50 for 50 Day 34: MAP International

Teaching how to make buildings from plastic bottles. From the MAP website.

It’s my 50th Birthday Celebration, Day 34. Man, these posts are sneaking up on me faster and faster. I had an idea that I would do them all in advance and started with about 15 scheduled…now I’m barely getting them done in time to publish. Typical Suebobian planning.

The background, for those of you who have been trapped behind bars for the past month: because I feel so blessed and have pretty much everything I could ever need, I am asking people to get involved with charities, if they are so inspired, in lieu of any fabulous birthday presents you were planning on sending me (or not).

I am featuring a different charity every day for 50 days leading up to my 50th birthday to give you plenty of chances to get involved. I started on May 18. I wanted to give a voice to different good works around the globe. If you ARE inspired to take action, please leave me a comment and let me know that you did. This is all I want for my birthday – to spread some love and kindness. Thank you, my dear friends.

You wouldn’t think that a heathen like me would be promoting a Christian (gasp!) organization, but you’d be wrong. Because in addition to being an international relief organization, MAP International is one of my favorite things: incredibly tight with a buck. Check this out:
Ninety nine percent of the donated resources MAP receives go directly to our programs, and for every dollar donated, $75 in medicines and medical supplies is shipped to those in need.

I LIKE that. They are also highly regarded by Charity Navigator and are committed to financial transparency.

From their website:
In all that we do, we seek to act with integrity, openness, honesty and accountability. We recognize that the financial and material resources with which we work are not our own, but have been entrusted to us for use in alleviating the suffering of others. We value people as reflections of God’s image, and we strive for integrity and accountability in our relationships with donors, staff and partners. We commit to managing these resources with God’s direction to the maximum benefit of those we serve.

I think Jesus would approve.

Here’s the donation page. If you work for a manufacturer or distributor of medical supplies, they can use donations.

Previously featured organizations:
The Fresh Air Fund
Electronic Frontier Foundation
Arghand
Impact Personal Safety
Kristin Brooks Hope Center
Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund
Light Up the World Foundation
Planned Parenthood
Doctors Without Borders
Heifer International
Team Rubicon
Kiva
The Carter Center
Bikes Not Bombs
Friends of Maddie
ProPublica
Surfrider Foundation
Livestrong
United Through Reading
Operation Shower
The Liz Logelin Foundation
KidSave
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Kids Vs Global Warming
Help a Mother Out
Direct Relief International
WriteGirl
Accelerated Cure for Multiple Sclerosis
Women for Women
Epic Change
Amnesty International