Charities I believe in.

Two things I strongly believe need more recognition and I would work hard to raise money for would be The Down's Syndrome Association and The National Deaf Children's Society. I have two younger cousins now who have these things. Lyndsie who is now eleven was diagnosed with Down’s syndrome when she was born, it was hard to hear but her parent’s handled it and are still handling the challenges that are thrown at them. Down's syndrome is a condition in which extra genetic material causes delays in the way a child develops, both mentally and physically. It affects about 1 in every 800 babies. DS affects kids' ability to learn in different ways, but most have mild to moderate intellectual impairment. Kids with DS can learn, and are capable of developing skills throughout their lives. They reach goals at a different pace which is why it's important not to compare a child with DS against typically developing siblings or even other children with the condition. Children with DS can also have health problems, most commonly congenital heart defect. I would want to bring more attention to this cause because when Lyndsie was diagnosed it was hard for her parent’s to find a lot of information about the subject, which no one should have to go through. People should be able to have enough information so they aren’t going in blind.
Six years after they had Lyndsie my cousins had a third child, Jordan who was born completely deaf. They had surgery for Jordan and had implants put in his head that work like hearing aids. He puts the device up to his head and it’s like a magnet to the devices inside his head, he turns it on and he can hear perfectly. Or he can not put them on at all and he can't hear a thing. Again, it was hard to find a lot of sign language classes, and schooling was an issue for Jordan. They live in Marysville and he has to ride a bus to Columbus everyday to go to school, because the schools in Marysville no one knew sign language and couldn’t communicate with him. Even though he can hear with his implants in, he has to choose to do that. He was born deaf and he stays deaf most of the time, he doesn’t really like his hearing aids and no one can force that on him. So therefore he must go to Columbus everyday. I would want to help raise money for families so they can have the option to have the very expensive surgery to have the implants put in so they can have that option to go both ways. Also to help bring more attention to the deaf, so we can all have a way to communicate and teachers can be taught basic sign language in Elementary until kids get used to reading lips.
If I had $20,000 and six months, $10,000 each would go to the Down's Syndrome Association and the National Deaf Children's Society, to help each foundation do more research on how to diagnose these conditions faster, and to help find ways for families to be more aware and how to handle it.

"We Are Their Voice."

The charitable organization that I would work for would be the ASPCA if I had $20,000 dollars and six months free. The ASPCA was the first humane society in the United States and currently is the largest in the world. They are also the first humane society to be granted legal authority to make arrest for crimes against animals. They work to rescue animals from abusive environments, lobby for humane laws, and share resources with other shelters. Each year they rescue thousands of animals from abusive homes. I think they do great work. I only wish that every humane society across the country had the authority to make arrests. They are a great organization because they give animals a voice. Animals are the only members of our society that are truly voiceless, and they deserve to be treated humanely. We owe it to them to give them a voice and stand up for their rights. If I worked for the ASPCA I would spend my time lobbying for more humane laws, because we as a society still have a long way to come in that area. Especially given this week’s Supreme Court ruling finding an animal cruelty law unconstitutional.

The issue of animal rights is close to my heart because I simply love animals, and I’ve been around animals since I was a baby. My family has taken in a few abused and abandoned dogs, and I’ve witnessed animal abuse firsthand. I think it would be rewarding to give animals a voice.

Every 40 minutes...

There are many needs in American society that I would be willing to work for. The one need that is closest to my heart is that of helping children with medical conditions. An organization dedicated to this is The Make a Wish Foundation. This organization is close to my heart because it is the nation’s largest wish granting organization and meets the wishes of children with life threatening medical conditions. It would be a really emotional and exuberating experience to see the wish of a child with a life threatening medical condition met and to see the joy on their face. I like being around younger children and to be able to help children with medical conditions would be a great experience. Their mission statement speaks volumes to me: “We grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy". To fulfill a wish of a child that has nothing to look forward to would be a life changing moment. A lot of these children have good attitudes even though the state they find themselves in. An example of a child that got their wish met is that of 16 year old Adam who just wanted to fly. His wish was to simply to go indoor skydiving. Adam’s wish was fulfilled and he and his friend Tyler were able to go skydiving at Skyventures, an indoor skydiving facility in New Hampshire. Wishes of all kinds are granted by the foundation. The Make a Wish foundation is very particular about the criterion they choose in who gets their wishes granted. There are four steps that one must go through including referral, medical eligibility, finding the true wish and creating joy. An astounding fact is that a wish is granted every 40 minutes, a staggering statistic that shows the caring compassion this organization has for children
This is a very reputable organization that loves to make children feel good and I would love to donate my time and money to this organization.

Protecting the Future

Although there would be many ways to make an impact on the world with $20,000, I think that giving to benefit children is always a good cause. Children are the future, and when their lives are harmed by poor care or circumstantial factors, like geographic region or disease, they have no way to help themselves and often don't have the resources available to even be helped. I would donate the money to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, since they are one of the leading cancer research sites in the world and are able to utilize the most cutting edge treatments for children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. St. Jude's is the second largest health-care charity in America and once a patient is accepted they are treated without regard to the family's ability to pay. Many of the toughest cases from around the world are sent to St. Jude for treatment and their combination of research and treatment under one roof give them the ability to make a significant impact on the advancement of pediatric health care. I've spent my whole life around children, including some sick and disabled, and I understand the need for proper care of those who cannot care for themselves and for the parents who struggle to give them the quality of life they deserve.

