non-profit status

If The Global Citizen Project is fully funded by its February 22, 2010 deadline, I will file with the IRS for non-profit 501(c)(3) status. According to IRS Publication 78, charitible donations are retroactively tax deductable for a period of one year prior to the approval date.

more thanks are in order

Wow. It's been a busy weekend in fundraisingland and I have a lot of people to thank for getting The Global Citizen Project to the 37% pledged point. I have 21 days and a ways to go to reach my $20,000 goal, so please keep the kindess coming and pass along the word. Big thanks to all 104 people who have believed in my project. I couldn't do this without you love, pledges and support. XO

Angela and Ethan Stowell, amazing Seattle restauranteurs behind Union, How to Cook a Wolf, Anchovies & Olives and Tavolàta fame, I'm admire the Stowell's committment to creating an honest culinary experience and for representing the PacNW's kickass culinary scene.

Andrea Arria-Devoe, dear friend and former DailyCandy.com San Francisco editor, and quite possibly the cutest new(ish) mommy.

Michele Mandell, another super fun foodie friend, Bay Area gal-about-town and Palo Alto/San Francisco restaurant and chef publicist.

Christine Ford, wife and better half of Executive Chef Dory Ford of Ventana Inn & Spa in Big Sur, CA.

Deborah Lander

Kent E. St. John, Senior Travel Editor at GoNOMAD

Chris "Topher" Mueller, Technology Coordinator at Stevenson School in Pebble Beach, CA and fellow wanderluster/humanitarian.

media mention: go nomad

Thanks are in order for Kent E. St. John, Senior Travel Editor of GoNOMAD for his kind words and write-up of The Global Citizen Project today. What an unexpected surprise! Thank you for helping to bring attention to my volunteer project. I have 22 days left to make it happen and every bit of attention helps!

wine for haiti - thank you

An abundance of thanks are in order for everyone who attended, donated or supported Wine for Haiti in any capacity. Today's event raised more than $3,000, which will benefit Doctors Without Borders, YELE and The Global Citizen Project. A lengthy list of thanks is forthcoming, but I wanted to send out a "y'all rock" APB to all the event players, and especially Garren Katz for pulling Wine for Haiti together in seven days. Once again, I'm completely blown away by the generous spirit of others. Thank you for stepping up to the plate to support such a worthwhile endeavor. XO

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

wow. thank you. the global citizen project is at $7,040. 23 days to go.

This Friday afternoon/early evening has been rocking with donations for The Global Citizen Project. Sending out big cyber love, high fives and hugs to the latest backers who helped push me over the $7k mark!

Thank you:

Amanda Kennedy, longtime friend from Hillside Elementary School whom I haven't seen in way too many years.

Colin Baugh & Erica George, newly engaged friends, Julian Serrano ain't got a thing on Erica's paella, Colin is Mr. Cocktail Extraordinaire and one of Seattle's top public relations pros. The Baugh/George duo is one of my fave couples to pow wow with -- especially on school nights.

Wendy Harvey, the public relations force behind The Fairmont Kea Lani, dear friend, and mama to the best-behaved, most well-mannered pre-teen daughter I've ever met. I often wish there wasn't an ocean between us, because everytime I see or hear from Wendy, I appreciate our growing friendship more and more.

I have 23 days left to fund The Global Citizen Project or else the project will not happen and I won't receive a cent. I need to raise between $500-600 per day for the next 23 days, so please help spread the word. If you feel so inclined, I've included some sample text you can cut and paste to your blogs and social media outlets. Feel free to tweak as you wish -- I'm just trying to make life as easy as possible for those who want to help.

Sample Facebook/Blog text
Help professional travel journalist, Charyn Pfeuffer swap her BlackBerry for a backpack and volunteer with 12 community projects in 12 countries over 12 months for The Global Citizen Project. She has 23 days left to raise $20,000 and if TGCP is not fully funded, the project will not happen and she will not receive a cent. So far, nearly 100 people have believed in TGCP and have pledged close to $7k. Donations start at $1 and there are several tokens of gratitude being offered for different levels of pledges. She hasn’t gotten this far without tremendous amounts of collaborative kindness and support and thanks you in advance for any donations to TGCP. http://globalcitizenproject.blogspot.com

Sample Tweet
Journo @global_gourmet is giving up a year to volunteer for 12 causes/12 communities/12 months. http://tinyurl.com/yamtr4y #kickstarter

media mention: be a travelbee

Aww...The Global Citizen Project is one of Be A TravelBee's "Three Travel Bites of the Week."  Yay! What's even cooler is that I get to share wonderful cyber edit company with The Vacation Gals, who are one of the five finalists for the 2010 Weblog Awards. (Hint, hint: you can vote until January 31, 2010!) Thank you so much for including me in this week's round-up, have a great weekend and good luck to The Vacation Gals! XO

wine for haiti - silent auction items

Here's a quick refresher on this Saturday's Wine for Haiti event in Seattle. Complete details can be found here or you can follow the festivities on Twitter at #NWforHaiti.

