I have signed up for Off the Mat, Into the World's 2009 Seva Challenge and have committed myself to raising $20,000 for organizations working to improve the health and education of women and children in Uganda. I have started this blog to share information on the organizations, spread the word of upcoming events and keep everyone posted on my progress towards the goal. If you are willing and able please donate now! And if you have any fundraising suggestions or would be interested in hosting an event to help spread awareness of the cause and my challenge please let me know. I know that with your support we can make a difference in thousands of lives. Thank you!
After all of our hard work, San Francisco to Uganda has come and gone. It was definitely a crash course in event planning, but so much fun and in the end worth every late night and ounce of anxiety. People did actually show up! I want to thank everybody that helped make San Francisco to Uganda a success! Whether through a donation to our silent auction or help at the event, we could not have done it without you. It was such a wonderful evening and we were able to raise $10,000 for the organizations we are working with through Off the Mat's Seva Challenge! It was so great to see everyone coming together and having fun... The food by Radio Africa & Kitchen was amazing (as usual) and the performances by Greenhorse, the master African drummers and Sila & the Afrofunk Exprience awesome. Here are a few pictures from the evening...
Donations to the Seva Challenge can be made by clicking the "DONATE NOW' button above. You will be directed to a secure area of the Off the Mat website. When donating please be sure to select the "SEVA CHALLENGE" and to select my name, LANI LINDSTROM, from the Uganda drop down list. (for those of you that would prefer to mail a check please email me at lanilindstrom@gmail.com and I will send you the information) All donations are tax deductible. You will receive a receipt in the mail. Thank you & Namaste!
Money raised so far... $15,000.00 ...only $5,000.00 to go!
THE ORGANIZATIONS
The war in Northern Uganda has been called the most neglected humanitarian emergency in the world today. For the past 23 years, the Lord's Resistance Army and the government of Uganda have been waging a war that has left nearly two million innocent civilians displaced. Millions of children have been orphaned by AIDS and thousands of women die annually in childbirth. An entire generation has never known peace...
What is the Seva Challenge?
Seva translates to selfless service ~ the Seva challenge set forth by Off the Mat, Into the World is a call to action to yoga teachers and students. A way to take what we learn through the physical practice of yoga - focus, strength, flexibility, compassion, insight - out into the world to create postive change. The Seva challenge is a way to bring community together locally and globally.
This year the 2009 Off the Mat, Into the World Seva Challenge is focused on Uganda. The money raised through Yoga for Change will go towards building schools, community centers, birthing centers in Uganda and scholarship programs for yoga programs for at risk youth here in the US.
Off the Mat, Into the World™ is a 501(c)(3) project of the Engage Network
"It always boils down to the same thing. Not only receiving love but wanting desperately to give it... almost needing to give it." - Audrey Hepburn
Many Thanks to the following individuals for their generous donations!
Rona Portalupi Elise Kroeber Bill Embly John Jones Sarah Koch-Schiller Stacey Wexler Renee Collins Helen Gilbert Pam Iorg Nickaela Fiore-Keyes Dustin Baker Barbara Martinelli Peggy Quartemont Jessica Iverson Stefanie Wastell Pam Gregerson Lou Blouw Charles and Leona Iorg Patty Iorg Jami Sanchez Kasey Henry Shannon Carter Adam Hafez Erica Colby Jill Martin Sarah Browne Robin Youngs Kalie Iorg Jodi Cochran Nicole Dunn Tanisha Fairgood Kelley Tarzian Lori Dowd Alex Payne theBalm Cosmetics Marissa Shipman Vayta Smith Noelle Phillips Elizabeth Lua Cara Cook Katie Hawkins Suzy Parker Kerry McArtney Anna Theriault Chrissy Collins Traci Johnson Lindy Barnard Steve Whitley Sarah Ralston Susan Orosz Gina Cutinelli Emily Parker Laura Parker Courtney Zieg Courtney Brennan Liza Salvador Deena Parker