How you can raise $1 for kids' writing in 10 seconds
I mentioned yesterday (again) the extraordinary youth writing culture we have here in Ann Arbor. One of the crown jewels of this culture is 826michigan, the writing center/robot store downtown which offers amazing free workshops and tutoring to kids ages 6 to 18. When you're a small nonprofit, offering free anything in today's economy, every dollar counts. And in the next ten seconds, you can earn one crisp new American dollar for 826michigan in two easy steps:
(1) Click here and scroll to the bottom of the page.
(2) Leave a brief comment saying anything. Like "Hi." Or "The kids are all right." Or "Your grandmother rides a giraffe." Whatever.
For every comment that appears on the blog by tomorrow, a dollar will be donated to 826michigan. Them dollars add up! Everybody wins! Especially the kids. Who, as you may have just pointed out in your blog comment, are all right.
In other news... the 2010 Ann Arbor Youth Poetry Slam played last night to a packed house at the Neutral Zone and was amazing as ever. More than 100 teen poets participated in this year's slams, with over 30 advancing to last night's finals. There were poems about big topics like God and family and love and death, and there were poems about quotidian details like pockets and chalkdust and handprints and Tina Fey. They were the same poems. They were fantastic.
Tonight, a smaller group of writers will read sparkling new stories with a variety of interpretations of "impostors." Come check them out at the Downtown branch of the Ann Arbor District Library from 7 to 8 p.m.
Scott Beal is a stay-at-home dad and an 826michigan volunteer.
Comments
AMOC
Sun, Mar 28, 2010 : 6:52 p.m.
Missed the deadline for fundraising, but this is a good idea.
Mary Roderique
Sat, Mar 27, 2010 : 6:21 p.m.
Thank goodness I posted there, too. Directions... Mary (and Colby)
Scott Beal
Fri, Mar 26, 2010 : 11:15 p.m.
Hi everyone. Thank you for the comments. To clarify: commenting on THIS blog does NOT earn a dollar for 826michigan (unfortunately). In order to earn the dollar, you need to click the link above (where it says "click here") and then leave a comment on THAT blog. I apologize for any confusion. Thanks y'all for taking a moment to help.
Britain W.
Fri, Mar 26, 2010 : 11:01 p.m.
I took a lot of opportunities to write back when I was a kid in A2, but if there had been a place like 826 back then, maybe now I could manage to string together a comment of greater than 200 characte
TaxPayer
Fri, Mar 26, 2010 : 10:44 p.m.
I will have to check this place out, never heard of it. Thanks A2.com for the info.
Mary Roderique
Fri, Mar 26, 2010 : 8:40 p.m.
Scott- I meant: Why DON'T I have an ANN ARBOR.COM blog? But also... Why DON'T I have an 826 blog? Do my comment corrections count as donations? Woof? -Colby
Mary Roderique
Fri, Mar 26, 2010 : 8:33 p.m.
Scott- Why DON'T I have an 826 blog? Or at least a doggie t-shirt. -Colby
Renee
Fri, Mar 26, 2010 : 7 p.m.
Colby is my favorite dog! Go 826michigan!
bq
Fri, Mar 26, 2010 : 6:27 p.m.
The Poetry Slam was amazing
Amy C
Fri, Mar 26, 2010 : 3:43 p.m.
This is wonderful - I love the Robot store!
Jennifer Shikes Haines
Fri, Mar 26, 2010 : 3:29 p.m.
Hey Scott - I'll match your donations! And here's my comment - Scott Beal is one of our Rockin' treasures of writing teachers/poets!!!
Janis
Fri, Mar 26, 2010 : 3:04 p.m.
What a wonderful way to raise funds for kids!
Becky T.
Fri, Mar 26, 2010 : 2:47 p.m.
thanks for doing this!
Scott Beal
Fri, Mar 26, 2010 : 1:15 p.m.
Colby, you should have your own annarbor.com blog.
Mary Roderique
Fri, Mar 26, 2010 : 1:01 p.m.
When I go to 826, I get plenty of attention and great revision tips. Woof. -Colby, Canine Assistants Service Dog and former 826 Volunteer of the Month (May 2008- and people still recognize me from this honor! Woof.)
Mary Roderique
Fri, Mar 26, 2010 : 12:55 p.m.
826 is my favorite place in downtown Ann Arbor. Oh, the window displays! My kids love to go to the Robot store and to workshops. And our dog is quite smitten with that Sumerton woman... 826 is perfection!
AmandaUhle
Fri, Mar 26, 2010 : 9:18 a.m.
The dollars do add up! Thank you for helping 826michigan raise funds, Scott.