a drop of water

When you buy something, you want your money’s worth right?  You do research and talk to previous/current owners about their experiences.  When you invest in stocks or deposit your money in the bank, you want to choose a trusted institution that will have high returns with low risk. We must apply the same rigor to selecting a charity to invest in.  For example, here are a few things to consider in order to make the most of your charitable contribution:

1. Give to a charity with efficient overhead costs, maximizing the direct impact of your gift.  Everyone likes a good deal, getting the most for your money.  Hold organizations accountable to minimizing their overhead costs.
2. Give to a charity that your company has chosen to match employee gifts.  Companies need to give away lots of money for tax reasons, so why not advocate for the organization of your choice with part of the financial power of your large company?  (Don’t see your organization on the list? Go and ask your HR department about getting them added!)
3. Give to a charity that you can connect with and advocate for among your community.  I know its a little awkward to talk about which charities you support, but there are so many charities out there, that most people might never take the time to learn about one unless personally introduced to it.

So, here is a little about World Vision:

1. 89% of your gift goes directly to the cause, 11% goes to overhead including fundraising, management and general. (reports here)
2. They have a company match database conveniently located here.
3. They tangibly connect you with who you are giving to, humanizing  your investment instead of making you feel like you don’t know where your money is really going.  You can sponsor a child, buy clothes for children who are suffering from the cold in Mongolia, or select from a host of other options in their gift catalog.

Thanks for reading!

I had the opportunity to photograph the InterVarsity Asian American Staff Conference in San Mateo this past weekend and on one of the evenings we went into Downtown San Francisco. Couldn’t help but grab a few of shots as we walked down the boardwalk.  Conference photos and video to follow!

I had the opportunity to attend an InterVarsity Faith+Business conference in February at USD. It was titled: “Unleash: Creativity” and was “designed to challenge your thinking on the conventional divide between faith and work- unleashing your creativity to be a spiritual leader in business and through business.” The speaker talks can be downloaded here.

Scott Schimmel	Joon Han	Diane Brown	Jonathan Neddenriep	Bob Goff

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One the points that Scott made during the opening session is that he hopes that parachurch organizations can begin to celebrate the students entering the marketplace just as effectively as those pursuing full time ministry.  We desperately need to send them into the marketplace with the same missionary call and vision because their role is just as important.

A few other take home points from the conference included:

1. Leadership enables people to become the best version of themselves.
2. Equip your employees to leave and motivate them to stay.
3. Bible Study vs Bible Doing.
4. Be reflective about your experiences and decisions and God’s fingerprints on your life.
5. If you are unhappy about your job, it is your own fault. You need to think harder.

Please contact Scott if you would like to know more or be apart of this exciting work.

I had the privilege of taking some shots for the “No More Secrets” event at Mira Costa and San Marcos. Throughout the week InterVarsity staff and students created a space for people to write down their secrets, their hurts, and their feelings.

Here are a few shots:

The intention of posting the following notes is not just to cause shock but to communicate the underlying reality of so many students on the campuses of San Diego.  These people are in our community: a neighbor, a friend, a brother, a sister, a parent, a classmate…  God’s heart is for the healing and restoration of these people.

If you would like to know more about this event or find out how you can help please visit Daniel Lui’s blog here: http://daniellui.wordpress.com/2010/02/24/no-secrets/ or you can watch a video here: http://animoto.com/play/lGpTEH1mqqsxt4eckpl1Kw

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