Mardi Gras is coming to Saratoga - AGAIN!

SAVE THE DATE!!
The Third Annual
Saratoga Springs Mardi Gras Festival!
SUNDAY, APRIL 26, 2009

Set in Saratoga, Mardi Gras is a fundraiser for The Giving Circle. This group does amazing work year round, and they rely on help from the community to help others within the human community. Their most recent projects involve helping in the post Katrina rebuilding. In March, they will be heading down to the area to help yet another family:

Their site says:

Genuine compassion is based not on our own projections and expectations, but rather on the rights of the other: irrespective of whether another person is a close friend or an enemy, as long as that person wishes for peace and happiness and wishes to overcome suffering, then on that basis we develop genuine concern for his or her problem. - The Dali Lama

Their Mission statement reads:

The Giving Circle, Inc. celebrates community and the concept of one person, one community reaching out to another in a cycle of giving. Through our interconnectedness, interdependence, and the expanded power and possibility created by our love, support, compassion, and cooperation, we will make a difference in the quality of people's lives.

Saratoga is the site of a revolutionary battle, and home to a National Cemetary. This 116th National Cemetary is also home to the bell from the USS Saratoga. From its Saratoga base, the Giving Circle reaches out across America, wherever communities are in need. But they cannot do it alone. There are many ways you can get involved. The group is looking for volunteers to join them in March to go rebuild.

If you can go on this trip, or want to discuss it further, contact Mark, one of the founders, at :

mark@thegivingcircle.org or by cell at 518-727-8960.

If travelling on this project is not an option, there is always Mardi Gras! There are many ways for people to be involved in this year-round work, and they are listed on The Giving Circle's website:

You must be the change you wish to see in the world. Gandhi

• Donate Now Online through the secure portal NetworkForGood. Or Mail in Your Donation with THIS DONATION CARD (PDF | MS Word) to: The Giving Circle, Inc. P.O. Box 3162 Saratoga Springs, NY 1286

• In the Area - If you are in the NY State Capital District and would like to help out with a project, or have goods, services or skills that may be helpful, please contact us.

• Volunteer - Skilled and unskilled labor is greatly needed to help with rebuilding . Please consider a volunteer work trip. Please contact us if you would like to join a Giving Circle work trip.(here)

America was built on the concept of neighbor helping neighbor, across the land. Please check out The Giving Circle's website here, and see how YOU can help. Thank you!

See you at Mardi Gras!