A recent graduate of Cheyenne’s Central High has proven once again the premise behind this project’s name.

Ben Pacheco, 18, donated $5,700 to the World Food Program’s Darfur Emergency Relief Fund.

On June 1, he swam 500 meters across Sloans Lake in Lions Park. More than 100 people gathered on the beach to support him during the 12-minute swim.

He raised more money in his “Swim to Save Darfur” project than he expected. “The response to this fundraising event was unbelievable,” he said in a news release.

The money he raised will provide enough food to support 54 Darfuri people for the next year.

“I realize now that one person really can make a difference in the world,” he said. “We have a very generous and caring community.”

Pacheco is a 2008 graduate of Cheyenne’s Central High. He works for Climate Control Heating and Air Conditioning. He will attend the University of Wyoming this fall as a pre-pharmacy major.

Congratulation to Ben and all of the people who donated to support his special fundraising effort!

Special Friends’ 4th Annual Million-Dollar Duck Derby takes place at 1 p.m. this Saturday, June 28, at Superday.

For just $5 for a single duck (or $20 for 5 or $100 for 25), you could be the lucky winner of a Nintendo Wii game system, $500 cash, a $2,500 travel package, or even $1 million!

All proceeds go to help Special Friends, a local organization that matches adult volunteer mentors with at-risk youth in our area.

For more information on this fun event, click on “To give your money” at right.

In what is becoming an annual tradition, the Cheyenne Police Department and Cheyenne Fire and Rescue have again teamed up with United Blood Services for the Guns and Hoses competition. The goal: To collect more than 250 units of blood or blood products during the week of June 30-July 5.

Each department has two drives:

Cheyenne Fire and Rescue

Monday, June 30, 12-6 p.m., main fire station on 19th Street

Tuesday, July 1, 7 a.m.-1 p.m., main fire station on 19th Street

Cheyenne Police Department

Wednesday, July 2, 12-6 p.m., police station at 2022 Capitol Ave.

Thursday, July 3, 7 a.m.-1 p.m., police station at 2022 Capitol Ave.

Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome. Call 638-3326 for appointments or go to www.bloodhero.com and use sponsor code GUNSHOSES.

If donors cannot make it to one of the four special blood drives, they can still have their donation go toward their favorite team by going to United Blood Services, 112 E. Eighth St. from June 30-July 5.

Summer is traditionally a time when there are shortages in the local blood supply, and the July 4 holiday is always a tough time to secure blood for Wyoming hospitals.

A special team kickoff event – a tug-of-war between the two departments – takes place Thursday, June 26 at United Blood Services, 112 E. Eighth Ave.

For more on this special event, see “To give something” at right.

The American Cancer Society’s Cheyenne Relay for Life event June 6-7 has raised more than $170,000, according to Jill Duvall with the local office.

Duvall said 58 teams participated this year, and 214 survivors were represented during the walk, which was again held at Okie Blanchard Stadium at Cheyenne’s East High.

Fundraising for the annual event continues into August, Duvall said.

For more information, about the American Cancer Society and its programs, visit www.cancer.org.

Safe Harbor, a children’s justice center, is having its annual kids items-only garage sale from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Saturday, June 14. The center is at 2712 Thomes Ave.

All items are for kids only, including clothing, toys, furniture and more.

The organization also takes donations for the fundraiser year-round.

Safe Harbor is nonprofit, United Way-supported organization. It is a child advocacy center with two programs: response to child abuse in Laramie County and forensic interviews for children who have been abused and neglected, and supervised visitation and safe exchanges.

For more information, click on “To give your money” at right.

HearThemLive.com and a local church known as The Warehouse have teamed up to present The Clean Socks Tour featuring Ever Stays Red and This Great Escape.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. at The Warehouse, 911 E. Fox Farm Road, Unit 7. Cost is $5 at the door.

Attendees are asked to bring clean socks to donate to local homeless shelters.

For more information about the concert, go to HearThemLive.com. For more about the bands, go to www.myspace.com/everystaysred or www.myspace.com/thisgreatescape.

More information also can be found by clicking on “To give your money” at right.

For the 17th year in a row, the Hispanic Organization for Progress in Education is holding a golf tournament June 14 to fund its scholarship program.

HOPE scholars, as witnessed by our recent Schools page story, are an amazing group of students, and it’s fantastic that HOPE both exists and helps send these youth on to college.

Ann Redman said this afternoon that the 7:30 a.m. flight is mostly full, but there are slots open for the 12:30 p.m. flight. With a limit of 25 teams per flight, though, you need to get your registration in ASAP to guarantee your place.

Donations of gift cards, meal certificates and other prizes are still welcome as well.

For more information, click on “To give your money” at right.

Lace up those walking shoes and get ready to step out Saturday for the Wyoming Coalition for the Homeless.

The local homeless support organization is holding its annual Walk In My Shoes fundraiser this weekend. This is the only major event the nonprofit group holds each year to support its programs, so it is important that the community come out to support this event.

Registration begins at 8 a.m., with the walk starting at the coalition offices, 907 Logan Ave., at 9 a.m. The cost is just $12 in advance or $15 the day of the event.

For more information, click on “To give your money” at right.

Two opportunities exist today to donate to worthy causes while eating out.

Although many people’s budgets are tight, if you still find yourself eating out, you can participate in today’s Eat Out to End Hunger at one of several area restaurants. Proceeds benefit Food Bank of the Rockies.

Also, Country Buffet in Frontier Mall is donating some of its proceeds tonight t o Raising Readers in Wyoming for customers with a special ticket.

For more on both of these donating while eating out opportunities, click on “To give your money” at right.