World Vision Gift Catalog ~ Giveaway

I am thrilled to be working with the amazing people of World Vision.  The World Vision Gift catalog offers more than 100 poverty-fighting gifts ranging in price from $16 to $39,000 that can be purchased in the name of a mother, child, friend, or loved one. Each of the 35 pages in the catalog overflows with gifts, stories and inspiring photos.

Below you will find a short video clip that chronicles the long-term benefit of a goat (one of the most popular gift items) given to Dorothy, a single mother of 6, in Zambia. The clip shows how one goat can transform the lives of a family and impact an entire community. The catalog motto – Give a gift, Change a life - is exemplified by Dorothy’s story.

Here is a press release that World Vision sent me that has lots of amazing information about this amazing program.

Extend Holiday Dollars through the World Vision Gift Catalog – presents of hope and healing.

Global giving changes the lives of children and spreads year-round joy.

SEATTLE (September 20, 2010) – As the economy continues to struggle, shoppers will look for ways to extend their holiday dollar. What better way than giving two gifts for the price of one – honor a person by name and give a gift that has real-life implications for a family in need? This year meaningful, useful gifts can be purchased through the World Vision Gift Catalog, as 89 percent of donations received go to programs helping children and families overcome poverty in nearly 100 countries.

Each of the 35 pages in the catalog overflows with gifts, inspiring stories and photos. The catalog offers more than 100 poverty-fighting gifts ranging in price from $16 to $39,000 that can be purchased in the name of a family member, teacher, co-worker or child, including many affordable items under $30.

“The global economic crisis and food shortages are pushing millions deeper into poverty,” says World Vision Gift Catalog National Director Devin Hermanson. “I know that people are feeling strapped, but for as little as $25 someone can donate a pair of chickens to a family. Those chickens, as they lay eggs, grow and multiply can change generations of lives in a community. There are plenty of other choices in the World Vision Gift Catalog that are both inexpensive and tremendously powerful in impact. ”

Last year, the Geus family from California made a donation and said they were “amazed to learn the difference a goat can make to a child and their family, especially because it’s the gift that keeps on giving.” The benefit of a gift of livestock, such as a goat, can be found in Dorothy’s story. She is a single mother of six from Zambia who received one goat from a gift catalog donation. The goat multiplied to a herd of 14 and now her family is able to sell the milk allowing her to purchase food and pay school fees for her children. (See link below)

Since the World Vision Gift Catalog was first introduced in 1996, new gifts have been introduced each year. Its popularity as a gift-giving alternative has grown substantially with more than 100,000 purchases made last year. Goats remain the most popular item -- over 50,000 goats were given to families around the world.

Giving a gift from the catalog is more than making a cash donation in a loved one’s name; gift givers can select items that match the hobby or interest of the recipient, for example:

- A gardener may like hybrid or drought-resistant seeds for a farmer ( $17), page 22

- The sports enthusiast could get a kick out of four soccer balls donated to a school ( $32), page 31

- A co-worker might appreciate job training supplies given to a women needing skills and business training ($25), page 14

- The kid in all of us would understand the importance of nurturing playful imagination ($35 provides $385 worth of new toys), page 16

- A foodie knows the importance of eggs, milk and meat in a diet and would see the value of a gift of a goat and two chickens ($100), page 5

January 12 marks the one year anniversary of the devastating earthquake in Haiti. Millions of children and families continue to suffer; many are still homeless and hungry. The gift catalog includes items that will aid children and families in Haiti including:

- Food such as beans, flour and cooking oil as well as agricultural support, health care and other life-saving help ($25 provides $100 worth of care), page 26

- Fast Track Frame shelters, designed to safely withstand earthquakes and high-wind hurricanes, are created from concrete, steel tubing and recycled materials ($50 provides $200 worth of building supplies), page 26

After purchasing a Gift Catalog item, the person in whose name the gift was given will receive a special card describing the item as well as its impact.

About World Vision

World Vision is a Christian relief and development organization dedicated to helping children and their communities worldwide reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty. We serve the worlds poor, regardless of a person’s religion, race, ethnicity or gender. For more information, visit www.worldvision.org.

To raise awareness for their cause, World Vision has offered one Screaming Mimi Reader a chance to win this amazing turquoise bracelet.

How you can enter to win this amazing bracelet:

Mandatory Entry:

Pay a visit to World Vision and leave a comment here telling me what you would love to gift to a family or community.

Extra Entries:

Be a follower of Screaming Mimi  - 1 entry, leave 1 comment

Blog about this giveaway - 5 entries, leave 5 comments, along with link

Tweet this giveaway - 1 entries, leave 1 comment along with link (can be done once daily)
"Win a turquoise bracelet from World Vision at Screaming Mimi Blog http://tiny.cc/qiea8"

Contest end on Saturday, October 9th at 12:00 midnight, EST.  Make sure you leave your e-mail address in your comment, so I can contact you if you win.  Winner will have 48 hours to respond to my e-mail before I draw another winner.

*I was given no incentive other than the giveaway for my readers for this post.  I think the quality of World Vision speaks for itself  :)