I Heart Celebrity Causes Highlights Steve King's Heifer International

As a society we like our celebrities and tend to support the causes they endorse with this status. Our celebrities are those that entertain and inspire us such as those that act in the movies, on television and the stage, our favorite musicians, athletes from our favorite teams or provide national pride representing at the Olympics, the authors of our favorite literary works and those that provide contributions in the world of art. Each month in this population-we™ (pop-we) series, I Heart Celebrity Causes, a celebrity will be chosen and the cause that they promote will be looked at.

I Heart Celebrity Causes!

This February is the eighth installment of I Heart Celebrity Causes the focus is on author Stephen King and Heifer International. King is best known for his work in the horror genre but he has also written fantasy, science fiction and suspense. He has 54 novels to his credit including seven he wrote under the pen name Richard Bachman. Starting with his first book "Carrie" more than 350 million copies have been sold. Many have also been adapted into movies and the author admits his favorite three are "Stand by Me," "The Shawshank Redemption" and "The Mist." "The Running Man," was one of his Richard Bachman books, which made it to the big screen.

Heifer International is one of the primary charities that King has lent his celebrity to. Founded nearly 70 years ago by American farmer and aid worker Dan West, the main goal of the organization is to end world hunger and poverty. Working to help refugees of the Spanish Civil War; West quickly realized more help could be provided by giving an actual cow rather than just a ration of milk.

Now Heifer International empowers families and helps communities by providing animals which provide both food and income. Areas that had a long history of poverty are able to sustain agriculture and commerce as products like: milk, eggs, honey and wool can be traded or sold. That income gives the communities the financial base to fund small businesses and build schools.

Animals provide the foundation and those that receive animals agree to pass along the offspring to others in need. On average nine generations of animals can be found; while in some areas 22 generations of animals provided by Heifer International can be traced. This cycle of positive change is paid forward through out the community.

Every Heifer project starts by laying 12 cornerstones or solid principles that lay the framework for change and sustainable development. Those 12 are:

• Passing on the Gift,
• Accountability,
• Sharing and Giving,
• Sustainability and Self-Reliance,
• Improved Animal Management,
• Nutrition and Income,
• Gender and Family Focus,
• Genuine Need and Justice,
• Improving the Environment,
• Full Participation,
• Training and Education, and
• Spirituality.

This helps provide lasting change as more than 22.6 million families in over 30 countries word-wide have been lifted out of hunger and poverty.

The organization has a gift catalog which gives people the option to purchase a share of animal or to donate the full price of a goat, heifer, sheep, water buffalo or other. There are also other options to donate toward assistance to promote women's empowerment, support sustainable farming and provide basic needs. If interested, the gift catalog can be found online at Heifer International.

Most importantly, Bravo to pop-we I Heart Celebrity Causes--Stephen King--for his Heifer International efforts!

-population-we™ blog post by John Bohan

© 2015 population-we, LLC 
If you enjoyed this post, make sure to leave a comment, 'Pin' or 'Like' it.

Pin It