This may be a little spammy, but hey, I'm not a newbie...

[JackS]

...and I'm wise enough to the ways here to know to label the subject accurately and take it to the "Anything Goes" board.

Anyway, after 27 years, I left the journalism biz last summer to work at a rebuilding non-profit in New Orleans. If you think that's in any way noble and want to express your support in a quick and painless manner, click on the link below and give a Facebook like to the picture that appears. That will register your vote for my non-profit in a contest to win a public relations contract (so that we'll have professionals on the case instead of someone like me posting to SportsJournalists.com when we need publicity...lol). We're small but we're mighty, and we'd love your help...

https://www.facebook.com/GambelPR/photos/a.10152076319760658.1073741831.178724495657/10152076327930658/?type=3&theater

Jack Styczynski
Tulane AmeriCorps VISTA
Youth Rebuilding New Orleans

 

[JayFarrar]

Done. I made it 300.

 

[JackS]

Thank you, Jay. I'll offer a personal thanks, if not a spot on my couch during Jazz Fest 2015, for anyone and everyone who follows your lead.

 

[JackS]

Thanks for the continuing support, folks. Much appreciated!

 

[spikechiquet]

Done. Yup..pretty painless. Hope it goes well.

 

[JackS]

Thanks, Spike. We're doing well, but running second at the moment, so we still need the help.

Cue "former journalist" violins.

 

[wicked]

Jack is a good man. Help him out.

 

[JackS]

Merci beaucoup, Wicked.

As further incentive, I invite anybody to read the letter below from one of our employees who was struggling mightily before our organization gave him a shot. We just recently promoted him to Assistant Construction Manager...

http://yrno.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Princes-Letter.pdf

 

[Diego Marquez]

I'm in. Looks like a good cause.

 

[JackS]

I promise you it is, Diego. Thanks for your support. I knew I could count on this community. We may be wretches, but we're socially conscious wretches.

We're still in second but within striking distance, so I'll repost the link here so others don't have to keep going back to the top of the thread...

https://www.facebook.com/GambelPR/photos/a.10152076319760658.1073741831.178724495657/10152076327930658/?type=3&theater

 

[albert77]

Done. I'm close enough to New Orleans to know that any sincere help is so badly needed. Good luck.

 

[JackS]

Thank you, Albert, and you're correct. Most people who visit don't realize it because the French Quarter and CBD are back in business, but I ride my bike to work every day past dozens and dozens of vacant and blighted houses in residential neighborhoods. Almost 9 years after Katrina, there are still 35,000 of them in the city. We buy them up one-by-one, and using volunteer labor to rehabilitate them, are able to sell them at cost but well below market value. We target teachers, so that they can get affordable housing.

We appreciate your vote.