Dear Family and Friends,

Giving to others is a core component of my life's mission. While there are many ways to give, since I was 14, one of the ways I have chosen is to donate 15% of the income I have made through the year doing work, tutoring, presents, etc, to a selected charity. This year, I decided to try and maximize the giving impact, by reaching out to others with the promise to match donations up to a total of $7,000.

After much investigation, this year, I have chosen to give to Helen Keller International's Vitamin A Supplementation Program. Though vitamin A deficiency is rare in high-income countries, many people in developing nations depend on staple foods that lack it. In fact, vitamin A deficiency is the leading cause of childhood blindness in the world, affecting between 250,000-500,000 children annually. It is also the second largest risk factor for global disease, immediately behind malnutrition. Tragically, an estimated 120,000-160,000 deaths are attributed to vitamin A deficiency each year, the vast majority of which are children.

What is even more sad, is that Vitamin A deficiency is EASILY preventable! There is absolutely no reason so many should suffer consequences.

The Helen Keller International's Vitamin A Supplementation Program provides access to Vitamin A in communities that need it most and is consistently rated one of the most cost-effective global charities. Charity Navigator gives Helen Keller International a 99/100 score, CharityWatch gives it an A, and GiveWell rates the Vitamin A Supplementation Program as one of its top 3 charities (and the charity with the best dollar given to life saved ratio).

Please consider joining me today in making a difference to hundreds of thousands of children across the globe. Every dollar counts and I will meet your dollar for dollar thereby maximizing our collective impact. Know that when you donate through the GoFundMe Charity link provided, your donation goes directly to Helen Keller International. I do not ever handle or possess your money.

Thank you for your time and consideration,

Nicholas Duncan