This Mother’s Day, Shoppers say ‘I love ewe, Mom’ with Sheep

SEATTLE, WA (April 30, 2015) — Recent reports show that in developing countries a mother’s pay is 42 percent lower on average than that of women without children — it’s called the motherhood penalty. This Mother’s Day the Christian humanitarian organization, World Vision, is asking shoppers to honor their mom by helping lift another mom in need out of poverty. World Vision’s Mother’s Day Gift Catalog gives shoppers a unique way to say “I Love Ewe, Mom” by donating a sheep in her honor. Each year Americans spend $671 million on Mother’s Day cards alone, according to the National Retail Federation; for that same amount of money, consumers could provide more than 5 million sheep to families in need around the world.

Ewe Making a Difference

For $126, one ewe (a female sheep) gives nourishment and income to a mother and her children. One healthy ewe can provide up to a half gallon of highly nutritious milk a day for essential protein, vitamins and minerals, plus plenty of wool to knit clothing and blankets. Surplus goods can be sold at market providing an income boost for families that helps ensure children are able to attend school. These gifts are self-sustainable, for example, sheep given to communities in Africa are purchased in Africa. Offspring are sometimes shared with neighbors and ultimately make a better life for the whole village.

“No matter where you live much of motherhood is the same, it is about wanting the absolute best for your child,” says Cheryl DeBruler, World Vision Gift Catalog spokeswoman. “By giving mom a charitable gift you are showing her you appreciate the sacrifices made by moms every day.”

More than 100 Meaningful Gifts

Through World Vision’s Gift Catalog shoppers can donate to a wide variety of humanitarian initiatives such as orphan support and providing a new mother with infant care training and supplies. More than 30 gifts in the catalog are $30 or less including items like job training and school supplies. Those who want to give a tangible gift can donate to Where Most Needed and choose from a wide variety of handcrafted options from necklaces and totes to jewelry boxes and serving spoons.

Shoppers can make Gift Catalog donations in the name of their mother, grandmother or loved one and immediately print or mail a personalized card describing the gift and its impact. Last-minute giving stays meaningful since donors can print cards in minutes before serving mom breakfast in bed.

For more Mother’s Day gift ideas, visit www.WorldVisionGifts.org or call 855-WV-GIFTS to request a print copy or place an order.

¹The motherhood pay gap: A review of the issues, theory and international evidence: ilo.org/global/publications/working-papers/WCMS_348041/lang–en/index.htm.

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About the World Vision Gift Catalog:
Since 1996, the World Vision Gift Catalog has given people the opportunity to better the lives of children, adults and communities in the U.S. and around the world through hundreds of gifts in all different areas of need: clean water, food, education, sexual exploitation, job training and others. Last fiscal year more than 140,000 donors purchased more than 417,000 gifts helping more than 822,000 people around the world. To order from World Vision’s Gift Catalog, visit www.WorldVisionGifts.org or call toll-free 855-WV-GIFTS. Want to see where your dollars go? Watch how the Gift Catalog works through the World Vision YouTube channel.

About World Vision:
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization conducting relief, development, and advocacy activities in its work with children, families, and their communities in nearly 100 countries to help them reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. For more information, please visit www.WorldVision.org/media-center/ or on Twitter @WorldVisionUSA.

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