• Swing by the Vineyard Table on Saturday afternoon between 1-4 p.m. Please note: Vineyard Table can only accommodate 50 people at a time and this is a KID-FRIENDLY event.
• Make a $25 suggested donation, then plan on trying some exciting wines. We will be opening many fun bottles to try at the event and will also have some tasty snacks to nosh on - all while raising funds for three fantastic organizations focused on Haiti.
 • The first 50 people through the door will take home a bottle of wine from event organizer, Garren Katz' cellar with a value of at least $25. That is right, you will be taking a bottle of wine home with you. It’s a great deal.
• If you get that feeling – that extra credit generous feeling – bid on one of more than two dozen silent auction items listed below.

Donations

• 90-minute massage or craniosacral session with Kathy Jakielski, LMP ($95 value)
• Three 40-minute dog walks with Dawgs N Me owner, Alan Walk ($75 value)
• Four wine tasting event tickets at Portalis wine shop + wine bar ($75 value)
• Chef and Father DVD series w/bonus CD by creator, Greg Johnson ($60 value)
• Original wall art from Mount Salvation creator, Conor Mitchell ($75 value)
• Four one-hour Italian lessons via Skype, web chat or phone with instructor Karen Carver-Chambers ($200 value)
• In-home cooking class for two families from Chef and Father creator, Greg Johnson, plus DVD ($300 value)
• In-home three-course dinner for six prepared by chef Tom Black with paired wines from Trey Bush’s Sleight of Hand Winery in Walla Walla ($900 value)
• One-hour massage from therapist, Laura Sanderson ($80 value)
• Overnight stay at vineyard house at the Inn at Red Hills ($300 value)
• Two hour family/couple portrait session with Seattle photographer Kenna Klosterman ($200 value)
• Haircut at Coupe Rokei salon in Seattle with stylist Sara Preece ($75 value)
• 1 lb. of coffee beans from Lighthouse Roasters in Fremont ($15 value)
• Six pack of awesome Chutneys, Relishes and Plum butter homemade by Garren Katz (YUMMY value)
• Six hour architectural design consultation with ROHLEDER BORGES ARCHITECTURE architect Daniel Gero ($500 value)

Supporters

• Alexanderia Nicole -  three bottle lot ~signed~ ($110 value)
• De Lancellotti - two bottle lot ~signed~ Pinot Noir ($120 value)
• Patricia Green - 3 liter bottle of Oregon Pinot Noir ~signed~ ($185 value)
• Patricia Green - four year vertical of Eason Vineyards Oregon Pinot Noir ($100 value)
• Thirsty Pagans -  “Communion” Horse Heaven Hills four bottle lot ~signed~ ($100 value)
• Waters Winery - (magnum) ($100 value)
• Waters Winery -   three bottle lot ($100 value)
• Queen Anne Winery - (2) two bottle lots ~signed~ ($70 value)
• Buty Winery - two bottle lot “buty & the BEAST” donated by Keith and Julie Salas ($90 value)
• WineGirl Wines - two bottle lot “kamari black label” ($65 value)
• WineGirl Wines - two bottle lot “Rat City Rollergirl” series ~signed~ ($50 value)
• Falling Rain Cellers (TBD)
• Elsom Cellars (TBD)

Big thanks to everyone who has donated and/or pledged support for this fantastic fundraiser. We raise a toast to you!

media mention: winegirlblogs

Thanks to WineGirlBlogs for featuring Saturday's Wine for Haiti event in Seattle on the blog today.

