Give, Oh Give

On Friday I had the opportunity to go a “mommy blogger” luncheon sponsored by LDS Philanthropies, the fundraising arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I haven’t been to very many blogging events before and it was really fun to meet some of the women I’ve been friends with online in “real” life. Here is a picture of all of us after the luncheon (I am third from the right on the back row). It sure made my husband feel better to see that I spend my time online with actual people and that they aren’t scary, bearded men with tattoos!

At the luncheon we go to hear from Megan, whose story is featured in the widget below and on the sidebar of my blog (to hear it just un-mute the sound at the top right hand corner of the widget). She is the recipient of the Stella Oaks (the mother of Dallin H. Oaks) Horizon of Hope Scholarship for single parents at LDS Business College. The scholarship provides full tuition and books and relieves some of the huge strain on single mothers, allowing them more time to be mothers to their children and less time wondering how they are going to make ends meat.

Megan’s story is really remarkable and as I listened to her speak about the challenges she and the other single parents at the college face my heart was really touched. I have several friends who, for a variety of reasons, are now raising their children by themselves and I know how much they struggle. I realized that too often it takes some huge natural disaster or life threatening disease to get prompt me to donate money to a cause. It is easy to overlook the people who need help who are right in my own backyard. Yet aren’t they the ones God expects me to help the most?

I think so.

So for the month of November I am teaming up with dozens of other “mommy bloggers” to raise money for the Stella Oaks Horizon of Hope Scholarship. Our goal is to raise enough money to provide scholarships for 4 single parents, but the representative from LDS Business College told us that they wish they had the funds to provide 45 scholarships because the need is so great. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could do that!

I hope that you will take a moment to listen to Megan’s story and that you will consider donating. 100% of your donation will go straight to the scholarship fund and so every little bit helps. A $5 donation would be wonderful! A $500 donation would be wonderful! Give whatever you can and know that it DOES make a difference.

Also, please if you have your own blog will you consider putting Megan’s widget on the sidebar of your blog (which you can get by clicking on the “share” button) or even better writing your own post about it.

This is truly a worthwhile cause and it is so much more than just a scholarship. The representative from LDS Business College told us that one of the main things this scholarship does is help women who feel they have “failed” in everything discover that they have worth in the eyes of society… and in the eyes of God… and you can’t put a price tag on that.