Mohandas K. Gandhi, known to most of the world as "Mahatma" Gandhi, once famously said, "We must be the change we wish to see in the world."  In September, we will have the incredible honor to stand with his grandson, Dr. Arun Gandhi, in New Orleans, the murder capital of the United States, and bring those words to life!

The Peace, Healing, and Unity Now Festival, or PHUN Fest, on September 15th, will be both a demonstration and celebration of our collective strength, and a catalyst for a new era of non-violence in this amazing and troubled American city.  Click here for more details about this ground-breaking event.

This is mighty work, and it will take all of us to make it as strong as it needs to be to succeed!  We want to defy conventional fund raising wisdom and challenge everyone who receives this invitation to help us reach 90% participation or better by doing one or more simple things:

• See that button that says "DONATE" at the top right of the page? Please click on it and make a secure donation of $10 or more.  We are sending this invitation out to millions of people (yes, millions)!  If each person contributes at least $10, we'll have the financial backing we need to not only make this event a phenomenal and lasting success, but to seed peace projects like community centers, urban gardens, after-school programs, youth entrepreneurship programs, HIV/AIDS prevention programs, and more.
• Now, see the "JOIN THE TEAM" button on the lower right part of the screen (might need to scroll down a smidge)?  Please click on it and follow the instructions for how to spread the word to your network, inviting them to "Be the Change." You can help raise funds as part of our team, as an individual, or create your own team to support the PHUN Fest.
• If using these Crowdrise tools is not your cup of tea, you can simply create your own e-mail/Facebook/Tweet/LinkedIn message and get your network fired up for peace in New Orleans.  Make sure you include this URL in your message, so your people will know how to make a donation: www.crowdrise.com/lknbphunfestphundraisers. 
• If online fundraising in general is not your thing, we will gladly accept a tax-deductible contribution made by snail mail.  Please send a check made out to:  PeaceWeavers-PHUN Fest, 8125 Crouse Road, Bath, NY, 14810.  

To add to the PHUN (sorry, couldn't help myself), event co-organizers, Love Knows No Bounds and St. John #5 Faith Church, have challenged our other event co-organizers, the PeaceWeavers and the Gandhi Worldwide Education Institute, to a race to $50,000 raised.  Help us prove once and for all that we have the best team of supporters ever by gliding quickly to our goal of $50,000 for this event!  Together, we can out-Gandhi Gandhi (and the PeaceWeavers)!!

Thank you SO MUCH for your interest and support with this big, brave undertaking!!  We can make it happen and create a better future for New Orleans' youth!!!