I'm just another working mom seeking a few moments of Zen and zinfandel between soccer practice and supper. My former beach bartender husband founded 
American Girl is such a girl-centric, positive brand that I didn’t mind my 8-year-old becoming completely obsessed with everything affiliated it, from the dolls to the books. She snatches the new catalog the second it arrives in the mail and flips through it until the pages are dog-eared. American Girl dolls were definitely the top gifts under the tree Christmas morning! I can also remember my own niece, who just graduated from Northwestern University, loving American Girl when she was little.
I am very excited to be partnering with American Girl to help spread the news about their new charitable initiative, Shine On Now!
My daughters have seen first hand how Nashvillians rallied together to help their neighbors following the horrific flooding in May. Not a week after the flood, two of our neighbors coordinated a picnic at our community park. Normally a place where children head for the playground, our park was transformed into an amazing demonstration of community support for volunteers and flood victims. Area restaurants donated food, musicians set up an impromptu bluegrass show, and Nissan donated a truckload of clothing. It was amazing.
How does the American Girl Shine On Now initiative work?
Beginning this week girls can sign up to become official American Girl Ambassadors at Shine On Now. They will receive a free, downloadable tool kit filled with fun tips and ideas for volunteering and making a difference. On July 13 they can then begin donating up to 100 free “stars” a day to help American Girl reach its goal of collecting one million stars by July 31. The donated “stars” help four organizations: the National Wildlife Federation, Kids in Distressed Situations, Save the Children, and the National Association of Children’s Hospitals. If the goal of one million stars is met, American Girl will doante $1 million in clothes, books, dolls, and money to these four charities.
American Girl is also launching a new online destination for girls: Innerstar University. Innerstar University is a safe virtual world where girls can learn to be their best through games, quizzes, and other activities designed to help boost their confidence and strength. They can also explore this new online destination with their My American Girl doll, a new line of 18-inch contemporary dolls.
To celebrate the launch of Shine On Now and Innerstar University, I’ll be giving away two My American Girl dolls on July 13! The My American Girl line allows girls to create a special doll as unique as they are through a new, innovative online tool. From hair color to braces to glasses, their doll will reflect their beauty and special traits.
Be sure to stop back by on the 13th to enter the giveaway! I will be giving one doll away to a Nashville family affected by the May flood; the other doll will be given to an overall winner.
You can learn even more about the Shine On Now initiative on Facebook and Twitter.
Disclosure: I received no monetary compensation for my work in announcing the Shine On Now initiative. American Girl is providing me with two My American Girl dolls, both of which I am giving away. They are also donating 1,000 stars to the Shine On Now initiative in my name.
I am sure I’d be back on July 13th. I’d be back before then but will mark that date down.
Liza,
Definitely stop back by on July 13th!
What a great program! I can’t wait to share it with my daughter.
Great program!
[...] I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, I’m so excited to be partnering with American Girl to help spread the news about their new [...]
I am not sure if I am in the right place to be entering the giveaway, I hope I am! I would like to enter my beautiful daughter. She is 9 years old and has a heart of gold. She has been struggling with Selective Mutism since she was 3, but still finds ways around it to inspire others. She has been a Brownie Girl Scout for 3 years and in dance for 6 years. My daughter inspired our family to start recycling 3 years ago and watches to make sure we are doing our part! She helps out with the younger kids in church, wants to adopt children when she is an adult, and is always watching out for the underdog at school. She took her cousin around the playground introducing him to new people and will sit with him at lunch if he is alone. He has a hard time with the kids in school and my daughter is always sticking up for him reguardless what her friends say. She is an inspiration to me.
[...] mentioned a couple of weeks ago on my main mommy blog that I’m so excited to be partnering with American Girl to help spread [...]
nice!!
The crux of your writing whilst sounding agreeable initially, did not work well with me after some time. Someplace throughout the paragraphs you actually were able to make me a believer but only for a while. I nevertheless have got a problem with your jumps in assumptions and you would do well to fill in all those gaps. If you can accomplish that, I would certainly be fascinated.