the HOPE Bracelet Project
I have some super exciting news!
Rick and I have been invited to go to Ethiopia in November, to teach beadmaking for the
HOPE Bracelet Project! This is so amazing to me, to finally be able to meet the people we've
been working with all this time. This year, for the first time ever, there will be bracelets available
made with beads from the Yetebon Studio at Project Mercy.
This is huge, as it means our goal of helping the HOPE Bracelet Project to become
self-sufficient is becoming a reality. More than ever, teachers and mentors are
needed there to encourage the students and help them become awesome, creative beadmakers.
This is where I come in!
As you might imagine, a trip like this is not inexpensive.
We don't want funds for the project used for our travel expenses, and we're not
wealthy volunteers who can actually afford to do this on our own.
We're just simple beadmakers, making our living bead by bead.
So, I'm holding a fundraiser, and asking for your help in making this important trip possible.
I've gone through my personal jewelry collection, and have chosen several wonderful pieces that I think you'll love as much as I do. I will be holding a Thank-You Drawing at the end of this fundraiser, just before we leave for Ethiopia, randomly picking new owners for some of my favorite jewelry.
Every $10 donated will get you a chance to win!
The dates of the trip are November 19-29, 2008. I'll mail everything before we leave.
Sure, it stings a little, but this means a lot to me!
I'm asking a lot of you, and I want to give something of myself in return.
Our goal here is $6,000. This will cover our travel costs, but not any personal expenses along the way, which we will, of course, pay for ourselves. If we bring in more than we need for our own trip, the rest will stay with the Cunningham Foundation, either directly benefiting the HOPE Bracelet Project,
or to help with the travel expenses of other volunteers.
To make a tax deductable donation of any size,
please visit my special page on the
Cunningham Foundation website.
Thank You So Much!!!
Here are the pieces of jewelry I'll be giving away. When you donate, you can send me an email telling me your preferences if you win. I can't guarantee you'll get your first choice, but I'll try!
I wish I had something for each and every one of you!
~~~
The HOPE Bracelet Project benefits the village of Yetebon, Ethiopia. Each year, beads are donated by many generous glass beadmakers. The beads are taken to Yetebon, where the students there make them into beautiful bracelets that are later sold here in the states at an average price of $100 each.
Get this... the average annual income in Yetebon is $100!
It's truly miraculous to see the changes a handful of beads can make. Some of the children there now own their first-ever pair of shoes, there's enough food for everyone, and the kids have a beautiful new dormitory to live in. The next step is the beadmaking studio that's been built and furnished with donated equipment and supplies. Each year, volunteers from the US visit Yetebon and spend time teaching students to make beads. We are working toward self-sufficiency, with the beads and the
bracelets all being made right there in the village.
Truly - BEADS FOR A BETTER WORLD!!!
For all the latest updates on the project, visit the Cunningham Foundation, or
Rick and I have been invited to go to Ethiopia in November, to teach beadmaking for the
HOPE Bracelet Project! This is so amazing to me, to finally be able to meet the people we've
been working with all this time. This year, for the first time ever, there will be bracelets available
made with beads from the Yetebon Studio at Project Mercy.
This is huge, as it means our goal of helping the HOPE Bracelet Project to become
self-sufficient is becoming a reality. More than ever, teachers and mentors are
needed there to encourage the students and help them become awesome, creative beadmakers.
This is where I come in!
As you might imagine, a trip like this is not inexpensive.
We don't want funds for the project used for our travel expenses, and we're not
wealthy volunteers who can actually afford to do this on our own.
We're just simple beadmakers, making our living bead by bead.
So, I'm holding a fundraiser, and asking for your help in making this important trip possible.
I've gone through my personal jewelry collection, and have chosen several wonderful pieces that I think you'll love as much as I do. I will be holding a Thank-You Drawing at the end of this fundraiser, just before we leave for Ethiopia, randomly picking new owners for some of my favorite jewelry.
Every $10 donated will get you a chance to win!
The dates of the trip are November 19-29, 2008. I'll mail everything before we leave.
Sure, it stings a little, but this means a lot to me!
I'm asking a lot of you, and I want to give something of myself in return.
Our goal here is $6,000. This will cover our travel costs, but not any personal expenses along the way, which we will, of course, pay for ourselves. If we bring in more than we need for our own trip, the rest will stay with the Cunningham Foundation, either directly benefiting the HOPE Bracelet Project,
or to help with the travel expenses of other volunteers.
To make a tax deductable donation of any size,
please visit my special page on the
Cunningham Foundation website.
Thank You So Much!!!
Here are the pieces of jewelry I'll be giving away. When you donate, you can send me an email telling me your preferences if you win. I can't guarantee you'll get your first choice, but I'll try!
