MicroGiving’s July News

Hello MicroGivers,

Welcome to the July edition of MicroGiving’s monthly newsletter delivered fresh right here on our super wonderful blog. Here’s a quick update to keep you posted on some exciting highlights:

MicroGiving’s Fishing Tournament – A Huge Success!

MicroGiving’s 1st Annual Fishing Tournament in memory of our dearest deceased loved ones John Alsop and Jason Strauss was a huge success! They must have been looking out for us as the weather was beautiful despite a formidable forecast. We received a tremendous turnout with over 1,000 attendees, $14,000 in donations, and 30 sponsors including Red Stripe, Jamba Juice, Mercedez-Benz, and the Florida Marlins (to name a few)! Not too shabby turnout considering it was our first tournament! Check out the event pictures here.

Exciting Site Changes

Our developers are constantly working to keep the MicroGiving site in tip top shape. We’re constantly making changes to make MicroGiving the best darn online giving platform in the whole wide world! Recently, you may have noticed our improved, shiny new fundraising meters. Aren’t they glorious?! It’s time to pump up the juice, get out there, and fundraise! Here are a few fundraising tips to get you started.

What Others Say About Microphilanthropy

We’d like to introduce our new friends over at Charity Champs! Their site is under the initial stages of development, however we encourage you to bookmark these guys because they’re great people doing great stuff! They were kind enough to give us their thoughts on microphilanthropy, here’s what they had to say:

>How do you encourage micro-philanthropy? And why is it important?

We decided to encourage microphilanthropy because it dissolves some of the barriers to giving and participating. Usually people don’t have time or money to give, and with microphilanthropy you don’t need a lot of either to do good.  Microphilanthropy lowers the bar for participation, and therefore reaches more people.

>Do you feel that more people are turning to the web as there “charitable-giving” portal, or does traditional philanthropic giving still hold the majority of donations given to charity today?

Right now it seems to me that the majority of donated dollars are still being given offline (multi-million dollar cheques being written to foundations and hospitals for example), but the number of donations being given online is increasing so rapidly that I’m sure the landscape will be totally changed within a few years. Especially with great organizations like Microgiving paving the way. =)

Cheers,
Sylvia Ng
Director, Charity CHAMPS

Visit Charity Champs on Facebook, and be sure to check out their microphilanthropy blog!

Tips To Improve Your MicroGiving Experience

The key to successful fundraising is spreading the word about your cause. Many people join MicroGiving with the misconception that donations will magically poof into their fundraising account, but fundraising takes time and a lot of elbow grease! MicroGiving is a tool to help you raise donations, but you need to do the leg work in order to be successful. So how do you spread the word about your cause? Here are a few tips to get you started:

1. Start within your circle – Contact family, friends and your local community and tell them about your mission. People within your circle are prime prospects as they know you on a more personal level, and usually more inclined to help
2. Get involved in the MicroGiving community – Introduce yourself to others. Visit member profiles and drop a word of encouragement in the comment section. Don’t be shy, let the community know that you exist!
3. Utilize social media – One of the most powerful and growing resources on the web is social media. A report published by Silicon Alley Insider indicated that 24% of Facebook users share web content with their friends and family. Share your profile link with others on Facebook, Myspace, and Digg. You may have noticed a quick and useful shortcut on your profile that helps you share profiles with others on the web. Click on the “Share Profile” link found under your avatar picture and choose from a variety of social media sites on the web. The more you submit your cause to these fantastic social portals, the more you gain exposure

Talk To Us!

Question? Suggestion? Success story? Area of interest you’d like to know more about? Ask us! We LOVE to hear from you!

Yours truly,
MicroGiving

Explore: MicroGiving’s Featured Recipient

Give Online To A Family In Need!

MicroGiving’s Explore page has now moved to our blog! For those of you who are not aware, every month MicroGiving spotlights one Donor, Recipient and Charity to feature on our site. What makes these members special? They’ve been exceptionally involved in our community and we feel they deserve a little praise and laudation!

This month our shining Recipient spotlight goes to MJ! See what she has to say about MicroGiving…

What is your MicroGiving username?
My username is MJ

How long have you been a member?
I’ve been a member for about 1 year now

How did you learn about MicroGiving? (ie. friend, family, internet, advertisement, etc.)
I learned about MicroGiving through searching the Internet in hope to find help

How often do you visit the MicroGiving site?
I visit MicroGiving almost every day

What makes MicroGiving unique to you?
The members truly care and are willing to help those in need.

What advice would you give to new Recipient members?
Be a part of the communtiy! Reach out and get to know those who are a part of the family. Know that people do care for those who are in need.

Do you participate in MicroGiving’s forum discussions? If so, how often and which ones do you visit?
I usually visit the forums as often as I can, because I like to see what is going on in the lives of other people in the community. I like to hear when someone is anxious to tell of good news, or those who have questions. I just like to peek into peoples lives to see what exciting things are happening.

Do you read MicroGiving’s blog? If so, what topics do you enjoy reading and what would you like to read more about?
This past month I have been sick and not able to read the blogs, but they are great and full of wonderful information to help in every day life. I wouldn’t change anything because I believe that Microgiving is reaching many people and doing a fantastic job!

What MicroGiving feature or service has been the most helpful to you and why?
Having a family to come to and share the good and bad of life. To see that many care! The excitement to read an email that a donation has been given not only to myself, but to others on this site! To feel pain when those here hurt and to share joy when good news is there to share. This is a family of sharing!

