Epic Change is the lucky winner of my Reader Appreciation Day Charity Giveaway (Beth's Big Give!). Epic Change uses their donations to provide interest-free loans to local partners to finance their community improvement efforts. Here is more about their approach.
I just donated $20 via Network for Good. (In the spirit of Earth Day and transparency, this is a recycled Good Card that I received as a gift during the holidays.)
Thanks so much to Robin Reagler coming up with the idea for Michele Martin for passing along the information to me.
There were 11 wonderful organizations suggested by my readers. It would have been really hard for me to pick so I used random number generator to pick the winner and the process of selecting the winner is documented here - in case you want to borrow the idea for creating a "Big Give" of your own.
Here's the nominated organizations:
1. Not For Sale Campaign: 27 million people in slavery worldwide today, over 50% of them children. Not For Sale works to educate about, expose and eradicate modern day slavery, because no one should be for sale. suggested by Dave Web
2. Blandford Nature Center: Maria is raising funds for the organization in a very innovate (and tough) way. She has challenged herself to eat on a dollar a day for 30 days. Her journal/blog is here. Suggested by Ann, Ashima, and Maria.
3. Angel Covers: Through our programs that help create self-sufficient programs, $20 would provide food for a child for about half the year indefinitely. You can see some of the recent successes of these programs in their blog. Suggested by Lynn Fillmore.
4. Education And More: Has a mission to help educate the children and reduce poverty in Guatemala. They
are an all volunteer organization and making a big difference in the lives of the students and their families and the schools of the indigenous of western Guatemala. Suggested by Kare.
5. Transitions Cambodia: Helps many girls being trafficked throughout the southeast Asia area. TCI was
founded by James and Athena Pond of Hillsboro, Oregon. They do more than just get the girls off of the street. They teach them life skills and educate them to be self-sufficient. They use a transitional home
model, as described on their website. Suggested by Bob Uva.
6. Arthritis Foundation: Arthritis affects 1 in 5 people, is the #1 cause of disability in the US, and is not limited to adults. Suggested by Roger Carr.
7. Epic Change. Because Mama Lucy, the local woman who founded the school we're now partnered with in Tanzania, turned income from chickens into a school that now serves 200+. With your $20, she can work magic. Like giving hope to children like Glory Suggested by Stacey Monk.
8. Center for Victims of Torture Works with individuals, families and communities to heal the impact of torture. They also work worldwide with human rights practitioners to develop new strategies for ending torture. Suggested by Barry Madore.
9. Bridge Communities 88.6%* of every $1 goes directly to work on 6 levels to help transition families from homelessness to complete self-sufficiency in about two years. $25 covers 24 hours for one family, 20 year track record. Suggested by Barbara Rozgnoyi
10. SIGN, the Surgical Implant Generation Network. We go where patients with broken bones have no treatment options, other than to be confined to bed for months. We train local surgeons and equip them with surgical instruments and implants so that they can heal needy patients in a matter of days, not months. Your $20 would provide surgeons at a hospital overseas with a SIGN technique manual - a way to make sure that these surgeons use the correct methods to give their patients the best treatment. Suggested by Matt.
11. Partners for Violence Prevention (PVP). A community organization in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. Our mission is to promote peace, reduce the incidence and impact of violence, and build capacity for violence prevention in the community. PVP has shown that it is possible to identify, prevent and break the cycle of violence. Our strategies, applied to a coordinated continuum of schools, health care and social service providers and other local networks have helped over 11,000 people. PVP works in four areas: (1) Youth Development and School Support, (2) Educational Trainings, (3) Community Education and Awareness, and (4) Facilitation/Coordination. Suggested by Anita Berg.
Beth,
Thank you SO MUCH! I'll be sure to keep you informed about how much good your $20 is doing in Tanzania.
I truly appreciate it!
Stacey Monk
Founder, Epic Change
Posted by: Stacey Monk | April 18, 2008 at 01:38 AM