This is BIG !!

We are thrilled to announce something BIG! 

In April of 2012, Josh Lansdale will set out to hike over 2000 miles of the Appalacian Trail - and he'll be doing it to raise money for Backpacks For Pine Ridge!

You can help out by sponsoring Josh per mile of the hike!  And you'll be able to follow his journey from his Facebook page! 

Click here to see more information about his hike and how to help out.   

Josh has made several trips to the Pine Ridge Reservation and has decided to do this to help raise money to provide backpacks and school supplies for the children living on the Rez.   Be sure to "Like" his Hike For Pine Ridge page on Facebook and share it with all your friends! 

The Shamrock Shuffle

Backpacks For Pine Ridge is a non-profit fund through The Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty.  On March 12, 2011, The Community Foundation will be hosting their 5th annual Shamrock Shuffle 5k and 10k at Union Center in West Chester. 

This year there is a new twist called The Shuffle Gives Back.  Each fund or charity can register as a team (which Backpacks For Pine Ridge has done) and for each 25 people who register for the Shamrock Shuffle on the Backpacks For Pine Ridge team, we will get a grant for $250!   If we get 50 people registered on our team, we'll get a grant for $500! 

Also each team that is the most recognizable and the most enthusiastic will be eligible for an additional $250! 

SO ...

Here's what to do ...

Go to the registration page of The Shamrock Shuffle's web site and register.  When it asks if you are on a team, click "yes".  A space will open up for you to type in "Backpacks For Pine Ridge". 

There are benefits to registering early as early registration is $25 a person.  Pre-registration will be $30 a person and day of the event registration will be $35 a person.  Early registration also includes a t-shirt and breakfast after the race. 

Generally a backpack with school supplies costs us about $10 each so if we get 25 people on our team, and get the $250, then each person on our team will represent a child on the Reservation that will be getting a backpack full of school supplies! 

Go register now and come out on March 12 for a fun time!

Help Needed

We could use your help. We are still in need of 300 boxes of 24 count crayons for the backpacks that will go to the Rez this year. If you want to help out, they can be brought to the Winton Rd. First Church of God in Fairfield during service times or they can be mailed to

Backpacks For Pine Ridge
6468 Kimberly Drive
Hamilton, OH 45011.

Thanks to anyone who can help!

I Know You Want One of These

So you say, "How can I get one of those mega cool bracelets?"

Simple - VOLUNTEER.

We'll need people to:

• Set up 10x10 pop up tents
• Work booths selling merch for the bands
• Park cars
• Be a host(ess) to see that the band members have everything they need
• and probably a lot of other things that I can't think of at the moment.

Contact Jessica if you want to volunteer

OR

If you have a bike (motorcycle) you can ride in the Charity Bike Ride and get one.

Contact Jeff if you want more info about that.

It's Time

It's hard to believe it but its that time of year again ... time to start raising funds for the purchase of backpacks and school supplies.

In July of this year we will leave for the Rez with a truck load of 500 backpacks filled with school supplies for children in 3 villages on the Pine Ridge Reservation!

But before we leave, it will be time to once again start purchasing for the 2010 school year. We purchase the backpacks from a distributor where we can get a good deal on them and purchase the school supplies as the "back to school" sales start in July. If we wait longer than that the prices are considerable higher which means less children will be helped.

So here we are, hat in hand, asking for your help. Any gift if greatly appreciated - especially in this tough economy. Remember all of your donations are tax deductible through the Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty.

Make your check out to:

Backpacks For Pine Ridge

The Community Foundation West Chester/Liberty

5641 Union Centre Dr

West Chester, OH 45069

You can also give online at the Community Foundation's web site. Be sure to indicate that it is for Backpacks For Pine Ridge.

Thank You!

Click it for the Kids

Got a minute? Here is a quick and easy way to help us help the kids at Pine Ridge and it won't cost you a penny. Click here to go to the DoSomething.org site and then click on the Projects page. Type in Backpacks For Pine Ridge in the "find a project" box and then vote for us!

Easy as can be and it can help us get the word out ... and that means more help for the kids.