| It is very simple to send an e-greeting card to | | | | the lives of more than 144,000 children all over |
| someone you care for. All you need to do is just | | | | the world. By its charitable efforts, it gives |
| go to an e-card website, select a card that you | | | | strength, joy and hope to children suffering from |
| like, and send it;all at the click of a button. Now, | | | | life-threatening medical conditions. While it has now |
| what if I told you that while sending e-greeting | | | | become one of the most renowned charities in |
| cards you could also be doing a charitable thing? | | | | the world, it maintains its grassroots mission of |
| Fund raising and e-greeting cards now go hand in | | | | wish fulfillment of needy children. It does this |
| hand. There are a variety of websites that use | | | | through a network of about 25,000 volunteers |
| e-greeting cards as a fundraising activity. For | | | | who serve as fundraisers, wish granters, |
| example, Unicefshop and Make-A-Wish Foundation | | | | assistants of special events, and in many more |
| are among those that support a number of | | | | ways. |
| charities. | | | | Peta- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals |
| UNICEF | | | | Peta is another organization that uses e-greeting |
| UNICEF started using greeting cards to start off | | | | cards as a part of its fundraising venture. The |
| its fundraising activities in the 1950s. Now, they | | | | money that is acquired through the sale of these |
| are using the Internet and e-greeting cards as a | | | | cards goes to a variety of activities related to |
| part of this activity as well. They have integrated | | | | alleviating the cruelty meted out to animals. They |
| their online service and a fundraising portal, which | | | | help to educate people about how animals are |
| connects the websites of eight different countries. | | | | treated cruelly by various industries, such as in |
| Currently, it is available to the residents of | | | | the clothing and leather trade, in factory farms, in |
| Belgium, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, | | | | pharmaceutical laboratories, etc., explaining how |
| Spain and the UK. The money from the sale of | | | | people can prevent it. A lot of celebrities like |
| these e-greetings goes toward the improvement | | | | Pamela Anderson, Joaquin Phoenix, Simon Cowell |
| of the lives of children all over the world. There | | | | and Sir Paul McCartney are strong supporters of |
| are a wide variety of cards available, from | | | | animal rights. This is a trend that is fast picking up. |
| birthday cards to anniversary cards, to even | | | | So if you want to support animal rights, go buy a |
| simple thinking-of-you messages. There is a card | | | | Peta card. |
| for everyone. They are relatively cheap as well; | | | | It is a simple thing you can do to help both people |
| for instance, 1 Pound for those in the UK, $1.50 | | | | who are less fortunate, and animals. You can be |
| for Canadians and 1.50 Euros for those in | | | | charitable and donate just with the click of a |
| continental Europe. One also has the option of | | | | button. There are so many people who would |
| donating a larger amount of money at the time | | | | benefit from your charity, and you can have fun |
| of purchase. | | | | while doing it. So, send Grandma an e-greeting |
| Make-A-Wish Foundation | | | | card hug; she will love you all the more for |
| Founded in 1980, after granting the life-long wish | | | | remembering her. At the same time, you could be |
| of seven-year-old Chris Greicius, who was | | | | helping someone who really needs it; someone |
| undergoing treatment for leukemia, to become a | | | | suffering from breast cancer, or leukemia, or |
| police officer, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has | | | | someone who just needs a helping hand. |
| developed into a worldwide organization, enriching | | | | |