Kathleen McGivney

AIDS Walk 2013

In a few weeks, I will be participating in the AIDS Walk in New York City, which raises funds that help people who are living with HIV and AIDS and helps prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS through education and research. I have been a supporter of GMHC, the organization that organizes the event, for quite some time now, and they do great work in the community. Though I have supported walkers in the past, this year I am participating myself and I need your help to make my personal fundraising goal and our team goal. 

Though I grew up in the '80s, when AIDS was just becoming known as a major disease and killer, I was too young for it to impact me much personally. I didn't know anyone with HIV or AIDS until much later in my life, so I didn't personally see the impact this terrible disease had on so many people, but what I did know was that it was a situation that needed to change. Even now, with improvements in treatment and medications, many people with a positive diagnosis live long, healthy lives. But the fight shouldn't end there, because there are still people suffering and dying from this disease.

Did you know…?
- 1 in 5 of those living with HIV is unaware of their status.
- Since the epidemic began, more than 1.1 million people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with AIDS.
- About 56,300 Americans are infected with HIV each year.
- Every donation brings us closer together as a community AND closer to ending AIDS.

In 2007, I lost a dear friend, Jonathan, to AIDS. It was sudden - very few of his friends knew he was sick, and he certainly didn't appear sick when I saw him a couple of months before his death. I think about him often and miss him terribly. I am walking on May 19 for him and for all those who have suffered or died due to this disease.

To support our team, please click here: http://awny2013.kintera.org/20130502131421973

If your employer matches charitable contributions, please follow these instructions to have the matching amount included in our fundraising total: http://aidswalk.net/newyork/fundraise/matching-gift-information

From our team: Kathleen, Atom, Melissa, Elizabeth, and Shane: Thank you!

Giving back my birthday - again

Note - this is a featured post that will be at the top of the page until my birthday. Scroll down for newer posts.

A couple of months ago, I posted about signing up for the DonorsChoose.org Give-Back Birthday challenge. Even though my birthday is in August, I posted about it in May because there were a number of projects that needed funding right away, and I wanted to bring people's attention to them.

Now that my birthday is a few short weeks away, I have gone through and updated my birthday page with many new projects that still need funding. As I stated in my original post, I will personally match the first $2,000 donated. The projects I've chosen need a total of $5,242 to get them all fully funded - that means if $2k is funded by people who want to give me fantastic cash and prizes for my birthday, and I match the next $2k, over 75% of the projects in my list will be fully funded!

So please donate - even a $5 donation means $10 goes to a needy classroom. Many employers do company matching for charitable donations, too, so your donation could easily be tripled if your company and I both match it. If you'd rather set up your own Giving Page, please do so, and let me know in the comments.

Giving back my birthday

The other night, Atom and I were invited to an open house at the offices of DonorsChoose.org, a charitable organization that I've donated to before. They help teachers get funding for their classrooms through individual donors, all facilitated through their website. I hadn't funded a project in a while, but was interested to meet some of the staff and teachers, so we headed over. As we chatted with the staff, one thing kept coming up - how mind-boggling it is that some projects even have to exist. For example, there are at least three projects currently in need of funding in NYC that are for basic supplies such as pencils and paper for students. Think about that. Pencils and paper. How screwed up is it that public schools cannot provide such basic supplies to students so that they can learn and succeed?

So, I decided to create a Giving Page at DonorsChoose.org to highlight some of the projects I'd like to see funded. I set it up as part of the "Give-Back Birthdays" campaign going on right now, but I thought I'd mention it early, since my birthday is in August and I've selected some projects that need funding right now. Some of the projects I've selected have matching funds promises from several foundations that partner with DonorsChoose.org, but I'll do them one better - I will personally match the first $2,000 donated through my Giving Page. If a project is fully funded, I will still do the match and apply it to another similar project.

Even if you don't want to fund any of the projects I have chosen, please take a look at DonorsChoose.org and find a project you want to support. You can easily sort by subject, location, and grade level to find projects that speak to you. You don't have to donate a lot - they take small donations as happily as they take large ones - and you'll be helping students get the education they need. Or, set up your own Giving Page and post it here in the comments!