Here's an added bonus- I will also write a profile post for each organization that is suggested. It's important for all of us to learn about the organizations (and people!) doing amazing work in the world. If you think this should be the organization that gets the funds, then comment on the blog! Each comment will be considered a vote! And voting ends on December 1st at 12PM PST!
I love that the first one suggested by @dentmaker (great twitter handle by the way) is one that I've never heard of before- the Preemptive Love Coalition.
Simply, the organization provides heart surgery to children in Iraq. But after spending a few minutes with their website, there's much more to it than an operation. According to their site, congenital heart disease is highly prevalent in Iraq. Some cite Saddam Hussein's chemical attacks on the northern part of Iraq (known as Kurdish, Iraq) while others attribute this to poverty, intra-family marriages and other cultural reasons. PLC recognizes that addressing this issue requires extensive knowledge of the social environment and an attitude of support and service.
So how does PLC do it? First, the organization partners with Johns Hopkins Anadolu Medical Center in Istanbul, Turkey to actually offer the surgeries to the children. Having that resource allows for the children to access some of the best medical care in the world. Second, PLC staff goes deep into the community, forming relationships with families and community leaders to guide the family through the process. Depending on the severity of the case, PLC staff will build a relationship with the family for up to a year, guiding them in the preparation for this surgery- emotionally, financially and physically. And after the surgery, they require that the family enrolls in a 6-month recovery program. They also don't just hand out medical care for free. Apparently, based on a matrix they've put together (PLC- would love to see it!), they help the family financially plan for the surgery. Sustainability's sweet.
And finally, aside from receiving donations, PLC sells some unique looking shoes and t-shirts (I'm a fan of the green "preemptive love" tee).
Looks like they're on to a good start with a solid board and intentional messaging. Cool recommendation. What do you guys think? Remember, each comment is considered a "vote" for this organization!
Cheers!
Amy
80 comments:
Wow! Thanks Amy! I learned about this group through a tshirt (like the green one you mentioned). Last year, I had the chance to travel to Iraq to review their operations. At Toyota we call this "genchi genbutsu" --the idea to go and see the problem first hand. I fell in love with the kids and the incredible team living in Iraq. Consider this my vote. Thanks for the beautiful write up and for your time! -- Dave (@dentmaker)
Hey Amy, my name is Matt Willingham and I'm the PR Rep for PLC.
Thanks so much for writing about our work! Most of our following and funding has come from grass-roots efforts, so we highly value partnering with passionate individuals like yourself.
It's also worth mentioning that we've drastically changed our approach to caring for these 30,000+ sick children.
We used to send about 23 kids outside the country a year for surgery, but last August we hosted Iraq's first-of-its-kind surgical mission in our own city of Sulaymaniyah, Iraq and provided surgery to 25 children.
These missions will also allow us to train local Iraqi doctors so that they'll be able to do these surgeries someday without our help.
We look forward to someday working ourselves out of a job!
Hi Amy!
My vote is for PLC all the way! My two year old LOVES his Kids Klash. I am blown away by how thoughtful and purposeful this org is. As you said, there's so much more to it than just an operation. Love them and love your idea!
Danielle Valle
I agree! Very creative idea. My vote is PLC, my favorite part about what they do is the holistic approach to sharing God's love.
I love PLC and all the people who are a part of it. God is working through this organization and I am so excited to see his plan unfold for them. There are so many children who need these surgeries, and so many people who need to hear the Gospel. So let's support them with our prayers and resources! May God be honored!
Amanda
I vote PLC!!! I know some of these guys and they are doing amazing work. They are truly being the hands and feet of God! Amy you rock and PLC rocks!!!!
PLC is an amazing organization and any funds sent to them will make a very tangible difference in a child's life!!! I choose them 100%!
I vote for PLC also! I heard about their work a year or so ago and fell completely in love. What an awesome opportunity for meeting medical needs and building co-operation between countries. So cool!
PLC is doing incredible work!
I love PLC
I vote plc
PLC! PLC! PLC!
I love plc
We love plc
I love plc!!!!
I luv PLC !
Such an incredible organization! They have my vote!!
Amy,
It seems that "Anonymous" was actually 8 different people at an event we had last night... they must not have signed their names! Sorry for what appeared to be spam (But was in fact real individuals).
Thanks for everything you are doing to get the word out on how much money we really have at our disposal each day and how that money can impact others around the world.
Email me your address and I would love to send you that tshirt... http://scr.im/jcourt
Best,
Jeremy
Jeremy-
Thanks for clarifying! They all came in within 1-2 minutes of each other, so it looked a little fuzzy. But what a cool way to rally the troops! Consider this comment to be a +4 for the 4 comments I vetted out.
You guys are rockin!
ACW
One more vote straight from Iraq!
I vote for PLC!!!
Can vote count double :) A great mix of bringing compassion to people in need and seeing the Passion of Christ in action to bring people to himself. Go PLC!!!! Thanks for spreading hope!!
wonderful job saving lives!!
Just borrowed Jeremy's model. We had three couples over at our house... they all took turns throughout the night to read your blog and post a vote tonight. Consider this my day 2 vote. :) Keep making a dent!
What a great organization... committed to bringing about the Kingdom of God. I vote PLC
Love PLC - had to vote again!
