A New Year!

Well here we are at the beginning of a New Year. This is a time to reflect on the goals we have achieved, opportunities missed and new goals to set. With the help of our friends & family, volunteers at Volunteers of America Chesapeake and the support of the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce we were able to successfully launch the Try Change line of T-Shirts. We had many success stories from the launch of our shirts by WKYS at the Fashion Mechanics store in the Potomac Mills Outlet Mall to our appearance on the Guy Lambert Show on WPGC... We really hit the streets with a bang!

To be a brand new company and to be featured in stores not only in DC but MD and VA is truly outstanding!

I could go and on about the many accomplishments that we have reached this year but to do so reminds me of an old line about a boxer who gets counter punched while admiring a jab he just threw. We have to keep focused on the future. With that in mind let me share what's up next for Try Change.

With the help of David B. Anthony at DBA International we updated our MySpace Page to reflect our growing company. On our Myspace page you can now see videos and pictures of our Try Change T-Shirts as well as music from from our new MySpace friends. As you can see David also has updated our blog page and we will have our new Try Change website completed shortly featuring videos, store locations and a social responsibility page.

We have had some great success in 2008, however I feel it's time for us to take the training wheels off and make sales presentations to some of the larger chain stores. Even in this economy there will be success stories and I figure why not be one of them.

I could not close without saying thank you to the stores who currently carry the Try Change line:

Fashion Mechanics in the Springfield and Manassas Mall

Evado in the Fair Oaks Mall

Shadows in the Foretville Centre

SWANK in the Pentagon City Mall

Indigo in Georgetown

Sport Zone- Selected locations

Remember that we donate 10% to our official partners Volunteers of America Chesapeake. If you want to purchase a Try Change T-Shirts but cannot get to MD, VA or DC you can purchase them online at SWANK's online store.

Thanks for your support and here's to a great 2009!

Vince & Chrissie

Help us pass along the Try Change message by joining one of our blog communities and asking your blog community members to visit our blog.

My Space
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Change.org
MyBlogLog
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Try Change Newsletter

Adopt a Family

Well it's approaching Christmas, everyone's hustling and bustling getting their last minute gifts for loved ones and friends. May I suggest one last item or items to pick up? If you are able to, why note adopt an individual or family at your local shelter for the holiday?

We at Try Change do so each holiday season and I have to to tell you we get much more out of giving than by receiving any gift during the holidays. It's really the sharing of hope rather than just giving a gift.

Why not brighten someone else's holiday season by supplying gifts or clothes? Often there are parents that cannot afford to buy their children a simple toy. By donating a just one toy you can truly make a difference in a young person's Christmas.

If you would like to make a donation or support a family or child this holiday season, contact your local shelter or Volunteers of America.

There are also wish trees at some local stores where you can pick a wish off of the tree and get a gift for a child in need. I know that things are tough all around this year but just think about what a small gift could do to make a difference in some one's life.

Stay tuned to our blog for some exciting things coming in the near future! Over the next several weeks we will launch our new website, conduct an email blast to past clients and prospect for new clients from New York to California. This while still staying true to our primary mission of spreading Peace, Hope, Faith, Diversity and Positive Change through the sale of our Try Change T-Shirts. Remember 10% of all profits are donated to Volunteers of America Chesapeake. These dollars go to the support of VOA's Homeless Shelters and substance abuse programs in the DC, VA & MD areas.

Help us pass along the Try Change message by joining one of our blog communities and asking your blog community members to visit our blog.
My Space

Razoo

Idealist

Change.org

MyBlogLog

BlogCatalog

Try Change Newsletter

Try Change shirts now available at the following stores:

Swank - Pentagon City Mall

Indigo - Georgetown

Selected Sport Zone stores

Shadows - Forestville Mall

Fashion Mechanics - Springfield Mall

Evado in the Fair Oaks Mall

Another Busy Week!

This has been a busy week here at Try Change. We were fortunate enough to have our latest designs delivered to us in time for Black Friday. So Friday morning we set off for the Pentagon City Mall, Center at Forrestville , Fair Oaks and Springfield Malls to get our shirts to SWANK, Shadows, Evado and Fashion Mechanics. This was a big day for us since all these deliveries were reorders! One of our clients SWANK even added us to their online store. Just click here or on the image above to go to their store.

I have to say even during this economic downtown we are still pleased with the results since starting Try Change. We continue to make strides within the retail community and make solid connections within the charitable and political community such as our recent encounter with DC Mayor Fenty.

Over the next several weeks we will launch our new website, conduct an email blast to past clients and prospect for new clients from New York to California. This while still staying true to our primary mission of spreading Peace, Hope, Faith, Diversity and Positive Change through the sale of our Try Change T-Shirts. Remember 10% of all profits are donated to Volunteers of America Chesapeake. These dollars go to the support of VOA's Homeless Shelters and substance abuse programs in the DC, VA & MD areas.

Help us pass along the Try Change message by joining one of our blog communities and asking your blog community members to visit our blog.
My Space
Razoo
Idealist
Change.org
MyBlogLog
BlogCatalog
Try Change Newsletter

Try Change shirts now available at the following stores:
Swank - Pentagon City Mall
Indigo - Georgetown
Selected Sport Zone stores
Shadows - Forestville Mall
Fashion Mechanics - Springfield Mall
Evado in the Fair Oaks Mall

Try Change at the Annual Help the Homeless Walk in DC (and we met Mayor Fenty!)

Try Change participated in the Annual Help the Homeless Walk in DC yesterday and it was awesome! The turn out was amazing!

