1/11/11 charity:water Donation Blitz!

A date like 1/11/11 only comes once in a lifetime. And the opportunity to change the world by funding a water project is just is just as rare and precious. Part of my commitment as a small business owner is to share my abundance with the world. Acupuncture Denver and those of you who have supported us have given me so much: the opportunity to make a living doing something I love, the ability to connect with amazing, inspiring people on a day-to-day basis, and the access to a lifetime of learning, creativity and healing. As a way of giving back, I hope to raise $5000 for charity : water (by 3/31/11). This will be enough to complete one well/water project for a community in need. Visit my campaign page to make a secure donation–100% of which will go to project costs!!! Or, to learn more about charity:water and the water crisis, go here.

Millions of people all over the world don’t have access to clean water. Most fatal childhood diseases in the developing world are related to unsanitary water. In many countries, young girls have to forfeit an education to spend hours, if not days, carrying water long distances. They not only miss out on the opportunity for an education, but also become vulnerable to violent crimes as they travel long distances, often alone. If you are fortunate enough to be reading this email, you likely have no idea what this experience would be like. But take a moment to imagine what it would be like:

Imagine having to walk a distance equivalent to the space between Park Hill and Confluence Park with a plastic three gallon jug strapped to your back. Imagine that you are a young girl, age 8, alone, without shoes. You have to face many dangers on the trip- animals, strangers, exposure, injury.  Imagine filling up that jug with brown, muddy water and carrying it back miles to your home. Imagine having only that three gallon jug available for all of your water needs:  drinking water, cooking water, and washing water.  Imagine that water makes your family sick. Imagine the youngest and most vulnerable die. But you have no choice, because safe water is unavailable to you.

Just because we are lucky enough not to have to live through that scenario doesn’t mean many others don’t face it every day. The fact that my son, who is from Ethiopia, could have lived through a reality like that hits me deeply and profoundly. It’s easy to objectify the “starving kids in Africa” and numb ourselves to their suffering when they aren’t our kids. I think it’s our habit to separate us from them when things are that uncomfortable, raw and brutal. But I can’t separate myself since one of “those” kids could be my kid, if miraculous events and circumstances had not brought us together. As part of living a wholehearted life, I am making a commitment not to numb myself to suffering– both my own and others’. We can all make that commitment and through it change our lives and the world for the better.

So take a moment to go to my campaign page and give what you can– $1, $11, $110, $1100 (it’s the 1/11/11 thing). And remember, 100% of your donation goes to program costs. Amazing! Hopeful! Beautiful! Make 1/11/11 (or 1/12/11 which is probably when you’ll get this message) a day you will remember for your role in making the world a better place. Thank you again for all you have done to make Acupuncture Denver such a great part of my life!

In gratitude,

Jane

Give Back This Season!

Looking for a way to give back this holiday season? Below is a list of non-profit organizations that we think are extra worthy of your donation or contribution.  We regularly support all of these organizations with financial contributions.

A Glimmer of Hope:
A Glimmer of Hope is a non-profit organization that helps lift women and children out of extreme poverty in rural Ethiopia. Acupuncture Denver looks forward to creating our own campaign through Glimmer of Hope in 2011!

Mudula Water:
Mudula Water is a partnership between adoptive families and Children’s Home Society and Family Services to raise funds and develop a water scheme to deliver clean, safe water to Mudula and the surrounding areas. This cause is near and dear to our hearts, since Ezra was born in Mudula and still has birth family living there. Acupuncture Denver contributed $1000 to this project in December.

International Child Welfare:
A division of the Children’s Home Society & Family Services that provides international adoption programs and other outreach efforts to help vulnerable children in need. Acupuncture Denver sponsors an HIV positive child in the AHOPE community outreach program every year. For just $365 per year, this sponsorship funds one child’s education, medical treatment, and care so that they get the vital support that they need.

Pathfinder International:
An organization that supports reproductive health and family planning all around the world.

Ethiopian Orphan Relief:
A non-profit corporation that works to improve the living conditions and lives of Ethiopian orphans remaining in Ethiopia by working with Ethiopian orphanages and adoption agency care houses to provide supplies, infrastructure and experiences. Jane serverd on the Board of EOR and continues to support them by contributing to their yearly fundraiser and making donations.

Heifer International:
An organization whose mission is to work with communities to end hunger and poverty and care for the earth. Acupuncture Denver gives “in honor” gifts from Heifer every Holiday. This year, we gave a “Flock of Hope” in honor of one of our favorite physicians.

The Girl Effect:
Powerful social and economic change can be brought about when girls have the opportunity to participate. Donate to causes that support education, family planning, and empowering women and girls through Globalgiving.org.

CARE:
A leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty, with a special focus on working alongside poor women to improve basic education, prevent the spread of HIV, increase access to clean water and sanitation, expand economic opportunity and protect natural resources.

Amnesty International:
A worldwide movement of people who campaign for internationally recognized human rights for all. Their mission is to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated. Acupuncture Denver maintains a membership with Amnesty International yearly.

Orgyen Khamdroling:
A nonprofit organization that raises money for select projects that support the culture and the spiritual tradition of Tibet, including sponsoring Tibetan children living in rural parts of the Amdo province to attend school.

Acupuncture Denver makes regular monthly contributions to this organization to support their projects and the future Buddhist center to be built in Colorado.

Southern Poverty Law Center:
Located in Montgomery, Alabama, SPLC is internationally known for its tolerance education programs, its legal victories against white supremacists and its tracking of hate groups. Acupuncture Denver maintains a membership yearly to support SPLC.

UNICEF: UNICEF’s mission is to provide special protection for the most disadvantaged children: victims of war, disasters, extreme poverty, all forms of violence and exploitation, and those with disabilities.