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A big thank you to Unity of Santa Rosa, CA and their Bookstore for participating in our Buy One, Gift One Program. Their participation in our program resulted in 50 books being gifted to children and teens in the Bellevue School District in Santa Rosa. We thank Rev. Kathy McCall and her staff for ordering the books and for hosting a book signing at her center on Sunday, January 15th, 2012. The center and its congregants purchased 50 books which were matched for the Santa Rosa School District.

We also thank Andrew Oser of Summit Coaching Services for sharing the platform with Steve and Marilyn on that day to talk about The I AM Foundation’s programs.  I AM! Affirmation Books will be gifted to the children and teens of the Santa Rosa School District in February. This in addition to 25 books that were already gifted in late 2011.

From Teachers Bethany Wilson and Linda Grenier of Bellevue Elementary School: “Bellevue School serves primarily students at-risk of underachievement in academics, and enrichment and extra-curricular opportunities are few, due to a strict focus on literacy and math instruction. Our students are taught resiliency skills and I believe the I AM books could support the message that our students are capable of doing anything. The belief in their abilities goes hand-in-hand with teaching them the skills they need to be successful. Bellevue is a public school where 97% of the population is on the free or reduced-price lunch program. Most of our children\’s parents did not graduate from high school, and more than 75% of our students speak Spanish at home. We ar committed to providing all the tools we can bestow on our students to help them lead healthy, happy, productive lives. When students can bring home the tools or resources as well, we reach the family and the parents, and the seed grows ad supports the entire community to value and support our children.”

Everyone can make a difference! You can help us gift books to children by placing purchasing books at The I AM Foundation’s website. We will match each book that is purchased and gift it to a child or teenager in one of our over 1,500 recipient organizations.  Feel free to share the image on this page on your blog or website with a link to The I AM Foundation’s ordering page. Here is the web address: http://www.iamfoundation.org/i-am-affirmation-books.html

Thank you for helping The I AM Foundation strengthen our children and build a world that works for everyone!

Dr. Marilyn Powers and Steve Viglione

Please join Authors Steve Viglione & Dr. Marilyn Powers who will be presenting an Introduction to their book The Bridge: A Seven-Stage Map to Redefine Your Life and Purpose & sharing about The I AM Foundation at The Center for Spiritual Living, 2075 Occidental Road • Santa Rosa, California 95401 • 707-546-4543 ~  Free Event and Book Signing at Stepping Stones Bookstore on Friday evening, Feb. 3rd, 2012, 7:00 PM to 9 PM

When the heart is open, everything is possible… At this time in history we are experiencing a major worldwide awakening. Our personal healing and transformation are absolutely necessary to make this evolutionary leap in consciousness. At the same time we are personally and collectively living in an impasse. We can’t return to the ways and methods of the past, the future is uncertain, and in the present we have more questions than answers; often we feel anxious and stuck. In response to this urgent need for clarity and vision, The Bridge offers a seven-stage map to answer the questions: Where am I? Where have I come from? And most importantly…Where am I going? The Bridge also speaks about two curriculums. The one we received at birth and the one we are here to co-create. The Bridge empowers us to redefine our life and purpose and to awaken our passion to love the work we do and to be richly rewarded for it. Steve and Marilyn will also be sharing about their mission at The I AM Foundation how others can discover their mission and purpose as well as how they can make a positive difference in the world.

Empty the mind and open the heart to move confidently in 2012. Come join us on February 3. 

The I AM Foundation is a 501c3 educational non-profit whose mission is publishing and gifting The Love~Wisdom Series of books and products to empower children and adults worldwide. For more information visit us at www.iamfoundation.org

The Valley of The Moon Children’s Center, Santa Rosa, CA received a gift of one thousand dollars worth of books, posters and curriculum from The I AM Foundation on Thursday, December 22nd, 2012. 

