How do I enter the SUSIE Christmas Challenge?

It’s super-easy! Go to www.crowdrise.com/susiemagazine and click the black FUNDRAISE FOR THIS EVENT button on the right to get started.

When will the SUSIE Christmas Challenge take place?

You have from November 25, 2011, to December 31, 2011, to raise funds for the SUSIE Christmas Challenge.

What is the Global Orphan Project?

The Global Orphan Project, Inc. (‘GO Project’ or ‘GO’) is a global orphan care ministry headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri. GO Project mobilizes local churches in some of the poorest areas on earth to care for the neediest orphaned and vulnerable children in their communities; children of last resort with no viable means of care. Read more here.

Where will the money go that we raise?

The funds raised will go to the Global Orphan Project. The money will be used to help fund the Saintilus Children’s Village. Anna’s already funded girls’ homes in Saintilus, and our efforts will help continue the work she’s begun! Read more about Saintilus here.

What is the grand prize?

The grand prize is a trip for the winner (a teen girl between the ages of 13 and 18) and one parent or guardian to travel to Haiti with Anna, her mom and the Global Orphan Project. The trip will take place in 2012 (dates to be determined by GO Project and winner availability).

Do I have to be a SUSIE subscriber to win?

No. We’d love to have as many girls participate as possible. We simply require that contest entrants are teen girls between the ages of 13 and 18.

Is there a minimum that the winner of the trip must raise?

Yes. We’d like to see the winner raise at least $250 for orphans in Haiti in order to win the grand prize. The girl who has the largest sum raised at the end of the contest (as long as it’s beyond $250) will win the grand prize.

Do I have to participate as a team?

No. We’ve given you the option to start a team if you’d like to ask friends or family to become fundraisers with you.

If I participate on a team, does my entire team win a trip to Haiti?

No, only the team leader is entered to win the trip to Haiti. However, the team’s fundraising total is what counts as the team leader’s contest entry.

Can I still participate if I don’t live in the United States or Canada?

You can still participate in the Christmas Journey devotional and you can still help raise awareness for orphans in Haiti. However, you must be a teen girl aged 13-18 from the U.S. or Canada to raise funds and to be entered in the contest.

Can I still participate if I’m younger than 13?

We’d love to have you participate in the Christmas Journey devotional and help raise awareness for orphans in Haiti, however, you must be a teen girl aged 13-18 from the U.S. or Canada to raise funds and to be entered in the contest.

How do I fundraise?

Besides sending out emails through your Crowdrise account to your family, friends and church community, we’ve put together a list of creative fundraising ideas. You can find it on the Resources page.

What’s the difference between the Christmas Challenge and the Christmas Journey?

The Christmas Challenge is the chance we’re giving you to raise support for teen girls in Haiti through the GO Project.

The Christmas Journey is a devotional we’ve written just for you. There is a devo for each day in December leading up to Christmas that includes a time for journaling and a super-fun bonus challenge.

Is Crowdrise a secure site to make a financial transaction on?

Yes it is. Read more about the site’s security here.

Will donations be tax deductible?

Yes. When donations are given to GO Project via Crowdrise, donors will receive a tax receipt that serves as a tax exempt letter from GO Project. If a donor would like to make a donation by cash or check, it must be mailed to The Global Orphan Project,
 6114 North 9 Highway,
 Parkville, MO 64152. This will also be tax deductible; however, it will not count toward a certain contestant’s account in the SUSIE Christmas Challenge. Only online donations given through that individual’s Crowdrise account will contribute toward a contestant’s total, which is used to determine the winner of the trip to Haiti. Other donations will go toward the general GO Project fund.

What if someone can’t give online but would like to donate?

We only accept online donations to count for the contest. Donations must be made via www.crowdrise.com/susiemagazine using a valid credit or debit card. If a donor would like to give by cash or check, it must be mailed to The Global Orphan Project, 
6114 North 9 Highway,
 Parkville, MO 64152. However, donations received in the mail will not count toward a specific contestant’s total in the SUSIE Christmas Challenge. Only online donations specifically given toward an individual’s Crowdrise account will contribute to a contestant’s total, which is used to determine the contest winner.

All cash and check donations that SUSIE Magazine or GO Project receives in the mail will go toward the general GO Project fund rather than an individual or team leader’s account. Also, online donations not made to a specific contestant’s account via Crowdrise will go toward the general GO Project fund.

Are meals and lodging included in the trip?

Yes. Airfare, lodging, transportation and food are all included in the grand prize. (Unless you are traveling from Alaska or Hawaii. Then your travel from an airport within the contiguous United States or Canada to Haiti will be included, but your travel to an airport in contiguous U.S. or Canada will not be.)

If I live in Alaska or Hawaii can I still win the SUSIE Christmas Challenge and the trip to Haiti?

Yes! GO Project will pay for your travel to Haiti from a departure location within the contiguous United States or Canada. If you and your guest live in Alaska or Hawaii, you must pay for your travel to an airport within the contiguous U.S. or Canada.

Is there a specific city that the trip will depart from?

No. You and your guest will fly to a location within the contiguous U.S. to meet Anna and her mom, then all of you will fly to Haiti from there.If you live within the contiguous United States or Canada, your travel to meet Anna and her mom will be covered by GO Project. If you’re from Alaska or Hawaii, your travel from an airport within the contiguous United Stated or Canada to the departure location will be covered.