Support Peaks Over Poverty & Member Eric Dalski

Please read this special note from Green Spaces member Eric Dalski of Highview Creations:

I hope that this email finds you well and that you have a festive and wonderful Holiday Season.

This January, I have decided to take my obsession for the mountains, nature, and outdoor activities to the next level.  I have always hiked and climbed wherever I could, checking off my long list of summits and peaks one at a time.  After years of exciting ascents and memorable experiences, I think I'm now finally ready to go for the climb of a lifetime, all while coupling it with a fundraiser for a truly remarkable organization.

On January 23rd, 2011, I will be climbing Cotopaxi, an active stratovolcanic glacier that rises to an elevation of 19,388 feet.  The summit is the closest point to the sun in the world.  I will be gathering funds by partnering up with Peaks Over Poverty, a not-for-profit organization that promotes healthy living, conservation of mountain resources, and sustainable living to poor and remote third-world mountain communities.  Their mission is simple, but it goes a long way.  If we don't help these impoverished areas through sustainable social, economic, and environmental progress, the world will never turn off the destructive path it is currently on.

I am asking you to help contribute any amount for a very good cause.  With funds I raise from this climb, Peaks Over Poverty will partner with Groundswell International to promote sustainable development.  Rather than give away material aid, Peaks Over Poverty and Groundwell International teach sustainable agricultural techniques and cultural practices to the native population.  As a result, mountain farmers will learn how to use their natural resources to grow enough food for their families, restore their environment, and earn a living, all through sustainable means.  As they say "Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today.  Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime."

I hope that you will consider donating to this cause.  To make a 100% tax-deductable donation and support my climb, please visit my personal webpage at http://eric.peaksoverpoverty.org, and click on the "Donate" button.  You can also contact me for a pledge form, which I can send to you.  In return for sponsoring me, I will print your name (or company name) on the flag I use to mark my summit of Cotopaxi, and send you a picture of me from the top!  I'll try and keep them as personal and creative as possible.  You can also stay updated on my adventure (the acclimation climbs, the people I meet, etc) at my webpage.  I'll be posting pictures, stories, and videos throughout my trip.  You can also check out more about the Peaks Over Poverty organization by checking out their website at http://www.peaksoverpoverty.org.

I am very excited for this journey I am about to take and am honored to be one of the first in a trend of responsible tourism.  More importantly, I am excited to do something of such importance that actually makes a real long-term difference.  I look forward to your help and support!

Thank you so much,

Eric