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On my desk as I pen these words is a page I tore out of a magazine featuring a solicitation from a charity called SmileTrain (www.smiletrain.org). The idea is that lots of kids in developing countries are born with a cleft lip and palate. The operation to cure this is relatively simple, but either the families don't have the money or the local health care providers aren't up to the task.
If you visit their website (above), the pictures you see there make you want to cry. As the advert says: "You will spend more on coffee this year than what it would cost to save one of these children." Apparently it costs only $250 to fund each 45-minute operation, but they are happy to accept any donation no matter how small.
Now, one thing I hate is "non-profit" charities that skim a huge amount off-the-top to pay salaries and suchlike. Some of them are ridiculous, with more going on "overhead" than actually ends up in the field. Don't get me started! So it's refreshing to hear that 100% of SmileTrain donations from the public go toward programs (any non-program expenses are paid for by members of their board). I am very, VERY impressed.
Looking at the pictures on the SmileTrain website make you realize just how lucky you are. You know, I think I can do without my morning coffee for a year. I just called them and made a donation for a full operation. It's great to know that at least one kid is going to get a huge break; it's sad that so many others won't...
Questions? Comments? Feel free to email me – Clive "Max" Maxfield – at max@techbites.com). And, of course, if you haven't already done so, don't forget to Sign Up for our weekly Programmable Logic DesignLine Newsletter.
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