I would like to appologize for my prolonged disappearance from gaia. The semester of school started and things started picking up and never really stopped.

Regarding my commitment to make a donation:

Unfortunately, I ran into financial hardships, and regrettably I was not nor am I at this time able to make a donation of that size.

I did, however, decide on donating to Kiva. While I could not donate the $3,000, I did donate $300 to various causes on that site. I also donated to the World Food Programme.

Some may ask why am I spilling my story over the internet for the world to see?  I came to this site to find people who wanted to make a difference in the world and sought out you all's opinion on what would be impactful. I made a commitment to do something to better the world and I intend on fulfilling it.

My name is Justin Thomas. I wish to make a difference in this world. While my pockets compare nowhere near Bill Gates or Warren Buffet and and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, I wish to make a difference.

I am very new to the Gaia website, but the purpose of the site is clear to me. I wish to make a difference by donating $3000 to a cause that I want the public to decide!!!

I have only seen  where I live, lived and vacationed, which is a very small portion of the world when measured by any standard.

Give me ideas of places and ways that I can make a real impact. I know $3000 isn't much, but it is what I have to make a difference

I will take your imput up until August 19, 2008. At that time, I will take all of your suggestions and anounce the winning suggestion by August 31.

As I walked the old lady across the street
One old lad came up to me.
He dug in his pocket, pulled out a dollar,
And said, "Here's your payment!"

I looked at him with staunch glow,
and said, "No Payment!!
Yeah I walked the old lady across the street,
And I bought that starving family a pack of meet,
It's true I prayed for the lady with burning eyes,
But payment for this I despise.
I did it out of love,
And not for recognition,
So I say Again, No Payment."

He looked up at me and begin to cry.
I say whats wrong mister, but there was no reply,
I said whats wrong again, and he opened his mouth wide.
"The old Lady you walked across the street, my wife,
That family you bought that pack of meet, mine.
The lady with burning eyes, my daughter,
And I'm the one you should slaughter."
"I spent all our money on drugs and alcohol,
And the rest that was left, I lost in a pool hall."