Has your life changed since you began visitiing the MicroGiving site? If so, in what way?
I came here truly thinking no one out there cared that I was alone in my struggles. Through MicroGiving I realized that we are all in this together and we each become stronger with the support of one another. I would recommend this site to anyone who is in need or has the ability to share with others. There are many who care and I thank Microgiving for being there for me!

Best regards to MJ, be sure to drop by her profile page this week and leave a few words of encouragement. Don’t forget to stay tuned this week for more featured profiles,  and most importantly give online to a family in need!

Sincerely,

The MicroGiving Team

PR: wait… I: wait… L: wait… LD: wait… I: wait… wait… Rank: wait… Traffic: wait… Price: wait… C: wait…

Online Giving

A Look @ 21st Century Giving

Recently we took a look at online giving trends and the impact of the recession on charitable giving. Although giving to charity has slowed,

“Online giving is growing exponentially each year, from $250 million in 2000 to more than $4.5 billion in 2005.” (ePhilanthropy Foundation, 2006)

Donors are now turning to the web to give – finding that online giving is a more effective way to connect to the causes they care most about.

With internet technology and personal computers having been around for just over a decade or so, online giving has only recently gained recognition and popularity among donors.

With that said, online giving is one of the most remarkable pioneers of the 21st century given the infancy of its existence and global impact within such a short period of time.

This post is the first in a series of posts that will explore the shift from conventional giving to online giving. In this series we will address:

• How has online giving changed the way we give?
• Who is giving online?
• When and how often do people give online?
• Where are donors giving their donations online?
• Why do donors use online giving as their portal for charity?

As we explore insight into online giving, we hope to target new ways of harnessing the world wide web as a powerful platform to be used for global change.

Has the internet changed your approach to giving?

Promise Brand – Doing Social Good!

Are your children’s toys healthy?

We have toys that do just about everything these days, but every year millions of defective toys are taken off the shelf due to lead hazards or other harmful impalements. Forbes Asia indentified the recall of more than 25 million toys in the United States due to toxic lead over the past fiscal year.

Why did toys have to get so complicated? Remember the old days of classic wood-crafted blocks, dollhouses, and airplanes? And how much equal satisfaction and enjoyment were derived from such items in the simplistic imagination as a child?

It seems as though so many manufacturers these days fail to exercise due diligence amongst the mad rush to cut costs and stay on top of the toy industry’s competitive market. We’ve lost much of the quality and innocence of classic toys and what have we got instead? Toxic lead-infused plastic trinkets and a handful of brats!

We thought it would be nice to spotlight some innovative and close friends of MicroGiving who came out with a line of all natural organic toys. Promise Brand Toys are doing there part to practice social good through a special line of safe, environmentally friendly, and certified lead-free toys for children made from 100% wood, all natural linseed oil, and milk paint.

Promise Brand upholds a strong social good principle to provide quality handcrafted and educational toys to be both enjoyed and cherished long-term. It’s nice to see a toy manufacturer making a family-conscience effort to produce quality toys that are safe for children!

And there’s a lesson to take away from this: doing social good - providing quality, value, upholding integrity, and a mission to help others (whether in the form of a business model or your personal practices) is the formula to succeed in life. This means fundamentally changing your outlook: rather than seeking merely “profit”, it means seeking “people, planet, and profit” and eternalizing a social responsibility to everything you do in life and in business.

Check these guys out at www.promisebrand.com, there awesome! And let us know your thoughts on this post…

Giving To Charity

Charitable Giving & The Greatest Paradoxal Misunderstanding

Our posts have spanned many similar topics all pertinent to giving to charity: the importance of giving, reasons to give to others, the positive power of micro philanthropy, and we’ve even suggested ways to give through volunteer opportunities

Regardless however of how much we encourage people to give to charity (even on the easiest of micro-giving levels)… there are plenty of people that still don’t practice charitable giving. 

And furthermore, from within the charity sector it seems as though the biggest challenge charities face is overcoming the communication barrier that stops the masses, or otherwise potential donors, from giving.

The greatest paradoxal misunderstanding that inhibits many people from giving to charity is the mistaken idea that the only way to maintain wealth is to hold on tightly to what you have. This post aims to present a strong argument and clear case for charitable giving.

The Arguments Of Giving To Charity

Those who don’t give to charity, are rarely satisfied in life

Someone once said, “If you eat enough lobster it will eventually taste like soap”. This also stands true in our personal lives and in our habits of giving – you see hoarding wealth is distasteful and you’ll never be satisfied in life if you hold onto what you have.

Albert Schweitzer puts it beautifully:

“I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know for certain. The ones among you who will be really happy in life are those who have sought and found how to give.”

Those who don’t give to charity, rarely receive

With a closed fist man retains what he has, in as much as he surely thwarts to attain any more. The only way that money can get in is to have an open hand. 

On a side note, it’s rather quite incredible that every tribe, tongue, and nation all seem to understand the universal symbol of anger… a clenched fist. Gold Mier coined the phrase “you can’t shake hands with a clenched fist”.

Those who don’t give to charity, turn stale

What do we mean by “turn stale”? Consider a pond where water flows out of a pipe, but nothing drains out of the pond. The water eventually becomes stagnant and begins to stink. Eventually layers of scum accumulates and cloaks the surface as stuff goes in but nothing comes out. Ever met someone who reflects a stinking pond?! Take a lesson!