And Vince got to meet Mayor Fenty! Check out the video... First he says he like's Vince's shirt and then he says "Try Change"! Very Cool!

We met a lot of dedicated people and groups out there braving the cold to help support ending homelessness. Stay tuned over the next couple of weeks as we feature some of these amazing organizations. We should also mention that there were several represenatives from Volunteers of America Chesapeake out there yesterday, including groups from the Hilda Barg Prevention Center and the Bailey's Crossroads Shelter.

Help us pass along the Try Change message by joining one of our blog communities and asking your blog community members to visit our blog.

My Space

Razoo

Idealist

Change.org

MyBlogLog

BlogCatalog

Try Change Newsletter

Try Change shirts now available at the following stores:

Swank - Pentagon City Mall

Indigo - Georgetown

Selected Sport Zone stores

Shadows - Forestville Mall

Fashion Mechanics - Springfield Mall

Evado in the Fair Oaks Mall

Community of Veterans

Living here in the DC area, you cannot help but know of someone that has been personally affected by the ongoing war in Iraq or Afghanistan. Be it a family member, co-worker or friend, I know of individuals who have served, lost family members, or are getting ready to be deployed or in some cases redeployed into the wars.

Often on the news you see the inspirational images of soldiers being greeted at the airport by their loved ones. But what happens after the initial homecoming? What services are in place to assist the returning soldiers with readjusting to civilian life. For some of these soldiers they come back to find the job they left behind no longer exist. For many civilian soldiers the adjustment from patrolling a war zone to walking down main street is not an easy one.

Today Try Change would like to introduce you to one social network that is going about the business of assisting our Iraqi and Afghanistan War Veterans with the transition back to civilian life.

At http://communityofveterans.org/ Iraqi and Afghanistan War Veterans can get help with :

Readjusting to family life

Readjusting to work

Navigating the VA

The GI Bill

Get help for depression, post traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries.

They can also connect with other veterans who have recently come back from the battlefield to hear how they adjusted back to civilian life. As stated on their website "our veterans-only online community to connect with people who know where you're coming from. Share your experiences and help others make the transition to civilian life. Stronger Together"

If you are an Iraq or Afghanistan War Veteran or know of a Veteran that needs assistance a Community of Veterans may be a good source to seek out. At Try Change we never forget our freedom is provided by the many men and women who put on the uniform of our armed services. Personally I come from a military family, my grandfather served in WWII , my father in the Korean War, my brother in Vietnam and myself in the US Army. Let's not just support our soldiers on Veterans Day but everyday.

Try Change is not a religious or political organization, we believe in spreading hope, peace, faith, diversity and positive change through the sale of our Try Change line of T-Shirts and sharing these stories with you.

Help us pass along the Try Change message by joining one of our blog communities and asking your blog community members to visit our blog.
My Space
Razoo
Idealist
Change.org
MyBlogLog
BlogCatalog
Try Change Newsletter

Try Change shirts now available at the following stores:
Swank - Pentagon City Mall
Indigo - Georgetown
Selected Sport Zone stores
Shadows - Forestville Mall
Fashion Mechanics - Springfield Mall
Evado in the Fair Oaks Mall

Food for Familes

Times are tough and given the latest economic reports out of Washington DC they may get even tougher. It's during these times that food banks and other charitable organizations start to see their inventory of donated foods dwindle as more working families start to feel the effect of rising energy cost on their pocket books.

Here in the DC area, News Channel Four, along with the Nurses of Georgetown University Hospital, the SalvationArmy, and the Food 4 Families partners are getting together to help feed thousands of hungry families in the community this holiday season.

You can make a direct donation at :http://www.nbcwashington.com/station/community/Food_4_Families2008.html

You can also donate non-perishable, currently dated foods on Wednesday, November 19th through Friday, November 21st from 6:45am until 7:30pm in the Main Building First Floor Lobby at Georgetown University Hospital, 3800 Reservoir Road, Washington, DC.

Call 202-444-1215 for directions or more information.

If Wednesday is not a good day for you can also donate on Monday, November 24th! Join NBC4, Majic 102.3, Praise104.1, and 93.9 WKYS, broadcasting LIVE ON LOCATION and ACCEPTING DONATIONS from 6am to 6pm at the Verizon Center, F Street NW in Washington, D.C. Meet NEWS4’s Pat Lawson Muse, and your favorite personalities from Majic 102.3, Praise 104.1, and 93.9 WKYS. We’ll have special thank-you gifts, surprise guests, and lots of fun!

Here at Try Change we like to bring you stories of positive change and hope in our communities. Food 4 Families is one way that we can help... Try Change is not a religious or political organization, we believe in spreading hope, peace, faith, diversity and positive change through the sale of our Try Change line of T-Shirts and sharing these stories with you.

Help us pass along the Try Change message by joining one of our blog communities and asking your blog community members to visit our blog.

My Space

Razoo

Idealist

Change.org

MyBlogLog

BlogCatalog

Try Change Newsletter

Try Change shirts now available at the following stores:

Swank - Pentagon City Mall

Indigo - Georgetown

Selected Sport Zone stores

Shadows - Forestville Mall

Fashion Mechanics - Springfield Mall

Evado in the Fair Oaks Mall

Obama Wins!

Try Change is not a religious or political organization. We believe in spreading hope, peace, faith , diversity and positive change through the sale of our Try Change line of T-Shirts. However at this time it would be a lie if I said I was not inspired by what has happened tonight. Tonight the United States has elected an African American to the highest office in the land.

Once again this country shows that anything is possible, that no matter what your background may be you can achieve where others may fail. Two years ago we came up the name Try Change. Little did we know that "Change" would become the signature word of a generation. We just knew that Try Change could be successful if we stayed true to cause spread the positive message, donate 10% of our profits to Volunteers of America and always be there for others.

