| The Make A Difference with Loukoumi Project is a "2014 USA Weekend National Make A Difference Day Award Honoree" The Loukoumi Make A Difference Foundation sponsors Make A Difference with Loukoumi Day annually on USA Weekend Magazine's National Make A Difference Day. Over three million Americans unite every year on this special day. This October over 40,000 children participated in our Make A Difference with Loukoumi project by doing their very own good deed on National Make A Difference Day. Children in schools, libraries and youth groups across the nation are asked to read the book LOUKOUMI's GOOD DEEDS by Nick Katsoris, which is narrated on CD by Jennifer Aniston with proceeds benefitting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Then they were asked to draw a picture of themselves pledging to do a good deed, which they actually did on national Make A Difference Day. Katsoris developed the program by taking the message in his book about Good Deeds and teaching kids to actually do a good deed to make a difference in this world. |
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"It was really special to narrate "Loukoumi's Good Deeds" on CD, not only because of how inspirational it is for kids, but because it was an opportunity to work with my Dad. I also loved that it was supporting a personal cause of mine, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. I am thrilled that the Loukoumi books are continuing to make a difference in the lives of children through this wonderful Make A Difference Day program." – Jennifer Aniston |
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| Good Deeds included: • Being a friend • Visiting an animal shelter • Collecting and donating toys, books, and clothes to kids that do not have any • Raising funds for a favorite cause • Thanking our troops • Making someone smile • Making things for those less fortunate • and a lot more!! |
| Over 40,000 kids performed good deeds this year including the following: | ||
 Grace held a bake sale at the Utica Zoo and raised funds for St. Jude, Chefs for Humanity and the Utica Zoo |
 Dean made Rainbow Loom bracelets to raise money for the New Rochelle Humane Society |
 Vincent and Sienna collecting clothing for the homeless |
 Arietta and friends collecting books to donate |
 Eli Olivia and Aaron holding a bikeathon to raise money for UNICEF |
 Making Thank you cards for our troops |
 Making Quilts for Lutheran World Relief |
 Hats on Day at The Anne Hutchinson School: Students wore a hat and donated $1 to the American Cancer Society |
 Making Thank you Cards for special people |
 Making Friendship Bracelets for your friends |
 The Chapel School girl's basketball team making books for kids |
 Making Giggle books to make patients in children's hospitals smile! |
 Making placemats for a local soup kitchen |
 Baking cookies for an area soup kitchen |
 Reading Loukoumi's Good Deeds and discussing making a difference! |
 Loukoumi lending a hand! |
 Kids spreading the word to make a difference |
 Knitting backpacks for donated books |
 More bracelets! |
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| "Planting the Seeds of Good Deeds" Program - Greece | ||
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St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital: One of the world’s premier pediatric cancer research centers, St. Jude’s mission is to find cures for children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Nick has an ongoing relationship with St. Jude and has donated a portion of proceeds from his books to the hospital. His plan is to continue donating a portion of his earnings from future LOUKOUMI books to St. Jude. Click here to read a touching story about why Alivia, a young patient at St. Jude, insisted on reading the LOUKOUMI books every night. “The Loukoumi book series has long been a friend to children, opening their eyes to the world around them. This time, it provides comfort and assurance to kids who are frightened and bewildered by bullying. A worthy subject. We at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital are honored to be beneficiaries of such a noble project.” Marlo Thomas, National Outreach Director, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital |
| LOUKOUMI AND THE NATIONAL PHILOPTOCHOS SOCIETY LITERACY AWARENESS FUNDRAISERS |
| In 2012, Nick began an ongoing collaboration for Make A Difference Day with the National Ladies Philoptochos Society (www.Philoptochos.org), a philanthropic organization with over 500 chapters nationwide. Nick spoke at their conference in Phoenix, AZ in July 2012 and a Literacy Awareness program has been developed where the Philoptochos Chapters are selling the Loukoumi books to its members. For each Loukoumi book sold through the Philoptochos, Nick has been making a matching donation to their philanthropic organization (in addition to the $2 donation made to St. Jude from each book) and is also donating one book per book sold to their local charity of choice. A similar program was designed for Kiwanis International where the additional donation of $1.80 would be donated to their ELIMINATE program to combat neo-natal tetanus. Through our literacy awareness fundraisers with Philoptochos, we have been able to raise funds and also donate Loukoumi books to numerous charities including: |
| • The Pajama Program • The REED Academy • University of Illinois - Chicago, Pediatric Hospital • JFK School in Newark, New Jersey • The Ronald McDonald House • UMOM • George Marks Children's House • Goryeb's Children's Hospital • Freedom Readers • Head Start Daycare • Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children • Shriners Hospitals for Children-Greenville • RIF – Reading Is Fundamental • Wounded Warriors • Various schools, and other charities |
 Nick Katsoris and Philoptochos Society with Loukoumi |
 Philoptochos Society reading Loukoumi's Good Deeds |
 Philoptochos Make a Difference Chart |
Through our program monetary donations have also been made to the following charities: |
| • St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital • Chefs for Humanity • The Utica Zoo • Kiwanis International • Friends of Animal Rescue • National Ladies Philoptochos Society • Hope 4 Kids |