September 1st! How can it be September 1st already? This year has flown by for me and I suspect for some of my readers as well. If you have been a reader of It’s Just Life for awhile you are aware of my Comments for a Cause program that I do every month. Each month I choose a new charity or organization to highlight and for each comment left on any post (regardless of date) Chris and I have committed to make a donation of 50 cents to that particular cause. It has been a privilege to do this every month since April 2011 and one of these days I am going to put a listing of all of our Comments for a Cause recipients but not today because I am pressed for time and it is going to take a bit to get all of those links together. 
In August I had the back to school theme in mind when I choose the Connestee Falls Scholarship Fund. Chris and I love living in Connestee Falls and have gotten to know so many really wonderful people in our first year of residence. One of the things that impressed me the most is the generosity and the willingness of everyone here to give back. The Connestee Falls Scholarship Fund has been in existence since 1987. To date the Scholarship Program has been able to donate over $800,000 to 500 local Transylvania County students to help with their education.
This month Chris and I are excited to report that after counting all the comments our donation will be $175.00. Thank you to all who have generously taken their time to read and leave comments. I know you all lead busy lives and to know that you have taken the time to read and comment warms my heart.
In September I have the pleasure of introducing my readers to Special Books by Special Kids. This organization was founded by teacher Chris Ulmer who as a special education teacher saw the unique spirit and personalities of the students he taught. His dream is to publish a book that highlights the intelligence and humor that these children have and to have that eventually turn into a series for classroom use. His fear is that the neurodiverse community is so often isolated from society and he wants to change that reality.
While he has not written that book yet he has done a multitude of videos on his Facebook page highlighting some of these wonderful children. I was in tears watching many of them because yes—they are indeed amazing individuals. Here is just one of the videos that is also posted on YouTube.
According to their website this is the core of Special Books by Special Kids:
Mission
Special Books by Special Kids is a multi-media movement that spreads empathy, understanding and acceptance for neurodiverse individuals.
Vision
Special Books by Special Kids is leading a global acceptance movement that brings awareness to the joys, needs, and struggles of the special needs community and promotes the acceptance and celebration of neurodiverse individuals by all.
Values
Honesty Respect Mindfulness Positivity Collaboration
Our donation at the end of this month will help support the continuation of the SBSK global acceptance movement. All donations are tax-deductable and provide for travel accomodations, equipment, as well as salaries for staff. If you are interested in donating on your own please feel free to click here to make a secure online donation.
To watch more videos click here.
Please join me in supporting Special Books by Special Kids. For more information please visit the following places to get more information, view videos and contact them if you know of someone that could be a possible interview for them. Remember that for every comment made on any post of It’s Just Life Chris and I will donate 50 cents with a cap of $500. Every comment counts.
