Welcome to another Charity Sunday!
What’s the deal here? Once a month, I give you an introduction to a cause I think is worth supporting, plus an excerpt from one of my books (often related). Then, for every comment you leave, I donate one dollar to the charity of the month. So please – if you're here at the blog, don’t just read this silently! Take the time to comment at least briefly, and make a difference!
Today
I am supporting Girls Who Code,
a non-profit focused on increasing the technology literacy of
females, helping them to acquire skills that improve their employment
prospects as well as their self-esteem. My cause today is quite
personal, since I’m a female techie myself. I’m fortunate I had
the chance to learn programming, which has led to a challenging, fun
and well-paying career.
A lot of girls are discouraged from pursuing tech-related interests. The media tend to present the world of computers as a male domain. Most Silicon Valley companies are led by men and the dominant culture is pretty female hostile. Popular culture treats male nerds as genius superheros and female nerds as unattractive weirdos.
A lot of girls are discouraged from pursuing tech-related interests. The media tend to present the world of computers as a male domain. Most Silicon Valley companies are led by men and the dominant culture is pretty female hostile. Popular culture treats male nerds as genius superheros and female nerds as unattractive weirdos.
Actually,
I wanted to support the Dharavi
Diary project, which focuses on teaching girls in one of the
worst slums in Mumbai, India. However, I couldn’t find any obvious
way to donate. I’ll keep looking.
Another
reason for choosing this charity today is that it’s very similar to
one I created in my fiction. In The Gazillionaire and the
Virgin, the awkward but brilliant hero Theo grew up in the
slums of Los Angeles. Now a professor of Computer Science at Stanford
University, he has founded Code in the Hood to offer computer-related
training and mentoring to slum kids, both male and female. My heroine
Rachel, who’s an equally smart Silicon Valley entrepreneur,
organizes a benefit cocktail party to solicit donations for Code in
the Hood from her billionaire peers. Shy and socially uncomfortable,
Theo’s reluctant to go along with her plan, but Rachel knows how
much his pet charity means to him. Here's an excerpt that sets the scene:
I
wait until the fundraiser’s all arranged before getting in touch. I
don’t want to give him too much time to obsess about the prospect.
I call him from home, about seven a.m. My spies have discovered he’s
a morning person.
“Um—hello?”
His voice is a bit gravelly, but deeper and more sonorous than I’d
remembered.
“Hello
Theo. This is Rachel Zelinsky.” Don’t
hang up, I think during the ten second pause
that follows. Don’t even
consider it.
“Oh—um...
Hi, Rachel.”
So
far so good. I wait for him to continue, but he’s silent.
“How
are you?” I prompt, finally.
“Okay.”
Two beats. “And you?”
“I’m
great. Busy, but that’s normal. Anyway, I’m calling about the
fundraiser.”
“Huh?
What are you talking about?”
“For
Code in the Hood. Remember? I told you when we met I’d try to
organize an event to raise more cash for your organization.”
“Oh,
yeah, right. I thought you were just being polite.”
I
chuckle. “Not at all. As you’ll learn when you get to know me
better, when I say I’m going to do something, I do it. So it’s
all set, for seven tomorrow night, at the Computer Museum in Mountain
View. I’ll pick you up around six. 1263 Redondo Palms Avenue,
right?”
“Ah—ach—what?
No! No, I can’t, Rachel!” He sounds as though he’s choking.
“Really—you don’t need me. I’m grateful, but—”
“We
most emphatically do need you, Theo. You’re the founder of CIH, its
public face, the man behind its success. People want to meet you.”
“Oh,
God—what kind of people?” He’s breathing heavily, almost
hyperventilating.
“Rich
people. People who want to give you money to help the poor kids in
the ghetto learn about modern technology. Millionaires, Theo.
Billionaires!”
“I
don’t want to meet them...” He’s almost inaudible.
“You’ve
no choice, Theo, not if you care about CIH. Look, you don’t have to
make a speech or anything. Just attend the function with me. Smile,
Drink a bit of champagne. Shake people’s hands. I assume you have
brochures and other PR material, right?”
“Yes,
yes....”
“Bring
that and let my people pass it out. Then all you have to do is be
yourself, Theo. Share your passion for CIH, and let these people see
how they can make a difference. I guarantee that if you follow my
instructions, you’ll rake in at least a couple million in one
evening.”
“A
couple million? You’re kidding.” His astonishment has overwhelmed
his anxiety, at least for the moment.
“Dr.
Moore, another thing about me: I never kid about money.”
Theo
is silent. I press my advantage. “The function’s black tie—I
love to get dressed up, even if most of the Valley crowd would be
happier wearing polo shirts with company logos seven days a week. So
I’ve taken the liberty of ordering you a tuxedo. The tailor will
deliver it this afternoon, and make alterations if necessary. You
will be at home, right? Your department secretary says you have no
classes or meetings today.”
“Dr.
Zelinsky, you have no right to go snooping into my life.” I hear
genuine anger in his tone. A little chill shimmers through me.
“Talking to my secretary! Finding my street address! What, did you
do a secret 3D scan to get my suit measurements? I’m not one of the
pawns who inhabit your virtual world. I care about my privacy.”
“Sorry—Theo,
please, try to understand. I just want to make this as painless as
possible for you. I apologize if you feel I’m being intrusive. If
I’d asked you whether you wanted a tuxedo, though, you probably
would have refused my offer.”
“Damn
right I would. I’m not wearing some penguin suit just to please
you, Rachel Zelinsky.”
A
little thrill shoots through me. There’s something about the way my
name rolls off his tongue—as though he’d been saying it, or at
least thinking it, a lot...
“Theo.”
I soften my voice, add a note a pleading. “It’s not for me. It’s
for the kids in South Central. Can’t you do it for them?”
“Humph.”
When that’s all he says, I know I’ve won this round.
“Pick
you up at six. I’m looking forward to seeing you again, Theo.”
He
hangs up without any reply.
I
find that my nipples are like stone and I’m soaked with sweat.
*
* * *
Want
to find out what happens at the fundraiser? Get yourself a copy of
the book!
Kinky
Literature
Amazon
US
Amazon
UK
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& Noble
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iTunes
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Books
Excessica
In
any case- I do hope you’ll leave a comment and help build the next
generation of female engineers, scientists, and entrepreneurs!
7 comments:
Commenting to support a worthy cause. Fun excerpt! Thanks!
Another worthy cause. Girls who code rock!
Shared!
Worthy cause. We need more women coding.
Love Larry
I wish i learned coding in school. i had to teach myself via the internet.
and even then i code like a typical 90's kid
https://dourdan.wordpress.com/
Great cause - and hot/fun little excerpt:)
Susan
Hmmm, I gotta read this book again. Every excerpt reminds me of how much I enjoyed it!
Thanks to all for your comments! Off to donate $10 to Girls Who Code...
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