1. Have a Party!
Have fun and help the children we serve in Asia at the same time!  Hosting an event on our behalf is a great way to expand Lotus Outreach’s community of supporters, volunteers and donors by allowing you, the host, to invite inspired guests to contribute time and funds to our common cause.  Your event can be something as simple as hosting a dinner party and requesting a $20 donation, or as elaborate as a community benefit concert.  We are eager to help make your event a success.  Please contact info@lotusoutreach.org for more information or review our Salon Planning Guide for event themes/ideas and info on how to get started: http://www.lotusoutreach.org/Salon%20Guide.pdf. 

2. Vote for Lotus Outreach
Lotus Outreach is thrilled to announce that we have been nominated for an Asian Heritage Award in the Humanitarian Outreach category.  To learn more about the Asian Heritage Awards and to place your vote (all are welcome), please visit www.asianheritageawards.com.  The online ballot can be accessed by clicking the “vote” icon (note: entire ballot must be completed for your vote to count).  Invite your friends and family to vote for us too!

Think materialism is passe?  Then donate your special day!  Ask your friends and family to make a cash donation to Lotus Outreach in lieu of a birthday, anniversary, Christmas, wedding or graduation gift.  After all, the cost of a shaving kit or bottle of wine can provide a year of education to a quarry laboring child in India.  Luckily, there are online tools available to make "donating your day" easy.  Drop us a note at info@lotusoutreach.org for more information!

4. Shop for Good
Do you shop online?  You might be interested to know that as much as 7% of your purchase from mega online stores such as Amazon, iTunes, Expedia, FTD, Dell and Overstock.com can be directed to Lotus Outreach with the click of a button!  You can also do your shopping through major retail outlets such as Gap, Best Buy, Target, and Macy’s online with the same results.  Visit http://www.goodsearch.com/goodshop.aspx, type “Lotus Outreach” under “Who Do You Support,” click “Verify” and get shopping!  You can explore additional stores through Non Profit Shopping Mall by visiting http://nonprofitshoppingmall.com/nonprofits, choosing Lotus Outreach from the list, and shopping away.  It is really that simple! 

5. Donate Your Art and Handicrafts
If you haven’t heard of Etsy.com, you are in for a treat.  Etsy is a virtual craft fair where creators from all over the world design and sell everything from typewriter key cufflinks to charcoal sketches to homemade cookies!  You craft something wonderful and (virtually) donate it to Lotus Outreach. We'll list it on our Etsy shop and when it sells, we'll let you know so you can send it on to the lucky buyer.  Do you have creations you wish to donate?  Send a picture, suggested price and description to alex@lotusoutreach.org. 

6. Give and Receive
Yes, you can actually give to Lotus Outreach and receive income—for the rest of your life—from the asset you give. You could even donate your home yet retain the right to live there indefinitely. Or perhaps just include Lotus Outreach in your will. These and other estate planning strategies are wonderful ways to provide dramatic help to those in need in Cambodia and India while keeping the tax man at bay.  For more info, contact our Treasurer, Ed Malley, at 831.662.9289 or ed@lotusoutreach.org, or talk to your tax advisor. 

7. Get Rid of Your Old Stuff
You can sell your old goods on eBay—from shoes to furniture to art—and give some or all of the proceeds to Lotus Outreach.  Getting started is simple: visit our eBay Giving Works profile at http://donations.ebay.com/charity/charity.jsp?NP_ID=31908 and click the “Sell Now” button to list your item!  Prefer the more traditional way of doing things?  Have a garage sale instead, with proceeds benefiting the people we serve.

8. Find us on Facebook and Myspace
You don’t have to be 16 to appreciate the world of social networking.  Stay closely connected to your friends and family, and support good causes at the same time!  To find us on MySpace, visit http://www.myspace.com/lotusoutreach, scroll down to the “Causes” section and click “Add this Cause to My Profile.”  On Facebook, visit http://apps.facebook.com/causes/63082 and click “Join” on the right hand menu.  You can share your passion for Lotus Outreach right away by inviting your friends to join our cause or creating a fundraising pledge. 

9. Find us on YouTube!
Did you know that Lotus Outreach has a 9-minute video showcasing our work on YouTube?  Help us get more visibility by viewing the video, making it a “favorite,” sharing it with your friends, and rating and commenting on it.  The video can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyBOxm3e6N0. 

10. Search the Internet
Did you ever wonder how much could be done for a cause if everyone were to give just a single penny?  Now they can!  Every time you search the internet, earn a penny for Lotus Outreach!  Simply visit www.goodsearch.com, type in “Lotus Outreach” under “Who Do You GoodSearch For” and search away.  Better yet, install the GoodSearch tool bar on your browser.  This tool is powered by Yahoo.com, so you get the quality of a major search engine—there is nothing to lose!  

11. Volunteer
Do you have experience in writing, public relations, marketing, graphic design or fundraising?  If so, we need your help!  Please email a copy of your resume/bio with your areas of interest and what sort of time commitment you can make to info@lotusoutreach.org and we will get you start on a project right away. 

12. Help us Network
Does your employer have a corporate foundation or matching gifts program?  Do you belong to a church or other organization that might be interested in becoming an advocate for our cause?  Contact us at info@lotusoutreach.org and let’s find a way to partner! 

13. Share this Email
Forward this email to your friends, family and colleagues.  Tell them why Lotus Outreach matters to you and invite them to join our movement!