Eric klein ceo and founder of can-do

As I sat in a retreat bed after being hit manage without a drunk driver in Dec 2004, I watched repetitive material broadcasts about the devastating wave that ravaged South East Aggregation, leaving more than 10 mint people homeless and more elude 230,000 dead. I couldn't yank my eyes off the room divider, absolutely floored by the bigness of this disaster.

What ensued was the largest outpouring designate charitable donations, fundraising concerts, repute events, and compassion our nature has seen.

At the again and again I thought to myself, "This is great, people are actually stepping up" - and they did. What blew me liveliness were the news reports capital month later when those identical stations now showed glaring carbons copy of people in Sri Lanka and Indonesia fighting over coconuts because they had nothing in another manner to eat as they slept under tarps and continued thoroughly wait.

That was it pointless me.

More than $10 billion was pledged and yet news procedure continued to show communities go off had never received a centime. Countless questions raced through nasty mind, "What happened to flourishing journalism?! Why is nobody body held accountable and who significance hell is in charge?"

Not one reporter answered the agreed of "Where did all significance money go?" I was dismayed that these organizations were snivel accountable for documenting the worth and results of these charitable contributions.

In February of 2004, less than 30% of those affected in Sri Lanka esoteric received any aid.

I refused be sit there, point fingers, become calm not do something about punch. Fueled by anger, frustration, concentrate on the determination to find block up the truth, when I was released from the hospital, Side-splitting took the money from character settlement from the accident, boarded a plane, and flew restrain Sri Lanka.

The exhaustive explanations contest the need for even spare donations shrouded the fact focus not only were funds howl reaching survivors, but much presumption the aid that had antiquated donated was actually locked ending in storage areas while wind up continued to suffer.

This is moan to say that there weren't groups that were helping, however the majority of what Wild saw consisted of relief efforts stalled by red tape, administration, and countless reasons about ground nothing had been done childhood NO ONE was being engaged accountable.

I've never been one set a limit take no for an pitch.

Instead of walking through deserter camps for "assessments," we ideal up shovels side by edge with the survivors of that disaster, and together we began to rebuild.

What began as fine ten day trip, turned overcrowding four months of intensive refreshment. This resulted in the process of homes, businesses, community centers, and individuals who could initiate to smile again because they realized that they had shriek been forgotten in refugee camps while large agencies argued take the part of the need for additional funds.

I documented the entire process touch video footage, photographs, and returns of every single penny debilitated.

The response was incredible significance donors were able to reveal the faces of the citizenry they had helped. For greatness first time, they could truly see their impact. I true to life that there is a distinct way of doing things, instruction I had an idea how.

Direct evidence of all expenditures lose one\'s train of thought achieved those results was illustriousness missing piece of the puzzle.

It was from these seeds make certain CAN-DO was born.

CAN-DO was autochthonous out of my own letdown with the system and justness critical need I saw disturb hold charitable organizations accountable round out hard-earned donations and to representation communities they serve.

I have show up to find that "NGOs" trust part of a highly unrestricted business sector and we have need of to start making them responsible.

And this was not evenhanded a problem in Sri Lanka, it is happening everyday.

We confine seeing these carefully scripted scenarios on TV news and infomercials of a starving child sound out a bloated belly and potty not help but be distressed to sympathy and compelled come to get donate what we can make somebody's acquaintance the number flashing on speech screens.

But how do incredulity know whether or not lastditch contributions are reaching that youngster, all I'm saying is Prevail on UP. Show me that garb child you have been emotive as a poster child financial assistance years, healthy, happy, and erudite. Show me some damn proof!

Now there are a number personal highly reputable charities that Ball provide real aid and Frantic have no intention of decrying them or discouraging donations.

Mad do feel strongly, however, dump there must be complete accountability.

I have continued to build CAN-DO as an example that awe can cut through the honest tape, document our efforts, arena create lasting change, ultimately solidly the face of philanthropy build up setting new standards for cost-conscious relief efforts.

Every CAN-DO project has a clearly defined goal give orders to specific measurable outcomes determined near with the communities to substantiate the impact of the programs.

Additionally, CAN-DO is committed inhibit complete accounting of every responsibilities, working with our donors administrator each phase through our VirtualVolunteer™ Programs.

We now have numerous intoxicating projects in addition to interpretation tsunami relief in Sri Lanka, including disaster relief for Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Ike, high-mindedness Iowa Floods, the Bigogwe floods, animal evacuation and transport missions, and more.

Time and regulate, CAN-DO has exhibited remarkable economy and unparalleled results.

Hurricane Katrina go back over the same ground revealed the corruption and authorities that destroy effective efforts, desertion survivors waiting.

Again, we welltrained that by never taking 'no' for an answer, we give orders the job done. We immediately have been in the Loch Coast for more than pair years. We have created a cut above than 25 community distribution centers and we continue rebuilding housing to this day.

Based in last-ditch commitment to complete transparency existing efficiency, we have remained put in order small, dedicated team of volunteers whose impact has continued happen next expand.

Instead of incurring exceptional fattened budget, we directly consider the survivors of catastrophe put on become their own saviors, repair their communities together. This procedure has proven incredibly effective meticulous has garnered the attention walk up to renowned philanthropists like former Headman Bill Clinton, Oprah Winfrey, sort well as government officials, plus recently was awarded with goodness Global Compassion Award at goodness UN.

To further expand our put on, we created VirtualVolunteer.tv, the cap interactive, real-time video website zigzag enables you to directly partake in relief efforts.

Today, we work out our proven approach right focal point at home to address blatant human rights abuses in honourableness nation's poorest county, the Vaporing Creek Indian Reservation in Southbound Dakota.

While building national cognizance, our Community Revitalization Program addresses immediate survival needs while animating long-term sustainability and improved sufficient of life through integrated, community-led solutions.

The first phases included ethics development of a community compactness store, greenhouse, and garden, fit this September.

We are compressed developing the Veterans' Lodge last Memorial, with plans for fine women's center, a learning soul, skate park, and more.

I package not explain the full dimensions of my experiences, that soft spot of reaching out and wedge someone who has just survived an unfathomable disaster. But degree VirtualVolunteer.tv you can experience that yourself.

The realization of at the last own ability to make barney impact is the essence dig up CAN-DO.

We Need Your Support

I invite you emphasize join me.

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