Photo taken by Social Media Publicist Celeste Winders of WordMice.com

On hand to receive the gifts were Valley of The Moon Children’s Center Board Member Julie Atwood of Julie Atwood Events and The Center’s Program Development Manager, Meg Easter-Dawson.

“We are so grateful to The I AM Foundation for the gifts of their affirmation books for kids which fits in perfectly to our program. We are teaching the kids about the importance of valuing themselves and feeling good about themselves. So these gifts are very much appreciated.” shares board member Julie Atwood. “Thank you for your support of the children at our center. The kids will love the books and we can really use them here.” says The Center’s Program Development Manager Meg Easter-Dawson.

On hand to present the gifts to the center were Cydney Martin, a representative of The I AM Foundation, and The I AM Foundation’s Founder, CEO and Children’s Author Steve Viglione. “It is an amazing place with an amazing program. The love and the quality of care that is given here just makes you feel so good. These children who have had such a hard road so early in their lives now have such a wonderful facility to go to. It is with great joy we are able to present 100 of our affirmation books, posters and curriculum to The Valley of The Moon Children’s Center. And it is our intention that these gifts support the kids in knowing their true value. That no matter what they have been through they know they are valuable and they are important to the world…I believe everyone in Sonoma Valley and outside of Sonoma Valley needs to realize what an incredible place there is here for children. Thank you to the board and all the people who make this possible for the kids. It’s a fantastic place.” states Steve Viglione.

Connecting the dots…how this happened was all thanks to social media! Steve Viglione and Julie Atwood connected on Facebook recently. Then Steve saw that Julie was on the Board of Directors at The Valley of The Moon Children’s Foundation.  Then The I AM Foundation created a 48 hour “Like” Campaign on Facebook, and with the supporters of The I AM Foundation’s Facebook Page, Valley of The Moon Children’s Center and friends of Julie Atwood Events they achieved their goal of gifting 100 books to the kids at the center… “For up to 100 people and for every person who Liked our page, we donated a book to The Valley of The Moon’s Children’s Center.”  says Cydney Martin of The I AM Foundation. Cydney heads up community partnerships for The I AM Foundation with sponsors and business’s who want to increase their visibility on Facebook via “Page Likes” while making a difference in the community.

From The Valley of The Moon Foundation’s Website…The Valley of the Moon Children’s Home, which is Sonoma County’s only 24-hour emergency shelter for abused, abandoned, and neglected children.  Since completing the new home in 2009, the Foundation has been able to shift our focus to supporting new programs and opportunities for Sonoma County’s at risk youth.  Included in the Foundation’s 2010 completed projects at the Valley of the Moon Children’s Center are a state of the art covered playground structure, computer lab and a fully stocked resource library.  These projects provide much-needed enhancements to the recreational and educational programs at the Center. For more information please visit www.vomchildrensfoundation.org

The I AM Foundation is a 501(c)3 educational non-profit whose mission is gifting life changing books and music. Since 1998, the foundation has gifted and distributed over 1.1 million books and products around the world and in every state of the U.S.  For more information visit www.iamfoundation.org

The I AM Foundation honors our Canadian Recipient Montessori & Me Preschool, Edmonton, Alberta. Over the years we have shipped children’s books to Principal Patrice Levin.  There are about 48 children in her class each year ages 3 to 6. To donate books or sponsor books from The Love~Wisdom Series, please contact us at The I AM Foundation.

We’d also like to thank author Kathy Parra for donating copies of her book Love Is The Color of The Rainbow to Patrice and the children.

Thanks to our Points of Light Donors Kathy and Ken Casey, The Ridge Elementary School in Ridge, NY is receiving a classroom set of I AM! Affirmation Books for Christmas and Holidays. We received this recipient application request from 2nd Grade Teacher Donna Roenbeck who was absolutely thrilled to hear that her classroom was chosen to receive books from The I AM Foundation. “Thank you so much, that is awesome! The kids will be so happy to have this book for Christmas break.” said Donna. “Our community is very diverse and we are a very low income school. We need books and we want to inspire our kids to read year round. Your gift comes at a great time to help the children in our community where resources are scarce.”  