Three Cups of Tea in Chapter 5

For Greg Mortenson to save money for the school he decided not to rent an apartment because he had storage space and his car had a large back seat for him to lay down on. He also had a storage locker to hold all of his stuff and he kept his membership at the City rock for access to a shower and for climbing a wall he scaled most days to stay in shape. These are the sacretifices he made to save money for the supplies for the school at Korphe.

Por Escribir "Amor" Sobre Sus Brazos

There are a lot of charities, I think, that are worthwhile, you know? A lot of good places that we can work and put in our money or our time, and we'll do some good. I mean, heck, why don't we all go spend two hours on a Saturday at the soup kitchen? Or a homeless shelter? Or even a library? Why don't we do that? Why don't I do that? I dunno.
But all that's neither here nor there, because we're talking about bigger charities, I think. They can still be obscure, but... I don't know. I think you know what I mean. Whatever. See, I think that charities are like books, in that, there are SO MANY of them. Tons! I mean, my friend Mary has a project similar to Greg Mortenson's project, she started an organization that builds schools in the Philippines. Serious! They're everywhere. Like books. Tons and tons and tons of books. According to the Library of Congress website, in the LoC there are 144,562,233 books. That is a lot! And if we assume that only a quarter of those are any good for learning or whatever, or, wait, no, let's say one in every one thousand books is of any value (I personally assume that it's much more, but for the sake of the point), that's still 144,562 books! Can I read that many in my lifetime? I don't know if I could. So we need to invest our time in the very best books, you know? We don't have time to waste on the crap books!
It's the same with charities. There are so many, so we need to spend our time or money on the best ones. The one that I'm going to talk about is called To Write Love on Her Arms. It's an organization devoted to helping to stamp out depression and suicide by, well, basically by letting people know that they're cared for. I mean, there's more to it than that, but it really boils down to telling people they're loved, which is something that we should already be doing.
To Write Love on Her Arms began as a short story about "things of contrast – pain and hope, addiction and sobriety, regret and the possibility of freedom (www.twloha.com)." The people who started it began selling t-shirts to pay for their friend's treatment, and they began this small thing that started to grow. They had some friends in bands that began wearing their shirts at concerts and people started contacting them, asking for help or how to help. Their website offers information about clinical depression and help to those who suffer from it, and those who want to help the sufferers. TWLoHA has done an excellent job with understanding the issue and getting the word out to those who have a sincere desire to help.
I was going to write about organizations that keep music and the arts in schools, because that's really important to me. But I started to think about "Good, Better, and Best." You know, doing something that's good is... well, it's good. But doing something that is best is best. I think keeping music and the arts in schools is important, and it always ticked me off that my school put more emphasis on football because it was a bigger moneymaker, and I'm passionate about it. But keeping people happy, healthy, and, most importantly, alive, is not only better, but best.

Office of AIDS Research (OAR)

The OAR takes on every aspect of the fight against AIDS. From fundraising to actual medical research, this organization participates. According to the OAR mission statement this organization, "...coordinates the scientific, budgetary, legislative, and policy elements of NIH AIDS research." HIV/AIDS has become a force to contend with all over the world. Entire families can be affected by this condition, or destroyed by the death of a family memeber.

OAR sponsers many research groups. Each is specifically focused on different aspects of the disease and treatment options. $20,000 and 6 months of volunteering could do a world of difference in the process of finding a cure.

christmas clearing house

Working for the Christmas Clearing House would be an awesome way to spend six months and twenty thousand dollars. The general amount spent is sixty dollars per child that a sponsor pays towards the reward of helping a child or they may buy the gifts themselves to ensure that their money is well spent. It allows those less fortunate to recieve gifts in a very stressful time. Giving to those in need is more important than getting when you don't need. This is provided by area groups, business and individuals. They help those who are suffering from death in a family or unexpected job loss or another devastating crisis.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure

If I had the chance to donate time and money to an organization or foundation, I would donate to The Susan G Komen for the Cure foundation. I feel that my money would go to good use, because this is such a well known, well-developed foundation. When you hear about philanthropy, this is one of the top foundations that you hear of. Not only does this foundation work towards a cure to cancer, but it also brings people together.
The Susan G Komen Foundation was founded in 1982, and since then it has grown to be the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors, and activists working together to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures; according to to the foundations website, ww5.komen.org. The foundation has raised close to one and a half billion dollars and I feel that they have used these funds wisely.
If I was to donate money to a foundation, I would want my money going to good use, and If i was to donate to this foundation I feel that it would go to good use.

My Charity that I Believe In

I would donate the 20,000 to the American Cancer Society because I have family and a family history of cancer and I have seen a lot of family and friends die from cancer. I would like the money to go for reseach to cure cancer.

My favorite charity is the American Cancer Society because they have did so much in the cure for cancer like the Cancer Treatments of America which are located in several cities around the world. These Center's not only work toward curing the cancer but curing the patient and using every method possible to get rid of the cancer or cancer's. Using diet, exercise, and psychology and counseling to get the person in shape to fight the cancer. I would love to work for the Cancer Treatment Center's of America because they really want to cure cancer.

