In the Prologue of Getting a Life we pledged to donate 97% of the net proceeds we received from the book to the New Road Map Foundation (NRMF)in Seattle to support simple, sustainable and ecologically sound lifestyles. As we reported in the May 2002 News, we donated the proceeds from Getting a Life to New Road Map from 1996 through 2000. They, in turn, issued grants to a variety of organizations using an established funding criteria and process. Due to changes at NRMF, they suspended grants at the end of 2000 so beginning in 2001 we chose organizations ourselves that we decided were worthy of financial support.

With the donations (see below) we made in 2005, we have depleted the proceeds we received from Getting a Life and, as it is now out of print, we do not expect any additional earnings to come in. Therefore 2005 is our last year of donations to these worthy causes.  We feel gratified that we have been able to offer substantial financial help to the cause of simplicity and sustainability with the proceeds from Getting a Life over the last decade.  We encourage you to consider donating to these or other organizations that support these goals.

Here is where the money went for 2005:

Sarvodaya USA,  ($500), Tsunami relief in Sri Lanka. www.sarvodayausa.org

Puget Consumer’s Co-op Farmland Trust, Seattle, WA ($100), Supports preservation of organic farmland in the Pacific Northwest. www.PCCNaturalMarkets.com

Positive Futures Network, Bainbridge Island, WA. ($500), Publishers of YES! A Journal of Positive Futures Chairman of the Board, David Korten, Executive Director, Fran Korten. To support the ongoing work of PFN. For more info go to: www.yesmagazine.org

Cottonwood Foundation, White Bear Lake, MN ($500). Supports grass-roots, small scale environmental and social justice projects around the world. Focuses on the projects of indigenous peoples. www.cottonwoodfdn.org

Northwest Earth Institute, Portland, OR ($500). Provides educational programs focusing on lifestyle choices for sustainable living. www.nwei.org

Interfaith Community Church, Seattle, WA ($500). The ICC is an ecumenical, non-denominational, cross-faith organization that teaches and honors the common values and beliefs of all spiritual traditions. David also donates his time doing handyman and gardening work and currently serves as treasurer of ICC.   www.interfaithcommunitychurch.org

Genesis Farm, Blairstown, NJ ($100.00) Genesis Farm attempts to address the basic issues of our time in concert with other people. It was founded to make the land and the facilities available, where all people of good will are welcome. Here they raise serious questions about these crises and evoke the rich spiritual insights that are already within the hearts of all people. Genesis Farm focuses on the connections between the health and sustainability of the Earth itself and the health of human communities as experienced in particular bioregions. Most importantly it supports individuals to be part of creating that health both inwardly and outwardly. For more information: www.genesisfarm.org

Ballard Food Bank, Seattle, WA ($100.00) Following the old adage, "Think Globally, Act Locally," we decided to support the local food bank in our neighborhood this year. The food bank provides meals and food for the poor and homeless community in our area. http://www2.ci.seattle.wa.us/CrisisClinic/lev3/agdtail.asp?agencyno=3087

Interfaith Community Church Ethiopia Project, Seattle, WA ($200.00) Not only was the water well completed but, more books, school benches and uniforms plus eye treatment and glasses for children were delivered to a poor Ethiopian village in 2005. Our friends Judy Sanderman and Dennis Wilkins are now fundraising for another new water well, sustainable composting latrines and many more needed supplies. This effort is now a project of the Interfaith Community Church (ICC) and is fully tax deductable. For more information or to contribute contact Judy and Dennis at: judyden@gmail.com

gettingalife.org, Seattle, WA ($1500). Expenses for ongoing operation of this site including server charges, postage miscellaneous office expenses plus travel and expenses to two simplicity related conferences. Gettingalife.org is a total volunteer operation with no paid employees.

(Note: We also purchased the remaining inventory of Getting a Life from the publisher in early 2005. We've sold about two thirds of that inventory and continue to offer it to the public through this website until all stock is depleted. All net proceeds from these sales go to the ongoing operation of this site.)