Founder Steve Viglione says: “I just loved talking to Donna and feeling her passion for helping our kids. Our teachers deserve the greatest respect and all the resources we can give them. I am so happy we are able to do this for her and her class. And I am grateful for our Points of Light Donors Ken and Kathy Casey for making this possible.

Donna will also be sent The I AM! Affirmation Book Curriculum and Classroom Poster for her class. If you would like to sponsor a classroom or donate more books to Donna and her class, please contact us.

The Ridge Community

Our town is the gateway to the Pine Barrens. We are located east of Middle Island and west of Calverton in Suffolk County. Ridge, a rural oasis in the middle of suburbia, is considered horse country by some people. Our 184 acre Environmental Conservation area features hiking, equestrian and nature trails. Since development on the Pine Barrens is banned, Ridge should remain sparsely populated.

Ridge’s business district is made up of a few convenience stores and gas station, some restaurants and small eateries and the  Ridge Post Office located on route 25. King Kullen and K-Mart are located to the west. The LIRR does not have a station in Ridge. Nearby trains in Shirley, Yaphank, or Port Jefferson take an hour and 15 minutes to get to Penn Station. The faster electric train in Ronkonkoma only takes an hour. Ridge is located 50 mile outside Manhattan.

This photo of our dear friend Jessica Conti was featured in USA Today as she gifted I AM! Affirmation Books, food and supplies to the homeless children and people of Los Angeles at Christmas time two years ago.

“When I look at this photo of me gifting the I AM Affirmation books to the many many (thousands) of families in LA that year…it brings me to tears of joy. I still hold that feeling of compassion with me each and every day. It was a cold, rainy day…and the volunteers weathered a long and rewarding day, warm from our hearts overflowing with love. I witnessed a little girl receive this book, it may have been one of her only Christmas presents that year, but probably the best gift of her life. She opened it to the page “I AM Worthy”, and there was a look on her face I will never forget. I assume that she rarely hears those words. She loved the rainbow picture…it brought a smile to her face and a look in her eyes I will never forget. I remember the rainbow, because when I saw her open the book and see that page…I said to her, “maybe a rainbow will come out today.” Thank you for sharing this memory. – Jessica Conti, I AM Foundation Volunteer

Thanks to the generosity of Christopher Oscar, Realtor with Frank Howard Allen Real Estate Company in Sonoma, a classroom of 24 kindergarten children at Bellevue Union School received their own copies of I AM! Affirmation Book: Discovering The Value of Who You Are. Christopher Oscar says “It’s a joy to give this book to the kids. I read this book to my kids each week and see the positive effects it has on them. All parents want the best for the kids, why not start with reading, self-esteem and discovering their value.” Visit Christopher Oscar’s Website Here

Teacher Angela Grenier applied as a recipient to The I AM Foundation’s program, and realtor Chris Oscar stepped up and sponsored her classroom. Angela says: “I teach Kindergarten in the Bellevue Union School District in Santa Rosa, California. The majority of my students are English Language Learns, with their home language being Spanish. Most of these student have never gone to school before. Our school is 98% Socio-economically disadvantaged. I would love to know that each of my student’s has a book at home that is at his/her reading level. I send home book orders monthly with my students but very few of the families have the extra money to buy books for their children. I want my students to love reading and become successful readers and with your help I would be able to know that my students have books that they can read at home.”

If you would like to donate books to Angela’s class or sponsor a classroom at Bellevue Union School District or in your own town or city, please contact The I AM Foundation. 

Thanks to Transition Sonoma Valley  we recently we saw the movie “Home” here at our hometown Sebastiani Theatre in Sonoma, CA. Every seat in the theatre was taken…two different nights. They had to turn people away both nights. The movie made quite an impact on us and the audience; so much of an impact that we have implemented a new program at The I AM Foundation. This program will help people to offset their carbon footprint and will also help educate and inspire this next generation of children to solve problems through creativity and innovation. We do this by gifting children and their classrooms with inspirational books, curriculum and music.

