Posted by Liz Werner on May 22nd 2008 in Events
This week I had the opportunity to attend an event presented by the Charities Review Council and Thrivent Financial entitled, “Delving into Public Perception: what Minnesotans think about the charitable sector (and what to do about it).” To a captive audience of non-profit professionals, presenters discussed findings from a survey conducted for the Charities Review Council that polled Minnesotans on their giving habits and attitudes towards charities. The survey questions touched on issues of trust, ethics, and the proper use of funds by charities. For the most part, the survey respondents believed that charities could be trusted, that they are ethical, and that they wisely spend the money they receive from donors. Although the survey findings concluded that, for the most part, the public’s perception of charities is quite favorable, the event’s presenters reminded the audience that many external and internal forces have the potential to hurt charitable organizations. Read Entire Post: Thinking about Impact and Public Perception
Posted by Daniele Bora on May 21st 2008 in Interviews
Lister Chingangu outside the Capitol Dome. Courtesy of World Vision.To raise awareness about the tragic impact of HIV/Aids and Tuberculosis (TB), a Zambian caregiver who partners with American organization World Vision has just visited the United States and spoken to members of Congress.
Lister Chingangu asked them to take action swiftly and renew the Global AIDS, TB and Malaria Bill, a bipartisan legislation worth USD 50 billion that was first passed in 2003 to fund programs to fight these diseases in poor countries. World Vision has worked with Congress since then to ensure that this funding is protected, but authorization for this bill expires on September 30, 2008.
NEED magazine had the opportunity to speak to Mrs. Chingangu about God Our Help Ministries, the home-based care program that she runs in Lusaka, her hometown in Zambia. Read Entire Post: Zambian caregiver presses Congress for Aids and TB funding
Posted by Adam Hanson on May 20th 2008 in Interviews, Volunteers
Displaced Kenyans gather to receive aid from volunteers.On December 27, 2007, the disputed re-election of Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki spurred an outbreak of ethnic and political violence around Nairobi and Western Kenya. Subsequently hundreds of thousands of Kenyans fled their homes, and now live in or around crowded displaced persons camps.
Rafe Steinhauer volunteered in Kenya for more than two months with the Global Volunteers Network (GVN). He taught math, English, and soccer at schools in Nairobi and Maasailand and helped aid missions into displaced persons camps after the post-election violence. In Nairobi, Steinhauer taught at a rehabilitation school for teenage boys who had committed nonviolent crimes. I asked Steinhauer some questions to find out what his experience was like. Read Entire Post: Volunteering in Kenya
Posted by Dina Fesler on May 19th 2008 in Volunteers, Organizations
Children stand with Ben Wilson in Vietnam.DANANG, VIETNAM
Amazing, exhausting, and heart-warming: that’s how I would describe my week visiting the programs conducted by Children of Vietnam (COV), the Children’s Culture Connection-represented charity that supports Vietnamese children in need.
Children of Vietnam, which just celebrated its 10th anniversary, was started by a man named Ben Wilson as he was facing retirement after a long corporate career. According to Ben, he didn’t play golf and was worried that he wouldn’t have enough to do to keep busy. So, at 65 years old, he started COV.
After seeing how many ways his organization is impacting the lives of children in need, I can confidently say that Ben does NOT need to worry about being bored. Read Entire Post: A Charitable Retirement
Posted by Bronson Enriquez on May 18th 2008 in NEED Magazine
While still a young venture, (RED) is already making a tangible difference in the fight against AIDS in Africa. Positive feedback about (RED)’s efforts has reached their headquarters in Los Angeles, sometimes through surprising avenues. Smith recounts a meeting with executives from Gap in which she was told about how a man from Ghana waited outside a Gap store in southern California, asking if he could meet some of the employees. The man explained that he had lost eight family members to AIDS and knows of several more that are ill, and because of (RED), he has hope for their lives.
