A Great Relief Oragnization for Tsunami Victims.

[umtalal]

No kidding folks. The Director has been taking on this mad administration. They are the best. I know because I interviewed for an intership in the late eighties.

http://www.opusa.org/

A paste and copy of the President's letter ( a recipient of the Noble at one point)

September 2003
Dear Friend,

Like you, I am shocked when I read about how much money political campaigns and candidates spend on elections. When I compare their budgets to Operation USA's budget of under $1 million per year, I am appalled and disheartened.

The California Recall election cost the people of California over $100 million and the many candidates spent at least that much in private funds. The 2004 US national elections will easily surpass the $3 billion spent in 2000.

While Operation USA supports the democratic process, I am once again compelled to remind you of what such large amounts compare to:

· The Governor of California and three major candidates hoping to succeed him, spent 10-30 times Operation USA's annual budget.

· The coming 2004 national and state election campaigns will nearly equal what the American people spend supporting the Peace Corps, Child Health programs (immunizations, etc.), international AIDS prevention and treatment, international disaster relief, the United Nations (UNICEF and the UN refugee, human rights and development agencies) and the US contribution to the World Bank COMBINED!

I am asking you to match one dollar for every dollar you give a politician or political campaign to support Operation USA's programs here and abroad. Each of your dollars has been multiplied by Operation USA to send $8-$10 in aid to 88 countries over the past 24 years.

Many of you called after watching "Nightline" (August 4th, on ABC) to congratulate Operation USA on being the very first US relief agency to airlift emergency medical aid to Iraq. Our plane delivered over $900,000 in medical supplies at a cost of just over $30,000 with support from individuals, foundations and corporations throughout the USA.

While places like Iraq, Afghanistan, North Korea and our own inner cities pose incredibly difficult challenges, we regularly rise to meet them…and do it exclusively with private-not taxpayer-money from caring individuals like you.

Our challenge is to stay effective so we can deliver a unique humanitarian service wherever it is needed most-in America (where we support 200 community health clinics) and throughout the world. Operation USA has set up mobile HIV/AIDS and general medical clinics, rehabilitated hospitals and schools, trained physicians, funded over 6000 "microloans" to rural women, assisted disaster victims in dozens of countries, searched for advanced technologies to find landmines and new water sources-all at a tiny fraction of what major political campaigns cost.

Ours is a campaign that we cannot afford to lose! We need your support!




Sincerely,



Richard M. Walden,
President & CEO

[Richard D]

1. Good folk

I had the pleasure of meeting with Richard Walden around 10 years ago. A really good person. Sincere and with enough guts to make the improbable happen over and over again.

[umtalal]

2. the man is pure goodness, I agree. n/t