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Well hello there all!
We hope that everyone is doing well and wonderful and have been enjoying their summers so far! As June ends, we are entering into some really exciting times with Bicycles for Humanity, Athens/Atlanta, and we, of course, wanted to let you know about it! :)
1. We are 11 weeks away from sending our first shipment of second-hand bicycles to an impoverished community in sub-Saharan Africa! Sweet, yes? The actual day of full-on bicycle collection and preparation for shipment will be on Saturday, September 11th, 2010...so, mark your calendars! Check out a shipment that some of our partners in Canada just got packed for Malawi: http://www.flickr.com/photos/b4hottawa/sets/72157624256296391/
2. Good news from the IRS!! (it's possible) :) We have officially received our determination letter from the IRS for 501(c)(3) status; meaning: B4H Athens/Atlanta is now a federally recognized charitable organization! All past, present, and future contributions, whether monetary or in-kind, are now officially tax-exempt! That is good news!
3. We are almost halfway to our goal of $10,000 to send the first shipment! Thank you so much to all of those who have given selflessly! Whether it be donating bikes, financially, or spreading the word, we are all gathering together for a global impact. What a great, collaborative way to work together for real, sustainable, and ethical change... on September 11th, we will not simply be sending donated bicycles to Namibia, but we will be sending resources, access, and independence....
...We will be shipping empowerment to individuals
who have the ability within themselves to change the world around them,
but only lack the vast array of resources that we have just at our fingertips.
So, thank you again to all who have been a part so far! Together we can... :) If you have not yet joined us, there are several ways to do so! You can a la carte or choose them all!:
- Give financially through PayPal at http://b4hathens.blogspot.com/
- Send a check to Bicycles For Humanity, Athens, GA, Inc, P.O. Box 5383, Athens, GA 30604
- Bring your dusty bicycles to Georgia Cycle Sport (http://georgiacyclesport.com/) and ask for Lane Seabolt
- Put on your own fundraising event! Email mary@bicycles-for-humanity.org for more info
We are so excited for the coming weeks, and so honored to be sharing the journey with all of you! We also know that in these hard economic times, that it is increasingly difficult to give financially, and please know that we do not take your gifts for granted! We value fiscal responsibility, and would be happy to discuss at any time our process, goals, and philosophy so that you can learn more about what we're doing, why we're doing it, and how your gift will be used!
Have a wonderful rest of your week! Please spread the word to those you know!
Peace and appreciation,
Mary and Team B4H Georgia :)
One bike can change one life,
One life can change a community
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