$110,- raised for Plan International

With 75% of the votes, Plan International became Thargelion 2014 cause for Pandora's Kharis last week, and this time around, $110,- was raised for the cause. That is a beautiful number, especially when you know that, for example, for about $5,-, a child can get sight treatment, meaning screening and glasses or medicine.

 

Plan is a child-centred community development organisation, and one of the oldest and largest children's development organisations in the world. They work with children, their families, communities, organisations and local governments to bring about positive change, and they are active in 50 developing countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas to promote child rights and lift millions of children out of poverty.

When children and adults work together as part of the change process, it is more likely that programmes will be successful and sustainable. Their work is linked to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which spells out the human rights of all children, including the right to:

• survive
• develop to the fullest
• be protected from harmful influences, abuse and exploitation
• participate fully in family, cultural and social life.

Listening to what children have to say about their rights, needs and concerns is key to this approach. They encourage and help children to take an active role in finding solutions to their problems and realising their full potential.

As always, Elaion is very proud to make an announcement of the generosity of our members. Especially at a time where many people are struggling financially, we still get donations that average out around $20,-. We are very grateful to every single person who made a donation--big or small--and helps us make a difference.

As always, we encourage members who have given so generously to dedicate this gift to the Gods, especially the Kourotrophos; (mostly) female deities who watched over growing children--Gaea, Artemis, Hekate, Eirênê, Aglauros and Pandrosos, especially. A pre-made ritual can be found here, on the Elaion Facebook page.

From this moment on, the Pandora's Kharis Facebook page is open to pitches. If you do not have Facebook, feel free to pitch your cause in the comments. We will relay the message to the community.

On to another month of pitching, voting, and giving. Thank you for your generosity!

Plan International Thargelion 2014 cause

With 75% of the votes, Plan International became Thargelion 2014 cause for Pandora's Kharis! Founded over 75 years ago, Plan is one of the oldest and largest children's development organisations in the world. They work in 50 developing countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas to promote child rights and lift millions of children out of poverty. In 2013, Plan worked with 78 million children in 90,229 communities. Plan is independent, with no religious, political or governmental affiliations.

Plan's vision is of a world in which all children realise their full potential in societies that respect people's rights and dignity. They aim to achieve lasting improvements in the quality of life of deprived children in developing countries, through a process that unites people across cultures and adds meaning and value to their lives, by:

• enabling deprived children, their families and their communities to meet their basic needs and to increase their ability to participate in and benefit from their societies
• building relationships to increase understanding and unity among peoples of different cultures and countries
• promoting the rights and interests of the world's children.

You can now donate to Pandora's Kharis at baring.the.aegis@gmail.com or by clicking the 'donate' button to the side. Please, give generously to support this wonderful cause, and thank you in advance! The deadline to donate is 30 May, 2014.

Nominees Thargelion 2014

It's going to be a hard pick this month: two very worthy causes have been entered into the race for Thargelion 2014 cause: UNICEF and Plan International. We are starting to notice we really like causes that support children around the globe, and for a religion which was founded in a society where children were of the uttermost importance, that's not really odd to us.

UNICEF
UNICEF is the driving force that helps build a world where the rights of every child are realized. They have the global authority to influence decision-makers, and the variety of partners at grassroots level to turn the most innovative ideas into reality.  That makes them unique among world organizations, and unique among those working with the young.

They believe that nurturing and caring for children are the cornerstones of human progress. UNICEF was created with this purpose in mind – to work with others to overcome the obstacles that poverty, violence, disease and discrimination place in a child’s path. They believe that we can, together, advance the cause of humanity.

They advocate for measures to give children the best start in life, because proper care at the youngest age forms the strongest foundation for a person’s future. They promote girls’ education – ensuring that they complete primary education as a minimum – because it benefits all children, both girls and boys. Girls who are educated grow up to become better thinkers, better citizens, and better parents to their own children. They act so that all children are immunized against common childhood diseases, and are well nourished, because it is wrong for a child to suffer or die from a preventable illness.

Plan International
Founded over 75 years ago, Plan is one of the oldest and largest children's development organisations in the world. They work in 50 developing countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas to promote child rights and lift millions of children out of poverty. In 2013, Plan worked with 78 million children in 90,229 communities. Plan is independent, with no religious, political or governmental affiliations.

Plan's vision is of a world in which all children realise their full potential in societies that respect people's rights and dignity. They aim to achieve lasting improvements in the quality of life of deprived children in developing countries, through a process that unites people across cultures and adds meaning and value to their lives, by:

• enabling deprived children, their families and their communities to meet their basic needs and to increase their ability to participate in and benefit from their societies
• building relationships to increase understanding and unity among peoples of different cultures and countries
• promoting the rights and interests of the world's children.

As you can see, we have two very worthy causes to choose from this month. The deadline for voting is May 25th, but of course you are also free to start making your donations today.

