There have been countless Feed the Homeless Campaigns, Bundles of Warmth initiatives, Gifts of Life events, and much more. Share your story by sending us photos from a previous campaign where you helped make a difference.  A picture is worth a thousand words – show us what one that spells Sikhcess for you.

Please email all photos in .jpg or .png format to info@sikhcess.org by December 31st, 2010.

Thank you for your continued passion and energy in making your community a better place – we couldn’t do it without you!

Happy Holidays from all of us at Sikhcess!

We are very thankful for all of the great things you’ve helped us start.  Have a very happy Thanksgiving.

Sikhcess Team

p.s.  If you’re looking for a place to volunteer this Thanksgiving Season, we encourage you to consider calling your local homeless shelters, soup kitchens, and food pantries and explaining to them that you’d like to help prepare, serve, and clean up after a meal provided to an under-served population.  Keep in mind that this is a very busy time of year and some shelters may be overwhelmed with volunteer activity, so stay patient, and if they say that they are full, offer to volunteer your time into December or January.  Odds are that they’ll say “yes!” and “thank you!”

Two feet and a pair of running shoes!

Sikhcess and Team Asha have teamed up to host our First Annual 5K Family Walk/Run to help promote education in both the United States and abroad.

All registration fees and fundraising will support making education possible to children in low-income and underserved areas. Each runner makes a big impact in helping us afford books, resources, and outreach materials.

Sign up today as we take one step closer to changing the lives of children and their families!

Date : 9.26.10 (Sunday)
Location : Chicago, Illinois
Time : 8:30 am – 12:30 pm
Contact : info@sikhcess.org, or call 630.533.1346

Click the link below to get started!

http://ashanet.org/chicago/blogs/asha-sikhcess-5k/register/

The event is less than three weeks away and will attract many families and young adults who want to support the cause. If you are interested in learning more about event sponsorship or volunteering at the event, contact us at info@sikhcess.org.

Well, sometimes it’s easier said than done. Most of us want to give back, donate, find time to visit our local shelter and help out. But we’re all busy these days. We have full time jobs. Some of us have two jobs. And then some of us juggle jobs along with an ongoing education. Or maybe you’re in school full time, planning your stamp on the world. Then again, this past year in the job market has been brutal. Many are occupied trying to find a job in which community service is the last thing on our minds.

So I have to ask: who has time to give back?

Well, here’s an eye opener: everyone in this organization is making time. I’ve described all of us in the previous paragraph. We’re all occupied with other responsibilities, not to mention those with family obligations. We make time after work or maybe a few minutes online. It’s not easy to cancel plans on a weekend after a long week, instead making the trip to hand out food. It’s not easy to step outside our own safe worlds and into someone else’s, helping a stranger, giving up your time.

Then again, sometimes it is. To be in a position to give back, is a position of privilege. I consider myself fortunate to have stability in my life. I’m also supported by generous friends and family. This helps to keep me going but many out there are alone, don’t have support or friends but long, empty days and nights with little promise. A few moments of our time can mean another day for someone else.

Yes, I think we do have time to give back.

If you’re interested, you can learn more about us here. If you’d like to help out, please let us know!

I thought about a leader who began a purposeful movement to dissolve racial divides and ensure equal rights and opportunities for all of the world’s citizens. The movement initiated by Martin Luther King Jr. continues today, fueled by the enduring compassion and commitment of leaders in all of our communities.

As a Sikhcess volunteer, I have had the unique privilege to serve alongside some of those leaders who draw from the inspiration of visionaries such as Martin Luther King Jr. and are actively shaping a wave of change that transcends cultural, religious, and economic divides.  During Sacramento’s Feed the Homeless campaign in April 2008, over fifty volunteers from diverse college campuses, congregations, and communities converged at the West Sacramento Sikh Temple.  These leaders (of all ages!) came from all walks of life, but brought with them a shared vision of creating a better world and a shared enthusiasm for serving their community. The result was truly incredible. In just two days, 1,300 meals were prepared and delivered to the Sacramento homeless and hungry.

Since the April Feed the Homeless campaign, Sikhcess volunteers in Sacramento have joined together over and over again to give back to their community—during Operation Backpack in July to provide children in need with backpacks and school supplies, during the Community Clean-up in September to clean and revitalize a community park, and during yet another Feed the Homeless pledge last November.

For me, Sikhcess has become an example of what can be achieved when a group of like-minded individuals come together to make a positive impact on their communities, and I consider myself extraordinarily lucky to be a part of it.

What I have learned from leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and the leaders in my own community is that the ones that have the most impact—the ones that tear down barriers and create social change—are those who immerse themselves in the world. They are the ones who engage themselves in their communities and create lasting bonds with the people whom they serve.  They are the ones who transform differences into an open dialogue of ideas, beliefs, and opportunities. We too can also become these leaders learning from their selfless actions and community commitment.

Please feel free to share your thoughts on community and diversity as we reflect on Martin Luther King Jr.

