Members,

I have confirmed that this project is backed by Rene Balcer. It is a worthy cause. I encourage members to take a moment to review the project and participate as you see fit.

PeachyBC

Here is the information:

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.

All donations are tax-deductible.

I just donated to the library project what a wonderfull idea to use the name Frances Goren. It sounds like a very worthwhile cause Mr. Balcer certainly had a good idea in using a character from Criminal Intent to help those in need.I would suggest the plaque read from Bobby Goren we the fans of the show would understand the meaning. Maybe hecould get Vincent to unveil the plaque I'm sure he would be very supportive of the project,just a suggestion.

Hi catlady,

Thank you for participating in the Reading Room cause. TV is great and CI is a favorite show, but we can't forget that the show starts with the written word and the ability to read and interpret the written word.

PeachyBC

Compliments of Major Case-CI.com

Rene Balcer, currently the Executive Producer, showrunner of "L&O", and Co-Creator, former Executive Producer, and showrunner of "CI" has given an interview to NPR's "Talk to the Nation." He speaks about the Writers Guild strike about his Frances Goren Library project.


http://www.npr.org/templates/dmg/popup.php...r=&mtype=WM

PeachyBC

I just donated through PayPal at the link mentioned above. I sincerely hope that placing instructions that it is for the "Frances Goren Library project only" in the "Instructions to Merchant" box on the PayPal page is sufficient to get the funds directed to that project. There is no mention of the Frances Goren Library project on the Reading Room web page and no other discerable way of directing the funds.

Good for you for donating, cdngorenfan! Yes, if you stated the "Frances Goren Library project" on your form that is where your donation will be sent.

Welcome to the LOCI board, too.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to PM (private message) me. I'll be happy to help.

PeachyBC

This is the latest news on the fundraising efforts for The Frances Goren Library Project at Room to Read.

We're so close to goal. All that's left to raise from LOCI fans is $750. Every contribution of $5+ will be matched dollar-for-dollar by Rene Balcer -- just be sure to note you're donating for The Frances Goren Library Project in the space provided at Room to Read.org. All donations are fully tax-deductible.

If you make just one charitable contribution during the holiday season please consider The Frances Goren Library project. Putting books in the hands of a child who has none has a pay-off potential that will grow over the years. As history has taught us, literacy is the first step to equality and social justice.

30 donations @ $25 = $750, or give whatever you can.

Thanks in advance.

Annabelle Leigh

(Graphic and goal posted with permission from Rene Balcer).

The Frances Goren Library project has met its monetary goal according to a post at the USACriminalIntentboard.

LOCI creator Rene Balcer has asked me to pass along this update to fans and supporters of The Frances Goren Library Project:

To Law & Order: Criminal Intent fans from Rene Balcer:

Thanks to you, ground has broken in Cambodia for The Frances Goren Library. In about six months over 2,000 children will have books and a new library building in an area where families rely on subsistence farming and day laboring for their livelihood. The community is pitching in with land, labor, and materials. There is a growing sense of empowerment and ownership of this project as Room to Read works with these families toward completion. You too should feel proud. As this wonderful charity says "World change starts with educated children." The library you helped to build will better many lives.

My friends at Room to Read have extended an invitation to all of you to visit The Frances Goren Library. Development Director Pam Joyce says she would be "delighted to arrange a day for you to experience firsthand the impact your contributions have made on these villages in Cambodia." If your travels take you to Southeast Asia next spring you may want to attend the plaque dedication ceremony. You can contact Pam at Room to Read. There you can also find out more about Room to Read’s ultimate goal of providing a lifelong gift of education to 10 million children in impoverished areas of the world.

Again, on behalf of Room to Read and thousands of children and families in Cambodia's Kampong Cham province, thank you.