We have a visceral reaction to the idea that anyone would make very much money helping other people. Interesting that we don’t have a visceral reaction to the notion that people would make a lot of money not helping other people.
Happy End of May from the team!
We’re continuing to train away and getting our funds going for our 2013 walk in Detroit. And while driving from NYC to CT this morning, this TEDTalk hit home about charitable giving, making a real impact and the scope of what we are capable of. If you have some time, take a listen to a 20-minute segment done on NPR’s Ted Radio Hour, or the full talk, at the link on the bottom of this page.
One step at a time!
- Love from the udders
About Dan Pallotta’s TEDTalk
Activist and fundraiser Dan Pallotta calls out the double standard that drives our broken relationship to charities. Too many nonprofits, he says, are rewarded for how little they spend — not for what they get done. Instead of equating frugality with morality, he asks us to start rewarding charities for their big goals and big accomplishments, even if that comes with big expenses. In this talk, he says: Let’s change the way we think about changing the world.
About Dan Pallotta
Everything the donating public has been taught about giving is dysfunctional, says AIDS Ride founder . He aims to transform the way society thinks about charity and giving and change. Pallotta says there’s a double standard between the for-profit and nonprofit sectors. Businesses are celebrated for risk-taking and focusing on financial incentive, while non-profits are sentenced to begging.
Pallotta believes the economic starvation of our nonprofits is why are not moving the needle on great social problems. Pallotta is best known for creating the multi-day charitable event industry, and a new generation of citizen philanthropists with the AIDS Rides and Breast Cancer 3-Day events, which raised $582 million in nine years. He is president of Advertising for Humanity, which helps foundations and philanthropists transform the growth potential of their favorite grantees.
Do We Have The Wrong Idea About Charity?
29 May
4 months to go, and love to Boston…
17 Apr
I’m still shaking from what happened in Boston on Monday afternoon.
Aside from the obvious horror (who, why?), it hit me two ways:
First, look at those people with missing limbs. An image of a man in a wheelchair, being rolled to an ambulance, with a leg gone from the mid-thigh down and the other raw and bloody, haunted me. In a matter of seconds, his world would be irrevocably changed forever. My heart aches with the finality of the three people who have died thus far, but the hundreds hurt and dozens seriously maimed is just horrifying – they have so much to deal with in the coming months and years. One of the weird blessings of having had an illness for so long is that it’s old hat to me, and I’m at the point where I’m grateful for what I have, what I can do and the beautiful lessons having a chronic illness has taught me. But dealing with something for the first time is horrifying, and I wouldn’t wish those initial realizations on anyone.
The second thought was – those were good people that were harmed. Yes, there is horror and tragedy when innocent children are slain or thousands die in two falling towers that cannot be explained or underrated. But the fact that the majority of the thousands of people running in that marathon were doing so for charities made this extra hard to take. Our brother had several Team in Training members participating (all of whom are safe, thankfully), raising funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Maggie knew some message therapists who worked on runners who had crossed the finish line and are now, understandably, very shaken. Jess was on a plane with one of the marathoners that very evening. The generosity of so many hits home.
The mother of Brenna Zettegren, the little girl who died of Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia last December whom his team is honoring this year, wrote these words, that hit home yesterday when I found them:
“Running is a symbol of strength, determination, and stamina.”
Training for our Michigan walk with determination!
We may not be running our marathon, but we’re committed. To reaching our fundraising minimums. To training so that we can cover the 60 miles as best we can. To being vocal about how important screening and early detection are. To being a community.
Please donate to Dan’s triathlon for Team in Training, and help us raise the $6,900 we need to get to our starting line in August by clicking on our banners on the right.
With love and gratitude,
- Jacqueline and the Udders
Announcing Our Tenth Walk!
1 Apr
I say the word “walk” a lot. To my dog, several times a day. To myself when I’m cranky at how slowly some people move on the streets of NYC. And within my family as we talk about if we should do a “walk” or not this year.
The joy of the word and its meaning is not lost on me, since there was a time as a child Lyme Disease made it not possible for me to walk.
