Amazing Story of Perseverance

[mlmpetert]

Awesome story it sounds like it will benefit many people for years to come.

I dont want to take away from it either, but does this bother anyone else:

Their big break came over the summer when Sen. Barbara Mikulski snared them $70,000 of federal money. Suddenly, with real cash, paper work and taxes to contend with, Berdan knew they needed legal help. They scored what ended up to be nearly $200,000 of legal advice over the years, pro bono, from the University of Maryland's Law Clinic.


Really 200k in legal and accounting work to do something good? It sounds like it all came from around last summer too, less then a years worth of work. Thank God it was pro bono. I wonder how many other attempts have been haltered due to the barriers of our tax system?

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by JoeRedskin

Well, I was hoping this would lead to a discussion of how govt., private enterprise and individual effort can create societal benefits. But I guess discussing the thread title is more interesting.

Yes from reading the article it sounds like despite the goverment they were able to open this home. I believe that it is only private enterprise and individual effort that can turn communities around. I urge all people to volunteer for one thing or the other. I love helping children and there is no greater high then seeing a child smile. One of my past groups I was with, did christmas for needy children or you could say children with worthless parents. I played Santa even though I'm not very fat and the memories that it brought I'll never forget. There was this one girl who followed me/santa around all day and became my little helper. This was back around 1995 and just about everyday I wonder what happened to this sweet little girl. Her mother was so bad she did not even show up to pick up her daughter and someone had to drive her home. But I know for that one day she was treated like the special person and I hope maybe that we helped her in some way.Thats why I wonder all the time about what ever became of her life. Is she even still alive. Sorry but goverment cannot do these things it takes people so thats why alot of times I'm against the goverment and there waistfull programs. Until we can get parents and neighbor hoods to take control there is no goverment program that can fix broken communities.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by firstdown

He never does that fo me.

for me

Anyway, I have a full-time job. There aren't enough hours in the day to fix all your spelling mistakes. Half of which I think you're just making up anyway because i can't imagine any literate adult is that bad a speller. You're, without question, the worst speller I've ever come across over the age of 2. And it just astounds me how awful a speller you are.

Good for a laugh every now and then though

[saden1]

This is a great story...you hardly hear of stories like this. For the past year my mother has been doing community work with disadvantaged children and boy are they disadvantaged. The state of Washington has a program that allows NGOs along with a Public School to apply for grants so they can fund their after school programs but apparently a lot of school don't care to or bother. Anywho, my mother had to literally threaten the school/district with litigation before the principle of the school would agree to apply for the grant along with the NGO she volunteers at. She's one tough lady and she has aspiration to run for school district board of director.

Old people with free time, they're a dangerous bunch.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by firstdown

Yes from reading the article it sounds like despite the goverment they were able to open this home. I believe that it is only private enterprise and individual effort that can turn communities around. I urge all people to volunteer for one thing or the other. I love helping children and there is no greater high then seeing a child smile. One of my past groups I was with, did christmas for needy children or you could say children with worthless parents. I played Santa even though I'm not very fat and the memories that it brought I'll never forget. There was this one girl who followed me/santa around all day and became my little helper. This was back around 1995 and just about everyday I wonder what happened to this sweet little girl. Her mother was so bad she did not even show up to pick up her daughter and someone had to drive her home. But I know for that one day she was treated like the special person and I hope maybe that helped her in some way.

Good stuff. I do volunteer work for kids every Thanksgiving/Christmas and other times during the year.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Good stuff. I do volunteer work for kids every Thanksgiving/Christmas and other times during the year.

I guess the reason I like helping children is because they are the innocent in all the crap that happens. I cannot remember do you have children?

[SmootSmack]

No kids yet

[mredskins]

Originally Posted by firstdown

Yes from reading the article it sounds like despite the goverment they were able to open this home. I believe that it is only private enterprise and individual effort that can turn communities around. I urge all people to volunteer for one thing or the other. I love helping children and there is no greater high then seeing a child smile. One of my past groups I was with, did christmas for needy children or you could say children with worthless parents. I played Santa even though I'm not very fat and the memories that it brought I'll never forget. There was this one girl who followed me/santa around all day and became my little helper. This was back around 1995 and just about everyday I wonder what happened to this sweet little girl. Her mother was so bad she did not even show up to pick up her daughter and someone had to drive her home. But I know for that one day she was treated like the special person and I hope maybe that we helped her in some way.Thats why I wonder all the time about what ever became of her life. Is she even still alive. Sorry but goverment cannot do these things it takes people so thats why alot of times I'm against the goverment and there waistfull programs. Until we can get parents and neighbor hoods to take control there is no goverment program that can fix broken communities.

Even though we mainly don't see eye to eye and you considered me the king of shit I still like you for post like this. Thanks for all your help with children!

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by mredskins

Even though we mainly don't see eye to eye and you considered me the king of shit I still like you for post like this. Thanks for all your help with children!

