Event-fully Yours Redux

Okaaaay, finally a moment to breaaaathe!!

So, I think by now most of you have gathered that the Friend-Raiser in Washington, DC last month was a huge success.  I was pretty nervous in the days leading up to the event, knowing that 50+ guests would be in attendance from all walks of not only my life, but the lives of all my family members!  I had friends from grade school there, colleagues from the publishing world, colleagues from the development world (some of whom I had only met a few times or just spoken with via email!), friends and colleagues of both my parents, my childhood nanny (who roasted the most enormous turkey you've ever seen), and my college boyfriend!!  It was....you guessed it....AMAZEBALLS!! 

But despite the build-up, the sensation of so much being at stake, performance anxiety, and general collywobbles, the actual day of the event, I was a veritable ocean of calm.  It was actually my parents who were snapping at each other, so much so that my mom took a vow of silence in the last couple hours prior to the evening in order to calm her own nerves.  My sister was really the only sane one in the house and together we went through my PowerPoint and speech a couple times so she could give me the pointers I so sorely needed.

 

Me and Julia, four years younger and four inches taller....

life's not fair!! 

Once we reached the venue (the house of a dear family friend, and now new TTNP board member, Romana Li), I was running on adrenaline alone.  Angi came early as did Scott Livingston who produced the logo, business cards, brochures, etc.  My parents and my sister ran around Romana's house sorting the comestibles while I set up the Razoo donation page on the computer, the PowerPoint slide show, projector, and screen, and the guestbook and name-tags.  Then, the first guests began to trickle in....

 

 

Believe it or not, this is the best picture of me and Angi....

 

 

Me and Scott, partners in crime!

 

Our hostess, Romana Li, introducing me.

 

 

Romana and my parents. 

Everyone and everything was really lovely from that point on.  I think all four of us Bloominators were beaming with pride and happy to be there together.  I spoke to many, many people individually about the Project in advance of the presentation and then gave a ten-minute or so speech with the slides.  This was followed by a Q&A session at the end of which a representative from the Ambassador's office showed up and voiced her support for Toa Nafasi.  

 

Speech!

 

 

Mindi saying a few words....

 

A slide of downtown Moshi projected onto Mindi! 

I think it was really effective to have me speaking from the heart first, Angi chiming in during the Q&A from the POV of the Special Ed expert, and Mindi from the Embassy, legitimizing the Project all-around.  I can't totally remember all the details of what I said or how it all went down as it felt a bit like a dream (my Cinderella moment!), but I know it was one of the best nights of my life!!

Aside from the funds raised (and believe me, Mama made bank!), I was also feeling the love and in some ways that's even more important than the money....however....if you have not yet made a donation to The Toa Nafasi Project, take a moment to do so this holiday season either by going online to www.toanafasi.org or sending a contribution to The Toa Nafasi Project, P.O. Box 20086, New York NY 10014. 

And to all those who were unable to attend the 2013 event, I hope to see you at the next event in 2014, and hopefully we'll be able to do one in DC and NYC as well!

I'll end here with some more photos and a really nice note from Ambassador Mulamula herself.  Next week will be my last missive from NYC; the following Friday, December 20th is Travel Day and you'll be hearing from me from Schiphol Airport, my midway point between here and Kili!!

 

Guests,

 

Guests,

 

 

And more guests!

 

Romana's husband, Bruce, talking with Scott.

 

My former Swahili teacher, very good friend,

and TTNP board member, Veronica Rovegno!!

####

Dear Sarah,

I wish on behalf of the Tanzanian Embassy and on my own behalf to congratulate you and your team at Toa Nafasi for a successful event.

I couldn't attend in person but I believe my colleague, Ms. Mindi represented us effectively.  She was really inspired by your work and efforts in fundraising for the good of our children.

We thank you and Veronica once again for your kind invitation and thoughtfulness.

With warmest regards and appreciation,

Amb. Liberata Mulamula
Tanzanian Embassy
Washington DC

#GivingTuesday

I know I'm late to download on the epicness of my "Friend-Raiser" in DC last month, but dammit, there simply are not enough hours of the day to do all I have to do so, to my most loyal readers, apologies, but you'll just have to wait another week....

Until then, this is more important: TODAY is "Giving Tuesday," a national day of giving to kick off the annual holiday season added to the calendar on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday.  #GivingTuesday is a campaign which celebrates and encourages charitable activities that support non-profit organizations.

