The fight against ALS continues

When Todd Smallwood of Fenwick Island, Deleware found out his long-time friend Mark Habicht was diagnosed with ALS in November of this year, he knew he needed to help. Like so many people, Todd wondered, what can I do to help my friend? After talking with Mark, he had an idea. He needed to raise awareness and money. Todd, a fitness enthusiast, has run in a number of marathon, triathlons and even competed in the ironman competition but he wanted to do more for Mark.

Todd signed up for the “Graveyard 100 Ultra marathon” - http://www.graveyard100.com/Graveyard_100.html.

The grueling Ultra Marathon is on March 9 in the Outer Banks of North Carolina along the sand dunes and crossing the Bonner Bridge, ending at Cape Hatteras. In 2012, runners were not only battling to finish the race but also 28 mile per hour winds. The race philosophy is “the best things and most cherished are earned the hard way”. While this may be true as a race philosophy, it cannot be said for Todd and Mark’s friendship. The friendship came easily and could not be more cherished by these two men.

Donations will make a direct impact on those living with ALS by helping to purchase equipment for the families, support ALS specific research or support the ALS multidisciplinary clinic. This is a long race and Todd can use support along the way.

Interested runners can join the team and run a portion of the race (5, 7 or 10 miles). Spots are limited and there is a $500 fundrisaising minimum.

For more information, visit: Brigance Brigade Foundation, www.brigancebrigade.org or The Robert Packard Center for ALS Research at Johns Hopkins, www.alscenter.org.

To make a donaton to sign-up to be a runner in the event, visit: https://www.fundraise.com/brigance-brigade-foundation/going-the-distance-for-als.

Jail Houses Kids Deserve Presents

Today, there are 1.7 million kids whose parent or parents are serving time in prison. And when there is only one parent and that parent is in jail, who takes care of the children and how does Santa still make his deliveries?

Many times, more often than not, they are held in juvenile hall or kids jail during Christmas. And so very many of these kids have done nothing and are just being cataloged and held like so many cattle because there is no place else for these kids. And the really sad thing?

They are mostly housed with other kids who are into drugs, gangs and worse. So who do the innocent child end up with as a peer? And all for the lack of of an adult who cares about them and their lives.

The goal is to raise $5,000 for kids in juvenile hall or juvenile jail. These kids often receive not even a visit or phone call from a family member on Christmas, much less a gift. In many cases, some of these kids have not even committed a crime but are there as their parent or parents are in jail for drug offenses or other type of crime and there were no other family members available or responsible enough to take the child.

Please, help to put a smile on a child’s face even if for just a little while. Contirbutors may rest assured that donations are going to help a homeless child without adult supervision see that someone still cares about him or her.

For more information and to make a donation, visit: https://www.fundraise.com/american-grants2012/jail-house-kids-for-christmas

Help is needed to fund the World Institute on Disability

With the tough economic times, deep budget cuts threaten to undermine years of hard won battles for policies, programs and services crucial to maintaining independence and choice for Americans with disabilities.

And the Word Institute on Disability (WID) is a champion for these critical policies, programs and services that are essential to improving the lives of people with disabilities. These services are especially critical to those whose ability to live independently is most vulnerable to cuts in programs and services.

Did you know that 70 percent of returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan have service-connected disabilities?

This year the WID launched Vets101.org, a Web site with free career planning tools and information services that help wounded warriors and veterans navigate the maze of information out there and make informed financial and career decisions. This groundbreaking site will simplify and demystify the road from benefits to work for all veterans.

Did you know that confusion about benefits programs keeps many people with disabilities from working, due to fear of losing life-saving benefits and health care?

That’s why the WID produces innovative Web-based tools that help Americans with disabilities to learn about their disability benefits and empower people to return to work.

Did you know that the majority of people with disabilities in the United States live in poverty, with fear of losing their government benefits?

That’s why in 2011 the WID launched the Center on Economic Growth to focus on increasing employment and economic standing of people with disabilities in the U.S. and worldwide.

Did you know that most developing countries have few, if any, programs for providing wheelchairs to people who need them?

That’s why the WID’s International Program continues to provide start-up money for a small wheelchair business that employs people with disabilities to produce low-cost, high-quality wheelchairs in the Republic of Georgia. The organization also plans to serve as a partner in the development of a wheelchair manufacturing and assembly project in Morocco.

Did you know that many countries around the world have no legal rights or protections for people with disabilities?

That’s why WID supports the human rights of people with disabilities worldwide, including the implementation of the UN Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The WID continues to work to advance disability rights and inclusion in the Middle East and North Africa as part of the Justice and Dignity Project – a collaboration of Non-Governmental Organizations focused on human rights.

