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2018 Embrace Relief Aid Campaign for Greece Wildfire Victims

Posted on | by Leo Wilson

In 2018,  Embrace Relief launched a campaign to provide aid to victims of the disastrous wildfires that struck Greece in  July and to help restore damaged land.

In just one week, the campaign has collected approximately $30,000, thanks to the generosity of our gracious donors and supporters, including a $5,000 gift from Fethullah Gulen, a respected religious figure. In addition, Blue Dome Inc, a local publishing company in Clifton, NJ, donated $5,000. Furthermore, Ant Bookstore in Clifton, NJ, donated an entire day’s proceeds to the campaign.

Aiding Your Communities

Posted on | by ER Editor
Whether a company is a fortune 500 or a small local business, it is essential for companies to contribute to society. Companies are starting to become aware of the importance of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), also known as corporate citizenship. CSR is defined as the voluntary commitment of business to include in their corporate practices economic, social, and environmental criteria and actions. It is not required, but it is crucial for companies to help local, national, and global communities. Corporations gave out over 17 billion dollars last year (Double The Donation). Societies benefit greatly from companies operating in ways that enhance the standards of living for people that are directly involved. According to a report from the ADP Research Institute The Evolution of Work” The changing Nature of the Global Workplace, “today’s workers are increasingly motivated to work by more than just earning a paycheck. Largely, employees are looking to work on projects that are personally meaningful, have a positive impact on society, and benefit people’s well being.” (ADP Inc.). People all over the world are struggling with everyday problems but with the help of companies that have accepted their role of going beyond their business to help, society is taking a huge step forward. All of this progress is made possible through non-governmental organizations known as NGOs. NGOs are generally defined as nonprofit entities independent of government influence (Grantspace). Non-governmental organizations are typically operating on an international level. They include but are not limited to environmental, social, advocacy, and human rights work. (Grantspace). NGOs and non-profit organizations are the “vehicles” that companies use to help society in need. Non-governmental organizations are a reliable partner that corporations can trust to help them accomplish their economic, environmental, and social goals. They are crucial to a progressive society and to making society better to live in. With the help and support of companies, organizations like this are paving the way for a new and better world for the future.

Help Spread the Love and the Water

Posted on | by ER Editor
Water is known as the essence of life for a good reason. We use it in our everyday lives in our plumbing, gardening, hygiene, drinking along with other important tasks. Without water, we would be unable to enjoy many of the conveniences of modern living. Flushing toilets, hydroelectric plants, drinking fountains and other useful tools would be rendered obsolete. Many of us cannot imagine what it would be like to live without clean water, but the truth is that this scenario would be devastating. Countless people would be left thirsty, dirty and sick. Does this seem like an unbearable situation to you? Well this is the harsh reality for many people all over the world. Statistics provided by organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and WASHWatch.org reveal some alarming facts about how many people are left without fresh water and the effects that that has on their health. About 2 billion people do not have access to clean drinking water, in addition to 31 percent of schools. Around 2.3 billion people do not have a decent toilet in their home, and as a result, one child under five years old dies of diarrhea every two minutes. Every minute, a newborn baby dies due to an infection that was caused by lack of safe water and an unclean environment. These statistics are not acceptable if we want a world where everyone has a healthy, happy life. Embrace Relief is dedicated to making sure that everyone has access to fresh water. Studies show that for every $1 invested in water and toilets, there is an average increase of $4 in productivity. The World Bank has stated, “promoting good hygiene is one of the most cost effective health interventions.” If you would like to join in our cause to stop this injustice, please donate to one of our many fundraisers today. If you really want to make a difference, you can set up your own fundraising project with us today and spread the word about this ever-present issue. It is up to us to make sure that our fellow human beings are accessing clean water just like we get the privilege of doing each and every day. “Facts and Statistics.” WaterAid, http://www.wateraid.org/facts-and-statistics.

Lift a Mood, Share Your Food

Posted on | by ER Editor
On Saturday June 9, Embrace Relief held a food drive at a local supermarket. Many volunteers came to support our cause by collecting food items for hungry men, women and children. We collected boxes of food from generous donors who wanted to lend a helping hand. These food items will be donated to where they are most needed, such as soup kitchens and schools. Thank you to all the volunteers and donors who helped us with this great food drive. If you would like to get involved in future food drives like this one, stay posted by liking Embrace Relief on Facebook and checking our website for updates. Remember that a donation of $50 is enough to pay for food for a person in need. Lift a Mood, Share Your Food.

Leading Us to a Better Tomorrow

Posted on | by ER Editor
Education is one of the foundations of our society. By teaching the next generation, we make strides towards building a better and brighter future. Today, however, there are still many children who are not able to receive this vital tool. According to UNESCO, 264 million potential students are left without a classroom. Mainly due to poverty, gender or culture, these children are left without the education that they deserve. Nigeria is hit the hardest by this issue, being home to around 10.5 million uneducated children. Another example can be found in Haiti, where all schools are private, meaning families that cannot pay tuition fees are unable to educate their sons and daughters. Everyone should have the right to basic education, but the truth is that there are numerous young individuals who have no access to it. One of Embrace Relief’s main goals is to allow children to have the education that they need to become enriched and enlightened adults. Many of our projects succeeded in the spread of education in developing countries. We have created a school in Nigeria that now teaches 350 students. Embrace Relief has been able to provide 2,000 children in the United States and Haiti with school supplies to aid them in their academic endeavors. In addition to shipping 40 computers to students in Afghanistan, we also sent 30 computers to Haiti. After collecting 22,000 books, we filled a library that we erected in Romania. Embrace Relief was also able to give out $50,000 in scholarships to pupils in the United States who wished to advance their education. At Embrace Relief, we make a strong effort to educate as many children as possible. Do you want to help make sure that the next generation is prepared for the future by giving them the education that they need? Learn more about what you can do by visiting embracerelief.org. You can donate to one of our many projects or you can start your own fundraiser to pursue a project that you want to run. Together, we can build a world of educated thinkers who will lead us to a better tomorrow.   Works Cited Bleiker, Carla. “UNESCO: 264 Million Children Don’t Go to School | DW | 24.10.2017.” Deutsche Welle, 24 Oct. 2017, http://www.dw.com/en/unesco-264-million-children-dont-go-to-school/a-41084932. Williams, Janice. “More than 10.5 Million Kids in Nigeria Aren’t in School.” Newsweek, 25 July 2017, www.newsweek.com/nigeria-education-children-school-country-641696. World Bank. “Four Things You Need to Know About Education in Haiti.” World Bank, http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2015/03/12/four-things-you-need-to-know-about-education-in-haiti.

