Happy Indian Independence Day!
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- Asha for Education Seattle Chapter -
As we celebrate our freedom and the opportunities that it made possible for us today, we hope you will consider helping to ensure that the next generation has those same opportunities.
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New Virtual Programs in our Increasingly Virtual World
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As a fully volunteer-driven non-profit, Asha for Education is funded entirely by your generous donations. However, this year COVID-19 has severely impacted Asha's normal fundraising efforts and events.
To adapt to our increasingly virtual world, we are pursuing a number of virtual programs. Check them out below and come participate!
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Performing To Uplift
- a virtual interactive music event with Geetanjali -
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Asha Seattle's annual fundraising concert performed by Geetanjali was cancelled this year due to COVID-19. Instead of just postponing, we have adapted and created Performing To Uplift, a virtual interactive music event where you can be the star performer of Geetanjali, and help raise funds for Asha at the same time!
We are releasing a new song every few weeks, and invite you to perform the solo part of the song by singing/dancing/playing an instrument of your choice. We will stitch your performance into the backtrack by Geetanjali, and publish the final video with you as the star!
There is even an optional contest where the performance with the most Likes and Shares for each song will be announced as the winner and receive free tickets to our next Asha Seattle live event (as well as some sweet bragging rights). Check out the Facebook page and participate / show your support! |
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Work an Hour 2020 - Virtual Concert Series
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Work an Hour, Asha's annual fundraising campaign where we ask you to donate an hour or more of your salary, has officially begun as of August 15th!
This year, Work an Hour will include a new virtual component: an online concert series where prominent musicians and stand-up comedians will be performing in support of Asha for Education! Learn more at the Facebook event page.
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Virtual Learning Program (coming soon)
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Want to learn a new skill, or teach one of your hidden skills, while helping raise funds for Asha?
Asha Seattle is exploring a new initiative where we will host short-term virtual courses around teachable skills - anything from languages, academic, or career guidance to performing arts, cooking, or mind/body workouts - taught by you!
This initiative is still a work in progress, but we would love to hear from you if you're interested in learning or teaching in support of Asha! Please contact us at seattle.coords@ashanet.org (or click the button below).
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Centurion Challenge - Team Asha Biking
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Normal biking events that served as annual fundraising opportunities for Team Asha Seattle's Biking Team have been cancelled this year, most notably the Seattle To Portland (STP) bike ride. In their wake, Team Asha Biking has adapted by creating the Centurion Challenge, a team challenge where team members bike (either indoors or outdoors) towards a collective set of goals: a fundraising target of $30,000, a distance target of 10,000 miles, and an elevation target of 500,000 feet.
So far, the team has participated in numerous rides (sometimes together virtually using apps like Zwift), and have raised around $1100 for their efforts. Some rides have included a "Women's Ride of Hope" in June in which five Team Asha women bikers participated, and a "Virtual STP" where Team Asha bikers went the same distance as the normal STP ride.
There are currently about 15 riders participating in this challenge. Check out the team's YouTube channel to see streams of indoor rides, and the stats for the challenge on Strava. Go to seattle.ashanet.org/team-asha and contact us if you're interested in joining!
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Junior Asha's Virtual 10K
- biking / running / walking -
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Junior Asha, Asha Seattle's passionate group of young volunteers, organized a virtual 10K event last month. By inviting friends and family to complete a socially distanced 10K bike/run/walk and to pledge a donation, Junior Asha volunteers managed to raise around $9500 in donations with this event!
Stay tuned for similar virtual events in the future! Follow our Facebook page (facebook.com/AshaSeattle) and check our website (seattle.ashanet.org).
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We intend to keep you connected on what's happening at Asha for Education via these newsletters. We look forward to hearing your suggestions and comments. Our contact e-mail id is seattle@ashanet.org.
Thank you for your continued support and generous contributions!
- Asha for Education Seattle Chapter-
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Maximizing your Impact
- Remember to get all your donations matched if you have this option!
- Take advantage of AmazonSmile to get a portion of each of your Amazon purchases donated to a charity of your choice at no cost to you. Download a browser extension to automatically do this for you!
- If you're part of the vast majority of people that opt for the standard deduction on your tax returns, the new CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act passed earlier this year provides you with a new $300 deduction for charitable giving beyond the standard deduction.
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