Kick Off the Giving Season with #GivingTuesday 2017

#GivingTuesday is Nov. 28!


It’s #GivingTuesday time once again! Please save the date for Nov. 28 to participate in this global holiday that celebrates generosity and kindness by giving to nonprofit organizations, such as SIFAT. Just as Black Friday and Cyber Monday kick off the holiday buying season, #GivingTuesday starts the giving season, reminding us what this time of year is truly about! Isn’t it exciting to be part of something greater than ourselves when we join together to give back!

For the fifth consecutive year, SIFAT is participating in #GivingTuesday. It’s the perfect time to take a break from the hustle of holiday shopping and embrace the spirit of giving! A group of dedicated SIFAT donors set up a matching fund of $35,000 to double your gift! The “rules” for #GivingTuesday are the same as last year. When you make an online donation at any time on November 28, your contribution will double because of the generosity of our SIFAT donors — up to the first $35,000 that we raise!

How to participate:

  1. Donate online through The Advance: We are asking donors to use our Advance #982812 page* to give, so that 100% of each donation goes to our general fund because the credit card processing fees are covered by The Advance. Simply click the large, red GIVE NOW button on the right side of the page.
  2. Donate online through our website: You can also donate directly to SIFAT on our website (www.sifat.org/donate). Click on the donate button, which will take you to our PayPal page. Remember, Southern Institute for Appropriate Technology is our legal name, so your donation will come to SIFAT.
  3. Donate by check: Mail your contribution to 2944 County Road 113, Lineville, AL 36266. Please designate #GivingTuesday on the memo line, and make sure we receive it on or before Nov. 28.

Last year, SIFAT supporters raised a total of $78,482.50 on #GivingTuesday. Help us reach our goal of $100,000 this year! Thank you for your faithful support to SIFAT and for doubling your impact by making a generous gift on Nov. 28. Please share this information with your friends and family to encourage them to give to SIFAT on #GivingTuesday!

Grace and peace,
Tom Corson
Executive Director

*The Advance is an official program of The United Methodist Church for voluntary, designated, second-mile giving. Each Advance project has been vetted and approved by Global Ministries and Advance staff.

         

Arrangements for David Bryson

It is with heavy hearts that we share the loss of one of our close SIFAT family members with you. David Bryson, husband of international training director Kathy Corson Bryson, died this past Friday. A second memorial service is being held Sunday, March 19, at 2 p.m. at Auburn UMC Founders Chapel. Visitation time will follow. In lieu of flowers, donations to SIFAT may be made in David’s memory.

Please join us in remembering David’s work with SIFAT through the years and in praying for Kathy and their four daughters: Brianna, Jennessa, Luci and Evie.

To read David’s obituary: http://www.sprywilliams.com/…/OurObituaries/tabid/80/id/173

Merry Christmas from SIFAT!



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Shop with SIFAT for the Holidays!  

As you start shopping this holiday season, please remember SIFAT! We have several ways you can help SIFAT during this holiday season of giving while checking names off of your holiday list. 

Visit the SIFAT Village Store online

 

Find unique gifts for your friends in family at the SIFAT Village Store. From books by SIFAT co-founders Ken and Sarah Corson and SIFAT t-shirts to Christmas angels and jewelry, the SIFAT Village Store lets your purchase impact others throughout the world. Proceeds from each purchase benefit SIFAT and those with whom we serve. Our online selection is limited, but if there are items you have seen in the store, email villagestore@sifat.org. If you are local and would like to come shop, call Marie or Peggy at 256.396.2015 to schedule a time.

 

The SIFAT Village Store promotes family businesses and cooperatives. Proceeds from sales directly benefit SIFAT!

Raise money for SIFAT when you shop online.

 

Did you know thousands of retailers will donate a percentage of your purchase to SIFAT? Use one of the services below and choose SIFAT as your charity. You will be redirected to your favorite store’s site to shop as usual. When you check out, the retailer sends a percentage to SIFAT, but you are not charged extra! Often special coupons codes are also available for your use on GoodSearch and iGive.

 

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Because of SIFAT supporters, Dr. Rebeca not only graduated high school, but furthered her education to become a dentist! She has joined Dr. Ruth Noemi to serve the Bolivian people in Quesimpuco and the surrounding communities as they implement a public health initiative.

Nontraditional Christmas Presents

 

In lieu of a traditional Christmas present, why not give your friends and family gifts that impact others throughout the world?

  • Purchase a Commemorative Brick at SIFAT
  • Make a donation to SIFAT in honor or in memory of someone — remember to include the name and address to whom we should send an acknowledgment

 

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During 2016, SIFAT has held training both here in the Alabama and internationally to train community leaders how to meet their basic humans needs and look for available assets that can benefit those with whom they are working.

 

Training: Environmental Monitoring Training in June

SIFAT is excited about an upcoming training opportunity to be held  June 28-30, 2016, on our campus. The following press release is from the 4-H Alabama Water Watch Program, with whom we are partners for this conference.

The 4-H Alabama Water Watch Program is partnering with five environmental centers around the state, including SIFAT, to provide teachers and volunteer educators with the opportunity to learn to use the Exploring Our Living Streams: Stream Biomonitoring and Water Chemistry Monitoring Curriculum.

During this two-day workshop, participants will learn to use the EOLS curriculum, which is correlated to the Alabama Course of Study and is endorsed by the Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative. Participants will also be certified as water monitors and will learn how they can certify youth as 4-H AWW Water Monitors.

Participants who complete this training will receive Continuing Education Units from Auburn University. Food and lodging is provided. This opportunity is funded in part by a grant from the EPA Office of Environmental Education.

*There is a $25 application fee due with registration.

Workshop Locations and Dates:

  • Troy University in Phenix City, Riverfront Campus – June 7-9
  • Weeks Bay National Estuary and Research Reserve in Fairhope – June 14-16
  • SIFAT (Servants in Faith and Technology) in Lineville – June 28-30
  • Black Belt Conservation and Research Institute at the University of West Alabama in Livingston – July 12-14
  • McDowell Environmental Center in Nauvoo, AL – July 26-28

Click here to download a flyer. For more info and to register, click here or call  he AWW Office at 334.844.4785.