Other then the usual (but still awesome) get-togethers with friends, and a dinner/cake with family I wanted to do something REALLY different for my birthday this year. I first thought, "Okay, what do I love that makes me happy?" Immediately I thought-- MONTREAL!
So we started planning a birthday for me in Montreal-checking out fancy hotels online, planning to go to the TamTams (that awesome drum circle every Sunday, I will post pics of that soon!) visiting the beautiful Eastern Townships, like Sutton etc. As I was looking at all of my options online, I felt overwhelmed by the choices.What hotel to pick? What day to go to China town? Drive or take the bus? etc. It seemed that the privelage of choice was my enemy, not my friend!
Then, thankfully, a segment came onto CBC about the drought in the Horn of Africa. This is being described as the largest and more severe human crisis in the world. To learn more about the East Africa Drought or how you can help please visit:http://www.cbc.ca/eastafricarelief/
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| Keeping track of the donations we raised! |
Right then and there, I felt so wrong.
I thought,
"Here I am..not a care in the world, stressing out because I dont know which fancy hotel to choose, or how to spend my money next! On the other hand, these people are starving to death. From what Ive read and heard on the news, all of their fields are dried up, all the livestock has died of thirst or hunger, all of the crop seeds have been exchanged for water/ eaten as a last resort/ or just all used up. All in all, it seems almost hopeless.
I was especially saddened when I heard that it may actually wipe out an entire generation of children and that many young children are dying from the starvation, and also Cholera which has recently broken out in some of the refugee camps. Worst of all, some of the areas in most urgent need are militant-controlled and groups like the UN are having trouble reaching the refugee camps without endangering their own lives. After hearing about their world...that they have to live in everyday..Then, I really didnt give a care in the world about the hotel in Montreal, and all that stuff anymore.
I dont know why, but I thought to have a fundraiser party via my birthday party. After all, if I wanted something for my birthday, it was to send some help to these people in dire straits. Why not have a good time with everyone and have games still, but use them to raise money for this cause? One idea lead to the next and the next thing I know, I did it!
I raised 1265$ for The East Africa Drought! (with the help of all generous donors of course) I really feel like a drop in the water can do something. I urge everyone to DO SOMETHING.
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| My mom and I at my place the day of the Fundraiser. Before all the balloons got bought and popped! She won the Grand Prize on The Balloon Stomp too! |
I soon found out that having a fundraiser means raising money with some thing. I racked my brains for things that I have seen at other fundraisers, and just went with it! We decided to have a BBQ lunch/dinner patio/outdoor kinda party-the weather couldnt have been better so it all worked out.
Ray jammin for us, awesome as usual! 
Ways We Brought In Money;
- Door Raffle, Prize: A Homemade Blueberry Pie
- Balloon Stomp, Prizes: mini toys, shot glasses & "Drunken camels", dares! (hilarious!) a martini shaker set, raffle tickets, jello shots etc.
- Cassidys Putting Challenge-Prizes; ask Scott
- All you can eat lunch/dinner
- J-ello Shots!
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| Mom and her new 32 pc. martini shakin set!  I love this pic, Selena in her Samoli frock, my beautiful Djebe drum and Bri crackin up for who knows why! |
We had about 15 people turn out, which was only 1/4 of the people I invited, but I was still pleasantly surprised at how money we raised, and we definitely met our goal of raised 1000$! In the end I had a great time, and all the work was worth it. We were able to raise a total of 1265$, Roughly $1000 from donations that were matched by the government at that time, and a bit more than 200$ from the food, games and raffle!
The money was evenly divided between 3 Canadian Charities;
- The Canadian Red Cross
- The Huminitarian Coalition
- MSF ( Medicins Sans Frontieres)
********AND THANK YOU for all of the very generous donations. :)
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