Tattoos for Tomorrow: Non-traditional funding for a non-traditional scholarship

Free Spirit Alliance, one of the country's oldest Pagan organizations, launches its Ink The Elf tattoo contest to fund a college scholarship program. George Marvil, the group's registrar, has donated 48 square inches of flesh by inviting people to vote on which tattoo design will be put on his arm at Free Spirit Gathering in June. Each vote costs $10, which goes directly to the scholarship fund.

Lambertville, NJ February 10, 2004 -- Free Spirit Alliance ("FSA"), an organization devoted to sponsoring events and providing community for Pagans, announces the launch of its Community Scholarship Program.

The program, which will award two $500 scholarships per year, is being funded in large part by the "Ink the Elf Contest," the fund-raising brainchild of FSA's president, George Marvil. Marvil, who is also the registrar -- or "Registration Elf" for FSA's largest annual event, Free Spirit Gathering ("FSG"), has donated his very skin to the scholarship program by inviting people to vote on the design that he will have tattooed on his arm at this year's FSG -- at a cost of $10 per vote. Marvil encourages people to "vote early and often"; there is no limit to the number of votes any one individual may cast, and all proceeds go to the scholarship fund. Votes must be cast by June 1, 2004, as the winning design will be announced approximately two weeks later at FSG.

Students pursuing any course of study leading to degree or certificate -- whether at a "traditional" university or as part of a holistic or other training program -- are welcome to apply for the scholarships, whether they are Pagan or not. The selection criteria is not religion, but rather the applicant's respect for the values that are central to the Pagan community: honesty, trust, tolerance, community service and a strong sense of personal ethics and values.

Applications for scholarships to be used during the 2004-05 academic year are due by May 1, 2004; the application form, and additional information about the scholarships, may be found at www.freespiritgathering.org/scholarship/index.html
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Free Spirit Alliance is a Pantheistic networking organization that has been serving the Pagan and alternative spiritual community since 1985. Through its main festivals, (FSG and Sacred Sexuality Beltane), smaller events and open rituals, FSA provides a sacred yet relaxed atmosphere in which to share and explore spiritual beliefs and practices.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
George D. Marvil III
FSG Registrar
P.O. Box 94
Lambertville, NJ 08530
908-797-0184
http://www.freespiritgathering.org

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