Published 16/11/2011
Having trouble getting into the holiday spirit? Read this anecdote by longtime Bridgeman client Annette Scarpitta that perfectly illustrates the virtues of regifting.
Annette is Sr. Multimedia Editor at K12 Inc. and a volunteer fundraiser. She passed on to the staff at Bridgeman the story behind the incredible photograph below, taken in the Democratic Republic of the Congo:
Dear Ed,
Two years ago, through a 7th-grade class I teach on Sunday mornings, I started raising money for AMCAV, a small grassroots organization that helps support the hard-hit South Kivu region of eastern DR Congo. Now the project (‘Educate 150 Children of Rape Victims in DR Congo’) is alive and well on GlobalGiving.org.
Last summer, the Congolese expert in conflict resolution who first recommended AMCAV for my class traveled to DRC for his work and kindly delivered a large duffel bag of supplies from me to AMCAV's director, Bernadette Ntumba. I put together soccer balls, some jump ropes, and various goodies for the hardworking staff. I gave Bernadette a yellow necklace made by Christine, a disabled woman in Uganda who works for the Paper to Pearls microenterprise. Also thrown into the duffel bag was the Bridgeman tote bag I got from you guys at an earlier Visual Connections event. I loved it, but I figured someone there would love it more.
Since then, Bernadette has sent very rewarding photos of the schoolchildren receiving their uniforms and backpacks. Take a look not only at the yellow necklace Bernadette is wearing, but also the bag on her shoulder.
That’s right, Bridgeman hits DRC!
Best wishes,
Annette
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Many thanks to Annette for sharing her story just in time for the giving season. For more information on Annette's DRC project, click here. Also, a shout-out to the makers of the quality Bridgeman promotional totes, woman-owned company Enviro-tote, consequently the same company that makes the ubiquitous Strand bags you see all over New York. We love these and are thrilled our clients are sharing the love! |