Where Theres A Will Fund Fundraising and Awareness Campaign: October 20th, 2013 - December 2nd, 2013 Day #22: Over the past year people have asked, rightly so, “What has the Where There’s A Will Fund done?” In simple dollar terms – nothing. We have yet to spend a cent. We are still working to determine how and when we might best direct the fund’s financial resources. In the meantime, thanks to the generosity of so many, the fund grows. We have worked hard to remember that “action is eloquence.” Our mission is about more than dollars alone. In May Bill succeeded in having an essay about addiction published in the New York Times. The link to it is here: nyti.ms/18eVkto . Please feel free to share it if you have not already done so. That essay has brought response from all over the country. It was passed along by The Freedom Institute and The Hazelden Foundation and Renascent in Canada. It has opened the doors to meetings with leaders at The Partnership at Drugfree.org, The National Council on Addiction and Drug Dependence, Shatterproof and Phoenix House, including opportunities to visit Phoenix House facilities and see their program in action. It brought about a guest appearance to talk about addiction on a radio show. We’ve consulted with psychiatrists, psychologists, and medical doctors about their experience in confronting addiction. On the anniversary of Hurricae Sandy Bill had another essay published in the New York Times. The link to that is here: nyti.ms/1g8ih7W Again, feel free to share it and pass it along. But, most important are the connections we’ve made with those successfully in recovery, those working hard at their recovery, those who assist the addicted in recovery, and those who have suffered as we have. We are part of a network of a world we never knew. Until the anniversary of William’s death on December 2nd, we will continue to post here, about possibility, potential, and success in the world of addiction education, treatment and recovery. We have come across a number of dedicated, energetic people who are engaged in the same fight we are. You see many of their names in the comments on our posts or in our references to the organizations they lead. The Fund’s success to date, indeed its foundation, is built on the small stories, the shared love, and the imagination and persistence we’ve learned from others. Here’s an example: One generous friend chose not to contribute to the Fund directly. Instead, she recognized that William was a budding entrepreneur. She gave us a hundred dollars to use in William’s name for Kiva, a gift to recognize his entrepreneurial spirit. Kiva is a non-profit organization with a mission to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty. Leveraging the internet and a worldwide network of microfinance institutions, Kiva lets individuals lend as little as $25 to help create opportunity around the world. Learn more about how it works by Googling Kiva. In short, a $100 loan to Kiva in William’s honor will help someone, or perhaps several people, over time. When the loan is repaid, we can redonate to Kiva, or put the money in the Where There’s A Will Fund. There were many, many possibilities, opportunities to direct aid in Will’s name. Here’s where we started. Kimsrong, age 19 and unmarried, currently lives with her parents and siblings in Stueng Trang district, Kampong Cham province, Cambodia. She is a newly graduated student, having finished her high school level in the province. Kimsrong aims to continue her education and pursue a Bachelors degree in accounting at Mekong University in Phnom Penh. She has a passion for her major because she realizes that accountants play an important role in the operation of every business, so the job market is strong and graduates are in high demand. Kimsrong’s education is subsidized by her parents, so during her course she plans to have a part-time job to help her parents cover her education costs. Due to the family’s financial constraints, Kimsrong decided to acquire a loan of 1,100 US dollars to pay for her tuition fees and buy study materials to support her course. As it’s her first loan cycle, Kimsrong is committed to study hard because she realizes that an education will give her the opportunity to get a high-paying job that will allow her to support her parents when they get older. Her parents will be her joint borrowers and will be responsible for making principal repayments on the loan. Kimsrong appreciates the help of people all around the world who have contributed their funds to programs like Kiva via its partner HKL, which will allow students from low-income families to continue their educations. It’s important to think of the Where There’s A Will Fund, not only as a repository for dollars, but as a place where we can bank innovative ideas and share the wealth of love and determination that has come our way since William’s untimely death. The eloquence of this generous action reaches around the world. Kimsrong is proof. Where there’s a Will, there’s a way. Thanks everyone for the ways in which you turn this old English proverb into reality. Please consider your donation to the Where Theres a Will Fund and spread the word: Community Funds, Inc. fbo The Where There’s a Will Fund The New York Community Trust 909 Third Avenue New York, NY
Posted on: Sun, 10 Nov 2013 17:15:25 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015