Please Vote - Yes, Even All You Lurkers:)

[jeffrey]

Everyone (yes, even all you lurkers, please take the time to vote for the charity you feel we should give the money raised in August. Nobody will know your vote except you and each member can only vote once

We received 4 submissions from forum members on charities that they asked us to consider for the new SavingAdvice.com Discussion Board Donation Drive. We feel it is best for the members who come here to chose which charity we will donate the month of August's earnings to. SavingAdvice.com Discussion Board Charity Drive will donate $0.05 (up to $1000.00) for every legitimate post made in the forums from August 1, 2004 through August 31, 2004.

This voting for which charity we will sponsor will run through August 4 at which point I will close the voting. The charity that has the most votes when the poll closes will receive the funds generated by all of you during August. If you have any questions at all, please feel free to email Nate and I at info@savingadvice.com or leave you question in this thread and we will answer it as quickly as possible.

If you know of another charity that you think would greatly benefit from the money raised here, please email us and they will be considered for the September Donation Sponshorship. Here is a little information on the 4 charities that were sent to us:

1) Retired Guide Dogs For The Blind: The Duncan Kattman Fund

In order that future retired breeder dogs can receive financial help to meet their medical needs, Barbara and Dick Kattman have generously founded The Duncan Kattman Fund. All donations to The Duncan Kattman Fund, at the discretion of the Veterinary Department at Guide Dogs for the Blind, will be used solely to help breeder families with financial assistance for veterinary care expenses of retired Guide Dog breeder dogs.

2) PROJECT BABY SMILES: Romanian Orphans

So many mothers come to our door begging for food and clothing for their children. I see very few smiles on their faces. Many times the children look like they are in the first stages of starvation. Many mothers abandon their children simply because they don't have the basic necessities of life. Many children can't go to school because they don't have clothing or school supplies. The Children's Hospital in Bolintin Vale has received many of the baby clothes you sent. I asked Dr. Avram how many abandoned babies they have in their hospital and she said NONE. Usually, the hospitals have abandoned babies and small children staying there. She said, "When a mother comes to leave her child, we give her some of the clothing you donated and tell her to go home with her child and wait 2 months. By that time the mother has bonded with her child and would NEVER give it up." I was SO excited to hear that good news. The help you have sent has helped babies stay with their mamas....where they deserve to be. No child should be separated from his mother because of a lack of clothing, food, or milk. Adoption should not be an option for those that have parents.

3) The Money Camp

The Money Camp is an organization that offers financial literacy camps for
children and adults. They supply kids and adults with information that
leads to the ability to be financially independent. They also provide
teacher trainings to allow others to conduct money camps for children and
adults.

4) Modest Needs

Modest Needs exists exclusively to help individuals and families who typically do not qualify for charitable assistance with the kinds of unexpected, necessary expenses which, though relatively small, would threaten the financial stability of a person or family living paycheck to paycheck. Examples of these kinds of expenses might include an unexpected auto repair, an unusually large utility bill, or a small, unexpected medical expense (a visit to the doctor).

[crosses]

wow guys, this is a great idea. I knew there was a reason I liked this site

[jeffrey]

Just so everyone can keep track of the number of posts, we are starting August with 1,589 in the forums.