Doing Good w. DoSomething.org!

Carrie Underwood is on her way to becoming a CGG (Celebs Gone Good) superstar - we've already covered her work for music education and animal welfare, and now she's raising awareness about breast cancer. The American Idol champ paid a visit to the legendary Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville to flip a giant switch that turned the concert hall’s famous barn backdrop pink, to symbolize the fight against breast cancer. The event was in support of the breast cancer charities Women Rock for the Cure and Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Carrie was then joined onstage by other country music artists for a concert.

Says Carrie: “We’re here to help those who have been diagnosed, and we’re here to raise awareness, and hopefully find a cure.”

Breast cancer is usually seen as a disease of older women, but young women are susceptible as well, and their cancer may more aggressive and less likely to respond to treatment than with older women. More than 250,000 American women battling the disease were diagnosed at the age of 40 or younger, and it’s the leading cause of cancer death in women ages 15 to 54. So join Carrie in the fight against breast cancer – get inspired by reading one young woman’s story of breast cancer, and thenorganize a benefit concert with the proceeds going to your favorite breast cancer charity.

For more info, visit DoSomething.org.

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Focusing on the Positive.

The LuciaGirl Pediatric Oncology Foundation (LGPOF) was created in honor of sweet, beautiful, funny, smart, Lucia M. Renard, who at only 8 years old battled the devastating effects of malignant brain tumors.

LGPOF raises money and awareness on behalf of children battling any type of cancer. We are particularly interested in viable investigations that will significantly impact the course of treatment development to significantly improve survival ratesof our children.

Additionally, we are determined to bring about changes in FDA procedures to allow fast-tracking of experimental therapeutics to those children facing impending doom barring divine intervention.

We also provide informational, emotional and some financial support to improve the quality of life for the children and their families.

In honor of Lucia's great sense of humor the foundation has named their funds collection effort

Funds and Research Team (F.A.R.T.)

The name is funny, the cause, not so much.

For more information, or to donate, please click here: LGPOF.com.

To read up on Lucia, visit her blog: LuciaGirl.com.

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Focusing on the Positive: Shut up & Drive.

DoSomething.org is helping to promote National Teen Driving Safety Week. Check out what they had to say, you never know, it could one day affect your life.

Car crashes are the leading cause of teen deaths. This scary statistic demonstrates the importance of this cause week: National Teen Driver Safety Week.

• Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for 15- to 20-year-olds.
• Mile for mile, teenagers are involved in three times as many fatal crashes as all other drivers.
• Alcohol and distracted driving are major factors in teen driving accidents.
• Nationally, 64% of all drivers or motorcycle operators ages 15 to 20 who were involved in traffic accidents and were legally drunk died as a result of the crash.
• Drivers under age 20 represent the largest proportion of distracted drivers on the road, and 16% of under-20 drivers in fatal crashes were reported to have been distracted while driving.

Despite the scary stats on the dangers of distracted driving:

• Over 90% of teens admit to doing multiple tasks while driving, such as talking on the cell phone, playing loud music, channel surfing, and using mp3 players even when they admit they find it distracting.
• An overwhelming 75% of American teens admit to text messaging while driving.

Lately texting while driving has been the focus of safe driving campaigns. Study results released in mid-September revealed that texting behind the wheel is more dangerous than driving under the influence of alcohol or marijuana.

The danger of texting behind the wheel was shown in extremely graphic details by a PSA out of the UK that went viral and has been viewed millions of times. While some question the effectiveness of gruesome videos such as this, no one is denying the seriousness of the issue.

Currently, 14 States and Washington DC have banned text messaging for drivers of all ages but lawmakers are hoping to sign a federal bill that will prohibit the practice across the country.

Think you can multi-task? Play the NY Times game which illustrates the potential consequences of distractions like texting on your driving ability.

Whatever your age -- but especially teens – please be careful out there. You're controlling a two-ton metal weapon – so as Rihanna said so eloquently: Shut up and drive.

Focusing on the Positive

"With every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. One for One. Using the purchasing power of individuals to benefit the greater good is what we're all about." This is what TOMS Shoes is founded upon. Many children in developing or third world countries venture out barefoot, putting them at risk for infection and injury. "Walking is often the primary mode of transportation in developing countries. Children can walk for miles to get food, water, shelter and medical help. Wearing shoes literally enables them to walk distances that aren't possible barefoot."

Not having shoes also prevents children from getting the proper education they deserve, as shoes are a required part of their uniform. By contributing to this foundation, not only are you helping to ensure a child's health, but also his/her education and a brighter future as well.

For more info on this great cause or to buy a pair of shoes, head over to: TOMS shoes. You know you and your BFF were planning to head to the mall, so why not start here?

& be sure to catch up on all of your favorite episodes of BFF @ : BFF.tv.