Give a homeless person a lifeline

I met the Executive Director of a nonprofit group called Community Voice Mail earlier this year at a course at Stanford. Community Voice Mail a great organization; they provide voicemail to people who don't have their own phones, which can often make a huge difference to people in turning their lives back around.

I just found out that they have been selected by Amazon and Stanford as one of 10 finalists in the Amazon's Nonprofit Innovation Award. If they win, they get $1 million from Amazon!

You can help them win by donating and thereby "voting" for them using the link below.

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Amazon Nonprofit Innovation Award details [3]

View this short video for an overview of CVM

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Great news. Community Voice Mail (www.cvm.org) [8] has been selected as 1 of 10 finalists who could receive ONE MILLION DOLLARS from Amazon.com [9]!

Why did Amazon choose us? Annie's story says it best:

"My husband had been beating me and terrorizing the kids. Many times I tried to plan an escape, but I was afraid to use my own phone" says Annie. "How can you make a plan if no one can contact you and tell you where you should meet? My Community Voice Mail number made it possible to get messages, and allowed rescuers to get me and my kids to safety," Annie says with relief.

You can help end fear, homelessness and poverty by putting a vital connection into the hands of thousands in need - their own voicemail number.

Join the contest. [10] Individuals will have the chance to donate until September 30, 2005. Then, Amazon will award a matching grant of up to $1 Million: a phenomenal sum to an organization like CVM.

Your donation to CVM could tip the scales. Go to CVM's Page [11] and give TODAY. Then, help us spread the word - pass this email on to 10 or 100 friends.

PS: Amazon's "Nonprofit Innovation Award" [12] garnered over 1,000 applications, and CVM is among the chosen 10.