Today we are in 15 stores in three states have over 500 members to the Try Change family through our blogs , MySpace and social network sites.

No matter what your political affiliation might be, tonight we all can celebrate a new day. A new day brought about through a Democratic non violent process.

We all can be proud of that.

Help us pass along the Try Change message by joining one of our blog communities and asking your blog community members to visit our blog.
My Space
Razoo
Idealist
Change.org
MyBlogLog
BlogCatalog
Try Change Newsletter

Try Change shirts now available at the following stores:
Swank - Pentagon City Mall
Indigo - Georgetown
Changes - selected stores
Sports Zone - selected stores
Shadows - Forestville Mall
Fashion Mechanics - Springfield Mall
Evado in the Fair Oaks Mall

VOTE!

Just a reminder to get out there and vote on Tuesday!

If you are in a state that allows early voting, go ahead and get out there! This could be the most important election of our lifetime and we should all try to be a part of it. No matter who you are voting for, you have a right & duty to vote. Here is a chance for you to make a difference and all you have to do is mark a little box!

It's really easy and you'll get a cool little sticker too!

Thanks for stopping by!

Chrissie & Vince

Another achievement!

Every month we at Try Change strive to bring our message of spreading hope, peace, faith, diversity and positive change to as many people as possible. This week we were fortunate to become the feature story in the Your Life section of the Sunday edition of the Potomac News!

Here's the link to the story:

http://www.insidenova.com/isn/lifestyles/features/article/woodbridge_man_hopes_to_inspire_with_t_shirts/23308/

Please feel free to share it with others in your blog communities.

Thank you to Brandon who took the leap of faith and shared it with his co-workers at the Potomac News!

Help us pass along the Try Change message by joining one of our blog communities and asking your blog community members to visit our blog.

My Space

Razoo

Idealist

Change.org

MyBlogLog

BlogCatalog

Try Change Newsletter

Try Change shirts now available at the following stores:

Swank - Pentagon City Mall

Indigo - Georgetown

Changes - selected stores

Sports Zone - selected stores

Shadows - Forestville Mall

Fashion Mechanics - Springfield Mall

Evado in the Fair Oaks Mall

Boost Up

Tonight Try Change introduces you to BoostUp.org.

In the United States only four out of ten high school students graduate. At Try Change we believe that we all can make a difference. Often making a difference is not as hard as we think it can be.

At BoostUp.org you can make a difference in a students life by offering words of encouragement,texting a student as a message or a helping hand. You can also send these messages through Facebook, MySpace, Youtube. Boost then collects these messages and records them. As stated in their website "Each comment, message, text,or video of support is counted and used to build the colorful landscape of each teens profile page. The more you Boost the bigger and brighter each persons virtual world becomes"

Check out BoostUp.org and learn more about how you can help encourage a student to graduate high school.


Help us pass along the Try Change message by joining one of our blog communities and asking your blog community members to visit our blog.
My Space
Razoo
Idealist
Change.org
MyBlogLog
BlogCatalog
Try Change Newsletter

Try Change shirts now available at the following stores:
Swank - Pentagon City Mall
Indigo - Georgetown
Changes - selected stores
Sports Zone - selected stores
Shadows - Forestville Mall
Fashion Mechanics - Springfield Mall
Evado in the Fair Oaks Mall

Try Change Interview on the Guy Lambert Show

Add Try Change Guy Lambert Show to your page

Check out the interview Vince did with Guy Lambert from WPGC!
This was a great opportunity for Try Change to get out there and talk about our mission in the community. Guy Lambert is a personality on WPGC (95.5FM) and he does a weekly show called Community Focus. Vince was able to catch Guy's interest and get on the show for a 15 minute interview. It was pretty amazing! Vince got to talk about how the idea of how Try Change got started and what we do in the community.

We've got a lot of things in the works right now...new designs, photo shoot, possible fashion show...and for those of you in Northern Virginia, we just got word that Try Change is going to be interviewed by the Potomac News for an upcoming article so be on the look out for that. We'll let you know more details once we know more.

Sometimes we get caught up in everything that is going on and we have to remember that the reason we started Try Change stems from the need for us as a society to return to common decency toward one another. That can mean different things to different people but I think for many people it comes down to treating one another with a sense of respect and finding time to give back. Giving back can be as simple as giving a smile to someone that needs one or donating clothing to your local shelter. It doesn't have to take a lot of time...In today's world none of us has a whole lot of time to spare but even small things can make a big difference in some one's life and in yours. Each of us can make a difference and promote positive change around you!

Thanks for stopping by and checking out the interview!
Chrissie & Vince




Help us pass along the Try Change message by joining one of our blog communities and asking your blog community members to visit our blog.
My Space
Razoo
Idealist
Change.org
MyBlogLog
BlogCatalog
Try Change Newsletter

Try Change shirts now available at the following stores:
Swank - Pentagon City Mall
Indigo - Georgetown
Changes - selected stores
Sports Zone - selected stores
Shadows - Forestville Mall
Fashion Mechanics - Springfield Mall
Evado in the Fair Oaks Mall

Remember 10% of all proceeds go to Volunteers of America Chesapeake!

Busy Weekend...Some No's and a Fashion Show!

We know in order to continue having success at Try Change it will take alot of work and a little bit of luck. This weekend we experienced both... The hard work came this Saturday. I started doing sales calls to independent retailers in the Adams Morgan section of DC all the way to Howard University. I tell ya, you better be able to handle hearing a lot of 'No's" if you want to succeed in starting a new business.

