Posts Tagged ‘fundraising’

Posted on January 29, 2009

Support Update

As we have mentioned before, we have been fundraising on behalf of CUSO-VSO Canada in order to help offset the costs of supporting us and our work while overseas. As of this post (and to our surprise), we have reached our fundraising goal and beyond with $4525 (and donations are still coming in!).

From the bottom of our hearts….Thank you, THANK YOU for your donation support. We greatly appreciate it and we will of course keep everyone up-to-date via photos and our blogs. You can still donate online through our web site via this link. A few bucks here and there will go a long way (especially if everyone throws in a few bucks here and there).

Also, for those who would like a postcard from Nepal, email me or send me a Facebook message with your mailing address. Finally and most importantly, your words of support via email, txt messages, facebook messages/wall posts, skype calls/messenger chats and surprise mobile phone calls in the middle of the night (you know who you are, love ya), etc. have really helped us get through the tough and emotional times. Although we have each other and a good support network here in Nepal, it is still quite comforting to know that our friends and family from back home are thinking about us.

Thanks again, we miss you all, and keep in touch.

Posted on September 29, 2008

VSO Fundraising – The Beguiling

As part of my effort to raise funds for VSO Canada (and to make my mom happy that most of my old room is cleared away of junk), I decided it was time to part ways with my comic book collection. Since the late 1980’s, my brother and I have been biking to our local comic book shops and buying our favourite comic book titles and superhero paraphernalia.

All time favourite characters included: the X-Men, Superman, Batman, Justice League, Wonder Woman (um yeah, so…?!?!), Teen Titans, Avengers, and artists/writers such as: Paul Dini, Scott Lobdell, Jim Lee, Joe Madureira, Ed Benes, Gary Frank, John Byrne, Dan Jurgens, Marv Wolfman, George Perez, Phil Jimenez, Pat Lee,  Todd MacFarlane, Alex Ross, Allan Moore, Mike Deodato Jr., Chris Claremont…and many more. I accumulated over 4 long boxes worth of books.

I contacted a number of comic book shops about not only taking away my entire childhood collection but also if they would be interested in contributing towards my VSO fund raising campaign. The Beguiling (www.beguiling.com) near Bloor street w. and Bathurst answered the call.

The Beguiling shop has been around since 1987 and is located at 601 Markham St., behind the iconic Honest Ed’s store backing a trendy street on the Toronto west-side. As soon as I walked in, I was quite amazed at the variety of independent and alternative books on the main floor and a wealth of superhero comic book titles on the second. It was jaw-dropping. Everything you can imagine is here and they can pretty much get anything you ask for. I really wish I had access to this shop when I was a kid (I would have blown my entire savings…I practically did). Oh, and I also really like that they have a special section for libraries.

I got a fair price for my entire collection and all proceeds were donated VSO Canada.

Thanks Peter,

Related links and reviews:

On blogTO: http://www.blogto.com/bookstores/beguiling

Posted on September 29, 2008

CUSO-VSO Fundraising

Update: VSO Canada is now CUSO-VSO and the link to their donation page is here: http://www.cuso-vso.org/en/donate/

VSO Canada is the Canadian partner of Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) and is an international development agency which places approximately 100 volunteers in more than 30 developing countries each year. VSO Canada recruits volunteers from as many as 60 occupations to share their skills to meet the needs of overseas partners.  As part of being a VSO volunteer, we are walking VSO profilers – helping to spread the word about VSO Canada and help raise funds as well.

Both T and I need to raise a minimum combination of $4000 dollars in order to help fund various CUSO-VSO Canada programs and offset the costs of sending volunteers overseas (we hear that it sometimes costs between $30,000 to $40,000 dollars to train, send, and support one volunteer overseas).

To donate on our behalf, donations can now be accepted through the CUSO-VSO web site: http://www.cuso-vso.org/en/donate/

In order to ensure that your donation is included in our fundraising efforts, please select the option that allows you to dedicate your donation and include our names in the provided space (Under Dedications and Gift Options, select “Yes, as a gift in honour/on behalf of”).

Our apologies to anyone who may have been trying to donate during this time (CUSO-VSO Canada’s web site has been undergoing some maintenance)…and if you weren’t trying, think of this is a nice, gentle reminder for you   Also, as an added incentive, anyone who can rustle up a $50 or more donation will buy themselves a month on our wall in Nepal – that means your face hanging on our wall in Nepal for at least a month, keeping us company and being introduced to all our Nepali friends and colleagues Choose your month, send us your photo, and consider yourself Nepali wall art!

Also, check out T’s blog (www.tlellelviss.ca) and we welcome your comments, reactions, thoughts, ideas, and continued contact while we are away.

Thank you so very very much for your support – we are so appreciative to have such wonderful friends and family!