Journal 7 - UAW

If I had 20k I would spend time working for the UAW because there are many places out there without unions that are left without a union to help protect the rights of those people who are unfairly treated because of management or the lack of care that should have been shown to the workers. More specifically I would devote time to the auto industry that is left without unions because there are some line practices that will get many people hurt and retired at an early age and the people who oversee and can make the changes mostly discard those who get hurt and change nothing because it is more costly to fix the process than to attempt to fix the person and later discard them. Going through pain on a daily basis and unable to do the majority of things that you once did completely destroys the life that you once enjoyed and all because a company's profits mean more than it does to the livelihood and the physical person that without you could not make a single profit. People are just another raw material that when they get damaged beyond repair you just throw them away. The places that the UAW is present do not have this issue they end up with many people who actually make it to retirement age and the injuries that they have are from years upon years of doing labor. They aren't from 10 years of doing labor and then they are completely incapable of functioning on doing the majority of daily tasks which they used to do with ease.

Colorado Therapeutic Riding Center Inc.

There are many children in the world with multiple disabilities being held back from participating in sports. But, the Colorado Therapeutic Riding Center Inc. is one of the many therapeutic riding centers trying to make a difference for children.

With $20,000 and six months of my time, I believe I could make a difference on many children's lives at the Colorado Therapeutic Riding Center. It's very expensive to maintain a barn, feed horses, maintain land and fencing, but it's also expensive to pay the instructors who dedicate so much of their life to help these children learn basic horsemanship skills. But, why teach children with disabilities to ride? Riding helps inprove balance and strengthen core muscles and the natural gait of a horse helps with coordination in people.
Being an avid horse rider/shower, I have a lot of experience I can add to the Colorado Therapeutic Riding Center without $20,000, but with $20,000 to offer towards better tack and better quality care for the horses it would offer an even greater opportunity to aid these children in accomplishing their dreams.

Journal 7: A Charity that I Believe In

If I had 20,000 dollars and six months of my time to help out any charitable organization it would be The National Childrens Cancer Society. This organization helps out with the finacial burden of families struggling to pay their health bills while there child is ill. They have provided over $49 million since 1987 to help with more than 26,000 children and their families. I would like to be able to help interact with these children who are fighting for their lives. Sometimes the smallest things that people do are enough to boost their spirits and give them the hope they need. The N.C.C.S was started in 1987 to help with children in need of bone marrow transplants, but has grown into an organization that is known for its generosity. I can relate to what some of these families are going through. When I was ten years old my cousin, who was the same age, was diagnosed with cancer, she struggled for almost two years before she lost her battle. But I know from first hand the emotional and finacial burdens it has left our family. My Aunt has still struggled to pay for the costs of the treatments, and medicine. The N.C.C.S provides assistance in any way they can.

A Charity That I Believe In

If I had $20,000 and six months of my time to donate, I would choose to give my time and money to a military family support group. In my community we have a group called the Union County Military Family Support Group. This is a non-profit group that is comprised of local members who donate money, time and resources to reach out to our local troops and their families. Whether the soldier is stateside or overseas, the group sends care packages to them on every holiday. The shipping of the boxes is the greatest expense and the group is self supported. They often go to local grocery stores and hold drives to collect items to be packed in the boxes to send to the troops. It’s a small gesture, but it lets those fighting for our freedoms know that we have not forgotten about them and that we stand behind them no matter what. This need is especially close to my heart because my brother is one of those who are on the receiving end. He spent 18 months in Iraq and sending care packages became one of the few ways we could contact him to remind him that we still cared. Sometimes it would be months before he would get back to a base to get his mail, but he still appreciated it and when he finally came how he told us how much it meant to him that someone was thinking of him. A donation of $20,000 would ensure that the soldiers would continue to receive packages, even in the rough economy. Aside from just sending packages the group also helps those families that are struggling with the loss of a soldier. They work as a family and reach out to fellow members and families. The members know exactly what the other families are going through and are able to offer assistance to them. I think it is very important for civilians to recognize the efforts of the military and realize that they are the reason we are able to keep all of our freedoms. The mission statement of the group pretty much sums up the group's efforts: Identify and network with military families in Union County, express support and provide for their special needs, facilitate community support and recognition for the military members and their families.

Make-A-Wish Foundation

If I had $20,000 and six months of time, I would work for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

This charity allows children with life-threatening medical problems to make one wish. The wish can be something they want to do, somewhere they want to go, or someone they want to meet. The possibilities are truly endless. To this date, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has granted over 190,000 wishes and continues to help make 12,500 or more dreams possible for children each year. There are offices in every state and even in the UK, Canada, Guam, and Puerto Rico.

The reason I would work for this charity is because I know how devastating it is to have a young family member with a life-threatening problem. When my cousin was only 8 years old, he was diagnosed with leukemia and it was a huge shock to our family. The time spent in and out of hospitals was stressful, expensive, and just truly tiring. After many months of treatment, he beat the cancer but it still is heartbreaking to think that many children don't get that lucky. I would love to help children have one last chance at doing something that they've always wanted to do. Helping someone achieve their dreams would be a rewarding experience in itself.

Journal 7

When I was about five years old my grandfather contracted M.S. or Multiple Sclerosis. He was a huge guy and loved to play sports especially basketball. He actually used to be a recruiter and coach awhile back. The disease hit him pretty hard because he was unable to do the things he loved the most. Since that time the M.S. has grown progressively worse and he is in and out of the hospital all the time. Neither my grandma or my grandpa work anymore so this puts a very large stress on thier financial situation.

The charity I would choose to work for would be The National Multiple Sclerosis Society. They are working to find a cure for MS and they are helping people who do have it cope. They are also petitoning the politicians and legislation to make things easier for people with MS. You can actually volunteer to help out or just donate money it is up to you really. This charity is so instrumental in helping so many people who suffer from M.S. it really is a worthy cause!

