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Make A Difference Day |
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Altrusans Are "Embracing
The World"
And Making A Difference
 "Make A Difference on October 25, 2008."
Founded in 1917, Altrusa International, Inc. is a worldwide service
organization that promotes community service with a specific focus on
literacy by an international network of executives and professionals in
diversified career classifications.
For the eleventh year in a row, Altrusa is
launching an effort to combat illiteracy through Make A Difference Day
on October 25, 2008. Let’s show the world that Altrusans
will make a difference. Since we are an International organization, we
can impact millions of people all over the world. In the 2007-2009
biennium alone, Altrusans donated and distributed over 450,000 books to
adults and children of all ages. Make A Difference Day is a unique way
to help others. Let’s “Embrace the World” as Leaders in Service by
making a difference on October 25, 2008. Through our combined
efforts, we have the power to promote literacy from city to city, state
to state and country to country. Although we are separated by many
miles, we are always united in service. Design a literacy project that
is especially needed in your area, or take a look at our list of
projects that other clubs have conducted successfully.
For the last seventeen years, USA Weekend
Magazine and its partners have sponsored Make A Difference Day as an
annual event. Make A Difference Day is a day for members like yourself
to continue to do good things for others. Altrusa International, Inc.
is making a difference by “Embracing the World” and being Leaders in
Service.
If you
would like to use the Make A Difference Day logo on any of your material
to promote your Make A Difference Day project, please go to
http://usaweekend.com/diffday/tools/logospromos.html and download
the logo. You can also access project ideas, tips for obtaining
publicity for your project and a planning guide for your use. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.
What is Make A Difference Day?
A.
USA Weekend Magazine created Make A Difference Day as the most
encompassing national day of helping others. This is an annual event
that takes place on the fourth Saturday of every October.
Q.
Is this confusing, or is it just me?
A. Let’s review the steps.
- Save
October 25, 2008, for doing your Make
A Difference Day literacy project.
- Select
a project...review the ideas supplied or design your own.
- Do
your project on October 25, 2008.
- Report
the results of your Make A Difference
Day literacy project by November 3, 2008 to Altrusa International, Inc.
Q. Must the project be done
on October 25, 2008?
A.
Yes. The only exception is for a religious observance, then the
project can be done the day before or the day after. Some projects take
more than one day, for example, building book cases. Just plan to
deliver the bookcases on Make A Difference Day.
Q. Why does it have to be a
literacy project?
A.
The delegates at the 2001 Dallas Convention adopted a
resolution to make literacy the major service focus for Altrusa
International, Inc., and for many years, the Letha H. Brown Literacy
Award has recognized outstanding literacy-related accomplishments of
clubs at both the District and International level. Also, literacy
continues to be a major focus of the grants made to clubs by our
International Foundation. Literacy is one of the most popular areas of
service for clubs in all parts of the world, so by adopting literacy as
the "theme" for our Make A Difference Day entry, the opportunity to
participate is open to many Clubs.
Q. Why must the final
report be submitted by
November 3, 2008?
A.
USA Weekend Magazine requires that all entries for
Make A Difference Day be received by November 17, 2008, so International
needs time to summarize all of the Altrusa Club literacy service
projects in order to submit Altrusa’s entry by their deadline.
Q.
Who do I contact if I have any questions on participating in
this year’s Make A Difference Day entry?
A. Contact the Director of Member Services, Tanika
Wilson,
at the International Office in Chicago,
Illinois: telephone:
312/427-4410; fax: 312/427-
8521 or e-mail:
wilson@altrusa.com.
Q. Can I complete these forms on-line?
A. Yes. Go to
www.altrusa.com and click on the
Make A
Difference Day logo on the top right
side of
the home page.
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Ideas For Literacy Projects
Here are some ideas for the October 25,
2008, Make A Difference Day Literacy projects:
- Collect and donate books for the Soldiers overseas.
- Donate books, computers or computer software to an under
privileged school.
- Mend worn out
library books.
- Make a reading nook
for a local laundry mat.
- Collect books to
start a new library for Head Start, a homeless shelter, a women’s
shelter, etc.
- Host an essay
contest with prizes for a local school.
- Have a booth to
attract literacy volunteers.
- Start a book cart
for an area prison.
- Raise funds for the
local library.
- Host a book shower
for a local community organization.
- Subscriptions to
magazines for women’s shelters.
- Record books for
non-reading parents and their children.
- CD-ROM encyclopedia
for youth organizations.
- Donation to library
in honor of scholastic achievement.
- Contest sponsorship:
to promote writing or reading - host a party with prizes.
- Read to
pre-schoolers, to the elderly or to the sight-impaired.
- Arrange a workshop
for school newspaper journalists.
- Provide
transportation for kids (or families) to the library
- Build book shelves.
- Assist with Girl or
Boy Scouts reading badges.
- Make a display on
women authors at schools or libraries.
- Arrange for writing
workshops for kids with local authors.
- Help with GED-gift
certificates or offer baby-sitting services to single mothers
furthering their education.
- Host an event to
encourage people to commit to becoming tutors.
- Record books on tape
for the blind and elderly.
- Arrange a workshop
on test taking and the SAT for high school students.
- Provide scholarship
for reading programs.
- Host a banquet or
event to recognize literacy volunteers.
- Collect books for
shelters and youth centers.
- Create a reading
corner in a local shelter.
- Donate or make book
bags for children in shelters.
- Hold a fundraiser
for a literacy program.
- Sponsor a contest
to design reading posters for the local library.
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Tell Us Your Club's
Plans |
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Report Your Project |
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After
completing your Make A Difference Day literacy project, report your
results to Altrusa International by using the form below. We must receive
your project report by
November 3, 2008.
Altrusa International will compile your entries as one group report for the
Make A Difference Day contest.
USA Weekend Magazine,
the Points of Light Foundation, the Paul Newman Foundation and a panel of
celebrity judges will select the best projects to receive grants from the
Paul Newman Foundation. USA Weekend requires all entries to be received by
November 17th. In order to compile all club projects into an effective Altrusa report, we need them by
November 3, 2008.
NO EXCEPTIONS.
Also,
non-literacy projects will NOT be entered by International. Much of
the appeal that Altrusa held for USA Weekend was that all our projects were
literacy-related. If you wish to do a Make A Difference Day project that is
not related to literacy, then you may enter your club project separately
through the USA Weekend web site.
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