November 19, 2009

Thirty years ago, my wife and I watched the news of Cambodia's "Killing Fields" and agonized over what we could do about it.

We knew we couldn't sit idly by. So on November 19, 1979, we gathered friends and acquaintances for a meal. We ate rice and dried fish — the same diet as most of Cambodia's refugees — off paper plates. And by the end of the evening, we decided I would lead an effort called Save The Refugees Fund.

Over the course of a year, we ended up raising almost $1 million to help Cambodia's refugees, and renamed ourselves Mercy Corps. In the three decades since, Mercy Corps has provided nearly $2 billion in assistance to millions of people in 107 countries.

You can honor our anniversary with a gift that will help us renew and expand our work.

Thirty years ago, we showed how a handful of committed people can make a difference. We're still doing it today, helping families triumph over poverty, disaster and war. Thank you for your support.

Dan O'Neill
Founder