Dallas Giving Day is today!

Dallas Giving Day is today!  I'm sure you've seen it on the news. It's the launch of Donor Bridge www.donorbridgetx.org, and as a special promotion, all donations made today are matched dollar for dollar. (Up to $200,000) Do you know how incredible that is?  

In this economy, it's so easy to eliminate charitable giving while we are worried about putting food on our tables or how we'll ever retire, but charitable giving is still important - perhaps even MORE important in down times.

I'm on the Board of Directors for ReadyStart. ReadyStart supports through promotion, early identification and intervention, the healthy development and well-being of infants, young children and their families. They are an ECI provider, and they are an invaluable resource for families of children with special needs.

I became involved in ReadyStart several years ago because I felt so strongly about their mission - that the first few years are the most critical. Never did I dream I would need their services, and then I had a baby - a very premature baby (which I'll get around to blogging about soon). And now I find myself needing help - she's behind, way behind, and I'm worried about her - ReadyStart has been there for me. In person, in my home, offering everything I could ever imagine to help me help my daughter. And my cost is so small, it's laughable. I didn't even need to adjust my budget for it - and it includes all the therapists and appointments I could ever want...for one teeny tiny payment a month.

But none of that would be possible if it weren't for charitable donations. Your small donation to ReadyStart of even $25 allows my daughter, Addison, to learn to eat properly (she has an oral aversion due to being on a ventilator for 2 months), to learn to reach for objects (she doesn't do this well - and she's 7 months old). Your donation means I may get to see my little girl walk and talk within the next year. Do you know how awesome that is? This little miracle baby was born at 1 pound, 3 ounces, and we didn't even know if she'd live. And now, for the price of one meal out, you can help her grow into a normal, healthy child.

So did that work? (If not, call me - I'll meet you anywhere, anytime with my little girl and I'll tell you our story. Bring tissues because I'll make you cry.) Do you understand how important it is to give? To support your local community charities? ReadyStart is just one of them.  There are hundreds more charities with hundreds more stories. And today? Today your donation is DOUBLED. Of course, selfishly, I want you to support ReadyStart, but it's actually more important that we just support our charities - doesn't matter which one.

So go out to www.donorbridgetx.org and spend some time getting to know the charities that are in your community. And then give a little, give a lot, give whatever you can. Addison and her mom thank you very much.