Total Donations for 2005: $4500

Here is where the money went for 2004:

Puget Consumer’s Co-op Farmland Fund, Seattle, WA ($200), Supports preservation of organic farmland in the Pacific Northwest. www.PCCNaturalMarkets.com

Positive Futures Network, Bainbridge Island, WA. ($500), Publishers of YES! A Journal of Positive Futures Chairman of the Board, David Korten, Executive Director, Fran Korten. To support the ongoing work of PFN. For more info go to: www.yesmagazine.org

Cottonwood Foundation, White Bear Lake, MN ($500). Supports grass-roots, small scale environmental and social justice projects around the world. Focuses on the projects of indigenous peoples. www.cottonwoodfdn.org

Northwest Earth Institute, Portland, OR ($500). Provides educational programs focusing on lifestyle choices for sustainable living. www.nwei.org

Interfaith Community Church, Seattle, WA ($500). The ICC is an ecumenical, non-denominational, cross-faith organization that teaches and honors the common values and beliefs of all spiritual traditions. David also donates his time doing repairs, painting and gardening work at ICC. www.interfaithcommunitychurch.org

Genesis Farm, Blairstown, NJ ($300.00) Genesis Farm attempts to address the basic issues of our time in concert with other people. It was founded to make the land and the facilities available, where all people of good will are welcome. Here they raise serious questions about these crises and evoke the rich spiritual insights that are already within the hearts of all people. Genesis Farm focuses on the connections between the health and sustainability of the Earth itself and the health of human communities as experienced in particular bioregions. Most importantly it supports individuals to be part of creating that health both inwardly and outwardly. For more information: www.genesisfarm.org

Ballard Food Bank, Seattle, WA ($200.00) Following the old adage, "Think Globally, Act Locally," we decided to support the local food bank in our neighborhood this year. The food bank provides meals and food for the poor and homeless community in our area. http://www2.ci.seattle.wa.us/CrisisClinic/lev3/agdtail.asp?agencyno=3087

Freedom Project, Seattle, WA ($200.00) The Freedom Project strengthens the community through supporting the transformation of prisoners into peacemakers.  They offer training in concrete skills of nonviolence leading to reconciliation with themselves, loved ones and the community. Monica Wood, our friend and collegue at the New Road Map Foundation, has worked as a volunteer for this organization for years. For more information: www.freedom-project.org

Judy Sanderman and Dennis Wilkins Ethiopia Project, Seattle, WA ($100.00) After a very successful year delivering books, school benches and uniforms and shoes to a poor Ethiopian village with only $2800, our friends Judy and Dennis are now fundraising for a new water well in Gondar, Ethiopia in 2005. For more information or to contribute contact Judy and Dennis at: judyden@gmail.com

gettingalife.org, Seattle, WA ($300). Expenses for ongoing operation of this site including server charges, postage and miscellaneous office expenses. Gettingalife.org is a total volunteer operation with no paid employees.

Total Donations for 2004: $3300

As the available funds from Getting a Life have dwindled we’ve had to reduce the amounts and numbers of organizations that we’re supporting. After careful consideration here is where the money went for 2003:

Puget Consumer’s Co-op Farmland Fund, Seattle, WA ($500), Supports preservation of organic farmland in the Pacific Northwest. www.PCCNaturalMarkets.com

Positive Futures Network, Bainbridge Island, WA. ($500), Publishers of YES! A Journal of Positive Futures Chairman of the Board, David Korten, Executive Director, Fran Korten. To support the ongoing work of PFN. For more info go to: www.yesmagazine.org

Cottonwood Foundation, White Bear Lake, MN ($500). Supports grass-roots, small scale environmental and social justice projects around the world. Focuses on the projects of indigenous peoples. www.cottonwoodfdn.org

Northwest Earth Institute, Portland, OR ($500). Provides educational programs focusing on lifestyle choices for sustainable living. www.nwei.org

Simple Living Network, Trout Lake, WA ($500). Still the best darn Website on Simple Living in the world! Dave Wampler just keeps making it better. www.simpleliving.net

Interfaith Community Church, Seattle, WA ($500). The ICC is an ecumenical, non-denominational, cross-faith organization that teaches and honors the common values and beliefs of all spiritual traditions. David also donates his time doing repairs, painting and gardening work at ICC. www.interfaithcommunitychurch.org

gettingalife.org, Seattle, WA ($2000). Primarily for expenses for initial set up and ongoing operation of this site. Includes software, web design, monthly server charges plus travel expenses to sustainability conferences, business license and miscellaneous office expense. Gettingalife.org is a total volunteer operation with no paid employees.

