Why Is This Guy Going to Jail?

When you think of a hardened career criminal, what comes to mind? Someone wearing a ski mask carrying an assault rifle who robs bank after bank after bank? Or the type of person who sneaks around the neighborhood in the middle of the night looking for a home to break into? What about the pimply-faced pencil-necked geek who’s downloading kiddie-porn on the Internet?

While there are definatley people who need to be locked up for the common good, there are others who are falsely accused or wrongly arrested for crimes they did not commit. Such as the grandmothers who the RIAA wrongly accuse of copyright infringement, or the individual arrested due to a case of mistaken identity. And then you have those who literally go behind bars to raise money for charity. Like this guy:

Meet Clifford McKinney: MDA Jailbird

Clifford McKinney of Ypsilanti, Michigan is not your average American. He’s an entrepreneur, a small business owner, and a dedicated gamer. I know him from a tabletop miniature warfare game that we both happen to play when we have the chance called BattleTech. On 17 September 2009, he’s going to be “locked up for good” in a charitable fundraiser for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) and Jerry’s Kids©. In order to be released on good behavior, he’ll need to raise bail and he needs your help!

Why Is Cliff Doing This?

Cliff’s goal is to raise $1,600 so he can send not one, but two kids to camp. MDA Summer Camps help to build bridges and tear down barriers for children with disabilities at no cost to their families. These outdoor camps provide a fun and safe experience for children from the ages of 6 to 17 with muscular dystrophy and other neuromuscular disorders. The camps also develop important life skills such as confidence, independence and social ability, while promoting an overall sense of great self-esteem and personal achievement. To quote the MDS Web site, campers often leave with a more positive outlook on life and take with them lasting friendships and memories.

How Can You “Bail Out” this Jailbird?

All you have to do is visit Cliff’s personal page on the MDS Lock-Up Web site before 17 September 2009 and click the button next to the promotional video. You’ll be taken to a secure Web page where you’ll be able to donate via credit card (no PayPal payments accepted; you can however use a PayPal debit or credit card if you have one). Your generous (and tax-deductable) donation will help families living in Cliff’s community and help guarantee him an “early release on good behavior”. Once you have donated, your name will be added to his list of contributers. I donated $50. How much can you spare?