A Special Birthday Celebration

by Betty Goldfarb

When I turned 70 this year, I created a challenge for my friends and family as a way to honor me on my special birthday: contribute to BluePath Service Dogs in my name, and I would match contributions up to $700, based on $10 per year for 70 years.  This was the first fundraiser challenge I had ever done and I had no idea if this goal was even possible.

What I found out is this:  most people who contributed did so because it was a way to honor me – to contribute to a cause that I am passionate about.  Most of my friends and family knew nothing about BluePath and the work they will do to provide service dogs to children on the autism spectrum.  So not only have I spread awareness about this wonderful organization, but the contributions added up to $992 – way over my goal!  I am humbled and deeply grateful.  I will match all contributions and BluePath will receive $1,984 to help fulfill its mission.

“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”

More helping, more doing.  That’s the power of friends and family.