Total Donations for 2003: $5000

In 2002 we supported the following organizations:

Genesis Farm, Blairstown, NJ ($500.00) Genesis Farm attempts to address the basic issues of our time in concert with other people. It was founded to make the land and the facilities available, where all people of good will are welcome. Here they raise serious questions about these crises and evoke the rich spiritual insights that are already within the hearts of all people. Genesis Farm focuses on the connections between the health and sustainability of the Earth itself and the health of human communities as experienced in particular bioregions. Most importantly it supports individuals to be part of creating that health both inwardly and outwardly. For more information: www.genesisfarm.org

Global Living Project, East Corinth, VT and Winlaw, BC, Canada, ($500.00) The mission of the GLP is to learn, embody and teach an artful way of life that equitably shares Earth with humans and other species. The GLP inspires people to harness their creativity, wisdom and compassion to make choices consistent with their deepest values and with what Earth can sustain. www.globallivingproject.org

Puget Consumer’s Co-op Farmland Fund, Seattle, WA ($2000), Supports preservation of organic farmland in the Pacific Northwest. Our donation was matched help purchase organic farmland near Sequim, WA which was scheduled for housing development! www.PCCNaturalMarkets.com

The New Road Map Foundation for the Simplicity Forum, Seattle, WA ($1000), September, 2002. For more information on the work of the Simplicity Forum see “Our Work” or go to www.simplicityforum.org

Peoples-Centered Development Forum for the Navdanya Project and the work of Vandana Shiva. Bainbridge Island, WA ($1000). We were honored to meet with Vandana Shiva at the Positive Futures Network in July. For more information on her work in seed preservation and Earth Democracy see www.vshiva.net. For more info on PCDF go to www.developmentforum.net

Positive Futures Network, Bainbridge Island, WA. ($1000), September, 2002. Publishers of YES! A Journal of Positive Futures Chairman of the Board, David Korten, Executive Director, Fran Korten. This donation was part of the PFN “High Impact” Campaign associated with the “Local Living Economies” issue #23, Fall 2002. An additional $1000 contributed in November to support the ongoing work of PFN. For more info go to: www.yesmagazine.org

Cottonwood Foundation, White Bear Lake, MN ($1000). Supports grass-roots, small scale environmental and social justice projects around the world. Focuses on the projects of indigenous peoples. www.cottonwoodfdn.org

Northwest Earth Institute, Portland, OR ($1000). Provides educational programs focusing on lifestyle choices for sustainable living. www.nwei.org

Master Gardeners Foundation of King County, Seattle, WA ($1000) Supports the Master Gardener programs in the Seattle area. To support organic gardening program in the Hispanic community at el Centro de la Raza. http://www.metrokc.gov/WSU-CE/Gardening/MasterGardener/index.htm

Running Strong for American Indian Youth, Lorton, VA ($1000). This donation was designated to support the organic gardening program on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. See www.indianyouth.org for details on all Running Strong programs.

North End Emergency Fund, Seattle, WA. ($1000) Times are tough in Seattle with the highest unemployment in the country this year. We decided to contribute to this social service agency in our neighborhood that provides shelter, food, clothing and other services to citizens in need. http://www2.ci.seattle.wa.us/CrisisClinic/lev3/agdtail.asp?agencyno=3087

Heifer International, Merrifield, VA ($1000). Heifer helps impoverished families around the world feed themselves, earn income and care for their environment. We bought a heifer and a “knitting basket” which includes four wool-producing animals with this donation. See www.heifer.org

Simple Living Network, Trout Lake, WA ($2000). Still the best darn Website on Simple Living in the world! Dave Wampler just keeps making it better. www.simpleliving.net

Interfaith Community Church, Seattle, WA ($1000). The ICC is an ecumenical, non-denominational, cross-faith organization that teaches and honors the common values and beliefs of all spiritual traditions. David also donates his time doing repairs, painting and gardening work at ICC. www.interfaithcommunitychurch.org

Total Donations for 2002: $15,000

(See May 2002 News for a list of 2001 recipients.)