upping the reward ante

Hacienda Tres Rios Resort, Spa & Nature Park, Riviera Maya, México  has added (2) one hour massages to the already kick you-know-what two night, Endless Luxury, all-inclusive stay they donated. The value of the two night stay is $1440 without the two massages and it's available with a $695 pledge to The Global Citizen Project. Hello, deal! Here are the details about the stay - and yes, I've stayed here and can whole-heartedly recommend it.

Chef/owner Michael Jones of Cachagua General Store in Carmel Valley, CA has also thrown something pretty awesome into the reward mix. Michael has already pledged TGCP, rallied his entire family to pledge TGCP, rallied friends near and far to pledge TGCP and donated dinner for two at his restaurant. Tonight, he offered up dinner for two , including wine from Dan Lee of Morgan Winery fame for anyone who pledges $100 or more. If you can get to Carmel Valley, I cannot recommend Michael's restaurant enough. It's more than a meal - it's an experience, and if you're a foodie, one not to be missed. Here's everything you need to know about why the Store is my fave restaurant on the Monterey Peninsula - and well beyond the (831) area code.

Big huge thanks to Hacienda Tres Rios and Michael Jones for believing in my project and for sweetening some already sweets deals.

i heart michael jones of cachagua general store. thank you.

"Funding Charyn is like an NPR pledge drive: you listen to Car Talk every week, yet still resist $1 a week to fund all of NPR for a year. I see The Global Citizen Project as a test of Facebook: - can we as a community support own of our own? What are friends for? I ask you for the price of a beer for Charyn, so that a talented writer can go off to worlds unknown and awful, work her butt off...and tell us about it. Please." --Michael Jones, Chef/Owner Cachagua General Store, Carmel Valley, CA

giving thanks

I have a lot of reasons to give thanks today. Nine reasons, actually. Big thanks to these nine wonderful new backers who believe in The Global Citizen Project and have made significant pledges to bring the total amount raised to $4,843. I am so close to the $5,000 (or 25%) mark and I have 39 days to go. If  you can help, every single dollar counts and pledges start at $1. I appreciate everyone who has posted my project to their blogs, websites, Facebook and Twitter pages and told their friends. I am hell bent on making this project happen, but recognize that I cannot do it alone. Thank you for all that you've done and all that you continue to do to make The Global Citizen Project a success.

Pat Jones, my dear chef/friend Michael Jones' 84-year-old mother who still teaches ESL in Cachagua (Carmel Valley, CA). She beat breast cancer last year and a busted vertebrae and is currently fighting pneumonia. Please keep Pat in your thoughts for a quick recovery. If she's anything like Michael, I know she's one feisty woman and I hope I get to meet her the next time I'm on the Monterey Peninsula.

Carol Cone of Chairman of Cone, Inc. Carol has been building sustainable partnerships between companies and social issues for more than 25 years. You can follow Carol on Twitter here.

Lisa Jones of LJ Communications, Inc. Lisa handles public relations for Whitefish Visitor Bureau (Montana), a destination I've had on my "To Visit" list for way too long.

Julie Dunn is the former journalist turned public relations pro behind the boutique agency, Dunn Communications in Denver, CO. I'm pleased as punch that our paths will cross later this month in Beaver Creek, CO.

Annie Danger Scott is a newish writer friend in my world. Our paths crossed on the loveliest of press trips in Kapalua, Hawaii. She writers for Gadling.com, Luxist.com and Tonic.com. You can check out Annie's blog, The Annie Scott Experience, here or follow her on Twitter here.

Jennifer Husbands is my super-smarty Ph.D friend from Hillside Elementary School who is changing the world the education from her homebase of Chicago. To this day, I still have fond memories of what she gave me at my 11th birthday at Pancott Gymnastic Center - a gray one shoulder, half tee. (I also rocked a perm in this era.) Thanks for posting TGCP on our Facebook page, too.

Libby Seiter Nelson is also a childhood friend. We haven't been in contact in years, but I will forever remember Libby as the gal who broke all the popular girl stereotypes and was one of kindest, most outgoing and giving people you'd ever meet.

Christopher Howell

Steve Jones

new backer reward - dinner for two at cachagua general store (carmel valley, ca)

Cachagua General Store is hands down my favorite restaurant/dining experience on the Monterey Peninsula. Open for dinner on Monday nights only, there a million reasons why I love Chef/owner Michael Jones, but his culinary rockstar skills and kick ass friendship top the list. (Our recent foodie tour de force of Seattle was an afternoon for the records.) It also doesn’t hurt that he put this super delish salad on the menu: Charyn’s Roast Baby Beet Salad with Coconut Chevre and Balsamic Reduction. Mmm…Michael has already pledged The Global Citizen Project and rallied several other donations from Carmel Valley and Philadelphia folks and also decided to offer dinner for two. He’s one heckuva cheerleader and I’m glad he’s on my team. If you know about Cachagua General Store, I know you love it, and if you don’t, I’d love to use this opportunity to turn you onto one of the best dining experiences you will ever have. Getting there is an adventure, but the reasonably priced wine list and menu that spans everything from Fresh Sardine Bocadillo with Mojito Mayonaisa and Mesquite Grilled DuRoc Farms Baby Back Pork Ribs to Micah’s Pizza with Crème Fraiche, Corralitos Ham, Carmelized Onions, Fresh Basil, Fresh and Domestic Mushrooms and Niman Ranch Lamb Chops with Mint Molé, as well as friendliest dining vibe you’ll ever find will make you an instant believer. Pinky swear.

Want to learn more about The Store? Read the reviews on Yelp or check out their Facebook Fan Page.