I’m one of the many who can not get enough of the Olympic games this summer – the medals, the upsets, the drama – and am happy to see that philanthropy isn't being forgotten.
The joint IOC (International Olympic Committee) and UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) “Giving is Winning” initiative is only 574 donations away from their goal of 50,000 for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
Giving is Winning asks everyone (National Olympic Committees, Federations, sponsors, Recognised Organisations, members and supporters of the Olympic Movement) to donate unused sports and casual clothes which will be distributed by the UNHCR to various refugee camps around the globe. Donations are being accepted in three waves: pre-Beijing, during the games, and any surplus clothing remaining after the games, until December 2008. Most of the current donations were collected in the one-year run up to the July 2008 start date.
The 2008 campaign is looking to exceed the number of donations given at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games donations by 20,000.
Read more about the origins of the initiative here. For more information or donate – contact [email protected]
