Today officially comes around only once a year, but like Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Thanksgiving, and all other holidays that celebrate the most thoughtful and generous of human sentiments, it should be a routine part of life.
Today is #GivingTuesday. A global day to express our generosity instead of sleeping outside a big box store in the freezing cold to get a big screen TV at a deep discount.
(For a second there I thought that was going out of style, but I was wrong. Sigh.)
I'd much rather see many days like this throughout the year rather than the incessant sales and deals and discounts and can't miss this one's. Because when you support a project that's unique, is created by someone you know, AND serves a purpose that's greater than you and me put together a million times over, that does something.
It unites us. It produces gratitude and goodwill that are going to last a long time. But it's not the money. It's the gesture and the intention. It means you believe in the project or cause, in the people behind it, and in the people whom it ultimately helps or supports.
This past summer, my husband and I asked the parents of the children attending our daughter's birthday party not to bring gifts, but instead to make a donation in her name to an organization of their choice. The gift, to us, was opening up those cards and discovering which non profit or cause had been supported because our little one had a birthday.
Today is like that. It's a birthday, a celebration of the spirit that makes us all part of a family and a community.
Many of you have already contributed to our TSUNAMI: IMAGES OF RESILIENCE campaign on Indiegogo, and have left Dan (the photographer of these incredible images) and me all warm and fuzzy. We mean it. Somehow, it's different when you contribute to a project, and then someone contributes to yours. It feels like a gift from heaven. Because there's no obligation, no arm twisting. (I swear we haven't pinned any of our contributors to the floor!)
At this writing, we are 19% funded, which is fantastic, but we have only 24 days left to raise the rest of our goal of $9,006. The clock has begun to tick. (!!)
Do have a look at the bright and shiny new sidebar over here on the right, and explore the rewards—-we've spent an inordinate amount of time thinking about them, crafting them, making sure we can deliver on each and every one. There are many more on the campaign web page to choose from, and one brand new one we just created, called "Bridge Over Water." This reward doubles the goodwill you generate, because not only are you supporting the project, but you're also donating copies of the book to a school, library or non profit of your choice.
Pretty sweet.
Those of you who contributed have been receiving our updates via Indiegogo, but here are a few highlights:
• We have a new project web page where you can peruse more gorgeous photography from the book, the current list of contributors and partners, and even read a poem that one of Dan's photographs has inspired on The Write Practice (thank you Adelaide!)
• We're working with the California Health Medical Reserve Corps to explore ways to harness these images to inspire and support survivors of trauma and disaster in general, not just tsunamis
• South African singer/songwriter Nate Maingard has joined our cause and is making music across his communities about the book
• German musical group Balanza has kindly allowed us to use their music pro bono for our crowdfunding video
• Author and entrepreneur Kelsye Nelson is spreading the word on her vast social networks
• Joseph Giove of Sacred Adventures, Michael Shore of MayanMajix.com, and several others have also been widening the sphere of awareness to their networks and communities
That's a lot of goodwill and gratitude generated from just a few people. Imagine what a little dash of virality can do.
So keep an eye out for the projects, causes, and organizations that feel near and dear to your heart. We certainly hope we have a little spot in yours.
Happy #GivingTuesday!
~ Birgitte and Dan
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