I am most interested in micro-enterprise, self-employment groups like Women’s Initiative that have a very high success rate. It’s a 10 week biz training program and when women graduate they can borrow $10K to start their small business and there is also the possibility of an additional $9K grant for a work-loft or storefront, etc, plus there is a huge network of ongoing support. Here’s the site: http://www.womensinitiative.org/index.htm Today, for example, I was leaving the house and an attractive young black woman was standing out on the sidewalk with rickety, not very effective window washing paraphenelia. I smiled and asked her what she was up to. She said trying to start a business but even the cost of printing business cards, a business license, copying off flyers, etc was a lot. I told her about Women’s Initiative and her first words were “Is there a cost?” There is a few hundred and obviously that’s too much if someone is struggling. Here’s a wonderful, attractive lady, eager and able to work but obviously needs a start and a plan. She had jerry-rigged extensions…the houses in this neighborhood for example are all early 1900s and three story…so that is really a tough place to start without the right equipment. But ambitious! Ticks me off we can waste so much money when all this lady needs is someone to help her put a simple biz plan together and then $10K or so to start-up. Eventually she could add people and then just market the services. She was so bright and nice….hope she goes there and that they help her.

I voted for education but what I really meant was ‘education in the arts.’ These programs are frequently lumped into a bundle that can be dropped to save money, even though research shows that music, art, dance, theater, chorus, creative writing, etc. all help to produce more well rounded individuals. They inspire, promote curious minds, help to develop hand eye coordination, and actually stimulate both sides of the brain. I figure we all know this…just look at who shows up at this site WoW.

I have three places that I would end money to. First would be MDA. Second would be for hunger and the third would be to support some sort of program for people without health insurance. Heck, somebody has to get the ball rolling on the health insurance.

At first blush this seemed like such an easy question. Frannie has a terrific idea, no question about it. I am leaning towards education. We need an overhaul. Then again look at our health programs. I think I need several millions to be able to decide.

There are no wrong answers, I suppose, when you’re donating to a cause that helps people. But the $1 million isn’t as important as the concept of doing what each of us can to make this world a better place, regardless of how much we have to offer financially. I am a big fan of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org). Wish I had the means and the money to do more. But as is written in Mark 12:41-43: 41Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins,[a]worth only a fraction of a penny.[b] 43Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

Well Actually a million dollars is really not that much money in todays economy……… It’s late and I’m going to bed. I’ll think about this tomorrow and answer then.

I am determined to close nursing homes as we know them today. So I would give my $1M to the Eden Alternative, started by Dr. Bill Thomas, which actually goes into nursing homes today - retrains the entire staff and changes the physical appearance of the home. This has meant less medication and happier elders. Shame on us of insitutionizing our elders!

I would have to donate the funds to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital b/c those children some less than 2 who are suffering with diseases and they really don’t know whats going on. I would want to help the parents pay their hotel bills while they attempt to stay close to their children…Of course there is no wrong answer as there are so many who need that $1 mill…

My donation would go to the Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation, to work towards parity in mental health insurance coverage and to reduce the stigma of mental illness. www.bpkids.org