Did you know that many people with disabilities do not have access to health, nutrition and fitness programs that meet their disability-related needs?

That’s why the WID launched the “New Door” program which combines peer support, accessible fitness programs and healthy nutrition information in accessible ways. This program encourages people with disabilities to take charge of their health, healthcare, and fitness.

The WID cannot do this work alone. The organization relies on community support and generosity of people like you to continue our important work to promote independence, choice and economic empowerment for people with disabilities. With financial support, the WID will continue to move forward with our advocacy and policy work to defend critical programs that keep people with disabilities living in the community and out of institutions and provide necessary health care and employment supports.

Tax-deductible contributions are vital when funds for social justice work are so scarce.

For more information about the WID, visit: www.wid.org and to make a donation to their cause, visit: https://www.fundraise.com/world-institute-on-disability/support-the-world-institute-on-disability.

A Night at the Boston Center For The Arts

When? Monday, February 4th at 6 p.m.

Where? Cyclorama at the BCA

Why? Come experience the arts firsthand and hands-on before enjoying dinner at Hamersley’s Bistro (casual attire encouraged).

If you are unable to attend, but would like to make a gift in honor of Michael Wasserman, visit: https://www.fundraise.com/anightatthebcadonate

The organization is grateful to Gordon and Fiona Hamersley for their generous support.

Get involved to save the world’s oceans

IT’S TIME TO ROCK THE OCEAN

What is the Rock The Ocean Foundation?

The Rock The Ocean Foundation is a 501(c)3 (pending IRS approval) dedicated to supporting scientific research, education and increasing public awareness about the issues impacting the world’s oceans. RTOF teams up with high profile musical artists and entertainers, who will perform and participate in a series of global music festivals, events and brand partnerships, that educate the public on marine conservation. RTOF’s events are world class music festivals with top tier talent and each event will provide a platform for the foundation to engage in advocacy and fund raising, both on site and digitally in advance of the show. RTOF founder Chris Stacey is an avid ocean lover, free-diver and 20-year music industry veteran. The Tortuga Music festival will bring to life his vision for a music festival that celebrates the conservation of the world’s oceans.

What is the Tortuga Music Festival?

Kenny Chesney will headline the first Rock The Ocean event, The Tortuga Music Festival. Tortuga is the first in a series of global music festivals presented by RTOF and themed around marine conservation. Tortuga will be a multi-day, multi-genre music festival held on the sands of Fort Lauderdale Beach, Florida on April 13 and 14 of 2013.

All of RTOF’s festivals will celebrate the preservation of the world’s oceans!
Our events are produced in conjunction with world-renowned event promoters Huka Entertainment; best known for The Hangout Music Festival and Concerts for the Coast featuring Jimmy Buffet, Bon Jovi and Brad Paisley.

Tortuga itself is a for-profit venture (putting on a party of this magnitude is expensive) but the event will engage in advocacy and fundraising for the RTOF at every opportunity. At the point of sale, every fan will have an opportunity to donate to the RTOF.

What we will the Rock the Ocean Foundation do with funding?

RTOF knows how to put on big shows and create world class events. But, the organization realized very quickly that in order to save the worlds oceans, there are lots of people who are smarter than the organization itself. So, RTOF is better off raising the funds by putting on its shows and doing cool brand partnerships and then donating those funds to other 501(c)3’s, including universities and non-governmental organizations who specialize in different areas of marine conservation. With each new day RTOF discovers more potential partners and organizations doing great work for our oceans. Our first and primary partner is the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation. They are tied to the Tortuga event as our primary beneficiary. RTOF is also working closely with Nova Southeastern University, University of Miami’s RJ Dunlap Marine Conservation Program, Ocean Conservancy and others.

For more information about the Rock the Ocean Foundation, visit www.rocktheocean.com and to make a donation, visit: https://www.fundraise.com/rock-the-ocean/rock-the-ocean.

Wine party to benefit Boston area non-profit organizations

For the seventh straight year, some of Boston’s best entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and technology all-stars will come together to raise money for Technology Underwriting Greater Good (TUGG) in the form of a wine party.

The goal is to raise $300,000 and the party will be on January 31 from 6 to 11 p.m. and will be held at Cyclorama. The party will include 20 amazing wines, a fabulous tequila bar, great food, live music from Darlingside (www.darlingside.com) plus an amazing DJ for the return of “Club TUGG!” The dress for this special event is business casual.

