Karma: the concept of “action” or “deed”, understood as that which causes the entire cycle of cause and effect.
Whether through education, clean water or proper housing, the act of giving back reverberates to the farthest reaches of the world (and let’s be honest, feels pretty damn good).
Last year, Passports with Purpose gave the gift of learning when they raised $30,000 to build a school for children in Cambodia. This year, they’re aiming even higher by pledging to raise $50,000 to build a village in rural India. Want to do your part in making our world a better place? Read on to learn how.
Passports with Purpose has teamed up with LAFTI (Land for Tillers’ Freedom), a non-profit built on the Gandhian ideals of non-violence, generosity and integration. LAFTI aims to raise the social status of “the untouchables” while helping families become self-sufficient through the establishment of farming communities.
As if karmic retribution isn’t enough to get you involved, Passports with Purpose is offering great prizes, secured by bloggers, to be raffled off at the end of the fundraiser. For each $10 you donate, you’ll be entered into a drawing for the prize of your choice. See a full list of prizes here.
I’m offering two tickets for The Ultimate Oyster Experience: The Walrus and Carpenter Picnic. The object of the picnic is “to provide a benchmark oyster eating experience by which all subsequent oyster experiences will be judged.” Attendees in past years have declared the picnic a life-changing event. So what is it?
The inspiration for the event comes from Lewis Carroll’s “Walrus & the Carpenter”, a tale about how the Walrus and Carpenter lure the oysters for a walk on the beach and then proceed to eat every last one. In the dark, winter air on January 16, 2011, guests will depart from Elliott’s Oyster restaurant in Seattle, WA on a boat bound for Totten Inlet, a PNW oyster haven.
The late timing provides the needed low tide to harvest oysters and the winter temperatures are perfect for the oysters, as well as the wines. Lantern light, freezing weather, plump, sweet oysters just rousted from their beds and opened on the spot, award-winning “oyster wines” drunk out of Reidel stemware, and a bonfire combine for just the right mix of magic and madness. When the tide starts coming in, it is time for a cup of Xinh Dwelley’s famous, hot oyster stew before getting back on the bus. Guests will depart around 6:30PM and return before midnight.
Value of prize: $150
To get started, go to Passports with Purpose and make a donation for this (or another) prize. Winners will be announced via email and on the site on December 17, 2010.
Don’t forget to tell all your family and friends about this great cause through email, Facebook and Twitter (#pwp).
A sincere and heartfelt thanks to Jon Rowley and Taylor Shellfish for supporting PwP with their generous prize.
Good luck to all and thanks for your support.
Walrus and Carpenter Photo Credit: Jon Rowley