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  • Emily Nokes

As of this morning, we've raised $87,141.76 in the Macklemore & Ryan Lewis vs. Pearl Jam vs. Slog Holiday Charity Challenge, all going to keeping Seattle's homeless youth safe at YouthCare’s Orion Center. We're aiming for $100k—so close! Here are some notes that you awesome people have included with your donations so far:

• "Stay strong. I was a high-risk kid. I pulled though with lots of support from caring adults. Paying it forward!"
• "Hope the fundraising goal is exceeded! Thanks for bringing it to our attention, Macklemore."
• "I LOVE YOU FOREVER, SLOG!"
• "Rock on, P&J. You are the best."
• "I've worked for and in partnership with YouthCare for three years. I've seen a lot of young people start coming to Orion Center just to get a hot meal and a shower and leave with housing, jobs, counseling, and hope for their future."
• "YouthCare was there for our son, on several occasions. Thank you."
• "These two groups are the last two concerts I saw. Love them both deeply and support them wholeheartedly."

We're almost there! The question is: Whose fans will do the most to help our homeless youth? As of this morning, Pearl Jam fans are in the lead with $38,584.27 raised! Macklemore & Ryan Lewis fans have raised $35,263.14. And Slog fans have passed the $10k mark, with $10,098.35!

DONATE to YouthCare’s Orion Center now:

• Pearl Jam fans: GO HERE TO GIVE!
• Macklemore & Ryan Lewis fans: GO HERE TO GIVE!
• Slog fans: GO HERE TO GIVE!

And it's not too late to win the glamorous trip to Canada! It's a weekend getaway for two in lovely Victoria, BC, including round-trip transportation from Port Angeles on the scenic Coho Ferry (with your friend and your car), a two-night stay at the historic and awesome Fairmont Empress Hotel, and two passes to the Victoria Butterfly Gardens. Thanks, Canada (specifically, Tourism Victoria)! We await our delivery of Rob Ford—we'll show him a good time. For a chance to win (the trip, not Rob Ford), donate by noon tomorrow, then forward your receipt to us and tell us in 100 words or less why Canada and butterflies are the greatest. The best reason wins! The winner will be announced tomorrow afternoon on Slog.

The Holiday Charity Challenge goes through December 24th! Our goal is $100,000, to keep the Orion Center open seven days a week for the next year. Donate now! Deck the halls!