Toyota Hosts Huge Giveaway of New Vehicles & Grants for U.S. Non-Profits, Submit Applications 3/12

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This past holiday season Toyota, a committed corporate giver, sponsored the highly successful Prius v Toys for Tots program. In their latest effort in continuing to give back to the community, this automaker is giving away 2012 cars, mini vans, and trucks to 501(c)(3) non-profits across America every day over the course of more than three months through it's 100 Cars for Good Facebook Page.

Thank You, Toyota for All You Do in Our Community

Qualified American charities are invited to submit applications starting March 12, 2012 for a chance to receive a Toyota vehicle. Ultimately, each of 100 deserving organizations will win the Toyota car or truck of their choice from those vehicles that are being offered. The other 400 runners up in the contest will each earn grants for their charitable groups.

If you know of a worthy non-profit, let them know about this opportunity right away. If you yourself represent a charity interested in this special Toyota program, it's highly recommended that you apply quickly on Monday, March 12 -- the sooner the better. That's because Toyota is only accepting a limited number of submissions before they stop accepting new applicants.

A new 2012 Prius v is one of the vehicles non-profits can win

From the pool of non-profits that apply, philanthropic experts will pick 500 finalists. Then, the public will have a chance to vote for one of five organizations daily to win a vehicle for 100 consecutive days. 

No finalist will go away empty handed as the other four daily runners up each will receive $1000 grants.  More information on how to apply and details on how the giveaway works can be found here.

I hope to see as many non-profit organizations participating in this Toyota community outreach program as possible.

Good Luck to All

Non-Profits Applying!

About Toyota and Community Engagement
Toyota is involved in a variety of way to give back to worthy communities across America. In addition to their charitable efforts, they are involved in other types of outreach programs such as supporting education for youth.

Toyota is involved in community in other ways such as supporting U.S. education

Comments Encouraged
If you apply to Toyota on behalf of your organization, please come back and leave a comment on this MommyBlogExpert post and feel free to leave a link to your non-profit so we can spread the word about the good your group is doing.

FTC Disclosure: I am a member of the Toyota Women Influencers Network TWIN community through a program with Clever Girls Collective. I did not receive any compensation for writing this post or payment in exchange for participating. The opinions expressed herein are mine, and do not reflect the views of Toyota or any of its brands. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Purim Family Fun - Parody & Rock Music by The Maccabeats & Shlomones - Plus Santa Came to Shul

Celebrations

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Last night was the first time I've ever seen Santa Claus at synagogue services. Yes Santa, sans his sleigh and herd of eight reindeer. He was in our shul in full uniform: red suit, white beard and hair, and hat. If you don't believe me, keep reading and you'll see the photo I took of the world's most famous man in red.

My daughter the Smurfette with her Princess friend

What's going on here? It's the holiday of Purim. A day we dress in costumes, go to our Jewish house of worship to hear the retelling of the story of Esther and how she saved the Jews from what seemed like certain destruction. The revelry continues all day today and like many families celebrating right now, it's going to be a particularly crazy day at our house.

Already our four teens are in their Purim costumes. This year they're dressed as Smurfette from The Smurfs movie, a winged sparkling fairy princess and my two boys are in their Kung Fu regalia. Earlier, the family went to the synagogue to hear the reading of the Megillah, the Book of Esther and now we have about 50 gift baskets of food and drink to deliver to friends.

Santa really did make an appearance last night as you can see from this photo.

Santa makes a once a year appearance for Purim at our synagogue

Then, this afternoon it's our turn to host the annual Purim seudah meal so I'm busy baking and cooking for our dinner, cleaning the house, etc.  

Really, I'm a little crazed. There's so much to do before the sun sets so this blog post is super brief out of necessity.

Boysenberry - Marion Berry Purim Pie I created with fruit my girls picked

If you need more motivation to celebrate Purim today, see the two parodies and rock videos below created just for this holiday. They are G-rated and suitable for viewing by every member of the family. I've no doubt that these will certainly entertain you and your children and get you in a party mood, too. 