“There are men who gain from their wealth only the fear of losing it” -Antoine Riveroli

The Case For Charity: Why Give?

The Transformational Effect

It’s a peculiar phenominality – it’s as though the mechanical act of giving to charity changes us. A transformational occurence takes place and it is only when we let go and help people in need that we truly feel most happy and fulfilled.

Charity Champs address a few rather potent thoughts on their blog regarding the transformational effect and the impact of charitable giving as they address the question, Does micro-philanthropy work?

The Fruits of Charitable Giving

More explicitly, giving to charity naturally encourages you to become less selfish. The interesting aspect of selfless, more charitable individuals is that they tend to prosper in relationships and in wealth. It’s not difficult to understand this, as selfish people are rarely liked and if you’re not liked you’re less likely to succeed in a world where success is largely contingent upon your success with others.

We’d love to hear your additional thoughts on this post…

• Why do you give to charity?
• How would you encourage people to give?
• Do you experience a change when you give?

Charity Causes

Top 6 Charity Cause Colors

You’ve probably seen them – those colored rubber wrist bands that have become an international fashion statement within the charity sector. Charity advocates worldwide support their favorite charity causes by publicly displaying colored advocacy bands. They come in many colors, each representing a different cause. Ever wondered what each color stands for?
 

 The Support Our Troops Charity Cause

Yellow represents the support of our troops fighting worldwide for freedom! Yellow was originally the color of the United States Cavalry during the 19th century. The yellow ribbon derives its origins from the practice of women wearing yellow ribbons in their hair to display support of their husbands and sweethearts serving in the army.

 The Breast Cancer Awareness Charity Cause

Breast cancer is the #1 most common form of cancer among women. Pink represents international awareness and the support of breast cancer research to put an end to this prevalent epidemic.

 The Anti-Bullying Campaign

Blue represents support of the National Bullying Awareness program. Originally an initiative that surfaced in the United Kingdom has grown in popularity in the U.S. The program targets a parental and administrative call to stop child-bullying in our public school systems by spreading awareness and talking to children about the detrimental impact of child-bullying.

 The Live Free. Smoke Free. Charity Cause

In affiliation with the American Cancer Society – the Live Free, Smoke Free Campaign aims to stop teens from smoking. Orange represents a national effort to raise awareness and keep young people from a lethal dirty habit that takes the lives of millions of people every year!

 The Purple Paws Charity Cause

Purple represents the advocacy of animal rights and the prevention of animal cruelty. The Humane Society of the United States estimates that over 1 million animals are neglected, abused, or killed every year in connection with violence. Support the humane treatment of animals and display the purple ribbon.

Courage: AIDS Awareness Charity Cause

Red has become an iconic international symbol for AIDS awareness. Since 1990, people living with AIDS has increased from 8 million to over 33 million today, reports the United Nations AIDS 2008 Report of the global AIDS epidemic. Global efforts have been made to spread awareness and educate the public regarding preventative measures and the gravity of this increasing pandemic.

We’d love to hear from you…

• What’s your favorite charity cause color?
• What charities do you stand for?

Make A Difference

How To Use Micro Charity To Make A Macro Difference

We recently posted on the topic of micro-philanthropy and its large impact to make a difference in the life of someone in need. Today, this post will further expand on ways that you can make a difference (even if the “money bucket is dry”)! 

But first let’s get something straight: “Charity” is NOT synonymous with writing a personal check. The greatest misunderstanding is the idea that one must give 10% of his or her income in order to be “charitable”. If you can afford 10%, then by all means whip out your check book!

However, for those who would like to make a difference, but struggle to make their own ends meet, here’s what you can do:

Make an 85 cent difference

The most powerful charity is when one displays a truly heartfelt act of kindness.

Recently one of our Recipient members made an 85 cent donation to another Recipient. This small act of kindness carried more value than its actual monetary worth. Our receiving Recipient said:

“85 cents changed my life because I knew someone cared enough to share with us what little they had. It touched me so deeply that it has left a lasting impression on not only my life, but my whole family.” -Michelle (michie)

The interesting dynamic is not so much the impact of the monetary donation itself, but rather the profundity of realizing that someone else out their recognizes your struggle and cares enough about you to give and make a difference in a little way. 

Thank you Becky! 

Make a more “personal” difference

You can make a difference on a more personal level by taking the time to identify struggling people with specific needs and meeting those needs where possible. For example, one of our members recounted a time when she struggled to buy clothes for her children for the upcoming school year. An observant neighbor identified her need through observation – collected a bag of clothes her own children had outgrown – and dropped them at the doorstep of the struggling mother. 

It brought tears to her eyes to think that someone else paid enough attention to her needs and was kind enough to take initiative and meet those needs. 

It’s easy to quickly dump off our old clothes at the Salvation Army, but let’s slow down our chaotic pace of life and observe the people close to us who we can help and make a difference. 

Make the opportunity to make a difference 

Life can easily fly by if you don’t slow down your pace of life for a moment to consider opportunities to help others. It’s easy to get sucked up in your own world of problems and forget that there are other people out there who are hurting.

One of our team members recounted one of her greatest regrets was not reaching out to an elderly lady during a time of emotional distress. After the passing of her husband, Elaine Kellar’s health quickly deteriorated. 

Our team member wished she had slowed down her busy schedule for a just a moment and offered companionship – a mere few visits to show someone cared would have made a world of difference to an elderly woman who felt alone and forgotten. 