As you may know, Garren Katz has work tirelessly this week to pull together this ad hoc, wine-centric fundraiser for three worthy organizations that will help Haitian relief efforts:

• Wyclef Jean’s (a native Haitian) YELE foundation
• Doctors Without Borders
• The Global Citizen Project

Stay tuned this afternoon for a complete list of silent auction items.

travel writer tip - 101 holidays - the harmony hotel

I admit it. I hotel-hopped like only Lindsay Lohan knows how in 2009 (in the name of work, natch). Although there were lots of memorable one-night stays, my slumber at The Harmony Hotel was made of top five memories and material.

Top UK travel writers and 101 Holidays editors, Mark Hodson and David Wickers, featured my travel writer tip for The Harmony Hotel today on their site. You can read about why The Harmony Hotel rocks here. You can also read my HotelChatter.com write-up, "Seek Out Cute Surfer People at The Harmony Hotel," here.

the global citizen project has raised $6,665 towards its 20k goal.

Lots of love and thanks need to go out today...

The Global Citizen Project now has 94 awesome backers who have pledged $6,665 towards its $20k goal with 26 days to go. Thank you so much for pushing me that much closer to making my 12 country volunteer project a reality. You all are the best! XO

Andrea Burnett, longtime friend stemming from a saucy Marie Claire feature, owner of  Andrea Burnett Public Relations, constant source of super fun work (Hello, Siegfried & Roy?!)

Kim Farin, incredibly cool woman, mama to Nelson the wonderpup, and A+ advocate for the Boulder Conventions and Visitors Bureau. As if I needed another reason to love Colorado.

Craig Nyman, longtime work associate that I finally got to meet face-to-face last week in Las Vegas, works for Kirvin Doak Communications, killer hospitality client list

Jessica Rodriguez, the woman has her own beer stein at The Golden Bee at The Broadmoor, plus she's  heading up the new New York office of Wagstaff Worldwide, Inc. One of my fave people to paint the town red with -- whenever/wherever.

Sarah Braley, new friend made last week in Beaver Creek, still celebrating her fab 50th birthday (bring on a new bed and London!), Senior Editor at Meetings & Conventions

Diamond Public Relations -- I don't like to play favorites, but I've been working with Diamond PR for years and consider Jody and her team to be top dog pros. I pretty much find any edit excuse to  work with Jody and her clients. Big XO to Jody, Kara, Robert, Lara, Sarah, Allison and especially, Sandy

wine for haiti - this saturday

Hello and a head's up for my Seattleite friends: I am working with my wonderful new(ish) friend, Garren Katz, to raise funds via Wine for Haiti this Saturday for Haitian relief efforts. I have posted this on his behalf, but please know that I am fully involved, supportive and honored to be one of the recipients of funds raised for this worthy cause. Thank you, Garren for taking the initiative to organize this ambitious event -- especially on such short notice. I know it will be a smashing success!

Here's what Garren has to say about Wine for Haiti:

The earthquake in Haiti has been a tragedy of unimaginable proportions. The poorest nation in the western hemisphere has been turned to rubble and with more than 200,000 deaths – it’s hard to actually comprehend. When I realized that Tacoma has a population of 197,000, my chest clenched and I realized that I must do something. That was the genesis for the Wine for Haiti fundraiser.

Alone, I am unable to contribute as much as I’d like, so I decided to call upon the collaborative powers-that-be and put together a fundraiser with one simple goal in mind – to raise a boat load of money for people that are desperately in need of help. I don’t have a lot of extra money, but what I do have is a large stash of wine that’s built up over the years, and thus, Wine for Haiti was born.

The concept of Wine for Haiti event is simple:

•  Swing by the Vineyard Table on Saturday afternoon between 1-4 p.m. Please note: Vineyard Table can only accommodate 50 people at a time and I want as much foot traffic as possible.
•  Make a $25 suggested donation, then plan on trying some exciting wines. We will be opening many fun bottles to try at the event and will also have some tasty snacks to nosh on - all while raising funds for three fantastic organizations focused on Haiti.
•  The first 50 people through the door will take home a bottle of wine from my cellar with a value of at least $20. That is right, you will be taking a bottle of wine home with you. It’s a great deal.
•  If you get that feeling – that extra credit generous feeling – bid on one of more than 20 silent auction items (partial list below).