The first video is from The Maccabeats and the other is from The Shlomones -- both extremely talented singing groups that really get into their characters in these music videos. After you've watched both, leave a comment about which group's song you like better below this post.

Enjoy and Purim Sameach!

Our Boxer dog in his Purim Clown Costume

 

Don't forget to leave a comment about this post. Tell which video you like best. Also, feel free to share childhood memories of Purim as well as tell about how you are celebrating the holiday this year.

FTC Disclosure: MommyBlogExpert did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Purim Jewish Holiday Family Customs Feast of Lots Festival - Meaningful & Fun for Kids & Adults

Celebrations

Tonight at sundown through Thursday evening Jews around the world of every denomination: Reconstructionist, Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox will be marking the holiday of Purim. Also known as the Festival of Lots, the holiday starts tonight because like all Jewish holidays it is based on the lunar Hebrew calendar. With all the traditional food, handmade costumes for children, fun and synagogue activities this is among my favorite of all the holidays we celebrate.

Me with my triplets wearing the Purim Costumes I made for them as toddlers

During daylight hours today many Jewish men and women are observing the Fast of Esther which precedes the joyous festivitiesand feasting that will start after the fast ends at sunset. This day of refraining from eating and drinking originates with Queen Esther and her cousin Mordechai who successfully fasted and prayed to G-d to save the people from Haman's evil degree to kill the Jews.

Chocolate Chip Hamantashen cookies that I baked with my kids

Even though we're not eating today, it doesn't mean I'm not thinking of food at the moment.  In fact, I just got back from the grocery store where I stocked up on ingredients to cook and bake with for the holiday. My daughter, Mini MommyBlogExpert, is planning on baking this homemade Chocolate Chip Hamantashen Cookie recipe as soon as she comes home from school this afternoon. Then I have lots of cooking to do tonight to prepare from the festive meal we are hosting at our house for friends and family.

An interesting bit of trivia: Hamantashen cookies are triangular and are meant to mimic the shape of the wicked Haman's hat. This is also where the expression "If you do such and such...I'll eat my hat" may have originated.

Some of the home baked goodies we make will be added to Shalach Manot gift baskets of food and drink that our family will deliver to friends on Thursday, Purim Day. In fact, every Bar Mitzvah male over the age of and every Bat Mitzvah female over 12 is obligated by Jewish law to deliver a gift of ready-to-eat edibles to at least one person.

My girls model the flower costumes I made for them

Other customs of this special day include going to the synagogue to hear the Book of Esther -- in Hebrew Megillah Esther -- read out loud to the congregation. We boo, hoot and use noise makers whenever the name Haman is mentioned to symbolically overcome his wickedness. Traditionally, children and some adults dress in costumes and masks when they come to this public retelling the story of how Esther with the help of Mordechai and of course G-d's help.

Here's my youngest in the Butterfly costume I sewed for him

Tomorrow after we go to our shul (Jewish house of worship) to hear the Megillah a second time,  we'll deliver the gift baskets during the day time. Toward the end of the day we'll gather for a festive meal to enjoy food and drink together as we recall how the Jews were miraculously saved from annihilation. 

Charity is also central to Purim. So as we enjoy everything that those of us are fortunate to have, each adult contributes enough money to make certain that a poor person will also have his/her own proper meal to celebrate the day.

Our big boy is all smiles in the Bumble Bee Costume Mommy created just for him

For those of you who are celebrating how will you celebrate? Feel free to share your Purim memories from your own childhood as well as the traditions you have instituted with your own family and kids. Do you get your pets dressed up in costume like we used to do with our Boxer dog pictured here?

Purim Sameach (Happy Purim)

to Everyone Celebrating!!! 

FTC Disclosure: MommyBlogExpert did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.