1 Million 'Recession Buster' Fundraiser Matches Donations

From retailers to car dealerships, it seems businesses everywhere are offering incentives to drive sales and help consumers stretch their budgets. Now, you can add The Global Orphan Project to the list.

To help you stretch your charitable giving in a down economy, we are matching invest donations up to $1 million through Sept. 20, 2009, as part of our Million Dollar Challenge. So far, we have raised $285,000 toward our $1 million dollar goal!

We are sponsoring the Million-Dollar Challenge because a recession doesn’t hamper people’s desire to give, only their ability to give, said Michael Fox, co-founder of The Global Orphan Project.

There are 3 ways you can help:

• Donate to the $1 million dollar challenge here>>
• Fund raise on Facebook Causes >>
• Spread the word
  • Email your friends this article, use the “Share/Save” button at the bottom of this post
  • Download and attach the banner at the top of this page to your blog or email (On the Home Page under SHARE TOOLS)
  • Hand out some “share cards”, a donation of $50 or more gets share cards sent to them, or stop by our offices.

According to UNICEF, there were more than 143 million orphans worldwide in 2006 that s equal to nearly half the population of the United States. Most live in extreme poverty. With your help we have built more than 110 homes in 14 countries in the past five years, tackles the orphan pandemic by building self-sustaining villages that care for the kids.

To keep those homes and villages operating, the nonprofit needs invest donations, which, as Fox says, Pays for everything from beds to beans.

If matching funds weren t enough incentive to give, 100 percent of every donation whether it s $5 or $5,000 goes straight to the kids. And, the best part? Anyone at any age can get involved and make a difference. Seven-year-old Isabelle Redford, recently featured on ABC s World News with Charles Gibson and CBS The Early Show, makes and sells greeting cards to raise money. So far, she has sponsored one home in Haiti and is breaking ground soon on a second home in Malawi, Africa.

Even Kansas City Chiefs players Dwayne Bowe and Branden Albert are signing on. The Global Orphan Project is making a huge difference in the lives of orphan kids all over the world, I m helping them raise one million dollars before September 20th, it s time we all got involved in some way! Bowe said.

Down economy or not, double your investment is a sweet deal. Let’s get active and take advantage!