Nothing is more discouraging than the feeling of being alone. The most effective way to make a difference is to be physically there for someone. 

Keep your eyes and ears peeled for people with needs. Slow down your pace for just a moment and consider the opportunities to make a difference in the lives of people in your community.  As our Recipient member MJ beautifully said:

” I will be giving where ever I can” – “this time with more focus on what I can do for others to get my mind off of all the bills that keep coming in. Of course I will still pay them as I can, but in the middle of the storm I forgot to care for others”.

Make a difference by listening

We’ll keep this one short, sweet, and simple. There’s absolutely nothing that compares to having the emotional support of someone to talk to. Make a difference by listening to someone who needs an ear.

We’d love to hear from you…

• Has someone made a difference in your life? 
• Have you ever done something to make a difference in life of someone else?
• What are some other ways that you can make a difference?

Make a difference today!

The Things You Say…

Have you ever experienced a time when someone casually said something that spoke to you profoundly?

Ironically – as the communicator continues to ramble on, you realize that he or she has no idea that during that fraction of a moment they just imparted words that touched your life.

It’s remarkable how a few mere simple words can leave such a branding impact. Yet it’s those little things that people say – those random moments and life encounterances that can leave a lasting impression on your life forever.

We asked for your feedback and we were deeply moved by your responses. Your lives and stories have touched us in extraordinary ways. Here’s a recap of some of the things you said this month that spoke to us profoundly:

“There are many sheep who mindlessly carry on in everyday life” – “people who cannot see what is right in front of them” – “So I guess we have to point things out and give others time to see how they can participate and/or volunteer” – “It’s like the child in a messy room stepping over things, but doesn’t realize it’s messy or that they stepped over anything until you point it out”. – JT, on Volunteer Opportunities

In the regard to: giving what you can – “I know it’s a drop in the bucket, but every bucket is filled with little drops. It’s never filled if people think their droplets are too small” -Becky (Rayhawk), on Micro Philanthropy

“One of my happiest moments was when I officially became a recipient and received my very first donation from Rayhawk – that was a very special day. Thank you again Rayhawk, you put a big smile on my face that day. It was not about the amount of her donation, it was about the sincere gratitude from another recipient. I cherish those moments with great pride. Being a member of the MicroGiving Foundation has made a huge impact in my life today” – Jamel, on Micro Philanthropy

“My girlfriend died last May 23, 2008. Her name was Theresa Renee McVety” – “She died in a car accident”, but “she was an organ donor”. “A person regained her eye sight, and Tess’s liver saved a life. At the wake, we had two balloons representing the organs she donated. They floated in the air with hope and sorrow. It’s a good thing for people to donate their organs. It sad when we lose our loved ones, but it’s nice to know there’s a piece of them still here. As I’m crying, Tess, I want to tell you that I love you and miss you. I’m proud that you donated your organs. This site gave the world a chance to introduce you.” -Christy Lauzon, on Give Life

“Microgiving.com reminds me a lot of my family, a lot of brothers and sisters who want to see others do better in their lives. I would love to see more people on ‘microgiving.com’ to help others – no matter what. I would do the same for anyone who would help me in my life.” – Dave, on Micro Philanthropy

“Do I believe and support Micro Philanthropy? Yes. The ideology and action of philanthropy speaks to the deep trait of caring for others in this world, otherwise we would live in world laced with greater challenges than we witness today. Just imagine what that world look like.” Randy, on Micro Philanthropy

“I will be giving whenever I can. I am re-doing my budget and this time I’m focusing more on what I can do for others to get my mind off of all the bills that keep coming in. Of course I will still pay them as I can, but in the middle of the storm I forgot to care for others.” -MJ, on Community Service Ideas

“It’s amazing how much a dollar can add up. If everyone on this site gave just a few people $1 that would show the power of giving what you can and gaining so much more by doing it.” -Tania Osborn, on Micro Philanthropy

“Yes, compassion is contagious. When you’re around nice people it does make you feel more inspired when we join together to help someone!” – Elaine Wellington, on Micro Philanthropy

“I am deeply moved by the compassion of this community. I never expected to find this, not online, not on the internet where all you hear and read about are the predators and scammers that constantly feed on people exactly like you all – with loving and giving hearts. I came across Microgiving by accident really. However I no longer believe that, because whether I’m ever given a dime in support of my mission I am inspired and encouraged daily by the outpouring of support and gratitude – and the  encouraging words from those who leave comments and blogs here.” Keryl, on People Helping People

May your lives be truly blessed,
as you have truly blessed us…

Sincerely,
MicroGiving

Earth Day

What is Earth Day?  

What’s all this jab and who-ha about saving the environment? And are we experiencing a global environmental crisis? 

Earth Day is a global environmental call to action!

Earth Day is celebrated every year on the 22nd of April and aims to raise awareness about the earth and the importance of taking action to save our environment. Thousands of events and environmental campaigns are held world wide throughout Earth Week to develop sustainable climate change solutions, promote environmental education, and encourage civic participation.

This year, Earth Day 2009 will kick start the Green Generation Campaign which aims to encourage civic action and participation in global green efforts. Green Generation hopes to achieve carbon free solutions that will change our impact on the environment by targeting renewable energy resources and ending our reliance on fossil fuel and coal consumption.

Why is Earth Day important?

The importance of Earth Day (learn more here) is to counteract the threatening effects of global warming. 

What is global warming? 

