The other day I got a package from Helen Keller International. I participated in a trivia contest with the organization on Twitter. I didn't win -- by a longshot. But they had some extra prizes and they liked my answers so I got the package. It consisted of a biography of Ms. Keller, some healthy seeds for eyesight and a magnet with an awesome Helen Keller quote. I'll get back to the quote in a second.
What does HKI do? They work globally to prevent blindess, help those with poor visition through ensuring proper vision screening and nutrition. As you know, Ms. Keller was both deaf and blind through illness contracted as a baby. This organization carries on her work. I do support the work of HKI though some of my other work.
HKI is not one of the organizations that the Quilt Block Challenge supports. I had to limit it to 5 organizations to avoid diluting the impact. If I had a list of 100 organizations (easy to do with all the great organizations out there), the $10 donations would be spread too thin. But, by limiting it to 5, it focuses the impact a bit more.
And focusing the impact is key. Helen Keller "Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much." By myself, I can only give so much to worthy organizations. I can only make so many quilts. Together, we can give to the chosen organizations, which will give them more in donations to their work. Then I can do more quilts to help others. It is a collaborative effort.
Won't you join me so we can do so much?
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Monday, June 24, 2013
Future Plans
Once this gets going I will add a gallery page.
Also, I will have a ticker showing amount raised and quilts donated. Won't that be pretty? Won't that be cool to see how all of us working together can make a difference?
So let's get going. Let's get donating so I can get quilting.
Also, I will have a ticker showing amount raised and quilts donated. Won't that be pretty? Won't that be cool to see how all of us working together can make a difference?
So let's get going. Let's get donating so I can get quilting.
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Update -- Room to Read
Tune in to Girl Rising on CNN June 16-23 to learn more about the efforts to educate girls worldwide by organizations like Room to Red.. Hear some amazing success stories. Then donate to the Freedom to Dream Campaign. Donations made to this campaign through June 23 will be matched. So you can triple your impact (your donation, the match and then the quilt block).
Saturday, June 15, 2013
Don't Forget to Donate
The whole idea of the Quilt Block Challenge is you donate, I quilt, then I donate the quilt. So it all starts with you. Take up the Challenge. Just one $10 tax deductible donation gets the project going.
If you have donated and have not received an acknowledgement from me, let me know in the comments. I am not sure I trust that contact form.
If you have donated and have not received an acknowledgement from me, let me know in the comments. I am not sure I trust that contact form.
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Update on Intrepid Fallen Heroes
Just caught this tweet today:
We're thrilled to announce that tomorrow we break ground on our 3rd NICoE Satellite Center at @FortCampbell KY! pic.twitter.com/ghy7fr99NK
Great job guys. You can follow all the chosen charities on Twitter through the links provided.
If you want to get in on this great work -- just a $10 donation.
Sunday, June 9, 2013
Let's See a Quilt
How do you even know I can quilt? Well here is a quilt top I just finished. It's a pretty basic design.
Obviously for the challenge quilt, I will use more elaborate blocks. Because face it, this challenge is partly an excuse to do all those block patterns that are a lot of pieces that I just don't have the patience to make a whole quilt of those blocks. For people who do the whole quilt it will be an overall design like the above, although more work. After all for $10 you want some effort out of me. Probably something like a courthouse steps. As a lawyer I really should have done one of those by now. (hint, hint, hint.)
This one is just one I did while waiting for the challenge to take off. Haven't decided which organization will get it yet. This is only the top, I still need to attach the batting and the backing, then quilt it. So I have time to think about which organization will get it.
Obviously for the challenge quilt, I will use more elaborate blocks. Because face it, this challenge is partly an excuse to do all those block patterns that are a lot of pieces that I just don't have the patience to make a whole quilt of those blocks. For people who do the whole quilt it will be an overall design like the above, although more work. After all for $10 you want some effort out of me. Probably something like a courthouse steps. As a lawyer I really should have done one of those by now. (hint, hint, hint.)
This one is just one I did while waiting for the challenge to take off. Haven't decided which organization will get it yet. This is only the top, I still need to attach the batting and the backing, then quilt it. So I have time to think about which organization will get it.
About the Charities
I chose 5 charities to be the recipient of the donations for the quilt challenge. I went with 5 because I couldn't narrow it down any further, but I didn't want to have too many. Believe me there are a lot of worthy organizations out there. I went with organizations that are rated either 3 or 4 stars on Charity Navigator. I wanted trustworthy organizations. Then I chose organizations that operate in areas that are important to me. So let's learn more about them:
Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund -- Mission Statement: The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund serves United States military personnel wounded or injured in service to our nation, and their families. Supporting these heroes helps repay the debt all Americans owe them for the sacrifices they have made in service to our nation. They are, in the words of our founder, the late Zachary Fisher, “our nation’s greatest national resource,” and they deserve all the help that our nation can provide. The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund is a leader in meeting this important national mission. Currently IFHF is fundraising to raise $100 million to build satellite centers to serve those suffering traumatic brain injury and PTSD. I chose IFHF because I served myself for a short time, and because we owe a huge debt to those who protect our freedoms every day. Some pay the ultimate sacrifice, some live with the wounds (both visible and invisble) and every day.
