Nothing to Wear

We want to share something new and exciting with you! 

It's the Nothing to Wear challenge. The challenge to stop being apathetic towards poverty. You've been told you're suppose to care for those in need, remember the widows and orphans, give your money away, pray for hurting people and serve the least of these. We're not going to tell you anything. We're going to let you experience it. It's easy to be indifferent to something we can't identify with. Like poverty. Through the NTW challenge, participants will get a small taste of poverty by having nothing to wear. They wear the same shirt day after day, while raising funds to help fight poverty. 

A launch group from Evansville, Indiana will be participating in the first ever Nothing to Wear challenge in February. We started out by committing to wear the shirt for 7 days straight, and for every $100 raised, we will wear the shirt for another day. Because of donations already given, we're wearing the shirt for 13 days so far. Our goal is to wear it for the whole month of February. 

Don't miss this opportunity fun opportunity to get involved in fighting poverty! Your money goes directly to Haitian families in need. You can donate any amount to help towards adding another day for the group. 

If you're interested in having your own group participate in NTW, contact me at megan@leveproject.org

You can donate through paypal on our website, or send checks (be sure to put "nothing to wear" in the memo) to: 

Leve Project

2956 N. 425 E. 

Danville, IN 46122

ntwchallenge.org

http://vimeo.com/18556581

Megan Haug

Leve Project director

change for a change!!

Here is a simple way to collect and give money to those in need-- set up a change jar in your house. Instead of throwing all your change in your purse, just drop it in the jar and watch how quickly it adds up! Your pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters will make a huge difference in someone's life. You can collect the change just through the Christmas season, or keep it up for months and see how much you get!

Simply print off this image (click to view entire image):

and tape it on any type of jar or container. I started w/ a peanut butter jar, but it would take some mad skills to cut a slit in the lid... I later found a coffee can and that works great!

Collect and donate your change to make a difference in someone's life. I'm not asking you to plan a massive fundraising event (but go for it, if you want to!), sell your kidney, or go door to door soliciting. Simply drop change in a jar. And, then yes, you will have to go to the bank, write a check, and then drop it in the mail. But is that too much in exchange for giving families like his a chance at a better life?? 

Leve Project is a 501(c)3 (meaning your gift can be tax exempt) non-profit ministry. We are committed to walking along side Haitian families on their journey out of poverty. I'm asking for your support of Leve Project. However, if you don't want to give and support Leve Project... please, collect your change and give to whatever ministry you are involved in. 

Checks can be mailed to: 

Leve Project

2956 N. 425 E.

Danville, IN   46122

Leve Scoop, Issue 1

Sorry, not perfect, but seemed like the best & simplest way to get our newsletter on here! Click the images to make them larger. 

Fonkoze!

First, here's a little background of Fonkoze, then I'll get into what our partnership with them will look like.

Fonkoze is Haiti's alternative bank for the organized poor. Their mission is to accompany people as they struggle to make their way out of poverty. Their name comes from the Haitian Creole phrase "Fondasyon Kole Zepol" meaning "shoulder-to-shoulder foundation". Fonkoze is an internationally recognized leader in the field of microfinance, known for its comprehensive approach to poverty alleviation. In 2005, the Grameen Foundation awarded Fonkoze its Pioneer in Microfinance Award in recognition of the institution's ability to break new ground in poverty alleviation while operating in one of the most challenging environments in the world.

Fonkoze knows that financial services alone are not enough. They complement those services with educational programs that help members learn important skills and help them think more seriously, more collaboratively, about important issues. These programs are designed to develop leadership and solidarity among members as they learn together.

Leve Project will be working with Fonkoze in their Ti Kredi program. There are many different levels of poverty and Fonkoze works to meet it's clients where they're at. Their core program consists of 4 steps. Ti Kredi is the second step that reaches out to families not yet ready to manage a $75 loan. Ti Kredi offers smaller initial loans, shorter repayments periods, additional support from their loan officer and literacy courses.

Leve Project will support one Ti Kredi center as a part of a bigger Ti Kredi program in the area. Our center will consist of about 50 women and their families. The total cost for a woman to go through the Ti Kredi program is $140 US. That's all it takes to cover the loan and education costs to COMPLETELY change the life of a family in Haiti. We'll give you more details soon on how you can support one of these families.

and we're back!!

Sorry for the absence in blogging. The good news is that it means we've been crazy busy!

And the really good news: we've been approved for our 501c3 status. This means all your gifts are able to be tax-deductible. It means we are exempt from certain taxes. It means we can apply for grants. In many cases, it qualifies us for other discounts and the ability to join certain programs.

We are very excited and see this as a huge step forward. Along with that, many things that were on hold, awaiting this status, we will now be able to proceed with.

It's one more step toward getting on the ground in Haiti.

here's the scoop:

Here's the scoop about the house. When Eric, Kevin and Megan went to Haiti in June to look for a house to rent, a donor had committed to pay the first 6 months rent. However, because some family issue's came up, the donor is no longer able to do that. We had negotiated with the landlord and part of the deal was we had to pay the first 6 months upon signing the contract (it's not unusual in Haiti to have to pay the first years rent ahead of time). The contract hasn't been signed yet, and at this point, we won't be able to sign it.

We have $2,000 in our bank account. THANK YOU to those who have given generously. Every dollar counts and we very much appreciate the support you have given.

Eric and Megan (and maybe a few others) plan to travel to Haiti beginning of November with enough money in the bank account to sign a contract and pay half the years' rent right then and there.

We are hoping to have at least $30,000 by that point. That's a lot of money we need in a short amount of time. But we believe it's possible. We're going to need your help to make it happen though. Here are some ways you can help:

• Tell your friends and family about Leve Project. Suggest your friends become a fan of our facebook page. Share and comment on our status' and wall posts. Send an email to your family and friends, sharing our need of financial support.
• Skip Starbucks this month. Or whatever that "little" thing is that you splurge on. We understand that money is tight and maybe you don't have much to give. After a hard long week, you do deserve that Starbucks treat or out to dinner for an evening. Can you sacrifice it for a month and give that money to needy families in Haiti??
• Do a fundraiser. I know... the word "fundraiser" makes me cringe, too. But it needs done. We're not asking you to do anything we're not doing ourselves. All of the board members and leaders of Leve Project are planning fundraisers. If you want to help, but don't know how to go about it... contact us, we have many ideas of simple fundraiser and we'll help you do it!! Contact megan@leveproject.org or sawana@leveproject.org
• Ask your Pastor if your church can do a one-time love offering for Leve Project. We'll provide you with a video and materials. Maybe your church supports other ministries and can't commit to monthly support for Leve Project. But a one-time love offering is a great and simple way to show your churches reflect the heart of Christ and support international missions.

If you've read all of this, I urge you to do something.

updates!!

a quick bullet point update for ya... followed by more detailed posts on some of these in the next few days!!

• the house contract still has not been signed... and because a donor is no longer able to front the money for the rent, we will not be able to sign the contract at this time
• t-shirts should be ready by the end of the week!
• we have the possibility to partner with the largest micro-finance bank in Haiti! this will be a huge blessing! we are currently looking over details and praying about it
• many fundraising events are underway-- concerts, golf tournament and a dinner/silent auction.
• a professionally made Leve Project video should be completed within a couple weeks
• we had a great conference call with board members and leaders on Sunday, many awesome volunteers giving their time, talent and money. THANK YOU!