Jerri James
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
The Orphan Campaign and Club GoBeDo

Dear Friend,

Like many Americans, I have considered myself a caring person who, as best I could, prayed for and given to ministries offshore.  Hoping to instill selflessness and compassion in my growing family, I also tried to train my children to consider those less fortunate and make them aware of the needs of orphans across the globe.

As I’ve traveled abroad to experience first-hand the pain of an orphaned child, it made a difference in my ability to understand their anguish.  But how do values such as compassion, mercy, and sacrificial giving become instilled in our own children who are growing up in a ‘gimme’, affluent culture such as ours?

Two difficult questions challenged my soul, captured my spirit and stirred my passions.  First, how can I help alleviate the pain of these orphans knowing that there are 16,000 children that die every day from some preventable issue?  Secondly, as a parent, how can I cultivate ‘others-focused’ children while living in a self-absorbed society?

With the tension of these questions working within me, creative answers  began to take form.  In short, I  founded The Orphan Campaign, a social enterprise, consisting of a series of entertaining and educational ideas and products, including Club GoBeDo.  These ideas and products are meant to instill selflessness, service and compassion in our children.  At the same time, through donations of shoes and percentages of profits, this enterprise brings relief to the orphans cared for by Buckner, International and Shoes for Orphan Souls.

With the orphans on my mind and tomorrow’s leaders in my heart, I commend to you, The Orphan Campaign and Club GoBeDo and its products and mission.

Jerri James