart and soul into this new endeavor. Your efforts are really appreciated.
http://imnotacharitycase.blogspot.com/ brenda

I think it’s great to volunteer and give back – I volunteer for hospice, and many other organizations in my community, but it is because I want to, and not because some TV show told me to. Americans have always been the most giving people in the world, and we don’t need the TV industry indoctrinating us into this administrations agenda. I can see both sides to the debate, but my gut tells me that if you want to volunteer, you will do so without being prodded into it by your favorite TV character.
- http://LetLifeHappen.com Barbara Jacoby
  
  I know exactly what you are saying but the sad part is that most people don’t think like you do. Only about 25% of people volunteer and it has stayed at that level for many years now. If the entertainment industry or whomever else can light a fire under a few more people, I am all for it. Hopefully, once they sign on and give it a try, they will find how rewarding it is to help others. We sure could use a lot more of that in this world. And thank you so much for being one of the special people who is reaching out and helping others in your community. You are a great inspiration to others and appreciated more than you know. It was the hospice volunteers that were the most helpful to my sister when my mother was dying and we won’t forget that.
Mandi

Thanks for sharing Barbara! I have actually been in bed all day and I saw a commercial from Disney. If you volunteer one day of service, Disney will give you a ticket to one of the parks. I thought that was amazing. That was the first commercial I’ve seen. I also just saw an “i participate” at the bottom of the screen while watching Desperate Housewives. I think volunteer work is one of the most important things we can do. Find something you like and give your time, energy or money to help others. We might struggle at times, but there are others that are always worse off than we are. I think it’s wonderful that you are making the blankets. AND everything else you do to help others. Just writing your blog helps lots of people. You are a very supportive person and I love you for it! Thanks for sharing about such an important volunteer drive. I think it’s going to get people very interested in volunteering. Once they start and see the good work it does to help others, it will be something that they can’t stop.
- http://LetLifeHappen.com Barbara Jacoby
  
  Thank you so very much for your kind comments. I can’t begin to tell you how much I appreciate the opportunities that I have had to give back to others. I am so fortunate that the blogs have been a help to others and the responses that I receive from people like you gives so much right back to me. I truly believe that we are all in this together and helping each other is the best that life has to offer.