Contest Extended: Now Through 11/10

I'm thinking I made the contest a little too difficult, so I'm extending your chance to win an autographed copy of Tim Johnson's book Race Through the Forest, and changing things up a bit:

All you have to do is put a link in the comments to your favorite non-profit and share why they're your favorite. Or you can buy a copy of Tim's book for yourself, and know that $2 of the proceeds are going to 3 of Tim's favorite non-profits: Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Willkie House, and the Wildwood Hills Ranch.

I'll give you until the end of the week to share, and we'll announce the winner on November 12th.

[Phil Gerbyshak believes that to have a vibrant community, you must give back to the community you live in.]


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Comments

[Drew McLellan]

Phil,

What a great contest..I've been meaning to jump in for days but I am barely making it in under the wire!

I serve on the National Board of Directors for Variety, the Childrens Charity. (I'm on the local board here in IA as well) Here's how you can find out more about this amazing charity that raises and donates millions of dollars every year.

(http://www.usvariety.org/)

In Iowa alone, we raised and gave away about 2.5 million dollars in this past year. The coffers are empty, so now we start all over.

As a National Board Member, I was recently asked to write a brief column about why I got involved. I thought you might enjoy it...

Why Variety?

Honestly, for purely selfish reasons. I admit it. I serve as an Iowa and US Variety board member for myself. After all, isn't this the what's in it for me era? So what do I get out of it? Joy. Pride. Laughter. Opportunity.

Joy? I am literally immersed in joy overflowing every time I participate in a Bikes for Kids rally or see a child's face when they realize that the technicool wheelchair really is for them. The kids and their uncensored awe creates an energy that you can't help but get caught up in and I get to carry that with me for days.

Pride? How lucky am I that I get to use my God given talents and skills to change my little part of the world? I am so proud to be associated with the amazing staff and volunteers who give their all to raise the money that allows a young boy go to Diabetes camp or provides new school supplies so a little girl won't get teased by her classmates and can actually look forward to her first day of school.

Laughter? Whether it's a board meeting, fundraiser or just because, the incredible people that Variety attracts have enriched my life with their friendship, warmth and laughter. There is an aura of determined giddiness that seems to flow from these good people who make the time in their busy lives to help kids who will probably never meet their kind-hearted benefactors.

Opportunity? Variety is my chance to say thank you. Thank you for a healthy daughter. And a blessed life. It's my way of trying to tip the scales and share some of what I've been given because truth be told, in a blink of an eye -- it could just as easily be me who's pacing outside a peds ICU room or trying to understand why my child will never walk.

I'm sure most people give their time to Variety for the kids. But in my case, it's all about me.

Best,

Drew