In a nutshell, we were talking about plans for this summer. For the past year, Celeste has talked obsessively about going to one of those places where she could (for a certain amount of cash) swim with the dolphins. I have enough frequent-flier miles that we can travel for free, but told her that's a drop in the bucket considering how much we would need for our hotel, meals and the cost of the swim.

Especially considering that she also wants to attend a two-week summer arts camp.

I told her she needs to choose one or the other, or earn enough money to finance it herself.

Her first tactic was to stalk through the house, pilfering all the loose change she could find. She became like an anteater, sucking up coins wherever she went. But it wasn't long before she realized that spare change alone couldn't finance her Flipper trip. After counting her change, and looking disheartened, she went up to her room.

And that's where her craftiness came into play.

In the form of a fundraising brochure.

She plans on sending a copy to everyone in our family. The text reads as follows:

"You know those charities where they give you the name and photograph of the actual child your money will help?

"That was my inspiration. This is like that. Kinda.

"For the record, even though my ribs DO stick out sort of like the kids in those ads and there's some talk about how I probably suffer from malnutrition, your financial assistance ISN'T needed to supply me with the staples of life. Mom claims she just barely has those things covered. The thing is, if I'm going to have the kind of summer that I'll someday reminisce over and get all misty about when I'm - oh, I don't know - somewhere around as old as you are, then Mom says I have to be creative and come up with my own funding.

"I need your help so I can swim with dolphins (about $500) and also attend Summer Arts Camp (about $300). Mom says times are tight and I have to choose which of the two I'd rather do, and how even doing just one is going to be hard and yadda-yadda-doesn't-grow-on-trees-yadda. If I want to do both, she says it's up to me to figure out how, so I went online to research fundraising, and that's where I ran across the Sponsor-a-Child idea.

"Basically, what I'm asking here is for you to contribute whatever you can spare to help make the summer dreams come true for one very special child (me). For the price of just one cup of coffee a day (especially if that coffee is from Starbucks) you can play a part in making this a wonderful summer for one very special child (again, that would be me)."

Celeste then spends some time explaining how the "dolphin experience" isn't just entertaining, but educational, and how - since she's contemplating a career in marine mammal science - the experience could be one that alters the course of her life.

Next came my favorite part, where donors could choose their "Level of Giving." Gold Level donors would be entitled to "not have their kisses wiped off" and would be entitled to select "the adjective of their choice to be added before their name and/or title. For example, should 'Uncle Rod' choose to be a Gold Level donor, he could become 'Handsome Uncle Rod.' But wait! There's more! Additional adjectives are available for just $20 each, so for just a few extra dollars, 'Grammy' could become my 'Gorgeous, Skinny, Young-Looking Grammy.'

"Cash, checks, and credit cards (through PayPal) are accepted."

If she falls short of her goal, I expect corporate sponsorships will come next.

Reach Karin Fuller at karinful...@cnpapers.com. Celeste's brochure can be viewed online at Karin's blog at thegazz.com.