After visiting about 10 stores I was heading back to my car when a young lady stopped to ask me what did the quote mean, "Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future", that was on the back of the Try Change shirt I was wearing. I went on to explain how everyone one has a past, that we all can change direction in our lives for the better. I told her about Try Change and gave her some material to share with others. She went onto say that she thought Try Change was a great idea and to keep up the good work.

Later that night Chrissie and I went to a fashion show that was held at Bridges in Fairfax VA. The show was hosted by Evado who happens to be a store that sells our Try Change line. When we approached the owner of Evado... he said "Try Change is hot, I only have one shirt left", "I need to order some more shirts". Later in the evening we were introduced to another gentlemen who is opening a second Evado. He also wants to order some Try Change shirts. Luckily I had samples of my new designs and was able to show them to both of them as well as give some sample as raffle prizes at the show! It was an awesome night!
Big thank you to Greg for the invite, the introductions and helping us find a little of that luck!!

Currently we have sold out in nearly all 15 stores that we have Try Change shirts in! We have a long way to go but we feel confident we're on the right track.

Help us pass along the Try Change message by joining one of our blog communities and asking your blog community members to visit our blog.

My Space

Razoo

Idealist

Change.org

MyBlogLog

BlogCatalog

Try Change Newsletter

Try Change shirts now available at the following stores:

Swank - Pentagon City Mall

Indigo - Georgetown

Changes - selected stores

Sports Zone - selected stores

Shadows - Forestville Mall

Fashion Mechanics - Springfield Mall

Evado in the Fair Oaks Mall

Remember 10% of all proceeds go to Volunteers of America Chesapeake!

City Squash

Today we bring you the unique story of City Squash. We came cross City Squash in the Sept/Oct. issue of Good Magazine. Based at Fordham University in the Bronx NYC City, Squash provides 90 inspired students from economically challenged families with a positive mentoring environment.

As stated on their website:

"CitySquash’s mission is to help at-risk youth fulfill their academic, athletic and personal potential, Founded in 2002, CitySquash began its sixth season in the fall of 2007 and will serve 90 elementary, middle and high school students during the 2007-2008 academic year. For CitySquash’s Bronx-based middle and high school students, CitySquash is a year-round, three-to-four days per week commitment that combines squash, tutoring, mentoring, travel, community service, nutrition education, independent school placement and college prep. CitySquash's elementary students receive academic support and squash instruction once a week for at least three months a year."



This program has had great results!



"CitySquash produces results. 21 CitySquash students, representing more than half of our middle graduates, have won scholarships to attend selective private schools, including Avon Old Farms, Blair, Canterbury, Hackley, Hill, Loomis Chaffee, Mercersburg, St. George’s, St. Paul's, St. Pius IV, Trinity-Pawling, Westover, and Williston Northampton. Together, these students will receive more than $2.3 million in financial aid awards over the course of their high school careers.
Through CitySquash’s community service program, team members have volunteered hundreds of hours for not-for-profit organizations in the Bronx, such as the Food Bank of New York City, and raised thousands of dollars for AIDS and cancer research. CitySquashers have won more than half of urban national championships in which they have competed. One player has been ranked as high as #11 in the country"



We like to thank Good Magazine for bring this story!

If you have stories of Hope you would like to share please send us an email at trychange@aol.com

Help us pass along the Try Change message by joining one of our blog communities and asking your blog community members to visit our blog.

My Space
Razoo
Idealist
Change.org
MyBlogLog
BlogCatalog
Try Change Newsletter

Try Change shirts now available at the following stores:
Swank - Pentagon City Mall
Indigo - Georgetown
Changes - selected stores
Sports Zone - selected stores
Shadows - Forestville Mall
Fashion Mechanics - Springfield Mall
Evado in the Fair Oaks Mall

Remember, 10% of all proceeds go to Volunteers of America Chesapeake!

A Story of Finding Hope...To Write Love On Her Arms...

A Story of Finding Hope...



I don't know how many of you saw this on MSNBC last night but it is a really amazing story. TWLOHA is a social network that supports people struggling with depression, addictions, and suicide. One of the amazing things about the network is that it sort of happen by accident. By a young man taking the time to write to a troubled girl online, both of their lives were changed. And now they are part of a group that changes lives everyday. We've heard the saying "Be the change you want to see in the world" well they are living it and helping others find their way as well. Please check out their website, TWLOHA.com and visit their MySpace page, to read the story of what started it all. You can also buy a t-shirt or make a donatation to help continue the cause.

To learn more about depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide click here. If you need help...it is here waiting for you.

Just remember, you are not out there alone...the world is small...all you need to do is pick up the phone or turn on the computer...Hope is out there.


If you have stories of Hope you would like to share please send us an email at trychange@aol.com

Help us pass along the Try Change message by joining one of our blog communities and asking your blog community members to visit our blog.
My Space
Razoo
Idealist
Change.org
MyBlogLog
BlogCatalog
Try Change Newsletter

Try Change shirts now available at the following stores:
Swank - Pentagon City Mall
Indigo - Georgetown
Changes - selected stores
Sports Zone - selected stores
Shadows - Forestville Mall
Fashion Mechanics - Springfield Mall
Evado in the Fair Oaks Mall
Remember, 10% of all proceeds go to Volunteers of America Chesapeake!

Stand Up 2 Cancer

Back in May we highlighted a new initiative to fight cancer called Stand Up 2 Cancer. And tonight, with the support of several networks, celebrities, scientists, cancer survivors and their families Stand Up 2 Cancer launched a new push to raise money and awareness about this deadly disease that kills one person every minute. We have all been touched by this disease...Here is your chance now to make a stand of your own and help find a cure!