Silent auction items:

•  Large format bottles, as well as multi-bottle lots from some of the best wineries in Washington and Oregon.
•  Original art from local artists
• In home dinner for 6 prepared by amazing local chef Tom Black; paired with wines from Walla Walla   Winery Slight of Hand.
• A salon visit at Coupe Rokei in downtown Seattle.
•  In home cooking class for 2 families from Chef and Father creator, Greg Johnson
• Gift Certificates to local restaurants
•  An overnight stay at the Inn at Red Hills
•  A one hour massage from therapist Laura Sanderson
•  The remainder of the items will be added between now and Saturday

It’s my goal to raise $1,000 per hour, so please pass along Wine for Haiti details via word-of-mouth and your social media networks (Facebook & Twitter etc.). The more traffic this event receives, the more that we, as a collaborative effort, can help Haiti. 100% of these proceeds from this event will benefit Haitian relief efforts. Remember, this is a private event, so again, please pass this invite along to friends and family only. But, pass it on to a lot of them!

You may make your donation at the event (cash or check).

If you can’t make the festivities, but would still like to contribute, or perhaps you want to contribute with a debit or credit card, simply click on this link to complete your transaction in advance. If you are coming to the event and donated in advance, please print your ticket right from the BPT site. Our preference is for you to use this process, as it will make it easier for us to plan for the event.

You may also follow along on Twitter at #NWforhaiti -- we’ll be Tweeting all the feel-good fundraising details throughout the day.

Hope you can stop by for a fun-filled afternoon of helping Haiti. THIS IS A KID-FRIENDLY EVENT.

Wine for Haiti beneficiaries:

• 45% Wyclef Jean’s (a native Haitian) YELE foundation
• 45% Doctors without Borders
• 10% Local Seattleite Charyn Pfeuffer’s The Global Citizen Project

Charyn has traveled around the globe in the capacity of a professional journalist and have been profoundly impacted by the communities most underserved. It is her plan to swap her BlackBerry for a backpack and promote 12 selected causes and communities, as well as responsible travel via her platform as an influential journalist. Due to the tragedy in Haiti, Charyn made Haiti a top priority of the volunteer projects she’ll serve over the next year and has committed one month to Haitian relief efforts.

Find out more about Charyn’s project via Kickstarter here or her blog here

overdue thanks

My apologies for the delay in giving a big, huge, heartfelt thanks to these 11 folks who've pledged The Global Citizen Project over the past week or so. I was in Las Vegas, NV and Beaver Creek, CO for work and got sucked into the Sin City vortex of neon lights, celebrity chef run restaurants, and oh yes, Viva Elvis -- Cirque du Soleil style. Next, I made my way to the Rocky Mountains, where my stay was timed perfectly with round-the-clock snowfall (and some really fun snowshoeing and skiing).

I'm back in home sweet home Seattle and rested and ready for the final 26-day stretch of fundraising for The Global Citizen Project. Right now, 88 backers have pledged $6,110 towards the $20k goal. Time is of the essence as I near the final stretch for fundraising, and I would be greatly appreciative if you’d consider making a pledge. Every little bit helps and you can even pledge less than the cost of a cup of coffee. I haven’t made it this far without tremendous amounts of collaborative kindness and support and thank you in advance for any love you can show to The Global Citizen Project.

With many thanks and gratitude,
Charyn

Now, let's give a big cyber high five to these 11 awesome people:

• Alberto Inza, friend and founder of Argentina 444, an all-inclusive, 10-day, first class, food-themed travel package taking place over 2010 to four cities in Argentina over four seasons with four renowned chefs -- Nancy Silverton (Osteria Mozza, Los Angeles), Chris Cosentino (Incanto, San Francisco), John Sundstrom (Lark and Licorous, Seattle) and Maria Hines (Tilth, Seattle)
• Amanda Jackson, publicist extraordinaire at Ypartnership who also handles Visit Honduras.
• Anthony Rosas
• Caitlin Powell
• Doug Spaulding, my dear travel writer friend, Amanda Castleman's incredibly funny boyfriend, my new friend, and one half of one of my favorite couples to play date with.
• Geraldine Eisendrath, super friendly/sweet/kind new food and travel writer friend made on Twitter. Follow her on Twitter here or check out her website here.
• Jennine Sower Salzgeber, a longtime family friend, wife to Clinton Sower (one of my stepmother's former students) and a lovely individual I haven't seen in far too long.
• Shannon Hurst Lane, fab left-handed Louisiana-based travel writer who runs Travel Tips & Deals. Follow Shannon on Twitter here.
• Terry Gallagher
• Timothy Mitchell, a fellow Kickstarter and Pacific Northwest native.
• Wendy Hartley, big-hearted PR gal for for London Drugs, London Air, and Sonora Resort (a property I lust to visit at some point in this lifetime). Follow Wendy on Twitter here.

new backer reward - complete line of kyoku from men - luxury japanese grooming line

Designed specifically for men’s skin by Asim Akhtar, Kyoku for Men products combine cutting-edge skincare technology with effective natural ingredients, such as ginseng, green tea leaf, bamboo, chamomile and avocado oil.

