GIVE TO THE MAX - NOVEMBER 15

Please Remember our ClearCause When You Give to the Max on November 15!

Give MN November 15, 2012! Thank you for supporting ClearCause

Your generous support means the world to America’s Youth and Students on programs abroad!

Join us on November 15, Minnesota’s Give to the Max Day, and help us win a $1,000 Golden Ticket. GiveMN—an online giving website for Minnesota nonprofits— offers ClearCause 25 chances to maximize your gift on Give to the Max Day, Thursday, November 15!  To donate, please visit:   http://givemn.razoo.com/story/Clearcause?referral_code=share" HsTracking="Razoo

By making a donation on Give to the Max Day, your $10 or more gift helps us win an extra $1,000 to keep America’s youth and students safe abroad.  Your donation advances:

AWARENESS - A2f Pictures awarded ClearCause three riveting Public Service Announcements (PSAs). $10,000 is needed to promote these on cable television and other media.

ADVOCACY - ClearCause has the support of US Senators Franken (MN-D) and Klobuchar (MN-D), US Congressman Paulsen (MN-R), MN Governor Dayton and MN Secretary of State Mark Ritchie.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PLANNING - Parents and emergency contacts often do not have passports, funding, permissions, legal counsel or a plan when their student's trip goes bad.

FAMILY CRISIS FUND - Help us support families whose children are abused, hurt or killed abroad.

Together, we hope to raise more than $10,000 on Give to the Max Day.  We’re counting on your help!

Four Mothers Will Never Spend the Holidays with Their Child Again

Executive director Sheryl Hill was recently quoted in a USA Today article, "Death Highlights Risks of Study Abroad Programs."

Casey Schulman (VA), Morgan Lide (GA), Joshua Shane (AZ) and Ravi Thackurdeen (NY) will not be 'home' for the holidays ever again.  All four died in water accidents.

Comments like, "Most of them come back safe" aren't helping.  Most is not good enough for ClearCause.  There are no federal laws, oversight, minimum qualifications or standards, nor mandated transparent reporting in the youth travel and study abroad industry.  Some of these students are sponsored by US Department of State study abroad grants using your tax dollars.

Parents seeking information about the tragic death of their children are often met with silence as Universities are warned by their attorneys to avoid lawsuits.  Sadly, many parents are left no alternatives but to file lawsuits to get information about their child's death.

Tragically, history repeats itself.  Students and other Americans have drowned on the same unmarked beaches.  American's be warned - a stroll along a hazardous beach where the sand can wash out from underneath you, and the undertow drag you out into treacherous waters - particularly during monsoon season in remote areas, can cost you your life.

Water safety is getting the attention of study abroad programs. Perhaps the lives of these aspiring young students will herald warnings to save others.  More needs to be done.

Our hearts go out to their family, friends and community. Safety means the world to youth and students abroad.