Campaign Total

Country breakdown of letters received from all over the globe (24 October 2003)

Campaign founders Lois Abraham (far left) and Jane Roberts open letters at UNFPA headquarters. (Photo: William A. Ryan/UNFPA)

Campaign Founders Visit UNFPA Projects

Jane Roberts and Lois Abraham visited UNFPA projects in Senegal, Mali and Nicaragua to better understand how American contributions will help save women’s lives in developing countries.

Overwhelming Support for
"34 Million Friends" Campaign

Hundreds of envelopes containing dollar bills, generous checks and heartfelt messages arrive each day at the UNFPA offices in New York. Donations are from men and women, within and outside the United States, who firmly believe that all people should have access to family planning and reproductive health services.

The flood of letters are in support of the "34 Million Friends" campaign, a grass-roots movement independently conceived by Jane Roberts of California and Lois Abraham of New Mexico to help bridge the funding gap created by the United States withdrawal of $34 million to UNFPA in July 2002.

When the United States announced its decision, Jane lay in bed thinking, "A letter to the editor or a letter to my congressman won't be enough. So I'll get 34 million people to donate a dollar."

Miles away, Lois had the same inspiration. The campaign took flight in August and by November contributions had exceeded $100,000. "Our goal is idealistic, but within the realm of possibility," said Lois. "UNFPA has a vision, and so do we."

Both Lois and Jane are dedicating countless hours each week to get the message out. The story has sparked the interest of journalists across the United States and more letters arrive with each new article or column that is published.

UNFPA would like to thank Lois and Jane for their commitment, as well as the thousands of friends who have pledged their generous support over the past months.

New web site for U.S. Campaign

Visit www.34millionfriends.org for the latest news, resources and information on the 34 Million Friends Campaign in the United States, as well as the list of global campaign contributors.

From the Mail...

• "One dollar at a time you are changing the world- thank you!"

• "Please add our donation to the 34 Million Friends Campaign, I am sending a dollar each for my husband, myself, my daughter & our unborn child-who, by grace and good fortune, will receive prenatal care. If only all women had such options..."

• "Thank you for the good work you do in support of women everywhere. I love the idea of a "dollar from every woman" as a contribution expression of support for an idea as well as economic benefit for a valid organization."

• "My sister and I are contributing to "34 Million Friends." What has been accomplished with this campaign is fabulous. I am person who lives off of very little money. What ever money I make I use to travel to [developing countries]. I see often the difficult situations many women and families are in. I am happy to have an opportunity to help your campaign."

• "Both of you are among our national treasures... The 34 million dollars you are raising is a monumental task. I have this feeling you will succeed with this enterprise...As I see it, the work of UNFPA has never been more important than it is now."

• "This is a gift in honor of my mother Judy Brown, who spent a life-time doing family planning work, first in maternal-child health clinics in rural Ghana, where my parents were medical missionaries, then in rural Tennessee."