Global warming is bad. Global warming occurs when excessive CO2 gasses (produced from vehicle emissions, deforestation, and the burning of coal, oil, and gas) get trapped in the earth’s atmosphere and cause a greenhouse effect which heats up the earth to not so cozy temps. 

The National Resource Defense Council reports that the earth’s temperatures have drastically risen at a record breaking rate ever to be marked in history. They estimate that every year 2.5 billion tons of C02 are produced and released into the earth’s atmosphere by coal burning power plants and over 1.5 billion tons annually in automobile pollutants. Yikes. 

The NRDC warns that if we don’t stop global warming and change our negative consumer impact on the earth, we should expect the effects of global warming to be devastating in as early as over the next century:

Sea levels will rise, flooding coastal areas. Heat waves will be more frequent and more intense. Droughts and wildfires will occur more often. Disease-carrying mosquitoes will expand their range. And species will be pushed to extinction. -NRDC

Now that we’ve probably scared your pants off it’s time to celebrate the earth on April 22nd and get out there and do something on Earth Day to save the environment. Together we can stop global warming and better the environment, but doing so requires colloborative action and initiative! We encourage you to get involved during Earth Week, as we’ve only got one Earth and she deserves to be treated with a little TLC. 

Tell us what you think about Earth Day?

• Have you ever participated in any previous Earth Day events or activities? If so, tell us what you did…
• Do you feel that global warming is as serious as environmentalists hype it up to be?
• What are some ways that you leave your carbon footprint on the earth?

Community Service Ideas

People Helping People

We couldn’t resist another good deed post! Stories of people helping people during rough economic times are becoming more prevalent. And It’s about time! Good Deeders are on fire these days to help others in need  in whatever ways they can. We came across some more incredible stories of people helping each other that made us smile, stories we just HAD to share!

• The Salvation Army in Missouri was stunned, as for the fifth year in a row, an anonymous good deed donor has slipped a $50,000 cashier check into their charity collection kettle outside a local Walmart Store. The issuing bank of the check identified the mysterious donor as simply, “Santa Clause”.
• The owners of a local Michigan “mom and pop” pancake house were taken by surprise when 17 goodwill employees decided to work without compensation for a day to help the struggle company during economic hardship!
• A 72 year old man raised $16,000 for charity. How? By shaving his bushy eyebrows! The old man pledged his eyebrows if the public agreed to donate money to people in need. His wife says he looks 20 years younger! The chariy money is to be donated to polio eradication in 3rd world countries.
• A teenage girl, Mikela Mercier, found $1,000 in a Richard Simmons workout video she purchased from the Salvation Army thrift store. Instead of splurging on a new fancy pancy track suit, she donated the money back to the Salvation Army stating:

 ”I want to help more people in need.” 

• Marilyn Mock purchased the home of Tracy Orr at a foreclosure auction this past year. However, after seeing Mrs. Orr in tears at the sale, Mock gave the house right back. Now dubbed the “foreclosure angel” Mrs. Mock stated:

“People need to help each other and thats all there is to it.” 

When economic times are rough – there is no more of an opportune time to reach out, make a difference, and help people in need. So what do you think?! Leave us a few thoughts in our feedback section!

And don’t forget, MicroGiving is seeking true life stories and experience of people helping people, random acts of kindness, and good deeds (Track your good deeds at MyGoodDeed.org)

• Has someone done something special for you that made an impact in your life?
• Do you know of someone in your community who has illustrated an act of kindness you’d like to share?
• Or have YOU ever done something kind that made a difference in the life of someone else?

Submit your stories to support@microgiving.com and we will choose one to post as our top featured good deed story!

And if you like this post, share this link with others on Myspace, Facebook, and Twitter!

Give to Others: 10 reasons to help people in need

The remarkable thing about giving to others is summed up in a short, sweet statement by Anne Frank:

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world”

The following are 10 reasons why you should give to others in need:

1. Because when you give help to someone in need, you facilitate strong encouragement. Showing compassion and giving kindness can really uplift a person when he’s experiencing a rough time. It conveys a sense of “faith” and an “I believe in you” spirit which alone can act as a tremendous source of renewal for someone who is hurting
2. Because helping people in need sets an example for your children, family, and friends
3. Because when you give to others it sets a positive and powerful tone for the day. Giving induces high levels of fulfillment and happiness that radiates an attractiveness others are drawn to
4. Because giving to others is a jumpstart cable to a healthy habit. Once you start giving, you can’t stop giiiivvviiiinnnggg!
5. Because helping others and charitable giving has a profound rippling effect. You never know, your single act of kindness could change lives in more ways than you possibly fathomed
6. Because generosity and charitable gift giving promotes longevity
   
7. Because monkeys give
8. Because lending a helping hand is the single most easiest thing you’ll ever do in life that can make a difference and have a momentous impact
9. Because you’re fortunate to have food, shelter, clothes, and water – give to others who don’t
10. Because you grow by giving and selflessness changes you in a remarkable way

**And don’t forget to “give” this resource to others on Myspace, Facebook, and Twitter:

http://www.microgiving.com/blog/2009/03/24/give-to-others-10-reasons-to-help-people-in-need/

What would you add to this list?? Please share your feedback!

Feeding the hungry: A bus driver’s tale of good deed!

Every night the hungry, poor, and homeless gather around 44 year old Jorge Munoz’s pick-up truck as he gives out hot meals to feed the hungry, reports a recent CNN news article last Friday. 

