Guiding Vision

Perhaps this new project is one reason Oprah decided not to renew The Big Give TV show…

Yesterday “The Oprah Winfrey Show” presented the O Ambassadors program, a joint project of Oprah’s Angel Network and Free The Children. It aims to connect young people in North America with people around the world to create lasting change. This school based program provides a curriculum for local educators who lead their student club in activities that raise funds for development projects and increase awareness of global issues. (more…)

Oprah Winfrey’s show The Big Give hit the air waves this spring encouraging giving in a reality show format. While it was moderately popular (but far from being a hit) and ABC says they’d go for a second season, they announced last week that they would not renew the show at Oprah’s request. (more…)

Since I first proposed the topic of the blog writing contest which Jim is running over at Top School Fundraisers, I’ve been pondering who out of all my K-12 and college teachers I’d consider to be my favorites. My mind first went to the kind, patient elementary school teachers who I recall fondly. But after reading Angela’s post about her math teacher, one person jumped out as being one of the absolute best. And that was my high school math teacher, Mr. Bennett.

First off I will say I am by no means a math wiz and math was probably my least favorite subject! But somehow he was able to explain the ides to me in a way that I could understand. If the class didn’t quite get how to work a math problem he kept answering our questions, rephrasing things and doing “just one more problem” until we did get it. He never wanted to leave anyone behind.

When I got to college I realized just how lucky I had been to have Mr. Bennett as a math teacher. Even with a study partner and trying my best I had to drop college algebra since I was squeaking by with a low C. The next semester my new teacher seemed to have a similar knack as Mr. Bennett and I actually got an A. Though I was thankful that as an art major that was the only required math course!

Of course it wasn’t his skill with numbers that impressed me the most. It was his character and personality. He infused his trademark humor into class and his hilarious presentations on awards day were legendary.  He simply exuded an optimistic view of life.

When not in the classroom Norman Bennett spent his free time in front of a camera or on stage. He performed in local theatre but has had many small speaking roles in major films. In a recent interview for a Sherman TV Station he admits that he tends to be typecast (basically playing himself) but he doesn’t seem to mind.

When I heard he’d retired a couple of years after I graduated I knew he wasn’t likely to sit still too long. One day my mother-in-law phoned us up and said to turn on the TV, Mr. Bennett was on Wheel of Fortune! Not too long ago we rented the film Infamous and there he was again.  Even after all this time, Mr. Bennett is still teaching by example — you’re never too young, too old, too anything to enjoy life as the blessed adventure it can be.

Marc Gold and those working with him on the 100 Friends Project continue to make a direct impact in the lives of people living in developing countries. Often a few dollars, or even a rusty old bike, can make a difference.

People living in a village near the airport in Jakarta (Indonesia) gather recyclable items and exchange them for money. Everyday they search for things that they can turn in such as plastic bags, bottles, cans, metal, and wire. In the past they had to walk and carry the items to the brokers. Most people were able to collect enough recyclable material to earn about $1 per day.

With help from the community committees in the area volunteers obtained 100 bikes and fitted them with large baskets. They distributed the bikes to the families in the village. Now with the bikes and baskets they can take more recyclables and they can do so much faster.

Marc said that with these bikes their “income goes from about $1 per day to about $3 per day and that is really significant for them.”

It is hard to imagine even living on $3 per day when thinking of it in US value. However to put this in perspective in Indonesia the average yearly income is $3843 US (2005).

This year 100 Friends has worked on many other great projects. In Cambodia they distributed hundreds of mosquito nets that could protect up to 1000 people from malaria and dengue fever. They support orphanages in several countries and are even building a school in Afghanistan. The 100 Friends Project 2007 Field Report describes the other activities from the past year. Whether it’s bikes, medical supplies or just a dollar or two to a family in need, 100 Friends continues to do good all across the globe.

Marc Gold started the 100 Friends project in 1989 as a yearly volunteer travel adventure and it grew into his life’s passion. The name came from the idea that Marc would ask 100 friends to make a donation and then he would distribute the money to the poorest and most unserved people in the third world nations where he traveled.  I first talked to Marc a couple of years ago and it has been amazing to see the growth of the project.

Now Marc does this full time and has quite a few people on board as volunteers. This year he’s spent a lot of time in Indonesia.  Here’s a bit from a recent report that Marc sent to his newsletter list:

I went back Bandeh Aceh for a week to help tsunami survivors and the other I donated $2,000 for earthquake victims to get back to work with micro-loans. This will result in dozens of people gaining employment. Also set up an emergency fund for the village and support for numerous of the most needy families.

Plans for the rest of this year and beyond include:

• Raising $20,000 to build an 8 room school house for 1000 children in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan; currently the children go to school in tents; the village will provide the land and the labor needed to build the school
• $3,000 to improve a school in Cambodia in the village of Ta Tork 18 km. from Siam Reap
• raising funds to help orphans in Ulan Bator, Mongolia
• scholarships for village children in Borneo, Malaysia
• continuing support of many children rescued from life in the garbage dump in Phnom Penh, Cambodia to live at the Centre for Children’s Happiness
• working through War Child to help Iraqi children suffering from the effects of war in Baghdad and Karbala
• raising funds for children with cancer and AIDS in Thailand
• raising funds for operations and scholarships for children in Viet Nam
• plans starting for a mission in 2008 to Niger and Malawi in Africa, two of the poorest countries in the world

100 Friends has been featured in several national media reports this year.  Here are two of them:

Voice of America (article & audio), April 2007

San Francisco Cronicle, November 2006

Last week I posted a quote and the video from Bono’s 2006 White House National Prayer Breakfast.  Believe it or not I had no idea that this book was coming out.  The book is available from The ONE Campaign and presents the speech with graphics and moving photography.  There is even a virtual book that you can flip through online.

On the Move book 

It was over a year ago that Bono made a speech at the National Prayer Breakfast. It’s as powerful a call to justice, a call to equality and as inspiring a ’sermon’ as I’ve ever heard. Ok, I admit to being a nearly life long U2 fan, so maybe I’m a bit biased. But no matter your music or religious inclinations there are gems of truth in this short speech. (more…)