We all have our causes. Some of them are important to us because of the circumstances of our lives. Often we reach out to organizations that have helped us or our loved ones. Sometimes we see an unmet need, and we want to support those who are trying to meet it. Sometimes, though, we just stumble upon it.
I am on the Executive Committee of the Board of the Houston Area Women's Center. I knew of the organization only very distantly a few years ago because I knew the CEO through my synagogue. A friend of mine who was on the Board asked me to join the Finance Committee in late 2008, and I reluctantly agreed.
After serving on the FC and learning more about the organization, I was asked to join the Board of Directors and to head the FC. While I had learned more about what the organization does, I was still pretty clueless about its mission, but I agreed, again reluctantly.
More than a year into this now, I have really embraced this cause. I have listened in on hotline calls and have heard personal stories of how the organization has saved the lives of battered women and their children. I have been very fortunate in my life never to have known a victim of domestic violence or sexual abuse, but it is a scourge on our society. Just this week in Houston, we read on the front page of a man killing his ex-girlfriend with a crowbar and in front of their children.
In any event, I am reaching out to my readers in hope that they will help me in my somewhat modest goal in the scheme of things: I would like to raise $5000 through my participation in a "run" next month. You can visit HAWC's website to learn more about what the organization does (it provides a 24-hour hotline for domestic violence and sexual abuse victims, a 120-bed shelter for women and children, free counseling and educational outreach): www.HAWC.org.
If you care to contribute to furthering the mission of this organization, I would appreciate your supporting me in the run. You can do so by visiting:
http://www.hawc.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=334740&supid=282570022
Whether you choose to support this organization or not, I do hope that you will learn more about domestic violence and sexual abuse. There is no place for them in our society, so please become aware and help put an end to them in your community as well.
Thanks,
Alan