By Deep K. Jodhka

Okay … so after weeks of working around the clock, brainstorming a ‘BIG Idea’ for the million-dollar Chase Community Giving grant, we’ve come up with a solution.  And a darn good one, at that.  Want to learn how to change the world?

It begins with children.

There are a lot of problems that people face …  War. Aids. Poverty. Drugs. Terror. Malaria. Violence. Ignorance. Hate.  And worse yet, millions of kids have to deal with this stuff on a daily basis.

Which begs the question, “How do we stop robbing children of their futures, and help solve the world’s problems at the same time?”

The answer is in connecting the world’s children.  All 2.2 billion of them.  We will unite children in the spirit of global synergy; engaging them with world-class education, advanced digital technology, and culturally rich interaction.

Vote For Sikhcess – RIGHT NOW – To Make This A Reality

Here’s How:

1.  Go to Facebook Here

2.  Vote for Sikhcess

3.  STOP. don’t read anymore …

… VOTE FIRST … go vote … right now!

… and now keep reading if this sounds too vague …

We begin by teaching children an essential curriculum that many people around the world will never receive.

Kids will learn math, reading, writing, and analytics (how to read a map or pie graph, for example).

The curriculum extends into subject areas that include global history, current topics, and future concerns to our world and it’s people.  It also covers science, technology, including computer technology.  It covers health, wellness, and lifestyle habits.  Finally, each unit in the curriculum incorporates universal values to encourage global citizenship.

In tandem, children will interact with other children across the world with video and sound; where one child can share his or her own stories and view the experiences of another child on the other side of the globe.

Future generations of our world will gain valuable insight and skills, including integrity, responsibility, compassion, the sense of duty, the value of community, with a greater global-awareness.

So, please, VOTE FOR SIKHCESS RIGHT NOW

You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one,I hope someday you’ll join us, and the world will be as one.
- John Lennon

Once you've voted, make this your Facebook Profile picture

Our goal, therefore, is to provide the world’s children educationally-diverse experiences and culturally-rich interactions.  It is to give each child the confidence, wisdom, and ability to make positive contributions to our world.  It is to increase awareness in our future generations – and to enable it to produce outcomes that are seemingly unattainable – one humanity, one people, working together for unity and peace.

So is this really going to work?  Yes.

For a few different reasons.

First; because we have the indomitable spirit of Sikhcess volunteers.  This is our biggest secret … our greatest asset … as so many of our volunteers can attest, “helping someone in a way in which they can never repay you … makes you feel like you matter … like there’s a reason for being in this world”.

Second, because we work off of a merit-based system.  Each child learns by completing achievable tasks.  Tasks like explaining the concept of matter, ‘solid/liquid/gas’ – or volunteering in their community for the day.  When the child completes a task, they earn a merit-award.

Each child who receives the most merit-awards from each particular region wins a two-week structured trip to the United States.  We will show each child the best that America has to offer – Disney World, our top educational institutions, and national monuments.  That child will return to their region with a documentary of their visit.  The child will have the stories to inspire so many other children in their region to excel, and they’ll have the imagery to back it!

Chase Community Giving is giving Sikhcess the chance to achieve this goal NOW.  Vote for Sikhcess; changing the world is just just one click away.

VOTE FOR SIKHCESS

On a personal note, being a volunteer for Sikhcess has changed my life.  Over the past 9 years, I’ve invested more time working for the organization ‘Sikhcess’ than on any other project – and that investment has paid off in a BIG way. Sure, Sikhcess has help me grow into a leader, but the true joy I have is in seeing so many other people that serve, and whom we serve, develop the skills to do remarkably well personally and professionally.  It really changes peoples lives!

Perhaps most impressive is the enthusiastic spirit that each one of our volunteers has towards the work we do.

PLEASE take a moment to vote for Sikhcess.  Know, that with your vote, you are making a resolute statement.  You are declaring that you are not only being the change, but committed to changing the world.  Take action now.  Please Vote for Sikhcess!

VOTE FOR SIKHCESS

The lay person becomes legendary, and stories where world-renowned authors create themselves using nothing more than a blog, and billion-dollar companies joyously reward self-starters on Facebook with vacations.

Video History of Coca-Cola’s Facebook Fan Page

Taking a page out of the other guys’ books, we’re going to ask you to help us grow Sikhcess in all realms social media – starting with Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace, and Twitter.

To our dedicated volunteers around the world, we want to reward your dedication. Between today and February 1, For every 1,000 people who join our Facebook Fan Page, we will randomly select 5 people to receive our brand new Sikhcess 2010 t-shirt!

The Official Sikhcess Facebook Fan Page

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Change-the-World-Join-Sikhcess/247238197562

Sikhcess on Twitter
http://twitter.com/sikhcess

Fans of Sikhcess on LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/groups?home=&gid=1126887

Fans of Sikhcess on MySpace
http://www.myspace.com/sikhcess

All you need to do is join.  Really, it’s that easy!

In the next few days we’ll release at least one more exciting opportunity to win a great prize.  Stay tuned, and have your webcams ready !!!