I don't want any thanks. I share those in hopes that someone might read it and decide to volunteer to help people out. Here is link to a great organization that has charters thoughout the US. I belong to a local chapter and we focus on hearing and speach impaired children. If anyone is intrested look for a charter in your area. Best part about our charter is 100% of all donations go to the cause.

http://www.sertoma.org/Page.aspx?pid=190

The Jaycees is also another great organization for younger people. I was a member for 8 yrs before I aged out. They have chapters in about every city and also have some pretty good parties.
About the Jaycees

I actually have no problem with you or your post just don't attack me personally if we don't agree. I actually like the nick name "king of shit" that would make a great name for a boat if the person owned a porta poty business.

[mredskins]

Originally Posted by firstdown

I don't want any thanks. I share those in hopes that someone might read it and decide to volunteer to help people out. Here is link to a great organization that has charters thoughout the US. I belong to a local chapter and we focus on hearing and speach impaired children. If anyone is intrested look for a charter in your area. Best part about our charter is 100% of all donations go to the cause.

http://www.sertoma.org/Page.aspx?pid=190

The Jaycees is also another great organization for younger people. I was a member for 8 yrs before I aged out. They have chapters in about every city and also have some pretty good parties.
About the Jaycees

I actually have no problem with you or your post just don't attack me personally if we don't agree. I actually like the nick name "king of shit" that would make a great name for a boat if the person owned a porta poty business.

I am fairly show I have never personally attacked you and by personal attack I mean name calling not pointing out when you are wrong or disagreeing with you.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by mredskins

I am fairly show I have never personally attacked you and by personal attack I mean name calling not pointing out when you are wrong or disagreeing with you.

I thought that was why I called you the king of shit.

[JoeRedskin]

Originally Posted by firstdown

Yes from reading the article it sounds like despite the goverment they were able to open this home. I believe that it is only private enterprise and individual effort that can turn communities around. I urge all people to volunteer for one thing or the other. I love helping children and there is no greater high then seeing a child smile. One of my past groups I was with, did christmas for needy children or you could say children with worthless parents. I played Santa even though I'm not very fat and the memories that it brought I'll never forget. There was this one girl who followed me/santa around all day and became my little helper. This was back around 1995 and just about everyday I wonder what happened to this sweet little girl. Her mother was so bad she did not even show up to pick up her daughter and someone had to drive her home. But I know for that one day she was treated like the special person and I hope maybe that we helped her in some way.Thats why I wonder all the time about what ever became of her life. Is she even still alive. Sorry but goverment cannot do these things it takes people so thats why alot of times I'm against the goverment and there waistfull programs. Until we can get parents and neighbor hoods to take control there is no goverment program that can fix broken communities.

I think you missed the point in the story where the kids big break came from getting 70K in federal funds. Yes. Much was contributed in terms of services from individuals and small companies, but government programs working with and facilitating the help of volunteers can make a huge difference.

The pro-bono legal services were undoubtedly part of the State university's system to provide practical education for attorneys. Thus, by creating and funding the public law school, the government created an enterprise that allows individuals to gain an education while, at the same, time, providing a more direct benefit to the community.

I think it is safe to say that, even with the contributions of private individuals, this project would not have gotten done without the assistance of government programs.

[CRedskinsRule]

Originally Posted by JoeRedskin

...

I think it is safe to say that, even with the contributions of private individuals, this project would not have gotten done without the assistance of government programs.

Amazing that no evil bureaucrat stopped it at the last minute. (wait, has it actually opened yet?)

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by JoeRedskin

I think you missed the point in the story where the kids big break came from getting 70K in federal funds. Yes. Much was contributed in terms of services from individuals and small companies, but government programs working with and facilitating the help of volunteers can make a huge difference.

The pro-bono legal services were undoubtedly part of the State university's system to provide practical education for attorneys. Thus, by creating and funding the public law school, the government created an enterprise that allows individuals to gain an education while, at the same, time, providing a more direct benefit to the community.

I think it is safe to say that, even with the contributions of private individuals, this project would not have gotten done without the assistance of government programs.

That federal money came from the citizens and I'd bet that it took over 100,000 grand for the feds to produce the 70 grand. So for the feds to hand out the money 30% or so was waisted in Washington. Not good use of funds. If the fed was a charity it would get a poor scoring because of this.

With what I put in bold I totally disagree with. There are 100's of thousands of organizations and places like this that get up and running without goverment assistance. I also bet that most of that 200,000 in legal services was to help deal with federal, state, and city ordinancesand red tape.

[JoeRedskin]

First,

To say that govt. assistance is never a good thing (as you seem to be saying) or that govt. is always an obstacle is just wrong. My point is that, in this case, the govt helped facilitate the volunteer efforts of many. Yes. Regulation exists, so do roads, and a comfort that our food is safe. You think any of that happens without govt. activity?

Generally, I agree that there is waste in govt. Duh. You want "the trains to run on time"? Go talk to the Nazis or some other form of totalitarian govt. In a democratic society, one of the costs for "fairness" is the lack of efficiency. It is a constant trade off.

Here, the project would not have happened but for the combined efforts of govt., officials (this started as a school project remember?), private companies, and the involvment of committed individuals. Is it so hard to acknowledge that govt. can actually serve a good purpose and beneficial purpose?