This is a message from Rene Balcer:
I'd like to enlist your help with a charitable project. Please bear with me.
For a few years now, I've been supporting an organization called Room To Read (www.roomtoread.org). The organization builds libraries, readings rooms and schools in developing countries in Asia and Africa. They give scholarships to young girls, and publish native-language books for kids. You can read all about them at www.roomtoread.org.
Long story short, since Frances Goren was a librarian, I thought it might be cool and useful for the LOCI community to raise funds to build a Room To Read library. Once built, Room To Read will put a dedication plaque on the library in honor of Frances Goren from fans of LOCI or from Bobby Goren. The wording would up to the fans. I will match dollar-for-dollar every contribution made to the fund for the library.
Donations can be in any amount, $5 and up. There are a number of ways to make a donation but the simplest is either by check or by credit card on-line. I've included the instructions below. The key thing is to clearly mark your donation as being in support of the "Frances Goren Library" project.
If you would like to get other LOCI fansites involved, feel free to copy this message and post it over there.
You've all been loyal fans of the show over the years, and I thought you might get a kick out of knowing that there's a library somewhere out there with Bobby and Frances Goren's names on it -- and that you had a hand in building it. Thanks to you, some kid will get the gift of reading. Thanks to you, some kid will get that great investigative tool -- a library card!
Like they say, give till it feels good.
Thanks
Rene Balcer
Instructions for donating to the "Frances Goren Library" project:
Checks:
Make checks payable to "Room To Read" and indicate clearly that it's for the "Frances Goren Library" project. Checks can be mailed to:
Room to Read
PO BOX 29127
San Francisco CA 94129
For DHL, FedEx and UPS, our physical address is:
Room to Read
87 Graham St., Suite 250
San Francisco, CA 94129
Credit Cards and Paypal:
Donations can be made online at http://www.roomtoread.org/involvement/donate.html Again, indicate clearly that it's the "Frances Goren Library" project.
If your worried that your money won't go to the cause, just go to the website itself and make the donation, just be sure to put in the message its for The Frances Goren Library Project.
Also spread the word to other websites, Lets get this room built.
Full Version: Francis Goren Library
Hi Bubba here, thanks for the information.
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QUOTE (VDOVault @ Oct 12 2007, 02:46 PM) 
Hey Jryan or admin
Do you know if Rene is also accepting book donations?
The reason I ask is because there is an excellent little local business here in the Shenandoah Valley called the Green Valley Book Fair
http://www.gvbookfair.com
The Book Fair sells many books at very deep discounts (and not all of them are strictly in English...while cruising the foreign language section I saw many books and language tapes to teach English to those who speak Chinese, Japanese, Hindi and Urdu (one of Pakistan's languages)). In the case of an organization like Room To Read, I am sure they would be very excited to help out the cause.
Is there a way to contact Rene or Room To Read and hook up a great business with a great cause.
Thanks!
The Vault (who is looking forward to yet another excuse to go to the Book Fair! Yay!)
Do you know if Rene is also accepting book donations?
The reason I ask is because there is an excellent little local business here in the Shenandoah Valley called the Green Valley Book Fair
http://www.gvbookfair.com
The Book Fair sells many books at very deep discounts (and not all of them are strictly in English...while cruising the foreign language section I saw many books and language tapes to teach English to those who speak Chinese, Japanese, Hindi and Urdu (one of Pakistan's languages)). In the case of an organization like Room To Read, I am sure they would be very excited to help out the cause.
Is there a way to contact Rene or Room To Read and hook up a great business with a great cause.
Thanks!
The Vault (who is looking forward to yet another excuse to go to the Book Fair! Yay!)
I would just go to the room to read website and contact them.
QUOTE (VDOVault @ Oct 12 2007, 03:46 PM)
Hey Jryan or admin
Do you know if Rene is also accepting book donations?
The reason I ask is because there is an excellent little local business here in the Shenandoah Valley called the Green Valley Book Fair
http://www.gvbookfair.com
The Book Fair sells many books at very deep discounts (and not all of them are strictly in English...while cruising the foreign language section I saw many books and language tapes to teach English to those who speak Chinese, Japanese, Hindi and Urdu (one of Pakistan's languages)). In the case of an organization like Room To Read, I am sure they would be very excited to help out the cause.
Is there a way to contact Rene or Room To Read and hook up a great business with a great cause.
Thanks!
The Vault (who is looking forward to yet another excuse to go to the Book Fair! Yay!)
Hey Vault! I'm an author! Order my book! Do you know if Rene is also accepting book donations?
The reason I ask is because there is an excellent little local business here in the Shenandoah Valley called the Green Valley Book Fair
http://www.gvbookfair.com
The Book Fair sells many books at very deep discounts (and not all of them are strictly in English...while cruising the foreign language section I saw many books and language tapes to teach English to those who speak Chinese, Japanese, Hindi and Urdu (one of Pakistan's languages)). In the case of an organization like Room To Read, I am sure they would be very excited to help out the cause.