ACS

A need in America that is close to my heart is the fight against cancer. Few people today have not been affected by cancer in some way: either they are currently battling cancer themselves or have fought it in the past, or a family member or friend of theirs has. My own life has been affected by cancer in many different ways. My grandmother, my best friend's mom, and my own mother are all cancer survivors. A family that is involved in my brothers' basketball team lost their 14-year-old son to cancer, and just a few days ago, a woman in my church died of bone cancer. It is a miracle that my mother is even alive today, and I would love to see others be able to experience this kind of victory over cancer.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) is an organization I would be happy to donate money and time to help. This society's website, cancer.org, states its goal as "eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and service". The society offers information about cancer and support for those currently battling it, as well as opportunities for Americans to donate money and volunteer their time to find cures, including the Relay for Life. They also give prevention tips, such as advice to help quit smoking, and their research not only seeks to find a cure for cancer, but ways in which to prevent it.

Charity WCFS

A huge need in America is the protection of women and children. Another big dilemma we have is the rate of divorce. It would be very beneficial for people to have somewhere to go when they need help. Women, Children and Family Service Charities of America (WCFS) is a charity whose main focuses hit home for me. I know many women who have been victims of physical abuse along with their children in a few cases. I know women who have been involved in sexual abuse either when they were children and even more when they were adults. This organization is great for all of this. They help fight and prevent physical and sexual abuse, they help build education and job qualifications along with research for medical issues like cancer. They don't only focus on women and children though, they also have programs for the whole family. Family choices, balancing all of the demands when you have a family and financial support if necessary.

I would love to be a part of the WCFS if it were possible. If I had $20,000 to spend and six months of my time, I would take classes at the Marysville Pregnancy Care Center and learn to be a counselor for these women in crisis. I would love to learn ways to help them cope. I would love to talk to children that need extra attention because of events that had taken place in their little lives. I know so many people that could use this kind of help, but I don't have the time or money it takes to give it to them.

This organization claims, "Women, Children and Family Service Charities of America is a nonprofit federation that pre-screens high quality national charities that are constructively addressing gender based discirmination, domestic violence, reproductive choices, family-work confilict, caregiver support, and childhood education, hunger and health. We present these charities to potential givers in fund drives at work and on the web." I think that this is a very good organization with a great cause. If I was going to be part of a charity, I believe it would be this one, or one like it.

The Fender Music Foundation

If I had $20,000 and six months of free time the foundation I'd donate to is the Fender Music Foundation. What they do is provide funding and resources, like instruments, for music programs across America so kids and adults are able to experience what it is to learn and play music. Their mission statement is that they believe that music participation is an essential element to an enduring society and I agree completely. This program is important to me because I know how much learning to play music can change you. I've become a completely different person as a result of the confidence learning an instrument and playing in a band has given me and I think a program that fights to give underprivileged people that same opportunity is a worthwhile one.

Journal 7

If I had $20,000, I would donate it all to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

In November of 2009, my niece McKinley was brought into this world. The doctors noticed how small she was and began to do testing on her. They found that she could possibly have cystic fibrosis. This was a big scare to everyone in the family. We didn't even know what this meant for her. We started talking to a family friend whos daughter has cystic fibrosis. This poor baby is constantly having to go to the doctor and constantly having to have surgeries.

The doctor said that McKinley could just be a carrier. This means that she doesn't have cystic firbrosis, but if she were to have children later on, she would need to make sure her partner was not a carrier as well because then their children would definately have cystic fibrosis. After finding this out, my sister, borther-in-law, and my nephew to see if they could possibly have it. To find out that McKinley was just a carrier was amazing news to our family, and that nobody else is a carrier or even has it was even better for us.

Cystic fibrosis is a painful disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of 30,000 children and adults in the United States. A defective gene and its protein product cause the body to produce unusually thick , sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections and obstructs the pancreas and stops natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorbing the food.

Cancer Research Institute

If I were given $20,000 and six months of time, I would donate to the Cancer Research Institute. I've known a few people who have died of cancer and when i was a senior in high school my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. Luckily the doctors caught it fast enough and were able to cure her before it ever spread. However, during the time she was diagnosed with it, it was a really hard time for me and I don't think anyone should ever have to go through anything as painstaking as this.

The Cancer Research Institute has made some huge steps towards preventing cancer. The first vaccine for cervical cancer was founded by a CRI scientist and the CRI donated 10.5 million dollars to 298 investigators at 89 institutions in 15 countries and 22 states.

Journal 7 - Bethany Cordery

Journal Seven

A charity that I believe in greatly is the Ronald McDonald House charity. I have personally seen what it is like for a family to have their child's life in danger and need a place to stay so that they do not have to leave the area of the hospital and they can be with their sick child as much as possible. Ronald McDonald House is an organization that gives families a place to stay on hospital property, essentially without charge.
$20,000 would help to either build another Ronald McDonald House or update some of the ones they already have. The one at Children's Hospital in Columbus was a great help to friends of mine from church when their 7 year old daughter caught an infection after having chicken pox and was in the hospital for over a month. They lived about an hour to an hour and a half away from the hospital and they did not want to be that far away from their daughter because she was having problems breathing. Anything could happen if they left to go home. The Ronald McDonald House gave them a place to sleep at night and place to take a shower.
If I could donate my time to this charity I would work on making sure that all of the facilities were working and help to build another building. Time permitting I would also go raise money to get more of these charities built. Many people do not realize what a blessing these places are and they do not understand how far their money actually goes to help families just like them.
According to their official website, these houses provide home cooked meals, sibling support, playrooms and much more. Ronald McDonald House has been open since 1974. There are 52 countries that currently have Ronald McDonald House charities operating around children's hospitals. Recently, they have expanded into Ronald McDonald House Mobile, which travels and provides children with dental care and other very important health concerns relating to children.
I agree with this charity that splitting families up in a time of crisis such as a child being in the hospital, is not fair to anyone in the family. Staying together will keep spirits higher and encourage the families that things will improve for them.

