This Christmas, World Vision's Gift Catalog celebrates 20 years of charitable gifts touching over 7 million lives

SEATTLE, June 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Over the past two decades, the popularity of World Vision Gift Catalog as a gift-giving alternative has grown substantially with over 790,000 donors giving life-changing gifts such as goats, clean water, food and education to 7.3 million people in need around the world. The Catalog's 20^th season comes as a new major scientific study¹ gives evidence that livestock aid is successful in giving the extremely poor a large and lasting economic boost out of poverty; in one country the economic return was an astounding 433 percent. While there are differences between the "Graduation programs" examined in the study and World Vision's model, the results confirm what the Christian humanitarian organization has learned over the past 60 years: when livestock aid is combined with animal management training and a holistic approach to community development it gives people the power to break the cycle of poverty.

"To the extreme poor an animal like a goat is a gift of hope and that hope has power," says Cheryl DeBruler, World Vision Gift Catalog Manager. "For a destitute single mom, getting out of poverty may seem like it will take a quantum leap. An animal not only provides her and her children with nutrition and income, it changes her mindset by giving her hope for a better life and that injection of optimism can become self-fulfilling."

World Vision's Gift Catalog began in 1996 with a handful of humanitarian gifts, now the Catalog (which also is online) gives shoppers over 250 tangible ways to improve the lives of children, adults and communities in different areas of need such as clean water, food, education, sexual exploitation and job training, among others. Gifts range in price from $16 to $39,000 and can be made in a loved one's name. Shoppers also can choose to send a personalized card describing the gift and its impact. Here are other examples of alternative gifts featured in this year's catalog:

• Gift a Goat: The most popular gift in the Catalog, one goat ($75) not only nourishes a hungry family with up to 16 cups of milk a day, but the surplus milk also can be sold at the market for extra income to buy school supplies or medicine. Even manure can be used to fertilize crops and vegetable gardens.
• Spend once give twice: Make a donation to help where it makes the most impact and choose from a variety of Handcrafted Gifts such as jewelry, totes, coffee and cinnamon. This year's catalog features a wide range of new items including serving bowls ($125), which are up-cycled from reclaimed industrial waste. The bowls are made in India by a fair-trade artisan group comprised mostly of working mothers who use funds to help support their children's education.
• Celebrate 20 years with gifts under $20: There are many items in the catalog for $20 and under. Give two soccer balls for ($16) and provide important tools for engaging kids in impoverished countries. World Vision uses soccer programs to educate about HIV and AIDS, attract kids to school and bring joy to working children. For less than the price of an average t-shirt shoppers can help fight poverty in America; feed a family in the U.S. for a day ($18), or help disaster relief in the U.S. ($20).
• Give Girl Power:  Explore donation options for girls and women through the World Vision Gift Catalog that encourage societal change, such as providing a bicycle for a girl to help her get to school each morning. $25 gives Career Training for Girls and Women and a donation of $35 can provide Education for a Girl.
• Donate to Disaster Relief: In the wake of a crisis, children usually suffer the most. World Vision is often one of the first organizations to begin relief work after a disaster, and remains on the ground for the long haul, rebuilding communities and restoring hope. You can give to general disaster relief or specific humanitarian crises in places such as Nepal, South Sudan and Syria.

In fiscal year 2014, more than 140,000 donors purchased more than 417,000 items from the Gift Catalog that helped more than 822,000 people around the world. To order from World Vision's Gift Catalog, visit www.worldvisiongifts.org or call 855-WV-GIFTS.

About the World Vision Gift Catalog:
Since 1996, the World Vision Gift Catalog has given people the opportunity to better the lives of children, adults and communities in the U.S. and around the world through hundreds of gifts in all different areas of need: clean water, food, education, sexual exploitation, job training and others. Last fiscal year more than 140,000 donors purchased more than 417,000 gifts helping more than 822,000 people around the world. To order from World Vision's Gift Catalog, visit www.worldvisiongifts.org or call toll-free at 855-WV-GIFTS. Want to see where your dollars go? Watch how the Gift Catalog works through the WorldVision YouTube channel.

About World Vision:
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. For more information, please visit www.WorldVision.org/press or follow on Twitter @WorldVisionNews.

¹ A multifaceted program causes lasting progress for the very poor: Evidence from six countries
http://www.sciencemag.org/content/348/6236/1260799

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150623/224883

SOURCE World Vision

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