So, TODAY, Tuesday, December 3, 2013 is the second annual Giving Tuesday and, in the same way that retail stores take part in Black Friday and online retailers Cyber Monday, the creators of #GivingTuesday want the giving community to come together, asking that partners create and commit to a project for/on #GivingTuesday and then help spread the word to their networks.  (May I politely suggest The Toa Nafasi Project??)

#GivingTuesday started with New York’s 92nd Street Y which brought the expertise of nearly 140 years of community-management to the project.  The United Nations Foundation then joined as partners, adding their strategic and communications clout.  An amazing team of influencers offered their ideas, contacts, and wisdom to help shape and improve the concept and a powerful list of corporations and non-profits agreed to be founding partners, spreading the word and committing to their own #GivingTuesday initiatives.  Since then, countless organizations, friends, and leaders have all added their support and talents to make #GivingTuesday a reality.

As a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a specific initiative, The Toa Nafasi Project is a legitimate humanitarian cause capable of accepting tax-deductible charitable donations at this time.  Businesses, families, and individuals are encouraged to be generous in whatever ways matter to them, whether that means volunteering with or donating to a favorite cause.  So, please consider The Toa Nafasi Project this Giving Tuesday and throughout this holiday season!  Cheers!!

Event-fully Yours

Well, kiddos, it's been a week since my big "Friend-Raiser" and though I'm late to write a blog post, chalk it up to basking in the post-event glow!!  To put it mildly, I killed it.  Sure, there were jitters and nerves and snafus and flubs but, by and large, it was an amazing first experience in hosting a fundraiser and I can only see it getting better from here.

I am running off to be interviewed for the NFL website (yes, it's true), so I can't expand much now, but I'll post a longer entry and more photos this weekend.  Until then, check out the images below!

  Guests entranced by my fascinating spiel.

Me rockin' the mic.

A beautiful event display produced by my design guru,

Scott Livingston.

Me with Mindi Kasiga, 

Communications Officer from the Tanzanian Embassy!

Postscript from the Front Line

Mwalimu Vumi continues to rock my world this week, which is fantastic since I am truly about to lose my mind in the final planning stages for the inaugural Toa Nafasi "friend-raiser" which will take place in Washington DC this coming Wednesday.  Food has been ordered, a screen and projector have been rented, and RSVPs have been counted.  So far, 61 lucky souls are scheduled to be in attendance at the party with me acting as the emcee/ringmaster.  I seriously don't think I have been this excited/anxious/terrified of having to perform in front of so many people since my Bat Mitzvah.  Oy vey.

Anyhoo, back to Vumi.  Her latest email to me reads thus: 

Pole na kazi mwalimu, naamini sherehe itaenda vizuri, usijali rafiki.  Sasa tumeanza mitihani tangu Jumatatu, nimefanya hojaji na Baba Emmanuel Jumanne, hakuna tatizo kubwa labda ukirudi apelekwe kwenye speech therapy.  Jumamosi kuna semina Gabriella nimepewa mwaliko inahusu special needs.  Nimefurahi sana kuona blog yako, ni nzuri.  Walimu wengi wa Msaranga wanakuulizia sana, ina maana wanakupenda na ninakupenda kwa sababu unaipenda kazi yako. 

####

Sorry for work, teacher, I believe the event will go well, don't worry, friend.  Now we have started exams since Monday, I did the questionnaire with Baba Emmanuel on Tuesday, no big problems, maybe when you return he should be taken for speech therapy.  Saturday, there is a seminar at Gabriella for which I was given an invitation, it concerns special needs.  I am really happy to see your blog, it is good.  Many teachers in Msaranga are asking for you, meaning they love you and I love you because you love your work.

####
 
I mean, seriously?  Could she be any more adorable and amazing?  I am so lucky to have her as a friend and colleague.  To quote Jerry Maguire (sort of): She had me at "habari."
 
Okay, gotta run and practice my PowerPoint presentation for the event....I'm considering it the 2013 version of my Haftorah portion....

Notes from the Front Line

Sorry for the delay in posting this past week.  I've been swamped with work, and slightly under the weather as winter has rolled up in a hurry - sniffle, sniffle, cough, cough.
 
