Tuesday I represented the African Well Fund at a Middle School in Michigan who had just completed a super successful fundraiser for us. I was asked to give a short speech and I'm posting it here for my own records but also in case anyone is interested in reading it :D

It's bare bones as far as I improvised a couple of times...
( Read more... )

for someone who has overdrawn her checking account 2 weeks in a row now i sure know how to throw around money on my credit card. Funny i don't have buyers remorse.

Last night i did, indeed, watch Idol Gives Back. (on DVR)
It was a little more edgy and "spectacular" this year ... but it is what it is.
Bono was on WaaaaaYYYY more - 2 pretty long segments about Africa.
He's just amazing.
And the way he can bring attention to a story, then remove the story from himself and make it so real and emotional and connected is such a gift.
After his second segmant, he threw the story to Annie Lennox who was in an AIDS stricken community with a family of 4 boys - orphans - and she broke down crying I decided, really, for the first time in my life I must go to africa some day.

With AWF, It's always been "i would like to go" but now it's "i really must go."
Not sure how, quite yet....
Anyways, it was Forrest Whittakers Malaria segment that finally made me get out my credit card and donate.
Cause he put it so simply, and it is simple, for such a relatively small amount of money that "we" in the Western world spend on cups of coffee and fancy dinners can save so many lives. $10 for a mosquito net. $2 for a daily AIDS pill dose, $1500ish for a well....

Speaking of AWF - I was also greatly moved, and slightly disappointed i didn't think of the idea, for the Charity: Water commercial that was shown at the beginning.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AqlLyLeJuQ

It really demonstrated a way to personalize clean water in a way we at AWF have been trying to do for 6 years now (wait, has it been 6 years already?!).

So, yes, i whipped out the credit card and sent some money to Idol Gives Back.

Then Carrie Underwood sang George Michael's Praying for Time, from my favorite album of his "Listen Without Prejudice Vol 1" and I finally broke down and bought tickets to his gig here. They were so expensive and i was kinda putting it off until I at least had cash money, but i charged them. I'm weak. But, i am excited too.

Anyways, it was a pretty intense night for me.
Reaffirmed my commitment to AWF.
Reminded me of why i helped start it and Bono's influence in my life and that one person can really make a difference.