We have less than two hours to win this round of America's Giving Challenge. It is still possible for us to win if you make a small donation right here.

So far, with 65 donors (and over $1800 raised) it is has been amazing - and we have climbed into ninth place. We have until 3 pm EST today to win! Let me emphasize a few things:

1- Every donation counts. Winning this contest is not about the amount that we raise, but the amount of people that donate. So a ten dollar donation goes a long way.

2- Though the group that's in first place has 423 donors, this message is being sent to thousands of you. With your help we could still win. The donation has to be made through this Facebook cause and you have the option to tell 150 Facebook friends about it!

3- Send an email to your friends and family (even people who haven't read Harry Potter) with this letter that you can edit to describe what the HPA means to you!

Winning may seem like a long shot, but we are based off of a book series whose heroes have pulled off far greater long shots than that. :-)

Please donate right now and help support one of the most innovative causes in the world, the Harry Potter Alliance continue to do the amazing work that we are all a part of.

Andrew Slack
HPA Exec Director

Help the HPA win $1000 today with America's Giving Challenge and get a certificate designed by Frak of Pottercast!

Here's the deal: America's Giving Challenge gives $1000 to the organization that can get the most amount of people giving in a single day. The minimum donation is 10 dollars.

So we have 24 hours to get as many ten dollar (or more) donations in for the HPA through this Facebook Cause: https://www.causes.com/..fb/donations/new?ts=..1256707781&cause_id=273865

Write a comment here
Make a post in the Common Room
Twitter @thehpalliance

Right now (Wednesday, September 30th) at 8:30pm EST on the UStream channel for a live DA Meeting to discuss the HPA's newest campaign: Magical Acts of Kindness Week!

What is Magical Acts of Kindness (MAK)? We'll discuss it in more detail at the meeting, but here's a brief idea of what MAK is all about: during the week of October 1-7, we're challenging everyone to think of small, meaningful ways to show your care and appreciation for others. That's seven whole days to explore the magic of compassion and kindness, and to celebrate the power of small acts that make a big impact.

Come share your ideas with us and find out more, tomorrow at 8:30pm EST. We can't wait to see you there!

Okay. I'm officially freaking out with excitement.

First off: another Harry Potter movie coming out for the first time in two years (I feel like it's Christmas Eve!) and second, in honor of the character whose spirit will guide Harry through this film, we are making #dumbledore one of the most popular trends on Twitter (and http://thehpalliance...org/wwdd/the-dumbledore-..twitter-challenge/">retweet this page!)

Momentum is moving now. #dumbledore is surging everywhere. I keep looking at this site and every time I turn away for two minutes it tells me to refresh because there are 2 to 300 new #dumbledore's. Now tonight is the moment to show the media, to show the world about our love for the message of Dumbledore. And after talking with countless reporters, they are watching us. Let's make this happen. At http://the-leaky-..cauldron.org/2009/7/14/it-is-..half-blood-prince-day-the-..fandom-is-taking-over-twitter-..join-in">Leaky Melissa explains how you can join in most effectively:

It's all very simple. First, in all your tweets today tack this phrase onto the end of it: "#dumbledore http://tr.im/wwdd" (minus the quotes). The "#dumbledore" tag will start ratcheting the phrase up the ranks and the link will help spread the word. Then, when you see the film, make sure you say something like this (with the phrase Harry Potter in it as well):

Just about to see Harry Potter - in honor of #dumbledore we are taking over Twitter! http://tr.im/wwdd
Just saw Harry Potter - in honor of #dumbledore we are taking over Twitter! http://tr.im/wwdd
Harry Potter was awesome! In honor of #dumbledore we are taking over Twitter! #dumbledore http://tr.im/wwdd

VERY IMPORTANT: We will all be tweeting simultaneously AT 8:59pm PST - or 11:59pm EST! No matter what you are doing make a tweet at that moment!


You get the idea - anything with the phrase Harry Potter and the Dumbledore tag, and, if you can, the link. But the Dumbledore tag is the most important part! #dumbledore

So. Are you ready? Are you ready to take over Twitter? Tweet early. Tweet often. Tweet now. The game is on!!!

Andrew Slack
HP Alliance, Executive Director

P.S. Remember to http://thehpalliance...org/wwdd/dumbledore-movie-..theater-challenge/">wear your name tags at the movie theater and to take pictures and post them on our http://thehpalliance...ning.com">Common Room. CNN has asked me for you to do that as they may want to use them! Be safe everyone and have FUN!

Please join tonight's Live HPA DA meeting on http://www.ustream.tv/channel/pottercast">Ustream..

Are you ready?

This summer, after watching Dumbledore's death millions of people will be exiting theaters having just heard Harry say that Dumbledore will live on so long as there are those that are loyal to him. The HP Alliance would like to invite the entire Harry Potter fandom in a project to honor and stay loyal to the spirit of Albus Dumbledore in the real world.

In these dark and difficult times that our world currently faces, we need a visionary like Dumbledore to live on in each of our hearts as well as in the heart of our world. And so we are very excited to have you join us in presenting these millions of theater goers with a list of 100 ways that we can all be loyal to Dumbledore, both as individuals and as a society.

We launched this campaign at Leaky Con and have just begun writing that list together and we need your help! So please join our What Would Dumbledore campaign by going right here to learn more and then to our Common Room so that you can add your voice on what we can learn from the world's greatest Wizard.

When each of us read Half-Blood Prince we silently vowed to stay loyal to Dumbledore's spirit. Now as a community of Dumbledore's Army we are doing that together. So Nitwit, Blubber, Oddment, Tweak - we are so excited for you to start blogging your thoughts on what Dumbledore can teach us!

Andrew Slack
HP Alliance

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/05/06/maine.same....

Same-sex marriage became legal in Maine on Wednesday as Gov. John Baldacci signed a bill less than an hour after the state legislature approved it.

Today Maine was added to the list of states that have legalized same-sex marriage.

What does it mean to "write naked?" How can the process of creative writing allow us to shed our masks and stand naked before the page, giving us access to a deeper connection to each other and the world?

These questions lay out the theme of "Write Naked" - a story about about a teen-age boy and a teen-age girl and their journey in discovering themselves, each other, and their wish to transform the world through finding what it means to "write naked."

And we're very excited that "Write Naked" is the first book for the new HPA Book Club that launches tomorrow, Sunday April 26th!

On the heels of the HPA's Accio Books! where over 13,000 books were donated and Ravenclaw (under the leadership of Evanna Lynch) ( won the House Cup, the HP Alliance is proud to launch our new HPA Book Club!

The author of "Write Naked" and a featured speaker at Leaky Con, Peter Gould will be a part of the discussion beginning tomorrow, Sunday April, 26th right here. Throughout the several weeks that we'll be focusing on "Write Naked," you’ll be able to post reviews, discuss the book, and make recommendations for future book choices.  We’re also encouraging people to make video reviews.  At the end of the reading period we’ll be holding a live Ustream chat to discuss the book and take questions from members.

So please get "Write Naked" and start discussing!

Kate, Mallory, Arletta, Andrew, and the whole HPA Staff