http://rmhc.org

Themes Seen Today in our reading

Folk medicine and/or natural cures; understanding plant life and biology; old ways versus new technology; religious zeal and passion; following in the footsteps of another; philanthropy or giving of one’s self for a cause; hat blocking and service; discrimination based on race, gender, creed, or sexual orientation; love for history (dinosaurs) becoming an eccentric passion; reconciliation and respect after a past conflict (Sylvia and Seymour); homemade food versus processed food (old school diners); using construction to make memorials or tributes (folk art and grottos)

Three Cups of Tea Ch. 5

The quote I chose came from Chapter 5. At this point Mortenson has set in his mind that he is going to send out at least 500 letters to celebrities, and all sorts of "powerful" people to help fund the school in Korphe. What Mortenson didnt know was how long that would take with an old typewriter. After his first day typing the letters, five hours in, he had only four to send out. Mortenson was thirty-six years old and didnt know how to use a computer. He then went into the Krishna Copy shop and wanted to rent a typewriter. The gentleman at the copy shop was a Pakistani man named Syed, he explains to Mortenson that they dont have typewriters, and that he should try a computer instead. Mortenson tells him that he doesnt know how. Syed learned why Mortenson wanted the typewriter and gave him free tutorials, untill Mortenson could figure it out. The quote from Mortenson was, "Someone from Pakistan helping me become computer literate so I could help Pakistani kids get literate."

This quote has alot of irony it if you look at the situation. Mortenson had sacraficed alot in order to try and help the kids in Pakistan. It would have taken him months to send out 500 letters with a typewriter, and it wasnt very cost effective. This could be seen as a sign for Mortenson that things may be looking up for him.

Pennies for Pakistan

The quote I chose is in chapter 5. Greg Mortenson went to talk to the children at his mother's school to tell them about his goal and a month later he got a letter from his mother. The quote starts with Mortenson's mom explaining in the letter "that her students had spontaneously launched a 'Pennies for Pakistan' drive. Filling two forty-gallon trash cans, they collected 62,345 pennies. When he deposited the check his mother sent along for $623.45 Mortenson felt like his luck was finally changing".

I chose this quote because of its significance towards his goal. Mortenson has written out 580 letters to raise money, but hasn't gotten any reply. He wouldn't have thought to ask children to help because most people assume it's the rich adults that can really help donate, but out of the blue this group of children gives him the first donation. Mortenson had been feeling really down because he hadn't gotten any replies and this good deed got his spirits up again. It gave him hope.

Three Cups of Tea Chapter 4!

The quote I chose came from Chapter 4. Greg is in his storage bin and reminiscing about old memories of his family. In this particular paragraph he is talking about how his father built the hospital in Tanzania and never gave up. Greg talked about how ecstatic his father was to have accomplished his goal. Greg is the only one involved in the situation and he should be given credit for the quote, as he is the one who said it. “He taught me, he taught all of us, that if you believe in yourself, you can accomplish anything” (Mortenson, 38). This quote means a lot to me because my father taught me the same thing growing up. He told me that you could do anything you set your mind to. It connects with the theme because it shows a little of why Greg is such a dreamer. His father taught him at an early age that if you think it you could achieve it and to never give up. This helped him out later in life when he decided to build the school even though it was a lofty goal Greg never gave up and he succeeded. It is a mantra that everyone should live by.

Pennies Can Move Mountains

In Chapter 5 Mortenson is attempting to raise money to build the school in Pakistan by sending out letters to wealthy and famous people. After about a month Mortenson first reply came from his mother explaining that her students started a penny drive, so far they collected 62,345 pennies. “Children had taken the first step toward building the school,” Mortenson says. “And they did it with something that’s basically worthless in our society-pennies. But overseas, pennies can move mountains.”

I picked this quote because many things in our society are seen as worthless like pennies, but in other parts of the world they are seen as precious. I think we take for granted many of the simple things we have in our lives, and society. This quote also went with the overall theme in this book that one person, or one act can change the world, or move mountains. I also liked this quote, because children were the ones to take the first step to help out other children. To me this quote demonstrated that children are pure, innocent, and generally good.

Three Cups of Tea ch. 6

Mortenson asks to be shown how to pray by the muslim faith. This gesture implies respect and honor toward the submition of God in their way. It was a large step in becoming closer with the new friends he had met.
Mortenson "Will you show me how to pray?"
Manzoor "Are you Muslim?"
Mortenson "I respect Islam"
It shows the distrusting people that although he is American he is a man of faith and of service regardless of his background. It goes along with the whole idea of helping others. Later on his reputation among the Pakistani's would prove to help him.

Christas importance to Greg

In chapter four, Greg Mortenson talks about how when he was three months old his parents moved to Tanzania. While in Tanzania, his mother, Jerene, gave birth to his other siblings, the youngest one named Christa. Greg talks a little bit about how much Christa meant to him. On page 37, Relin says, "A still-growing Greg become a looming presence over anyone who would consider teasing his little sister."

I think this quote is pretty powerful because it shows that Greg was willing to stop anybody from harassing Christa. The quote really shows how much he cares for her. In the earlier chapters, Greg was going to put her necklace at the top when and if he summited. The quote also shows how much of a caring person Greg is.

