Lisa M. Dietlin

Summertime is about to start. That is what most of us seem to think when we approach the Memorial Day weekend which always occurs on the last Monday in May. The day was established originally known as Decoration Day a time to remember those who died while in military service....

May is ALS Awareness Month and while most of us have heard of ALS Disease, often referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease, there is little we actually know.

ALS is an acronym for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis which is a form of motor neuron disease caused by the...

It's a topic many of us, including myself, find difficult to think about but the numbers are staggering. Approximately 3 million reports of child abuse are made a year in the United States though it is estimated that the actual number of incidents of abuse and neglect is...

Did you know that April is Community College Awareness Month? Did you know that community colleges serve almost half of the undergraduate students in the United States, providing open access to postsecondary education? They truly are an important and vital role in the postsecondary education delivery system.

While most...

Did you know, April is National Sarcoidosis Month? You might ask what or who is sarcoidosis and how do you pronounce it?

A few months ago was when I first heard this word and yes, when I first heard the word "sarcoidosis" I had to ask for it to be...

Most of us have heard the old saying that April showers bring May flowers... but April is also the month designated as Autism Awareness Month. Yes, during April a month-long effort is made to raise awareness about this disorder. Let's look at some of the facts.

Autism is a term...

With Women's History Month upon us, many organizations and entities including are paying attention and plan to honor and pay tribute to the many generations of women whose commitment to communities, children, the environment and numerous other parts of the world that have proved most valuable to the overall society...

Many of us only think about our hearts on Valentine's Day or when we fall in love. But according to the American Heart Association we should think about our hearts all year long! February is American Heart Disease Awareness Month and many of us see "Go Red For Women" campaigns...

January is designated as National Mentoring Month. When I learned of this I began thinking about who the mentors were in my life. In other words, who were the people that made a difference in my life? I came up with three and my guess is if you follow my...

Why does every nonprofit organization contact me at the end of the year? Is this the only time of year that individuals are charitable? How do I make sure my donation can be deducted on my tax return?

Many donors rush to make their charitable contributions before each year ends....

Kids still write letters to Santa Claus in the hopes they will be answered on Christmas morning. While they probably no longer have visions of gingerbread men dancing in their heads, they do have hopes of receiving a toy, a book, a skateboard, a bicycle, an iPod, a smartphone... the...

Thanksgiving is a time that the nation turns its attention toward being grateful for all the blessings/things in our lives. We think about all those blessings that this year has afforded us and then sit down to a fabulous feast of food. However, while most of us "over-eat" during the...

Animal shelters are an important part of any community. This year, November 6 - 11, is National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week. It started in 1996 based on a great idea from the Capital Humane Society located in Lincoln Nebraska and now has gone national always occurring during the first full...

Make A Difference Day is this Saturday, October 22nd! What will you be doing to participate?

Make A Difference Day was started in 1990 by USA WEEKEND Magazine and is celebrated each year on the 4th Saturday in October. It has a 21-year history of bringing people...

Have you ever heard of the disease dystonia? It is the third most common neurological disorder after tremors and Parkinson's disease. It is a movement disorder that causes the muscles to spasm and contract involuntarily. According to the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation, "Opposing muscles often contract simultaneously as...

"Where were you when the world stopped turning?" is the opening line and title of Alan Jackson's song recalling and remembering September 11th. The story goes that the singer/songwriter could not sleep shortly after the 9/11 attacks due to what had happened and this song get repeating in his head...

With Labor Day fast approaching, many of us are already beginning to anticipate the end of summer and all its fun activities. However, I suggest this Labor Day taking a look at the meaning of the holiday and what you can do to uphold and honor its original intent while...

In the month of August, many of our thoughts turn to summer coming to a close and getting the children in our lives ready to return to school. I would strongly encourage you to shift your attention to something else... vaccinations! Most of us born in the 20th century take...

Do your part to make a difference on Independence Day!

Parades, barbecues, picnics and a three-day holiday weekend! As Independence Day approaches, many Americans are making plans or thinking about what they want to do. I strongly suggest you consider adding a charitable component to your celebrations!

This year...

According to the report released today by Giving USA Foundation and its research partner, the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, charitable giving by American individuals, corporations and foundations is estimated at $290.89 billion for 2010, an increase of 3.8 percent from 2009 estimates. According to Edith Falk,...