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JustGive October
Newsletter
Healing and Helping
October 3, 2001
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
1. JUSTGIVE
THOUGHTS
2. 10 WAYS YOU CAN HELP
3. INSPIRING STORIES
4. DONATE MUSIC FOR RELIEF EFFORTS
5. UNIQUE WAYS TO GIVE
6. JUSTGIVE WISH LIST
7. QUOTE OF THE MONTH
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1. JUSTGIVE'S THOUGHTS -- LOOKING BACKWARD AND MOVING FORWARD
It has been over
three weeks since the country was struck by a devastatingly violent and fatal
attack. We are urged to "go back to normal," but how is this possible? We are
encouraged that justice will prevail, but what does that mean? Now, more than
ever, we live in crippling uncertainty and nervous unrest. Questions unanswered.
Fears unquelled. Victims uncounted. We are overcome by a feeling of powerlessness,
but we all want to play a role in the nation's recovery and healing. And, boy,
have we!
Blood centers were
turning people away (but urge everyone to return! 1-800-GIVE-LIFE ).
More than $680 million dollars has been raised so far for relief efforts --
an unprecedented outpouring of donations. Drop-off locations had to say no to
kind-hearted New Yorkers who were donating enormous quantities of clothing,
water, and other goods. But still, people want to do more. And indeed, there
is more to do -- now and ongoing.
The amount of generosity
Americans and other nations have shown is energizing and inspiring. It has been
incredibly healing to witness first-hand the outpouring of philanthropy, whose
original meaning is "the love of humankind." People have united and discovered
that we truly are a community -- and this community of over 300,000,000 people
became very noticably small on September 11th. This community learned that is
has the capacity, the desire, and the ability to support one another in good
times and in bad.
There is a great
amount of speculation that this spirit of giving will fade. Charities all around
the U.S. are bracing for lean funds from individuals following the millions
of dollars in charitable gifts already given to relief efforts for the September
11th attacks. There is talk that this philanthropic enthusiasm will be swept
away with the last of the ashes. We think differently.
Individuals in
the U.S. have always given more to charity than foundations and corporation
combined. In fact, individuals are responsible for 75% of charitable contributions.
And individuals know that they are needed more than ever.
Individuals know
that:
-Every day in
the U.S., four children die from abuse and neglect, and each year, more than
3 million children are reported as abused or neglected.
-Six million children die every year of hunger-related causes in developing
countries.
-50 million Americans lack health insurance.
-30,000 Americans are killed each year by guns.
-More than 30 million Americans live in poverty. More than one of every five
children are growing up poor.
-Over 1 million homeless animals are killed each month because of overpopulation.
-700,000 people are homeless on any given night. The average age of a homeless
person in America is 9.
-In 2000, there were over 600 hate groups operating in 48 states and the District
of Columbia, up from 457 the year before.
-12 billion pounds of cancer-causing air pollution is spewed by cars, buses,
and trucks each year.
-70 million acres of genetically modified crops were planted in the U.S. last
year.
I cite these statistics
not to diminish the horror of the September 11th attacks but to stress that
all shattered lives are just as real and to remind us that all cataclysms need
our support. There is much work to be done. Imagine if these terrible events
inspired us all to take on the difficult work of creating a more just world.
Imagine making the necessary investments so that indiscriminate violence and
needless suffering do not prevail. Imagine.
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2. 10 WAYS YOU CAN STILL HELP
Through JustGive.org
alone, individuals have contributed over $100,000. Make no mistake -- every
$1 adds up! Each penny from that total is from individuals like you, anxious
to help and make a difference. We are continually updating our website and encourage
you to check back often. Visit our "How
You Can Help" page lists several ways you can contribute:
1. Donate
money to such organizations as the Red Cross, Salvation Army, Americares,
ASPCA Animal Disaster Relief Fund, and National Disaster Search Dog Foundation
-- organizations on the front line in NYC and DC.
2. Donate money to victims' families through the JustGive
Relief Fund -- whose donations will be dispersed to the families who have
lost loved ones during this tragic attack -- firefighters, police officers,
rescue workers, airline crew and pilots, and crash victims.
3. Donate money to organizations working to create peace in the
U.S. and around the world -- organizations such as Global Exchange, V-Day, MADRE,
and International Rescue Committee.
4. Donate money to Employee
Funds of affected businesses who rented space in the World Trade Center.
These include Cantor Fitzgerald, Carr Futures, Morgan Stanley, and many others.
5. Give Blood. Everyone is encouraged to call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE
to make an appointment.
