With your 30-second vote, you can provide $100,000 of relief work in Haiti. Invisible Children is a nonprofit working to make "invisible" children around the world visible. We fight to end the use of child soldiers in Uganda and the Congo, and build schools for war-affected children in the region. But in light of last week's devastating earthquake in Haiti, we understand that our commitment in this time of crisis needs to broaden. We are planning to implement $100,000 in an Invisible Children relief effort to Haiti, but we need your help.
We're a finalist in the Chase Community Giving Facebook competition to win $1,000,000 for our 'big idea' of ending Africa's longest running war.
But, this contest started before the tragic earthquake hit Haiti last week and with no Haitian nonprofits represented in the 100 finalists, Invisible Children felt the need to help Haiti in this time of crisis.
With the money we've raised through our programs (detailed at invisiblechildren.com), 760 Ugandan students have been provided with scholarships, 11 war-destroyed schools have been rebuilt and numerous microeconomic programs have been implemented to jump start village economies. A million dollars will help take these programs to unprecedented heights.
More than at any other time in history, we are all connected as global citizens looking out for the interests of others. As we continue to help build a sustainable economy for those who have been affected by the war in Uganda, we have seen what the hope of a new beginning can bring. It's one rooted in refusing to ignore the cries of our neighbors and providing the help needed for them to build back up a better way of life.
It's because of this commitment that, if we win, we'll be funding $100,000 from our general fund towards our very own relief effort in Haiti. In 2005, we sent a team for four months to help in New Orleans in the wake of Katrina, and the fruit we saw from that was powerful. Using money raised over the holidays, we will put together a team to research and travel to Haiti to contract and oversee relief work ourselves.
But this is only possible if the Chase award is won. This decision is made with confidence that continued support is necessary for Haiti to overcome the devastating impact of the earthquake.
If you do anything today, do this: go here and take 30 seconds to cast your vote for Invisible Children, providing $100,000 to Invisible Children's relief work in Haiti and $1,000,000 to bring child soldiers home from the battlefield and build schools for war-affected children.
Social networking has already raised $21 million for Haiti. Let's continue to use this platform and provide another $100,000.