First goal reached, "Blue Sweater"

We reached our first goal of 1,234 members and are well on our way towards our next goal: 123,456 members.

Thanks to Sunny Bates, I had the pleasure of attending a book party last night for Jacqueline Novogratz, author of Blue Sweater. Get the book. It's a good read and she makes the point that many in poverty show no fear. I agree. We have a lot to learn from how people with few resources live and create. And they have a lot to learn from us. Her subtitle makes that point: Bridging the Gap Between Rich and Poor in an Interconnected World. Good.

We need more volunteers to help promote our global campaign to combat fear with fun and creativity.  Click here to learn more about the volunteer opportunities.

Comments

[melea seward]

Thanks for posting the link to Blue Sweater, Phil. Narrowing the gap between rich and poor, and continually seeing how our micro-level, seemingly insignificant, choices impact others--both across time (historically) and across geographic boundaries is so important to our present and to the future we can create.

My hope is that the http://tinyurl.com/funnotfear group becomes a vehicle and a place to continue and expand this dialogue and create more action, less boundaries.

[Kimarie Matthews]

Thank you for letting us know about Blue Sweater. This resonates with me as I've been so inspired by these engaged, hands-on charity projects that of course do great things for improving the lives of others, but also show the giver how those in poverty can lead rich and fulfilling lives, and how our own quest for material possessions can get in the way of our own happiness. Check out the video our friend Shawne Budde prepared after he went to Ethiopia to build a well with his daughters: http://tinyurl.com/buddefamily

[Kendall Crolius]

Thanks for letting us know about this book - perfect selection for my Connecticut book group!

[Hedy Buzan Williamson]

We are all interconnected -I am looking forward to reading "Blue Sweater"

[Diane ueberle]

Thanks for sharing. I can't wait to read "Blue Sweater."

[BarbD]

I sent a Tweet to my network this morning about the campaign.

[Kimarie Matthews]

I must know - is it a literary device - or is it really true - that Sunny Bates saw the exact same sweater she gave to goodwill being worn by a child in Africa many years later?

[Jason Black]

Very excited to see that Goal #1 has been met! This is fantastic. Keep it up! -jason

[Sasha Dichter]

It's a true story about the Blue Sweater...it was the actual same sweater being worn by a child in Rwanda a decade later...she even checked the nametag.

Only correction: it wasn't Sunny Bates, it was Jacqueline Novogratz, CEO of the Acumen Fund http://www.acumenfund.org/get-involved.html

[Christa Avampato]

Hi Phil,
I just posted on my blog about The Blue Sweater. http://christainnewyork.blogspot.com/2009/03/my-year-of-hopefulness-blue-sweater.html

I am so inspired and motivated by the book. What a beautiful, honest story. And how amazing that Jacqueline has shared it with us in this book!