Vancouver, BC - GiveMeaning.com, the award-winning online social network for charitable giving, is pleased to announce that its services will now be available to users across North America. Launched in Canada in 2004, GiveMeaning can now issue tax receipts to US donors.

"Increasing numbers of people are using our services and inviting their families and friends to donate online. The resulting cross-border growth has generated great demand for us to offer tax-receipts to US donors," said Tom Williams, GiveMeaning's CEO. "We are proud that US donors can now participate fully in the GiveMeaning phenomenon - making the charitable passions of individuals a reality."

GiveMeaning is also celebrating the success of several of its international projects that have been started by passionate individuals from all over North America, which include:

Building a playground for an orphanage in Honduras
emanuelshome.givemeaning.com
A volunteer at a Honduran orphanage met his goal of raising $4,500 to build a playground there. The GiveMeaning Foundation arranged to donate the funds to Terre Des Homes, which will oversee the appropriate distribution of the funds.

Providing education for Ugandan youth
ugandayouth.givemeaning.com
Two grad students (UC Berkley and Indiana University, Bloomington) conducting research on child survivors of the Ugandan Civil War set up a project to pay the school tuition of two twin brothers who had been enslaved as rebel soldiers. In just under 10 weeks, the fundraising page raised $9,000 for two brothers to complete their high school education.

Building a school in Ghana
ghanaproject.givemeaning.com
A young woman started a GiveMeaning Project to fund a new school in the rural village of Sega, Uganda. In a short time, this group has raised more than $15,000 to begin construction.

"The magic of our projects is highlighted in examples like these. An internationally-minded donor gets to see their money making a difference in someone's life," said Williams, "which is quite a contrast to donating money and never knowing where it went."

Unlike many charities, GiveMeaning allows donors to see exactly how their money is being used through online updates posted by the charitable groups. GiveMeaning is also the only service of its kind that gives 100% of donations directly to the charities it funds, covering administrative costs through sponsorship from socially responsible companies.

In the business world, GiveMeaning.com is drawing attention as an online innovator and leading example of the new generation of consumer-driven websites known as "web 2.0." A technology writer recently named GiveMeaning.com one of the "top 10 innovative web 2.0 applications of 2005," and GiveMeaning.com received honorable mention in the philanthropy category at the Web 2.0 Awards hosted by seamoz.org.

About GiveMeaning.com

GiveMeaning is an online community where people come together to raise funds and awareness for charitable projects they're passionate about. Individuals connect around a common goal or project, and GiveMeaning provides them with online tools to donate money, respond to requests for supplies, volunteer or just spread the word. GiveMeaning works on the premise that each person's small contribution can become part of a powerful way to create plenty and make a real difference. GiveMeaning is the only donor service in North America where 100% of each donation is given to charity.

For more information, please visit www.givemeaning.com

GiveMeaning Foundation

GiveMeaning Foundation

GiveMeaning is an online community where people come together to raise funds and awareness for charitable projects they're passionate about. Individuals connect around a common goal or project, and GiveMeaning provides them with online tools to donate money, respond to requests for supplies, volunteer or just spread the word. GiveMeaning works on the premise that each person's small contribution can become part of a powerful way to create plenty and make a real difference. GiveMeaning is the only donor service in North America where 100% of each donation is given to charity.

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