Concern America
Volunteer Support Network Information

As a way to bring together former Concern America field volunteers and to join together to support the ongoing work of Concern America, the Concern America Volunteer Support Network is being launched.

The history of Concern America field volunteers dates back to 1976 when Keith West, a nutritionist, was sent to Bangladesh. Since that time, more than 200 individuals have given their time and talents to Concern America projects around the world, improving the lives of more than one million people while experiencing personal transformation through the process.  And today, many field volunteers continue to give back by generously supporting the ongoing work of Concern America.

We would like to invite all former Concern America field volunteers to get involved in the Concern America Volunteer Support Network and consider the ways to support the work of Concern America by involving friends, family, co-workers, place of worship, and the greater community.  For Concern America’s current fiscal year, which runs July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007, former field volunteers have been challenged to raise $25,000.  If 200 former field volunteers raise a minimum of $250 each, that is $50,000!

How can we do this?  Here are a couple of easy examples:

• The Setting the Table dinners, which bring together your friends and family for a fun evening, typically raise between $500 and $1,000;
• Two new Adopt-a-Volunteer pledges of only $10/month would equal $240 a year;
• A special collection at your place of worship can generate a couple of hundred to a couple of thousand dollars;
• Former volunteers have connected Concern America with small family foundations for various grants between $1,000 and $26,000 in recent years;
• The possibilities are limitless!

For more information about the Concern America Volunteer Support Network, click HERE, or contact John Straw (Guatemala 97’-99’) at (773) 290-8692 or jstraw_concern@earthlink.net.