Last night at our giving party, Laura Brader-Araje was present to represent DonorsChoose.org. Laura and her husband Michael brought Donors Choose to North Carolina several years ago and have actively supported the organization through their Brader-Araje Foundation. I simply thought that Laura would be present to share information about DonorsChoose and encourage donations, but she took it one giant step forward by providing ALL party attendees with a $100 gift certificate from her foundation to be used with Donors Choose. What an amazing gift! I hope everyone will use the gift, and then feel encouraged to give even more. I can’t wait to spend some time on the DonorsChoose site finding educational projects I want to support!
And the grand total is… November 30, 2007
Tonight, we raised over $11, 580 at our giving party. I am completely blown away! And, we had a fantastic time, to boot. Great company, tasty wine, delicious food and some incredibly generous friends. Thank you so much for making this crazy little idea of mine come together and for jump starting the holidays.
If you didn’t make it to the party and still want to give, just click on the links for the organizations listed on the blog. And if you think of it, drop me a line about the amount you gave so we can keep a running total. Thanks again!
Welcome to our Party! November 29, 2007
We’re so glad you’re here! Please feel free to click on one of the organizations below and make donations online (or just write a check while you’re here). And don’t forget to pick up gift cards for your loved ones and register your gift in our giving box.
Thank you for being here and Happy Holidays!
Communities in Schools of Durham
Donors Choose.org
World Vision
Giving even more THANKS! November 29, 2007
Mary Beth just picked up the gift cards to go along with donations from the party and they are FABULOUS! A huge thanks to Laser Image Corporate Printing for doing these for us. I can’t wait for the “Givers” to see them. They’re truly quality cards that anyone would be honored to share with a loved one. So thanks!
A little press never hurt November 28, 2007
I just heard from the editor of Philanthropy Journal this morning and they’re running a new segment on Women and Giving. They’re going to mention our Giving Party in an upcoming issue! We’re trying to start a movement here…nice to get the press.
Thanks to Chapel Hill Wine Co! November 28, 2007
Many thanks to this local wine business (located off Airport on Homestead Road) for generously giving us amazing wine at COST for our Giving Party. We recommend them for all of your holiday wine buying (we’ll try not to drink it all before you get to the party!).
These are a few of my favorite things… November 25, 2007
Okay, I’m no Oprah, but I do have a few holidays favs when it comes to alternative giving. If the party picks don’t float your boat, consider one of these ways to give.
GIFTS THAT MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD
This site lets you change the world in exactly the way you want. For just a few dollars, you can provide a child with her first book; fund an hour of cancer research; protect an acre of the rainforest; or restore a blind person’s sight with cataract surgery. You’re sure to find something that moves you or a loved one, no matter what cause you most care about.
http://www.changingthepresent.org
TO HONOR THAT SPECIAL TEACHER
DonorsChoose.org is a simple way to provide students in need with resources that our public schools often lack. At this web site, teachers submit project proposals for materials or experiences their students need to learn.
www.DonorsChoose.org
FOR THE BUDDING ENTREPRENEUR
Kiva lets you connect with and loan money to unique small businesses in the developing world. You can “sponsor a business” and help the world’s working poor make great strides towards economic independence. Throughout the course of the loan (usually 6-12 months), you’ll receive email journal updates from the business you’ve sponsored. As loans are repaid, you get your loan money back to keep or reinvest in another business.
www.kiva.org
HELP A WOMAN A WORLD AWAY
Women for Women International helps women survivors of war move toward economic self-sufficiency with a year-long program of direct aid, rights education, job skills training and small business development. Since 1993, they’ve distributed direct aid, micro-credit loans, and other program services to more than 125,000 women in 105 countries worldwide.
www.womenforwomen.org
FOR THE “HELP! I’M BURIED IN PAPER” PERSON IN YOUR LIFE
Raise your hand if you like receiving junk mail. Anyone? Anyone? You might be sick of hearing me talk about these people, but I can’t help myself. I now receive NO MORE junk mail and I love them for it. For a $15 one-time fee, Greendimes will reduce your junk mail (really…it works!), plant trees on your behalf, AND they’re lobbying congress to create a “Do Not Mail” registry that let’s US decide what mail we receive. Sign up a friend this holiday season…it’s truly the gift that keeps on giving!
www.greendimes.com
FOR THE FREQUENT TRAVELER
I’m a little evangelical about Terrapass, too. We purchased a minivan this year and I just couldn’t justify that big honkin’ car without my Terrapass. This company allows you to offset the carbon from your vehicle (also from your home and air transportation!) and all funds go to support clean energy initiatives.
www.terrapass.com
FOR THE KIDS
Share a goat, chicken or cow with a kid in your life and you’ll be the coolest grownup in town! You’re probably familiar with Heifer International (recently featured in Bill Clinton’s new book “Giving”). Their mission is to work with communities to end hunger and poverty and to care for the earth by giving families a source of food rather than short-term relief. Their website offers great tools for children to follow their “gift” and see where it is really having an impact.
www.heifer.org
We hope to see you at our party this Thursday! Don’t forget to RSVP.
Thank you very much, Whole Foods Market November 20, 2007
Whole Foods Market in Chapel Hill has generously offered to donate food for our Giving Party. Less food to buy means more money to spend on charitable donations in honor of loved ones! Many thanks!
DonorsChoose.org is now national! November 19, 2007
Thanks to writer pal Amy Tiemann for pointing this out on her blog–DonorsChoose.org (one of the organizations represented at our Giving Party) is now open to every public school throughout the country. This makes it even easier to give this gift in honor of friends and family throughout the US by supporting a school right in their neighborhood.
The Giving Party gets a “look” November 14, 2007
Here’s our logo for the party (to be printed on gift cards to go with gifts, and note pads for “shopping lists”). I like it!
