A Weekend to Remember

Last weekend we celebrated!

Bwalya picked up a handful of pennies and gave them names -- three for his brothers, one for his work colleague, one for each of his brothers' wives -- and we remembered and celebrated their lives.

600 volunteers showed up and put together 8,000 kits to send to African volunteers who are caring for neighbors living with HIV/AIDS. We celebrated the gifts and encouragement of volunteers!

Newspapers

and televisions showed up with cameras.

Podcasters

came with recorders. Families read about pennies in the paper and showed up after breakfast on Saturday morning with hands full of pennies. We celebrated a growing awareness in our community.

Parents stood next to signs and displays and explained the pandemic to their children. We celebrated the opportunity for families to talk about AIDS.

We could not believe that this all started 21 months before with a sacred promise and $100 of pennies. We celebrated what can happen when one family listens to the world's pain and takes a step. We celebrated all the hundreds upon hundreds of people who collected pennies. Over the coming weeks, we will share those stories here. We will share the stories of those who are receiving the funds. And we will continue to celebrate the millions of Americans who are taking the pledge to start where they are, to use what they have and to do what they can.