Dear Friends:

I recently received several pictures of children all over the world who were reading Global Fund for Children books, courtesy of the grant we received from Oprah's Angel Network Foundation last year. Among the pictures was one of 1986 Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel reading our books with the children of the Beit Tzipora Centers in Israel. These centers, run by the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity, currently serve more than 1,000 Ethiopian Jewish boys and girls through various after-school programs.

Oprah's Angel Network gave us $50,000, in honor of Elie Wiesel, to distribute our award-winning books to vulnerable children and youth, especially to young people living in remote regions or in regions that recently experienced conflict. These areas include such countries as Colombia, Nicaragua, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Sudan, and Timor-Leste. This is the biggest initiative we have undertaken under our Books for Kids project.

We leveraged the initial grant creatively: our publisher, Charlesbridge, gave us a large discount; we stretched our shipping budget by using unorthodox methods involving students, friends, and embassies; and American Rivers Logistics helped out by giving us a humanitarian rate to ship the books. When this initiative ends later this month, we will have distributed more than 15,000 books with a retail value of nearly $133,000 through 60 community-based organizations in 32 countries.

In the midst of this holiday season, I am once again thankful for your support, which enables us to help hundreds of children and youth around the world. Since 1997, we have touched the lives of more than 1 million vulnerable young people by awarding 1,667 small grants, valued at more than $9.3 million, to 304 organizations in 65 countries.

Last fiscal year, we supported 206 community-based organizations, disbursing over $2.65 million in 61 countries worldwide. This fiscal year, our goal is to distribute $3.5 million to 250 community-based groups. We have already awarded $1.3 million this fall, and we hope to award the rest in spring 2008.

To realize this goal, we need your support. You can help by:

Making a secure donation online.

Purchasing a "Tea" shirt for the little citizens of the world.

Buying our newest book, Global Babies, or any of our 22 titles.

Thank you for your belief in our work and in our vision of a world where all children grow up to be productive, caring citizens of a global society.

May this holiday season bring you and your loved ones the blessings of peace, joy, and prosperity.

My best,
Maya Ajmera


Since 1997, we have touched the lives of more than 1 million vulnerable young people by awarding 1,667 small grants, valued at more than $9.3 million, to 304 organizations in 65 countries. We aim to increase this by awarding $3.5 million in grants in fiscal year 2007–2008. [donate securely online]



A “Tea” shirt for your baby and for you—plus a book, too. Our partner, Tea Collection, is a socially responsible company that produces clothes for the little citizens of the world (and their mothers). The income from Tea’s exclusive Global Fund for Children line supports our work. [buy clothes]

In addition to our newest book, Global Babies, we have 21 other award-winning titles for you to choose from. A portion of the royalties from these books supports our grantmaking program. Shop in the comfort of your home using our secure online bookstore. [buy a book]



[BACK TO TOP]

Photo Credits (from top):
© Shawn Malone (Guatemala),
© Tea Collection,
© The Global Fund for Children

© 2006 The Global Fund for Children