Thank you doesn’t seem like enough #the3bway

On August 23, 2015August 23, 2015 By BraedenIn 3B Outreach1 Comment

The 2nd Annual 3B Summer Celebration was perfect. I wanted to say thank you on Facebook but then the post got longer and longer and longer and so then I thought I’ll write a blog post.

Thanks to our sponsors who contributed $1,900 to the event it was awesome! Thanks to companies, sports teams and organizations who donated raffle and silent auction items. From donations through the auction, raffles, t-shirt sales and other generous contributions during the event we raised over $1,750 for Brae’s Brown Bags. Many thanks to all our guests who packed 3B bags, we estimate that 225 bags were packed. Three boxes of bags left with friends who planned to give them to folks in need. Many guests took a bag they packed so they could have it on hand in their cars if they see someone who could use the bag on the street. We brought some home, too and we hope to give them to the Sunday Breakfast Mission. We reached out to them last night.

Braeden announced the next 3B project which he has named 3B Ripples – Student Chapters. We will launch applications in the next week allowing schools to sign up to become 3B chapters. It’s an exciting new phase of 3B to get youth involved in service and to help them learn about food insecurity. Together we can make big changes!

To our platinum sponsor The Clemens Family Foundation for your generous donation to help support this celebration. We thank you so much! For all our friends, the Clemens Family companies are Hatfield, Country Family View Farms and Nick’s Sausage Company. They are a great organization with a strong emphasis on philanthropy.

Our gold sponsors, Holman Moving Systems in New Castle, Willey Farms, Margie and Greg Mannering (my gram and pop pop), Terri and Todd Stephan (my grandmom and grandpop), Greg Mannering (my uncle). We couldn’t have made this event possible, especially the t-shirts without your support. Safeway in People’s Plaza for your help with providing food for all our guests!

To Love What You Boo for your raffle items, promo code cards AND silver sponsorship for the event. We cannot thank you enough. Grandom and Grandpop Willey for your support as silver sponsors for this event. We can’t thank you enough.

To the Bear-Glasgow YMCA, Christy’s Confections, Kona Ice in Elkton/Newark, Inflatable R’ Us and 93.7 WSTW for providing the location on a perfect blue sky day, the sweet (sugar free cupcakes never tasted so good), the refreshing snow cones so yummy and WSTW for letting us use your sound system, listen to your music and win prizes at the prize wheel. Thank you so much!

To my family, friends, neighbors who came out in support of 3B. You guys are the best. For everyone who helped set up and clean up. Mrs. Delaware America Alina Pfiefer for coming out on your birthday with your husband to support 3B. You are so nice and you have a big heart and we really like you, we have your autograph on our fridge now. Laura Nash, volunteer extraordinaire, thank you, this event was really so fun and really the best because of your help. Kohl’s on Kirkwood Highway for your two volunteers who came to help!

Our auction and raffle items from University of Delaware Blue Hens Athletics, Wilmington Blue Rocks, Philadelphia Eagles, Big Fish Grill in Glen Mills, PA, UDairy Creamery, Michael’s Craft Store (via Terri Stephan), Starbucks (via Greg Mannering), Portrait Innovations, Adventure Aquarium, Love What You Boo, Camelback Resorts, Splitrock Water Park, Deerfield Golf Club, Panera Bread, Applebees, R T Graham Handmade Jewelry and Senator Tom Carper’s Office. Wow! We don’t know how to express our thanks for all of your support!

Please share your photos on social media #the3bway

Step right up, to the greatest event this summer

On August 11, 2015 By BraedenIn 3B Outreach1 Comment

There is still time to RSVP for our 2nd Annual 3B Summer Celebration.

Bring your family and friends!

Come one and come all!

It’s going to be epic!

I can’t think of other things to say to explain that you really don’t want to miss this event. We are very grateful that the Bear-Glasgow YMCA has offered use of their outdoor space and pavilion. Super psyched that 93.7 WSTW will be there with their prize wheel and music! We have a HUGE obstacle course from Inflatables R’ Fun for the kids!

I have been working on my speech to give to the guests, because there is so much to say and so many people to thank, but also because we have big news to share about the future of 3B and we want you to be involved.

It makes me so happy to know tall we have accomplished and largely because of your help and your encouragement.

So bring the kids, bring your neighbors and COME ON DOWN! (Or up, depending on where you live) The first hundred people to attend will get a free snow cone from Kona Ice which is sugar-free and vitamin infused!

