Weather forecasters have already predicted a long, cold and snowy winter, but if you aren’t the type to believe everything you hear, you might be waiting to see what the groundhog does Sunday, Feb. 2. According to folklore, if the groundhog leaves its burrow on Feb. 2 and doesn’t see its shadow, spring will begin early. If the groundhog sees its shadow, it will rush back into its burrow and there will be six more weeks of winter.

People have been looking for the groundhog’s shadow annually for more than 150 years. The celebration began in Pennsylvania and has captivated audiences throughout the United States. Still, the largest Groundhog Day celebration takes place in Punxsutawney, Penn., where Punxsutawney Phil decides the fate of winter in the town. The city celebrates with food, music, dancing and festivals – along with celebratory speeches and skits.

The official first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere won’t come until almost seven weeks after Groundhog Day, regardless of whether or not Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow. But, that won’t stop people from looking to Phil to see whether or not they can take out their short sleeve t-shirts and shorts for the upcoming warmer weather.

The countdown has begun – no, not for the new year, but for the planet! We are creating more waste today than ever before in human history. Little contributions in your life can help maintain the planet we all call home. Start living a greener lifestyle at your New Year’s Eve celebration this week! Living a greener lifestyle doesn’t mean you have to change everything in your life. A small change can make a world of difference – literally!

At Wheels For Wishes, we take living a green lifestyle seriously. By taking your new, old or unwanted vehicles and recycling them, we not only help the planet, but also help the children of Make-A-Wish. A donation to Wheels For Wishes can help children in Sioux Falls, Phoenix, Salt Lake City and throughout the United States. The proceeds from every donated vehicle benefit Make-A-Wish and help wishes come true! Here are some tips for making your New Year’s Eve party green:

Do you have a kind aunt who, with the best of intentions, gave you pink fluffy-bunny pajamas when you were 6 instead of the Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle you had been asking for? We’ve all gotten gifts that were very nice and totally useless. That is why National Regifting Day has become so popular! National Regifting Day is an annual celebration which takes place the third Thursday in December. The third Thursday in December is also the most popular day for office holiday parties. Here at Wheels For Wishes, we would like to help you to pick out some gifts that won’t need re-gifting. Here is our list of eight eco-friendly green gifts that won’t need re-gifting and will help maintain the environment.

We’ve already started hearing holiday music on the radio, we’ve eaten to our heart’s content on Thanksgiving and even survived Black Friday – the next step before the holidays officially arrive is seeing all of our favorite holiday movies on television. Everyone has a favorite holiday movie to watch with their family – whether it’s a heart-warming story about a Grinch who saved Christmas, or the story of a boy who really wanted that Red Ryder BB Gun, there is a movie for everyone!

Thanksgiving was originally a day for farmers and communities to give thanks for the harvest at the end of the fall growing season. Now, most people use a more broad approach to Thanksgiving, recognizing everything in their lives they have to be thankful for. Surrounded by family and food along with some much appreciated time off from work, there are always plenty of things to be thankful for on Thanksgiving Day.

Thanksgiving is a great time to look back upon your blessings throughout the year, but it is also a great time to gaze forward and find ways you can give back to the community. Even if you have very little, there is always something you can do to build up the people around you. You can volunteer at the local food shelf, read to the elderly, tutor young children or just walk animals at the shelter. Nonprofit and charitable organizations are desperate for volunteers this time of year – with the holiday season beginning there are more opportunities than ever to give back. Even a little help can go a long way for these organizations when everyone comes together toward a common goal. Here are five great ways to give back to your community this Thanksgiving.

What better way is there to give thanks for all you have received this year than giving back to your community this holiday season? There are opportunities to volunteer all year long, but these opportunities come to a climax during the fall and winter holiday season from Nov. 20 to Jan. 5. Celebrate your holidays by giving back to the community this season!

Whether you are looking to serve food to the homeless during Thanksgiving, pass out presents at your holiday gathering or just pet cats and walk dogs this holiday season, there is something for everyone. Volunteer Match is a great resource for finding a place to volunteer. You can narrow your search for places that are looking for volunteers by searching for opportunities that match your interests and location. Choose the best nonprofit for you from the results of your search.

When you think of your favorite day in November you are probably thinking of Thanksgiving, but what about Family Volunteer Day? Volunteering can be one of the most rewarding activities for a family to do together. It allows children the opportunity to learn about empathy and gives adults the opportunity to serve others. While acknowledging all of the things you are thankful for this November, consider giving back to the community by volunteering.

National Family Volunteer Day is Saturday, Nov. 16. It is a day to thank those volunteers who dedicate their time to helping others, but it is also a day to get involved in your community. Every contribution counts. If you have been unsure about volunteering in the past, take the plunge this Family Volunteer Day and find out why so many people can’t stop giving back to their community.

