Road2Hope Race Report

Wow! What a couple of crazy days. On Saturday, November 6th and Sunday, November 7th about 44 participants(see the list) ran/walked to support Possibilities International. In total about $19,000 was raised to help fulfill the simple dreams of the hurting, helpless and hopeless. We have put together a report video and would ask you to take a few minutes and watch it.

You can also view some pictures taken at the race on our photo page. We are already planning for next year and are ready to start building our team. Please email us at info@iam1ru.com and let us know that you are going to join the iam1ru dream team on November 5th and 6th, 2011!

We are live streaming the draw for prizes from the race on Sunday, November 21st @ 6pm. Want to know more about this crazy event? Click here.

p.s. - A special "shout out" to Wendy Pauls who challenged, trained, and encouraged me. Wendy....you are the bomb!

www.wendypauls.com

iam1ru-EI Salvador

We are thrilled to announce the addition of Ken and Michelle Desaulniers (and Family) to the PI team as a Dream Agents in EI Salvador. This family has a passion to bring hope and dignity to the hurting, helpless and hopeless. You will want to read more about the latest addition to the PI team.

iam1ru-Haiti

The team is set. The tickets are booked. WE are pumped! And...we need your help. We are being asked to prepare 400 gift bags for children. They are to include a couple small toys...a small ball...a toothbrush and some candy. We need some people with dental connections(with your dentist or whomever) that can get toothbrushes donated. If you can help us with that please email us and let us know. For what we need to put in each bag we figure we can do that for $5/child. Will you sponsor a gift bag? A couple gift bags? 10 or more gift bags? You can do that here

The life after orphanage...

From our Dream Agents in Central Asia...

"You may not be aware that some of our orphans get
accepted into college for two years when they become
16 years old. Previously, they had to leave the orphanage
and live on their own, but we have an agreement with the
college so that our children have a place to live for two
additional years. We have two PI ladies working at the
orphanage with children from 7 to 16 years old. When
the children move to the college they have two other PI
ladies there helping them every day to get used to this
"new independent" life. Our dear PI ladies do everything
they can. They really just give their hearts to these children.
There used to be a great percentage of suicides in that
age group. Children were so lonely; they did not know
what to do. They had no place to live, no jobs, and no one
to help them. Every year in the spring, the PI ladies from the
college try really hard to help the children who turn 18 years
old and have to leave, find a job. We had such great results
last year. All the young people found jobs except one. This
boy Ozerov is severely mentally disabled, and people did not
want him even though we told them that he is a very kind and
nice boy. But we have good news. He finally got a job. With
the help of our ladies he was hired in the same orphanage as
a gardener. Look at how happy and proud he is and he is
doing an amazing job!

Our children now believe that it is possible to have a good job!!!"


And I have more news folks. This year all 36 "graduating" orphans
found jobs!!! Somebody shout !!! Thank you for providing these
orphans with hope!!! They know that they are not alone.

You are making a difference!!!

First of all, I would like you to imagine this picture...children lying down
24 hours a day. Some children are lucky and are able to lie on old rotten
beds. Some children aren't even that lucky, as they don't even have a
bed to lie in.

Imagine this folks - children who do not have enough food, clothing,
and no toys to speak of... and that is their daily life. However...then
things began to slowly change - someone brought them clothing, beds
and bedding; someone provided extra nutritious food; someone brought
them vitamins; someone began to take them outside. It does not take
much to see smiles begin to literally erupt on the faces of these children!
That is the difference you are making in the lives of these children.

And we are so thankful for being able to continue providing the salaries
 for our PI Dream Agents.

Listen to this recent report...

They had a dream to take all of their children to the Puppet Theatre,
but it was so complicated and very expensive. We needed a lot of
transportation, many workers for children with special needs, as well
as strollers and wheelchairs for the children. So our PI ladies decided
that if we cannot go to them, we can invite them to come to us. They
spoke with the people from the theatre to find out if it is possible, and if
it was possible, how much would it cost?

So look at these pictures - the theatre came to the orphanage and didn't
cost a thing!

Our children had a huge celebration - lots of laughs, lots of fun and they
were even dancing together with the puppets.

Thank you so much for helping to throw such a celebration for
our children!!!
How do we see these things happen? Well.....we have some
of the best workers on the planet acting on our (and your) behalf!
Monthly iam1ru sponsorships and donations help us support our
Dream Agents in Central Asia. Thanks so much for partnering
with us at PI!

She's got wheels!!!

What you are about to read, and watch, will bring joy to
your soul, tears to your eyes, and laughter to your heart!
A young lady in Mexico has got "wheels" because of every
day philanthropists like you! Imagine having cerebral palsy
and being completely bedridden because your family cannot
afford a wheelchair. You have never spent much time outside,
let alone go for a walk...enjoy nature etc. This was the plight
of a young girl by the name of "Aricely" (we got the name
wrong the first time....no sweat...she got "wheels".. that is
all that matters)

Here is what our Dream Agents, Rick & Lisa Bursey,
had to say...

"Meet Aricely (Ara-cell-ee)! She is 7 years old and has
severe cerebral palsy. Aricely is unable to speak, walk,
eat, or even go to the bathroom on her own. She lives
in a tiny house with her mom, dad, grandparents, and 3
younger siblings! Although Aricely needs so much care,
she is very aware of what is going on. She smiles and
responds when you speak to her. Her parents are incre
dible people who sacrifice so much for her. When we
asked them if they could have one wish what would it
be... their response... a wheel chair! Simple as that.
Presently Aricely needs to be carried everywhere with
her head supported. The reality of this situation means
she never gets out of the house to visit a park... or even
to go with her mom to the corner store. Even in her house
she is not able to sit on the couch without her mom holding
her, as she requires continual head support. This family's
dream is to be able to mobilize Aricely so they can do things
like a normal family, and to relieve her mom's back pain from
having to carrying her. With the additional expenses required
to cover the cost of her medications, diapers, etc. the purchase
of a wheelchair has only ever been a dream."

So....because of everyday philanthropists like you the
dream was sponsored, and now fulfilled! C'mon now! That
is what I am talking about! Now you got something!
Rick &Lisa...you guys are the bomb!

Okay...go get some tissues....gather some loved ones
around...and click the link below.

She's got wheels baby!

Juice maker for Sasha

Thank you so much our Dear iam1ru Philanthropists for helping our
little Sasha to have a fresh juice every day. He has cerebral palsy and
he lives with his grandmother. His dad died and his mom left them a
long time ago and is never coming back. His grandmother is trying so
hard to provide for her little grandson. Because of Sasha's disease it
is really hard for him to swallow fresh fruits and vegetables so we really
wanted to buy them a juice maker because fruits and vegetables are
inexpensive to purchase. We wanted Sasha to be able to access good
vitamins. Thank you so much for helping Sasha to access good vitamins!!!