The World's Longest Fundraiser

What's the world's longest fundraiser? No, not an endless PBS telethon.

I guess the question is really “what's the world's longest wearable fundraiser?”

According to AOL's Philanthropy Project, it's a necklace over two miles long, currently under construction by Portable Playhouse Inc., a Pennsylvania art therapy organization that needs funding to expand nationwide. Donors can give a dollar to add a generic bead to the strand or have the bead personalized for an extra contribution. The goal is to create the longest necklace in the world to fund the program's expansion.

The organization has raised just over $1,600 (with 1,704 beads), which I venture to guess does not yet have them in the Guinness Book of World Records. Volunteers are busy stringing all the time, though, and the organization's founder Maryann Corey says they are determined to reach their goal by December 31.

Portable Playhouse provides art therapy using beads at the bedsides of women with cancer and children suffering from severe illnesses. Participants design and make their own jewelry, crafting necklaces, earrings, anklets, key chains and other creative items.

The Playhouse staffers roaming hospitals with boxes of beads bring fun, normalcy and inspiration to people undergoing some of the worst days of their lives. With the help of a lot of donors and one long necklace, they hope to bring their charms to hospitals around the country.

Want to add a bead to the necklace? Find out how to donate here. Or learn more about the organization in the the video below.

Photo courtesy of stock.xchng