The We Campaign

If you are one of the millions of people who now believe Global Warming is in fact a reality then Try Change has the the organization for you. It's called the The We Campaign, founded by Nobel laureate former Vice President Al Gore. The campaign is a project of The Alliance for Climate Protection -- a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization who's goal is to halt global warming.

They believe they can do this in part through re-powering America with 100 percent of its electricity from clean energy sources within 10 years. At there website you find tools on how you can be part of The We Campaign and assist them in reaching local, state and government officials in adopting energy saving policies that can have a huge effect in reducing global warming. You can also sign up for press releases and gain access to like minded individuals through blogs and social networks.

Help us pass along the Try Change message by joining one of our blog communities and asking your blog community members to visit our blog.
My Space

Razoo

Idealist

Change.org

MyBlogLog

BlogCatalog

Try Change Newsletter

Try Change shirts now available at the following stores:

Swank - Pentagon City Mall

Indigo - Georgetown

Changes - selected stores

Sports Zone - selected stores

Shadows - Forestville Mall

Fashion Mechanics - Springfield Mall

Evado in the Fair Oaks Mall

Remember, 10% of all proceeds go to Volunteers of America Chesapeake!

Thanks for the support!

Vince & Chrissie

Try Change Donation!

This past Sunday Try Change donated $400 to Volunteers of America Chesapeake to go along with over 200 items we gave to Hilda Barg Homeless Shelter n Woodbridge VA from our Charity Yard Sale. As you know we are official partners of Volunteers of America Chesapeake donating 10% of our profits to VOA Chesapeake as well holding special events like the yard sale.

Volunteers of America Chesapeake, founded in 1896 in Baltimore, is the locally chartered affiliate of Volunteers of America, Inc., one of the nations largest and most comprehensive human services organizations. Volunteers of America Chesapeake accomplishes its spiritually based mission by serving over 10,000 people annually through programs that spread geographically from Baltimore, Maryland to Virginia Beach, Virginia.

At Try Change we feel honored to be affiliated with such a wonderful organization like Volunteers of America Chesapeake.

Help us pass along the Try Change message by joining one of our blog communities and asking your blog community members to visit our blog.

My Space
Razoo
Idealist
Change.org
MyBlogLog
BlogCatalog
Try Change Newsletter


Try Change shirts now available at the following stores:

Swank - Pentagon City Mall

Indigo - Georgetown

Changes - selected stores

Sports Zone - selected stores

Shadows - Forestville Mall

Fashion Mechanics - Springfield Mall

Evado in the Fair Oaks Mall

Remember, 10% of all proceeds go to Volunteers of America Chesapeake!

Thanks for the support!

Vince & Chrissie

Making a Difference...

In honor of our recent trip to California I decided to write about a young man from Oakland that we read about in Newsweek. After moving to Oakland from another part of California, Juan Hernandez discovered that his asthma had gotten much worse. He found out during a class project that there was a real reason for his worsening asthma…High levels of pollution, including lead & nickel. Rather than just dealing with it, he decided to do something about it. With the help of the Rose Foundation for Communities and Global Community Monitor, Hernandez and his classmates tested the air and were able to hold a news conference announcing their discoveries. They were able to get attention and start making improvements in their area. With school starting soon, we just wanted to show an example of how you can make a difference. It doesn’t matter how old you are…16 or 90…you can be responsible for change!

Here is a little more info about the organizations that helped Juan and his classmates…

Global Community Monitor:

Global Community Monitor (GCM) is an environmental justice and human rights non profit that empowers industrial communities to recreate a clean healthy and truly sustainable environment.
GCM was created to provide hands-on tools for impacted communities to monitor their own neighborhoods. Based on community knowledge and new data, industrial neighbor can increase their power to reduce health threats on their own terms.


Rose Foundation for Communities:
The Rose Foundation's Mission
Fostering community and environmental stewardship.
Improving communications between businesses and their neighbors.
Recognizing individual responsibility for the environmental consequences of personal actions.
Forging positive links between environmental stewardship and sustainable job creation.
Harnessing economic power to leverage environmental sustainability.
Instilling respect for the inalienable rights protected by our nation’s constitution and the essential human rights to clean air, clean water and individual dignity.

Just remember, you don't have to wait for someone else to change things...you can get out there and make a difference too!

Try Change is making a difference in our community too! Remember, 10% of all proceeds go to Volunteers of America Chesapeake. To sign up for our newsletter to find out about the next Try Change community events click here.

Help us pass along the Try Change message by joining one of our blog communities and asking your blog community members to visit our blog.

My Space
Razoo
Idealist
Change.org
MyBlogLog
BlogCatalog
Try Change Newsletter

Dorcas House

Try Change was recently in La Jolla California where we discovered a very nice event at St. James by-the Sea Episcopal Church. The name of the event was "The Art of Latin America". At the festival the church raised funds for Dorcas House (a foster home Tijuana) and the "Responsibility" school at the municipal dump in Tijuana. All proceeds from the event were divided between the the two schools and will help pay for schooling, food and medical cost.

The church was able to raise funds through ticket sales that enabled you to enjoy food and music provided by Jose Morales and to see the "Danza de los Viejitos" (Dance of the Old Men). You can see some of the dancers in our video. Participants could also take part in a silent auction for the artists' work as well as for a group of paintings completed by the children of Dorcas House.

We had a great time at the festival, great music fantastic art work for sale and we had a great tour guide named Mary (We hope we remembered your name correctly!). She took the time to explain the roots of the festival as well as take us on a tour of the church- Thanks Mary!

