ATLANTA (April 13, 2007) - CARE has two great ideas for the millions of people who want to do something meaningful and memorable for their mothers this May. First, make the card one that counts and stands out from the norm. Second, give the gift of power, through the book Women Empowered, by renowned photographer Phil Borges.
The cards: CARE has teamed with Hewlett-Packard (HP) to create five beautifully designed Mother's Day cards. Each card captures the essence of CARE's I Am Powerful campaign, which seeks to bring together American women with women in the developing world to fight global poverty. The cards feature stunning images of women who have benefited from CARE projects in Angola, Cambodia, Egypt, India and Peru with their personal stories inside. Whether you send the cards individually or as a five-card collection, this gift is sure to be one of the most creative choices for honoring mothers on this very special day. Click here for details and to purchase your cards.
HP and CARE share a common belief in the power of photography to draw attention to social issues and effect change, and are working together on a global program to promote CARE's I Am Powerful campaign. Learn more about the program here.
The book: Noted photographer Phil Borges traveled to CARE projects around the world to capture photographs that tell the story of the power of women. Women Empowered brings to life the images and stories of ordinary women making extraordinary differences. A portion of the proceeds will support CARE's work in poor countries around the world. View images of the book on Phil's site here.
The book includes contributions from Madeleine Albright, Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai, Christy Turlington Burns and CARE President Helene Gayle, and author Isabel Allende calls Women Empowered "a deeply inspirational work."
Phil Borges was an orthodontist for 18 years before taking a leap of faith that's led him through jungles, deserts, valleys and mountain ranges across some 50 countries. Now living in Seattle, he returns from his journeys with precious cargo — photographs and notepads full of stories about the people he's met along the way. His award-winning books and photo exhibits include Enduring Spirit and Tibetan Portrait: The Power of Compassion, which catapulted Borges' photography into the national consciousness.
Says Borges: "Women Empowered focuses on what I've seen and learned when I'm out in the field. Women have no voice, yet they do most of the work. But I've also seen firsthand how, when women become empowered and educated, it's the quickest way to put a cap on population pressures, stop the spread of HIV and reduce poverty." When asked about the women in his pictures, he says, "I go into a community where CARE works and ask folks to point me to the most outspoken woman who has done the most to change her community. When I find her, I'm not asking her to look powerful. She does that herself."
Women Empowered is available in Borders bookstores and online. You can also receive it as a special gift with a donation to CARE — click here to find out more.
