It’s Spring, and a lot of things are cooking here in the way of good works and small acts of great kindness. You know my motto, do good in the real world, every day.

First, the tax deductible project:

First, Eh K Pru Shee Wah has been accepted to the Albany Academy and is still filling out her application paperwork. She has been given a $21,000 scholarship and I am seeking funds to guarantee her tuition shortfall at the school for this year and the next two.

I need roughly $6,000 each year, we have raised $9,425 already for this year, with a pledge of a “substantial” contribution in May.  Plus smaller donations not tabulated as yet.

We need to raise about $14,000 more for the next two years, Alex Borgess, an academy senior, has raised $6,000, enough money for her final year as part of his senior project. So we have roughly 50 per cent of what we need.

Thank you!

Contributions to this fund are tax-deductible. The academy, a non-profit organization, has set up a special refugee fund-raising page on their website, you can contribute here.

Your money goes directly into the school, no middle-man or other distraction.

Eh K Pru, as some of you know, is a Myanmar refugee, she spent 10 years of her life in a refugee camp, in the three years she has been in America, she has learned to speak English fluently and rose to the top of her class in honors every year she was in the Albany School System.

I hope we can continue to support her. This is a life changer for her, you can contribute any (tax-deductible) amount you want for her right here.

I believe this is the most patriotic work possible, this goes to the heart and soul of our country.

Secondly, I am  raising money so that Kathy Saso, an ESL teacher, can take her refugee and immigrant class to the FDR Historic Homestead in Hyde Park, N.Y. in June. They will need money for a school bus and for some food or snacks. Kathy and I both think this is an important trip for them to take.

I’m focusing on this class – full of refugees and immigrants – for my work in support of the refugee community, and Kathy is looking for other kids to get into local private schools and other needs these children might have right where they are, in class and their homes.

A wonderful donor has offered buy Noorul Patek of Afghanistan a computer or Ipad. He will be very happy to hear that, I think.

I’d like to sponsor a pizza party for the class at the end of the semester, there are 30 students in the class.

We are hoping to place two or three refugee students in a private school in the Albany each year, so far we have placed Sakler Moo and Eh K Pru, we are seeking some more for next year.

In addition, I’m planning and officiating at the Commitment Ceremony of Ruth and Wayne at the Mansion on May 15. I’ve ordered flowers and cakes and cupcakes, Ruth and Wayne have plenty of good clothes to wear. I’m searching the Web for good commitment readings.

I will also be  Wayne’s Best Man and handle the rings. Maria will be Ruth’s ring maid.

Red will be in the commitment party.

This week, I got sweatpants for a male resident who had some accidents.  I got two realistic baby dolls for  two residents who have been begging for them. Buttons and Easter cookies for the aides. Socks for the residents.

A spring jacket, and a new reclining chair.

I am planning a Portrait Show at the Mansion in June, featuring the residents themselves. I’ll take a portrait of each one, we’ll display them all there. We are planning an outing to the Robert Frost Museum in North Bennington, Vt. I’ve been reading Frost’s poems to the residents in preparation.

The residents love being photographed, it makes them feel relevant and alive. Someone does care, which is something they need to know. I hope to do this every year.

I will need to print out the photos, but will do it cheaply, on glossy paper.

Liz sent me some more meditation beads for our Meditation Class and also some bells to ring to start and end the meditation. I got a headband to show to Ruth for the wedding.

I’m sure I forget something, if so I’ll add to this list.

Any contributions to this work will be appreciated. You can send them directly via Paypal, [email protected] or by check, Jon Katz, Mansion Fund, P.O.  Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816.