So I’m back (albeit briefly) to ask for a moment of your time.  If you are reading this, much of this is old news, but I’m asking for your patience and help, and Lord knows I’m not short winded…

Anniversaries carry a lot of importance.  They help us celebrate events and people (and man, heaven help the guy who forgets his own).  In the next few days an important anniversary is coming up for my family.  September 1^st would have been Joel’s 38^th birthday.  As most of you are aware, after Joel’s passing, our family established a scholarship in his memory at the Florida State University Career center where he was a counselor.  Thanks to the incredible generosity of countless friends and family (many of whom are reading this now), the $25,000 necessary to fund the Joel Ross Driver Memorial Scholarship was completely raised in less than a year, and the first Driver Fellow was awarded and recognized the following year.

Since that first year, we have continued to raise funds and awareness towards the goal of increasing the scholarship to allow the College of Education to award up to $2,000 a year in perpetuity for graduate students pursuing a degree in career counseling as Joel did.  People still donate small amounts regularly (Quite a few of you paid around $1500 to watch me prepare for and suffer…I mean walk the Camino Ingles in Spain last year.  Some of you are sadists, yet I love you all dearly for it). Helping others find their way was Joel’s first love, and I cannot think of a more appropriate way to cement his legacy than to continue his life's work in this way and to do so through university that has meant and done so much for our family.

Our final goal is $50,000 and through a lot of generosity, around $36,00 has been raised to date.  Our family has pledged to finish this task, and as I said when I started my preparations for the Camino, I will not rest until this is finished.  This is where you come in.  We need help to fund this scholarship as quickly as we can so that graduate students can benefit as soon as possible and so that we can move on to the next philanthropic project.     We as a family have committed to FSU to fund the last $14,000 in five years – it WILL be funded - but my goal is to raise the remaining amount within two.  This would provide the full amount to students by the following semester, and also bring this effort to a close.  We will continue to chip away at it until it is done.

So, after getting the idea from one of Joel’s friends, and since next month would have been Joel’s 38^th birthday, I am asking anyone who is interested in taking part to make a donation in the amount (or multiples of) 38.  $38, $76, $380, etc…any and all donations are appreciated and get us closer to the goal (I’m thinking you can even donate .38, but not sure about how that will work…I'll try it out this week!). If you feel so inclined, you can even make a pledge of any amount or a reoccurring pledge each month (as I do).  Anything you feel you can or wish to contribute will be greatly appreciated.

And if you cannot or would rather not contribute financially, you can still help by putting this information out in front of your own friends or family so that they have the opportunity to help us.

The funds go directly through the FSU Foundation, and 100% that is contributed goes directly to the scholarship.  The web link to the FSU Foundation is below and on my website at fromcouchtocamino.blogspot.com.  If you wish to mail an amount in, the address also below

To donate online, click HERE

FSU Foundation

For the Joel Driver Memorial Scholarship

2010 Levy Blvd.

PO Box 3062739

Tallahassee, FL 32306

This scholarship isn't earth shattering, nor is it monumental.  It won't cure disease, nor guarantee world peace…and since it is for a guy that we knew and loved, it might even be considered a bit selfish by some.  All I know is, Joel was all about helping others, and I think his legacy is for those of us who love and remember him to continue what he was doing in his place. 

$14,000.  It’s going to happen.  It’s just a matter of how quickly and who can help us get there as quickly as possible.  It’s for the (graduate) children…..

And that kind of corniness should be worth at least .38

Thanks!

Jason Driver