Love tracking this... keep changing the world. -- Dave
I vote for PLC. I am amazed at what this organization is doing and the impact they have made on peoples lives.
I love PLC!! I love hearing about the amazing things they are doing and the lives they are changing.
I vote PLC! I have enjoyed working in Iraq for PLC over the past 3 years, I just left earlier this year. Many children's lives have been saved already and as Matt mentioned, the change in PLC in bringing medical teams into the country to perform surgeries and at the same time provide training for the local doctors and nurses provides more sustainability. Hopefully one day in the near future PLC really will work themselves out a job! PLC also deeply values relationships with the people they work with - from the children they help and their families to the local doctors and nurses to people like you who have taken the time to advocate for PLC. Thank you!
this is a great organization to invest in.
I'm still checking in daily... Just grateful for this creative way to help stur discussion. Im amazed at how much you have saved in two weeks. Do not grow weary doing good.
Another vote for the PLC! Yay for being part of the remedy!
I love PLC! Praying that God will bless you and work through you.
Just trying to make a dent. Thanks again Amy-- regardless of the winner, it has been fun to learn from you. It's also been good to learn about the other orgs as well.
I vote for PLC! I visited their offices multiple times and was so encouraged by their heart and love for God and the children!
PLC is an awesome organization. I've been following them for a couple of years. My son spent some time with them doing photography and learning about their work. I've been keeping up with them and supporting them ever since. I vote they get the funds, they are doing incredible work!
PLC is doing amazing work in Iraq!! Any thing we can do to help them is a blessing to the children of Iraq!
plc is pretty legit.
I vote for PLC. I would like to thank our Father who has given good gifts to His children encouraging all of us to share with those in need. The hearts and minds of his people when focused on Him will respond in ways like those from the PLC binding up the broken and freeing the oppressed.
PLC is doing awesome things. Everything about their mission excites me. In addition, everyone needs to buy a pair of klash...they're the best! I love the work that is going on through PLC. We all should be a part of the remedy...with a mission of preemptive LOVE!
I vote for PLC. Thanks to the Father who gives his children good gifts that we might share them with others. And thank you to those who are a part of the PLC for encouraging us all to do whatever we can do free the oppressed and bind up the broken hearted.
PLC is awesome!! Count my vote for them!
I love PLC!
Most people in Iraq hate Americans. In fact there is a lot of tension between Iraq and Jordan, and the Kurds are disliked even among Iraqis. There is a lot of history of hate among these groups, but when it comes to Hope that your child might be saved you forget about the hate. And when you see people who you have been told hate you, working so hard, and giving so much for your child, the hate is washed away. PLC is so much more than heart surgery. It works to give hope, and to build peace. I vote for PLC!
I vote for PLC! :)
I vote for PLC!
Another vote for PLC! Amazing folks doing amazing work.
I absolutely vote for PLC. The work that they are doing is incredible and is causing others in Iraq to take notice and start saving lives too. My wife and I love our shoes and even more, love the kids that are alive because we bought them.
PLC is a great organization that genuinely loves the people they serve!
PLC Is an amazing organization! They continue to help kids in need no matter what! Thanks PLC!
PLC is a fantastic organization. I had a chance to meet the founder and he really is remarkable in his commitment to this cause.
Help save a child's life! Please select PLC and support the good work they are doing!
Great org with great people! Vote!
THANK YOU PLC...Incredible what you do for so many....
this is for a good cause I would definitely vote and everyone else should do so as well....This organization is doing so much for people that are in need god bless them...
I vote PLC!!
Yay for PLC!!! I love their work and think they are a very worthy organization to donate to. Thanks for helping others find out about them too.
My husband had the opportunity to work with PLC last summer, and he was very inspired by the work they do. My son owns a pair of their shoes as a result! My vote is for PLC. They are the hands of God reaching out to broken and hurting people.
PLC is doing wonderful work in Kurdistan and Iraq. I vote PLC!!
Fabulous organization with a really great mission and plan!! Not only does PLC provide heart surgery for children in a very underserved area along with ICHF, the group trains the staff there so that some day they will be able to take care of their own children and sustain their own program. The fact that this can be done with about 1/75th of what it costs here in the US for the same services is remarkable. SO little money to save the life of a child with heart disease!!
An amazing project that deserves everyone's support!!
Cool!
My time working with the Preemptive Love Coalition in Iraq has forever changed my life. Real work is being done to save lives that are easily ignored amid war, politics, and ethnic unease.
PLC!
Great org! My vote goes to the Coalition.
PLC!
I definitely vote PLC! They do awesome work!
Amy, what you are doing here is amazing. PLC gets my vote as well!
This gets my vote!
PLC is making a difference in a part of the world that most Americans have little regard for. They are building bridges where we have built walls and are impacting people in the most significant way possible. There is no charity that I would recommend more.
"I love my klash shoes!" - Malachi 2 1/2
Hope to save a life with you and the PLC!
I had the pleasure of visiting PLC in Iraq last year. This is such an amazing organization! They work hard, and love and serve well.
LOVE PLC and all they do!!!
PLC
Overwhelmed by the comments today. Love it! Do not grow weary doing good.
Big fan of the PLC.
I vote PLC.
We vote for PLC! It is a worthy organization.
I vote for PLC!
I vote for PLC!
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