Send a Casey to Ireland

There once was a girl from Montclair.
Who had pretty reddish blonde hair.
She said with a smile.
Throw money on my pile.
So I can go study over there.

– Rick Palermo

This limerick by a family friend, captures well my daughter Katie’s online efforts to raise money in support of her plan to study abroad at the University of Limerick in Ireland next year.  She has already won a $5,000 scholarship, which combined with existing student loans and her parent’s regular tuition payments will cover the majority of her expenses.  But there is a gap in her budget that remains to be closed, and so she has put out a digital tin cup and is asking for your help.

Limerick isn’t just another spot in Ireland for us.  It happens to be where our Irish ancestor’s came from.  Katie’s GGGG Grandfather Michael Casey worked as a tenant farmer on the Barrington Estate (today’s Glenstal Abbey), and most of his 10 children, including son Michael, emigrated to America and settled in Chicago, Illinois.  So Katie won’t just be studying abroad, she’ll be walking in the footsteps of the ancestors who gave her our Casey name.

After looking over a few alternative sites for online fundraising, Katie selected one called smartypig.  Gifted funds are held in an FDIC insured, interest bearing account, from which she’ll be able to withdraw them when needed for her study abroad expenses.

Online fundraising such as this is the meat and potatoes of my day job, funding Democratic candidates and progressive causes that I support and am proud to work for.  But this is a cause that beats them all, for being one that I support, and that makes me proud.  The hardest, but most important part of fundraising is the asking.  And so we ask.  If you are able and willing to pitch in to help, your support is very much appreciated.