Run For The Cause With Team World Vision

World Vision is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice.  They are also one of my favorite charity organizations to support.  They do amazing work around the world.  They rank #8 on Forbes list of the 100 largest U.S. charities.  This rank takes into account financial efficiency–essentially how much of donations go directly to the charitable mission as opposed to fundraising and certain overhead.  So I feel comfortable knowing that my money is going where they say it will go.   

The last 2 summers I ran the Chicago Half Marathon with Team World Vision to raise money for clean water in Africa.  In the developing world, women and children walk an average of six kilometers to collect water for their families. The journey to and from the nearest well takes hours. And much of it is spent carrying a heavy jug of water. It was a tremendous experience to run and raise money for something that I take for granted - easy access to clean water.

You can imagine my delight to learn that runners for Team World Vision doing the New York City Marathon on November 3, 2013 are raising money to fight human trafficking!

Worldwide, many vulnerable children are forced by poverty to work to earn money to support their families. Some are kidnapped or lured from home by the promise of a good job. Each year, criminals make an estimated $32 billion by exploiting victims of human trafficking.

Many more children face the threat of other forms of abuse and violence, including sexual assault, domestic abuse, gang violence, female genital mutilation, and forced early marriage. Studies indicate that at least one in four children report having been physically abused. In the developing world, more than one in three girls marry before age 18, with an increased risk of experiencing domestic violence.

For the first time ever, Team World Vision runners will be raising money for these children.

To learn more or to donate go Here