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[email protected]

My daughter is doing her senior project for high school and is trying to raise money to help educate the worlds illiterate. Her goal is to raise enough money to send a third world child to college through an international organization called "Room to Read" (see roomtoread.org). I graduated with the CEO and founder who left Microsoft to help reduce the illiteracy rate of 70% in countries like Nepal and Cambodia.

The reason I am writing here is to ask what you, the pumpkin community, thinks about her running a seed raffle or auction for this cause (and benefit her senior project). I know we raise funds for our pumpkin organizations through these functions, but I was thinking that maybe doing this once a year would take our kindness outside of our pumpkin ventures and enable all of us to help the kids who do not have schools and libraries like we take for granted.

Please feel free back or be critical of this topic. I want to get a feel of how everyone feels about once in a while opening up this type of function (raffle/auction) to benefit outside non profits.

For more information on this topic, please check out roomtoread.org or the founder - John Wood's - website on his book - http://www.leavingmicrosoftbook.com/ . It is an amazing story.

3/21/2007 10:19:16 AM

Eugene,OR

People love a chance to bid on great seeds for a good cause. If someone objects they won't participate.

3/21/2007 10:51:16 AM

Alex, IN

Sounds like a great idea to me.

3/21/2007 12:36:34 PM

Paradise Mountain, New York

Sounds like a great idea Rocky, go for it.....

3/21/2007 1:20:55 PM

Berlin,mi.([email protected])

great cause Rocky. email me if you would like any seed donations. Steve

3/21/2007 1:47:10 PM

Johnston, R.I.

Go for it Rocky

3/21/2007 6:40:09 PM

Sparta, NC

Great idea for a great cause let me know if you need some seeds to help out.

3/21/2007 8:05:06 PM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

Same here Rocky.

3/21/2007 9:17:47 PM

[email protected]

Pumpkin Seeds for Literacy........Sure, it sounds funny to the casual observer. But we know better. LOL Very cool idea.

3/21/2007 10:42:27 PM

Cameron,ontario Team Lunatic

Great idea Rocky. Email me if the GVGO can help out.

This is something that I'd like to see more of. With all the giant pumpkins & other fruit we grow, why don't we use them to raise money for other great causes as well. I know some donate their pumpkins to charities, but I wonder what's the total amount of charity money raised by pumpkin growers each year, not including pumpkin club fundraisers? How much more could that be if we all went out & offered them to various charities for a fundraising event. It would certainly would give our hobby/sport more press, which in turn could see an increase in sponsorship at our weigh offs. Just an idea I've been kicking around for a while. Last year our smallest pumpkin (over 600#)raised over $3,000 for charity at a pumpkin drop.

Phil

3/22/2007 7:47:15 AM

Rhode Island

phil

i agree totally. i always invisioned having a group of elderly nursing home patients, kids from a state agency, etc, brought to our weigh off.
there are so many people out there young and old alike that would never forget the experience. and, at least for one day put a huge smile on their faces.

we dont do enough of this sort of thing.some of us have already been where these people are, if not, may be there some day as well.

pap

3/22/2007 8:28:55 AM

Northern Cambria, Pa.

You are right pap. In 2005 a bus load of folks from a personal care home visited our patch in late summer. Just can't tell you how much they enjoyed it. Some were not ambulatory but still enjoyed very much just being there. The trip really put smiles on some tired faces and they all asked many questions.
If any of you have such an opportunity, it just takes a phone call to get things started.

3/22/2007 10:30:38 AM

[email protected]

Count me in also, Love this stuff, You can never put a price on a Smile, and if I can help make someone smile, I'll be the first to line up.
I bid $50.00 on lot 3 LOL
Yes sir I'm ready

Eddy

3/22/2007 1:05:05 PM

Knopp, Germany

55 (am i crazy to bid against the iceman?)

great idea rock, go for it!

3/22/2007 1:26:05 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Great idea Rock, "WE" should be doing this all the time!!! I am crazy and will bid $60 for lot 3, hopeing it is the 1068 lot!!!! LOL Peace, Wayne

3/22/2007 9:21:17 PM

[email protected]

Thank you for the positive feedback, I will be turning the project over to my daughter (it is her senior project) to email some of the growers and groups for support of seeds. Right now I am leaning toward raffle for it's simplicity. I will leave it up to her.

Your support is always unmatched as a community, and this cause will be a very good feeling in the heart if you have went to the website I listed above. Alex, my daughter will be in touch with you all soon!

3/23/2007 7:11:52 AM

Oswego, New York

sounds wonderful to me. I grew only a 192 lb pumpkin last year, my PB, but would donate seeds if anyone wants them? Bonnie [email protected]

3/26/2007 8:29:04 PM

Montoursville, PA

For this purpose I bid $60.00 on lot #3. I suggest that lot three be in the blind but for a great seed. Let's see who the gamblers are for a good purpose. :)

3/26/2007 10:14:12 PM