Is there a way to contact Rene or Room To Read and hook up a great business with a great cause.
Thanks!
The Vault (who is looking forward to yet another excuse to go to the Book Fair! Yay!)
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thanks for the information! i think this is a great a idea!! ^__^
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Maybe they could shoot a scene around the dedication. Bobby donates the room for his mom. Or Bobby solves a case and a rich man donates it for him, and the room gets dedicate in memory for his mom.
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bumped cause its a good cause.
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QUOTE (VDOVault @ Oct 18 2007, 04:41 PM)
Okay for today's library thread bump, 2 things
1) Just got off the phone with the person in charge of the Frances Goren Library project at Room To Read. Donation totals are being reported weekly (every Friday afternoon) to Rene Balcer. Room To Read is as pleased as punch to be receiving donations from fans and hopefully every Friday Rene will have something more to get excited about
2) This particular development director and I are working on hatching something that will get my fellow VDO (and to a lesser degree CI) fans excited and hopefully will raise *a lot* of money for the library and the adrenaline levels of fans world wide. Things aren't where I can reveal exactly what is going on just yet but I am psyched about the general direction.
The Vault
1) Just got off the phone with the person in charge of the Frances Goren Library project at Room To Read. Donation totals are being reported weekly (every Friday afternoon) to Rene Balcer. Room To Read is as pleased as punch to be receiving donations from fans and hopefully every Friday Rene will have something more to get excited about
2) This particular development director and I are working on hatching something that will get my fellow VDO (and to a lesser degree CI) fans excited and hopefully will raise *a lot* of money for the library and the adrenaline levels of fans world wide. Things aren't where I can reveal exactly what is going on just yet but I am psyched about the general direction.
The Vault
Would they comment on how the donations were going?
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QUOTE (VDOVault @ Oct 18 2007, 05:02 PM)
They are going steadily (this campaign is only a few days old so they're pleased at how it is already starting to take off).
If you want things to go faster, besides donating money yourself, you can also encourage your friends and family to donate as well. I already hit up my deceased mother's best friend (one of Mom's fellow teachers) and we are going to the DC event together next Tuesday...and she is going to hit up her fellow teachers (retirees and current ones)
The Vault
If you want things to go faster, besides donating money yourself, you can also encourage your friends and family to donate as well. I already hit up my deceased mother's best friend (one of Mom's fellow teachers) and we are going to the DC event together next Tuesday...and she is going to hit up her fellow teachers (retirees and current ones)
The Vault
I have spread the word and encouraged donations as well, If I was closer to DC I would be right there with you.
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QUOTE (VDOVault @ Oct 18 2007, 05:37 PM)
*Hugs* JRyan...I'll try to take pictures at the South African Embassy Event (I'll see if I can get my hands on a digital camera) and post them here!
Thanks, we will all appreciate that. also bump
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bump
Just a reminder for you Washington DC area CI fans: there is a reception for Room To Read at the South African Embassy on October 23rd (tomorrow at 6:30 pm). I have RSVP'd to attend (I will drive up from about 2 hours away) and find out more about Room To Read in person
The DC event link is at:
http://www.roomtoread.org/involvement/even...invitation.html
I plan on putting "Frances Goren Library" on any donations I make there rather than the "DC Oct23" they request
Also I will try to take some pictures but since I'll be using a conventional camera it may take me a few days to get them posted
The Vault
The DC event link is at:
http://www.roomtoread.org/involvement/even...invitation.html
I plan on putting "Frances Goren Library" on any donations I make there rather than the "DC Oct23" they request
Also I will try to take some pictures but since I'll be using a conventional camera it may take me a few days to get them posted
The Vault
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Bump cause it is still a good cause.
QUOTE (Jryan @ Oct 25 2007, 04:10 PM)
Bump cause it is still a good cause.
Useful links to learn more about Room To Read and the Frances Goren Library for yourselves:
NPR Talk Of The Nation interview with Rene Balcer on the possible writer's strike and his brief appeal on behalf of the Frances Goren library (audio)http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15597397
Frontline World segment on Room To Read's work (video)http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/rough/2007/06/nepal_a_girls_l.html
Room To Read's website
http://www.roomtoread.org
The Vault
PS Happy Friday
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QUOTE (VDOVault @ Oct 27 2007, 08:19 AM)
Hey Bubba or admin...is there anyway we can nominate a thread to be pinned. Because it would be nice to keep this thread convenient at least until the goal is reached.
Whose with me on this?
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Whose with me on this?
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sounds like a great idea.
*bug*
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bump
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Editorial praise for Rene Balcer and the Frances Goren Library project:
TV Week.com
October 29, 2007
"Law" Builds Library
A good rip-roarin' scripted TV show entertains us and, if we're lucky, resonates with either a message or poignancy for a few hours. But it's rare for one to actually inspire us to do good.
So let us salute Rene Balcer, showrunner, executive producer and oft-times writer of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," who has come up with a clever way to do just that.
