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Portland, OR, USA
Why I support Mercy Corps:
I support the innovative and sustainable approach we use for fighting poverty around the world
Recent Posts
May 10, 2012 4:36PM
Raising support for Mercy Corps is just a click away
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Every day, people are taking a stand for others in need, and they partner with Mercy Corps to do so. Millions of dollars are raised and millions of lives improved because of fundraising efforts driven by individuals and groups all around the world.
And now it's even easier to start a movement in your own community. Our redesigned online personal fundraising pages help you raise funds and awareness for the issues you care about — and where Mercy Corps is making a difference.
Fady created an online fundraising page to celebrate his birthday. Photo: Courtesy of Fady Masoud
You have the ability to choose where to fundraise for, such as the Horn of Africa or simply to send funds where they are needed most. Pages are easy to set up, designed to share with friends and family, and collect donations in a quick, streamlined interface. It's a place to bring your community together around a single goal, and everyone can watch the progress you're all making together.
In fact, fundraising pages are a great way to commemorate birthdays, weddings and other special occasions. Our friend Fady Masoud created a fundraising page for his birthday, saying it was "one of the simplest pages to set up — clear, concise and asks for relevant information only! It took me about 5 minutes." Check out Fady's page.
To get started and create your own fundraising page, visit the Fundraise for us section and and click "Get started." Your fundraising page can move Mercy Corps forward in our mission to save and improve lives in the world's toughest places.
Colombia October 6, 2011 3:17PM
Sounders galvanize support for flood-affected families
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Last year's flooding in northern Colombia hit close to home for Major League Soccer's Seattle Sounders when star forward Fredy Montero received distressing news from his family that his hometown, Campo de la Cruz, was underwater.
The Sounders reached out to Mercy Corps to learn more about our flood response, and quickly catalyzed their community to raise funds for our efforts. The Sounders community came through in a big way — donating over $32,000 to Mercy Corps' work in Colombia.
Those contributions from the Sounders community accelerated our response and eventually led to an additional $5 million in programs for affected families not only in Campo de la Cruz, but throughout the hard-hit Atlántico and Córdoba regions. These programs are putting families on the path to long-term recovery and building resilience to future disasters.
In short, the Sounders community sparked an effort that has already helped 45,000 people in need across northern Colombia.
Mercy Corps extends our heartfelt thanks to the Seattle Sounders FC, the Sounders community and fan clubs and Fredy Montero for your inspirational leadership in helping families in Colombia. Your contributions helped Mercy Corps do what we do best — save and improve lives in the world's toughest places.
Video
Colombia September 8, 2011 3:20PM
New hope for flooded-out families
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The Nueva Esperanza shelter holds 150 families in this hot and humid stretch along the Caribbean Sea. The region just beyond here suffered massive flooding in late 2010, part of an ongoing deluge that Colombia's president has called the "the worst natural disaster that we can remember." Heavy rains filled lakes and rivers, which then spilled onto farmlands, washed out roads and inundated local communities.
Nayis Mariaga and her family built their home in one of the flooded-out communities. She and her neighbors had no option but to flee. Nayis, her husband and her four children now live in Nueva Esperanza.
Mongolia July 27, 2011 3:26PM
Mongol Derby: Riding the distance
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Sophia Mangalee, one of the riders supporting Mercy Corps in the Mongol Derby. Photo: courtesy of Sophia Mangalee
There are people who enjoy riding horses in gentle pastures or along valley creeks, and there are some who prefer to really feel their saddle. Fortunately for all those rough-riders, there is an adventure which challenges them to train like they've never trained before. Fortunately for Mercy Corps, this journey is also a fundraising opportunity!
The Adventurists' Mongol Derby is a horse race that stretches 1,000 kilometers across, of all places, the steppes of Mongolia.
On August 2, 2011 not only are Derby participants beginning the grueling 10-day ride, they are also changing one partially-tamed Mongolian horse for another every 40 kilometers. Every year, only about 20 people are ready to take on such a challenge, as well as the additional responsibility of fundraising £1000 (about £978) for a good cause.
Mongolia July 19, 2011 3:41PM
Mongol Rally: Racing to a finish line 10,000 miles away
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In just a few days, a mighty adventure begins. The starting line is in London, and the finish line in Mongolia — approximately six weeks away. To make their way, participating teams are crossing vast expanses of deserts, mountains and steppes in tiny cars built for local shopping errands.
Mongol Rally participants will be racing across Europe and Asia toward Mongolia's stunning vistas. Some teams are raising money to help Mercy Corps' programmes in Mongolia, many of which help herding families in the vast Gobi Desert. Photo: Thatcher Cook for Mercy Corps
The Adventurists' Mongol Rally is not for the faint of heart — in fact, visit the website and you'll see it described as "the world's best generator of chaos." Though some might be ready to sign the dotted line with just the above teaser, it should be known that 2011 Mongol Ralliers are doing more than driving an ill-suited car into the ground. These teams are also raising money for charity.
This year, Mercy Corps is fortunate to have been selected as the recipient of many Ralliers' fundraising efforts. We are using contributions to bolster our programmes taking place in Mongolia right now, including economic development for rural businesses and veterinary services to traditional herders. Read more about our work in Mongolia here and here.