No longer a dirty word: Do-gooder! People around the world are proud to call themselves do-gooder's thanks to Do-Gooder International.
Do-Gooder International posts short-term, measurable projects online. Do-gooder's around the world can "pick a project--make a difference".
(PRWEB) June 15, 2004
In today's cynical world, fewer people are willing to donate money to charities. Do-gooder International has found a solution--and its the first of its kind. Founder and Director Terry Lane of Lancaster, PA has created a unique giving model.
The Do-gooder website (www. do-gooder. org) posts small, measurable projects where donators go online, research projects, and decide which projects they want to help. They don't donate money, instead, they ship books, shoes, school supplies, yarn, blankets, and so forth. They purchase and ship the materials themselves, and they let do-gooder know how much was shipped. Do-gooder communicates directly with the recipient to ensure that the materials were received and usable. Then, the tally is adjusted on the web site.
For example, through Do-gooder, hundreds of children's books have now been shipped to the Tiospaye Topa Reservation School in South Dakota. Do-gooder's have also shipped mittens to orphans in Kazakhstan and school supplies to City of Angels Orphanage in Mexico. Do-gooder tries to keep the project list to about ten.
"The purpose of this website is to give more exposure to people who are working to solve problems on a project-by-project basis," explains Lane.
Urgent projects include providing beds and bedding for people living on the Pine Ridge Reservation, and providing children's clothing and baby needs to a hospital in Kazakhstan. Sponsors are also desperately needed for indigenous elders and children in the US, Peru, Kazakhstan, and Uganda. Many of the sponsorship programs featured do not require a monthly fee.
Do-gooder International is not affiliated with any religion or religious organization or any particular political party or group. "We respect diversity in cultures and religions and we do not seek to impose our own. Neither do we discriminate on the basis of gender, sexual identity, age, race, or nationality. We do not get paid. We do not ask for money. No one is charged any fee associated with this website," says Lane. Lane pays for all costs associated with maintaining the web site.
Most of the projects focus on helping women and children--on literacy and education, better health, ending abuse and sexual discrimination of all kinds, developmental projects for indigenous peoples and women and children in rural areas, and ending chronic poverty.
Do-gooder Intl. features projects that they believe are achievable and where additional exposure would make a big difference. They do not feature projects that would ordinarily be able to obtain sufficient government aid or provide their own publicity and web exposure.
Do-gooder provides a monthly eNewsletter and the web site includes articles, letters, interviews, and an extensive links section.
For more information, visit the web site at www. do-gooder. org or write to: info@do-gooder. org, P O Box 102, Lancaster, PA 17543. Terry Lane is a communications specialist specializing in social welfare, especially among indigenous women and children throughout the world.
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