Community
We believe that every successful business has a responsibility to give back to the communities. Following are the charities we are actively supporting:
Kiva is a non-profit organization with a mission to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty. Leveraging the internet and a worldwide network of microfinance institutions, Kiva lets individuals lend as little as $25 to help create opportunity around the world. They envision a world where all people - even in the most remote areas of the globe - hold the power to create opportunity for themselves and others. They provide safe, affordable access to capital to those in need. Through this they help people create better lives for themselves and their families. Kiva works with microfinance institutions on five continents to provide loans to people without access to traditional banking systems. One hundred percent of all loans are sent to these microfinance institutions who administer the loans in the field. SMS financially supports KIVA through both being an active lender as well as making regular donations to KIVA to support their work. Please visit www.kiva.org for more information or see our Kiva Lender Page to see our activity.
Animals Australia is Australia’s second largest and the most dynamic national animal protection organisation, representing some 40 member societies and thousands of individual supporters. Animals Australia has an unprecedented track record in investigating and exposing animal cruelty. Animals Australia believes they can create a better world for all through promoting kindness to animals. Their goal is to significantly and permanently improve the welfare of all animals in Australia. Please visit www.animalsaustralia.org for more information.
GIVIT is a web-based philanthropic community where people donate items or time to people in need. They are a 'targeted giving' service that finds new lives for your unwanted items with worthy recipients. They are similar to a dating agency, except that we connect those that have, with those that need. They work in partnership with a network of trusted charities to ensure that those who need most, get exactly what they need, when they need it most. They champion the process of giving directly to those in need and strive to make giving easy for everyone in the community. SMS staff provide direct assistance to persons on the Givit list whenever possible. Please visit www.givit.org.au for more information.
World Vision provides relief in emergency situations and works on long-term community development projects. Together, these address the causes of poverty and help people move towards self-sufficiency. Through World Vision we sponsor a child from Swaziland. This sponsorship enables World Vision to provide our sponsored child's community with the assistance they desperately need. For more information visit www.worldvision.com.au.
Australia Zoo plays an important role in the care and conservation of our precious wildlife. They have a number of different program that enables you to support this vital work. We chose to "adopt" Rex the Tasmanian Devil. Through donations such as these Australia Zoo can continue to ensure their animals receive the best possible care. Donations are put to things such as vital breeding programs, new enclosures, animals rehabilitation programs, food and vetinary requirements and general animal husbandry needs. Visit www.australiazoo.com.au for more information.
We sponsor two children through the Smith Family's Sponsor an Aussie Child program. Right now, the sad reality is 605,701 dependent children and young people are living in jobless families and they urgently need our help. At school, these children often don't have the basics like a school bag, complete uniform or the schoolbooks they need to make the most of their education. They are often teased or left out by other students. And because they don't fit in, they end up struggling at school, or failing altogether. For some, it can set up a pattern of underachievement that can literally last the rest of their lives. For $39 a month you can sponsor a child. Visit www.thesmithfamily.com.au for more information.
We sponsor an orphaned elephant called Kanjoro and an orphaned Rhino called Solio through the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. This is an amazing nonprofit based in Kenya dedicated to rescuing orphaned rhinos and elephants. The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is a small, flexible charity, established in 1977 to honour the memory of a famous Naturalist, David Leslie William Sheldrick MBE, the founder Warden of Tsavo East National Park in Kenya, where he served from its inception in 1948 until his transfer to Nairobi in 1976 to head the Planning Unit of the newly created Wildlife Conservation & Management Department. For more information visit www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org.
The Lost Dogs’ Home cares for over 25,000 dogs and cats every year and is Australia’s largest animal shelter. They provide a wide range of animal welfare and community services. In addition they are very active in fighting for a better deal for animals without owners. Many abandoned pets arrive at the Lost Dogs’ Home every day. Many suffer from severe neglect, extreme hunger and horrific injuries. We donate to help the many dogs and cats that come into their care. For more information visit http://dogshome.com