|
34 Million Friends
of UNFPA got its start in July 2002 with the almost simultaneous
inspiration of two strong women. Both were outraged by the
U.S. decision to withhold from UNFPA $34 million in congressionally
appropriated funds, and each was determined to do something
about it.
When she heard about
the decision, Jane Roberts of Redlands,
California lay in bed thinking, "A letter to the editor
or to my congressman won't be enough. So I'll get 34 million
people to donate a dollar."
Miles
away, in Taos, New Mexico, Lois Abraham
had the same idea. Their initiative took flight in August
and by the following May contributions had exceeded $1 million.
"Our goal is idealistic, but within the realm of possibility,"
said Lois. "UNFPA has a vision, and so do we."
34
Million Friends has become a grassroots movement supported
by 100,000 individuals and donors who have contributed more
than $2 million and demonstrated widespread commitment to
UNFPA's work to improve the health and well-being of individuals,
families and communities around the world.
Men
and women from every
state in the U.S. continue to contribute. The story has
sparked widespread interest in the media,
and more donations arrive with each news feature or column
that is published or aired. Last May, a sister campaign, Friends
in the European Union, was launched in Brussels. In August,
a video about the campaign featuring music from the legendary
Odetta and crafted from a poem by Jane was released.
Many
donations – some for a dollar or two, some for much larger
amounts – are accompanied by heartfelt
notes expressing the belief that all people deserve reproductive
health care and access to family planning.
Jane
and Lois continue to maintain an active schedule
of speaking engagements and other activities to rally support
for UNFPA's work and continue the momentum of 34 Million Friends.
When
the campaign reached $2 million in contributions, Thoraya
A. Obaid, Executive Director of UNFPA, expressed her gratitude.
“We have never experienced anything like this,” said Ms. Obaid.
“Lois and Jane have not only mobilized funds that we need
and are using to save women's lives, but they also have demonstrated
that citizens in the United States, as all over the world,
understand that family planning and related reproductive health
care, safe motherhood and HIV/AIDS prevention are essential
requirements for basic human health – and that we must work
together to make them universally available.
|
Back
to top