Nonprofits like Make-A-Wish, your local food shelf or the Humane Society rely on the work and contributions of volunteers. They provide an important service to the community and are constantly looking for new people to help with the events they have planned. Getting involved is usually fairly easy – as easy as making a phone call and filling out a short form. Maybe you and your family can only help one day a month, maybe it will just be a one-time deal – your help will be appreciated no matter how much you give.

If you want to play a part in keeping America beautiful, recycling is a great way to start! If you need a little motivation in order to make that happen, let America Recycles Day be the day that you kick start your recycling habits and start giving your garbage a second chance. The next time you’re about to throw something away, ask yourself if it could serve another purpose and let it be reused or recycled instead!

We celebrate Veterans Day on Nov. 11, but the sentiment of that day should be on the mind of all Americans throughout the year. There were more than 21.5 million veterans in the United States in 2011 – with that number steadily growing. Each day, members of the United States Armed Forces protect us both domestically and internationally, giving up simple commodities so we can live in relative peace.

Originally known as Armistice Day, commemorating the cease-fire reached during WWI between allied nations and Germany on the 11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour, Veterans Day took on a new name following WWII and was dedicated to the veterans of all wars. As a federal holiday, Veterans Day offers many in the United States a day off from their regular work week.

December is one of the busiest months of the year. With families preparing for the holidays, holiday concerts, end of the year work and last minute shopping, there is hardly a minute of time to spare. Wheels For Wishes can make your December a little less difficult, by helping you to remove that vehicle you’ve been trying to sell from your driveway. Make a difference in the life of a child by donating your car, boat, ATV, SUV, RV or motorcycle to Wheels For Wishes benefiting Make-A-Wish.

Car donation is easy, and can benefit children across the United States, from Washington D.C. to San Francisco! December is busy enough without worrying about selling your car. Don’t waste your precious time placing ads, meeting potential buyers or trying to agree upon a fair price. We will pick-up or tow your current vehicle for free, and you will receive a tax deduction for your donation. Best of all, your donation can help wishes come true for children with critical illnesses by benefiting Make-A-Wish. All you have to do is call [chapter_phone] or fill out a vehicle donation form online.

We can’t all be Arnold Palmer, but we can be a superstar to a child in need. That is what the third annual Make-A-Wish Golf Classic in Austin offers participants Friday, Nov. 22. By participating in this exciting golf outing you will help grant the wishes of children with critical illnesses in Texas. Cost for the event starts at $300 with course fees, cart, boxed lunch and the Post Play Awards Celebration included in the participation fee.

The tournament is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Tournament prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place along with longest drive and closest to the pin competitions on individual holes, among other mini-games. There are also sponsorship opportunities available to anyone interested. To learn more, contact Chad Wicks at the Make-A-Wish office 512-329-9474 or by email at chad@cstx.wish.org. This golf tournament takes place annually at the Barton Creek Resort and Spa at 8212 Barton Club Dr, Austin, Texas.

Funds raised at the golf tournament will benefit Make-A-Wish Central and South Texas. The average cost-per-wish is $7,000, and with a wish being granted every 38 minutes throughout the United States, fundraisers such as the Golf Classic in Austin help to make granting the wishes of children with critical illnesses possible. By participating in this great event, you can be a part of the magic!

Halloween is a much-anticipated day of the year where kids can dress up as their favorite superheroes or scary ghosts, and it gives them a chance to do what they do best, which is being a kid. While many children are able to dress up and go outside hoping to fill their bags with as much candy as possible, others are unable to take part in this experience due to a critical illness. Thankfully, Make-A-Wish is able to grant wishes for deserving children like these, on average, every 38 minutes!

If you are looking to help grant a wish for a child who may not be able to go outside for trick-or-treating in the neighborhood this year, we have the perfect idea for you this Halloween. Your solution could be in your driveway, garage, or shed, or maybe it’s stalled on the side of the road somewhere!

Who doesn’t like to get dressed up for an evening out? What if you could do that while getting the whole family involved AND helping Make-A-Wish Georgia at the same time? That’s what you can do at the Inaugural Lavishly Posh Royal Ball, on Nov. 16 at the Sacred Heart Cultural Center, 1301 Green Street in Augusta. The Artisan Marketplace, featuring at least a dozen local artists, bakers and more, opens at 4 p.m., with dinner and the show beginning at 5 p.m. Attire for the event is formal or Renaissance attire fit for royalty.

Special events include Queen Wisteria of Story Land, distinguished fairytale guests, a family fashion show and talent showcase, ballroom dancing, arts and crafts, swag bag for attendees, and a silent auction. As a special surprise, all princesses whom have attended the Royal Princess Tea Parties at the Lavishly Posh boutique will be honored and receive a special surprise.

