If you've been reading my blog in the last week, you know that in eight days I will be celebrating my 52nd Birthday. As I do every year for my birthday, I ask for donations to the Sharing Foundation in lieu of gifts or cards. This nonprofit helps to care for children in Cambodia. It was founded by retired pediatrician, Dr. Nancy Hendrie. (If you want to know more about why my family and I care about the children of Cambodia and this charity, take a minute to watch this video my son, Harry, made last year.)
Many children in Cambodia do not go to school because their families lack the $10 for a uniform, required for school attendance. Last year, the Sharing Foundation's sewing school, a vocational training program, made over 1250 uniform sets and donated them to needy children in Roteang Village, to the Street Children's Assistance NGO, and to a poor government orphanage. The sewing girls, who are employed by the Sharing Foundation's vocational training program, earn from the first day of their training, so this is a win-win situation.
This year for my birthday, I'm inviting the readers of this blog, my professional colleagues, my friends, and family to donate $10 or more so we can send these youngsters to school in 2009! I've already raised enough through my Facebook Birthday Cause to send 100 kids to school this year! I'd like to be send 520 to school or raise a total of $5,200.
Several blog readers have suggested that I set up other ways to donate to the Sharing Foundation in addition to Facebook Causes. (Thank you Celeste for the suggestion AND donation!) I've set up a Network for Good charity badge where you can use your credit card, check, or PayPal to contribute.
Can you think of a better use of $10 or more? Send a poor Cambodian youngster to school, provide employment for young women in Cambodia, and help celebrate my birthday!
beth, i keep meaning to comment here in addition to tweets :) great idea. will fwd it on fb, tweet it, give to it. but my cousin just spent 2 months there last summer, is now recently engaged and i'm gonna propose she posit this Sharing Foundation as a viable avenue in lieu of traditional wedding gifts. Have you read of other examples of couples asking via social media for donations to certain organizations? or know how to check? I learned about FB causes just after my 40th. Such a great way to really celebrate by giving. Thanks for the post.:)
Posted by: Tre | January 04, 2009 at 12:23 AM
Hey Beth, today is MY birthday, and I'm going to celebrate by paying this forward on Facebook and Shaping Youth for your cause, since I haven't gotten around to making one for my own 501c3 yet. (yah, lame, I know) I'm going to go with $25 inverting $52 this year as times are tight and Shaping Youth is still unfunded but hopefully posting a "birthday to birthday" appeal to bring some fresh faces your way! :-)
Posted by: Amy Jussel | January 04, 2009 at 12:57 PM