For four years, Munoz has been feeding the disadvantaged and underprivileged out of the charity of his own heart and pocket.  Bus driver by day, angel by night he delivers food to the hungry seven days a week. He estimates having served over 70,000 hot meals to the poor and homeless over the course of the years. 

“I thank God for touching that man’s heart” said one of the homeless regulars who claims that Munoz’s hot meal is the only food he gets to eat or he goes hungry that night.

Feeding the hungry inspires many more to join

As news of Munoz’s charity has spread, others too have jumped on the bandwagon. Volunteers from every walk of life have pitched in to feed the hungry and homeless. Munoz is thankful for volunteer support, as crowds of hungry people are increasing due to the economy and food banks are scrambling to keep up with the need and demand for food. 

How helping the hungry started

Munoz started his food program Angel in Queens in 2004 after learning of excessive amounts of food being wasted by restaurants every night. By collecting leftovers from local restaurants, Munoz carved way to a food program that would soon touch the lives of thousands of hungry and homeless people. 

Now Munoz prepares home cooked meals like chicken and rice right out of his kitchen, relying on the support of food donations he receives from charitable givers. Sadly, however, Munoz reports that support has slowed down a lot recently due to the economy. Munoz is determined, however, to help the homeless regardless. With the support of his family he serves around 140 hot meals a night to feed the hungry. 

Munoz funds most of the food operation through his personal savings and his weekly pay check. Food and gas cost him roughly $450 dollars a week, but he continues to give. 

“He always comes”, said one of the regulars, whether it’s raining, hot, or cold.

Why feed the hungry?

So why does this charitable giver care so much to help complete strangers? Munoz reminds people:

“I have a stable job, my mom, my family, a house… everything I want, I have. And these guys [don't]. So I just think, ‘OK, I have the food.’ At least for today they’re going to have a meal to eat.”

How can you help feed the hungry?

There are plenty of online resources available to help you locate local food banks or actively volunteer and feed the hungry. We encourage you to fight hunger and poverty in America by supporting local causes and expressing an active voice..

What are your thoughts about hunger in America?

1. In your opinion, what are some ways that we can address the problem of hunger in America? 
2. How can you personally help the hungry?
3. Have you ever volunteered at a food bank or soup kitchen? Do you feel there is a great need in America?
4. Do you know of people in your local area who are doing something to feed the hungry? 

Like this post? Share it with others and help us spread awareness! Email this link, share it in other forums, and tell your friends on Myspace, Facebook, and Twitter! Your voice matters!

http://www.microgiving.com/blog/2009/03/23/feeding-the-hungry-a-bus-driver’s-tale-of-good-deed

America’s Forgotten: Homeless Children & Families Increase

One of our fantastic readers voiced an intriguing issue that caught our interest; the issue of children being taken away from poor families who aren’t able to provide sufficient care, support, and adequate housing.

In a previous post our reader commented:

“I’m used to living on an extremely tight budget in houses that you could lose your custody rights for. Poor parents are always at risk of losing their kids because we have to budget on what we have and often there isn’t a way to get more unless someone in the world wants to help you…” –Becky on How To Survive a Financial Emergency

Homeless children and families are on the increase due to economic recession, foreclosures, and loss of jobs. Poor families are finding it harder to provide care for their children and homelessness among families are becoming more prevalent. A report issued by the National Coalition for the Homeless announced that families with children are the fastest growing segment of the homeless population. Moreover, many homeless families are turning away from the provision of state shelters for fear of losing their children.

In this post we address 1) the epidemic problem of poor families and homeless children in America, and 2) the controversial question that arises: should homeless families turn their children over to foster care? Consider the following facts: 

Homeless Children in Foster Care

• 750,000 homeless children are released into the foster care system every year [Social Issues Affecting Children & Their Families, The Merck Manuals, 2007]
• 8 out of 10 children in the foster care system experience developmental, emotional, or behavioral problems. Mental health services are the #1 requested healthcare need in the foster care system [Child Welfare League of America, 2007] 
• “Removal from family is enormously painful to children”, “Children in foster care leave behind their neighborhoods, communities, schools, and most of their belongings. Many children and adolescents in foster care feel anxious, uncertain, and helpless to control their lives. Many feel angry, rejected, and pained by the separation or they develop a profound sense of loss”. -Moira Szilagyi, MD, PhD

Homeless Families and Children

• 1 out of 50 American children are homeless (that’s 1.5 million disadvantaged children), nearly half of which are under the age of 6
• Reports indicate that Children of homeless families are more likely to go hungry, experience deteriorating health problems and traumatic stress from being street bound, repeat a grade in school, and increased probability of dropping out
• Only 1 child out of 4 children of homeless families will graduate from high school, consequently losing out on $200,000 of income over the course of his or her lifetime compared to children who graduate with a degree

[The National Center on Family Homelessness, 2009] 

America Ignores the Homeless

It’s easy to overlook the situation of homelessness in America as we see homeless adults everyday. What we don’t see, however, are their homeless children. 

States aren’t doing much to correct this issue, and many have inadequate planning agendas (if one at all) to address the problem of children going homeless. To see how your state ranks on degree of homeless families and lack of state initiative to solve the problem check out this great site homelesschildrenamerica.org.

