Day 16: #303030 Mario

30 Days. 30 Causes. 30 Dollars. Today I have chosen someone who has come to my attention through Ken Newman. Mario is looking to get funding for an album. (click for fundraising page)

I chose this cause because Mario and Ken did a fundraiser for me last year, and it is an opportunity for me to give something back. Mario had no idea who I was, and still stepped up to help - without asking anything of me.

I appreciate what he did, and am happy to see what I can do to help him accomplish his goal. I also know the value of asking, and how difficult it can sometimes be to get support for our heart's desires and work.

If you are seeing this, consider there may be a reason, and please consider helping. Thanks!

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(The rest of this entry is a repeat from a previous one.)

If you don't know me, you may not know that I am really in no position to be spending my money on others. I am running out myself after having dealt with cancer since last May. I began this #303030 as a way of living into the idea that each and every $1 matters. I have often said it, but up until this past year, I was not likely to be one to help another, even with a $1. It wasn't that I didn't want to, but often I would be concerned how I would look (cheap?), or think that somehow the recipient might think that it didn't mean anything, or I would intend to do it later, which never came.

I decided to change that. I had to change it. So often I will see those in great need echo my words. They, too, know the value of the little things adding up. It is those who have never had that great need who would likely question the value of what would seem a minor contribution.

It really does mean something to someone who really is struggling. I guarantee it. Not sure if they are legit, or not? It is a valid question. At the same time, if it is "only" $1 to you, then does it really matter if they're not?

I keep telling people to feel free to reference me if they are looking to raise funds. I really don't mind. Part of my reason for doing this is to show people that if I can do it, they can, too. Even if it was one person, $1, over 12 months, it is making a difference in 12 people's lives in ways you could only possibly imagine.

I really do wonder in the super-sized world we live in if we think small enough often enough.

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Want to take my idea a step further? Share this concept with others. Imagine what an incredible difference it would make in the world if one day each and every person took a dollar and gave it to someone in need. The thought, quite frankly, blows my mind. In the best possible way of course. I wonder if there would be some way to start that movement. Anyone got any ideas?

Even if not, the $1 you contribute still does matter.

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Day 5: Help the 5th Graders Get to Six Flags

Based on my 30 Days 30 Causes 30 Dollars blog entry, each day I donate $1 to a cause. Today I didn't have to go looking for my Day 5 $1 donation opportunity. It had been posted by a Facebook friend: Help the 5th Graders Get to Six Flags.

A group of disadvantaged students were promised a trip if certain conditions were met, but then for some reason, they were told that it would not happen.

Their teacher is seeking $3,000 to make that happen.

When I first saw the posting I reached out to the poster to find out if the campaign was legit. Did she know the person? I never heard back. I could have made more of an effort to find out, but quite frankly, I decided it wasn't worth it. And then I got to thinking about the many scams out there and how people are reluctant to give if they don't know the person.

In some ways I understand. At the same time, it is making us so guarded that we don't even want to give to those who are in genuine need. I have gone out of my way to be open and honest here about my situation because I thought it would help. But, quite frankly, I am not sure that it has. In addition, the donation sites often tell you to give only to those you know. I can understand why, sort of.

But think about this: If you "just" give a $1 you aren't risking much if you don't know if it is true or not. You have likely wasted a lot more money on other things that didn't have the potential to help someone.

In addition, you can do what you can to try to tell if something is legit, or not. Of course, unless you have proof of a situation, there is no way to be sure. But if you see a number of people giving money, the hope is that it is legitimate. You could always reach out and ask for more information. More than once I have offered to show records, and would go as far as necessary to prove something if I had a reason to.

Lastly, if someone is indeed scamming, it is very possible that they truly do have a need of some sort, but just aren't going about taking care of it in the healthiest or best way. It is one humane way to look at it. Of course, I understand one doesn't want to give their hard earned money away just like that. But if we use a combination of our gut and heart and head, we will have the best shot of doing something worthwhile for both us and the person we affect.

I think it is likely better to take a $1 risk on something you don't know for certain (if it speaks to you in some way) than to do nothing at all because I think the overall risk to a society who doesn't help out its members is greater than the one that seeks to, and does.

If you know of any people in need, please let me know. I will be posting about them here as well as at DollarDifference.com. 

To see previous days, please click here.

Day 4: Rico Relief Effort

Based on my 30 Days 30 Causes 30 Dollars blog entry I went looking for my Day 4 $1 donation opportunity, and found Rico Relief Effort.

Rico Walder is dealing with brain cancer, and is about a third of the way to his goal. One thing that was said in an update was

"He still needs your help! This charity will soon be coming to an end and I want to make sure Rico has enough funds to continue with his medical treatment and to support himself and his business." 

In my experience of dealing with cancer, I can say he will be a very fortunate man to get what he needs to help him. It is incredibly difficult to manage a business and an illness. I was fortunate enough to get through treatment, but I had to start working almost as soon as it was over.

Physically it was (and still is) challenging. If you have never had treatment, let me tell you - it is not easy to do. There has to be healing from the treatment that is almost harder than the treatment itself. And I am not sure that the pressure is helping my physically, either.

I don't think many people realize how difficult it really is. So many have expected me to be who I was before treatment. Many expect me to be as anyone would be, normally. It is part of the reason I feel I need to talk about this stuff. I hate - in some ways - to have to keep repeating myself to new people. It almost makes me feel defensive. I should be able to handle things, shouldn't I? I can see why many wouldn't do anything, or be concerned about addressing it with others. It is, among other things, incredibly awkward.