Mortensen's Revelation

After his failed attempt to scale the mountain known as K2 in honor of his lost sister, Christa, Greg Mortensen finds himself in a small village known as Korphe. His weakened state forces him to be dependent on the locals and he comes to realize the depravity of their situation. Even in their desperation, they are selfless and strong hearted. They remind him of his sister, toiling on with no school and limited resources, and he soon after has a revelation, stating, “on the ledge overlooking the valley, with such a crystalline view of the mountains he’d come halfway around the world to measure himself against, climbing K2 to place a necklace on its summit suddenly felt beside the point” (33). This is the most significant point of the story, when Mortensen find his true purpose and the final conflict is set in motion. This is the moment where he finds harmony in his goals of personal achievement, love for fellow man, and honoring of his beloved sister.

Mortensen's Changing Perspective

In chapter 7 of Three Cups of Tea, the authors Mortensen and Relin recount the beginning of Greg Mortensen’s trip back to Korphe with his school supplies. Seated in the back of a truck atop all of his precious supplies, Mortensen and his truck driver, Mohammed, and two assistants, began the treacherous drive along the Karakoram Highway. “Though this lunar rockscape in the western Karakoram has to be one of the most forbidding on Earth,” the authors state on page 80, “Mortenson felt he had come home. The dusty murk along the depths of the gorge and the high-altitude sun brushing the tips of these granite towers felt more like his natural habitat than the pastel stucco bungalows of Berkeley.”

I found this quote meaningful because it made note of the change Mortensen had undergone since his attempt to climb K2. It shows his growing attachment to this “new world” and how he relates much better to it than to the hustle and bustle of America. It is an expansion of the earlier theme in this book that started when Mortensen realized he wasn’t being treated as an outsider in Pakistan. I feel his growing kinship with these people is an important step toward being able to help them and even learn from them in the process.

Three Cups of Tea Chapter 5

Greg Mortenson is preparing to write letters to friends of his to raise money for the five-room school in a small village in Pakistan called; Korphe, and he is asking for any kind of money amount to raise to build this school for the 100 students up to the fifth grade.

After being stopped for the night at a bridge by a band of bandits having a standoff with the Pakistani army, due to a claim of having been wronged by a contractor,Mortenson and crew headed back up the road towards Korphe. They began traveling up the highest paved road surrounded on one side by a jagged ridge and on the other by a sheer cliff that drops straight into a river thousands of feet below. Mortenson had been asked about what "danger he faced in the region from terrorists." He would always answer, 'If i die in Pakistan , it'll be because of a traffic accident , not a bomb or bullet, ...The real danger is on the road'(81).
This quote stuck out to me because during the post 9/11 period there was all the hype and heavy media coverage of nothing but violence in all these areas and so many people believe exactly what the news tells you and this is showing that in reality outside of the news media the real dangers over here are not from the radicals and terrorists as they are labeled, but from driving along the roads because of the natural hazards that can occur at any moment unexpectedly. Mortenson dealt with the everyday people of Pakistan and not just the terrorists which are a minority of the people actually inhabiting the country.

Mortenson spoke to students at the elementary school where his mother was working. He addressed the education problems in Pakistan and what his plans were. In response, the kids took up a collection of pennies to donate to his cause. Greg says, "Children had taken the first step toward building the school and they did it with something that's basically worthless in our society-pennies. but overseas, pennies can move mountains." That final line, "Pennies can move mountains" is so important. It's a metaphor for Greg and all his efforts. Every small step he takes is a penny toward moving his personal mountain- a school for Korphe. This is a powerful message to remember: everyone is capable of doing something good. Just take it one step at a time.

Quote: Three Cups of Tea

Mortenson is reflecting about climbing his first mountain with his father, he says ““Ever since I was six, I’d been staring at the summit and begging my father to take me there.” Finally, when Dempsey deemed his son old enough to make the climb, rather than enjoying his trip to the top of Africa, Greg says, “I gagged and puked my way up Kilimanjaro. I hated the climb. But standing on the summit at dawn, seeing the sweep of African savannah below me, hooked me forever on climbing.””

I picked this quote because it shows us that even when you're in a rough situation and going through something that may be really hard if you stick to it and don't give up, in the end it will all be worth it. He talks about how he "gagged and puked my way up Kilimanjaro", if that were me I would have stopped right then and there. But he kept going and realized at the end how amazing it all was. Mortenson talks about in the book a lot so far about pursuing meaningful dreams, he talks about wanting to put his sisters necklace on the summit of K2, and building a school in Pakistan, so for him to reflect on his first climb and talk about how hard it was along the way, to me is really cool. It just adds to his story and shows to never give up.

In Chapter 4, Mortenson is giving background information on his family and telling about his different family members. He is talking about how his father had the goal of building a hospital in Tanzania. The hospital was built and Mortenson's father made the prediction that the head of every department at the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center will be a Tanzanian. "My dad got blasted by the expats for that,"Mortenson says."But you know what? It happened. The place he built is still there today, the top teaching hospital in Tanzania, and a decade after he finished it, all the department heads were African. Watching him up there, I felt so proud that this big, barrel-chested man was my father. He taught me, he taught all of us, that if you believe in yourself, you can accomplish anything." I picked this quote because it ties in to what Mortenson is trying to do in building a school. His father was able to achieve his goal by believeing in himself and if Mortenson believes in himself, he will be able to achieve his goal of buiding a school. To me it means a lot, because if I believe in myself I can accomplish all of my goals and allof my dreams.

