Fundraiser This Week

We have a big opportunity this week to raise much-needed funds to kick-off our plans for 2013.  If you live anywhere near Cache Valley in Northern Utah and plan to eat this week (;-), please consider going to one of my favorite places, Pizza Pie Cafe.

If you don't live near here, or can't otherwise make it, would you please spread the word by sending your Northern Utah friends and family to our Facebook Page?  While you are there please "LIKE" us.

IMPORTANT: We don't get credit unless guests bring in the form below.  Please print it out and take it with you.  Thanks a lot!

Water

I was going through past photos today to select my favorites for the new website we are creating and I came across this one and had to share.

I took this shot on the shores of Lake Volta in March 2012. I am guessing this boy is about 8 years old.  It was early in the morning and already "Africa" hot.

This water is filthy.  If you look behind him you can see trash on the beach and just outside the shot is a large, rusted ferry boat getting ready to take travelers across this gigantic lake.  I saw people bathing in this water, cleaning motorbikes, going to the bathroom, etc.  To think that someone, a little kid no less, has no choice but to drink this bacteria-ridden water is really appalling.

In my work with Bridges To America in Africa I have come to realize that the root cause of problems that exist in poor countries (poverty, disease, education, etc.) is a lack of clean water and food.

That is why I am so glad to be working with the great team at People Water. These guys aren't just cool, they have big hearts and a big vision to change the world by solving one of our most basic problems: clean water.

With their Drop For Drop mission every bottle they sell People Water gives an equal amount of clean water to a person in need.

We will be selling People Water at our fundraiser at Pizza Pie Cafe this Monday through Thursday (Feb 25th-28th) for $2.00/bottle.  By purchasing a bottle you can do three things at once: quench your thirst, help a person without clean drinking water, and support us in our mission of reuniting African families and teaching children everywhere to live a life worthy of their best dreams.

Here we go!

We are so excited to announce that we are off and running in 2013!  Under the leadership of the Student Council and thanks to the students, parents, faculty, and administration of Edith Bowen Lab School, a charter school located on the campus of Utah State University in Logan Utah, we are doing our first fundraiser of 2013.

We have big plans to have a breakout year in 2013 and help more people than we did last year and that means we need money to do that.  We have one family we are working with that has been separated for over 20 years.  The mother lives in Boston and her three children attend school in the US.  She has two older daughters that have lived in the West African country of Liberia ever since a civil war broke out that unexpectedly separated them long ago.  Their case is complex and will require lots of funds and time but we are dedicated to not stop until they are reunited.  We need your help.

Edith Bowen has arranged a great fundraiser from February 25th - 28th at Pizza Pie Cafe in Logan.  PPC will donate 25% of sales during this period to Bridges To America.  I have been to PPC many times including two soccer parties and I LOVE this place!  It is great fun, delicious food, and good people.

Additionally, my daughters, Marissa and Kylie, will be joining me this week at Edith Bowen to make presentations about our trip to Ghana this past December and to help the kids there better understand what we do and how they can also make a difference in the world.

We look forward to this great start to 2013 and appreciate your support!

Video Plea

Most of my efforts are taking place at Save-A-Thon For Africa these days so please visit there to support but just in case you missed it, here is my latest video.  Takes just 5 minutes to watch and I sincerely hope it will move you to join us and help us touch the lives of those with so little this Christmas.

Thank you!

Great Week! Time to act!

Here is a quick update on what is happening at Bridges To America.

As you may know, my 12 year-old daughter, Kylie, and I have been working on a campaign we call Save-A-Thon For Africa (http://saveathonforafrica.blogspot.com) most of the year to raise money for soccer balls, school supplies, and food to deliver for Christmas to the children in Ghana.  We leave in less than three weeks!

Last week we received the best PR we have ever had and it was very satisfying.  We were on the KSL six o'clock news in Salt Lake City and had two newspaper articles written about the effort.

Here are links to the video and to both newspaper articles.

KSL News Link

http://soc.li/ap4Qare 

Deseret News Article

http://fb.me/1JBgVeYNa 

Herald Journal Article

http://fb.me/1OlLaVn5F 

It is gratifying to see the return of investment from our generous donors and our hard work.  It feels like we are gaining momentum and reaching a tipping point that will help us grow.  And the greatest thing about that is that we are now able to benefit more families and especially children in Africa.

