Twenty Percent of American Children Living in Poverty

Yes, you read that correctly. 20% of children in the wealthiest and most powerful democracy in the world are living in poverty. And that statistic is based on 2009 numbers; given the state of the economy since then, there likely are more than 20% living in poverty.

This kind of makes me re-think some of my own philanthropic choices. Should I be giving to overseas disasters, or should I focus on the DISASTER of poverty that is happening in our own country? And what exactly should I give to? Poverty is a complex problem with complex causes and impacts: should I give to hunger-related organizations? Vocational training for parents, so that they can lift themselves and their children out of poverty?

Read more about these newly-released statistics HERE, or get the original data from the annual KIDS COUNT survey HERE.

Bono - rock star in more ways that one

I loved watching my friend-from-back-in-the-day Sheryl Sandberg interview Bono at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Everyone knows Bono is a rock star... by now, I think everyone knows that he's a philanthropy rock star, too. They discuss poverty, debt relief, government corruption, the intersection of music and activism, and much, much more. Way to go, Sheryl! Bono, as usual, you inform and inspire us. Call me! :)

Watch the interview HERE.

Wanna know what happens to a girl living in poverty when she reaches the age of 12?

To find out, watch this amazing video from The Girl Effect, a project sponsored by the Nike Foundation, in partnership with The United Nations Foundation and the Coalition for Adolescent Girls. You can also connect w/ The Girl Effect on Facebook.

Don't forget to watch the video HERE.

The next time I complain about my life, please remind me to be grateful that I was born into a middle class family in the United States...