RSVP to attend at this link: http://2nd3bsummercelebration.eventbrite.com/

Many, many thanks to the following local groups, companies, community members who have donated silent auction and raffle items:

Deerfield Golf Club
Wawa
Panera Bread
UDairy Creamery
Adventure Aquarium
Philadelphia Eagles
Wilmington Blue Rocks
University of Delaware Blue Hens Athletics
Portrait Innovations
Starbucks courtesy of Gregory Mannering
National Liberty Museum
Nutrisystem
Senator Tom Carper

Falling into a rhythm and getting ready for spooks

On October 27, 2014October 27, 2014 By BraedenIn 3B Outreach, Real Life2 Comments

Well, I’m almost through two months of 5th grade. I think I’m getting used to it now. There seems to be more homework. I hear that is kind of what happens with school though when you get older. My brother had homework over the weekend though and he’s only in kindergarten. I just needed to read.

This weekend I went to my dad’s house. I brought a bunch of bags that I had packed and we made a trip to the Emmanuel Dining Room. We had about 90 bags and we handed them all out. I’m going to need to think about how to make the next deliveries a little bit more special because I want to put something cool for Thanksgiving and Christmas in them. Last year I put in snowflake ornaments which were silver and glittery.

Some things coming up?

Well on November 13th I will be attending a dinner at the River Rock Kitchen because I was chosen one of North Delaware’s Top 10 Movers and Shakers. And I’m the only kid in the list! The nice people at northdelawherehappening.com are also going to be sending me questions to answer for an article they will be publishing. I think every winner will be featured which is pretty cool.

I’m also excited to tell you that $275 were donated to Brae’s Brown Bags for my birthday. My Gram and Pop Pop, my Grandmom and Grandpop, my friend’s Erica and Dominic and a new friend I made at the 2014 Healthy Lunchtime Challenge, her name is Jasmy, she’s from Kansas (and her Mom Sowjanya), they all donated money and I want them to know it really means a lot to me. Also, Vice President Joe Biden sent me a very nice letter for my birthday. He said he was wishing me a happy birthday and that he was proud of me for helping people in need in Delaware. He even signed it!

There are some speaking events coming up which I am preparing for and this Wednesday I have one at the College School in Newark. And then next week on November 6th I’m going to be speaking to a class at the University of Delaware. They are learning about non-profits and the professor asked my Mom if I would want to be a guest speaker. That’s pretty cool actually, i wonder if I will know anyone. I have been making friends with UD students over the last year and they are all really friendly.

One thing I’m really excited about this week is that tomorrow night we’re having a movie fright night with the Junior Leader’s and Leader’s group at the YMCA. I don’t know what movie will be picked but it’s going to be a lot of fun.

And then Friday is Halloween! My family loves Halloween. My Mom and step dad both will be dressing up. My little sister and my brother Finn and then my other brother Michael will all have costumes. We watch Halloween movies every weekend from September through October. We have decorations all through our house inside and outside. My Mom is a complete Halloween crazy person. Her nails even have monsters on them. I’m going to be Steve from Minecraft, maybe “Super” Steve.

Hope everyone has a safe and happy Halloween!

My Fresh Page Project could receive funding with your help

On October 8, 2014October 10, 2014 By BraedenIn Announcements1 Comment

My Mom helped me create a Fresh Fund project page through the YMCA. We found out about the opportunity later in the game than other people, but we’re still pulling in a lot of votes thanks to all of you awesome people! But I need MUCH more votes to get in the lead so that Brae’s Brown Bags can receive a $5,000 grant towards our foundation. So if you don’t mind sharing this information and voting for me that would be a lot of help. (If you click the link above it’s only two more clicks. There is a button that says “Vote For This Project” just click)

Thank you very much!

The YMCA wants to recognize the role of volunteers and highlight that anyone, anywhere can make a significant impact in their community with a strong, inspiring idea. As part of its My Fresh Page Project, the Y will award a total of $20,000 to 10 individuals or groups with the most inspiring community improvement or service project ideas.

The Y’s My Fresh Page Project invites individuals across the country to submit their idea for a community improvement or service project to carry out in their hometown. Every day until October 24, visitors to the ymca.net/freshpage will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite idea.

Being a Mover & a Shaker

On September 26, 2014September 26, 2014 By BraedenIn Announcements3 Comments

I’ve been nominated as a 2014 Mover & Shaker in Delaware, North Delaware actually. There are other people who have been nominated, but I am the youngest person. That makes me feel proud. I think it would be really great to receive this award, you can help me because there is a People’s Choice vote happening right now and you can vote once per day through September 30, 2014.

Click here to vote for Braeden Mannering in the 2014 Movers & Shakers as the People’s Choice!

In other news I’ve been kind of taking it easy lately. My Mom told me she wouldn’t plan anything else for me for September because the beginning of the month was so busy with packing, delivering, filming and going to New York for Rachael Ray.

But I did join a Junior Youth Leadership Program at the Bear-Glasgow YMCA and I really like it. I have made some new friends and we play cool games to learn to work together as a team. My Mom told me that sometimes being a good leader means being a good team player. I can see how that can be true. It is important to be able to lead and to listen. You can’t really do one without the other, at least not if you want people to actually like you as a leader.

