There’s this kickstarter project in its closing days — they have four days to raise $40,000 — which aims to put together a lovely hardcover photography book titled A Better Life by Chris Johnson. It’s a good cause, and it dies on Sunday if the goal isn’t met — help out if you can!
Every year, my family back in Seattle/Tacoma participates in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life fundraiser, in memory of my sister-in-law, Karen. The big event is in June, 80 days from now, but they’re looking for lots of donations, so I thought I’d mention it now — if you were planning to support cancer research anyway, funnel it through some good people with real fervor for the cause.
The reason our team relays is for Karen Myers, who lost her battle with melanoma skin cancer in 2004. We have team Karen’s Krew in her name to honor and remember her. It’s our goal to raise money and awareness so that others don’t have to go through everything that she did. Almost everyone has been touched by cancer, either through their own personal battle or through someone they love and this is your chance to help.
Every day, the American Cancer Society is helping us stay well by preventing cancer or finding it at its earliest, most treatable stages. They assist families in finding the best resources to help their friend or loved one deal with a diagnosis and their journey to get well. The American Cancer Society is also rallying communities (like ours!) through events like Relay For Life, to fight back and find cures for this disease.
Please join our team help the American Cancer Society create a world with less cancer and more birthdays.
Most excellent news: Foundation Beyond Belief is going international, opening a new chapter in Australia. If you’re interested in making charitable donations, and resent the idea that your money might be used to sponsor superstitious dogma, Foundation Beyond Belief is the organization to consult for secular charities.
I don’t think it will help, but after the Susan G. Komen foundation cut funding to Planned Parenthood, they’ve now backed down and said they’ll continue existing grants. After the wingnuts were exposed in the Komen leadership, though, I can’t honestly say that I trust them anymore, and I’d be looking for better recipients of my donations (like the BCRF)…and after this reversal, I imagine the fundies who have been slapping each other on the back and congratulating themselves on their influence won’t be so happy, either.
This has been a very bad week for Komen. I would hope that there is some substantial turnover in management, because this has been a case of rank mismanagement of the foundation’s reputation.
It must be true. You better not touch us — the cooties will jump off and give you horrible diseases. Also, everything we handle, including our money, is contaminated. You can trust the American Cancer Society on this one.
You see, Todd Stiefel and the Foundation Beyond Belief offered $250,000 in matching funds to the ACS — a great big pot of godless moolah — and the American Cancer Society dodged and waffled and squirmed and ran away from the money. A charitable foundation turned their nose up at half a million dollars. It’s inexplicable.
Except for the cooties. That’s the only conceivable answer that makes sense.
It’s time for DPR Jones’ yearly fundraiser for Doctors without Borders. Starting tomorrow, there will be a marathon on BlogTV, with assorted guests (note: UK time) appearing to chat and take questions. Barbara Forrest, Eugenie Scott, Matthew Chapman, Lawrence Krauss, an insane creationist, Abbie Smith, Nonstampcollector, AronRa, ZOMGitscriss, Michael Shermer, AC Grayling, Thunderf00t, James Randi, Matt Dillahunty, and even me (I’m on at 10pm my time tomorrow evening). Jones is going to have to stay up for 24 hours, and may get entertainingly punchy near the end, so be sure to tune in for the whole thing.
Oh, and donate.