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society -- Dedicated to funding research for blood cancers and providing education and patient services. More than $750 million has been awarded to researchers I chose LLS because I have lost 3 family members to cancer since 1997. A cure can be found, we just need to keep looking.
Mercy Corps -- Alleviating poverty, suffering and oppression through building secure just and productive communities. This is an international development organization. They go in to communities throughout the world and help people help themselves. This month (June 2013) donations are matched. Besides donations of any amount, you can give symbolic gifts to help people become productive, healthy members of society. Some of the gifts are: a goat, a hive of bees, a bag of seeds, a cookstove and many other items. I chose Mercy Corps because I have a degree in International Relations, so I know the link between poverty and war. I also love the symbolic gifts, it is such an awesome way to connect the work done with the donors.
Polaris Project -- Pushes for stronger laws against human trafficking, operates the National Trafficking Hotline, provides services to victims and educates the public about human trafficking. Slavery didn't end with the 13th Amendment. It goes on worldwide, including the US, today. Polaris Project is leading the fight. I chose Polaris because I interned with them in law school. I saw first hand the work they do. Human trafficking is disgusting and horrible and has no place in a civilized society, Polaris is trying to end that.
Room to Read -- Literacy improves society. Education, especially for girls in places it is denied, improves society. Room to Read works in Asia and Africa to bring education and literacy to under served communities. I chose Room to Read because I love to read. When I was a little girl we only had a bookmobile in our town. I was grateful mind you, but it only came once a week. Then my parents and a bunch of other concerned adults got together and got the town a library. Books, glorious books. I want every child to experience that joy of being transported to another place, time, world by books.
You can learn more about the chosen organizations by clicking the links on the side. The link takes you to the donation page, but from there you can navigate the websites. Learn more about these fine organizations. Don't forget to donate. Together we can make a difference (yeah, it's a cliche but it's true).
Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund -- Mission Statement: The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund serves United States military personnel wounded or injured in service to our nation, and their families. Supporting these heroes helps repay the debt all Americans owe them for the sacrifices they have made in service to our nation. They are, in the words of our founder, the late Zachary Fisher, “our nation’s greatest national resource,” and they deserve all the help that our nation can provide. The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund is a leader in meeting this important national mission. Currently IFHF is fundraising to raise $100 million to build satellite centers to serve those suffering traumatic brain injury and PTSD. I chose IFHF because I served myself for a short time, and because we owe a huge debt to those who protect our freedoms every day. Some pay the ultimate sacrifice, some live with the wounds (both visible and invisble) and every day.
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society -- Dedicated to funding research for blood cancers and providing education and patient services. More than $750 million has been awarded to researchers I chose LLS because I have lost 3 family members to cancer since 1997. A cure can be found, we just need to keep looking.
Mercy Corps -- Alleviating poverty, suffering and oppression through building secure just and productive communities. This is an international development organization. They go in to communities throughout the world and help people help themselves. This month (June 2013) donations are matched. Besides donations of any amount, you can give symbolic gifts to help people become productive, healthy members of society. Some of the gifts are: a goat, a hive of bees, a bag of seeds, a cookstove and many other items. I chose Mercy Corps because I have a degree in International Relations, so I know the link between poverty and war. I also love the symbolic gifts, it is such an awesome way to connect the work done with the donors.
Polaris Project -- Pushes for stronger laws against human trafficking, operates the National Trafficking Hotline, provides services to victims and educates the public about human trafficking. Slavery didn't end with the 13th Amendment. It goes on worldwide, including the US, today. Polaris Project is leading the fight. I chose Polaris because I interned with them in law school. I saw first hand the work they do. Human trafficking is disgusting and horrible and has no place in a civilized society, Polaris is trying to end that.
Room to Read -- Literacy improves society. Education, especially for girls in places it is denied, improves society. Room to Read works in Asia and Africa to bring education and literacy to under served communities. I chose Room to Read because I love to read. When I was a little girl we only had a bookmobile in our town. I was grateful mind you, but it only came once a week. Then my parents and a bunch of other concerned adults got together and got the town a library. Books, glorious books. I want every child to experience that joy of being transported to another place, time, world by books.
You can learn more about the chosen organizations by clicking the links on the side. The link takes you to the donation page, but from there you can navigate the websites. Learn more about these fine organizations. Don't forget to donate. Together we can make a difference (yeah, it's a cliche but it's true).
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