One Dollar a Day Can Provide a Family for a Child

This weekend, my family (along with many others) will celebrate Mother’s Day. It is a time to honor those amazing women who love, encourage, and care for children. Of course, with Father’s Day right around the corner as well, the subject of family is center in our thoughts this time of year.

Family has always been a central component of my life—and my journey into minimalism. In fact, my introduction to minimalism stemmed from the realization that all of the stuff I owned was actually keeping me from more important things, like spending time with my family.

I was recently asked on Facebook how I define success. I responded with this statement, “Success to me is faithfulness to God, my family, and the work I’ve been placed on this earth to accomplish.” Clearly, family is never far from the top of my priorities.

I think we can all agree that family is important. But if you want to hear it from the experts—kids, of course—check out this quick (and super cute) video:

But around the world, many kids are still longing to be part of a family. Millions of orphaned children are growing up in institutions rather than in a loving family environment. In November 2015, my wife Kim and I, along with a few other individuals, decided to change that.

With the support of the Becoming Minimalist community, we founded The Hope Effect, a nonprofit organization on a mission to change the way the world cares for orphans.

In developing countries, orphans are commonly placed in institutional care, which research shows has damaging effects such as stunted development and delayed learning abilities.

At The Hope Effect, we know there’s a better way. We know that children belong in families. That’s why we are working tirelessly to bring family-based solutions to orphans around the world.

Our model of care mimics the family unit, with two parents and no more than 6-8 children in a household. This type of loving, family-style environment provides opportunities for children to flourish and thrive.

The Becoming Minimalist community has been instrumental in the growth and success of The Hope Effect, and I am so grateful. You have literally contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars. Because of your passion, we are providing family-style care to children in multiple locations in Mexico and Honduras.

In Chihuahua, Mexico, we are helping expand foster care to provide families for many of the 1,500 children currently living in institutional care in Chihuahua City. In Santa Rosa, Honduras, we are providing transitional care to children who are waiting for foster and adoptive families to become available. And we are close to obtaining government approval to pioneer our unique model of orphan care in San Luis Río Colorado, a small town in Sonora, Mexico, on the U.S.-Mexico border.

You can learn more about all of our projects here.

This is possible because of you—you are changing the way the world cares for orphans!

And if you’d like to continue to partner with us, you can make a difference in the life of a child… for just one dollar a day.

I’m excited to introduce our Dollar a Day Team—a new opportunity to provide loving, family-style care for orphans in need. What exactly does one dollar a day accomplish? Just one dollar a day opens up a home for an orphan currently in institutional care. One dollar a day provides continued family-style care for that child.

One dollar a day gets a child into a family.

I believe this work is critical—that’s why I am doubling your impact in the month of May! I will match the donations of the first 50 people who join the team, for the first entire year. Minimalism has provided me with so many benefits, including opportunities to practice generosity. Will you join me during the month of May?

The Hope Effect is a 501(c)(3) organization, so your donation is tax-deductible within the U.S. And because we know you want your donation to be used for the reason it was given, you can choose to direct 100% of your gift for orphan care work.

Thank you for embracing the mission of The Hope Effect over the last several years. You are making such a difference in the lives of children in need.

Together, we are changing how the world cares for orphans.