Bitches Get Stitches

i have to give it to you people;
that 24 hours was fraking exhausting.
there were 94 entrants in the giveaway,
and the winners have been notified.

if i had tried to do this on my own, there’s no way i would have raised nearly the amount of money that we did. i’m not deluded; this was a total communal effort. without the sponsors and promotion by folks with two twitter followers to some of the knitterati who have thousands, none of this would have been possible without the help of all the people who worked to create a mini internet media blitz.

and this is really your doing,
you folks who donated the $10 you could spare
and some very generous folks who dropped some benjamins.
you all made it rain, and, according to my calculations,
we raised $4570.00 for the pittsburgh aids task force.

edit: according jennifer at the pittsburgh aids task, there were 99 donations and we actually raised a grand total of $4,765!

that’s equivalent to approximately 114 119 rapid hiv tests.
there were lots of sneaky folks who donated but didn’t tell me.

not bad for a day’s fundraising.

now i’m off for some finals reclusion,
but i’ll try to pop my head up occasionally.

later, bitches.

sorry but the giveaway is now closed! but if you still want to make a donation, please go here and then send me an email so i can add it to the grand total

thanks to everyone who helped me out.
this was amazing.
now, to bed!

(results will be posted tomorrow)
***************************************************
today is world aids day.

here are some statistics about hiv & aids:

-33.4 million people are currently living with hiv/aids

-more than 25 million people have died of aids worldwide since the first cases were reported in 1981

-according to the world health organization, most people living with hiv or at risk for hiv do not have access to prevention, care, and treatment, and there is still no cure

which is why the pittsburgh aids task force is such an important resource. in 20 minutes or less you can find out your status free of charge. they also provide support groups, emergency funds, and medical and comprehensive case management for people living with hiv/aids.

getting an hiv test for the first time was one the most frightening experiences of my life. looking back on it, i think most of my fear came from ignorance about hiv. i feel like i knew the basics, but that did nothing to overcome the visceral reaction i felt, a feeling stemming from the stigma in our country about hiv and aids.

i remember when i was growing up, they were constantly talking about hiv on television, but no one seems to be talking about it anymore. and yet the need for places like the pittsburgh aids task force remain vital for so many people.

that’s why i’m doing this fundraiser; if my little voice on the internet can help people find out their hiv status, or receive treatment if they test positive, it’s my obligation to do everything i can.

and so i give you the bitches get stitches world aids day project.

with the help of many generous sponsors,
i have a total of 25 prizes to give away to you, my lovelies,
in order to help raise money for the pittsburgh aids task force.
every $40 we raise means one more person can find out their hiv status in a safe, confidential, and professional environment at no cost to them.

wanna to help me out?
and get your hands on this loot?

the how:
1. click this link to make a donation at the pittsburgh aids task force. the suggested minimum donation is $20. if $20 is honestly out of your budget, donations in lesser denominations will be accepted.

2. shoot me an email at bgsworldaidsdayproject@gmail.com with your contact information and the amount you donated. the details of your personal information will be kept confidential.

3. winners will be chosen at random. it could be you!

the fine print:
*entries will only be accepted on world aids day itself! this means 12:00am – 11:59pm is your 24 hour window to make a donation and send me an email to be entered to win some loot. i’m in the eastern standard time zone here people, so my giveaway is too!

a surprise prize:
anyone who makes a donation of $100 or more will also be entered for a surprise prize: i will personally knit you a juneberry triangle. you pick the color, i pick the yarn.

so that’s it people.
below is some loot porn for you to drool over,
but make sure you look at the official prize list
just so you know all the possibilities.

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and to my sponsors: words cannot express how much your support means to me. you’ve turned my crazy late-night dream into a reality in under two weeks. i’ve definitely shed some tears of gratitude over that. i mean it.

now let’s raise some money bitches!!!!!

ps see all those little buttons down there that let you share this post on twitter, facebook, etc. use them.