What If Everybody Did It?

What if everybody reading this sent a dollar to Invisible Youth Network?

Just think of all of the homeless and/or at-risk children, teens, and young adults who could be helped!

Depending on just how many are reading this would have something to do with how many kids get helped, but surely enough people are reading this that even one child might get a five-dollar gift card to have a nice, warm meal (choosing items from the dollar menu) at somewhere like McDonald's!

Somehow, though, I believe that more dollars than enough to feed a single child a single meal will be generated, if enough people read this and send a dollar--just a dollar...

How about a dollar per month--only $12 per year?

What if everybody reading this wrote to just one other person with a link to this message? What if everybody reading this told that one other person to share this message with just one other person and told him/her just to share this with one other person...and so on...and so forth...?

What if every person reading this shared a link to it with five people with the message to each of those five to pass it on to each of those five...and on down the line...?

Perhaps some people might share with their entire address books...

If you're reading this, you're one of those people who just might do this. . .Would you?

Or, you could see how much loose change you can save each month and, then, donate that amount to IYN. It might even be MORE than a dollar!

Here's where to go to get more details.

We also need new (no second-hand, as many of these young people have never had anything new in their lives) items listed on our wish list.

I can tell you from personal experience how much fun it is to shop for items to put into a flat-rate Priority Mail box to send to kids who are always thrilled to receive the contents of said box, so, if this is your thing, a box of goodies from you will always be a welcome sight.

But...back to the single check or money order for a single dollar. . .what if everybody reading this sent one to IYN headquarters? Very sweet thought...

P.S. Although IYN is just asking for a dollar per month, nobody would be unhappy if you just happened to be one of those people who could afford to send more...

Buttons & Such

Buttons & Such

While a belly-button is awfully cute
As a fastener for your birthday suit,
It still doesn't hold a candle to
The button of which I'm about to tell you.

There's a button for making a mushroom cloud--
But that's pretty messy and terribly loud,
And it leaves, in its aftermath, tragic destruction,
While pushing my button will result in construction.

Pushing one kind of button might ring a doorbell--
If you hear it and answer, it might be Michelle
(my goddaughter) who also is doing quite fine
By conducting the very same business online.

It will be noted here that she likes to donate
A percentage to IYN--which is just great!
Marcia does likewise with her business, Soul Ink--
And that money will help us to swim and not sink!

This next button also does IYN proud.
I spoke of it earlier--no mushroom cloud
Results from its pushing, so I'm calling it
The (Peaceful) Button. It should be a hit!

To find out more about it, take your mouse, and click here--
Soon after, more details are going to appear.
Hope you'll push that button--and, then, start a trend,
By sharing this poem with at least one more friend!
Copyright 2007 by Ainsley Jo Phillips

You're Cordially Invited To A Snowflake-Signing Party!!!

My special friend, Russell, has been helping homeless kids in the San Diego area for several years and is now the Chairman & CEO of an organization called Invisible Youth Network (or IYN, for short).

I've been there with him (from almost 3000 miles away in Anderson, Indiana) from the planning stages, and we've watched the growth and development of IYN together. We have a growing number of volunteers working with us and always welcome more.

Russell has been in the habit of taking to the streets, finding teens and children who need a trustworthy and caring friend, and bringing them things to eat and other supplies, along with working with an area shelter called The Storefront that does that and then some.

I told him that I would like to help him when I could -- and this has led to my becoming a spare mom to ten very special kids:

Three daughters (Betty Anne, Robin, & Tabitha)
Seven sons (Bobbie, Gerald, JoJo, Little Warrior, Ronnie, Sonny, & Survivor)

Here's the story of how that all came about!

Since that time, all ten of these kids have been placed with loving families, but I still like to do Mom things with them -- such as making special snowflakes for them.

Below, find their names (which are clickable links), and you will be able to view the snowflakes I made for each of them -- plus I've also made Russell and me our own.

The number that you see beneath a name is the number of that particular snowflake. When you get to the site, there's a Find-A-Flake feature in the bottom left-hand corner. Enter that number in the search (in the window meant for flake numbers), and you'll be able to watch the "action" of the construction of the flake.

I've intentionally packed a lot of action into each one to make them extra fun.

I hope that you'll want to write a friendly message to each of the kids -- and, hopefully, to Russell and me as well.

At the time Russell began working with them, they ranged in age from nine to fifteen. The youngest of the group is JoJo, and, according to Russell, he's a real character (told me that he reminded him a little of himself at that age).

Thanks so much for taking the time to read this -- and, hopefully, to join in the fun!

And please remember to keep current re: IYN activities by going to this information sheet I've put together.

Betty Anne
5703840

Bobbie
5704105

Gerald
5704293

JoJo
5704522

Little Warrior
5705037

Robin
5705252

Ronnie
5705464

Sonny
5705715

Survivor
5705963

Tabitha
5706187

Russell
5686637

Me
5715642