Dec. 2011 – I remember the first time I went to the Philippines after a typhoon hit. It’s completely devastating especially for those who are poor. When devastation hits, it hits BIG. It’s really hard to explain if you’ve never seen it before.

When a typhoon devastated parts of the Philippines in 2009, I traveled there on a mission to help. Our team loaded up a container full of relief items and distributed them to thousands of victims. It was a lot of work but it helped. You have no idea how a bag of items helps a family. It helps a lot if you have nothing at all.

So watching this news coming from Typhoon Washi has been devastating for me. As I sit here in the comfort of my home, I realize hundreds of thousands of people are only hoping for one more day to live. Can you imagine that?

In the days right before Christmas, when many are spending thousands of dollars on gifts… there are many others who don’t know if their relatives survived this devastating storm. There are many others needing help and aid now.

So in the comfort of your own home, please join me in helping these victims. If not monetary, please spread the word.

Thanks – Christine, Founder of Child United.

The Huffington Post, via Wall Steet 24/7, lists nine of the most mismanaged charities in America.  Click here to read the article.

I found three constant themes among the charities listed:

1. Too much money spent on fundraising and administrative costs.
2. Too little money spent on their programs.
3. Nepotism at the top of the organization.

This holiday season, a lot of organizations are going to be competing for your donations.  Make sure you do your research.  Organizations like Charity Navigator and Guide Star are great resources.

-Casey

Child United got word late last week that ‘Socialize Your Cause’ would be featuring our wonderful non-profit!

Awareness is the key to promoting EDUCATION to all children in the third world.  This recognition gets us one step closer to solving poverty and many lingering problems such as child trafficking, homelessness and starvation.

Check it out:

http://www.socializeyourcause.org/child-united/news/

There is devastating news coming from Asia.  Officials there are still trying to find bodies of the dead after typhoons ripped through parts of the Asia last week.

In Taiwan, the typhoon lashed onto the country leaving it with the worst flooding in 50 years.  The torrential rains caused mudslides, one of which buried hundreds of people.  Emergency personnel are still trying to recover the dead.  The typhoon eventually moved to China where officials evacuated a million people. 

The deadly typhoon also hit the Philippines.  More than 20 people are reported killed and over 25,000 people were left homeless.  The typhoon cause mudslides in various parts of the country.  Officials have declared a state of calamity for towns and provinces affected by floods and heavy rains.

How to Help
ShelterBox is a relief agency providing immediate help to typhoon victims. http://www.shelterbox.org/news_article.asp?id=152