Bonjour Readers,

I am writing this blog entry to patiently ask for your help. In my best effort, I am trying to raise money for a plane ticket to the LeWeb 2008 Conference in Paris, France on December 9th/10th of this year.  Before you close out of this window or click the back button on your browser, I encourage you to hear my reason and overall- the passion I have for wanting to go.

The first thing you may be wondering is, ” Why are going through all this effort just to attend a Technology conference?” Well my friends,  here is my answer: LeWeb is not just another conference. It is an event created by Geraldine & Loïc Le Meur looking to inspire conversation on wider array of topics than just technology. Yeah, technology is an important aspect of our future, but can technology be used in other sectors as well? Perhaps for social change?

I want to go to the conference to discuss with companies and startups and invoke conversation on how we can change the world. I strongly believe that technology will play a huge role in accommodating and perhaps solving some of the world’s most difficult issues. So this is my plan of action: I want to talk to “thought leaders,” at the conference and directly encourage them to take active approaches in their humanitarian efforts- such as extending loans to entrepreneurs in underdeveloped countries or coming up with ways to eliminate world poverty. Whether through their company’s endeavors or through personal contribution, I want to instill a sense of humanity into people.

Another reason I want to go to LeWeb is for the chance to meet motivated entrepreneurs doing great things. I am inspired daily by the amount of passion people have for their work. Some day, I would like to start a company of my own and would look back at this opportunity as a stepping stone to those efforts. At LeWeb I hope to get the chance to talk to all types of entrepreneurs and share those inspiring stories with all of you.

Across the spectrum, I want to be there to be your voice. Family, Friends, and Colleagues- Please do what you can to make this dream come true.

If we can get 80 people to donate $25 each by November 31st, I will hit my goal and have enough to make it to LeWeb in December.

What happens if I do not hit my goal for the trip or raise more than your $2,000?

If I do not raise the $2,000 I need in order to go, I will be donating ALL the money to a free standing account on Kiva.org The amount raised will act as loans to several different entrepreneurs in underdeveloped countries.  The money will not be touched and will constantly be reinvested as the individuals pay back the loans through the Kiva service.  This will be an amazing and lasting footprint to all of your efforts of this project.

If I do hit my goal, I will be donating a $100 to entrepreneurs on Kiva.org for YOUR acts of kindness. If I raise more than my goal amount, I will also be donating the extra amount to the Kiva.org Foundation.

If their are specific entrepreneurs you would like to donate through the Kiva service, please send me an email letting me know at Taylorhbarr@gmail.com

So what can YOU do to help me out?

• - Email your friends with the link to the website asking to help Taylor Barr out by donating with the sidebar widget.

• - Reach out to your contacts on social networks (Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, etc.) and share the link to my website.
• - Embed the goofy french mime video (read below) on your blog to spark interest in all your groups of friends. Any friend of yours is a friend of mine!
• - *For Companies- Ask the company you work for if they would like to sponsor or partially sponsor my trip to the LeWeb Conference. In return I will wear T-shirts, hand out stickers, etc. (basically be a walking bill board for the right contribution). Contact me directly if interested.

Paris on Le Mime

In accordance with this entry, My good friend David Parsons and I made a promotional video for the trip. David has an incredible eye for creativity and really made this project special (taking charge of all the shooting, editing, and other odds and ends.) I would like to thank him for all his time and effort- without it, this idea could not have even taken off. This video is truly hilarious!

Please post this on your blogs, in your Facebook profiles, wherever! I will thank you personally in additional posts.

Paris on Le Mime from David Parsons on Vimeo.

Once again, thank you for all your help and please email me with any questions or comments at TaylorHBarr@gmail.com. If you are unable at this time to contribute, at least leave a comment below!

Kind Regards,

Taylor Barr