We are still raising over $3,000 for the expenses of this trip and supplies for the children in the village for Christmas.  We would love any support you can give and/or encourage as you see fit.  You can visit the website to learn more and make donations here: http://bit.ly/UPlFFj

Lastly, we are doing a fundraiser called Chalk Talk for Charity this Thursday night,  Dec. 6th from 7PM with the Utah State Aggies Women's Soccer Team in Logan.  More details here:  http://chalktalk4charity-es2.eventbrite.com/?rank=1

Thanks for your support!

Criticism of Charity. My Response

It's been a great week for Bridges To America as we have enjoyed several favorable stories about our efforts with Save-A-Thon For Africa (saveathonforafrica.com).

We were on the KSL News in Salt Lake City, Utah.

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=23147771&nid=148&title=teen-goalie-raises-money-for-ghana-with-every-save&s_cid=queue-6

Two newspaper articles were also written on our effort.

Deseret News
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865567638/Worthy-goal-Cache-County-family-works-together-to-deliver-on-promise-to-African-child.html?pg=all

Herald Journal
http://news.hjnews.com/allaccess/article_ec84c3ca-3b5e-11e2-ab07-001a4bcf887a.html?mode=story


After the segment aired I came across a couple of fairly critical comments on the KSL News website that I have heard before and I wanted to address them.  I think my response could be helpful to further understanding important issues around humanitarian efforts and charity.

The first comment is below:

am blu blood
posted 1 day ago

This is all nice and fine, however why is it that people have to look for charities to serve other nations, why not help our own nation, we have an enormous need right here in the GOOD OLE U.S. OF A. Show me ONE country that has ever stepped up to help our country. WE need to focus back on ourselves, and once we are healed then we can help others, charity starts at HOME.

My Response:

As for helping people here first and then overseas I can't disagree with the fact that we have our own problems here. No question. But, what people probably don't realize is that we actually have a tremendous safety net here in the USA. If someone really has no food they can get it. In Africa, that is simply not true. The line between dead and alive is very thin there.  This means that so much energy of daily life is spent on merely surviving that things like education take a lower priority.

It takes so little to do so much good that I can't simply sit back and wait to solve all of our problems here first and then help people in another country. If we all waited until our problems were solved do you think we would ever look beyond our borders? I don't think so.

Further, by involving my daughters, future leaders like the rest of their generation, they are getting firsthand experience in being grateful for what we do have here in the US and a priceless education in service which can be applied both here and abroad.

Second Comment:

I ShouldaKnown
posted 2 days ago

Really they are going to fly over with 150 balls? Come on think big, it's not worth the trip unless they have 15,000 balls. Give some thought to staying home and using the airfare money to send them more balls.

report as abuse

like

rosie111
posted 1 day ago

Its the experience in seeing the kids expression as they receive these wonderful gifts. Way to go goalie!

My Response:

I have told my girls that we will leave each village there with a pit in our stomach that we couldn't do more.  But that feeling will be more than offset by the smiles and beaming eyes that thank us for what we were able to do. Frankly, this trip isn't about soccer balls, or the school supplies and food we will also be delivering, it's about going beyond our own problems and perceived lack of things and touching the lives of a few or a few hundred children who just want to know that they are valued and that their lives matter. It doesn't get any bigger than that!

I believe in doing what you can now, however small it may seem, not waiting for some elusive day when 15,000 balls is even a possibility. Though I appreciate the challenge.

I welcome your comments to my response on these important issues.

Save-A-Thon For Africa is getting exciting!

Support us here.

We are just over 3 weeks away from flying nearly 10,000 miles to visit hundreds of children in poor villages in Ghana, Africa for Christmas.  Here is a quick update:

1.  Watch a news story shot today on KSL News in Salt Lake City, Utah tonight at 6PM.  The story will be online at ksl.com shortly;

Marissa on camera.

2.  We got out first batch of soccer balls and loaded 1 of 6 big duffel bags we are taking with us;

Kylie with a bag of soccer balls for the children in Ghana.

3.  Fundraiser with the Aggies Women's Soccer Team is in just 9 days--December 6th @ 7PM.  Get your tickets here!

Stay tuned for more updates...

Support us here.