Dec

winners and Winners

Balloons Last night, the cupcake elves announced the winners of the drawings for Passports With Purpose prizes. I got all excited when I saw an e-mail headed “You’re a Passsports With Purpose Prize Winner.” Turns out they were not referring to ME (It’s not all about me???)–they were passing on the names of the three people who won the three prizes that I sponsored.

So why is it I FEEL like a winner?

I think when you travel to another country (or even another region within your own) you develop a special relationship with that place, don’t you? PwP has done that for me.

1. Because when I get appeals from Heifer International, I remember the modest beginnings of Passports With Purpose, when I was not yet an official travel blogger, so I could only contribute personally, not participate. But I was happy to contribute because Heifer is such a terrific organization, and I was blown away by what the community of travel bloggers had undertaken. How mind boggling that they could raise $7,500.

2. Because every time I think of Cambodia, a place I fell in love with when I visited, I see in my minds’ eye a school that I helped to build (if you don’t want to get a lump in your throat, don’t click that link, from Michelle’s blog). That year the effort DOUBLED its goal of $14,000 to raise $30,000.

3.Although I’ve never been to India, I was part of an effort that enabled people to live in solid houses because Passports with Purpose, in its third year busted right through its goal of $50,000 and raised $64,000 to build a whole village. (Beth wrote about her trip to watch the building) A part of India will always be a part of me.

4. Because now I know that kids in villages somewhere in Zambia will have access to books in TWO new libraries, because once again, bloggers from around the world and YOU, the readers of travel blogs, were so generous that instead of raising $80,000, PwP raised nearly $90,000. I’ve never been to Africa, but I am now connected to Zambia.

5. Because each year, Passport with Purpose has introduced me to

new-to-me charitable organizations, like this year’s Room to Read;
enabled me to form closer ties with sponsors I love;
made me part of a team of incredible writers with interests similar to mine.

Yep! I’m definitely a winner.

But some people contributed their $10 and walked off with some sensational prizes. They are winners AND Winners with a capitol W.

I don’t know who all the winners are, but I do have the names of those who won the prizes I sponsored.

I do not yet have permission to use the name of the people who won the New Orleans 3-night stay at Hotel Monteleone. (They possibly are around the world in another time zone and we just have not connected yet).

But I will put them into this post as soon as I get them. Meanwhile, if you’re checking to see if YOU won a prize from another blogger, check your e-mail messages–and be sure to check the spam filter, too. Not there? That’s okay–trust me, you’re still a winner.

Hotel Monteleone

Justin Lindblad of Willing Foot will travel to New Orleans for a three-night stay at the Hotel Monteleone in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Congratulations to Justin and thanks again to the wonderful Hotel Monteleone.

Interlink Books

Winner: Caitlin Fitzsimmons, writes a wide-ranging travel blog at Roaming Tales (“Travels on Planet Earth” –see! I said it was wide-ranging). Caitlin’s $300 book library from Interlink Books should fuel her future travels. Congratulations, Caitlin and thanks again to wonderful Interlink.

MacMillan Audio Books

Winner: Monique Rubin, a runner, ex-pat and mother, Mo writes about her travel at Mo Travels. She’ll surely enjoy listening to some audio books as she travels, thanks to the generous prize offered by MacMillan Audio Books. Congratulations Mo and thanks again to MacMillan, who have provided me with some great travel-inspiring novels.

You’re probably glad that I’m going to shut up about Passports With Purpose (until next year) and stop nagging you to donate. But I do have one more favor to ask.

Please, when you have a chance, utilize the products and services of our sponsors. And tell them thanks while you’re on line some time.

Sponsors from A Traveler’s Library:

The Heavy Hitters Who Underwrote the Whole Shebang this year:

RTW with Us (Platinum Sponsor)
Traveller’s Point (Silver Sponsor)
HomeAway (Bronze Sponsor)

I can’t begin to express my awe and admiration at what Pam, Beth, Debbie, and Michelle have accomplished over the past four years. You go girls! What’s next? buy a small country??

Whatever it is, A Traveler’s Library is IN.

So, tell us–are you a winner, or a Winner? And if you’re a Winner–what goodies did you take home?