Global Effects of Extreme Poverty

Posted on | by ER Editor

Could you live off of $1.90 per day? According to the World Bank, $1.90 per day is the threshold for extreme poverty, reflecting the average amount of money needed to provide basic necessities of life – food, water, shelter, clothing, healthcare – for people in the world’s 15 poorest countries. 

Thanks to driving economic growth over the past few decades, extreme poverty had been declining significantly until recently. In 2015, the number of people living on less than $1.90 per day dipped under 10 percent of the world’s population for the first time. But worryingly, since 2020 and the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, poverty is on the rise again. Jobs have been lost and economic slowdowns have affected every corner of the globe.

Extreme poverty is more than just lacking money and nice things. It’s a state of living detrimental to one’s physical and mental health. In America, we might consider ourselves less well-off if we have to choose to dine out less, or choose not to buy something we might want, in order to afford things we truly need. But the 700 million-plus people worldwide who live on less than $1.90 per day don’t even have the opportunity to make that choice. They are unable to afford even their own basic necessities without support from their community or from humanitarian aid groups. As a result, people in extreme poverty face harmful, deadly consequences in the short- and long-term, including poor health, a lack of education, homelessness, an inability to support a family, and an overall lack of stability that results in shorter lifespans. 

Most of the countries with the highest rates of extreme poverty are located in sub-Saharan Africa, and many of these countries (including South Sudan, Equatorial Guinea, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Central African Republic) also rank very low in life expectancy, malnutrition, child mortality, and educational achievement. Solving poverty is the key to giving all people the freedom to live dignified, healthy lives.

This is a tall task. But organizations like Embrace Relief play an important role in reducing extreme poverty around the world. We work with people on the ground in some of the world’s poorest countries, identifying the most urgent needs and delivering on whatever scale we can achieve. Every little bit of support could make a life-changing difference in the lives of real people.

How Embrace Relief helps fight extreme poverty

All eight of Embrace Relief’s humanitarian programs address the consequences of extreme poverty, either directly or indirectly. In this respect, our programs broadly fall into three categories:

  • Direct material support: Our Hunger Relief, Disaster Relief and Refugee Relief programs provide the basic necessities of life to people in immediate distress. We provide food to the hungry, shelter to those fleeing natural disasters or conflict, and any urgent support required by people in desperate situations.
  • Sustainable infrastructure: Our Clean Water, Health and Raise the Children programs support infrastructure – water wells, health clinics and orphanages, respectively – that reduce the challenges people, especially children, face every day. By providing community-wide facilities that are built to last, Embrace Relief is giving people the chance to grow and thrive no matter where they live and how much income they make.
  • Investing in future generations: Our Education and Women’s Empowerment programs provide people in underdeveloped countries the opportunity to develop their skills and enhance their learning, giving them the opportunity to advance in society. These are long-term projects whose benefits will be seen when our students graduate and move on to economically productive adult careers, part of a rising tide that will lift all boats.

For more information on any of Embrace Relief’s programs, click one of the links above. And if you are able, we humbly ask you to donate to your program of choice. Every dollar you donate brings us one step closer to eradicating extreme poverty and creating a world that gives all human beings a chance to achieve all they can.

Why Embrace Relief?

Posted on | by ER Editor
Since 2013, Embrace Relief has dedicated itself to helping people around the world. As a non-profit organization, we need assistance from people like you, so we can extend our aid to as many as possible. You might be wondering, “Why should I choose Embrace Relief as my charity of choice?” Here are just some of the reasons why contributing to Embrace Relief is a great decision:
  • Embrace Relief helps to provide people with cataract surgeries, allowing them to see clearly. Since 2013, 1,500 patients have received these procedures thanks to Embrace Relief.
  • Embrace Relief has spent over $1.3 million on disaster relief since its inception, giving people the support that they need after enduring devastating natural catastrophes.
  • The contributions from Embrace Relief have allowed over 15 thousand people to receive health checkups.
  • The organization has helped to distribute over 1 million pounds of food to people who live in areas struck by famine and lack of resources.
  • Around ninety women have received vocational training due to the actions of Embrace Relief, allowing them to pursue careers and provide for their families.
  • Embrace Relief helped to install 250 water wells in several countries, providing water to over 250,000 thirsty people.
  • One of Embrace Relief’s projects saw the construction of a school in Nigeria. It serves 350 students. Other educational endeavors included sending computers to students in Afghanistan and Haiti, sending school supplies to over 2,000 children, and building a new library in Romania containing 22,000 books.
  If you want to be a part of fantastic programs like these, please become a donor for Embrace Relief today by clicking here!