On Friday, February 19th (pmK on February 18th), all Carpenter students learned about our Read-a-Thon Fundraiser from February 29th -March 4th. Our students learned about how lucky we are to have access to water and how developing countries, such as Ethiopia, are impacted by not having easy access. Ms. Keenan, one of our 5th grade teachers, spent about 30 minutes teaching each grade level about the differences between Park Ridge and Ethiopia and how our Read-a-Thon fundraiser could benefit children and families in Ethiopia. Please watch the video below starring our very own Carpenter 5th grade reports with special guest Dr. Keenan.
What is a Read-a-Thon?
It is a fundraiser where children read every single day for a week. They can collect pledges based on minutes they read or they can be given a flat pledge amount.
Why are we doing a Read-a-Thon?
We want to buy a well for a village in rural Ethiopia. The country is going through a severe drought that is predicted to be as bad as the one in 1985. This type of well costs $15,000.
Where is the money going?
The money will go to a non-profit organization run through the Proctor Foundation at the University of California, San Francisco called That Man May See. They specialize in funding research to save and restore eyesight to people around the world. One of the ways they do this is by putting in wells in developing countries. Dr. Keenan, Ms. Keenan’s brother, is the lead researcher in a trachoma study in Ethiopia. Directing funds to his study will guarantee that a well is put in by July 2016.
What if we don’t raise $15,000?
Money could be directed to other projects. Our donations could fund a hand dug well for about $5,000. For about $2,000, we could purchase latrines or household sanitations stations (a plastic jug with a spigot).
Anything else?
Yes! If we raise enough money for a well, Ms. Keenan will go to Ethiopia and visit it. She will take photographs and video of people using it. Then she will share that with our students at an assembly in the fall.
· Please make CHECKS out to That Man May See. Write Keenan on the memo line so all funds will go directly to a well in Ethiopia.
· ONLINE DONATIONS accepted at www.crowdrise.com/carpenterwell
· CASH also accepted.
· That Man May See is a 501 c(3) public charity. Please consider having your company make a matching donation.
· MONEY WILL BE ACCEPTED UNTIL FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2016.