Sharing The Load Fundraising Walk/Concert & Nepali Guides Cooperative

Hello Friends!

Since returning from our Island Peak fundraising trek and climb, Amber and I have been very busy from "both sides of the world" with HED and 3 Jewels Adventures work!

Here is the Press Release for the March 20th Sharing The Load Fund Raising Week:

SHARING THE LOAD

A COOPERATIVE FUND RAISING EVENT BENEFITING THOSE SERVED
BY
THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTES OF ERIE
AND
THE HIMALAYAN EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

MARCH 18 - 20, 2010 - SHARING THE LOAD 50 MILE WALK

JIM TILLOTSON, INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR OF THE HIMALAYAN EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT PROJECT,
WILL BE WALKING 50 MILES FROM LAKEWOOD, NEW YORK TO ERIE, PA. HE WILL BE CARRYING 100 POUNDS ON HIS BACK IN ORDER TO RAISE FUNDS AND AWARENESS OF THE "LOAD" OFTEN CARRIED BY THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES LIVING IN UNDERDEVELOPED AND POLITICALLY WAR TORN SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIAN COUNTRIES.
ALL PROCEEEDS WILL BENEFIT THOSE SERVED BY THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTES OF ERIE AND THE HIMALAYAN EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT PROJECT.
TILLOTSON WILL BE JOINED BY RAJ RAI, A REFUGEE FROM BHUTAN, WHO WILL ALSO BE CARRYING 100 POUNDS, AS WELL AS MARK KIRSCH, A TEACHER AT SOUTHWESTERN HIGH SCHOOL AND VARIOUS STUDENTS FROM SCHOOLS IN LAKEWOOD AND ERIE, WHO WILL BE WALKING WITH TILLOTSON AND HAVE TAKEN PLEDGES AND RAISED FUNDS IN SUPPORT OF THESE NON PROFITS.

SHARING THE LOAD CONCERT AND OPEN HOUSE

MARCH 20TH, 2010 7 - 9 PM
VILLA MARIA ACADEMY
THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTES OF ERIE AND THE HIMALAYAN EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT PROJECT WILL BE HOSTING A CONCERT AND OPEN HOUSE AT THE VILLA MARIA ACADEMY IN ERIE PA FROM 7 - 9 PM.
THE ERIE BASED CELTIC BAND ISCHABAHA AND THE BONNIE LOCH FIDDLERS FRROM LAKEWOOD NY WILL PROVIDE LIVE MUSIC. IN ADDITION, THERE WILL BE LIVE MUSIC AND DANCE PERFORMANCES BY NEPALESE AND BHUTANESE REFUGEES.
THERE WILL ALSO BE ARTS AND CRAFT ITEMS FOR SALE, MADE BY THE REFUGEES AS WELL AS A SILENT AUCTION OF PRINTS BY BURMESE ARTIST PA PA LU AND ORIGINAL WORKS BY EDINBORO ART STUDENT CARRIE ELLEMEN.
FOOD, REPRESENTING VARIOUS CULTURAL INFLUENCES, WILL BE SERVED AS WELL AS REFRESHMENTS.
YOUR HEARTFELT DONATION WILL ALLOW YOU TO EXPERIENCE AND TAKE PART IN THIS UNIQUE EVENT! ALL DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE AND WILL BE DIVIDED EQUALLY BETWEEN THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTES OF ERIE AND THE HIMALAYAN EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT PROJECT.

SINCE 1919, THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTES OF ERIE HAS ASSISTED REFUGEES FROM NEPAL, BURMA, BHUTAN AND OTHER COUNTRIES, WHO HAVE BEEN FORCED TO FLEE THEIR HOMELANDS DUE TO ARMED CONFLICT AND POLITICAL, RELIGIOUS OR SOCIAL PERSECUTION.
THE INSTITUTE ASSISTS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN THE ACQUISITION OF HOUSING AND "THE CRITICAL SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES" NEEDED FOR ADEQUATE ADJUSTMENT TO THEIR NEW LIVES IN AMERICA!
CONTACT MIKE BUENDIA AT 814-452-3935/WWW.INTERINSTERIE.ORG

AMBER TAMANG HAS ALSO FORMED A NEPALESE GUIDES COOPERATIVE IN NEPAL. IT'S PURPOSE IS TO BRING TOGETHER EXPERIENCED AND DEDICATED TREKKING AND CLIMBING GUIDES WHO WILL "SHARE" THEIR SERVICES THROUGH THE COOPERATIVE. THEIR MISSION IS TO PROMOTE NEPALESE OWNED AND OPERATED TREKKING AND GUIDING COMPANIES. HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF CONSTRUCTING A WEBSITE. CURRENTLY, THERE ARE 11 COMPANIES INVOLVED IN THIS COOPERATIVE!

I HOPE YOU WILL SEE FIT TO ATTEND THE SHARING THE LOAD EVENT OR SEND A HEARTFELT DONATION.
STAY TUNED FOR MORE UPDATES AND NEWS!

ANBER AND I SEND OUR BEST WISHES TO YOU ALL!