Mama Cash Foundation Funds Women's Rights Global

Mama Cash is a women’s foundation which supports groundbreaking and innovative projects conceived by women for women all over the world. The women she supports are strong women who set an example for others, and know firsthand that it is possible to turn the tide.

Mama Cash supports women’s groups in Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. The grants she makes go towards securing the human rights of women and ensuring that women have access to:

Mama Cash also supports local women’s funds all over the world. These are groups that raise money locally, regionally and internationally to support women’s rights initiatives in their own communities. In this way, Mama Cash’s social change philanthropy can be amplified many times over.

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Press Release

Amsterdam, March 16th, 2006

Record figures raised for women’s rights
Mama Cash’ Campaign 88 Days brings in € 133.000

For the first time in the history of Dutch fundraising, more than € 133.000 is raised specifically for women’s rights. Mama Cash collected this unique amount of money during the Campaign 88 Days, which refers to the 88 days between International Human Rights Day (December 10th, 2005), and International Women’s Day (March 8th, 2006). The proceeds will be transformed into grants for women’s projects world-wide.

Diana van Maasdijk, Directeor of Development and Communications: “With the internet Campaign 88 Days Mama Cash raised awareness, took action and mobilised resources for women's rights worldwide. All around the world less and less money is available for women’s organisations, women’s rights and women’s projects. A disturbing development, which Mama Cash hopes to change.”

The campaign was composed of a couple of items.
First, visitors to the website www.mamacash.org could contribute financially to the campaign. Besides that, they could vote for six pioneering organizations supported by Mama Cash, which were nominated for the international (she changes the world) award. World-wide more than 70.000 votes came in. Moreover, visitors could sign a petition to the European Commission, because in 2003 only 0,04% of the aid of the European Commission went in favour of women specific projects and programmes.

The success of the Campaign 88 Days was celebrated during International Women’s Day with the (she changes the world) event in Amsterdam. After a hilarious opening act by Boom Chicago, Mama Cash ambassador and Dutch pop star Ellen ten Damme presented the (she changes the world) award to the winner Fundacion Desafio from Ecuador. This organization helps women and girls to make their own decisions regarding their own bodies in a country where unwanted pregnancies are a daily matter. Fundacion Desafio received a cheque of € 20,000 from Mama Cash.

Mama Cash supports groundbreaking and innovative projects conceived by women for women all over the world. By that Mama Cash invests in the future of women. In a better world in which women are safe and free to make their own choices.

For more information or interview requests you can contact: Ingrid Verver, Communications / PR officer, via phone number +31 (0)20-5158788 or i.verver@mamacash.nl