Shout Out To Denver and MSP... and political commentary
[Welcome to the Got Cents? Blog! Today, we are happy to introduce Eliza Kienitz, our new interim Executive Director, as the guest blogger. In addition to Eliza's experience in the non-profit world and her passion for the Caregiver Kit program, Eliza has an amazing heart for the people of Africa. We think you will know what we mean once you are done reading this post!]
Alright, so now the countdown begins.
It seems as though life has been filled with a lot of numbers lately - numbers of Caregivers: 59,900; number of Caregiver Kits at the conventions: 4,000; number of pennies: 6,100,000; number of sub-Saharan African men, women, and children who have died of AIDS since 1982: 19,000,000; percent of sub-Saharan Africa HIV+ individuals receiving medication: 17%; number of deaths per day due to AIDS: 6,600; - these numbers are swarming around in my head along with: 10 - the number of days left until the Denver convention!
The hype around the conventions is greater this year than any other election year in my short election history . . . this will be the 7th election through which I have been in existence. :) I have heard everything from emphatic praise of candidates to prayers for rain at conventions as some sort of sign from the Almighty as to his preference of national leadership. There have been millions upon millions of dollars spent on buttons, posters, ads, counter-attack ads, TV appearances, websites, videos . . . I do really wonder how many opinions have changed over the last two years of campaigning. Perhaps my own semi-cynical view of politics leads me to be unimpressed with the general over-spending and hype of elections.
The things that are not usually hyped - the non-partisan issues - can, however, shed light on the ability of our government and our leadership to work together. That, after all, is what has created a successful and relatively peaceful country of vastly diverse people - working together. The President's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is just one of the examples of an issue with deep support from both sides of the aisle. Yet how many of us know about it's importance and the importance of supporting other organizations devoted to meeting the needs of some of the most marginalized and overlooked folks on our planet.
We are excited that this year many delegates, party leaders, and individuals will be able to participate in fulfilling our human instinct to give, love, and support our fellow human beings. Building Caregiver Kits in Denver and Minneapolis, displaying and sharing the story of 6,100,000 pennies and the lives they represent, rocks the coolness meter. This is an awesome opportunity!!
. . . the best part?? YOU can participate too!
If you're in Denver or MSP COME and build kits with us! Just sign up here
and join us on the Tuesday of each convention!
Even if you're not in Denver or MSP you can participate by donating to Change for a Penny, sending us your thoughts and prayers, working with us in the Bay Area as we lead up to an even bigger display on World AIDS Day in December, or hosting a penny drive and display of your own.
Contact us - we're excited to partner with folks as confident and hopeful as we are in how one life can make a difference!
--
Eliza Kienitz
Interim Executive Director, Change For a Penny
www.gotcents.org
650.575.7795 (m)
It seems as though life has been filled with a lot of numbers lately - numbers of Caregivers: 59,900; number of Caregiver Kits at the conventions: 4,000; number of pennies: 6,100,000; number of sub-Saharan African men, women, and children who have died of AIDS since 1982: 19,000,000; percent of sub-Saharan Africa HIV+ individuals receiving medication: 17%; number of deaths per day due to AIDS: 6,600; - these numbers are swarming around in my head along with: 10 - the number of days left until the Denver convention!
The hype around the conventions is greater this year than any other election year in my short election history . . . this will be the 7th election through which I have been in existence. :) I have heard everything from emphatic praise of candidates to prayers for rain at conventions as some sort of sign from the Almighty as to his preference of national leadership. There have been millions upon millions of dollars spent on buttons, posters, ads, counter-attack ads, TV appearances, websites, videos . . . I do really wonder how many opinions have changed over the last two years of campaigning. Perhaps my own semi-cynical view of politics leads me to be unimpressed with the general over-spending and hype of elections.
The things that are not usually hyped - the non-partisan issues - can, however, shed light on the ability of our government and our leadership to work together. That, after all, is what has created a successful and relatively peaceful country of vastly diverse people - working together. The President's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is just one of the examples of an issue with deep support from both sides of the aisle. Yet how many of us know about it's importance and the importance of supporting other organizations devoted to meeting the needs of some of the most marginalized and overlooked folks on our planet.
We are excited that this year many delegates, party leaders, and individuals will be able to participate in fulfilling our human instinct to give, love, and support our fellow human beings. Building Caregiver Kits in Denver and Minneapolis, displaying and sharing the story of 6,100,000 pennies and the lives they represent, rocks the coolness meter. This is an awesome opportunity!!
. . . the best part?? YOU can participate too!
If you're in Denver or MSP COME and build kits with us! Just sign up here
and join us on the Tuesday of each convention!
Even if you're not in Denver or MSP you can participate by donating to Change for a Penny, sending us your thoughts and prayers, working with us in the Bay Area as we lead up to an even bigger display on World AIDS Day in December, or hosting a penny drive and display of your own.
Contact us - we're excited to partner with folks as confident and hopeful as we are in how one life can make a difference!
--
Eliza Kienitz
Interim Executive Director, Change For a Penny
www.gotcents.org
650.575.7795 (m)
Labels: Africa, AIDS, compassion, extreme poverty, heart for the world, HIV, HIV/AIDS, McCain, Obama, orphans, pennies, penny, PEPFAR, social justice, sub-Saharan Africa
posted by Todd at
12:20 PM
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