So, many of you may know that I am a fundraiser by profession. On a daily basis my company, Phone Bank Systems, is fundraising for Public TV and Radio Stations all over the U.S. Travel is my passion and blogging about it, at WanderShopper, is my newest creative outlet. Along with the chance to share with you some of my favorite world shopping experiences, I also have the honor of being able to join the fundraising efforts for Passports with Purpose.
Passports with Purpose is a fundraising campaign started by four travel bloggers from Seattle in 2008. The idea is to raise funds to give back to communities we visit where our donated dollars can really make a meaningful impact. Past efforts have helped build a school in Cambodia, a village in India and libraries in Zambia. This year the goal is to raise $100,000 which will build 5 water wells in two communities in Haiti in a partnership with Water.org.
In my years of fundraising, I’ve learned that people give to a charity for 3 main reasons. The first and most compelling reason is because they are impacted directly by the service. I think for Passports with Purpose, this might mean that you have visited Haiti and understand the incredible need people have for access to potable water especially after the devastating earthquake. Haiti to me feels like a distant cousin I have yet to meet. I have been many times to the Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti. In fact I had left there only 2 days before the earthquake hit and felt a kinship with the people there that I have yet to meet. Maybe you have been in another country where the need is great after a tremendous disaster and that understanding will be your motivation to help Passports with Purpose this year.
The second reason someone is motivated to give to a non-profit is because they understand that their gift will have a profound effect on our world community and in Haiti specifically. While studying the effort at Water.org, I learned that in the world, 3.4 million people die each year from water related diseases. That’s like losing the equivalent of the City of Los Angeles each year. 780 million people in the world lack access to clean, safe water. In the U.S., we take it for granted that we go and turn on the tap and get all the water we need. This is not the case in a lot of the developing world. The average American taking a 5 minute shower uses more water then than a slum dweller in a developing country will use all day. We were lucky when we were born into the circumstances Americans take for granted. And when you have the ability to help someone gain access to clean water in Haiti through a small donation, that sense of world community is going to help you to do it.
The third reason someone will give to a charity is for the benefits they receive. Your donation will most likely be tax deductible so you can immediately get those dollars back from the taxes you owe. (Please check with your accountant, of course, to confirm your specific tax situation.) We are coming down to the final days of the year so this is the perfect occasion to make that donation! Passports with Purpose sponsors and bloggers have done an amazing job of generating all sorts of prizes you can win for your donation. Each $10 you donate, allows you to bid on the prizes of your choice ranging from hotel stays, travel packages and gear to tours, gift certificates and electronics. Helping the people of Haiti can also result in you winning an amazing prize. It’s a win-win for everyone.
Whatever your motivation – you love Haiti, you want to help people in need or you like the benefits that come back to you through giving – stay motivated and click on the hot button to the top left of this blog and make that donation. Thank you in advance for joining me and donating to Passports with Purpose and helping bring water to people in Haiti.
What is your motivation to give to Passports with Purpose this year?