Join other Make-A-Wish volunteers, Wish Kids and donors at this year’s Make-A-Wish Connecticut Celebrating Wishes Ball. To request an invitation or for sponsorship information, contact Tara Navara at 203-880-6967 or tara@ct.wish.org. The Celebrating Wishes Ball is thrown to celebrate all of the wishes come true for Wish Kids throughout the year. It is a great opportunity to meet and greet with individuals with similar interests while continuing to raise money in support of Make-A-Wish Connecticut.

The ball will take place Saturday, Nov. 2, beginning at 6 p.m. and continuing until midnight. This is a formal jacket and tie event, with all net proceeds benefiting Make-A-Wish. There will be opportunities to bid on amazing live auction and silent auction items throughout the night. Guests will also enjoy music by E.T.A.  and fine dining. The celebration takes place at the Greenwich Country Club (19 Doubling Road, Greenwich, CT). You can join honorary committee members, Chris Russo of Sirius Satellite Radio and David Cone, John Flaherty, Kim Jones, Michael Kay and Bob Lorenz of the YES Network while celebrating wishes come true at Make-A-Wish Connecticut’s Celebrating Wishes Ball.

October is more than candy and fun costumes – it’s actually an important time to give back to your community and make a difference in the world around you! For more than 20 years, Make A Difference Day has been a day where volunteers of all ages get together to make a difference in the world. This year, that day falls on Saturday, Oct. 26. Take a break from Halloween and instead, spend a few hours giving back to your community!

Residents in the Hudson Valley area are getting ready to bundle up for their eighth annual Walk and 5k Run For Wishes at Franklin D. Roosevelt Park, 2957 Crompond Road, Yorktown Heights, N.Y. The event is being thrown to celebrate hope, strength and joy of Make-A-Wish Wish Kids, all while raising the necessary funds to grant wishes for children with critical illnesses in the Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley region.

Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley has granted the wishes of more than 2,100 children since 1986. There are an average of 160 wishes in progress at any given time for the chapter, and each wish generally costs between $7,500 and $10,000. The goal of these types of events is to raise enough money that every child’s wish can be granted. The wishes provided by Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley can help a child, in one of the darkest moments of their life, to gain hope and strength.

The candy holiday before the candy holiday, Sweetest Day will be celebrated this year on Saturday, Oct. 19. Often referred to as a fall Valentine’s Day or a pre-Halloween celebration, the Sweetest Day in America offers the opportunity for individuals in a community to perform gestures of kindness for one another. The day has been used in the past for those more fortunate to give back to their community.

Launched as a promotional event in the 1920s, Sweetest Day has been a long-celebrated holiday in the Great Lakes region, and has spread to become a beloved holiday throughout the United States. It originated from one person’s desire to do something nice for the orphans and displaced residents of Cleveland. During its first year, thousands of boxes of candy were given away in the Cleveland region. The holiday can be celebrated by providing ‘sweet’ acts of kindness for the community.

Children often know how to turn our frowns into smiles. They know how to make us laugh and how to cheer us up at any given time. This is why it is important to have a day dedicated to learning about keeping children safe and healthy and allowing them to do what they do best—which is just being a kid.

Monday, Oct. 7 is Child Health Day. At Wheels For Wishes, children are so important to us, and we do our best to see that we can help Make-A-Wish grant the wishes of kids with critical illnesses. At Wheels For Wishes, benefiting Make-A-Wish, people are able to donate their unwanted cars which will be recycled or reused and transformed into wishes for local kids. We love that we are able to help Make-A-Wish and contribute to their amazing work of helping local children, but we need people like you to help make it happen.

The air is getting cooler and with fewer opportunities to head to the beach, it’s time to get into the spirit of autumn. It may not be warm enough to go swimming, but it’s still the perfect opportunity to get outside and enjoy the beautiful fall colors. Read some of our ideas for bringing in the season of autumn!

The International Day of Peace will be celebrated on Saturday, Sept. 21, and will include celebrations and activities all over the world. Individuals, organizations, and nations are encouraged to come together on “Peace Day” to create practical acts of peace on a shared date. Supporters will enjoy festivals and concerts, but there are also ways to create a peaceful world right from your own home, whether online and using the computer or simply making a phone call.

If you have an unwanted vehicle taking up space in your driveway, garage, or shed, consider donating the vehicle you rarely, if ever use, and put it to better use. When you donate your vehicle to Wheels For Wishes, benefiting Make-A-Wish, you can help to bring hope, strength, and joy back into the life of a child with a critical illness. Donated cars can help Make-A-Wish grant a wish for a local child in your community, while giving them a memory to last a lifetime.

Since an important part of the International Day of Peace includes doing a good deed for someone who needs it, donating a car can be the perfect act of kindness for you. To donate a vehicle, please call [chapter_phone] or fill out our online vehicle donation form. If you don’t have a vehicle to donate at this time, you’re in luck, because there are other ways to get involved on “Peace Day.”