We know that we are pretty lucky ladies—we have sometimes cooperative hair, mostly helpful guys and often times even appreciative kids. With friends who still take our phone calls and houses that are reasonably clean, we are calling it all good on our end. The fact that we get to blog together on the regular is just icing on an already sweet cake. In this vein, because we are so blessed and we tell our kids to be generous with their time and talents and they are old enough to call us out and make us prove it, we were ever so fortunate that we found the opportunity to become Shot@Life Champions. Besides just finding a cause that jives nicely with our roles as mothers, educator (Erin), and doctor (Ellen), we found a tribe of kind-hearted, like-minded, dedicated volunteers too. We could not be happier that we get to call ourselves Champions now. Lucky, for you, here’s how to be a champion in 3 easy steps.
Step 1: Read this blog about our great experience at the Shot@Life Summit.
If you are going to champion a cause, it’s probably best to know something about it other than Ellen and Erin told me to. You can skip right to Step 2 if you are just looking for the facts. They are laid out there all nice and neat just for you. You can even get more facts here.
This step is about all the intangible gifts we were given through this experience. The Summit is an opportunity for all of those advocating for Shot@Life to come together in Washington, DC. Not just because we traveled to the the historic Capitol Hill and not just because we met with our representatives there, we were wowed by the Summit. While we loved this unique opportunity to be advocates on many levels, we think it was those gifts that were completely unexpected that really made the difference for us.
Things like time with your BFF in a fun city for a beautiful couple of days . . .
But we did tell you to. Because The Summit is an inspiring way to get involved with a cause that changes lives around the globe.
Like being inspired by young people who are making a difference in the lives of others when they have barely begin adulting. As parents of young adults and older teens, they reassured us that there is hope for the future of the world and our “almost adulting” kids.
Andrew was part of our group and worked at the Food and Drug Administration. He impressed us with his poise, charisma, and passion for the cause. He is a millennial making a difference.
Things like connecting with interesting and interested people and working together for a common cause . . .
We were so impressed with how far people traveled and what they put on hold to be part of the summit, like this lovely young woman who took a break from her college classes to advocate.
Things like meeting the decision-makers, our congressmen and women, and getting to share our passion for keeping kids everywhere healthy and giving them a great shot at life . . . 
Like getting inspired by who is working with us and how far we have come in ending vaccine preventable deaths worldwide . . .
In the past 20 years, immunization has prevented 20 million deaths globally. We are stronger together.
Like getting to say to our kids that we practice what we preach. In the end, we work for the benefit of other kids because of how much we love ours. The idea that a mom could be denied the privilege of watching her child grow up is one that just doesn’t sit right with us. 
Step 2: Get the Facts.
Here’s your first dose of Shot@Life. Just make sure that you follow up to get everything you need to be a true Champion.
- Every 20 seconds, a child dies from a vaccine preventable disease. That’s 1.5 million children worldwide, a number that accounts for nearly a fourth of all childhood deaths. That’s a whole lot of Moms without their kids.
- Luckily, vaccines are one of the safest, most cost-effective ways to save these kids. The Shot@Life campaign, part of the United Nations, educates, connects, and empowers Americans to champion the global vaccines.
- As Sensible Moms, this organization makes as much sense for our purse strings as our heartstrings. For less than $2, a child can be vaccinated against measles and rubella.
- For every $1 invested in immunizations, there are $16 in savings in healthcare costs, lost wages, and productivity due to illness.
- 30 years ago, polio paralyzed 1,000 kids a day. Now the world is nearly polio-free.
- Funding for global vaccine programs is less than 1% of the total US budget.
Step 3: Get involved.
While we know that Facebook status updates don’t change the world and tweets don’t move mountains, they can get things moving in the right direction.
Supporting global vaccines is part of our national character. We cannot turn our backs when kids are dying from preventable diseases.
How to use your social media for social good:
- You can tweet to your Member of Congress asking them or thanking them for supporting Shot@Life.
- You can participate and encourage your friends to participate in Walgreen’s Get A Shot, Give a Shot campaign.
- You can share the Shot@Life video on your Facebook page.
- You can even channel your inner Erin and Ellen and write a blog post.
- You can tweet and retweet any actions that promote Shot@Life with the hashtage #vaccineswork
Sample tweet 1: For World Immunization Week, @UNICEFHaiti’s Cornelia Walther explains her dreams for children in Haiti http://bit.ly/1Vop0j4 #VaccinesWork Sample tweet 2: Why “receiving immunizations is a special affair” in Haiti→http://bit.ly/1Sxvkkt #VaccinesWork
- You can even Instagram your support on a college visit. Just saying . . .
But social media is not all we can do. If we want to be the spark that ignites the piston and puts the engine of change in motion, we can do a little more. How to do a little more:
- Pick up the pen or open a draft in our email. Check out these resources to find your local Congressman or woman then actually send the email or buy the stamp for that letter.
- Write that piece for your local paper.
- Share the good news with your friends in your home or community.
- Get a friend to be a Champion too.
The great news for you if you want to be a Champion is that Shot@Life has lots of resources to help you in your advocacy. From templates for those letters and emails to how to talk to your representatives to videos to share within your community, if you need it to tell the story of Shot@Life, they have it!
So . . .
Looking to do some social good with your social media?
Need to make a difference?
Want to advocate for others?
Parent for greater good?
We love being Champions and know that it is something we all can do!
Easy as 1, 2, 3!
Picture yourself here.
-Erin and Ellen
Have more questions? You can email Shot@life directly.
You can follow us on Google+, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.
Check out our books, “I Just Want to Be Alone” and “You Have Lipstick on Your Teeth.”
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I love how you ladies use your voice for such good–and so actively love on the young ones in our world! xo
Meredith recently posted..How to Love a Friend Through the Loss of Infertility