If you would like to to visit Dorcas House contact Colin Mathewson: colinmathewson@gmail.com

To join the medical team, contact Dr. Patrick Sweet: Patrick.sweet@med.nav.mil

To make a donation, contact Terri Mathes: tmathes@cox.net

Help us pass along the Try Change message by joining one of our blog communities and asking your blog community members to visit our blog.
My Space

Razoo

Idealist

Change.org

MyBlogLog

BlogCatalog

Try Change Newsletter

Try Change shirts now available at the following stores:
Swank - Pentagon City Mall

Indigo - Georgetown

Changes - selected stores

Sports Zone - selected stores

Shadows - Forestville Mall

Fashion Mechanics - Springfield Mall

Evado in the Fair Oaks Mall

Remember, 10% of all proceeds go to Volunteers of America Chesapeake!

Thanks for your support!
Vince & Chrissie

Hope For Vision

Each year millions of Americans lose their vision , some become totally blind. When it comes to blindness I think people tend to not think about it at all until someone within their family or circle of friends are affected by it directly.

Tonight Try Change would like to introduce you to Hope For Vision. As stated on their website:

"Hope For Vision is a group of people like you–people who care about the millions going blind; people who want to know about and celebrate the scientific progress and who want to do whatever they can to support the goal of vision. Hope For Vision is your organization. It exists to help you spread the word and raise support"

"According to the most recent National Eye Institute study, the nation loses over $67 billion annually due to the direct and indirect costs of vision loss, which is more than 100 times the annual budget of the National Eye Institute"

At Hopeforvision.org you can learn of the latest scientific breakthroughs that are taking place, fundraising events and volunteer opportunities within their organization.

Help us pass along the Try Change message by joining one of our blog communities and asking your blog community members to visit our blog.

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Try Change shirts now available at the following stores:

Swank - Pentagon City Mall
Indigo - Georgetown
Changes - selected stores
Sports Zone - selected stores
Shadows - Forestville Mall
Fashion Mechanics - Springfield Mall
Evado in the Fair Oaks Mall
Remember, 10% of all proceeds go to Volunteers of America Chesapeake!
Thanks for your support!




:

PeaceOholics

As some of you know at Try Change we like to introduce or readers to individuals and organizations that are making a difference in our communities. Tonight we bring you PeaceOholics-"People addicted to Peace". If you live in the DC area you may have seen them on the local TV news programs as well as heard them on the local radio stations.

As stated on their website:

"Peaceoholics was established to enhance the academic and social development of at-risk youth and their families. To assist in the reduction of truancy, and violence but to increase common respect, literacy and self-worth amongst our youth and communities.With your help and support we can have a greater impact within the community. Having the proper resources to fund proof positive programs that enable our youth the opportunities to engage in world travels, college tours, youth empowerment seminars, counseling, and a host of other activities that enrich and cultivate a powerful individual and help break the mold"

Services and programs include, but are not limited to:

Youth Leadership Council

Peer and Family Mediation

Job Placement Assistance

Mentoring

Technical Assistance

Transition Back into the Community upon Completion of Incarceration "Re-entry"

Mediation Training

Weekend Workshops and Retreats

Male/Female Counseling

Agency Sensitizing/Partnering Training

Fatherhood/Motherhood Training

Event Coordination

Gang and Neighborhood Intervention

Crisis Intervention

Collaboration Coordination

Substance Abuse Prevention

Motivation Speaking

Youth& Parent Advocacy

So often you hear negative stories that it's great to hear of organizations such as PeaceOholics that are giving back to the community. If you live in the DC area and are looking for ways to make a difference check out PeaceOholics!

Help us pass along the Try Change message by joining one of our blog communities and asking your blog community members to visit our blog.
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Try Change shirts now available at the following stores:

Capital Grind - Landmark Mall

Indigo - Georgetown

Changes - selected stores

Sports Zone - selected stores

Shadows - Forestville Mall

Fashion Mechanics - Potomac Mills & Springfield Mall

Evado in the Fair Oaks Mall

Remember, 10% of all proceeds go to Volunteers of America Chesapeake!

Thanks for your support!

Vince & Chrissie

Volunteers of America

Each week at Try Change we introduce our members to different organizations and individual that serve the communities in which we live. Over the last year we have shared stories of many worthy causes and individuals. This week we would like to revisit our partnership with Volunteers of America Chesapeake. We have personally seen the results of their efforts at homeless shelters such as the Hilda Barg Shelter here in Woodbridge VA as well as their support for the Annual Homeless Walkathon held here in Washington DC.

VOA Chesapeake has over 23 programs that assist individuals who are homeless, victims of domestic violence and many other challenges that are far more prevalent than many people are aware.

As stated on their website's homepage:

Volunteers of America Chesapeake, founded in 1896 in Baltimore, is the locally chartered affiliate of Volunteers of America, Inc., one of the nations largest and most comprehensive human services organizations. Volunteers of America Chesapeake accomplishes its spiritually based mission by serving over 10,000 people annually through programs that spread geographically from Baltimore, Maryland to Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Governed by a Board of Directors, Volunteers of America Chesapeake operates 24 programs that serve the homeless, mentally ill, developmentally disabled, ex-offenders, substance abusers, the elderly and children. Our professional staff of more than 500 employees, partner with dedicated volunteers, local government officials, businesses, civic organizations and the faith community to provide high quality human services.
Volunteers of America Chesapeake's goal is to help those served become self-reliant and make positive life changes.

