A friendly reminder to help a friend and some children

Alan R. Mercurio_3

I just read this message a couple weeks ago here on the Wall. You all know what a great guy Dan is and all he does for many people. Over the past couple years we have watched Dans daughters follow his foot steps (God Bless Them) and help as many folks as they can.

Please, read Megans letter below and consider giving her a hand. Thanks in advance for your consideration.

And thank you to the many people that have already stepped up to the plate. May God bless all of you.

<b>*********************************

Meghans Letter:

Hi!

I hope you’re enjoying the summer. I have been very busy at New York Cares planning for New York Cares Day, the Secret Santa Program, and the Coat Drive. I can’t believe we’re already getting ready for all of these programs. Thank you for all of your help last year with your New York Cares Day donations and your generous contributions to the Secret Santa program. Everyone in my office is still talking about the generous Wallies who came from across the country to help.

I’m going to be leaving New York Cares after the holidays to start a new chapter of my life. I’ve loved working there and helping the city of New York, but I’ve decided that I’m ready for a new challenge and a new adventure.

I’ve recently been accepted into a program called World Teach. World Teach is a non-profit, non-governmental organization based at the Center for International Development at Harvard University which provides opportunities for individuals to make a meaningful contribution to international education by living and working as volunteer teachers in developing countries.

World Teach was founded by a group of Harvard students in 1986, in response to the need for educational assistance in developing countries. It also addressed a growing interest among people in the U.S. and elsewhere to serve, teach and learn as volunteers overseas. Since its inception, World Teach has placed thousands of volunteer educators in communities throughout Asia, Latin America, Africa and Eastern Europe.

In the beginning of January, I will be heading to a rural village in Costa Rica to teach English in an elementary school. Costa Rica is one of the most politically and economically stable countries in Latin American and the country has a 96% literacy rate. Because tourism significantly adds to the success of its economy, the Ministry of Education believes that learning English is necessary to preparing its children for success in a global economy. I will live with a Costan Rican family for a year and hopefully, I’ll be able to make a significant contribution to the people by sharing my knowledge of our language. I’m not sure if I’ll have a classroom or even textbooks (and I know I won’t have many hot showers!), but I’m going to try to do the best I can with the local resources.

I have to fundraise just under $5000 to cover the cost of my year in Costa Rica. You’re probably thinking, “Why would you pay to volunteer for a year?” Since Costa Rica is an underdeveloped nation, they don’t have the financial resources to bring in a lot of English teachers. $5000 will support program costs that will enable me to successfully help the people. When you think about it, it’s really not that much money to pay for a year. And, to think that teachers there only make about $70 a month!

I want to invite you to support me and join me on this adventure. Anything you can give will help support me and World Teach, and I will send you monthly updates on what’s going on in my school in Costa Rica. My dad’s having a hard time believing that I can live without monthly haircuts and the convenience of a washer and dryer, but I’m going to prove him wrong!

If you’d like to help me out, you can send a check to World Teach at:

WorldTeach c/o Center for International Development Harvard University 79 John F. Kennedy Street Cambridge MA 02138

Please put my name in the memo on your check. All donations are tax deductible, and World Teach will send you a receipt if you decide to send a check to support me.

Thanks for caring. I can’t wait to share all of the details of my latest adventure with you. (And I also can’t wait to show my dad a thing or two about speaking Spanish!)

Meghan
*******************************************</b>

Your friend inn the industry,<BR>Alan R. Mercurio<BR><BR><a href="http://oiltechtalk.com">Oil Tech Talk</a>

DanHolohan

Thanks, Alan.

Many Wallies have helped Meg already and she really appreciates it. She'll be writing to them often during the year she spends teaching in Costa Rica. Should be quite an adventure! Thanks for caring.

Alan R. Mercurio_3

You're welcome. I'm looking forward to hearing how this chapter in Meghans and the childrens lives plays out.

I'm confident it will all be positive.

your friend in the industry,
Alan R. Mercurio

OilTechTalk.COM