Favortite Quote, Three Cups of Tea

One of my favorite quotes is from Chapter5, page 52 from when Mortenson is talking about how his mother invited him to come to her school and talk to the kids about what his plans were for building a school. About a month after visiting the school he talks about a letter he received from his mother and a check that was in the letter. He says that his mother explains that the children launched a “Pennies for Pakistan” drive. The children filled up two forty-gallon trash bags with pennies, resulting in a final price of $623.45. The quote that I love that Greg says is, “Children have taken the first step toward building the school, and they did it with something that’s basically worthless in our society—pennies. But overseas, pennies are moving mountains.”

I really like this passage because the kids took the first steps in helping Greg get to his goal of $12,000 that is needed to finish the school that will consiste of four learning rooms and then one room that will be known as a common room. You would think that of the 580 letters he sent out to adults that they would be the first to respond back to help out with the funds, but it was not. It was the children. This just shows how much impact children do have on the society and no matter how young they are they can help out even in the smallest ways with something that can help another human being.

Greg's Similarities to his Father

The quote I picked was taken from Chapter 4; titled "Self-Storage." The chapter summarizes the life Greg and his family had while he was growing up. His father, Dempsey, reminded me very much of his son and the quote I chose reflects that. Dempsey visits Tanzania and was immediately inspired into helping them by building a hospital. On page 36, it states "Dempsey threw every molecule of himself into the great achievement of his life--raising money for and founding Tanzania's first teaching hospital, the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical center." It's a great example of showing why Greg is the way he is. He spent an enormous amount of time training to climb K2 and he is putting an equal amount of effort into building the school for the children of Korphe.

Three Cups of Tea

In Chapter 5, Greg Mortenson sets out to do all he can to raise funds for his schools. At one point, Mortenson types up and sends out 580 letters, asking for funds. Mortenson doesn't have his own computer so he goes to a copy shop, Lazer Image. Mortenson has never used a computer before, so the Shop worker, Kishwar Syed helped him out. After Syed finds out why Mortenson is writing out so many letters, he feels that he is obligated to help. Syed states, on page 50, "My village in Pakistan had no school so the importance of what Greg was trying to do was so very dear to me." He continues, "His cause was so great it was my duty to devote myself to help him." I feel that this quote really gives the readers a feel of how Mortensons actions do, and will impact others It puts what Mortenson is doing into perspective. Mortenson is going to directly impact Pakistan by building the school, and providing the children with a chance at an education, and that is very important. With Syed's reaction to Mortensons letters, It really shows how appreciative he is, if hes going to devote himself to Mortenson and his work. I feel that the children who Mortenson directly will be equally appreciative, if not even more.

Pennies Can Move Mountains

Mortenson was trying to get funding for the school he promised to build in Korphe and had written senators, celebrities, and everyone he could think of to ask for money. He sent 580 letters and the only response he got was from his mother. His mother worked at a school and had presented the issue to the students who then launched a "Pennies for Pakistan" drive. Commenting on the generosity of the students, Mortenson says, "Children had taken the first step toward building the school. And they did it with something that’s basically worthless in our society-pennies. But overseas, pennies can move mountains” (52). The children had collected $623.45 to help the other children. The phrase “pennies can move mountains” really speaks to the character of Mortenson and how appreciative he is of the dedication and generosity of the students. I picked this because it reminds me of a bible verse that says something to the effect of having faith as small as a mustard seed and saying to a mountain move from here to there and it will. This connects to the ongoing idea of helping the kids, but this time the roles are reversed.

Decision to Climb

Greg Mortenson is an avid rock climber who also has many years of medical training. He grew up in Africa with his family where his parents were teachers and he had 3 sisters. Of all of his family members he was closest with his youngest sister Christa. She became very sick as a toddler after a terrible reaction to a smallpox vaccine and then when she was 3 she contracted severe meningitis which then lead to her having frequent seizures that also damaged her mental capabilities. Mortenson was Christa's godfather and he took great care of her throughout her life.
In 1992, on the same day that Mortenson tripped and fell 800 feet down a glacier, his sister had passed away during a seizure. Christa was supposed to be going on a trip for her 23rd birthday with their mother, but when Jerene went to wake Christa up she was already dead.
Mortenson told Relin (the author of this book) that Dan Mazur asked him to accompany him on an expedition to K2 as the expedition medic. Relin writes, "Here was a path, a means which Mortenson could get himself back on course and, at the same time, properly honor his sister. He'd climb to the summit those of his avocation respected most, and he'd dedicate his climb to Christa's memory. He'd find a way to wring some meaning out of this meaningless loss."
I chose this quote because it finally explains why and how Mortenson decided to attempt to climb K2. The climb is not about him, it is about his sister and how he would do anything for her. Even put his life in danger by climbing this mountain. Mortenson is a person who genuinely cares for other people and that just makes you feel warm and cozy inside. This shows that he can connect with people and when he makes a connection he does whatever he can for them. When he meets the people of Korphe and they treat him like family, he becomes attached to them and wants to help them out by any means possible. This is something that started out with his sister and he is continuing it throughout his life. Finding "meaning out of this meaningless loss" can be done in many ways, and Mortenson is working towards that in every way he can imagine.

three cups of tea

Greg Mortenson is trying desperately to raise the twlve thousand dollars needed to build a school in Korphe. He is staying in his car and barely getting by himself to get the money. At the same time he is trying to send letters out to ask for money for this project but is completely lost using a typewriter he had to rent and only getting six letters done a day. Then he goes to rent the typewritter again and the store is closed. He goes to another copy shop and asks to rent a typewritter. He learns that they do not have type writters and the shop owner Kishwar Syed tells him to rent a computer. Greg Mortenson does not know how to use one. Syed learns what he needs to use the computer for and gives Greg lessons on how to use the copy and paste features. Mortenson states that " It was pretty interesting someone from Pakistan helping me become computer literate so I could help Pakistani kids become literate." I picked this quote because of the irony that a Pakistani man was teaching him when his whole struggle over the past year has been education in Pakistan. It also connects to the theme by a computer literate Pakistani man teaching him. It signifies importance of what he is trying to accomplish by building this school in Korphe.