At Try Change we donate 10% of all our profits from our t-shirt sales to VOA Chesapeake, donate 100% from our annual yard sales ( $900 so far) and have donated hundreds of items to the Hilda Barg shelter as well as volunteer at the shelter when possible. You can find our shirts in MD, VA & DC areas at Fashion Mechanics in the Springfield, Potomac and Manassas Mall, Capital Grind in the Landmark Mall, Evado in the Fair Oaks Mall, The Shadows in the Forestville Mall and selected Changes and Sport Zones stores.

Help us pass along the Try Change message by joining one of our blog communities and asking your blog community members to visit our blog.

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WOW- Yard Sale Success

Well the results are in , the 2nd Annual Try Change Charity Yard Sales was a success!

The weather was great, the turnout was great and the number of items on hand were fantastic! We started at 6am by setting up the tables and wouldn't you know it people began showing up before the start time of 8am. We had hundreds of items on sale and we even attracted a neighbor who decided to bring some of her items to the sales and donate all her proceeds to Volunteers of America as well!

In the end we raised over $400.00 for Volunteers of America and also donated over 200 items to the VOA shelter here in Woodbridge! We want to thank all of the people who took the time to stop by and purchase some items as well as those who just stopped by and made donations to Volunteers of America.

Special thanks goes out to Rose (Chrissie's mom) and David who donated items, set up, manned the tables and broke down the yard sale. Rose & David have an antique business (Delrose) and will be out at the Antique Show at the Dulles Expo Center this coming weekend (July 19th & 20th). We also want to thank our friends Ruth and Martin who took time out of their busy schedule to offer there support, buy items and even assisted opening boxes for us. Ruth and Martin are the owners of Signs by Saenz. They manufacture banners, signs and an array of other items. They produced our Try Change banners for us and they do FANTASTIC work! If you ever have a need for such items they are the company you want to work with, believe me.

We also want to thank my sister Audrey and my nieces and nephews who came out to show their support as well.

It was a great day!

As an extra bonus this weekend we got news from some the stores carrying our shirts that sales are going really well! We even have a re-order from one of the them already!

Check out our Try Change shirts now available at the following stores:
Capital Grind - Landmark Mall
Indigo - Georgetown
Changes - selected stores
Sports Zone - selected stores
Shadows - Forestville Mall
Fashion Mechanics - Potomac Mills & Springfield Mall

2nd Annual Try Change Charity Yard Sale!

2nd Annual Try Change

Charity Yard Sale!

Saturday, July 12th

8am to Noon

100% of all proceeds go to Volunteers of America Chesapeake!

There will be Clothing, Jewelry, Antiques,

Holiday Decor, lots of Coca-Cola collectables and much more!

We'll be in the Beau Ridge Neighborhood in Woodbridge

Directions From Springfield:

Take 95 South to the Rippon Landing Exit

Take a Right onto Rt. 1 South

Make a Right onto Cardinal Drive

Then a Left onto Beau Ridge Drive

We'll be in the lot on your left under the power lines.

You can also click on the map below:

View Larger Map

or enter "Beau Ridge Drive, Woodbridge VA 22193" in Mapquest or Google Maps

or you can always call us at 703-261-7099 or email us at trychange@aol.com

We hope to see you there!! Remember all proceeds from this yard sale go to Volunteers of America Chesapeake! You can help our community and find some new treasures too!! (And maybe some free t-shirts)

Thanks for your support!

Vince & Chrissie

Concernusa.org

"30,000 children under the age of 5 die from poverty and disease every day"

30,000 everyday!

At concernusa.org you can learn how just $60.00 can give a child the medical care they need for an entire year.

Concern Worldwide is a non-governmental, international, humanitarian organization dedicated to the reduction of suffering and working towards the ultimate elimination of extreme poverty in the world’s poorest countries.

Times are tough, property foreclosures are rampant and gas prices are skyrocketing we all may feel a little nervous during this year -however 30,000?

We can do better, visit concernusa.org to learn how you can save a life for as little as 20 Lattes at Starbucks.

Help us pass along the Try Change message by joining one of our blog communities and asking your blog community members to visit our blog.

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Happy 4th of July!!

On the Air!

Tonight Try Change would like to share our two live radio spots that we had last Saturday the first one was with Ill Will introducing Try Change to the listening audience and the second one is with me on the air.

We're having some technical difficulties so please click on the "Start" button on your right at the top of the page to hear the audio.

Thanks for letting us share our launch with you. Later this week we will once again highlight individuals and organizations that are giving back to their communities.

Help us pass along the Try Change message by joining one of our blog communities and asking your blog community members to visit our blog.
My Space
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Thank you to all of you for your support! Never give up on your dreams!

Vince

Try Change Launch with WKYS a Success!

The Try Change launch was a success!! A big Thank You to everyone that came out to support us!! We had a great time and sold some shirts too! Also thanks to WKYS for the live broadcast with Ill Will. He really rocked it! And a big thank you also to Al and Chloe & the crew at Fashion Mechanics for hosting our launch and making us look good! A special thanks to Bobby at Capital Grind for helping us pull this together!

We also want to say thanks to the other stores that are carrying the new Try Change Line:

Capital Grind- Landmark Mall

Changes- Various locations

Indigo- Georgetown

The Shadow- Center at Forestville

And Fashion Mechanics stores in Potomac Mills, Manassas Mall & Springfield Mall

Check out the video above with Ill Will! And don't forget to rock your new TC shirts this week!

Thank you again for all of the support! Especially the family and friends that came out in the crazy traffic to see us! We wouldn't be doing this without you guys!

Vince & Chrissie

Come Celebrate the Launch of Our T-Shirt Line with WKYS 93.9 FM!! Saturday June 28th at Fashion Mechanics in Potomac Mills Mall from 3pm to 5pm.

