One of my core beliefs is that we are blessed to be a blessing. We all know people who get too caught up with the bottom line, entrench themselves in the rat race, and define success solely by the status of their bank account. They forget what’s important in life and miss out on truly living.

One of my greatest fears in starting a business was that I would unwittingly slip into that same mentality. So when I started Blue Orchid Designs, one of my main priorities was to remain involved in philanthropic and humanitarian efforts.

There are a lot of great causes out there and there is no possible way we can each be involved in all of them. The key is to support causes that align with your personal passions. The issues of HIV/AIDS, human rights, and debilitating poverty are areas that resonate deeply with my heart. Here are some great organizations whose work focuses on those issues:

Thirst Relief International
From the website:
"Thirst Relief International, in partnership with you, exists to provide humanitarian and disaster relief to those in need worldwide through the provision of safe, clean drinking water. We are sickened and called to action knowing that nearly 2 million people die annually (90% of which are children under the age of 5) simply because they lack access to clean drinking water. As a result, we are working to put an end to the worldwide water crisis plaguing 1.1 billion people."







Make Trade Fair
From the website:
"Fair Trade is a growing, international movement which ensures that producers in poor countries get a fair deal. This means a fair price for their goods (one that covers the cost of production and guarantees a living income), long-term contracts which provide real security; and for many, support to gain the knowledge and skills that they need to develop their businesses and increase sales."






Kiva: Loans that Change Lives
From the website:
"Kiva.org allows individuals to make $25 loans to low-income entrepreneurs in the developing world (microfinance). By doing so, individuals like you provide affordable working capital for the poor (money to buy a sewing machine, livestock, etc.), empowering them to earn their way out of poverty. It's a new, direct and sustainable way to fight global poverty."