Home based care for people living with HIV and AIDS in Rwanda. photo | courtesy of the Global Fund/John Rae Read Entire Post: (Product) red | pt. 2 of 2
Posted by Bronson Enriquez on May 17th 2008 in Uncategorized
Bobby Shriver and Bono launch (PRODUCT)RED: Motorola phone.
photo | Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images
Writer: Liz Werner
For decades the business world has been summed up by the simple phrase, “It’s a jungle out there.” One doesn’t need an MBA degree to understand the truth of this old adage. However, instead of seeing a cut-throat, bottomline motivation for the almighty dollar, we should all rub our eyes and adjust our vision for something new. (PRODUCT)RED combines innovation with a profound sense of humanity into a business brand that is not only making money, but is also committed to fight AIDS in Africa.
(PRODUCT)RED, more commonly referred to as (RED), is the creation of Bono, lead singer of U2, and Bobby Shriver, chairman of Debt, AIDS, Trade, Africa (DATA). The two co-founded (RED) to engage businesses and consumers in the fight against AIDS in Africa. Companies who have become partners designate certain items as (RED) products. They then direct a portion of the profits from those products to the Global Fund, which invests the money into AIDS programs in Africa. Read Entire Post: (Product) red | pt. 1 of 2
Posted by NEED Staff on May 16th 2008 in Corporate Giving, Organizations
This article was cross-posted from (BLOG)RED.
(RED) was created by Bono and Bobby Shriver to raise awareness and money for The Global Fund by teaming up with the world’s most iconic brands to produce (PRODUCT)RED-branded products. A percentage of each (PRODUCT)RED product sold is given to The Global Fund, to invest in African AIDS programs, with an emphasis on women and children. Members of the (RED) community are doing amazing things to inspire friends, family, co-workers and neighbors to take action and exercise the power of (RED). Here’s one story that takes the concept of shouting (RED) from the mountain top to a whole new level…. Read Entire Post: Mountain Climbers Support the Fight Against AIDS
Posted by Liz Werner on May 15th 2008 in Interviews, Organizations
Pepe Wonosikou, founder of the Numan School Project, enjoys some time with a young student in Numan, Nigeria.The Numan School Project is an organization working to furnish schools in Numan, Nigeria with the tools necessary to provide a quality education to students. Founded in 2007 by 32-year-old Numan native Pepe Wonosikou, the organization aims to accommodate over 200 students with everything they need for a proper learning environment. These needs include plumbing, windows, doors, desks, chairs, books, blackboards, and uniforms (to name a few).
NEED caught up with Pepe Wonosikou for a conversation about Numan, Nigeria and the hopes she has for her project.
Q: How long did you live in Nigeria, and why did you leave it?
A: I moved to the United States in 1991. My father moved here to pursue his graduate studies at Luther Seminary. Read Entire Post: Education Foundation in Numan, Nigeria
Posted by Erin Luhmann on May 14th 2008 in Organizations
Couples can create their own registry that describes the causes they support.Gift-giving is intended as a means of celebration, so why does shopping often feel like a chore? This act of generosity often gets bogged down by expectations, guess-work and price tags. Thankfully, there is an alternative solution and you don’t even have to go searching very far. Changing The Present is a nonprofit website that serves as a resource for socially responsible gifts. Their site allows individuals to search for a meaningful cause of their choice and allows them to make a donation on another’s behalf. Shoppers can browse an online catalogue for a gift that is sure to make a real difference in the world, leaving both the giver and the receiver feeling satisfied. Whether a contribution is made towards women’s rights, world health or any other cause, it redefines the sense of purpose that comes with gift-giving. Read Entire Post: Alternative Wedding Gifts
Posted by Anthony Wald on May 13th 2008 in Volunteers
Taryn’s forehead is marked with tika to celebrate Dashain.Taryn Lilliston was an American college student who was unsure what direction she wanted to take with her education. Instead of pursuing classes, she decided to take a break from college and pursue the world. Taryn found the Global Volunteer Network (GVN) by looking for an opportunity to give back. GVN is a relatively new non-governmental organization (NGO), launched in December 2000, whose vision is to connect people with communities in need. Read Entire Post: Take a Break to Make a Difference