Kyoku for Men incorporates ancient Japanese knowledge of the active properties in natural extracts with up to the minute scientific research, resulting in the ultimate luxury grooming line for the active urban lifestyle.

Exfoliating Facial Scrub ($49 value)
Volcanic ash, adzuki bean powder, rice bran, walnut shells, and goat’s milk combine to deep clean and smooth away dead skin cells and remove excess oil.
Daily Facial Cleanser ($29 value)
Ginseng, camellia leaf, peppermint, calendula, sunflower oil, and oat straw extract work together in penetrating pores and creating a clean, healthy environment that promotes skin cell regeneration
Razor Repair Balm ($34 value)
Chamomile, witch hazel, aloe vera, and ancient Japanese oils team up to combat post-shave inflammation, reducing the appearance of bumps and redness.
Oil Control Lotion ($49 value)
Unique dual action microparticles absorb excess oil, leaving the skin shine free and fully hydrated.
Facial Moisturizer (SPF 15) ($49)
Bamboo, avocado oil, green tea leaf, aloe vera, plankton, and vitamin E combine to keep skin looking young, protected and extraordinarily smooth.
Lip Fuel (SPF 15) ($12.50)
A combination of three organic butters, avocado oil, green tea leaf and peppermint to soften and energize lips.

($202.50 total value)

the value of a volunteer

Randy LeGrant, Executive Director of GeoVisions, a US-based organization that offers volunteer abroad programs, work and travel, teach abroad, and wildlife conservation projects, does an excellent job explaining the role of a volunteer, the responsibilities of the project coordinator and how I will impact the 12 communities I serve. Thank you, Randy, for taking the time to comment on this topic. I really appreciate your insights and hope it lends some clarity to those who may be unclear of the vital role of the volunteer.


From Randy LeGrant:

As the Executive Director of GeoVisions (we send thousands of volunteers abroad each year), we work hard everyday to staff 70 projects globally. The notion that a volunteer can do no good unless they commit to a really long project is an argument we are dedicated to eradicating.

It isn’t the VOLUNTEER who is sustainable. It is the project. If I have 3 hours to volunteer at the local food pantry, I might never go back. But the food pantry had me for 3 hours to help unload a truck. The local food pantry will be here years from now. It is the project that is sustainable. Next week I might volunteer at a soup kitchen for 2 hours. I’ll be gone. The project will be there. The notion that we have to dedicate weeks or months to one project for our volunteering to be worthy is wrong. And it sends a negative message to people who are PLANNING to volunteer and now might think they are not doing enough.

I’ve personally looked over the 12 projects Ms. Pfeuffer plans to make a part of her life. She is:

• Giving up a year of her life to help others

• Calling attention to voluntourism through her writing and Kickstarter

• Making her trip “interactive” by listening to her readers about which projects will receive her

• Dedicating a lot of time to researching available projects and asking lots of questions

I head up a voluntourism organization, and if I had to choose to send one of our volunteers to one project for a year or 12 projects over the year I’d suggest to them the latter. In fact, you cannot volunteer with GeoVisions longer than six months.

Again, it isn’t the volunteer who is sustainable. The volunteer helps for a day, a weekend, a week or a month. Even gap year kids move around – usually 3 to 4 projects in a year.

Lastly, Ms. Pfeuffer is a writer. Her talents will be used to call attention to 12 projects in 12 months. I would love for her to be on one of our projects because not only will she write about it from first-hand experience, she would be able to tell us where we could strengthen the project and that is always information any project needs.

$20,000 for 12 months? I dunno. I look at one of my competitors here in the U.S. just down the road from me and it costs $4000 for a month. If Ms. Pfeuffer can do a year on $20,000, that is a story all on its own.

I don’t want anyone to think volunteering is based on how long you can contribute your time. Or that it is the volunteer who has the responsibility of sustainability. We place college study-abroad students on weekend projects. We have people call us from tours asking us if they can volunteer for a day – most recently a magician we sent to a school for a day (after his references were checked out). We send people for a week. And for six months. It is the responsibility for the project and for the project sponsor to make certain the work is sustainable. It is for the volunteer to lend a hand.

