My fellow BRANDENTITY members, we have an issue that needs to be addressed that has nothing to do with an IDENTITY CRISIS, nothing to do with compromising ourselves for someone or something, and nothing to do with any insecurities that are preventing us from living the life we deserve. Instead, there has been a NATURAL DISASTER in Haiti that has resulted in over 200,000 deaths, an estimated 250,000 injuries and 1.5 million people made homeless (latest CNN report). Haiti needs our help and they need it NOW.
I have a good friend who is from Kenya, but currently resides in the US. About ten years ago, he began donating $100/year to his country in order to help build schools so that children will have the opportunity to become educated, resulting in the potential for a better tomorrow. He never realized the impact that this “measly” $100 was going to provide, until he visited his country and met with the director of the organization responsible for dispersing the funds. This individual asked my friend if he would like to see where his money has gone and what his generosity has created. The long and short of this story is that once my friend saw the impact that $100 can have on a country in need, he began donating $500/year. The point of this story is that many of us may feel that donating a $1, $20, $100, or even $500 is nothing of substance for a country, and instead, we keep this money in our pockets. I am here to inform you that regardless of the size of the donation that you give it will create a better tomorrow for people who are in dire need of our support. Please do not play the comparison game and feel inadequate about others who are able to donate $1,000’s because it is all relative and like one of my first blog posts stated, “There is nothing as profound as GIVING for the sake of GIVING!”
Therefore, when you make your donation, what I encourage you to do is envision what will be created as a result of your generosity. A country needs to be repaired and your dollars will result in the restoration of Haiti. Whether the organization of your choice uses these funds to build schools, homes, or simply clean the country, I firmly believe that your donations will go a very long way.
Please CLICK on the organization below or any other organization that is focusing on saving the country of Haiti. For the members of BRANDENTITY who currently reside outside the US, please find organizations in your country that are contributing to this cause. Anyone who has already donated, I admire you for all that you are and all that you will be…THANK YOU!
CARE USA
Habitat for Humanity
World Concern
World Vision
AmeriCares
One of the fundamental steps to realizing what makes you…YOU is to spend time helping others in need. Obviously, many of us will be unable to physically visit Haiti in order to rebuild the country, but what we can be their in spirit and share our abundance with people who are in dire need of our support. Be proud of whatever amount you choose to donate and remember to always recognize yourself for all that you do because NO ONE could ask for anything more.
I feel honored to have a team, a following, and a family as admirable as all of you.
Have a wonderful weekend and ALWAYS be TRUE to YOU!
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Dear Jared,
My family and I watched the telethon for Haiti on television last night. We were all moved by so many who gave so much.
I looked around at my children who were comfortably watching the show from the couch, rocking chair or our clean, carpeted floor. My son sat next to me with his head on my arm. I held him close and kissed the top of his head. We have so much…I thought to myself. We may not have EVERYTHING that we want, but we have a roof over our heads, nice warm beds to sleep in and a kitchen and pantry that has food and snacks. My son was in a nice pair of pajamas and we were all wearing socks. How blessed we were to have so much while so many…especially children had so little and some nothing at all.
There was something I wanted to do……and it hit me like a ton of bricks and as crazy as it sounds….I wanted to help in the only way I knew how..the only way that I had experience doing. I wanted to bring a child from Haiti into our home to raise and love as a part of my family. I am familiar with adoption, having adopted 5 out of 7 of my children. I felt it in my heart, but there is a part of me that is saying no….I haven’t figured out that part yet…maybe because I know how hard it will be, maybe becaue these children will be high risk children, maybe because I am 50 and swore that I would never do it again especially since most of mine are gone and soon to be leaving for college. My youngest children are 6 and 8. I asked them how they felt about the idea and surprising my entire household gave a resounding YES!
Jared, I have already wrote a lettwr to Patrick McCormick at UNICEF. I don’t know where that will lead me, and I don’t have the answers to what will happen next. All I know right now is that I want to do this and I think it will be a wonderful thing for a child to come into a home that is filled with so much love and compassion for the plight of another.
If anyone knows what steps I should take, please respond. We are eager to give a child the empowerment to make a change in their lives. I am eager to grow from this experience no matter the outcome. I know who I am…I know my purpose and I know that if we all think of how we can help the citizens of Haiti, we can make great changes for them as well as ourselves. I am not saying to everyone to attempt what I am trying…only you and your family know your situation, but what I am saying is that there is no greater power than love and it can change the face of how we think, learn, act and live.
Donna I do not even know where to start, so I am going to begin by stating how fortunate I feel that we have connected and are now integral parts of each other’s lives. You inspire me, you push me, and you enable me to realize what is possible. I have huge aspirations, where many people would say ” YOU ARE CRAZY,” but together we have a vision that the world has never seen. This is true synergy, where a relationship creates a 1+1=5 or 6 or 7. Which means we are able to accomplish more together than we are able to achieve by ourselves. In addition, you epitomize ABUNDANCE! I know your situation, yet you still feel so fortunate and I love this…KEEP ON BEING YOU DONNA because something PROFOUND is ABOUT to TAKE PLACE!!!!!!!!!!
Jared,
I very much appreciated your post on Haiti and the importance of making a donation. Thank you.
In fact, for my wife’s 50th birthday, we are inviting 30 friends to dinner at a restaurant. We will cover the food and drinks; however, we are asking everyone to donate at least CHF 30 (about USD 30). The money is to be given to a great cause – charity: water http://www.charitywater.org/
As we got the idea before the earthquake, we have since decided to split the money between charity: water and one of its partners that works in Haiti. There is an awful lot of good that can be done with little.
Cheers!
John
http://mannerofspeaking.org/
John…
Your contribution to Haiti is something that is admirable in so many ways because you are providing 30 different people with the opportunity to help as well. I hope your wife has the most wonderful 50th birthday and please make sure to take a moment to acknowledge the who you are!
JY
F8Fz4v Kewl you should come up with that. Exeecllnt!
Jared, can you help me get in touch with Doctors and Nurses who want to help out. The Haitian Community Hospital has lots of supplies, but lack of staff. If anyone with the skills wants to go I will find a way to get them there.
I will do some research on your behalf and keep you posted…thank you for all that you do!