In last season's final episode, Detective Robert Goren (Vincent D'Onofrio) lost his on-screen mom, librarian Frances (Rita Moreno).
As Mr. Balcer wrote recently on a message board on the show's Web site, "Long story short, since Frances Goren was a librarian, I thought it might be cool and useful for the 'LOCI' community to raise funds to build a Room to Read library. [Room to Read builds these in developing countries in Asia and Africa.] Once built, Room to Read will put a dedication plaque on the library in honor of Frances Goren from fans of 'LOCI' or from Bobby Goren. The wording would be up to the fans." Mr. Balcer will match contributions made to the fund for the library up to a certain limit."
The story is at TV Week. site.
Made your donation yet? If not use the charity's link, above.
TV Week.com
October 29, 2007
"Law" Builds Library
A good rip-roarin' scripted TV show entertains us and, if we're lucky, resonates with either a message or poignancy for a few hours. But it's rare for one to actually inspire us to do good.
So let us salute Rene Balcer, showrunner, executive producer and oft-times writer of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," who has come up with a clever way to do just that.
In last season's final episode, Detective Robert Goren (Vincent D'Onofrio) lost his on-screen mom, librarian Frances (Rita Moreno).
As Mr. Balcer wrote recently on a message board on the show's Web site, "Long story short, since Frances Goren was a librarian, I thought it might be cool and useful for the 'LOCI' community to raise funds to build a Room to Read library. [Room to Read builds these in developing countries in Asia and Africa.] Once built, Room to Read will put a dedication plaque on the library in honor of Frances Goren from fans of 'LOCI' or from Bobby Goren. The wording would be up to the fans." Mr. Balcer will match contributions made to the fund for the library up to a certain limit."
The story is at TV Week. site.
Made your donation yet? If not use the charity's link, above.
good cause bumped to first page. Donate for christmas for a LOCI fan.
QUOTE (Jryan @ Oct 31 2007, 03:41 PM)
good cause bumped to first page. Donate for christmas for a LOCI fan.
Good Idea MF
good cause
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This is indeed a good cause! A few years back I was a staunch supporter of the Anthony Michael Hall Literacy Fund, which is based in California, until I discovered that adult literacy in my OWN part of the world was hopelessly poor.
That helped me make the decision to donate my pennies a little closer to home, which is what I shall be doing.
But rest assured I will be thinking of Robert Goren and his mum, too. Smashing idea.
That helped me make the decision to donate my pennies a little closer to home, which is what I shall be doing.
But rest assured I will be thinking of Robert Goren and his mum, too. Smashing idea.
Another good idea is holiday gifts for any teachers that you know. Maybe your own teacher, or your child's teacher. I am a teacher and I will be making donations for my faculty this Christmas.
QUOTE (cluck73 @ Nov 12 2007, 02:54 PM)
Another good idea is holiday gifts for any teachers that you know. Maybe your own teacher, or your child's teacher. I am a teacher and I will be making donations for my faculty this Christmas.
What a great idea!
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QUOTE (VDOVault @ Nov 17 2007, 04:44 PM)
Saturday evening bump for a deserving thread
do we have any more news on this?
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This is the latest news about the fundraising efforts for The Frances Goren Library Project at Room to Read.
Information (and image) by permission from Rene Balcer. The goal (above) represents the amount still sought from LOCI fans.
We're so very close. Let's put it over the top before November ends. Please click on the link above and donate whatever you can. And please be sure to specify The Frances Goren Library Project in the box provided. Any contribution of $5+ will be matched dollar-for-dollar by Mr. Balcer.
150 @ $5 = $750
75 @ $10 = $750
30 @ $25 = $750
All contributions are fully tax-deductible.
If you make just one charitable donation during the holiday season, please consider that putting a book in the hands of a child results in a pay off that will grow over time. As history has taught us, literacy is the first step to equality and social justice.
Best wishes, and thanks in advance --
Annabelle Leigh
Thank you so much for this terrific news! 
Only $750 to raise!! I bet we could do that on this site alone. What a beautiful logo for the project too. It's so optimistic. Who did it? Can we use it on other websites?
Only $750 to raise!! I bet we could do that on this site alone. What a beautiful logo for the project too. It's so optimistic. Who did it? Can we use it on other websites?
Great news, I hope everyone tries to give a little this holiday season.
QUOTE (MsSweden @ Nov 23 2007, 04:04 PM)
Thank you so much for this terrific news! Only $750 to raise!! I bet we could do that on this site alone. What a beautiful logo for the project too. It's so optimistic. Who did it? Can we use it on other websites?
Only $750 to raise!! I bet we could do that on this site alone. What a beautiful logo for the project too. It's so optimistic. Who did it? Can we use it on other websites? If you think it will help The Frances Goren Library Project get those last dollars needed to reach its goal -- yes, please feel free to use this image on other boards in accordance with their posting rules. (I created it.)
Thanks very much for the compliment and even more for your support of this wonderful CI fan children's literacy project at Room to Read.
Annabelle Leigh
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