I could only wonder if more subway cars is really the answer. Or maybe moving to a farm? Well, ultimately, there is no escape. The world is getting smaller and according to world trends, a lot faster than most would’ve guessed, especially in less developed nations.

As developing nations catch up to us economically, their populations are exploding, especially their freshly empowered middle class.  Finally, they too can buy a car, have a nice house, afford some luxuries and have families.

Most remarkable, though, is that 27% of the world’s population is below 15 years of age. The 1990′s saw the greatest number of births worldwide, especially after 1995. So, we can easily guess that the less developed countries, as they develop, will be led by surging, youthful nations worldwide.

I guess the phrase “and a child shall lead them” will probably happen sooner then we think. There’s no denying this, but for now, who will lead the children until they’re ready? There are causes and charities for children to make their lives better, but I think now, there should be a sense of urgency. With the future tied to their decisions and actions, it’s important we reach out and help where we can, here in the US or overseas. With technology becoming cheaper and making the world more connected by the minute, we now have the tools to positively impact children, no matter where they are. Children are naturally born without the psychological barriers burdened by adulthood, such as social class, social status and any other social divides that makes life tougher than it should be. Now would be the time to help them where they need it, while they’re young and open minded, giving them the skills to succeed.

With the youth of the world playing such a prominent role in shaping our future, we need to take this time to take a look at ourselves. Are we really doing everything we can to help them now, so they have the proper tools, skills and education to make our world a better place when their time comes to lead us? What can we do to help?

Please share with us, some of your thoughts on this matter. We would really like to hear from you and your feedback.

Written by Amardeep Singh Rehal

The new year is a great way to claim a resolution, and as this journey through the new year begins, you can’t help but to think, “It’s not where I’ve been, but where I’m about to go”. This statement can be attributed to Hip-Hop Artist Jay-Z, and while it’s rich with positive optimism and looking ahead to the future, it’s also helpful to also reflect on the year that’s just ended.

When you do this, ask yourself these questions:

What are you most grateful for in 2009?  What will you remember most about 2009?  And perhaps most importantly, what did you learn and how did you grow in 2009?

We spent some time answering these questions, and wanted to give you a brief recap of Sikhcess in 2009.  We also wanted to take the time to give you a heart-felt thank you!

Sikhcess has had a busy year, and has grown so much!

In 2009, we were invited to many initiatives, conferences, and service-events.  We’ve had the honor of speaking about Sikhcess to audiences in Miami, New York, Chicago, Toronto, and San Francisco.  Sikhcess events have taken place around the world, including the UK, Australia, the UAE, and so many other locations. We’ve also increased our enrollment, bringing in new talent and exceptionally bright people into leadership roles.

We recognized the need for “sustain-ability”.

In 2009, Sikhcess launched a new program called STARS (Students Trained in Achievement, Responsibility, and Success), ushering in optimism and excitement to so many of whom we serve.  The goal of this program is to ensure that future generations of urban children and their families have access to quality education – with emphasis on promoting literacy, analytical, and conceptual skills that strengthens their lives and prepares them for their futures.

2010 is a great year to look forward to!

In 2010, we will announce a new program geared towards mentoring, self-development, and balance.  From the inception of our organization, Sikhcess has been responsible for creating so many beneficial and long-lasting mentor/protege relationships, and because of volunteer demand, we’re formalizing this to make it more real, more regular, and more wide-spread.  This is just one of the powerful things Sikhcess has planned in 2010 – one of the small ways to make a big change in our world.

Your votes recently placed Sikhcess amongst the to 100 charitable organizations in the country!

Sikhcess recently participated in the Chase Community Giving initiative, where your votes placed us amongst the top 100 charitable organizations in the country!  Starting January 15, we will be competing against those 99 other charities for the grand prize of being voted the top charity in America, and with it will come 1 million dollars.  Each participant must submit a grant proposal describing what they would do with 1 million dollars.  Voters on Facebook will review these ideas and select their top 5 favorite overall.  We believe we have a world-class idea, and can’t wait to share it with you!

None of this would have been possible without you. Because of that, we thank you, so very much!

From each of us at Sikhcess, we wish you peace, happiness, love, health, and prosperity in 2010.

p.s.  Motivation-wise, this perhaps is the best time to set resolutions.  Between the Thanksgiving and Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa holidays, we’ve had a  month-long binge of delicious food, extravagant spending, and fanciful pursuits that are not sustainable year-round.  So crack-to-it!   want to hear about your 2010 resolutions. Personal or professional, financial or fitness, let us know what you’re aiming to make-better or achieve in the new year!  Comments in the ‘Reply’ section below.

We hope that you’re having a spectacular holiday season!

As each day passes it becomes more apparent how a group of passionate people can make a difference. We thank you for your long hours, relentless determination, teamwork, believing in something bigger than any one of us, and for your love.  We also thank you for your spirit-of-giving, and for letting us be part of your success.

We wish you health, happiness, and prosperity in the New Year, with all the best to your family and loved ones.

Sincerely,

The Sikhcess Team