Help me raise $50,000 for Charity!
Donations can be made by via Credit Card by clicking on the Piggy Bank or Donate Button
Click on the check for check and mailing instructions!
The Goal: Raise at least $50,000
to split 50/50 with the following organizations!
Let's try to exceed the goal
Charity #1 - Diabetes Research!
As I mature, I see need all around me. As I count my blessings daily, I don’t have to look far to see many who are less fortunate than I. Many of those, unfortunately, seem to always be “down on their luck” and have someone else to blame for their misfortune. I am not interested in donating money, time, or effort to them. Cruel?…maybe, but true.
There are those however, that through no fault of their own have been dealt a less than stellar hand. Diabetes is one of those diseases that no one chooses, yet if diagnosed, one must make many choices most of us will never face. Several members of my family, including my daughter, have been diagnosed with type 1 Diabetes. This isn’t brought on by being overweight or eating too much sugar. This is commonly called Juvenile onset because it is usually diagnosed early in life. In my daughters case she was only eight years old when we discovered that she would have to take insulin shots and manually regulate her blood sugar levels for the rest of her life.
Because of extensive research Diabetes isn’t the “death sentence” it once was, but it can still be very debilitating and much more research is needed. The long term effects of living with diabetes, even with the best care available, today often leads to loss of vision, amputation of limbs and early failure of internal organs. Research costs money. That is why I am dedicating this 50/50 event, my birthday celebration, to raising money for Diabetes. Although it isn’t an Aviation Related Charity, it is related to me through my family members.
As I mature, I see need all around me. As I count my blessings daily, I don’t have to look far to see many who are less fortunate than I. Many of those, unfortunately, seem to always be “down on their luck” and have someone else to blame for their misfortune. I am not interested in donating money, time, or effort to them. Cruel?…maybe, but true.
There are those however, that through no fault of their own have been dealt a less than stellar hand. Diabetes is one of those diseases that no one chooses, yet if diagnosed, one must make many choices most of us will never face. Several members of my family, including my daughter, have been diagnosed with type 1 Diabetes. This isn’t brought on by being overweight or eating too much sugar. This is commonly called Juvenile onset because it is usually diagnosed early in life. In my daughters case she was only eight years old when we discovered that she would have to take insulin shots and manually regulate her blood sugar levels for the rest of her life.
Because of extensive research Diabetes isn’t the “death sentence” it once was, but it can still be very debilitating and much more research is needed. The long term effects of living with diabetes, even with the best care available, today often leads to loss of vision, amputation of limbs and early failure of internal organs. Research costs money. That is why I am dedicating this 50/50 event, my birthday celebration, to raising money for Diabetes. Although it isn’t an Aviation Related Charity, it is related to me through my family members.
Donate online My Brother, Me & Daddy on our Ranch Donate by mail
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Charity #2 - Heart Mountain Youth Leadership Programs
As with my daughter my son also grew up with challenges. Although he has always been my pardner, co-pilot, and general all around Buddy, I learned fairly early in his life that he didn't fit the traditional mold when it came to education and learning. He was labeled ADHD, and determined to have learning disabilities. He struggled in the public school's traditional classroom settings. They tried to "help" him with "MODIFICATIONS" and special "plans". By the time he went to High School we realized that he wasn't going to do well enough to graduate, learn who he was, and live his dream if something didn't change. It was then that I made one of the toughest decisions a father can make... I decided to seek a private boarding school that could more adequately address his needs. He, like all children, deserved my best efforts, and keeping him in the public school system wasn't working for him. After many phone calls and research I found Heart Mountain New Beginnings in Powell, Wyoming. Although it was many miles away from Texas, we all decided that it was just the place for our son. The more we learned about it the more we liked it and Levi Jr. was actually excited about it as well. We left our boy in the care of a wonderful man named Jon Carter and over the next 18 months our boy grew into an amazing young man!
As you may guess the tuition isn't "cheap" for such a place, but we were blessed to be able to afford most of it. However, when money got tight we were assisted with a partial scholarship. That is why I am to dedicating 50% of the donations raised to Heart Mountain Youth Leadership Programs, they are the foundation that supports Heart Mountain New Beginnings with scholarship opportunities.