The Tomato Nation Fall Contest 2008

I met Sars at Television Without Pity and followed her to Tomato Nation, where in 2007 I helped raise an amount of money so impressive they wrote about it in Fortune. Watching the dollar totals go higher and higher throughout the month was amazing; being part of it made me proud.

Several months later a huge envelope showed up in my mailbox. The kids whose project I funded wrote letters and sent some examples of what they'd done with the materials I helped to provide. They were a Spanish class learning about Día de los Muertos, a Mexican holiday of remembrance and celebration of the lives of people who've died. Even knowing the students were probably made to write the letters by their teacher, I was touched. I sat on my couch with their letters and their creations and read every single word.

Because I'm fortunate enough to make more money than I need I've started a giving program of my own. Every time I splurge on something for myself, I donate the same amount of money to a charity or non-profit organization. This year's beneficiaries include the MD SPCA, MD Food Bank, Frisky's Wildlife and Primate Sanctuary, and now Donors Choose.

I chose a class making large-scale sculptures in MD (where I live) and another learning about the Holocaust in Washington (Best wishes for a happy and peaceful new year). You can choose projects by location, subject, materials needed, income level, grade, or whether the proposal is about to hit its deadline without being fully funded.

I'll probably go back and give some money to the yoga class in DC. It's impossible to go through the project lists without being excited by something and wanting to help. At least it is for me.