pink floyd

i detest asking people for money. i don't mean money for myself because if i'm in trouble that means my girl's in trouble; so i'm going to do my fillial duty. i mean money for other things - like fundraisers or donations.

it's not the asking that's the problem really. it's not even the answer - although yes is always nicer than no. it's mostly the disappointment. i'm disappointed that my kith and kin aren't very charitable. after all, i know how much they spend or if there are impediments to their earning or not. i know that one less "carmel macchiato" is a decent contribution when ten people opt in. But most don't.

what's worse is that it has nothing to do with me. i would fare better if i thought that he/she didn't want to support my cause because of some old resentment. however, their niggardliness is merely a byproduct of their character. therefore, my view of them is colored by the new revelation. most often it's not a picture i care to look at again.

nevertheless, my sabbatical is over - let the begging begin!:

Please consider making a donation to Reading to Kids an organization with which I volunteer. R2K is dedicated to inspiring underserved children with a love of reading. R2Kids gathers an average of 650 children and 250 volunteers at reading clubs on the second Saturday of every month at four Los Angeles Unified elementary schools: Gratts, Magnolia, Esperanza, and Hoover.

At the reading clubs, pairs of volunteers read aloud to small groups of children, while their parents receive training on how to encourage their children to read at home. Kids, parents, teachers, and school libraries receive book donations at the end of the reading clubs. These books are important donations, as 60 ercent of low-income homes do not have age-appropriate reading materials for children.

Since its inception in 1999, Reading to Kids has given more than 38,000 books to children who attend the reading clubs and donated over 6,300 books to their school libraries.

Please consider making a donation to Reading to Kids. When you give to Reading to Kids, you also give great hope and enthusiasm--if children have good reading skills, their future is bright. Any size gift would be greatly appreciated: $5, $10, $25. Checks should be made payable to Reading to Kids and can be mailed to Reading to Kids, 1600 Sawtelle Boulevard, Suite 210, Los Angeles, CA 90025, pay online at http://www.guidestar.org/partners/networkforgood/donate.jsp?ein=95-4758698 or you can give your donation to me and I will send it in. You can find out more about the organization at www.readingtokids.org.