You can watch the “Home” movie right from your computer. The “Home” You Tube description says, “We are living in exceptional times. Scientists tell us that we have 10 years to change the way we live, avert the depletion of natural resources and the catastrophic evolution of the Earth’s climate. The stakes are high for us and our children. Everyone should take part in the effort, and HOME has been conceived to take a message of mobilization out to every human being. HOME has been made for you: share it! And act for the planet.”

The Cover of I AM The Earth on Times Square Billboard over AT+T Building

So just how will you act? What can you do? At The I AM Foundation we can help you take action that will make a difference. The I AM Foundation introduces our new “Offset Your Carbon Footprint and Inspire our Children Program.” Here’s how our program works…

We all use non-renewable energy in our daily lives. Some of us use more and some less depending on many factors. You can determine the approximate carbon you use monthly and how many trees you need to plant to offset your carbon footprint by using this carbon calculator. The I AM Foundation will plant trees and provide kids and classrooms with I Am The Earth Books, Curriculum and Music to inspire the next generation of children to make a difference.

Choose a participation level plan below and make a monthly commitment to the planet and the next generation today. Also, you can give this as a gift to others for holidays and birthdays.

Hybrid Plan: Plant 5 Trees, Gift 5 Children per month with I Am The Earth Books, 2 different I Am The Earth MP3 Songs, and an I Am The Earth Curriculum for their classroom (Retail Value over $100.00) for $25.00 per month or a $300.00 annual gift. You will plant 60 trees per year and impact 60 children per year with the Hybrid Plan.

Easy-Offset Plan: Plant 10 Trees, Gift 10 Children per month with I Am The Earth Books, 2 different I Am The Earth MP3 Songs, and an I Am The Earth Curriculum for their classroom (Retail Value over $200.00) for $50.00 per month or a $600 annual gift. You will plant 120 trees per year and impact 120 children per year with the Easy-Offset Plan.

Sustainability Plan: Plant 20 trees, Gift 20 children per month with I Am The Earth Books, 2 different I Am The Earth MP3 Songs, and an I Am The Earth Curriculum for their classroom (Retail Value over $300.00) for $100.00 per month or a $1,200.00 annually. You will plant 240 trees per year and impact 240 children per year with the Sustainability Plan.

Jet-Setter Plan: Plant 50 Trees, Gift 50 Children per month with I Am The Earth Books, 2 different I Am The Earth MP3 Songs, and an I Am The Earth Curriculum for their classroom (Retail Value over $700.00) for $250.00 per month or a $3,000 annual gift. You will plant 600 trees per year and impact 600 children per year with the Jet-Setter Plan.

Good Corporate Steward Plan: Plant 100 Trees, Gift 100 Children per month with I Am The Earth Books, 2 different I Am The Earth MP3 Songs, and an I Am The Earth Curriculum for their classroom (Retail Value over $1,350.00) for $500.00 per month or a $6,000 annual gift. You will plant 1,200 trees per year and impact 1,200 children per year with the Good Corporate Steward Plan.

Corporations, such as Defense Contractor SAIC, have sponsored 400 trees and 400 I Am The Earth Books, Music, Curriculum for classrooms and organizations in San Diego through this program. Here is what one of our recipients of those books said:

“Thank you again for the I Am The Earth Books from your foundation. The managers of our programs were very excited to receive them. They said that the inspirational message found in the books was perfect to give to our kids!” – Cassie Coke, Casa de Amparo, Oceanside, CA

What You Receive: You will receive a monthly email that lets you know which children and classrooms across the country and the world have received I Am The Earth, and an update of where your sponsored trees are being planted. We plant our trees in partnership with The Arbor Day Foundation and they let us know quarterly where trees are being planted. You will also receive an annual letter from The I AM Foundation showing your total donation for the year.

