This one's for the girls.

Let me give you a summary.

The CARE Organization recently started the CARE MORE Giving Circle Challenge.  The goal is to raise $1M to benefit women and their communities worldwide.  Along with MORE Magazine, CARE is partnering with giving circles around the world to help eradicate poverty.  As part of the challenge, the giving circle that generates the most money for the organization gets to attend a volunteer experience in Peru next spring.

Somehow, I was fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to participate in one of these giving circles.  Our first teleconference was this evening, and after talking with this group, I can't wait to get started.

Our group, The CARE MORE Web Women Giving Circle, has set a goal of...well, it's a very large one!  Let me make sure that I can disclose this!  It is, after all, a competition! ;-)  The challenge ends on December 31 of this year, so we have to get creative and find ways to make this happen.

While brainstorming the possibilities for fundraisers, I came up with the idea for this blog.  Before I get to that, though, let me share some information from the CARE website.

• "Seventy-five percent of the world's poorest people are women and girls."
• "American women can help break the cycle of poverty that oppresses nearly one billion women and girls."
• "CARE enables poor women to create lasting change for themselves, their families, and their communities - and ultimately for the world we all share."
• "We believe women worldwide share a natural solidarity - our common hopes outweigh our differences."
• "You have the power to help poor women throughout the world build a better future."

Here are a few of the many ways our contributions can help:

• "$50 can send an Afghan girl to school for a year."
• "$125 can train a woman in Nepal to teach maternal and child health in her community."
• "$600 can keep 10 girls in Sudan in school and teach them about AIDS prevention."
• "$1,000 can provide a day's supply of emergency rations to 330 families."
• "$9,000 can pay for construction of a reservoir pond for a village with 1,000 people."

And now the idea...

At first, I considered creating a simple blog to make others aware of the challenge and ask for donations.  I broke down my goal and calculated the number of people I would need to contact for help.  That seemed simple enough, and I figured that most people would be more than willing to open their hearts and wallets to a worthwhile cause.  The problem was, it didn't seem at all inspiring.  I wanted to make an impact and a point.  I wanted to really make a difference, not just raise a few dollars.

I kept brainstorming and jotting down thoughts as they came to me, all while surfing the Internet in hopes of sparking my creativity.  I went to the CARE website and saw on the first screen, "I am powerful."  With that in mind, I kept searching.  Then I ran across a picture of Melissa Etheridge and began thinking of her recent fight with breast cancer.  I thought to myself, "Now there's a powerful and inspiring woman."

Then came the ton of bricks.  I started jotting down more notes.

"Powerful Women List...Something for the Ladies...This One's for the Girls (Don't you love Martina?)...Strong...Powerful...Inspiring"

What if I created a blog where visitors could "nominate" women in their lives who have, in one way or another, inspired them and changed them into who they are today.

Right away, I thought of the "leading ladies" in my life and how they have influenced me.  What would I be without these women?  Where would I be, and who would I be without them?

Strong and powerful women shape our lives for the better each and every day.  Here, we have that gift.  Yet, in other places, due to poverty and oppression, women are not able to give their full potential to the world.

I thought, "I wouldn't trade anything for what I've received from these ladies.  I should really be thanking them, so what if I could acknowledge and honor these women, while (in a sense) 'passing on' this gift?"  What if each of us could do that?  We could all "nominate" our leading ladies and, for that chance, donate $10 to empower other women out there.

Think about it.  Right now, there is some young girl out there who is suppressed by poverty and limited by illiteracy and other obstacles.  Yet, given the opportunity, she could go on to inspire and lead other women.  All she needs is a chance, and we can give it to her.

It's sort of like "Pay It Forward," only we're in the middle.  We've already received our gift, and now we have to pass it on.

Comments

[Tiffany Rose]

Hi my name is Tiffany Rose. I am sure your are busy so I will get right to the point. I am a recovering food and drug addict. I am 91 lbs down so far and been drug free for two years. Because of the incredible journey I have been on and the miracles I have seen in my own life, I have dedicated my life to the cause of women. I started a women's online support blog 4 months ago, called www.ladiesdaze.com. It is a place where women can come and speak the truth of where they are in life, it is also a support system for women to other women. It is growing beautifully, but I am looking for all the help I can find to get the word out. The women that come to my sight daily have had great changes in life because of the support others give them. I would be honored if you would look at my site and let me know if you know of any avenue that I can spread the word about it. Also If you would be interested in posting a link to LadiesDaze or telling my story. I have a beautiful message of hope that I share, I know it is my mission in this life to remind women that we are the most powerful force on this planet. Please come see me at www.ladiesdaze.com. Thank you for your precious time.


Sincerely, Tiffany Rose