Foundation Responds Swiftly to Disaster
By Crystal Hill and Kathy Saulitis

Technology Aids in Collection Efforts
In the days following the tsunami, MissionFish, a service of the Points of Light Foundation that helps nonprofits raise support for their favorite causes through trading on eBay , received hundreds of inquiries from users interested in supporting the South Asian tsunami recovery. In response to this demand, MissionFish and eBay launched a campaign together featuring 22 relief organizations. All organizations are validated to ensure that they are reputable, 501(c)(3) charities prior to being feature on the MissionFish Web site.

A dedicated page on the MissionFish Web site features nonprofits identified by USAID and other sources as involved in the South Asia humanitarian effort.

From this page, users can select from three options for helping the humanitarian organizations of their choice:

• Sell an item and donate 10-100% of the proceeds to a charity
• Purchase an item benefiting a charity
• Make a cash donation directly through one of the organization's websites

MissionFish exists to help nonprofits raise money through Internet auctions and this effort meets that mission exactly by connecting nonprofits with eBay sellers so they can generate funds for the tsunami relief effort.

Online auctions and donations have proven to be a profitable means of supporting disaster relief efforts. After September 11, eBay users raised more than $10 million, and Amazon.com users raised more than $2.5 million in two days for the American Red Cross.

Recognizing that the process of rebuilding will continue for many months to come, MissionFish will allow users the opportunity to make online donations to tsunami relief for as long as is necessary.

For more information about MissionFish and tsunami relief efforts, contact Clam Lorenz, Director of Operations, MissionFish, clorenz@missionfish.org, 202-729-8282.

Youth Help Out
In response to the tsunami disaster, Kids Care Clubs (KCC), a program of the Points of Light Foundation, posted Kids Care for Kids South Asia on their Web site: www.kidscare.org. Staying true to their mission of developing compassion and the spirit of service and philanthropy in youth, Kids Care Clubs nationwide are turning compassion into action by supporting tsunami relief and redevelopment efforts.

The Pines Lake School KCC (Wayne, NJ) collected $4729.72 for Habitat for Humanity, International. They collected the money in red milk containers decorated to look like houses reminding others that the money would help rebuild homes. When the students donated, their names went on paper bricks to construct a house near the school's main entrance. Third grader Miranda Diaz explained why students helped so much.  "The waves wrecked everything that they owned," she said.  "They don't have homes, so we wanted to help them have homes just like us." 

The Colonial Road KCC (Franklin Lakes, NJ) held a Pajama Party on January 28 th . Each child was asked to come to school with their pajamas on - the clothes on their backs - simulating the fact that the tsunami survivors have only (if that) the clothes they were wearing.  Each child had the opportunity to purchase a "Pillow Cut Out" that they could decorate for $5. The pillows are displayed in the school's hallways.  There is a big chart showing how much has been collected with information about how much $1, $5, etc. can help. The pajama day fundraiser netted $2135.25 total . The Club will also be holding a Read-a-Thon and a Walk-a-Thon in March. The Great Falls Kids Care Club (Great Falls, VA) is also holding a Read-a-Thon for Kids in South Asia.

Capitalizing on the popularity of soft gel bracelets, several clubs sold them to support tsunami relief. The American Legion Junior Auxiliary KCC (Boyd, WI) raised $200, the Holly Hills KCC (Denver, CO) raised $600 and the Princeton Elementary KCC (Orlando, FL) plans to sell 1000. The Wood Park KCC (Commack, NY) raised $700 in four days by selling decorated ribbon bracelets

The Grinnell School KCC (Derry, NH) is using a huge water jug for their collection of change, checks and bills. The water jug is a reminder that major relief efforts include purifying drinking water. They are also going to donate some of the proceeds from their Valentine's Day "Sweet Lips" Candy Gram sales.

Organizations receiving donations from local Kids Care Clubs include AmeriCares, Habitat for Humanity, American Red Cross, Save the Children and UNICEF.

For more information on what Kids Care Clubs are doing to support tsunami survivors, contact Kathy Saulitis, Director of Kids Care Clubs, Youth & Family Outreach, KSaulitis@PointsofLight.org, 203-656-8052.