I want to sincerely thank everyone who voted my blog as most Altruistic Blog.  I considered declining this award, but someone on the Awards Committee reminded me that the community has spoken.

What I really want to do is point out to you the amazing work my fellow nominees do and introduce a new kind of recognition to BBAW.

Color Online is a blog run by “Susan” who personally inspires me tremendously.  From the About page:

We are a community organization dedicated to empowering young women. We operate a library and offer support to young girls at local non-profit in Detroit. Our blog focuses on women writers of color. Founded in September 2005, my vision was to engage reluctant and non-readers. We were a lit studies group. To call us a book club is not only limiting but it fails to describe what I envisioned for us: a collective that explored the arts and made a connection between all art forms and our lives, a community where we encouraged one another and discovered our voices, a space where girls felt empowered by experiencing a cultural, political and a spiritual awakening.

Guys Lit Wire ran a book fair for boys who are incarcerated in the LA County Juvenile System.  They had no books so Guys Lit Wire worked to get them some.  This is something I believe in one hundred percent. 

Dawn of She Is Too Fond of Books walked 60 miles over 3 days to raise funds for breast cancer awarness and treatment.  Dawn really took this project seriously, devoting a great deal of her blog time to it and writing with gut wrenching honesty about the experience. 

Natasha of Maw Books Blog ran a Darfur Awareness Campaign where she blogged on Darfur for a month.  She continues to review books about important social justice issues on her site. 

And then there was me.  To be honest, I had no idea why I was nominated for this.  Sometimes I blog about Compassion International, I used to write for a social justice blog and I still occasionally share links about things I find, but I don’t consider that enough to land me in this company.  So when I realized I had won this, I knew I wanted to shake things up.

I am now introducing the BBAW Recognition of Excellent Service for Others.  I am passing this onto each of the shortlisted blogs in this category because they do all serve others.  And I want to encourage you to check out their work and join in with it. 

I don’t think altruistic blogs need an award for what they do…just as book bloggers don’t need an award.  What they need is exposure so that others can learn about the need and join in the cause.  So it is my sincere hope that you will check out these blogs, learn about what they are doing and join in their powerful fights against illiteracy, disease, and social injustice.

And a very special thank you to Carolyn who made this badge at the last minute for me!)

You are so humble Amy.  Thank you for everything you have done.  And thank you to the committee for making her take the award. 

And this is EXACTLY why you got voted most altruistic, Amy!! You are always thinking of others!! I agree that anyone who is raising awareness for a good cause needs exposure…this is a terrific recognition you have introduced

Congratulations, Amy,

As a pk, I know that service matters to you. And I know it matters to you that others are recognized.

I know how much work BBAW has been because I know what it means to give your all to something that matters to you and for that, I say thank you.

Congratulations, Amy, on your award and most of all for the work you did to make this BBAW so meaningful;  I am personally quite grateful.

What a lovely gesture on the badge for the other nominated blogs in the altruistic category!

Whether or not it was the letter of the law in the description, I think that all you do in promoting other book bloggers makes you more than worthy!

Congratulations Amy.

Speaking of Altruistic, nowhere in the post do you mention the title of your own blog!  Congratulations and more than the award, being who you are is the real prize.

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Great article and I agree with article information and Breast cancer awareness campaigns and BC Awareness Month started as a campaign by ordinary women, many of them with cancer, to raise awareness so that people knew the symptoms, examined themselves regularly, attended their routine mammograms.. Breast Cancer