Boston parents rank # 2 in US for overseas child sponsorships;

Facebook offering trip giveaway to visit your child in Asia or Africa.

Boston is no slouch when it comes to sponsoring children in poverty-challenged, war-torn areas across the globe.  In fact, Boston, with 11,800 sponsors, is actually in second place, behind New York City and ahead of Los Angeles.  People in the Bay state have helped build schools, teach vocational skills, provide health care and establish renewable sources of food and safe water, and provide emergency assistance to children who are victims of war and natural disaster, through programs like ChildFund International.

Now, thanks to this outstanding record of generosity, Boston area sponsors have an even better than average chance to win an overseas trip to meet the child they’ve sponsored!  ChildFund International has teamed up with Facebook to launch a contest that will not only help a great cause, but make it possible for others to learn of the opportunities for helping children around the world.

The Facebook connection

The average Facebook user spends nearly an hour a day on the social networking site—so, ChildFund International has created a way for anyone to turn those hours into the trip of a lifetime.
 
The organization, which creates one-to-one connections through child sponsorships, is rolling out a Facebook promotion called “The Experience of a Lifetime.” The promotion, which runs from May 31 to June 30, offers a unique opportunity for one lucky winner to travel across the world to meet his or her sponsored child.
 
If the promotion winner does not sponsor a child, he or she will win a paid, four-day escorted tour (including all travel, means and accommodations) to a ChildFund program in Asia, Africa or the Americas.
 
“We love sharing children’s photos, videos and stories on Facebook, but we know there’s nothing that moves you more than seeing the real thing,” said Anne Lynam Goddard, ChildFund president and CEO. “With just a few clicks on Facebook, one person will be rewarded with the experience of a lifetime.”  
 
To enter the promotion, Facebook participants must:

• Go to www.Facebook.com/ChildFundInternational <http://www.Facebook.com/ChildFundInternational> and “Like” the page,
• Choose to enter the promotion using the “ChildFund Experience” app,
• Ask 10 friends to “Like” ChildFund on Facebook and nominate their profile to win. For every friend nomination over 10, the participant will receive one additional entry into the promotion.
• Be at least18 and a U.S. resident (lower 48 states)

Five finalists will be randomly selected in early July. Each finalist will be required to write a short statement as to why he or she should win the trip. Their statements will then be featured on ChildFund’s Facebook page, and fans will be asked to decide the winner by popular vote.

For more information on ChildFund International, go to http://www.childfund.org/default.aspx?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=press-release&utm_campaign=May_27_2011