I wish I had something for each and every one of you!
~~~
The HOPE Bracelet Project benefits the village of Yetebon, Ethiopia. Each year, beads are donated by many generous glass beadmakers. The beads are taken to Yetebon, where the students there make them into beautiful bracelets that are later sold here in the states at an average price of $100 each.
Get this... the average annual income in Yetebon is $100!
It's truly miraculous to see the changes a handful of beads can make. Some of the children there now own their first-ever pair of shoes, there's enough food for everyone, and the kids have a beautiful new dormitory to live in. The next step is the beadmaking studio that's been built and furnished with donated equipment and supplies. Each year, volunteers from the US visit Yetebon and spend time teaching students to make beads. We are working toward self-sufficiency, with the beads and the
bracelets all being made right there in the village.
Truly - BEADS FOR A BETTER WORLD!!!
For all the latest updates on the project, visit the Cunningham Foundation, or
the Project Mercy page on the CindyBeads website.
Buy A HOPE Bracelet!
It's time for the 2009
HOPE Beadmaker Challenge!!!
Buy A HOPE Bracelet!
It's time for the 2009
HOPE Beadmaker Challenge!!!
Short and sweet, here's the deal...
1. Sign up on the form below.
2. Make 100 small, bracelet-sized beads.
They don't need to match or be in sets. Create, play, have fun.
Neutral/earthy colors are a big favorite. Yellow is not very popular.
Small and medium mandrel sizes are best.
Flattened "lentil" shapes are nice, as are any small, non-bulky bead. Think bracelets!
3. Print a DONATION FORM, and mail your beads to the address on the form
by May 1st, 2009.
That's it. When you send your beads in by the deadline, you'll be automatically entered
in a drawing for some wonderful prizes! But most important, you'll be helping in a very big way!
Can't do the Challenge but still want to help?
Silver beads are always super-needed! Small, single-color spacers are useful too.
And CASH is great, as it can be used for anything that's in short supply.
For more information on the HOPE Bracelet Project, please visit the following links:
CindyBeads
the Cunningham Foundation
or contact:
Tammy Cunningham, Tzheart@aol.com, 303-877-7072
Cindy Brown, cindy@cindybeads.com, 303-423-1616
Make the Pledge! Make the Beads! Make the World a Better Place!!!
Thank you!!!
You don't have to sign up in order to send in beads. We want your beads!
But you DO have to sign up if you want to be in the drawing,
and to be listed below with the HOPE Beadmakers!
The Challenge is for Lampwork Beadmakers only,
but we DO gratefully accept ALL other donations!
But you DO have to sign up if you want to be in the drawing,
and to be listed below with the HOPE Beadmakers!
The Challenge is for Lampwork Beadmakers only,
but we DO gratefully accept ALL other donations!
Beadmakers! Sign up here to participate in the
2009 HOPE Beadmaker Challenge!!!
Thank You!!!
Meet the 2009 HOPE Beadmakers!
Kim Miles - KimMiles.com
Cindy Brown - CindyBeads
Kathy Lowe - All Fired Up Glass Beads
Alice St.Germain - Alice St.Germain-Succulent Glass
Genevieve Robertson - Odonata Glass
Laura Johnson - Wild Ideas Glass
Mary Beth Callaghan - Novembers Fyre Studio
Rochelle Krok - Shellybeads
Jacqui Collins-Parker - Angel Craft Studio
Kelly Earnshaw - Gravity Hill Art Glass
Barbara Svetlick - Barbara Svetlick
Rebecca Sanchez - Rebecca Kay Beads and Treasures
Marcy Lamberson - Studio Marcy
Gail Witt - Pickadilly Beads
Rae Grout - Aspen Hot Glass
D Lynne Bowland - Fireball Gallery & Studio
Rosemarie Hanus - Spawn of Flame
2008 HOPE Beadmaker Challenge
Kim Miles - KimMiles.com
Cindy Brown - CindyBeads
Kathy Lowe - All Fired Up Glass Beads
Alice St.Germain - Alice St.Germain-Succulent Glass
Genevieve Robertson - Odonata Glass
Laura Johnson - Wild Ideas Glass
Mary Beth Callaghan - Novembers Fyre Studio
Rochelle Krok - Shellybeads
Jacqui Collins-Parker - Angel Craft Studio
Kelly Earnshaw - Gravity Hill Art Glass
Barbara Svetlick - Barbara Svetlick
Rebecca Sanchez - Rebecca Kay Beads and Treasures
Marcy Lamberson - Studio Marcy
Gail Witt - Pickadilly Beads
Rae Grout - Aspen Hot Glass
D Lynne Bowland - Fireball Gallery & Studio
Rosemarie Hanus - Spawn of Flame
2008 HOPE Beadmaker Challenge
