I am asking for your help

As some of you may know I am currently traveling the country as part of a national tour to raise awareness and support for Invisible Children, an international nonprofit organization that changes lives in northern Uganda and the United States through culture, policy and people.
I believe so much in the heart and mission of Invisible Children that I have dedicated four months of my time to travel across the country as an Invisible Children “roadie”, an unpaid volunteer position.

After the national tour my journey will continue with Invisible Children on a two week trip to northern Uganda. Ever since I was young, I have always dreamed of traveling to Africa, it is a place that I have held in my heart before I could even grasp the harsh realities that so many people are faced with. I am honored to be given the opportunity to travel in May with a group of incredible individuals to experience the culture and people of northern Uganda firsthand.

I truly believe that this trip will not only impact my life but so many others upon my return to the United States. Due to my current travels and experiences I have decided to pursue a teaching career, a path I NEVER expected to take. Invisible Children was created through the power of a story and I plan to continue sharing the story with the students that I teach and individuals that I work with.

I have experience the generosity and love of people from all walks of life through my travels and am asking for your support to help me continue my journey with Invisible Children. If there is one thing that I have learned from my experience thus far, it is that small sacrifices can change lives and history. So I am asking, can you make a small sacrifice of $30 (or whatever it is that you can afford) to help me live out my dreams?

My goal of $3,000 may seem like an overwhelming task, but when given the opportunity, I believe that small donations and symbols of support will add up to big change. I understand that as students and young professionals $30 can be a big ask (trust me, I live on $10 a day!)

Whether it is through forwarding this message onto family members or co-workers that can help, or collecting small donations among your friends...anything will make a difference and will be greatly appreciated. Your financial assistance will help me reach $3,000, the amount needed to participate in the trip, which includes travel, medical and lodging expenses. I am asking you to be a part of my story with Invisible Children through your support and encouragement.

Thank you for your support, encouragement and prayers, it is only with the generosity and love of others that I have been able to pursue my dreams.

Sincerely, Melissa Ray

All checks can be made payable to Invisible Children Inc. For proper allocation please write “Melissa Ray” in the memo line, along with a short note explaining that the purpose of the donation is to fund Melissa Ray’s trip to Uganda in May. All donations made to Invisible Children Inc. are tax deductable, tax exempt forms are available upon request. Checks can be mailed to:
Invisible Children
2705 Via Orange Way, Suite B
Spring Valley, CA 91978

For your convenience, you can also make an online payment to support my trip at www.paypal.com. Instructions to make a payment are listed below, this service is free of charge but requires a free PayPal account to complete the transaction. Online payments via PayPal are not tax deductible.

To make an online payment via PayPal: Visit https://www.paypal.com.
Click the Send Money tab.
In the Send Money box: Fill in the recipient's email address or phone number. (Melissa.a.ray@hotmail.com)
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