Signout is hospital slang for the transfer of information between patient care teams. It is also the name of this blog, which represents one of the less dysfunctional ways in which Dr. Signout copes with her participation in a U.S. medical residency program.
It's October 1st (well it was yesterday, anyway), and I'm pretty excited, because this means it's the start of another DonorsChoose challenge. For those of you who weren't around at this time last year, DonorsChoose is an organization that pairs up your ka$hmoney with educational projects in public schools. You get to choose the project your money goes to fund from an enormous range of schools, subjects, and students. It's sort of like what tax dollars are supposed to do, only it actually works.
Last year, I set what I thought was an ambitious fundraising goal for Signout's readership, and you guys absolutely blew it out of the water. This year, there are more of you--and with you all being so fabulously wealthy (and devastatingly attractive), I figure we can aim even higher. Watch the graphic to your left to see how we're doing.
If you click on that graphic (or here), you'll get taken to a page that lists some projects I found especially worthy. You may note that some projects are depressingly basic--again, one asks for pencils and pens for students who can't afford them. Others are less basic, but perhaps bring back memories of some of the things that sparked fires in your teensy brains back before they became so massively overloaded with YouTube clip addresses and the names of smelly Italian sheep's milk cheeses.
Wouldn't you like to help create that spark for a kid with potential? Or at least, give her a pencil?
Even if you're not sure you want to donate, I urge you to browse the projects available. It'll make you righteously angry at the state of education in this country--and if it makes you angry enough to donate, so much the better. (I especially urge you to look at the essential lower-cost projects in the schools with the highest poverty levels.) I've got a few projects picked out on the Signout 2008 Campaign for Smart Kids page, but don't let that limit you; you can search by tons of different variables to advance whatever agenda you hold most dear--even to help fund schools in your neighborhood.
I hope you'll consider making even a small donation. Don't forget--smart kids turn into smart grown-ups, and smart grown-ups vote.
Education & Careers
Comments
So glad to see you keeping active in this endeavor. I'm in.
Posted by: A.L. | October 11, 2008 7:33 AM