Charity Spotlight
Finding the Spirit of Giving The High Spirit Foundation by Indygo Criss
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he High Spirit Foundation, brain child of Spirit Lexington, raises awareness and funds in Second Life for life altering diseases. Perla Rae, the COO/Director of High Spirit Foundation met Spirit and fell in love with the cause. I sat down with Perla before the High Spirit Runway Magic event on April 24 to discuss High Spirits purpose in Second Life and why Perla decided to join Spirit in her quest. Perla’s purpose is not only selfless, it is also one with a private and personal drive.
Tell me about the High Spirits Foundation. High Spirit Foundation organized 6 months ago. Spirit wanted to raise awareness of life altering diseases in SL after she experienced personal family losses to them. She decided to set up kiosks to raise awareness of breast cancer and Haiti. [These kiosks are set up all over SL and accept donations of Lindens.] Basically all the money goes directly into the kiosk and then converted into real life money to be given to the RL Canadian cancer fund and the Haiti Relief fund. I likes that Spirit has it set up so people can see exactly where the money goes, the charity is registered in accordance with guidelines’ of both foundations.
You mentioned expansions in the future, where do you see High Spirits going in the future? Well hopefully branching out to raise funds for all types of cancers and also for Alzheimer’s. These charities are near and dear to my heart as I saw my grandfather suffer from Alzheimer’s for over 15 years; slowly deteriorating. My grandfather helped raise me and I see him more as a father figure. My grandmother also died from colon cancer as well as many other people in my family. While I have never told anyone in SL this, I have been diagnosed with Crohn’s disease myself. So the drive to raise funds for cancer awareness is more of a personal reason. How do you fit into High Spirit?
High Spirits also gives to the Heart and Stroke Foundation. We are looking into partnering with the American Cancer Society in SL for future fundraising as well.
When Spirit told me about what she was doing, I saw that she was passionate. We connected immediately and I saw that she had all of her documentation in order, and since I have a big heart also, I wanted to do what I could, to do something special for others in SL. Spirit brought me on board as the COO/Director to help get the agency up and running. Since I have worked in Human Resources and done charity work in real life, I thought I would bring my talents in world. I have always wanted to help others since it is in my nature to do so. I have worked with Red Cross in RL, teach English as a second language and mentor refuges to help them acclimate to life in America. I joined the Foundation about six weeks ago. I am really looking forward to do all that we can do to raise funds in world for the charities with hopes to expand in the future.
How much money has High Spirits raised in world so far?
So after Runway Magic, what does the High Spirits Foundation have planned?
High Spirit has raised L$273,131 for 2009, L$269,574 for 2008 and L$209,367 for 2007. That converts to US$2,800. That money was raised before I came to High Spirits.
After our event on April 24th we plan to do more events that are specific to certain charities. We have a lot of ideas to share, such as a new club called Trendsetters. It will be a club for people to
Charitable Registration Number: 12799 3608 RR0001
What other charities does High Spirits educate on?
“Take time to smell the roses. Enjoy life. Respect life. Life is Beautiful” meet, relax and interact. The club has a nice dance floor, a lounge and will have various types of music. We plan to hold charity formals and other events there as well. Near the club are vendor shops and kiosks for donations. At the moment we are hiring positions in the club and the Foundation. We need all kinds of people, the basic club staff and other people who can help with the Foundation. People with skills in hosting, doing PR, models, bloggers, marketers and DJ’s. Those people interested should contact myself or Spirit Lexington. What else she would like to share with our readers. I would only like to add. “Take time to smell the roses. Enjoy life. Respect life. Life is Beautiful” Perla was a delight to meet and speak with. She is a driven woman, a beautiful avatar and an intelligent business woman. If you would like to be a part of the High Spirits Foundation and have the pleasure to know Perla and Spirit, I encourage you to get in touch with them and do some good with your SL time.
01 Perla Rae COO/Director of the High Spirit Foundation 02 Spirit Lexington CEO/Founder of the High Spirit Foundation
Article by Indygo Criss | Page design by Aceius Hax
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