All There Is To It

They are all our children. And in Afghanistan, they make kites.

My inbox is inundated with press releases that want to sell you -- YOU, dear reader, through me -- something. Anything. Everything. I delete 9 of 10, not always because the products/services/organizations are unworthy of your attention, but often simply because of my limited time.

Yesterday I received one of the rare notices that stop my wandering eyes in their tracks.

If you've seen the movie, 'The Kite Runner', then you know the significance of 'beauty soaring above' in the way of paper and string. Now, a Kabul-born businessman living in Virginia has created a path for the children of Afghanistan who must forego education in order to work the streets and support their families.

Atta Amin developed Peace Kites, a project that sends proceeds to a foundation called Aschiana. Children from Aschiana's vocational school constructed kites bearing messages of peace in the Pashto or Dari languages. DHL transported the kites to the US for no charge. The kites are now for sale on the Aschiana website for only $29 USD including shipping. If you're not into flying them, kites make lovely wall hangings (or you can suspend them from your ceiling, as I do in my foyer...)

Especially in light of the most recent tragedies in Afghanistan in which civilian casualties mount (does it really matter exactly how many?) -- a simple thing like purchasing a beautiful kite to help children survive amid war and hopefully escape... it seems to make some kind of sense.

Grassroot Causes: The Rippel Effect

I get a lot of appeal emails, as I'm sure you do, too. This one is a bit close to home, as it concerns a good friend of my niece and nephews.

Joey Rippel survived cancer as a teen. He was lucky enough to have a lot of friends who threw fundraisers, then wound up with leftover donations. He and his parents founded The Rippel Effect with the goal of providing funding for research and services that are specific to teens with cancer.

They're not asking for much; just a couple of bucks and to pass on the request that you'll find at http://www.therippeleffect.com/Donate.html

You can also read his story on the website, where Joey discusses his love of golf, and details how he was diagnosed with and treated for lymphoma. Here's a bit of his tale following treatment:

Things have not been all wins and roses since. The physical and mental
ability required to win tournaments was short lived. I have found
cancer treatment has a prolonged effect that continues well after
treatment ends. I live with numbness in my hands and feet, disrupted
concentration and diminished physical stamina and neuro responses.  But
I’m alive and am fighting back.  I want to find answers on how we can
minimize the aftereffects of cancer treatment.  I want those who come
after to come back faster and healthier.  I don’t want cancer treatment
to mean you have to give up being active and vibrant during or after
cancer treatment.

Pass it on.

The Rippel Effect | Home