My good pal Natalie over at Blood Falls (www.the-vampirediaries.com) has launched a really cool idea for a gift for Ian for his birthday on December 8th. She asked if we would help to get the word out, and I told her I would be happy to. I know it’s a little early, but with what she has planned, it will take some time to get everything together, and gives everyone a chance to participate and won’t be rushed. Here are the deets!

We know that Ian is a strong activist for various causes. His strong voice during the Gulf Oil Spill Crisis spoke to thousands of people worldwide. Ian also has a strong voice when it comes to animals. He frequently posts images or tweets about helping animals at shelters in Atlanta as well as shelters in his homestate of Louisiana.

After careful consideration and lots of brainstorming, Nicki and myself have decided we wanted to raise funds for the St. Tammany Humane Society, located in Covington, Louisiana. Here are the detailed plans on how we’re going to move forward with this exciting project:

• 1. Collect donations for the cause
• 2. Prepare a special birthday book for Ian with birthday wishes from fans around the world
• 3. Write a special birthday card for Ian stating what his fans have done for him
• 4. Include a small stuffed dog or cat with Ian’s birthday package to represent the donation we give to the St. Tammany Humane Society

Here is how things are going to work during the birthday project.

At the end of this post, we have a paypal donation button. We invite you to donate via paypal to this wonderful cause. At the end of the campaign, we will donate a lump sum amount to St. Tammany Humane Society in Ian Somerhalder’s name.

I will compile a list of donators so that when we send the birthday card to Ian, a list of everyone who donated will be included.

Two weeks before his birthday {December 8} I will print all the messages and include them in a simple birthday book to be sent to Ian.

I will also purchase a small stuffed dog or cat to include in the birthday package to represent our contributions to the center.

With the package, I will also include a handwritten birthday card letting Ian know that a donation was made to the centre in his name in honor of his birthday.

The package, birthday card and stuffed animal will all be done on my own dime. If you wish to help contribute to those costs, please contact me to arrange a donation seperate from the birthday project.

The deadline to submit your donation and birthday greeting is November 24th, 2010. I will then prepare everything and have it sent out by November 26th to ensure enough time to arrive to Ian for his birthday.

For the contact form to send your birthday greeting to Ian, please click here (please make sure to specify in your subject line that it is your birthday greeting for Ian). Please, no long stories or messages. Keep it simple and very short! Also, mind your grammar, punctuation and spelling!

Please don’t fret or worry if you can’t donate! This is why I’m doing the birthday book so you can still be part of this project! So look at the previous paragraph and use it to send your birthday greeting to Ian!!!

Head on over to the site to make your DONATION!