The issue of homeless children and families poses a controversial question:

What is the best decision for disadvantaged families to do for their children when faced with homelessness (or the inability to provide adequate shelter, food, or support)? Should they turn over their children to the state for quality care? Or should they do whatever it takes to preserve family unity? The trade off is grim on both sides: provision versus preservation? If you had to make this decision in your family what would you do? Please leave us your feedback…!

For additional resources and ways to get involved, check out these fantastic sites:

• www.familyhomelessness.org
• www.homelesschildrenamerica.org
• www.fostercaremonth.org

***Don’t Forget: If you found this post interesting and you’d like to spread more awareness, please help us by telling others. Email this link to your friends, post it in outside forums, share it on Myspace, Facebook, and Twitter, and lets tell the world about this problem!***

http://www.microgiving.com/blog/2009/03/20/america’s-forgotten-homeless-children-families-increase

Teen Gives Away Thousands to People in Need

A recent news article announced an interesting story about true altruistic giving. A real life “Robin Hood” story about a 16 year old boy in Rosemont, Minnesota who gave away thousands of dollars to people in need after stumbling upon an abandoned bag stashed with cash! 

The boy, who was identified as being learning disabled, told police that it was his “allowance” after reports were claimed of the boy slipping generous portions into the pockets of other disadvantaged children and local school aid. A bus attendant reported someone slipping $1,200 into her hand bag!

Later the boy revealed that he found the bag ditched on the side of the highway, where police soon located several bags of marijuana and scales apparently abandoned by a drug dealer.

The boy gave $11,000 out of $18,000 to people in need before he was caught and questioned by local police. The boy, however, was not charged. A local police sheriff announced that he was a “good boy simply trying to help people in need”.

If that’s not a Random Act of Kindness…!

This raises an interesting debate: The drug money was collected by police and now could very well be sitting somewhere idol in a vault. So what would you do if you found a bag loaded with hundreds of Jacksons?

Would you help people in need and play Robin Hood? Pay off some bills and relieve yourself of debt? Or turn it in because that’s your civic duty?

***If you find this post interesting, encourage others to leave their opinions too. Please share this link on Myspace, Facebook, and Twitter!***

http://www.microgiving.com/blog/2009/03/18/teen-gives-away-thousands-to-people-in-need/

Help Children In Need!

In this post, MicroGiving raises shocking alert to child poverty, hunger, education, and how to help children in need around the world.

Despite the state of the economy, we still manage to live a repulsively cushioned and comfortable life in the United States.

“26,000 – 30,000 children die everyday around the world”
UNICEF – Progress of Nations

The culprits of these preventable deaths are hunger, poverty, and disease & illness. It’s appalling that these tragedies hardly demand headline news! If the headlines won’t draw attention to these children in need, MicroGiving will.  The following are alarming comprehensive statistics about disadvantaged children, followed by simple yet impactful ways that you can change these figures and help a child in need.

The Ugly Facts & Stats:

There are 2.2 billion children in the world, 1 billion live below poverty.
State of the World’s Children, UNICEF

Child Health:

1.9 billion out of 2.2 billion children live in 3rd world developing countries, and of these children:

• 1 in 3 children in need are homeless, living in filth ridden environments
• 1 in 5 children don’t have safe drinking water
• 1 in 7 disadvantaged children don’t have access to any sort of health provision
• 1.4 million children in need die every year from lack of sanitation, safe drinking water, and clean resources. State of the World’s Children, UNICEF

Child Hunger:

• Over 3 billion children in need barely survive on less than $1.00 a day. World Bank Development Indicators, 2008
• 3 out of 10 children in developing countries are estimated to be underweight or stunted. The bulk deficit of these poor children live in India. 2007 Human Development Report (HDR)
• In 2003 alone, 10.6 million children in need died before reaching their 5th birthday. (That’s the equivalent to the population of children in France, Italy, Germany, and Greece) State of the World’s Children, UNICEF

Child Labor:

• 218 million children are exploited in the child labor force, 132 million of these children in need are between the ages of 5 and 14
• 180 to 200 million disadvantaged children work in unsafe, hazardous conditions
• An estimated 3.5 hundred thousand children are soldiers (both girls and boys) Countries & Regions (The World Bank) – Data, projects, and research.
• Due to poverty, roughly 200,000 girls under the age of 14, are slaves in India. ECPAT International.

Child Education:

• “Less than 1% of what the world spent every year on weapons was needed to put every child into school by the year 2000 and yet it didn’t happen.” State of the World, Issue 287, New Internationalist

MicroGiving is embarking on a campaign to stop this, but we need your donations and support to help these children in need!

What your donation support will achieve:

• $1 will feed a hungry child
• $5 will feed his family, brothers, and sisters
• $10 will give a child access to clean drinking water
• $15 will give a child in need access to health provision
• $20 will give a disadvantaged child a quality education for 1 year
• Your impact will change a child’s world.

“They die quietly in some of the poorest villages on earth, far removed from the scrutiny and the conscience of the world. Being meek and weak in life makes these dying multitudes even more invisible in death.” State of the World’s Children, UNICEF

Lets not forget. Lets help children. And together lets end poverty.

Visit MicroGiving’s India Fundraising page and let’s start changing the lives of needy children in India. Give on your own accord, or give as a gift in honor or in memory of someone. Let us never forget the forgotten!

MicroGiving Is Taking Over the World!

MicroGiving is embarking on a new venture to fundraise for international nonprofits and charities around the world. First stop… India!

MicroGiving will be going to India on the 14th of March to verify a number of India-based non profits and charity organizations. There MicroGiving will monitor and personally oversee their facilities and operations.