The I AM Foundation is a 501(c)3 educational non-profit so, in addition to helping the planet, all donations are tax-deductible.

Here’s what the children and classrooms will receive, and you can download these items right now as our gift to you as well:

I Am The Earth Book: Positive Affirmations for Loving Our Planetebook by Steve Viglione

The I Am The Earth Song #1 and Sheet Music by Nekaybaw Marie and her Dad Christian Abrokwah

The I Am The Earth Song #2 by Curtis V

The I Am The Earth Curriculum ebook by Karen Erstfeld, Ph.D, a Rutgers University Professor of Environmental Sciences and Middle School Teacher Roxanne Reno

If you download and enjoy these gifts and do not wish to take part in our programs, please consider making a donation to The I AM Foundation today.

So, join with us today and help our “Home” for generations to come. You can make your monthly commitment right online. Just choose the monthly option on our donation form and mark “Offset Program” and the participation level you choose in the comments field.

You can also choose to mail us your monthly commitment to The I AM Foundation, 7825 Fay Avenue, Suite #200, La Jolla, CA 92037 or our Sonoma office at 192 West Spain St. Sonoma, CA 95476

Thank you for doing your part in offsetting your carbon footprint and supporting the next generation of children in being the innovators of a sustainable future! All trees are planted through our partnership with The Arbor Day Foundation. To date we have planted over 1,000 trees from I Am The Earth Books and Sponsorships. The I AM Foundation is a 501c3 educational non-profit corporation. All donations are tax-deductible.

The I AM Foundation has received a request for books from The Love~Wisdom Series from Ronaldo Rivera of Therapeutic Community Support Group, Inc of Davao City, Philippines. We will be shipping a box of books to them for their library. Here is their written request:

“The therapeutic community support group helps rehabilitation centers and detention facilities transform into becoming a learning environment pursuant to one of the treatment categories of a therapeutic communities the improvement of their intelligence. Hence we want to build libraries in these facilities.” – Ronald Rivera

They have 60 adults and 60 children here. If you would like to sponsor books from The Love~Wisdom Series for this organization: For every $50 sponsorship we receive for this request we can ship 15 brand new books to the Philippines including shipping. To do so make a donation here or  Please contact us. Thank you.

We have a classroom of students in Middletown Ohio who are in need of books for their class. These are special ed children and they deserve to have resources. The I AM Foundation will be donating a classroom set of The I AM! Affirmation Books to their teacher Amy Ross. In addition other books including I Am The Earth: Positive Affirmations for Loving Our Planet are being donated.

“I work in a predominatly low-income, urban school district. I teach a population of students who all have reading difficulties. I feel it is so important to give them high-quality reading opportunities. However, I can’t afford replinish my classroom materials myself and my district is very strict with the way money is spent. Because of this, I feel I’m not providing my students with what they deserve. Hi interest-low level reading material is hard to come by but would be fabulous to have!”

= Amy Ross, Highview Sixth Grade Center, Middletown City Schools

Would you like to make a difference in their lives? Adopt this classroom today.   Contact us

middletowncityschools.com

Best-selling children’s author, Founder and CEO, Steve Viglione of           The I AM Foundation is launching a new service to help others successfully publish and market their books. Steve has been an author for over 16 years and has published 10 books through The I AM Foundation, a non-profit publishing house for The Love~Wisdom Series. This is a series of books to empower children and adults, authored by Steve Viglione and his wife Dr. Marilyn Powers, Co-Founder of The I AM Foundation.

Steve’s best-selling book The I AM! Affirmation Book: Discovering The Value of Who You Are has over 177,000 copies in print of various editions and has been translated into 40 languages.

“Because of the quantity of requests I receive to help people with their books, I’ve decided to put together a menu of Author Services. This consulting role will help support those who want to successfully self-publish and market their books,” states Steve Viglione.