I have some things coming up for next weekend and I’ll tell you more about them next week.

Also, I am turning 11 years old on October 12th!

If you want to give me a birthday present you can donate to 3B Brae’s Brown Bags! The money we raise goes towards supplies for the bags we hand out but it also goes towards mileage, events, 3B materials to help raise awareness and website costs. We’re also raising money so I can attend a Youth Leadership Summit in Atlanta, Georgia in February where I have been asked to be a speaker.

Depending on the type of bag packed and delivered it can cost between $1 and $5 per bag. The special bags with books and toiletry items cost a little bit more, but they are the most exciting bags!

I like to be able to go places and talk to people about 3B. It’s more than just giving out food, it’s about being a helper, a leader and a friend to people who really, really need it. Even on days when I don’t have an extra bag to hand out, I still can do things to help people around me. We all can. It’s like Spencer and Nancy say on 93.7 WSTW, we all need to #SpreadTheLove.

Voting, delivering and working out

On May 13, 2014May 13, 2014 By BraedenIn 3B Outreach, Announcements1 Comment

youth-fitness-bear-ymca When I have a chance to go to the YMCA in Bear I like to go in the youth wellness center. They give you blue cards and show you different exercises. I like to play the activities with other kids, too. I know it has been hot out and so it’s not as fun running around outside, but it’s still important.

On Mother’s Day my Mom said she wanted to delivery some Brae’s Brown Bags to the Emmanuel Dining Room. Really I thought she would want to take a break, but it was important to her.

So we brought 60 bags to the soup kitchen. 10 of the bags were child bags and we put books and also the bubble fruit flavored toothpaste from the travel size donations my dentist gave us. We ran out of kid bags, there were a lot of kids there on Sunday. There were grown ups who asked for toothpaste also so I need to remember that for next time. Maybe if we have extra we can put them in more of the bags.

The LEAD 360 Challenge with the Jefferson Awards is still going through public voting of the top 27 finalists across the nation. I have been trying to remind people they can vote every 24 hours. So I thought I would say it on here, too. It’s easy to vote. You click the link and click the orange button that says vote, that’s all.

Also you should look at the other finalists, too because all of them are doing really good things for people, animals and the earth.

Coming up I am participating at the University of Delaware’s Day of Service. I will have a table. I got an email from a girl named Amanda who is part of Alpha Phi Omega. She said it would be nice if I could come. I will bring the display I used at Ag Day.

Spring has sprung and there’s much going on

On April 14, 2014April 16, 2014 By BraedenIn 3B Outreach, Announcements, Real Life3 Comments

First group of runners RACE AGAINST HUNGER

I’m trying to remember everything I have been doing so I can tell you all about it. I hosted something called a Race Against Hunger for the 4th graders at Keene Elementary School in the Christina School District on Friday, April 11, 2014. One of the enrichment teachers, Mrs. Utterson, helped me with it, thank goodness for her being so supportive. My art teacher, Mr. Graham provided supplies so I could make posters with some of my friends for the race. I wish more of the grown ups at the school had helped out or come out to see us run. It really did end up being a perfect day. No rain and very warm. My Mom said she did a reverse rain dance. It worked!

We’re closing fundraising for the Race Against Hunger this week but so far we have raised $500 and the money will go to Action Against Hunger USA.

So one thing I forgot to talk about was that I had another bag packing event with my friends in Alpha Phi Omega at the University of Delaware. It was the same weekend as my Mom’s birthday back in March. We packed something like 300 bags! I took 100 of them home to give out and they kept the remaining bags for the upcoming 5K they are hosting to benefit Brae’s Brown Bags. Definitely sign up to race with me for 3B on Sunday, April 27th.

Handed out 3B bags at the Emmanuel Dining Room

This past Sunday my Mom and my Dad took me to the Emmanuel Dining Room and we handed out 100 bags to the people who came to eat lunch at the soup kitchen. We decided to have 10 of those bags be for kids and the kids really liked the Spring activity booklet. I got those booklets from Mrs. Christine Sweeney as a donation. Thank you!

Today my 3B Facebook page went over 1,000 fans! It’s crazy! Thank you to everyone who encourages and supports me and the work I’m doing with 3B. I couldn’t do it without Y-O-U!

Plus tonight Reverend Paul Mast is coming to my house to interview me for a book he is writing. He said he was impressed with what I am doing and heard about me through the 2014 Governor’s Award for Youth Service. I’ve done interviews before but never for a book!

On top of the stuff I’m going with 3B I also started playing flag football at the YMCA in Bear. We haven’t done too much yet but I really like it. It’s fun to play and also fun to make new friends.