We did it!

My heart is so full. Last March, I set out to help this organization and raise $1000 in a year. We did it! Thanks to all my friends, family, and sorority members that donated to the cause. The event at Pump It Up, put my goal over the top. To date, I know we raised over $800. We had over 100 friends and family members to come and have an evening of fun. We can jump for joy, just like my little girl!

Yippee! I'm so excited!

I'm so excited that my sorority is sponsoring an event with the proceeds going to Maison de Naissance. The foundation is in desperate need and any little bit will help. Check out the link for the event www.dstschaumburg.org/events and if you can, please come out and join us.

Thank you!

Thanks for all the calls and e-mails concerning the MN Foundation and also for my family. We just ask that you keep us and the people of Haiti in your thoughts and prayers, and if you can give a little something to your charity of choice to support their efforts.

Earthquake update

Here is some updated information provided by the Foundation.

"Thursday, January 14, 2010

Dear Friends:

We continue to hear devastating news from Haiti. You have reached out to us by sharing your concern, asking how to help, and seeking updates on MN and our cherished family and friends. Thank you for keeping MN and Haiti in the forefront of your thoughts. Please share this message with others who want to help during this unparalleled tragedy.

Our Haiti staff report that our facility, staff, and those we serve are still safe. However, they are bracing for the awesome challenges that lie ahead.

We need your financial support to maintain our daily operations. Medications, fuel, supplies and food - already difficult to obtain in Haiti - are becoming scarce. Prices for these essentials will skyrocket in the coming days, and they will become increasingly difficult to obtain. We must attempt to stay stocked and prepared, so we may continue to care for the mothers and babies who need our programs and services. Contributions to MN may be made on our web site at www.maisondenaissance.org or mailed to our office at the address below.

There is also a significant need for financial support of emergency relief efforts in Haiti: food, water, shelter and medical services provided by trained volunteers and professionals. We suggest supporting organizations that are on the ground and poised to assist with these immediate relief efforts in and around Port au Prince:

American Red Cross: www.redcross.org
TheGlobalOrphanProject(PoweredbyC3): ww.theglobalorphanproject.org
Episcopal Relief and Development: www.er-d.org
Partners in Health: www.pih.org

In response to your requests for updates, we offer the following blog site:
http://haitiearth.blogspot.com. We ask everyone to use the 'comment' feature to post their updates, questions, thoughts, and concerns. Maintaining this dialogue in a centralized location will allow easy and efficient access to multiple sources and ease e-mailbox congestion. MN will continue to add meaningful posts as we have more concrete updates to share.

Haiti needs you. MN needs you. There are countless ways to help, and we thank you for considering the options we have shared above. Thank you for your thoughts, prayers, and contributions, and for sharing this message. Let us be guided by Haiti's motto: L'union fait la force - unity is strength.

Staying Strong,
Your Friends at Maison de Naissance"

If you can, please give to any reputable organization at this time, the country needs you more than ever.

The Earthquake

Here is a portion of a message that I received on yesterday from MN.


"We write to reassure you that we have made contact with our staff at Maison de Naissance in Larnage, which is approximately 100 miles west of Port au Prince. Our staff and facility are safe!

To our current knowledge, the effects of the earthquake were minor in our area of service compared to the damage sustained in Port au Prince. There was shaking and creaking, but we are not aware of life threatening injuries or severe damage.

While we are grateful that our birthing home and staff are safe at this time, please remember that our staff has many family members and friends - and we have many friends - in the affected area. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers."

My prayers go out to all my family and friends.

Man, how time flies...

I can't believe it's been months since my last post. I'm happy to announce that my sorority chapter has decided to pick up this project as our International Awareness and Involvement program. The more voices the better to get the word out and people active and interested in the cause. I'm sure this partnership will help bring in the funds that we need.

Gone away for a while, but not Forgotten

I can't believe I let two months roll on by, and haven't posted anything. It's been pretty busy around the household though. Aniyah is 14 months old now and is into stuff more than ever. The biggest change is that I loss my job of 9 years. I got the boot because of budget cuts and what not. Oh well, such is life. My parents just recently came to visit and they had a blast with the grandbaby. Early June we also took a trip to Key West, FL. Anyway, enough about me.

I'm excited to say that I'm a few dollars short of the half way mark for my $1,000 goal. I am trying to think of something worthwhile to give to the donors or fundraising ideas, but they are still in the brain storming stages. It was been a great joy to get hand written letters from the MN Foundation. It makes me feel like my efforts are definitely worthwhile even if its one dollar at a time. There's something else I'm excited about as well, but I'll keep that under wraps until it happens. It could be a major boost to this project. So pray with me that it happens.

Well, I'm back on the horse so my posts should not be so few and far between.

Later,

Marisha