Steve Viglione Author Services Menu

Steve can help you publish your book and assist you in the following areas:

Creating a vision for your book

Creating the best title and sub-title for your book

Marketplace analysis

Marketing

Putting the right team together for your book and e-book including: editing, layout, printing, cover design, social media, webpage, marketing and distribution

Fundraising and sponsorships for your books

Social Media Partnerships

Another way Steve and The I AM Foundation can support you and your book is through a strategic social media partnership. The I AM Foundation will share about your book and website on our blog and social media which includes twitter, linked in, Facebook, plaxo and others. The books and publications we promote need to align with the values of The I AM Foundation. This service is available for one hour’s consulting fees or $150.00 as a donation to The I AM Foundation.  If additional time is required,  regular rates apply, please see below.

Book Evaluations and Feedback

In order to read through your manuscript or book and provide feedback please read the following.  This reading and feedback service is available for a minimum one hour’s consulting fees or $150.00 as a donation to The I AM Foundation. For additional time beyond the first hour the rates below will apply.

Endorsements and Forward Requests

Endorsements and forwards will be considered on a case by case basis by Steve Viglione and Dr. Marilyn Powers.

Steve Viglione’s Consulting Services Rates are $2.50 per minute with a minimum of 20 minutes. To speak with Steve on your book idea, please call him at 619.297.7010 or contact him through his website. (www.steveviglione.com) Payments can be made through paypal, credit card or right on The I AM Foundation’s website by donation to The I AM Foundation. 

October 17, 2011 – We recently received an application from Teacher Tracey Poole at DeAnza High School, Richmond CA to receive books from our program. Tracey says “Our school consist of about 85-90% low-income students who do not even have the basic supplies for school. The books donated will be used to get our students to read freely and encourage them to read books at their reading level.”

The I AM Foundation has gifted 30 children and teens with books at DeAnza High School in Richmond, CA.

Visit DeAnza High School 

 

Bikundo Onyari of aNDE Kenya

We are pleased to form our partnership with Bikundo Onyari of Nairobi, Kenya. Bikundo has been a long time friend of ours on Facebook and is also passionate about making a difference in the lives of children and youth in his native Kenya. Bikundo is actively working on corporate partnerships to sponsor The I AM! Affirmation Book in English and Swahili for the children of his country.

His company aNDE Kenya aNDE Kenya Limited derives its name from the latin verb ANDARE which means to walk, move, grow and develop. They are a training and consultancy company that offers personal development tools to individuals and teams through training and life coaching.

Their vision is to demonstrate compassionate, life affirming, and insightful examples that encourage and assist the emergence of self-empowered individuals who reconnect with innate wisdom to achieve a lifetime experience of prosperity and abundance.

Here aNDE Kenya’s facebook page address

Here is their website http://www.andekenya.co.ke

To contact Bikundo about sponsoring I AM! Affirmation books in English and Swahili for the children of Kenya, email him at

info@andekenya.co.ke or call Phone:  0721339389 , 0731339 389

Susan Buning of Lamphere Schools-Early Intervention in Madison Heights, MI wrote to us to receive books. Susan says:

“My program serves children ages 0-3 with disabilities. A majority of the students live in low-income homes and have little access to books. Several students come from refugee families from Iraq and Sudan. These books would help me to encourage early literacy in the community. It would assist me in teaching parents how to read to their child with special needs and why reading is such a fundamental part of their future success.”

If you have books to give to this facility, please call 248-589-1990 ext. 2037 and tell them The I AM Foundation referred you. The I AM Foundation will be gifting a box of books to this community in October.

Jeffrey and Danielle Coprich

Did you ever notice that people come into your lives for a reason, a season or a lifetime? The I AM Foundation is so fortunate to
know our very dear friends Jeffrey and Danielle Coprich of Los Angeles and Principal Carolin McKie of the 116th St School in South Central Los Angeles.  Jeffrey came to us on an auspicious day over three years ago and told us his story.

The story of how through tragic loss, he wanted to make the world a better place for children in honor of his beloved daughter Essence Coprich. Essence’s life was taken way too soon. Too much for any parent to bear. Jeffrey however,  committed himself to making a difference and created The Essence Coprich Library at the 116th St School in South Central Los Angeles.

