Grasshopper New Media Presents...

There are so many causes to support these days, aren’t there? There are school fundraisers and girl scout cookie sales. There are magazine drives and bake sales. Auctions and walks to raise money for a multitude of ailments and diseases that any one of us would give the shirt off our backs and the shoes off our feet to cure.

I often struggle with the idea of asking people to support the causes I deem most worthy. I don’t have money falling out of my pockets. We live on a tight budget and make sacrifices so that I can be home full time with the punks. We don’t order out, rarely use baby sitters and shop at the sale racks in discount stores. I respect that there are many needs also tugging at the wallets of my friends and family members. I don’t like to ask people for their money.

That being said, I choose to actively fund raise for 2 causes, the Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl For Kids Sake and the Arthritis Foundation’s. Walk. These are organizations near and dear to me and mine.

My husband runs the BBBS organization for several counties here in Maine. He is a mentor, a “Big.” We participate in the bowl-a-thon because kids with mentors are more likely to stay in school, to experience success in school, to get along with their peers and within their families, and they are less likely to use alcohol and drugs. Successful matches improve the lives of both the Big and the Little. We do it because I love how many high school students are stepping up and taking on the role of Big with younger children. It’s responsible, it’s kind, and it’s improving the world.

I also participate in the Arthritis walk. My sister in law is 33 years old and has had Rheumatoid Arthritis for 3 years. RA is a chronic disease, characterized by inflammation of the lining of the joints. It can lead to long-term joint damage, chronic pain, loss of function and in many cases disability. That doesn’t sound fun, does it? What gets me most are the days that it hurts my sister in law to lift her baby. To change his diaper. To open his sippy cup. To play tag at the playground. Even worse than RA is JRA- Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, which effects 50,000 children in the US. 18 month olds who are already experiencing the destruction of joints and learning to manage chronic pain. I mean, come on.

These are the causes that I devote my time and my energy to. I do not pretend that they are more deserving than your causes. I know how many sad and painful realities exist in our world. I know that we can only do what we can do. Remember, I hate to ask people for their money. My method this year is to ask my friends and family for $5-10 dollar donations for these causes. The dollars will add up.

Do you fund raise? Do you host parties and charge admission? Do you have tag sales or bake sales or auctions? Do you ask people for money? Do you give to charitable organizations? How do you feel about being approached for money? Is it easier when people ask for a small set donation? Do you just want everyone to back off? What’s your take on this?

P.S. If you’re interested in donating to the Arthritis foundation, I am raising money here. If you’d like to throw a little cash towards BBBS please visit my blog. My most sincere thanks.

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[tags]fundraising, fund raising, charitable giving, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Arthritis foundation, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, RA, JRA, asking people for money, worthy causes[/tags]

Thanks to Kris247 for use of his Creative Commons photo.