$116,- raised for the International Mental Health Research Organization

With another successful donation run, we have raised $116,- for the International Mental Health Research Organization!

 

The organization is committed to raising awareness and funding neuropsychiatric research to find preventions and cures for severe mental illnesses, focusing on schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder, within a generation. 100 percent of the money that is donated to them is dedicated to research. The goal of research is to lead to cures, with a focus on schizophrenia, bipolar disorders and depression. To further this purpose, IMHRO:

• Produces, supports, and builds awareness for fundraising events to raise money for mental health research
• Directs funding to the most promising research by soliciting and selecting proposals in the area of prevention, treatment, and cure of mental disorders
• Collaborates with affiliate organizations, people, and events worldwide to raise and direct funding—and minimize duplication of scientific effort
• Works to build awareness of the scientific achievements and possibilities

The money we have donated as a giving circle today has helped aid that purpose, and Elaion could not be prouder! From this moment on, the Pandora's Kharis Facebook page is open to pitches. If you do not have Facebook, feel free to pitch your cause in the comments. We will relay the message to the community. On to another month of pitching, voting, and giving. Thank you for your generosity!

The International Mental Health Research Organization 2014 Mounukhion cause

The International Mental Health Research Organization won this round as Mounukhion 2014 cause for Pandora's Kharis, with 64 percent of the votes! The organization is committed to raising awareness and funding neuropsychiatric research to find preventions and cures for severe mental illnesses, focusing on schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder, within a generation. 100 percent of the money that is donated to them is dedicated to research.

 

With mental illness ranked as the number one cause of adult disability in America, affecting 1 in 5 adults, the mission of the International Mental Health Research Organization is to alleviate human suffering from mental illness by funding scientific research into causes, prevention and new treatments. The goal of research is to lead to cures, with a focus on schizophrenia, bipolar disorders and depression. To further this purpose, IMHRO:

• Produces, supports, and builds awareness for fundraising events to raise money for mental health research
• Directs funding to the most promising research by soliciting and selecting proposals in the area of prevention, treatment, and cure of mental disorders
• Collaborates with affiliate organizations, people, and events worldwide to raise and direct funding—and minimize duplication of scientific effort
• Works to build awareness of the scientific achievements and possibilities

The PayPal account is open to receiving your donations to this beautiful and worthy cause! The deadline for donations is May 1, and I thank you in advance already for them. All PayPal costs will be covered by Elaion so your full donation will be transferred to the International Mental Health Research Organization. Let's make this one count!

If you want to join the conversation, join Pandora's Kharis on Facebook.

Nominees Mounukhion 2014

It was a slow round of pitches this month, but that only means we have the choice between two very worthy and deserving causes. The nominees for Mounukhion 2014 cause are:

The International Mental Health Research Organization
The International Mental Health Research Organization (IMHRO) is committed to raising awareness and funding neuropsychiatric research to find preventions and cures for severe mental illnesses, focusing on schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder, within a generation. 100 percent of the money that is donated to them is dedicated to research.

The Donkey Sanctuary
The Donkey Sanctuary was founded in 1969 by Dr Elisabeth Svendsen MBE and supports projects in 27 countries worldwide. It reaches out to those in greatest need through the provision of permanent refuge and veterinary services to alleviate their suffering. Over 50 million donkeys and mules exist in the world. Many need care and protection from a life of suffering and neglect, whilst others have a vital role to play in human survival and happiness; they are at the heart of everything they do at The Donkey Sanctuary.

Do you have a favourite out of these five? Vote for your favourite in our poll. If you would like to donate to any of these, or have other causes to pitch for next month? Come join us as well! We will announce this month's winner on April 20, 2014.

$145,- raised for the Wolf Conservation Center

Elaion is proud to announce that the sixth Pandora's Kharis donation run has raised $145,- for our democratically decided upon cause, the Wolf Conservation Center. I am once more very happy to say you have all given generously, and in the spirit of the Gods.

The Wolf Conservation Center (WCC), founded in 1999 by Hélène Grimaud, is a private, not-for-profit environmental education organization located in South Salem, NY. The WCC’s mission is to promote wolf conservation by teaching about wolves, their relationship to the environment, and the human role in protecting their future. The WCC accomplishes this mission through onsite and offsite education programs emphasizing wolf biology, the ecological benefits of wolves and other large predators, and the current status of wolf recovery in the United States.

The average amount paid by the contributors was around $20,-, with donations coming in as high as $50,-. The $10,- fee taken by PayPal was covered by Elaion, of course, so every cent donated has gone to the center.

As always, I would like to ask members of Pandora's Kharis who have donated or otherwise aided in any way to dedicate their gift of money or time to the Gods, especially Apollon Lykeios, who is particularly associated with wolves.

From this moment on, the Pandora's Kharis Facebook page is open to pitches. If you do not have Facebook, feel free to pitch your cause in the comments. We will relay the message to the community.

On to another month of pitching, voting, and giving. Thank you for your generosity!