Over the past 20 years, this ability has ebbed and flowed in regards to ease. And in 2004 I first put my capabilities to the test in what was to be the last of the New York City 3-days. I made every step, and every step in 7 “walks” in different cities after that, recruiting family members and friends over the years, most prominently mom, Jess and Maggie. My illnesses challenged the “every mile” goal I’d had years ago when I made about 53 miles with dad in Phoenix and then 45 miles in the Twin Cities with mom, but the experience and satisfaction is no less significant now. It’s actually even more meaningful, as the challenge is a bit great.
This year mom, Jessica and I will take on 60 miles in Michigan! We’ll walk in laughter and tears for those we’ve loved, those we’ve lost, and those we’re walking to save before they need saving. We’ll celebrate our mom’s 60th birthday, our friendship, and the thousands of people we’ll walk with. I’ll make as many steps as I can, and be cheering for mom and Jess as they pound miles I can’t. We’ll keep working hard to raise more than money – to raise awareness, unity, and solidarity.
I so can’t wait to walk.
Click here to learn more about us and here for our last walk in Twin Cities.
Click here to go to our team page!
Please consider donating to our individual $2,300 fundraising minimums or joining our team!
Thank you!
4 Oct
Our thank-you cards will FINALLY be in the mail soon! But our thanks have been with you always from step one!
60 MILES CLOSER!
2 Sep
Success!
Hello darling friends of the Udders,
It is my (Jacqueline) fault that we haven’t posted since the last pit stop. It was a gorgeous whirlwind of an afternoon, celebrating the friends we had made along the route, the gorgeous survivors decked out in pink carrying the flag of hope into the closing ceremonies, shedding tears and holding hands. It’s always an emotional ceremony, and a glorious third day.
So we celebrated with cocktails in our hotel (“why won’t you guys just let me SLEEP?!”, I think I remember saying after only three sips of my Guinness) and a dinner on dad (thanks for the surprise partner!). We reorganized, crashed and made it to the airport with almost two hours to kill the next day. Yeah, we had to rush for our flight at LGA and had eons of time in St. Paul. Love NYC. Love it.
Day Three was gorgeous – and long. At 17.5 miles, it was the only day I did in full and was the last of mom’s 60 miles. She plugged on like a trooper and I treaded gingerly but with much joy as we tramped through more gorgeous parks, took in incredible views of downtown St. Paul and chatted endlessly with friends old and new.
OH, and I finally found Barbara Jo Kirshbaum! I met Barabara Jo years ago on the walks – she started in 1998 at the age of 60 and this Komen walk was her 123rd! She’s raised over a million dollars for the Avon and Komen organizations. A champion.
I started to see the pink signs of “Team California” on the route on Friday and my heart skipped a beat. Team California consisted of Barbara Jo and her husband Bob, who we’d see all three days, standing by his car, clapping and cheering us along. He was always good for a hug, and they really were a team. I kept my eyes peeled for him that first day, and well into the second, surprised that I hadn’t found him yet.
And then, late into day two, I was told that Bob had passed away a little over a ago. My heart sank and my eyes filled. We truly lost a hero in the battle against breast cancer, a warm heart and a friendly smile of encouragement. I’m going to do a little profile on Barbara Jo and Bob soon, but just wanted to share how meaningful contributing is – these events lure so many participants to raise money because of the community and support, so putting up hot pink fliers and standing on the side of the road cheering is a really incredible contribution. Thousands of walkers mourned and will mourn his passing.
Thanks, Bob. Sending you lots of love and thanks up there.
And to the rest of our supporters – thank you for this incredible weekend. We’re already psyched to tackle SEATTLE next year! Until then, we still need a teeny tiny bit of money to raise to meet our minimums for this year. If you can donate or have friends who might, we’d surely appreciate it.
CLICK HERE for our Team Page to Donate!
With love.
The Udders
ALMOST THERE!!!
Our Crew at Closing Ceremony!
Donate to Doris!
Donate to Jessica!
Donate to Jacqueline!
