Lighting up the night in October

By Brittany Shoots-Reinhard

Foundation Beyond Belief’s Beyond Belief Network is a network of secular humanist groups interested in volunteering (Volunteers Beyond Belief) and raising money for FBB and our beneficiaries (Foundation Partners Program).

Quite a few teams were busy in October with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light The Night walks and fundraisers. With three months left in the 2013 walk season, we’re halfway to our goal of $500,000. With the help of several hundred walkers on teams all across the United States and Canada, we’ve raised $250,000 to help patients.

University of North Georgia Humanist Student Union held a Hug an Atheist event to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and wrote a wonderful post about their experience for the FBB blog.

FreeOK also held an LTN fundraiser: They set up a Hug an Atheist booth at Dove Science Academy's Elementary Fall Festival. There were hugs of all shapes and sizes and some that looked an awful lot like secret handshakes.

The Humanist Community at Harvard recently participated in Boston's annual Light The Night Walk. More than 50 people helped raise $2,631.91, and nine people participated in the walk at the Boston Common. The event was successful due in part to collaboration with a Humanistic Judaism congregation, Kahal B'raira, which donated through the Humanist Community at Harvard team and sent a representative to walk with HCH. HCH is also embarking on a new interfaith service initiative called Values in Action in partnership with Foundation Beyond Belief.

Fellowship of Freethought Dallas held a bake sale at their weekly gathering to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. They sold regular and gluten-free cupcakes and brownies. They also designed t-shirts to sell and wear at events. This event raised more than $350! Fellowship of Freethought Dallas also prepared a delicious meal of grilled hamburgers and tater tots for Youth First Texas. Youth First Texas provides a safe haven for LGBT youth with nowhere else to go.

Humanists of Houston had their Light The Night walk in October. They also sorted medical supplies for Project C.U.R.E. Project C.U.R.E. accepts donations from individuals, hospitals, and clinics and relies on volunteers to sort and inventory medical supplies such as IV tubing, bandages, drapes, and syringes. The supplies they sorted and packed will be shipped to clinics in developing nations.
 
The Metropolitan Chicago Chapter of the Freedom from Religion Foundation joined the Friendly Atheist Virtual team for the Light The Night Walk. A total of $1,595 was raised by chapter members for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. FFRFMCC also held a social meet-up where attendees brought in nonperishable food items for donation to the Northern Illinois Food Bank. A total of 50 pounds of food products were donated.

Although most of the walks have already ended, we will be fundraising until the end of January. Until then, Todd Stiefel and his family are offering a matching grant so every dollar donated results in two dollars going to LLS. You can donate or learn more at www.FBBLLS.org.

If you’re a walker or a team captain, we have one more Incentives Week for 2013. Keep an eye on your inbox to find out how you can earn a $10 gift card to Starbucks! You could also win a Kindle Fire, Amazon gift card, or AmEx gift card!

In November, Beyond Belief Network will observe Hunger Awareness Month by encouraging BBN teams to help local food banks and soup kitchens. If you are a member of a secular humanist or atheist group and would like to participate in community service projects under the national umbrella of Foundation Beyond Belief, join Beyond Belief Network. We welcome all atheist groups interested in service, from groups with extensive volunteer experience to newly formed groups new to secular service. By aggregating our efforts, we show the world that all we really need is charity and goodness to make the world a better place.