(End of Construction)I can't put into words how I felt reading that email. I was like, OK. We're doing it. It's happening. It's real. There is a place now for 4,000 orphans to go for food and a sense of family and maybe even a little fun.
I am proud to have had a hand in this, however small my hand may be.
I walked into the other room to tell David the good news. He's my second biggest donor followed by my friend Steve Centrillo, so I wanted him to know we hit a first big milestone in Malawi. I went to share the news, but bumbled and fumbled for words.
I don't think I can even explain it now. I have all these flashbacks from my own life that make this event particularly momentous in my mind. How to explain?
Have you ever felt invisible? Like you're way too young to hold all this burden and no one is looking, but you know they should? It's crazy for me to even have these memories. I don't feel entitled to them. I'm an American. I have it pretty good. But I did struggle to get a leg up. Pay for college. Make something of myself. And the whole struggle really sucks in so many ways....but the hardest part is believing you're totally alone. People all around you could help....but they don't. They choose not to see. You become invisible.
Being seen and being heard is a big driver for me. I'm not always good at it. In fact, I'm still mostly bad at it. But sometimes, I let myself and my interests be seen and heard. And giving voice to these orphans is how I am completing my past. It feels good. It's where the vulnerablity inside of me becomes my strength. It's where the most vulnerable of the vulnerable -- orphans left to fend for themselves -- can go to care and be cared for; and be SEEN.
And I'm seeing it happen in real time.
The Orphan Care Center will help so many children in countless ways.
If you gave so much as a nickel to this cause, please take a minute to SEE these pictures. YOU did this.
Thank YOU.
(Pre-school - exterior)
(Pre-school interior).jpg)
(Feeding Hall - exterior)
(Feeding Hall - interior)
(Orphan Affairs Unit)Special thanks to my David - David Duncan - for being a regular part of the conversation with me.
And thanks to my friends for always supporting me and caring about what I care about and your notes and thoughts of encouragement during this journey, esp: Steve Centrillo, Donna Bellamy, Jessie Quiroz, David Freeman, Ed Kishinevsky and Justin Kiernan.
YOU make a difference for ME.
Thank you.
3 comments:
beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.
& I'm honored to be on the list. :)
JQ
confusing
The charity 'Raising Malawi' (PR firm) founded by Madonna AND TWO OTHERS over three years ago held fund raisers for over two years before finally getting registered as a non-profit. In other words, Madonna and the others were free to squander the lion's share of that funding any way they saw fit for those first two years. She also pleaded with her fans worldwide for donations along the way. In the meantime, she toured the world to promote her latest CD and raked in another $280,000,000 gross in just over 12 months. To date, the basic financial info for 'Rasing Malawi' still hasn't been posted on the website or anywhere else. The 'progress' page only tells of the collective works by over 20 seperate charities. Each of which have their own sources of funding and may have recieved some sort of promotion or support from 'Raising Malawi' in order to be considered 'partners'. But no indication is made how much of their funding came from 'Raising Malawi' or how much of their progress if any could be directly attributed to 'Raising Malawi'. The fans/donors have no clue how many millions of dollars were raised in that first two years, no clue how much Madonna herself chipped in, and no clue how the money was spent before they finally registered as a non-profit. No clue what fraction of funding or works listed on that 'progress' page could be directly attributed to 'Raising Malawi'. Nothing to go on but the vague word of Madonna. The vague and very misleading word of Madonna. For example: She states in her latest promotional video that she will match any contributions made to her charity (PR firm) "dollar for dollar". However, there is a disclaimer posted on the website for 'Raising Malawi' that Madonna's total contribution will not exceed $100,000. Thats not per donation. Thats a maximum of $100,000 TOTAL. Less than a single days pay for Madonna. Also much less then she will surely rake in by promoting her own CDs, DVDs, and 'for profit' merchandise through this massive worldwide publicity stunt. So I called the office of 'Raising Malawi' in an attempt to verify some sort of efficient financial operation (310) 867-2881 or (888) 72-DONOR). These details are ALWAYS made available by legitimate charities to their potential donors. But not in this case. I got nothing but recorded messages and hangups. So I did some research on my own. 'Rasing Malawi' still hasn't been given any kind of rating by ANY independent charity watchdog like Charitywatch.org. The vast overwhelming majority of 'celebrity' foundations never are. In general, they are inneficient and riddled with corruption. Like the promotion of CDs, world tours, commercial websites, entire lines of jewelry (not just the single piece from which proceeds are donated), and high end fashion retail flagship stores. Celebrity foundations are also notorious for squandering much of their funding on private jet rides and super high end accomodations for their managers, PR crews, and celebrity figure heads. Its legal even for a nonprofit but not noble or efficient by any stretch of the imagination. In general, 'celebrity' foundations are a twisted inefficient mutant of charity, self-promotion, exotic travel, and PR crap. Still, they compete for funding with more efficient legitimate charities who do more work with less money. The celebrity figure heads often disregard the primary donors, co-founders, and managers, take personal credit for any collective work done, and seek maximum publicity shortly before or after the release of their own commercial projects. Its a sham. So if its not rated, then don't support it. Instead, support a top rated charity like any of those given high ratings at Charitywatch.org.
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