Last year, I challenged the IBM i community to raise funds for the Al Barsa Memorial Scholarship. Thanks to your contributions and some generous matching grantors, we raised $2,860.
I think we can exceed that excellent figure.
This time, we have even more matching grantors on board, each one contributing a dollar for dollar match. For example, midrange.com and Jim Oberholtzer of Agile Technology Architects will match up to $300, while Larry Bolhuis of Franken i, Pete Helgren of Value Added Software, Jerry Adams, and Pete Massiello of iTech Solutions will each match up to $500.
So if we can raise $500 … we’ll have a total of $3100.
Ratcheting up the generosity, John Earl of Townsend Security will match all contributions above $500 (up to $500).
This would make the total $4100.
Update 5-Dec: Kevin Mort of Flagship Solutions Group / GlobalMind Technology Consulting (and one of Frankies minders) is raising the bar on the challenge … he’s offered to do a dollar for dollar match on everything we can raise over $500 (to a maximum of $500).
This makes the grand total $4600!
Al Barsa was a pillar of the IBM i community. A passionate advocate for the platform, he was a prolific COMMON presenter, a past president of the Long Island Systems User group, and a very active member of various midrange.com mailing lists.
Al passed away just after the 2008 Spring COMMON Conference ended. In response to a dramatic public response, the COMMON Education Foundation created, and now manages, the Al Barsa Memorial Scholarship. From the COMMON Education Foundation website: “This scholarship will honor an individual who exemplifies Al’s commitment and dedication to the IBM i community, is a mentor to others, and is an advocate for the IBM i community”
To contribute, download the contribution form from the COMMON Education Foundation website and send it in described in the form (http://urlq.us/abs-contribute). Just make a note on the form indicating that your contribution is for the Al Barsa Challenge. If you wish to contribute, please let me know … you can email me directly or fill out this form http://urlq.us/abs-pledge.
The challenge will run from November 14th through December 16th.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at david <at> midrange.com.
NOTE: The COMMON Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization and, as such, all donations are tax deductible to the extent of the law. Please contact your tax adviser for specific guidance.
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Note: I also serve on the COMMON Education Foundation’s Board of Directors. Thanks to Ryan Rhodes for his help with this announcement (I’m better at computer languages than human <grin/>).