There are many different way to get involved in this fundraiser, and they include: purchasing a ticket ($75), making an individual donation (which includes a mention in the wine party program with special distinction for donations above $1,000), starting a fundraising team, becoming a lead sponsor (for $25,000, lead sponsors get 50 tickets to the party, logo inclusion on all event publications and sponsor signage, a full page advertisement in the wine party program, featured logo inclusion on the TUGG Web site, logo inclusion on TUGG’s wine party event Web site and VIP wine tasting for team members), becoming a corporate sponsor (for a $10,000 sponsorship 30 tickets to the party are included, logo inclusion on all event publications and sponsor signage, half-page advertisement in the wine party program and logo inclusion on TUGG’s wine party event Web site), entrepreneurial sponsor (for a $5,000 sponsorship 15 tickets to the event are inluded, logo inclusion on all event publications and sponsor signage, named included in the program and logo inclusion on TUGG’s wine party event Web site) and by sponsoring an entrepreneur for $75 that will allow an entrepreneur to enter on the benefit of a donation.

TUGG is a nonprofit, tax-exempt, publicly supported organization under section 501 (c)(3) of the IRS Code, and is incorporated and registered in Massachusetts. All donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Donations may deductible for fiscal year 2012 or 2013 depending on time of the gift.

Anyone interested in becoming a larger sponsorship can send an email todavid@tugg.org, and the publication deadline for the program is on January 15.

According to David Brown, the Executive Director of TUGG, the event has grown every year. The first year about 200 people attended, and last year more than $150,000 was raised, while approximately 750 guests attended the event.

Brown is is hoping that nearly 1,000 people attend this year’s wine party and has been pleased with working with Fundraise.com and loves how easy it is to set up a fundraiser.

“It’s been a great experience,” Brown said. “We have a good relationship with Fundraise.com from the start.”

Money raised during the event will go towards funding six early-stage non-profit organizations that have close ties to TUGG, which Brown described as “the philanthropic arm for the technology field.”

“This event is a great way for members of the technology community to come together and support these six non-profit organizations,” Brown added.

For more information about TUGG, visit: http://www.tugg.org/ and to find out more information about the fundraiser and to make a donation, visit: https://www.fundraise.com/tugg-corp/seventh-annual-tech-charity-wine-party.

Children of Haiti need financial support for success in the 21st Century

On Saturday June 22, the Lantana will host one of the premier fundraising events of 2013, honoring the work of the Foundation for Technological and Economic Advancement of Mirebalais (FATEM) in the primary education sector in rural Haiti. The organization will also acknowledge the work of some of the many people that are passionate about education and have made invaluable contributions to ensuring that children and young people in Haiti are equipped with the type of education that will afford them the ability to compete on a global level. Please visit FATEM’s fundraising page often for additional information about the gala, including the name of our keynote speaker, special guest appearances, performances and awards recipients.

Education in Haiti

Of Haiti’s 10.5 million inhabitants, just about half (64.5 percent) are illiterate, which is by far the highest rate in the Caribbean region. Haiti counts 15,200 primary schools, of which the vast majority is private and managed by the communities, religious organizations or non-profit organizations. The enrollment rate for primary school is 67 percent, of which less than 30 percent reach sixth grade. Secondary schools enroll 20 percent of eligible-age children. It is a sad fact that more than half of Haitian children do not go to school, but with financial support these statistics can be changed for the better.

About the Organization

FATEM has been working to affect change through education in Haiti for seven years. Attend the celebration in June and support FATEM as the organization continues to contribute towards quality education for Haiti’s children.

For more information about FATEM, visit: http://www.fatem.org/ and to make a donation, visit: https://www.fundraise.com/educatetochange.

Featured Fundraiser: Fourth Presbyterian Church

Fourth Presbyterian Church is located in a low-income section of South Boston that provides many different benefits to the surrounding community. Some of these include: community arts ministry, free summer day program, tutoring ministries, recovery efforts, among many other programs and initiatives.

Fundraise.com spoke with Pastor Burns Stanfield of Fourth Presbyterian over email to find out more about how they got started and what keeps the church thriving.

How did the church get its start?

Our church was founded in 1870, and it had a restart of sorts in the early 1990s after a period of decline

What motivates you in your fundraising efforts?

we know the church makes a huge difference in this community of South Boston. It is a beacon of hope!

What is your favorite part of working with Fourth Presbyterian?

The wild and wonderful mix of people.

Who benefits from your fundraising efforts?

The families that make use of our programs. Things like:

· Supplying 300 neighborhood families with monthly groceries
· Teaching English to new arrivals from Albania, China, Vietnam and Latin America
· Offering music, art, film and magic classes to neighborhood children
· Providing robust theater programs for children, teen and now even adults

What advice do you have for aspiring fundraisers?

Love the cause.

What goals are you trying to reach by fundraising?

Strengthen, deepen and broaden our witness.

For more on Fourth Presbyterian Church, please visit: online church fundraising