6. Add banners
to your website
7. Donate your Yahoo!
Points to the JustGive Relief Fund
8. Spread the word -- Tell everyone you know that they can make
donations and find updated information at JustGive.org by adding the following
to the signature of every email you send: Tragedy in America - How can you help?
Visit www.justgive.org "Nobody can do everything, but everybody can do something."
9.
Tell a Friend -- Tell
others about JustGive.org.
10. Donate
to JustGive.org. As you know, we pass 100% through to the charities,
but JustGive pays a 3% transaction fee for every donation that is made through
us. The service we provide is invaluable -- in times of peace and during tragedy.
Please help us continue to provide this service.
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3. INSPIRING STORIES -- WE ARE INSPIRED BY YOU
Kids are running lemonade stands to raise money for the Red Cross. Firefighters
are taking to the streets to raise donations for families of fallen colleagues.
Artists are holding special performances to celebrate the lives of those who
were lost. Advocacy groups are seeking to create "hate-free zones," where people
of all races and religion can feel at ease.
JustGive.org has
received numerous emails and phone calls from people anxious to use their skills
to help. A group of dedicated San Franciscans have organized a "Good Night Out,"
encouraging local restaurants and bars to donate proceeds from one night to
the JustGive
Relief Fund. A hairdresser in Chicago is donating all her tips to the JustGive
Relief Fund and is encouraging her colleagues to do the same. A band
donated their September 14th show to the JustGive
Relief Fund -- over $2300!
There are so many
ways we can each help out. We don't have to feel powerless. And the efforts
we make don't have to end as we heal from this tragedy. We can continue to create
the world we all imagine. Please contact
us if you would like help in your fundraising efforts.
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4. DONATE MUSIC FOR RELIEF EFFORTS
Speaking of creative
ways to help, through a unique partnership with Half.com,
donations of Compact Discs will be turned into CASH CONTRIBUTIONS to
help September 11th relief efforts! So please, send ANY and ALL CDs you can
donate to JustGive. Half.com will sell them and donate ALL proceeds to the JustGive
Relief Fund.
We encourage you
to bring boxes to your workplace and encourage your coworkers to donate their
CDs. This will be an ongoing effort, so keep them coming!
Mail them to: JustGive
2787 California Street 2nd Floor San Francisco, CA 94115
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5. UNIQUE WAYS TO GIVE
1. Make a charitable
donation while sending an electronic card through E-Cards.
2. Donate
your Yahoo!
Points to charity.
3. Donate offline - By sending donations greater than $5,000 via wire transfer,
you can help us avoid transaction costs. Contact andrea@justgive.org
for more information.
4. Sponsor a category - Corporate sponsors choose an available category to sponsor
and pay our transaction costs. Help all causes by supporting JustGive.org. Contact
kendall@justgive.org if you are interested
in becoming a corporate sponsor. See our list of current
sponsors:
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6. JUSTGIVE WISH LIST
Thank you to those
who have donated items to JustGive.org. Your gift is tax-deductible and more
importantly much-appreciated! We still have a few items we could use. Please
contact us as at help@justgive.org if
you can donate any items! And remember: cash donations are always welcome!
-Copier
-General Office Supplies
-Marketing space (Does your company have a regular newsletter? Does your website
have free banner ad space? Help spread the news about JustGive.org and increase
charitable giving! Email us at help@justgive.org.
Thanks to TransFair
USA, we now have the refrigerator we needed! TransFair USA makes a HUGE
difference for thousands of disadvantaged farmers and farm workers around the
world. TransFair USA is a nonprofit organization that provides the only certification
for Fair Trade products in the US. Fair Trade is an exciting alternative to
"business as usual" that guarantees fair prices and better working conditions
for those who produce our coffee and tea. They work with over 550,000 coffee
farming families around the world and now over 100 coffee companies in the US.
Look for the Fair Trade symbol on your favorite coffees and teas. Make a donation
to TransFair
USA.
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7. QUOTE OF THE MONTH
"My life belongs
to the whole community, and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for
it whatsoever I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder
I work, the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no 'brief
candle' to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the
moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it
on to future generations." ~George Bernard Shaw
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Please feel free to pass this newsletter on to others. If you have any questions
or feedback, please send them to feedback@justgive.org.
Thank you for your support and for joining the Giving Movement, as we all create
the world we imagine.
With Healing Thoughts,
Colleen A.
Patrick
Senior Content & Creative Director
feedback@justgive.org
http://www.justgive.org
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