I Am A Finalist In A Contest and I Need YOUR Help To Win!

Many of you already know that Someplace Special has been very active in helping children who are, or have been, slaves in Ghana. Well now something very special has happened to Someplace Special, and I need your help!

A couple of months ago, I entered a contest held by The Oriental Trading Company, a toy catalog that many of you have heard about. The challenge was to write an essay telling about a person or an organization that you believed could use a little more fun in their lives.

As it turns out, I have been notified that I am among 10 finalists picked from thousands of entries. At this point, I need all of you to go to this website, www.maketheworldmorefun.com and vote for me (one vote per computer). The children in Ghana will receive $10,000, half in cash, and half in product from Oriental Trading Company , If I win.

For more information about the situation that now exists in Ghana, please read my blog and watch the video I have posted in the June 10th entry. You may also check out the organizations that will get the money and distribute it to the children, the IOM and the US arm of the organization, USAIM.

Thanks so much, and please go and vote, you will be doing the children and the world a big favor! Only one vote per computer will be allowed!

This is the entry that put me in the top 10

In Ghana is a group of children that has lived their early years in slavery. Poor parents, overwhelmed by their child's needs, sell them to fisherman as apprentices, not realizing the children will become slaves as young as 5 years old. They dive into freezing water to untangle fishing nets and herd cattle. They are beaten often, eat little, and get no medical care. I have been dealing with an organization called the IOM (international organization for migration), which buys back these children and sends them to school. They try to give them a secure life, food, clothes, shelter, and an education.

When I found out about the children, the store I own had a party and donated money spent on art projects to the organization. My customers decorated gold cardboard crowns we bought from you, with all kinds of collage materials we bought from you, and made $500.00 for the organization. Then I thought they needed fun in their lives and ordered blow up vinyl animals and sport balls from you along with tootsie pops. The kids were thrilled. I see so many things I would like to send them in your catalog, but I just cannot afford to do all I want even though you have wonderfully fair prices. My business still makes very little profit. PLEASE HELP THESE KIDS HAVE FUN!!! They have had so little in their short lives. I pray you will show them that people really do care. Soon another group of children will be rescued. The IOM has to keep returning for more. Show them all you care!
Photos of the children are Courtesy of the IOM