116th St School Children Receiving Their Books

Over the years and through our dedicated partnership, The I AM Foundation has contributed over 2,500 books to the children and youth of the 116th Street School and who visit The Essence Coprich Library. And this past August, Principal Carolyn McKie contacted The I AM Foundation for support. Carolyn said “I am working on expanding a positive self-esteem program that I use with my students. I was hoping to include a copy of The I AM! Affirmation Book for each student.”

Jeffrey Coprich wanted everyone to know that his son Jeffrey Coprich, Jr., a student at West Ranch High School in Valencia, CA, is a major help to The Essence Coprich Library. Jeffrey Jr. plays varsity football in the positions of running-back and corner back. He makes an enormous contribution to the Essence Coprich Library. His Dad says, “Jeffrey likes to help, he plays a big part. Jeffrey, Jr. loves to read to

Jeffrey Coprich Jr.

Jeffrey Coprich Jr.

the children and he collects the books and gets them over to the library. He even thinks of bringing books to the homeless children we serve at Christmas time. Jeffrey uses the I AM! Affirmation Book for Teens and Young Adults and is sharing them with his football team. Jeffrey Jr. is an incredible kid. He sorts and carries the books to the school. I couldn’t do this without Jeffrey’s help. ” Check out this story on Jeffrey Coprich, Jr. on the Official Huskers Locker Blog.

In Loving Memory of Essence Coprich

Because of the generosity of The I AM Foundation’s Points of Light program, every child at The Essence Coprich Library and the 116th St School will be receiving an I AM! Affirmation Book this fall as part of Carolin’s self-esteem program. In addition, 1,000 teenagers and young adults in Los Angeles County are receiving The I AM! Affirmation Book for Teens and Young Adults: Empowering Who You Are. Read what this principal shares about the value of The I AM! Affirmation Book in her school:

Principal Carolin McKie with Hollywood Actors at 116th St School

“When children receive positive attention from adults they feel valued as if they really matter; are visible; and are worth something to someone. This in return increases their self-esteem in a way that no amount of money can purchase. When a child’s self-esteem increases they feel better about themselves and learn the value of their existence in the world. They learn to value their life, the lives of others and the life of the planet we live on. Often times children are not validated enough, they feel isolated because no one may listen to them or may hear their dreams or aspirations.

When we talk with children we need to teach them that they do matter. That each one has unique and special gifts inside of them that can be used for the betterment of humanity.  It does not matter the environment in which they grow up because many people have suffered far more adversities in life, yet overcame those adversities because of the belief in themselves to make a difference for themselves and others. We need to encourage each child to use his or her gifts and talents to their fullest potential and in a positive way. We have all too often experienced the chaos and destruction when talented children are left to those who would use their gifts for personal gain to the detriment of mankind.  I often say that the concept of someone being a genius does not know name, rank, serial number, color, gender, race or creed. It comes from where it comes.

This is why the work of The I AM Foundation and The I AM! Affirmation Book: Discovering The Value of Who You Are is so important to our kids. The book is a tool we use at our school which helps us achieve these goals. We encourage and challenge all adults: educators, parents, community groups and society as a whole to invest in every child by sowing seeds to help them understand who they are and what they are worth. It is never too late to begin this important work. WE have the ability and tools that we need to encourage our children to greatness.”

-Carolin McKie, Principal, 116th Street School, Los Angeles, CA

If you have read this far in this article, you must know that the children of our inner cities who come from low to mid-income families are the ones who are getting hit the hardest in these current economic times.  Some of the parents cannot afford to make books a priority. Sometimes they are so in survival mode, its hard for them to meet the needs of their children. We welcome your partnership in whatever way we can work together to make a positive impact in your community.

Click here for more information on how you can make a dynamic impact by sponsoring a school through The I AM Foundation’s Annual Points of Light Campaign.