Give2Asia Helps Direct Contributions Effectively

Through U.S. charity, Americans send millions of dollars to Asia: "How can I help?" This is a huge question for individuals, corporations and foundations each year in the United States as they consider needy areas around the world, and wonder how to ensure their contributions will find the right project and make a real, lasting difference.

These issues are complicated by concerns about fraud and corruption, and by the need to respond quickly to urgent cases.

Give2Asia and its founder, the Asia Foundation, have found a way to help thousands of U.S. donors each year use their contributions to help specific, targeted recipients across the continent. They make a difference in health, education, disaster relief, job training and employment and women's issues.

For 50 years, the Asia Foundation, a U.S.-based public charity, has been committed to the development of a peaceful, prosperous, just and open Asia-Pacific region. In 2006, the foundation provided more than $53 million in program support and distributed books and materials valued at $30 million throughout Asia.

In 2001, the foundation established Give2Asia to help facilitate charitable giving from private, U.S.-based sources with an interest in Asia. Give2Asia provides donor-directed services, such as advised grant-making and donor-advised funds, and contributions to support charitable projects across Asia from Afghanistan to the Pacific Islands.

Give2Asia's contributions to Asia have increased to more than $29.8 million in 2007 from just under $0.75 million in 2001. Funds were used to promote education, provide disaster relief -- including tsunami recovery -- and create jobs.

In addition, Give2Asia's efforts have supported the prosecution of nearly 6,000 civil rights cases, provided solar power to an orphanage in Cambodia and promoted sustainable agriculture in India's Karnataka state.

Retail giant Target uses Give2Asia's services to help migrant children in China. Coffee company Starbucks is working on water education in China. A Give2Asia grantee, the China AIDS Media Project, produced a film called Blood of the Yingzhou District that focused on the lives of rural AIDS orphans. That film won an Academy Award in 2007 for best documentary.

Interest in Asia and compassion for those in need continues to grow, and now, with the aid of Give2Asia and its partners, more U.S. donors than ever feel confident that they, and their donations, can make a difference in this important and diverse part of the world.

Additional information on Give2Asia and The Asia Foundation is available on the organizations' Web sites.

ENDS

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