One by one, Amway helps children around the world

With around 3 million distributors and 20,000 employees worldwide, Amway has plenty of people power. And when the generosity of these individuals is combined, it creates a powerful movement that positively impacts the lives of others.

During the last 10 years, Amway's altruistic distributors and employees have made a positive difference in the lives of 10 million children around the world and they will be celebrating this milestone throughout 2013. 

The Amway One by One Campaign for Children began in 2003 as a corporate initiative to consolidate giving and volunteer efforts on one social cause -- helping children. 

"We were already doing a lot of things but we were really unfocused," says Jesse Hertstein, Amway's Senior Corporate Citizenship Specialist. "This (campaign) was created to focus efforts."

The One by One Campaign is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year and since it began, Amway distributors and employees have donated nearly 2.7 million volunteer hours to projects, causes, and organizations that benefit children. They've done this by working with hundreds of nonprofit organizations, government entities, and local organizations in the 100 countries around the world where Amway does business. 

Combined with corporate contributions, distributors and employees have donated $190 million to helping children through the One by One Campaign as well.  

Globally, the campaign's volunteers have positively impacted children's lives through projects such as providing the means for better nutrition in rural China, supporting welfare centers in South Korea, building homes for families in Guatemala, offering life-saving immunizations in Africa, giving books to libraries, and many other projects. 

Locally, Manager of West Michigan Community Relations David Madiol says the main focus is on education and the One by One Campaign partners with GRPS and Junior Achievement on various projects. Additionally, West Michigan volunteers help with children's hunger and wellness issues. 

Of the roughly 4,000 employees in West Michigan, more than half donate their time and talents to the One by One Campaign, equaling around 20,000 volunteer hours each year. 

And on an almost weekly basis, the campaign's volunteers can be found helping out at Kids' Food Basket. Amway's Operation Excellence Group also helped to streamline the packaging system at this nonprofit organization that ensures local children have enough to eat. After reviewing the sack supper packaging process, the group built a new workstation area that made the process more efficient. 

As one of the largest direct selling companies in the world, Amway has a lot of knowledge to offer the nonprofits they serve and currently, more than 50 percent of the company's executives sit on boards and committees in West Michigan. 

"We want to tie our expertise with our willingness to serve," says Nick Wasmiller, a Senior Public Relations Specialist with the company.

On Nov. 20, the One by One Campaign invites the community to help celebrate its 10th anniversary by participating in an event called the Amway Universal Children's Day. Hertstein says it will be a global day of service and anyone around the world can join Amway distributors and employees and participate.

"We know one day won't move the needle of every global social issue, but it's a demonstration of our commitment moving forward to help children for the next 10 years," he says. 

Helping children one by one is the goal of the Amway One by One Campaign for Children. If you would like to get involved and you're not an Amway distributor or employee, Hertstein asks that you volunteer your time or donate financially to local nonprofit organizations that make a positive impact in the lives of children and be sure to join them on Nov. 20. 

Here’s how you can find out more information:  

- Visit the One by One Campaign blog to find out more about the projects they are involved in around the world.
- Watch this short video about the 10th anniversary and helping 10 million children.
- Visit Amway online. 
- Like Amway on Facebook. 
- Follow @Amway on Twitter. 

Sources: Jesse Hertstein, Amway Senior Corporate Citizenship Specialist, David Madiol, Amway Manager of West Michigan Community Relations, and Nick Wasmiller, Senior Public Relations Specialist  
Writer: Heidi Stukkie, Do Good Editor

Images provided by Amway One by One Campaign for Children.