Thank you for visiting Evelyn and Marc's Fundraising Page!

Realizing just how fortunate we've been over the years, our goal is to raise (a very modest) $5,000 in 2009 for impoverished and war-torn Sudan.  Donating through our website is simple, fast, and totally secure. It's also the most efficient way to support our fundraising efforts for the Valentino Achack Deng Foundation, whose mission is to empower war-affected Sudanese populations by:

1. Helping members of the southern Sudanese diaspora in the United States to enhance their educational, social, and economic opportunities.

2. Rebuilding southern Sudanese communities through the implementation of community-driven development projects that increase access to educational opportunities for children, women, and men.

3. Improving U.S. policy toward Sudan by educating the public and policy makers on the situation in Sudan.

Valentino Achak Deng, by the way, is the Sudanese 'Lost Boy' refugee who collaborated with author-extraordinaire Dave Eggers in writing the 2006 autobiographical novel, What is the What -- "the soulful account of [his] life: from the time [he] was separated from [his] family in Marial Bai to the thirteen years [he] spent in Ethiopian and Kenyan refugee camps, to [his] encounter with vibrant Western cultures beginning in Atlanta, to the generosity and the challenges that [he] encountered elsewhere."  Truly an extraordinary, world-changing book if there every was one.

Remember -- no donation is too small.  (And, in case it doesn't go without saying, no donation is too large, either!)  Many thanks for your support -- and don't forget to forward this to anyone you know who you think might want to donate, too!

With gratitude,

Evelyn and Marc

P.S. Firstgiving, the company that hosts our fundraising effort, will keep 7.5 % of your donation -- the remaining 92.5 % goes directly to the Valentino Achack Deng Foundation.  Of course we wish it was 100 %, but we think this set-up is reasonable, understanding that Firstgiving uses 2.5 % of your donation to pay industry-standard credit card processing fees.  The other 5 % is used to defray the cost of administrative expenses, e.g., securing and hosting our fundraising site and others so you (and we!) can take comfort in leaving credit card details, vetting the thousands of nonprofits that use its services, providing techincal support, and ensuring that the money we raise gets to the Valentino Achack Deng Foundation quickly and safely.