Volunteers always go abroad thinking they will change the world. Even those who are on site 6 months may return home disappointed that they leave behind a project still in need. That’s normal. That is part of the process, and from my perspective, Charyn will learn that on her own, if she is funded. She has some lofty goals, and some won’t pan out. Some will change and go in other directions. And she will have helped a lot of people, she will have written for a year and inspired a lot of people, and she will come home a different person.

You go girl.

Randy LeGrant
GeoVisions

media mention: trip quips

Thank you Lisa Rogak, author of New York Times bestseller, Barack Obama In His Own Words, for writing about The Global Citizen Project on Trip Quips.

Read Rogak's article, "It’s a Small World After All" here.

"As the earthquake in Haiti demonstrated to us, the world is indeed a small place. And while many of us would like nothing more than to jump on a plane and head to the island to help out, the truth is that it’s often better to have our dollars speak for our intentions and let others go and do the real work..."

letter of recommendation

Charyn is an outstanding steward of community service in her provision of her gentle spirit, time and good will. I can't say enough to underscore the merits of Charyn's good intentions and capacity for volunteering. I happen to know first hand as I met Charyn when she was a volunteer at the Women's Cancer Resource Center in Berkeley, California in 2000.

I was the Volunteer Coordinator and interviewed Charyn to be of support to women with cancer. I quickly learned of Charyn's personal and intimate catalyst to the giving of her time in this specific field of cancer as her own mother died of cancer when Charyn was a teenager. Charyn was profoundly affected not only with grief, loss and a permanent altering of her family structure, but also because Charyn experienced first hand what it was like to witness and experience hardship. I feel this softened and carved out Charyn to the amazing women she is today. I also see it as a prominent presence behind her many acts of selfless giving - whether it be of her time, her compassionate nature, her exceptional skill and ability to capture the essence of life in the written word or with practical resources. While Charyn's resilient and committed nature has been partially affected by her personal experience, it certainly does not start or end there. Her commitment to volunteering is humbling - and something I have admired within Charyn since the day I met her 10 years ago.

Charyn has moved me to my core with her intention and passion to be of global service with The Global Citizen Project. It takes a very unique, courageous and phenomenal person with the mind, energy and gumption to take this on. Very few people I know could do it - but there is no doubt in my soul that Charyn is one.

I feel honoured to contribute what I can to support Charyn - and I hope you can as well. If it isn't me working alongside Charyn in this capacity, then the next logical step is to support of of the most kind hearted, committed and selfless woman that I know to make it happen.

Tammy Dyson, MSW, RSW
Vancouver, BC Canada

new backer reward: two-night stay at the woodmark hotel, yacht club & spa

The Woodmark Hotel, Yacht Club & Spa is the only hotel on the picturesque shores of Lake Washington. Personal and comfortable, the Woodmark features 100 rooms, including 21 suites, most with views of the lake, and all with luxury amenities. The Woodmark is the ideal in-town retreat only minutes from downtown Bellevue and other Eastside destinations. It offers a full-service spa, two exceptional restaurants, distinctive event spaces and an intimate, residential, waterside ambiance. Most importantly, Woodmark people are warm and genuine, anticipating guests’ every need. Popular for corporate events, weddings and important family occasions, the Woodmark is ultimately a place where everyone feels at home, and home is a relaxing and rejuvenating place set apart by the water. Learn more about this fantastic property here. (This two-night stay is a $550 value.)

media mention: tonic

Thank you, Annie Danger Scott for your fantastic article on The Global Citizen Project today on Tonic.com. I am really touched by your kind words (blush) and especially appreciate these observations:

"Pfeuffer's career and history actually make her exceptionally qualified to work as a worldwide humanitarian...Lastly, she's sure to write about her experiences when she returns and raise awareness about issues we've yet to fathom, as well as educate us about the beauty of our world...Charyn is just the kind of person we want representing America; earnest, kind, hard working and wicked smart."

Thank you so much for making my Monday afternoon and for believing in my project. I have 35 days left to make it happen and I know I can do it.

media mention: wandermelon

Big thanks to Ann Wycoff, co-founder of Wandermelon, one of my fave online travel destinations for news, inspired articles, insider tips/deals and all-around visual prettiness for posting this news piece about The Global Citizen Project today. Follow Wandermelon on Twitter here or fan this crew of travel insiders on Facebook here.