Friday, January 30, 2009

STEELERS, SODA, AND REALITY BITES

Okay, it's been an incredibly long time since you've had some meeshloaf..and there are many excuses that involve lack of electricity, time, computers freezing, and downright just avoiding it. But tell your hungry stomachs that everything is going to be okay. Here is just something to whet your appetite so that I can catch you all up on the last 3.5 (wow) months. First thing's first. Please go to the MARY RYAN FOUNDATION website http://www.maryryanfoundation.org My brother Frank (some of you may remember him from his semi-famous swim team magnet from 1992 that was on the fridge and then copy and pasted into the Mt. Lebanon yearbook in 2002) has started this non-profit, along with other family and friends, and the purpose is to raise money to support the OVC's (orphans and vulnerable children) of Ilembo village. I am working with students in the primary and secondary schools, as well as the out of school youth, and villagers to form a committee so that we can identify who needs help immediately and what kind (food, clothing, legal, health, etc) I will be a liasion between the MRF and groups of Ilembo such as the Secondary School, the OVC committee, and others. Please go check out the website and there will be lots of more pictures and stories to come..soon they will be accepting tax deductible donations online. I am heading to Lesotho (dot country inside south africa) for a regional conference dealing with ICT and HIV/AIDS...can't wait to fill you all in. in the meantime.... HERE WE GO STEELERS, HERE WE GO!!!!