For those of you who don’t know, I write an annual list of things to do each year as part of my birthday celebration. And this year’s list had two things on it that I decided to bring together into one.
Item # 1: be able to run for an hour on my own.
Item #2: raise $10,000 for Circle de Luz.
Now, those things don’t naturally have anything to do with each other EXCEPT that I am not inclined to run without a purpose– you know, like from a bear chasing me or towards chocolate. So, to get myself to run for an hour, I have to have a reason. And I’ve decided to make raising money for Circle de Luz my reason.
What is Circle de Luz? Launched in 2008,Circle De Luz radically empowers young Latinas by supporting and inspiring them in the pursuit of their possibilities through extensive mentoring, programming, and scholarship funds for further education. Circle de Luz not only gives girls the financial means to pursue an educational program of their choice after high school graduation, the organization also provides the girls with six years of dynamic programming and mentoring.
Why is Circle de Luz so important? Because Latina girls face incredibly challenging odds.
Latinos have the highest drop-out rate of all racial and ethnic groups.
A third of Latinas who dropped out cited marriage or pregnancy as the reason.
Fifty-three of Latinas will become pregnant at least once before the age of 20.
Circle de Luz works directly with Latinas girls for six years to empower them to purpose the futures of their imagining.
My goal is to raise $1000 for Circle de Luz before March 6, 2010 when I will take part in the Corporate Cup in Charlotte. Over 20 other participants will be joining with me in this effort to raise $6,000 for Circle de Luz’s programming for this year (where will the other $4000 for the goal come from? Hopefully the Pepsi Refresh grant! Please go vote for CdL now– you can sign out and vote 10 times for CdL everyday). Can you spare at least $15 today to help young women on the way to their futures? For every person who makes at least a $15 donation to Circle de Luz through February 8, I’ll mail you a signed copy of Hijas Americanas along with your thank you note!!