Try Change Celebrates Launch

Saturday June 28th

(3pm to 5pm)

with WKYS 93.9 FM

at Fashion Mechanics

in Potomac Mills Mall!

Come out and celebrate the launch of our new line of t-shirts at the Fashion Mechanics store in the Potomac Mills Mall in Woodbridge, VA on Saturday June 28, 2008 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m! The launch will coincide with a remote broadcast by one of area's top radio stations WKYS 93.9 FM!

We are very excited that the new line has arrived and want to invite everyone to come out and celebrate with us! There will be free Try Change t-shirts and give-a-ways from WKYS! Come check out our shirts before they all sell out! Don't forget 10% of all proceeds go to Volunteers of America Chesapeake!

The remote broadcast will be from 3pm to 5pm at Fashion Mechanics.
Fashion Mechanics is located in Neighborhood 5 between Saks Fifth Ave & Marshalls at Potomac Mills Mall:
http://www.simon.com/mall/show_floorplan.aspx?ID=1260

Check out our press release:
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/06/prweb1026684.htm

For those of you who haven't heard the story yet...We actually received an email from the talent coordinator for the Jay Leno Show. She saw the press release and thought our story was interesting so we are sending her a press kit and we'll see what happens from there. No promises but you could see the Try Change t-shirts on Leno!

We've also been broadcasting on YouTube (Thanks for the camera Joe!):
http://www.youtube.com/trychangellc

We want to thank everyone for all of the support we've received (along with understanding from our families). None of this could be happening without you guys!

Hope to see you out there Saturday! Call or email us if you need directions!

Vince & Chrissie
trychange@aol.com
703-261-7099

Cell Phones for Soldiers

Tonight we once again bring you another fantastic example of individuals helping others.

The Cell Phones for Soldiers program was started in April 2004 by 13-year-old Brittany Bergquist and her 12-year-old brother Robbie of Norwell, Massachusetts.

Robbie and Brittany's goal is to help our soldiers serving overseas call home. They hope to provide as many soldiers as possible with prepaid calling cards. Through generous donations and the recycling of used cell phones, Robbie and Brittany have already distributed thousands of calling cards to soldiers around the globe.

Cell Phones for Soldiers hopes to turn old cell phones into more than 12 million minutes of prepaid calling cards for U.S. troops stationed overseas in 2008. To do so, Cell Phones for Soldiers expects to collect 15,000 cell phones each month through a network of more than 3,000 collection sites across the country.

Visit http://www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com/ for information on how you can donate your cell phones to our soldiers.

Thanks Brittany and Robbie that everyone can make a difference!

Thank you to everyone who has offered words of encouragement and joined our blog. Let's keep the momentum going by asking your friends and blog members to join one of our communities.

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Ordinary People...

Ordinary people doing extraordinary things for others...tonight we share the story of Eric Gamble. Eric is on a mission to raise money for Angels Place by losing 25 pounds by participating in a boot camp at his gym.

ANGELS' PLACE provides a loving and caring environment for children diagnosed with life-threatening illness. Additional assistance is given to the family as they emotionally struggle for understanding while the pain and exhaustive treatments continue for the dying child. Our respite/end of life program provides ease and comfort to the whole family and help preserve the family unit.

We'll let Eric tell you all about it in his own words via his Travel Beggar blog:

I am starting Eric's 25 for Angel's Place . As many of you know, I also have promoted charity to children's charity. Often, I see and help others who are taking pledges or donations to walk/run or do something for Cancer Research, AIDS Research, Education Against Violence, etc. So I am taking donations to lose weight on behalf on Angel's Place. Right now I weigh 224.5 lbs. My Personal goal is to get to 199 lbs. The program is a 14 week program that will essentially end on August 20th

I am asking for a $25 donation or $1 a pound. You can donate via paypal right now. If you donate now, I will note the amount donated & if by some horrible chance that I don't make the 25lbs, I will refund you a dollar per pound I missed. (ie: if I only lose 20lbs by August 20th then, the Angel's Place will receive your generous $25 donation & I will refund you $5 from my own money...not the Angel's Place. Please consider helping me on my mission to become a healthy Travel Beggar as well as a way to help these great children

Visit Eric's blog or check out Angels Place's website to learn more about this wonderful organization!

Tonight we celebrate everyone who makes it their duty to make a positive difference in the world!

Help us pass along the Try Change message by joining one of our blog communities and asking your blog community members to visit our blog.

My Space

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Thank you to all of you for your support...Never give up on your dreams!

Vince & Chrissie

Malaria No More

Malaria...you may have heard of the disease but did you know that it kills more than one million people worldwide each year? In Africa alone it kills one child every 30 seconds.

Tonight Try Change brings you news of a wonderful organization called Malaria No More. As is states on it's website their mission statement is:

Malaria No More's mission is simple: to end deaths due to malaria. The world has known how to beat this disease for more than a century, yet it remains the number one killer of children under five in Africa, claiming more than 1 million lives a year. Malaria No More works to raise the profile of the disease among the public, policymakers, and businesses, while engaging the private sector to provide life-saving bed nets and other critical interventions to families in Africa

Try Change urges you to visit there website and see how ten dollars can actually save the lives of an entire family.

One of our goals at Try Change is to put our readers in contact with organizations that are making a difference. Help us spread the Try Change message by joining one of our communities and asking your community members to do the same.

Technology has made the world smaller...it has brought us all closer together...And Together we can make a difference!

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Thank you to everyone out there for believing in us and supporting us!

Vince & Chrissie