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SPECIAL FEATURE
THE NEAR EAST FOUNDATION
A CENTURY OF HUMANITARIANISM The Near East Foundation celebrates 100 years of influencing American giving abroad with innovative fundraising that launched the concept of citizen philanthropy. BY ERICA MOODY
A
d
s we are all overwhelmed by the philanthropic history that an recent tragic images of families organization appealed directly to the escaping violence in the Middle public to support humanitarian work East and wondering what we can overseas, giving birth to what is called do to help, we are reminded of the “citizen philanthropy.” Fundraising and first major outpouring of American publicity tools that are now ubiquitous humanitarian support abroad following were first formed by NEF. Posters with the fall of the Ottoman Empire, and the captivating images called for donations; mobilizing power of America’s first nonone from a 1917 campaign juxtaposed governmental relief organization. Before illustrations of suffering women and the Peace Corps and USAID there was children with appeals for $30 million to the Near East Foundation. aid “The Child at Your Door: 400,000 Now in its centennial year, the NEF Orphans Starving.” Patriotic images in holds the honor of being the second other posters suggested it’s America’s Congressionally-chartered nonprofit duty to protect children. The recent (the first was the American Red Cross), heartbreaking photograph of the Syrian receiving this distinction in 1919. In boy on the beach brings to mind the 1915, Ambassador Henry Morgenthau powerful images utilized by NEF to sent a cable to the U.S. Department of mobilize Americans to action nearly a State declaring that the “destruction of century ago. the Armenian race is progressing rapidly” In keeping with this founding spirit, and urging something be done. The the theme of NEF’s centennial gala is refugees he was pleading for included “Celebrating 100 Years of American more than 132,000 orphans whose Humanitarianism Abroad.” On Oct. 28 parents were killed during the genocide at Cipriani Wall Street in New York, and deportations that claimed the lives of NEF’s board of directors and committee nearly three million Armenians, Greeks co-chairmen will join representatives of and Assyrians from 1915 to 1923 in what NEF’s “founding families” (those who is now Turkey and Syria. worked with the organization in the early The NEF’s ad campaign materials forever changed the landscape of Two weeks after Morgenthau’s call years and were key in shaping its work, philanthropic fundraising. (Poster by Douglas Volt, 1918) to action, a group of civic, business and including the Dodge, Morgenthau, Kerr, religious leaders, led by Cleveland Dodge and offer assistance, among them the Dodge, Heinz, Wilson and Hoover families); foreign diplomats; James Barton, formed a committee to lead the Pillsbury, Morgenthau, Roosevelt, Rockefeller NEF partners and supporters to reflect on the response to the tragedy. By the end of their first and du Pont families. strides made over the years and toast the next meeting, attendees had pledged $100,000 to “It was unique and unprecedented because hundred years of life-saving initiatives. Proceeds send to the region. Between 1915 and 1930, people from every sector of society — business, from the gala will go towards NEF’s work they would raise more than $116 million (over clergy, academia, government, philanthropy — with Syrian and Iraqi refugees and their host $2 billion in today’s dollars) for emergency relief collaborated to lead the effort together,” NEF’s communities, honoring NEF’s legacy through and services, providing aid to refugees both President Charles Benjamin says. “Under the action to address the crises of our day. during and after the collapse of the Ottoman leadership of James Barton and Cleveland Dodge, “With humanitarian aid decreasing and Empire. The extraordinarily successful rescue whose great-grandson represents the family on the crisis worsening,” Benjamin says, “there is a mission included the creation of orphanages NEF’s board today, the relief effort saved more greater need than ever for long-term solutions to care for thousands of children. Prominent than a million lives.” to reinforce self-sufficiency, protection and American families stepped up to the plate to It was also the first time in American economic resilience.”
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WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
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Emotionally-charged images depicted relief as a patriotic act. Never before had a foundation sent the Tomessage learn more NEFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s andinongoing that allabout Americans couldhistory help people need. (Poster by Dan Smith, 1935) development programs, or to purchase tickets to the
NEF used stories and images of children on campaign materials. Those who sponsored specific children were centennial gala, visitandwww.neareast.org. sent photographs even school report cards. (Poster by W.B. King, 1917)
NEFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s campaign techniques became a model for other philanthropic organizations. Campaigns materials used vibrant colors, memorable images and catchy slogans to generate attention (Poster by Dan Smith, 1935)
What You Can Do
RELIEF FOR REFUGEES
Winter is coming, and many organizations are working to provide and coordinate immediate assistance to migrants in need. Contact these groups to help alleviate the pain and suffering from this crisis.
The Near East Foundation NEF is working with Syrian and Iraqi refugee women, along with vulnerable members of their host communities, to help them achieve financial self-sufficiency through small business development, home-based income generating activities, urban agriculture, and financial literacy and savings. Working through local, community-based organizations, NEF reaches thousands of families in Lebanese and Jordanian cities that are home to large numbers of Syrian and Iraqi refugees. Give online at www.neareast.org/get-involved.
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) UNHCR is providing basic necessities for refugees like warm clothing, cash for medicine and fuel to heat tents. HOW YOUR DONATIONS WILL HELP $20 DBO QSPWJEF POF TMFFQJOH CBH s $150 can provide thermal blankets to keep three families warm. $200 can provide twenty families with synthetic mats to protect them from sleeping on the cold ground. $300 pays for an emergency rescue kit for 10 survivors, containing a towel, thermal blanket, bottled water, an energy bar, dry clothes and shoes. $550 can provide emergency cash assistance for three families for a month.
www.usaforunhcr.com
Doctors Without Borders
This photo of young Syrian boy Aylan Shenu drowned on a Turkish beach, after a boat carrying refugees to the Greek island of Kos, sank, sparked outrage around the world. It was a wake-up call to many, a tragedy that captured the severity of the worst migrant crisis since World War II. (Credit: AFP Photo/Nelufer Demir/Dogan News Agency)
The international NGO sets up hospitals in refugee camps, helps women give birth safely, provides access to safe drinking water and takes other medical measures to ensure the health of vulnerable people around the world. Eighty-eight cents of every dollar donated goes directly to these programs and services. Give today at www.doctorswithoutborders.org.
The International Rescue Committee The IRC is providing relief to millions of uprooted people inside Syria; in Iraq, Lebanon, Turkey and Jordan; in Afghanistan; on the shores of Greece; and in 25 resettlement offices in the U.S. In addition to lifesaving aid, donations support emergency services that help ensure refugees are protected once they arrive in Europe. Learn more at Engage.rescue.org/donate/emergencies.
WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
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