Our Charities
There is so much good being done in the world, by so many people, and out of all the possibilities, we've chosen three very special charities to invest in. Because International makes The Shoe That Grows™ , which makes a tangible difference in the lives of children on so many levels. They also have the Because Accelerator that supports budding entrepreneurs in developing areas where creating jobs, incomes, and wealth changes the balance in the fight against poverty. Room to Read supports learning and education at a grass roots level, and strategically invests in educational opportunities for girls. Living Water provides the basic necessity of life - and changes entire communities with the gift of water.
If you'd like to invest in any of these projects along with us, please hit the "Donation" button on the top right, and you'll be taken to a page where you can make your donation, and tell us where you would like the money directed to. Every penny donated will go to the project you specify. If you don't choose a particular project, we'll use those funds to help fund social justice efforts along the way - perhaps an orphanage, or a small hospital, or some health initiative - whatever we discover as we travel.
We'll post video and blog updates of the different opportunities we have to help, so that you know where your money is going, and together we can celebrate making a difference - even in some small way.
In 2007, the founder of Because International™, Kenton Lee, traveled to Nairobi, Kenya after graduating college. He lived and worked at a small orphanage with some incredible kids. One day, he was walking down a dusty road with all the kids when he noticed a little girl in a white dress walking next to him. As he looked down at her feet, he was shocked to see how small her shoes were. They were so small that she had to cut open the front of her shoes to let her toes stick out. That was the day that Kenton thought, “What if there was a shoe that could adjust and expand its size? What if there was a shoe that could grow?” And the idea for The Shoe That Grows™ was born.
It took more than six years to take this idea and turn it into a reality, but what started as a dream among a small group of friends, became a passion, and now is a worldwide cause and movement with the mission of getting The Shoe That Grows™ to as many kids as possible who are in desperate need of footwear to protect their feet.
Room to Read is committed to creating a world free from illiteracy and gender inequality. They are achieving this goal by helping children in historically low-income communities develop literacy skills and a habit of reading, and by supporting girls as they build skills to succeed in school and negotiate key life decisions. They collaborate with governments and other partner organizations to deliver positive outcomes for children at scale.
Together, the Room to Read community is breaking the cycle of childhood illiteracy and poverty in a single generation.
Water is the foundation of all sustainable development. It impacts every aspect of life: hygiene and sanitation, mental and social well-being, justice issues for women and children, education, the economy and the environment.
Yet 771 million people lack basic access to water, trapped in a cycle of poverty when their most essential human need is inaccessible.
Supporting the development of water infrastructure makes sense on a lot of levels, because for every $1 invested in water and sanitation, there is $4.30 in economic returns, as safe water and sanitation are precursors to health care, education, and jobs.