Something else I noticed today, which I have noticed other days, but haven't yet addressed is that if someone who is asking for help is from a public event/disaster, I skip over them. Why? Because I feel that many are going to go to them and help them first before helping someone else with a more "every day" kind of need. Some people will only help in an extreme situation like that, too.

So even with my $1, I have been discriminating. Imagine what it is like for someone who has a lot more to spend? How do they decide how much is going to whom? I imagine that the things that people relate to are precipitating factors. Currently I am focusing on GiveForward.com because I can give a $1, but I wouldn't mind helping elsewhere. I am sure there are many who are trying to launch a project, a product and/or get a business going who are just as much in need.  I may check out IndieGoGo and see if I can give $1 there.

If you know of any people in need, please let me know. I will be posting about them here as well as at DollarDifference.com. I am behind over there...the things I set out to do so often don't get done these days. It is really hard to reach to do something, but not be able. In a way, I would say it is good. It gives me something to aspire to. But in another way it frustrates a bit, as I so often don't meet the desired outcome.

But I am trying.

Day 3: Liana Williams

Based on my 30 Days 30 Causes 30 Dollars blog entry I went looking for my Day 3 $1 donation opportunity, and found Liana Williams.

In looking for people to donate to, I find my eye drawn to images with someone else in it. I have been saying for a while that I do not think I have the most compelling "cancer story." Interestingly enough Liana's picture shows her husband and her children. She is fighting an aggressive form of lymphoma, and while they have raised a considerable amount of money, they have raised the amount asked for, due to almost being out of money. And this is despite getting some help. Her husband lost his job. I picked them, in part, because their campaign is about to end on May 31st, and they are just a little over 50% there.

There are way too many people challenged - and devastated - by things like this. It is all too easy to turn a blind eye. At the same time, it is the type of thing most people have to trip over to see. No one wants to see the pain. No one wants to know. I know. I was one of them. Why go looking for something you know will cause discomfort?

On top of that, so many people are empathic, and do not know it. They pick up what others feel. And for many, it sucks so much they unconsciously avoid dealing with anything that has them feel it. I tend to stay away from large crowds, and really don't like places like malls.

If we could somehow harness that empathy and turn it around we might be able to stop avoiding, and start helping. Maybe that is why we are empathic in the first place. Maybe it is a way for us to connect so we will help, but instead we unconsciously take on the pain and feel a need to avoid what is causing it, leaving those we love and others we could help to struggle with their situation on their own. And the deeper the depths of their despair, the more we want to avoid it. If only we would have helped in the earlier stages, maybe it would not have gotten as bad.

How many people think of that, I wonder.

If you know of any people in need, please let me know. I will be posting about them here as well as at DollarDifference.com.

Taking the journey of making a difference one dollar at a time.

Day 2: Project Liza

Based on my 30 Days 30 Causes 30 Dollars blog entry I went looking for my Day 2 $1 donation opportunity, and found Project Liza.

I have to admit, her name is a great one. But besides that, she has "a liitle friend" that is a brain tumor. As tough as my situation has been, I cannot imagine what that would feel like.

It isn't easy reading about these people's situations. But in some ways, it may be a bit easier - and a bit more difficult - because I can identify with pieces of their situations and dilemmas and concerns. The more we are exposed to something, the more familiar we are with it, and the more comfortable we in some ways become with it.

It is one of the great reasons why I feel it is important for me to talk. To share. Maybe it will encourage others, and ultimately be of greater help to us as a society. The discomfort people feel around illness I believe weakens who we are as a society and culture.

It is also difficult for me on one level because I see the level of help they are receiving as compared to me. It is hard to be this honest, but I feel like it is important for me to flesh my feelings out. I have to wonder if sometimes people might not give another for that reason. Another gets, but not me?

It feels odd to give someone who has more than I do. Some might even call it folly. But, as I have said, this is about a much bigger picture. Whether or not someone else has more, who am I to judge their need? If she says she has a need, then that should be good enough. I am not her. I can't possibly know what it is like to be her. And I am sure that for her, just like me, every dollar counts.

I can already tell this experience is going to be quite a lesson for me.

If you know of any people in need, please let me know. I will be posting about them here as well as at DollarDifference.com.

Day 1: Baby Casen Buswell Fund

Based on my last blog entry I went looking for my first $1 donation opportunity. Unfortunately GoFundMe does not allow $1 donations, so I went to GiveForward.com, and found Casen Buswell.

His medical condition is very unique and apparently the family's medical bills are ever increasing. It feels "funny" to give "only" a dollar. I had some interesting feelings come up as I did it. I have to wonder how many others may have the same, and instead of moving through the discomfort, just ignore it all together.

I can also see how difficult it can be in technological terms, too. There are some I would have liked to have helped on GoFundMe, but there was no email address provided for Paypal, and for some reason I couldn't seem to email through the site. I am going to have to go back and add my own email address. It is hard enough for people to get help without potential helpers/donators being thwarted by technology.

I think I am going to be picking those people who have a distance to get to their goal. I am not sure what else I will be using as criteria, if any. I think I am just going to see where this journey takes me. If you know of any people in need, please let me know. I will be posting about them here as well as at DollarDifference.com.

This should be an interesting adventure. It's OK though, it's not like I have anything better to do. :P I hope Casen and his family will get through their journey with as few craters as possible. It seems like they have a lot of support.