Charitable Causes
We regularly designate the proceeds from some of our book sales to a
charitable organization. Current proceeds are earmarked for a service monkey
for a paraplegic family member who needs assistance and companionship due to
increasing health issues. To learn more, visit
http://www.jingying.org/special_events/2008/A_Monkey_for_Al.htm
Also:
* A fundraiser is taking place on April 5th for a local (Washington, DC)
homeschooling family (the Utseys). The dad, the sole provider and
self-employed, experienced a debilitating stroke in mid-January and has just
recently moved to rehab. There has been no income to the family since the
stroke. Please visit
http://freewebs.com/angelwingpromotion/ to find out more information
about the fundraiser (the spaghetti dinner is just $20 per family!) FUN
Books plans on attending and donating a portion of book sales to the family
and is helping in other ways. Let us know if you are attending and would
like us to bring an order for pick up. You can visit the Monica Utsey's blog
at
http://www.homeschoolingzion.blogspot.com/. She's a member of
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SankofaHomeschoolCommunity/ and African
American Unschoolers:
www.afamunschool.com. If you would like to donate directly to the
family, email us at
FUN Books for their PayPal account or contact information. I'm sure they
would be greatful for other types of donations as well (her sons are ages 7
and 1).
* We will also be giving to the Stevens, a homeschooling family. They have
been dealing with cancer on several fronts (a rare form of bone cancer in
the boys' cases and breast cancer in the mom). You can learn more and donate
money directly to them by visiting
http://www.makingpeacewithdestiny.com/ (you may need to scroll down to
find the link to make a donation). They are originally from our home state
of Maryland and moved to Tennessee to be near the hospital where the boys
have been receiving treatment. Money is the best donation, but other
donations are welcome (a few I can think of: health food store gift cards,
cleaning or handyman services, other store gift cards). Contact them through
their web site for more information.
Funds are raised through the sale of the following items, plus you get a
bargain in the process! The book/magazine special would make a great gift
for your homeschool group's library.
Over the years, FUN Books has been involved with several charitable
causes. For the past few years, we've teamed up with our other family business, Jing
Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi (www.jingying.org), to raise money for:
2004/2005: Tsunami
Relief Donations went to:
www.mercycorps.com,
specifically for Tsunami relief. We chose Mercy Corps based on their high
rating on
www.charitynavigator.org
2005:
Hurricane Relief Donations went to
www.thearc.org for the developmentally disabled who were affected by
Hurricane Katrina and Rita. We also sent a big box of books and recordings
to a New Orleans area family displaced by Hurricane Katrina (they are now happily living in a
new home). Greathall Products graciously contributed some recordings to the
New Orleans family.
2006/2007: Local Crisis Assistance Last year we raised money for a local organization (www.spanhelps.org),
and we are continuing to support them this year. The money primarily helps
families who are in danger of being evicted, having their heat turned off,
or who can't afford their prescription medications. The average family
helped by SPAN includes three children and makes only $750 a month. Many are keeping their families
together while one member is facing a serious medical condition.
In addition to the money we raise through our SPAN specials, FUN Books
donates items to our Jing Ying silent auction. We are grateful to our
fellow vendors who have also donated their products to our fundraiser.
A special thanks goes to vendors who have contributed to our silent auction
for multiple years (they are marked by a *).
Family Pastimes*
Greathall
Productions, Inc.*
Artana Productions*
Charlesbridge Publishing (publishers of the
Sir
Cumference series).
Home Education Magazine
Life Learning Magazine
Local businesses have been generous as
well. For example,
Cipriano's Authentic Italian Gelato, owned by a homeschooling family,
has generously donated 5 liters of gelato!
Many individuals in both the homeschooling community and in our
martial arts studio have contributed items from their home businesses as
well as handcrafted items.
If you
would like to make a donation to our annual silent auction, or make a
monetary contribution, please contact us. We can take donations at any time,
but we usually start collecting items in October. The silent auction
takes place in mid-December.
For photos and details, visit
www.jingying.org/Charity_Fundraiser.htm
#SPAN2