Children had taken the first step toward building the school

As Mortensen sets out to collect the $12,000 he needs to build the 5 room school in Korphe he finds his progress becoming very unsuccessful. He has sent out over 580 letters to well-known politicians and celebrities. He had also applied for 16 grant applications to help raise this money. Mortensen had even visited a school, the school his mother was the principal of, to give a speech to 600 students about the children of Korphe. Mortensen claims that it seemed like the students really understood him.

In chapter 5, Relin stated, "A month after returning to Berkeley, Mortensen got a letter from his mother. She explained that her students had spontaneously launched a "Pennies for Pakistan" drive. Filling two forty-gallon cans, they collected 62,345 pennies. When he deposited the check his mother had sent along for $623.45 Mortensen felt like his luck was finally changing. "Children had taken the first step toward building the school," Mortensen says. "And they did it with something that's basically worthless in our society--pennies. But overseas pennies can move mountains." (52)

I think this is a very powerful quote because it truly shows how a very little thing to us, like pennies, is so important in other places. It shows how different the two places are in terms of economy and quality of life. The children of the school had been so generous that they were Mortensen's first step to building the school for the less fortunate children from Korphe. To me, I think the phrase, "pennies can move mountains" (52) shows us, as individuals, how much we can do for someone else.

the global motivation behind philanthropy?

Greg Mortenson, a mountain climber whose harrowing experiences in the Himalayan mountain ranges and the poverty-stricken Pakistani culture inspired him to raise funds to build a school for learning-starved Pakistani children, quotes Sir Edmund Hillary from his book, Schoolhouse in the Clouds. Sir Hillary, who had undertaken a similar endeavor to build schools for Sherpa communities in Nepal, writes, "Slowly and painfully, we are seeing worldwide acceptance of the fact that the wealthier and more technologically advanced countries have a responsibility to help the undeveloped ones . . . not only through a sense of charity, but also because only in this way can we ever hope to see any permanent peace and security for ourselves." Is it sad that the people of the world who are most comfortable with their situation are those who must be goaded to helping others with the promise that it will in turn give them an added sense of peace and security in their position? Perhaps. But perhaps it is better that a man help another grudgingly or with deeper regard for himself than that he leave the poorer to wither and vanish.

Effectively Spreading the Word

The quote I chose was from chapter 4. In the beginning of this chapter Mortenson has just gotten to California after his long trip in Pakistan. He is trying to pull himself back together after his jet lag and long travels on a plane. He has been brainstorming, trying to figure out how he will come up with the money he needs to build a school for Haji Ali's community. On page 45, Relin is saying how the tools that had taken Mortenson all across the continent seem useless for this next task. He is putting his climbing gear away when he begins to wonder what kind of tools it will take to raise all the money for the project. Relin writes, "How could he convince Americans to care about a circle of children, sitting in the cold, on the other side of the world, scratching at thier lessons in the dirt, with sticks? He pulled the light cord, extinguishing the particularity of the objects in the storage space." To me, this quote says a lot. The people back in America haven't experienced what he has just exposed to. No one back home will feel the pull as strongly as Mortenson feels it. He isn't sure what it will take to get the job done, but he knows that he made a promise and he will figure out a way to make it happen.

It's Not All About The Climb

When Greg Mortenson tells us about his first experience climbing a mountain we realize that it wasn't his favorite experience. Only eleven years old, "Greg says, 'I gagged and puked my way up Kilimanjaro. I hated the climb. But standing on the summit at dawn, seeing the sweep of the African savannah below me, hooked me forever on climbing.' "(37) As I read Greg's quote, something struck me that correlates my life and the main idea throughout, so far, Three Cups of Tea. It's not all about the climbs we make in life to reach our destination, a major part of the climb is just looking over our figurative mountain edge and seeing where we've come from. The rewards in life can only be acknowledged if we reflect back onto the obstacles we surpassed in life to obtain a goal in life; if we've never had a mountain to climb in our life, where is the reward for where we are today?

First blog assignment instructions

Hello students, and today we will just use the blog to become familiar with its features and write a response to today's reading in Three Cups of Tea.

What I'd like you to do is practice using signal phrases and direct quotes in this entry. You do not need to worry about MLA style on the blog, but rather just practice the idea of setting a source and context for whatever direct quote you use.

So please pick your favorite quote from one of the chapters you read today. Then write on the blog.

1. Set up the quote by writing about the situation, idea or context in the book first. What is happening in the chapter before this situation? Who is involved? Who should be given credit for the quote?

2. Next, put in your direct quote.

3. Comment on this quote. What does it mean to you? Why did you pick it? How does it connect to themes or idea? Etc.

4. Publish your post to the blog.

5 Read other students posts, and write comments to at least two other writers in the class.

Work hard, and have fun!

All best,

Mike Lohre