At any rate, after another industrious and fulfilling work week, this entry is going to be devoted to the fruit of someone else's labor as opposed to me blabbing about all my affairs.  I received an email from Vumi the other day that just made my heart sing, so I thought I would share it with everyone.  See both the Swahili original and English translation below* - Boo!
 

 
Mambo poa mwl.  Kuhusu Emmanuel ameingia kwenye mradi ameanza kujifunza na anaendelea vizuri labda atasoma kwa muda mchache na ataendelea na tuition na Temba na mzazi ametumiwa barua na akifika atajaza hojaji.  Kuhusu Joseph na Hussein bado nawatafuta wazazi pia nawasiliana na Brenda aweze kunipa wiki nyingine kwa wao.  Naamini nitafanikisha hilo.  Sina wasiwasi nao kwa sababu wanaendelea vizuri na kipindi changu.  Kuhusu Abedi  alienda Gabriella na anaendelea vizuri sana na Brenda amesema anaweza kubaki Msaranga hata mimi nakubali.  Ukweli ni kwamba watoto wanaendelea vizuri ukirudi TZ utawaona wamebadilika sana karibu wanafunzi wote wa mradi wanajua kusoma shida kubwa ni Willbard, Agatha, na Erasto ndio bado wana matatizo makubwa.  Matokeo ya Adam, asome kidogo na mradi badaae aendelee na Mshiu kwa tuition, tayari nimeanza kumfundisha na anaendelea vizuri.  Nakutakia kazi njema.  Erasto amevunjika mkono tangu ijumaa hivyo hawezi kufika shule.
 
####
 
Things are good, teacher.  About Emmanuel, he has entered the program, he has begun to learn and continues well, maybe he will read after a little while and will continue to tuition with Temba.  His parents have been sent a letter and upon arrival will fill out a questionnaire.  Regarding Joseph and Hussein, I am still looking for their parents, also communicating with Brenda if she can give me another week of therapy for them.  I promise to achieve this.  I am not worried about them because they continue well with my lessons.  Regarding Abedi, he went to the Gabriella Center and continues very well and Brenda has said he may remain in Msaranga and even I agree.  The truth is that the children continue well and when you return to Tanzania, you will see they have changed a lot.  Almost all the students in the program know how to read, the only big problems are Willbard, Agatha, and Erasto and it's true that they still have big struggles.  The results of Adam's assessment are that he should study a little in the program and later he can continue to tuition with Mshiu.  Already I have started to teach him and he is doing well.  I wish you good work.  Erasto has broken his arm and since Friday, he cannot come to school.
 
*Names of students have been changed to protect their privacy.

For Your Information....

As usual, work with The Toa Nafasi Project continues apace and I am racing to keep up with own speed!  But it's fun and rewarding and I can't believe that in only six short weeks, I'll be back in Tanzania, doing the on-the-ground work that I love so much.

Until then, several projects have me occupied: the planning of the Toa Nafasi inaugural "friend-raiser" to be held later this month at the home of a dear family friend in Washington DC; the fine-tuning of the webpage and other branding materials; discussions with and expansion of the U.S. board of directors; and, of course, the bane of my existence: budgeting, business banking, and fundraising.  What they say about money is true: it really does make the world go 'round, but it also is the root of all evil!  Well, maybe not all evil, but I'll say it is a necessary evil and, at least for me, managing it is a bloody headache!!  Be nice to get enough funds in the bank in order to hire an accountant....

Anyhoo, I leave you for this week with images of the just-printed Toa Nafasi brochure which I totally adore.  My design guy, a Mississippian with a bent for "African time," might be a tad slow to deliver but he is a genius!!  Kudos to Mr. Scott Livingston for all his hard work!!

 

Reading Rainbow

Hey readers, I hope this blog entry finds you all well.  As for me, to say I am hugely busy would be the understatement of the year.  There are not enough hours in the day for all the things I have to do or want to say.  But actually, that's a good thing, isn't it?  My lack of time to post clever Facebook statuses, Tweet my every move, or Instagram my latest outfit must mean I am doing something meaningful, staying in the moment, living life to the fullest....right?

Well, here's the scoop this week.  En route from one meaningful life event to another, (I'm sure), I peeped a group of schoolkids on the 1 train, ALL OF WHOM were quietly engaged in today's most underrated pleasure activity: reading.  It was, in a word, FANTASTIC.  So, if a bunch of multicultural Upper West Side primary PS'ers can be this engrossed in text, can those of the Tee-Zed be that far behind?