Nathan Bransford | Writing, Book Editing, Publishing

Helping authors achieve their dreams

Making Spirits Bright With Heifer International

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‘Tis the season for our annual Heifer International blog fundraising goodness!! We are spreading the cheer with one of the most worthy causes out there. All you have to do is leave a comment on this post to help raise money for a great cause, and you too can participate with your own pledge!

You may have already heard of Heifer International, an organization that works to fight hunger by giving needy families around the world and in the United States livestock, training, or other assistance that helps improve their livelihood. Heifer has been recognized for its work in Fast Company and Forbes, among other places.

I know we’re still going through some difficult economic times, but if you have anything to spare this holiday season I hope you’ll consider making a donation.

In order to encourage people to spread the word, for every comment someone makes in this post between now and 6PM Pacific time on Wednesday, my wife and I will donate $1.00 (up to $1,000)

And, better yet, if you want in on the fun you could do a per-comment pledge on your own blog and enter it into the linky list at the bottom of this post. We can encourage everyone to stop by so we can multiply the giving! Last year we raised over $2,000 together.

In your comment I hope you’ll list:

1. Your name
2. Where you’re from
3. A wish for 2011
4. (optional) Your own per-comment pledge (amounts totally up to you). Write a dedicated post on your blog for people to leave comments on your blog and link to Heifer and state your pledge. Then enter it into the linky list so everyone can stop by and leave a comment.

Thank you so very very much for making 2010 such a great year, and let’s keep the good cheer going into 2011.

UPDATE 12/26:

Donation made!

And thanks to the other generous bloggers/commenters, the total raised so far is nearly $1500 (and some are still in progress).

Thanks so much to everyone for participating!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Hilary says

    Hilary, from Phoenix, and I wish my work would stop making us eat Pringles so they can use the containers for the science club.

    Thanks for extending this, I meant to post yesterday and forgot!

  3. Natasha Fondren says

    Happy Holidays, Nathan! Thanks for your blog and all you do for the writing community.

    I'm currently in Tucson, and I wish for something I'm afraid to say, I want it so much!

  5. janehdavis says

    Merry Merry Christmas from Jane Davis in Fairfax, VA. Please let's hope for a cure for cancer, especially Mantle Cell Lymphoma. It is truly a happy holiday season for us as my husband has been in remission for almost 9 months!

  6. Aaron says

    Hiya from Aaron, down here in J-Ville, Jacksonville, Florida! My wish for 2011 is that A). The BRATS in my neighborhood stop littering on our neighborhood trail, and de-beautifying it and B). I finish my VERY FIRST NOVEL and that it's GOOD, and that it's published! 😀
    Oh, yeah…. and world peace.

  7. Danielle Gibbons says

    1.Danielle
    2. Ashland Oregon
    3. I hope 2011 is less about stuff and more about connection.
    4. My 6 year old son chose a basket of chicks ($60) to be donated in my parents name. Thanks for your service Nathan.

  15. Amethyst says

    Happily remaining anonymous in Union City, CA.

    A wish for 2011? For life to never lead any of us astray…

    Happy Holidays! 🙂

  16. Rebecca says

    Hoping for common sense and laying down of arms, from Rebecca McBride, Old Chatham, NY. Thank you for providing a way to something good for others.

  17. Nathan Bransford says

    courtney-

    The idea is that rather than just one person donating money, by asking people to comment we're ensuring that people click through, see the other participants, and hopefully inspire more people to participate.

    Multiplication instead of addition!

  18. jill says

    This is Jill, from near Portlad, Oregon. My blog is gathering cobweb and dust bunnies, so I've made a donation myself. Thanks for the reminder of a worthy charity for our extra money!

  22. Anonymous says

    Happy Holidays from Beth in California. My wish: that every child in the world gets a new book for Christmas.

  23. Bryan D says

    Nathan–thanks for a great year, and good luck at CNET. We'll all miss the hope of having you as our agent, but at least you're keeping the blog around for now.

    Thanks for the donation to HI (headquartered in my home state!). Bees are our favorite gift this time of year.

    Merry Christmas!

  24. Heather says

    This is Heather from the rainy portion of the west coast of the US.

    A wish for 2011, that I finally finish this current draft of my WIP, and of course world peace.

  28. Linda says

    Thanks for all you do Nathan! This is LindaSW from Baltimore, but geography's all relative here. Best of luck in your new position, and may your book sell, sell, sell!

    My wish for 2011 is all writers continue to write from their hearts — the market be damned! Peace…

  29. Anonymous says

    Steph from Texas
    2011 wish: hoping to finish my novel – really finished this time…no really, I MEAN it.

  31. Jaden Terrell says

    BethTH (pen name Jaden) from Nashville here.

    What a great idea, Nathan. I don't have a personal blog yet, only a group one, but as soon as I have one, I'll follow your excellent example.

    Wish: That every country, city, household, and individual be guided by wisdom and compassion.

    Selfish wish: To make enough money and earn enough recognition from my books to make my living writing and teaching workshops.

  32. Marta says

    Happy holidays from the San Francisco Bay Area. Thanks for doing this. My husband has someone donate ducks on his behalf each year. My wish is for more of these gifts to find their way to homes that need them.

  37. Lauren says

    Thank you, Nathan, for doing this. I love Heifer!

    I am Laurence from Manchester, Massachusetts, wishing everyone peace and hope for 2011.

    Merry Christmas!

  39. Anonymous says

    What a great idea, Nathan. Well done. Debra Hemminger from soggy Portland, Oregon wishes that everyone could get the astronauts' view of our blue marble and know that we're all in this together.

  40. fakesteph says

    1. Steph
    2. (not-so-sunny-at-the-moment) Los Angeles
    3. A wish for 2011 is to get more time to spend with my nephew.

    Thanks so much for this post, Nathan! I love The Heifer project. They are so great and doing wonderful things in the world.

  42. Katie says

    I'm Katie and I split my time between two US states. My wish for 2011 is healing.

    I like the comment donation idea!

    Merry Christmas!
    <>< Katie

  45. moirayoung says

    Ooops. Sorry for the late comment, but I'll keep mine going until Boxing Day at least!

    1. Moira Young
    2. Vancouver
    3. A wish? To continue to grow as a writer.

  46. Madeleine says

    I'm planning on participating on my own blog next year. Yes, I said it. Someone hold me to it! ;D

    I'm Madeleine, and I'm from Portland, Oregon, where we have very wet but more gray than white Christmases. Such is our curse. It's Christmas all the same, though.

    My wish is that my friends and I will be successful in our writing endeavors, whatever they may be.

  47. Stephanie Theban says

    Stephanie from Oklahoma. My daughter did a weekend at a Heifer International camp. Wonderful experience. They got assigned to a third world housing unit. Some got cardboard boxes, some got huts. My daughter was lucky. She got an Appalachian cabin, so she had a roof over her head, even if it leaked and the wind came through the cracks. They had to work together and trade to get something to eat. My daughter's group got a small quantity of beans. Then they had to figure out how to cook it. That meant they needed water and fire. Hours later, they each ate about three spoonfuls of beans, after which they slept on the floor without warm blankets. Great organization. Thanks for supporting it. My wish is that fewer children will live in poverty.

  50. Heidi says

    Heidi Horchler, sending you a warm holiday greeting from the Arizona desert.
    My wish for the new year is a college scholarship for my son.
    Enjoy your kids while they're little, because man, does it go by fast!!