Giving Tuesday - School Supplies for Gaza's Neediest Children!

Dear friends of Rebuilding Alliance,

With Gaza declared a state of emergency due to flooding, my request has special urgency.  Please set your alarm for this Tuesday because our project to open Gaza with compassion is competing in the Microsoft Youth Spark Bonus Day.

 There are big bonus prizes for the most donors and the most donations, so your gift counts all day on Giving Tuesday, until midnight EST.  Microsoft is giving away a total of $350,000 in a Dollar for Dollar match that starts at two different times:  6am PST / 9am EST,  Noon PST / 3pm EST.  Each time, that match will go fast — within the first 5 min — so please set your alarm with care.

Gaza's children have lost so much in their young lives: family, friends, and homes. They lack basics, such as clean water, school supplies, boots and warm clothing.   In the summer, you backed our coalition as we delivered hygiene kits to families sheltered in UN schools during the worst of the bombing — now we are working to provide emergency help in this flood disaster.  When Gaza families asked for clothing, people of all faiths and backgrounds filled Rebuilding Alliance with thousands of bags, and hundreds came to sort and pack.   Our first shipping container will arrive in early December, in partnership with the Palestine Red Crescent Society and the Al Basma Club for the Disabled. 

This YouthSpark match will send more shipping containers, this time with School Supplies for Gaza's Neediest Children — and clothing too.  Donations will be MATCHED DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR on Tuesday — and your gift will keep giving because each container will be filled with over $117,000 of donated goods collected at colleges and universities across the country!  

To talk with our partners in Gaza,  join us for a Stay Human Conference Call this Monday, Dec. 1st, at 9:45 PST / 12:45 EST.   Please register for the call here.

Questions?  Suggestions?  Please call me at 650 325-4663.   The Youthspark Competition is a HUGE opportunity so I've asked our team in Ramallah to call YOU this weekend.  We will send an email Monday to remind you too.

Thank you for your support on Giving Tuesday.  Thank you for all that you do.

Sincerely,

Donna Baranski-Walker
Founder & Executive Director
Rebuilding Alliance


P.S.  To win the dollar-for-dollar match, set your alarm for 'on the hour.'   The Youth Spark Matching grant is offered at two times:

6am PST / 7am MST / 8am CST / 9am EST / 4pm Jerusalem time

and again at

12pm PST / 1pm MST / 2pm CST / 3pm EST / 10pm Jerusalem time. 

Note: Microsoft will match up to $500 and all donations count toward the $5000 bonus awards for most donors and most donations.