Open your heart

Sometimes you just feel compelled to take action...

On Sunday, October 7, 2007 Dallas Morning News published this artical from the NY Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/07/world/africa/07congo.html?_r=1&oref=slogin . After reading the article my friend, Marci, and I were overcome with disbelief and sadness. We felt moved to do something, to take some sort of action.

Of course, my very next thought was the question of what can one person do to help someone so far away in such extreme circumstances? And with that thought I felt hopeless. Yet, we couldn't let it go as it affected us on so many levels: as women, as Americans, as mothers, as human beings.

Once you have read something like that, you can never go back to not knowing. Doing nothing is simply not an option.

Fortunately, we found a wonderful organization called Women For Women International. They provide direct financial and emotional support to women living on the margins of hope.

We are inspired to start a personal campaign to raise money and awareness with the intention of helping as many women as we possibly can. We are asking from the bottom of our hearts and with the purest of spirit that you please take a moment and donate whatever amount you feel you can. It is extremely easy. Go to https://secure.entango.com/donate/kFgy9aTiESF?wfw=WebGen. Incredibly, if you donate between now and October 31, 2007 Women For Women International has found a donor that will match funds dollar for dollar!

We strongly encourage you to explore their website to find out more about the amazing work that they do. (http://www.womenforwomen.org/)

It is important to us to keep track of the impact of our campaign, so when you make your donation, please also email me (see email address below) and let us know how much you have donated. Even the smallest amount can make a big impact when we put it all together. In addition, I will post updates on my blog so that we can share with everyone the fruits of our collective contributions.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and we are so grateful for your contribution to this cause, as it has become very personal to us.

As of today the total collected donations (including matching amounts from Women For Women) is $600.00.

Please forward this message to as many people as you possibly can.

Peace,
Amy
amy@shadesofyouphoto.com