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