“Hanging out with Boomer Esiason at the red carpet dinner, auction and fund raiser with Jay Leno, Jon Bon Jovi and Big & Rich. Please visit the Boomer Esiason Foundation for cystic fibrosis.”
As Edward Everett Hale, American author and clergyman once said, as quoted below, "I cannot do everything, but I can do something." I too, know that I cannot do everything, but I desperately want to do what I can. Small victories, when added together, can become the sum of great change. I believe that no time is better spent than that spent in the service of your fellow man.
My mission is as follows:
I will continually seek to understand, know and sympathize with my fellow man
I will continue to strengthen my resources, so that I may have them to share with others
I will freely share my time and resources with people
I will take without forgetting, and give without remembering
I will reach out to people, not only financially, but also emotionally
I will use my resources, talents, gifts and determination in creative ways to solve other people's problems
I will teach others through example, that much can be done will little resources if you only have the desire.
Autographed Materials for Fundraising Auctions
Oftentimes, I will receive a request for autographed materials to be sold at auctions for raising funds. I very much enjoy providing autographed books, letters, photographs and poetry to be used for this purpose. However, due to the nature of the "autograph business," there is a right way and a wrong way to ask for an autograph to be used for auction. Any person or organization requesting an autograph needs to include a detailed letter explaining what the money will be used for, and they also need to include a self addressed and stamped envelope for the materials to be sent back to them. Having a letterhead belonging to a credible organization or business is also important. I have included an example of the type of letter I frequently receive, which is to my satisfaction, and which I believe represents a good example of what such a request letter should contain.
Financial Contributions
Of course, one of the most obvious things that we can do to help others is to contribute money to various trustworthy charitable organizations. I maintain a list on this web site of charitable organizations I have determined to be worthy of my financial support. On many occasions I receive donations from persons who use the various free software tools I provide on the Internet. In these instances, I like to pass some of that money through to a charitable organization that I like. Occasionally I will learn of someone having a hardship, and when it is possible I like to help. Financial contributions can be a powerful tool to shape social change, but it is not the only tool.
Mentoring and Teaching
Mentors have had a profound impact on my life. I ardently believe in the philosophy of mentoring, more so perhaps than in any other educational tool. I know that my life would not be the same had it not been for some wonderful and generous mentors I have had in my life. I constantly look for opportunities to return what has been given to me through mentoring others. I mentor people in the various crafts where I possess skill, such as programming and computer science, poetry and writing workshops and other various areas of interest were I possessed some degree of proficiency. I know that through my mentoring, I too have forever changed the direction of a number of people's lives for the better with their careers, financial opportunities and hobbies. I recommend that anyone who possesses a skill that others could benefit from share it freely; give something back, give something to the future.
Poetry Against Poverty
Conceived in 1991 this organization will provide a symbiotic outlet for both poets and those who want to affect positive change in the world by helping children and their families. This organization will select quality poetry from writers of all stations in life, and from this poetry produce beautifully crafted, framed and signed renditions to be sold to those wishing to do their part to stop hunger in America. From the sale of these original creations, 100 percent of the monies, less the cost of the frame, will be given to select, approved charity organizations. This organization will allow poets to do something wonderful with their writing; to have a legitimate, appreciative readership, and to have their creative works be a catalyst for positive change in the world.
Technology Grants & Project Underwriting
One of the most successful charitable endeavors currently underway is my offering of technology grants in the form of technology project underwriting and sometimes finance. I regularly receive proposals from various nonprofit entities that are looking to build certain technological infrastructures on unlimited budgets. When the right proposal comes before me, I like to help. This is a way of empowering me to affect social change in the direction I desire; by strengthening the technological infrastructure of organizations that are making the type of impact I want to see in society. The technology grant directive has been very a successful and positive experience. If you believe that your organization could benefit from such a grant in the form of technology underwriting for such things as a database development, membership management tools, advanced web site provisioning including but not limited to advanced Web application development, then feel free to send an e-mail proposal to the address provided on this site.
Examples of grant recipients:
Shawn Higgins Memorial Fund
Entrepreneurs Forum of the Great Northwest
St. John Vianney
Nova Services
YMCA
Assumption School
Cataldo School
DeSales High School
St. Thomas More
and others
Technology Grants to date: $82,700.00
The Daily Bread Project
The daily bread project is divided into two parts. In the first part my family makes homemade bread as a family activity by hand; mixing the components together, kneading the bread by hand, and then baking it. It is a great opportunity for the family to work together in the kitchen; for the children to be able to participate in making something from their own efforts that will directly help other people. Once the bread is finished, the children and I then drive around downtown and look for people who are destitute, hungry and in need. It is an opportunity for my children and me to give food to someone who is hungry that was made through our own labors. It is inexpensive, and instills a sense of service and obligation into my children, and reaffirms to me that I can make a difference.
The second part of the daily bread project is a book. I'm working on a book entitled "Daily Bread," which is going to contain practical advice, inspirational messages, and useful information on what a person can do for their mind, body, and spirit to escape their situation, whether it is homelessness, an abusive relationship, or a seemingly hopeless situation. The book will be comprised of stories, poetry, world scriptures, philosophy, quotes, and plainspoken advice geared to helping the person in need overcome the most serious of all obstacles; their mental attitude. Poverty is a state of mind, and once the battle is fought and won in the mind, the rest will fall into place. It is my intention to purchase these books and distribute them with the bread that my family has made.
Volunteerism and Community Service
Volunteerism and community service are two very powerful tools that nearly every person has at their disposal. As the great Mahatma Gandhi once said, "be the change you want to see in the world." Volunteerism allows each of us, no matter our station in life or our financial resources to offer assistance that directly and immediately has a positive impact on society in the way we desire. The president of United States, President George Bush has spoken in detail about the power and importance of volunteer activities in the community. I try to volunteer my assistance to various organizations whenever I have the opportunity.
