Dear Friends,

To celebrate my 60th birthday, I have decided to raise money for my favorite charity, The Global Fund for Children. I am a trustee of The Global Fund for Children UK Trust and have believed in and supported its mission for years.

The Global Fund for Children reaches vulnerable children and youth by supporting community-based organizations that respond to children's needs at the grassroots level. To date, they have supported over 360 organizations in 69 countries with about 7.5 million pounds. Their grants are relatively small, from 2,500 to 7,500 pounds, but are invested strategically, making an enormous impact. The Global Fund for Children is able to reach children who might otherwise be overlooked and provide them with the opportunities they need to become thriving members of our global society.

Following are a couple of examples of community-based organizations that benefit from The Global Fund for Children's support.

In Cambodia, The Global Fund for Children supports Community Sanitation and Recycling Organization (CSARO), which reaches out to children who work in the local garbage dumps, picking through the trash for items they can sell. These children live in city slums and have no access to health care or education. In the mornings and evenings, CSARO teachers drive to multiple locations in Phnom Penh to "curbside classrooms" where they teach the children numeracy, writing, and basic Khmer reading, giving them a way out of the poverty cycle.

In South Africa, The Global Fund for Children supports Teboho Trust, which works with orphaned and vulnerable children in a township outside Johannesburg. Teboho Trust ensures that the children stay in school by paying their school fees, providing school materials and uniforms, and covering transportation costs. They offer supplemental courses ranging from literature and science to conflict resolution and financial literacy. The organization's empowerment camps, modeled on the traditional practice of indababa, a rite of passage for South African boys, help the children build relationships and support networks with one another and with their mentors and tutors.

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy, and totally secure. The Global Fund for Children UK Trust gets your money faster, and if you’re a taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, is added to your donation.

Thank you for supporting this important cause!

John