The fun part is the fund part!

MicroGiving is managing an online donation fund, whereas all of the money donated will be distributed among these qualified non-profits and charities (MicroGiving’s India Fund fundraising page).

What exactly do your micro-donations help support?

Why the children of course! MicroGiving will be working side by side with these organizations to rescue children and families from the slums and red light districts.

Here’s a little background information you should know about the poverty in India and why MicroGiving is doing what we’re doing!

The FACTS

• 260 million children and families live below the poverty line
• 300 million poor families live on less than a $1 per day
• The number of poor families in India equates to a quarter of the world’s population
• India hosts the largest slums in the whole world
• 63 out of 1,000 children will die before the age of 5

The children who live in the slums often come from poor families and migrant farmers. They flee to the cities in search of opportunity: to find work and secure a better life. However, having no education or skills… they find themselves vulnerable in a threatening city far from the familiarity and safety of home.

In many cases, these children are forced to put food in their mouth by whatever means possible such as begging, petty theft, and prostitution.

Disadvantaged families, too, seek hope for a better life in the cities. Having no shelter, however, these families result to housing themselves in make-shift tents and shacks that dot the city streets. More fortunate families are able to find refuge in abandoned buildings, however they are often displaced by government officials.

MICROGIVING to the rescue!

MicroGiving aims to help fund nonprofit organizations and charities based in India that facilitate care centers for vulnerable children and families. These 24 hour facilities provide a clean and healthy environment, along with a quality education program for children to secure a better future.

Help us, help them!

You don’t need to be a philanthropist with oodles of money to make a difference in the lives of these families. All you need is a heart and a dollar!

Visit MicroGiving’s fundraising page and support our efforts: www.microgiving.com/profile/indiafund/

“I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to give.”

- Albert Schweitzer

What do you think of our mission?

What kind of nonprofits and charities would you like to see MicroGiving support in the near future?

FREEBIES! FedEX Giving Free Resume Printing for the Unemployed

We got clued into an interesting tidbit of information worth sharing:

Apparently FedEX (formerly Kinkos), is allowing job seekers to print 25 free copies of their resume this coming Tuesday, March 10th. Customers are allowed to print free black and white copies, and are encouraged to get out there!

The company president of FedEX wants to help all of those who have been laid off and are struggling to find work in a troubled economy. 

Thats good news worth spreading!

Lets support each other by sharing news and resources that can help us during these economic times…

What encouragements and/or tips would you give people who are unemployed and struggling?

Medical Research Links Gift Giving to Longevity

If you could improve your chances of living a longer, healthier life… would you? Studies in the field of medical research reveal that a longer life expectancy can be linked to altruism and charitable giving.

“So if I give, I’ll increase my chances of living longer?”   –  Yup!

Research has revealed that gift giving produces both emotional and physiological changes in the body that positively effect our health.

‘Altruism and giving’ as a potential area of medicine was first explored in the 1950’s by a team of Cornell University researchers who found that doing good and charitable giving improved longer life-expectancy rates.  The Cornell researchers examined and compared a controlled study of non-volunteers versus charitable volunteers. Their findings revealed that 52% of those who did not volunteer experienced a major illness, compared to only 36% of people who were involved in volunteer and charitable services.

Further medical studies have explored altruism and charitable gift giving as it relates to the areas of genetics, human development, social science, and positive psychology.

Here’s what these smarty-pant scientists found out about giving…

Comprehensive medical research has linked the physical and emotional side-effects of giving as a combative instrument against premature death. How? The emotional effects of gift giving promote physiological changes in the body that significantly reduce stress and promote health:

• The emotional side effects of charitable giving decrease the production of cortiso (a hormone linked to stress which reduces the body’s immune system). Lower levels of cortiso allow the body’s protective antibodies to combat antigens linked to many terminal illnesses – including cancer, heart disease, and aging.
• The emotional side-effects of giving to charity preserve genetic sustainability. Stress cuts down the body’s telomeres, which are your genetic end-caps. These end-caps, when cut down are linked to premature death. Research shows that the positive emotional effects of pro-social engagement combats the destruction of these end-caps and promotes longer life.
• The emotional side-effects of gift giving produce high levels of the hormone oxytocin. When an individual volunteers his services, gives, or pledges his charity this hormone is produced and is linked to your emphatic emotions that reduces your body’s response to stress, improving your immune system.
• The emotional side-effects of charitable giving produce brain chemical changes. Researchers have identified a region in the brain that they call the “compassion-altruism axis”. Using MRI scans, scientists have found that your brain is very active in this region of the brain when your emphatic emotions are high. This activity stimulates stress-relieving agents that in turn improve your body’s immunity.

A healthy immune system as a result of altruism and gift giving means:

• Longer life expectancy

• Prevention of pre-mature aging (so you can give your pricey wrinkle cream away!)

• Healthier physical and emotional wellbeing

• And let’s not forget: better health insurance rates!

We may never find the fountain of youth, but the lesson we’ve learned today is that we can certainly improve our chances of living a longer, healthier life by incorporating charitable giving into our daily lives.

Questions For Our Lovely Readers…

• What are some ways you give back to your community?

• What are your brilliant gift giving ideas & tips?

Like this post? Share it on 40+ social networks by clicking on the ‘Add This’ link found on the comment page! And don’t forget to share the link with your friends and family on MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter!

 


Tags: charitable giving

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