After we lost the Chase Community Giving contest last week one of our loyal supporters wrote to us: “I was so disappointed that you didn’t win. Must mean there is a bigger blessing on the way.”

And she was right–already we are counting our blessings:

Through the contest we learned that 9077 supporters surmounted the sometimes daunting technological challenges to vote for Half the Sky. THANK YOU!

Through the contest we learned that so many others wanted to vote for Half the Sky but couldn’t surmount the technological challenges. THANK YOU for sending your words of support.

Through the contest we learned that there is a huge youth movement on Facebook and other social networking media who care about making a difference in the world.

So technically we did not win, but, for all these reasons, we feel blessed to be part of a wonderful, global community that is helping to ensure that no child – no matter how humble her beginnings - is forgotten.

If you haven’t heard it already, you’re about to hear some wonderful news.

Half the Sky has the great good fortune of being one in only 100 nonprofits competing for a $1 Million prize in the Facebook Chase Community Giving contest.

If we win, we will be able to do something we’ve only dreamed about. We will be able to transform the lives of ALL of China’s orphans within just a few short years.

I know it’s a long shot, but I just keep thinking of all of the people who pulled together and voted so that I could carry the Olympic Torch on behalf of China’s orphans.

And I think of all the people who pitched in to help Half the Sky provide relief and comfort to thousands of children whose lives were shattered by the Sichuan earthquake.

And I think of a kind supporter named Julie, who wrote to us during the holidays:  “I would give you guys a million dollars if I had it. You are awesome and make such a difference to so many children. Thanks for all you do.”

And I’ve just got to believe that we might have a chance.

We need your help.

If you have a Facebook account, we need you to vote for our “Big Idea” January 15-22.

If you don’t have a Facebook account, we need you to start one – if only for a day or two.

Watch and forward our video and our Big Idea

Post our video and stories about Half the Sky on Facebook walls

Tweet the news

Become a fan of Chase Community Giving and

Vote January 15 – 22

When the vote starts on Friday, you’ll be hearing from me daily. It’s only a week.

And what a difference we can make if we win. Please tell your friends and your family and your co-workers and everybody you know who thinks all children deserve a chance. Tell the world.

A vote for Half the Sky is a vote for every forgotten child.

We can do it!!

It is the last day of the year, and we have one last tale to share.

On the day she came into the world, XiaoAn (Quiet Morning) lost everything she came with.

She was wrapped in a woman’s jacket and left near the orphanage gate in Guilin, a beautiful city in Southern China.

When the staff took her inside, they noticed that her little heart was thumping hard in her chest. Her breath was raspy and forced. Her rosebud lips and tiny fingertips were blue.

They kept her in an observation room. The doctor said it was her heart and that she might not survive. Every day her special Half the Sky nanny came to hold her and rock her and let her know she was not alone.

XiaoAn did not cry. Only now and then would she open hazy eyes – and her nanny would whisper sweet words. “It’s all right, XiaoAn. I am here.”

The orphanage applied to send XiaoAn to our China Care Home in Beijing. Her nanny traveled with her on the long train journey, comforting her whenever she woke.

When XiaoAn and her nanny arrived at the Home, they were welcomed by the care supervisor and nurse on duty. In the morning, XiaoAn was examined by the medical director and immediate arrangements were made for her to have tests at a fine children’s hospital. When she is strong enough, she will have corrective heart surgery and her Half the Sky nanny will be by her side. XiaoAn will survive.

This is only the beginning of her story. In her first days of life, XiaoAn lost everything but has gained something extraordinary. Something that your support makes possible. She has a family again at Half the Sky. A family that will never let her down.

She is a child both lost and found.

There’s only a little time left to make your contribution to bring love to the lives of children like XiaoAn during the 2009 tax year but it’s not too late. You can still donate online or call us at 1-510-525-3377 or postmark your envelope by 12/31.

This year especially, when we are so far behind where we hoped to be, whatever you can give will make a difference.

All of us at Half the Sky

wish you peace, prosperity and happiness in the New Year…

From the Staff, the Board, Volunteers, Teachers, Mentors,

Foster Parents, Doctors, Nurses and Nannies

– and especially China’s children whom we serve –

in Anhui, Beijing, Chongqing, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Heilongjiang,

Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Inner Mongolia, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Liaoning, Sichuan,

Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Shanghai, Tianjin, Xinjiang

– and soon, Fujian, Hebei and Jilin!

Happy New Year!

Once upon a time…actually about a year ago, a little girl was found chilled and alone inside the train station at Harbin, a city in China’s northeast.

MeiYan (Beautiful Swallow) was about 5 years-old. She had spina bifida and could not walk. She didn’t speak although no one could find the reason.

When no one came for MeiYan, the orphanage staff brought her to live in our Family Village.

Her new foster parents were worried; MeiYan showed no interest in anything.  Every night, when he came home from work, her papa held her hands in his and told her stories.  Every day after Little Sisters Preschool, her mama took her for rehabilitation.  MeiYan always cried.  Her mama encouraged her and showered her with little paper flowers when she finally succeeded in standing.

A few months passed.  One evening, MeiYan’s sisters threw open the front door calling, “Papa is home!  Papa is home!”  MeiYan looked up and made a sound, “Papa.”

Papa swooped little MeiYan into his arms.  He said, “Yes, yes, my adorable girl.”  The whole family enjoyed their dinner together that night even more than usual.

Her progress encouraged MeiYan’s parents.  They are now determined to help her walk and speak. Each evening Mama helps MeiYan practice taking steps.  When she is frustrated, Papa holds up his phone and says, “Come on, let’s make a movie, MeiYan” and MeiYan tries again.

And MeiYan is beginning to talk.  Just last week when her mama prepared to go out to buy vegetables for dinner MeiYan spoke out in her small voice, “Mama, cold outside - gloves.”

Mama’s eyes welled with tears.  “Thank you, MeiYan.”

As she passed through the snowy orphanage gate, the guard called out, “It’s freezing.  Why don’t you put on your gloves?”

She looked down.  She still held the gloves in her hand.  MeiYan’s words had warmed her through and through.

In this holiday season, thank you for helping MeiYan and children like her find the warmth of a family’s love.

Happy New Year!

Once upon a time…actually not too long ago, just at sunrise, a tiny 2 year-old girl was found alone and crying on the streets of Chongqing, a big city in the west of China. A kind-hearted delivery man tucked her into his arms and carried her to the district police station. By the time they arrived, his shirt was wet with her tears.

The police brought the child to the Children’s Welfare Institution. There she would be cared for until, hopefully, someone would come for her.

No one came. The orphanage staff named her HuaChen – ‘Morning Blossom.’ And soon after, she entered our Little Sisters Preschool.

Although she was surrounded by happy children reveling in making their own (sometimes messy!) works of art with paint, markers, feathers, and beads, posing happily in front of mirrors wearing their favorite dress-up clothes, HuaChen would not join them. Instead she spent her time alone, weeping in the corner.

HuaChen’s teacher sat patiently with her in the corner and talked to her soothingly. When she reached out to touch HuaChen, she cried harder and harder, so hard that her teacher said her tears “almost broke my heart.”

But one day, when the children wore paper ears and were dancing and singing the mouse song, HuaChen sniffled and was silent until the song ended.

After that, things started looking up for HuaChen. Every day the teacher sat beside her, singing every children’s song she knew and HuaChen would listen. In time, HuaChen began to snuggle in her teacher’s arms, and then to sing.

Now her teacher says HuaChen is “finding happiness again.” And she is learning to be loved.

In this holiday season, thank you for helping HuaChen and children like her find happiness.

Happy Holidays!