2013 was a year of milestones for THRIVEGulu. Thanks to previous CrowdRise efforts, we were able to purchase our land in Gulu and build our brand new center. We’d like to make 2014 an even better year—one that sees our programs grow and expand, so we can make full use of all our new space—and we can’t do it without your help.

This year, we’re running another CrowdRise fundraising campaign, but there are several reasons why we need your support this year more than ever before. First of all, this holiday season CrowdRise is hosting a special Holiday Challenge in partnership with The Huffington Post and craigconnects, and they are offering some prizes that could be game-changing for THRIVEGulu—and life-changing for the people we help.

If we are able to raise the most out of any organization participating in the Challenge between November 18 and January 9, we will win an extra $100,000 donation.

Second place gets $40,000 and third gets $20,000. Needless to say, doing well in this fundraising challenge could have a remarkable effect on the impact we are able to make in Gulu. However, there is another, more personal reason why this year is so important to all of us on the THRIVEGulu team.

We are dedicating this year’s fundraiser to the memory of James Coleman, our beloved Papa Jim, who past away last month. He was a father and a hero, not just to his family—to his wife, Judy Dushku, and their children—but to everyone in our Ugandan family as well. Jim was a huge part of the THRIVEGulu family, which now includes each and every one of you, our generous supporters. He helped build this organization from the very beginning and wanted it to be his legacy. This year’s CrowdRise campaign could truly help make Papa Jim’s dream a reality. He would have been grateful if you donated to THRIVEGulu in his memory.

Fundraising Websites – Crowdrise

The outpouring of support that we received during the first week of the Challenge was inspiring and heartwarming. We raised almost $10,000 in a week, and so many people reached out to us about the work that we’re doing. So many of you have not only donated, but have gone above and beyond to spread the word about our organization and this amazing place that we all love so much. We were really moved by some of the things that you have created and shared with the world this past week:

Thanks so much to @seananthonylee & @Morgane217 for those awesome creations, and thank you to all of you who have donated and spread the word last week.

But we need you all to continue to donate, or to ask your friends to donate, because we still have a long way to go in this Challenge. This week in particular, it’s even more important that you keep this fundraiser going, because CrowdRise just announced their first Bonus Challenge:

If we raise $1000 for THRIVEGulu by next Tuesday (December 3), we’ll get a chance to win an extra $4000.

So please donate, and if you haven’t told all your friends to donate yet, now’s the time.

As a token of gratitude for your generosity and continued support, THRIVEGulu board member Eliza Dushku is offering some amazing perks and prizes for donors. If you’re interested, check them out on her website.

To all of you here in the United States, we hope you have Happy Thanksgiving! Please take this holiday season as a chance to not only give thanks, but to just give—to give back. We are so grateful for all of you and for the fact that we have this rare chance to make a difference in people’s lives. Thank you for being part of that effort, and a part of our family.