1099  ValenTango Charity: Portland, OR

Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2003 02:37:34 EST
From: Meganpingree@AOL.COM
Subject: ValenTango Charity: Portland, OR

Hola Tango Dancers,

How about a brief respite from our anxious watching for the next war? We
could look instead to glimmers of hope, peace and healing.

Now that the numbers have been crunched, here are final figures on the
charitable contributions derived from La Paz del Mundo Milonga (the Friday
Feb 14th dance during ValenTango in Portland, OR).

10% of the gate amounts to $208, or $104 to both Embracing Argentina and
Mercy Corps. It doesn't seem like much -- a mere drop in a very large
bucket. But with $.50 per paid admission going to each charity, consider
the cumulative effect.

EMBRACING ARGENTINA:
At day care centers -- $104 pays for breakfast, lunch and afternoon
snack for 2 weeks for approximately 75 children;
At live-in shelters -- $104 covers all meals for 2 weeks for
approximately 40 children.

MERCY CORPS:
In Iraq -- $25.00 buys a winter supply of heating oil for a family.
So, $100 keeps 4 families warm all winter.
In El Salvador -- $100 provides 10 families with tools to rebuild
their homes destroyed by earthquakes. $100 provides a donkey and necessary
accessories (jerry cans, rope, blanket, immunizations, etc.) to transport
water to children at school every day.
In Guatemala -- $30 helps prevent deadly respiratory infections in
children by training 14 community health workers.
In Kyrgyzstan -- $40 repairs classrooms and restrooms for 30
elementary students.

You get the idea.

So thanks to all of you who contributed directly by attending the milonga,
and/or indirectly, by embracing a dance which may not be native to your own
culture.

And thanks to Clay Nelson for letting me take $208 out of what would
otherwise have offset our joint expenses for La Paz del Mundo Milonga . And
especially for creating ValenTango, a perfect venue from which to stage this
donation.

Abrazos, Megan
(host of La Paz del Mundo Milonga, one of 6 milongas during ValenTango 2003)
meganpingree@aol.com