Backstreet Boys fans, Siamese cat crusaders and children's advocates are putting their dollars where their hearts are. Small and local causes of all sorts are receiving hundreds of dollars each month from their supporters' online shopping activity.
Each day, shoppers add approximately 20 new causes to the thousands of causes on the iGive.com roster - from the Ferret Association of Connecticut, to Habitat for Humanity, Silicon Valley, to Boy Scout Troop 46 in Tiverton R.I. Many of the causes are local, grassroots organizations with small operating budgets - the extra funds raised by iGive.com shoppers make a meaningful difference. Last month alone, iGive.com sent almost $90,000 to 2,107 causes.
Organizations that have raised top dollars through iGive.com are:
Brian Littrell Healthy Heart Club for Kids.
Founded by Brian Littrell of the pop music group Backstreet Boys, this Lexington, Ky.-based organization has received more than $13,000 from the group's fans since the cause was listed on iGive.com last May.
Siamese Rescue Alliance.
This organization rescues homeless and abandoned Siamese cats and places them in permanent, happy homes. iGive.com shoppers have generated more than $6,000 for the Siamese Rescue Alliance in Locust Dale, Va.
Children's Health Information Network.
More than $4,700 has been raised by iGive.com shoppers to help provide educational and support resources to families of children with childhood onset heart disease, adults with congenital heart defects, and the professionals who work with them.
``We always thought that causes close to a person's heart would be motivating, but the passion that these supporters show for their causes is amazing,'' said iGive.com founder Robert Grosshandler. ``Our staff is regularly surprised by the active support these causes receive. That's the beauty of iGive.com; members list and support their own favorite causes. People have an easy way to raise money for what they really care about.''
For more information, visit www.iGive.com.
