Dear Friend:

On Global Handwashing Day, we recognize the importance of hand washing in global health and celebrate the impact hygiene organizations are making around the world.

As you probably know, hand washing makes a difference! Hygiene-related illnesses are the leading causes of death for children globally, claiming nearly 6,000 lives every day – more than AIDS, Malaria, and TB combined. The good news is that we can change that. Hand washing with soap is the single most effective and affordable way to prevent those deaths, reducing the death rate by as much as 50 percent. In fact, since 2009, the number of children dying daily has dropped from roughly 9,000 to fewer than 6,000. We’re happy to have been part of that success.

We’ve distributed more than 30 million bars of soap since 2009, reaching some of the most vulnerable populations around the world. From Ebola response efforts in West Africa to earthquake victims in Nepal, and from disaster relief in the United States to families living in extreme poverty in Latin America – and countless situations in between – we’ve been working with our network of partners to get soap and hygiene education to people who need it most.

Just last month, we shipped soap to support the heartbreaking Syrian refugee crisis in the Middle East and Europe. Soap is a critical tool in times of crisis, and our shipment will help prevent the spread of disease in the refugee camps during this chaotic time.

Perhaps most important, our work focuses not only on the short-term need, but also the long-term ability to sustain the impact we create. That’s why we focus on long-term hygiene education programs and support local micro-lending and micro-enterprise initiatives, to ensure that we’re changing behaviors and supporting the local economy to help continue the impact we’re making over time.

Today, as we celebrate Global Handwashing Day, I hope you will join me in making a donation to help us in this lifesaving work. We couldn’t do what we do without the generosity and support of donors like you. Your gift today will help us continue to get lifesaving soap to families in need here at home and around the world. To donate, simply click the button below.

As always, thanks so much for your support! And have a wonderful Global Handwashing Day.

With gratitude,

Sam Stephens
Chief Development Officer