We believe it’s important for people to have a safe, clean place to live.

Since the Amway One by One Campaign for Children partnered with Habitat for Humanity last year, distributors and employees across the Americas have worked hard to make that happen.

Here are three examples where our distributors and employees are building hope for others.

In Guatemala, Amway employees and distributors from the United States, Mexico, Barbados, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Honduras, Colombia and El Salvador built a dozen homes. They also raised half a million dollars, matching a $250,000 gift of Tim Foley, longtime Amway distributor and Amway Founders Council member. These  funds will finance construction of more than 40 homes throughout Latin America over the next five years.

In São Paulo, Brazil, Amway distributors and employees raised nearly $5,000, and used it to renovate two homes. Their next  project? Already they are evaluating how to apply their time and talents to help people affected by the devastating floods in Rio de Janeiro.

Finally, after raising $16,000,  more than 25 Amway Colombia distributors, employees and their families constructed two homes in only two days.

Visit our Amway One by One blog to learn how we’re making a difference in 2012. Make your own difference, too, at Habitat for Humanity.

It’s time to start thinking about back to school shopping, but not every family can afford the essential items needed for their student to start school in the Fall. That’s why we’re stuffing the bus!

For the second year, we’re teaming up with Fifth Third Bank, the Student Advancement Foundation, Hand2Hand Ministries and our community to fill 3,000 backpacks with school supplies for middle school students in the greater Grand Rapids area.

We’re encouraging local residents to stop at any Fifth Third Bank financial center in the greater Grand Rapids area to donate new classroom essentials including: folders, pencils, pens, rulers, notebooks and erasers. Monetary donations are also being accepted. The collection period will conclude on August 20.

Whether you’re in our community or in another location around the world, there are many ways to help students prepare for back to school. What are some of the most creative ways you’ve seen an organization support schoolchildren?

A handshake can start a relationship.  A hand up can provide help and support. 

And a handclasp can join people together to make things happen.

In this spirit Amway has supported Triple Quest’s goal to supply Hydraid biosand filters to Haiti following January’s devastating earthquake.  Recently, the U.S. Navy’s Project Handclasp delivered 150 filters to Haiti to provide clean water to help stem the cholera outbreak that has killed more than 2,000 people and endangers tens of thousands more. 

Amway has helped Triple Quest assemble units and worked with the company to add a chlorinator to the filters to improve their efficiency.

Anything we can do to lend a hand.

Amway supports non-profit organizations around the world in many ways. Sometimes, the most valuable gifts we can give aren’t just time or money, but expertise that can help an organization improve its operations.

Amway, as part of its One by One Campaign for Children, supports Kids Food Basket, a Grand Rapids organization that provides ”sack suppers” for kids who might not otherwise get meals at home.  

Our experts worked with Kids Food Basket to map and streamline their processes.  The result?  Improvements that mean more meals are packed in a shorter period of time, helping Kids Food Basket feed more children. 

This innovative effort captured the attention of  the Business Civic Leadership Center of the US Chamber of Commerce, which named Amway a finalist in the “Partnership” category of its Corporate Citizenship Awards.

The recognition is nice.  But we’re even prouder of our role in helping a great organization “do good” even better.

Amway Japan is decking the halls of its Tokyo headquarters with ribbons of orange this holiday season. 

Amway Japan is a supporter of the National Network for Child Abuse Prevention orange ribbon campaign to end child abuse.   The orange ribbons signify hope and a bright future for all children.

In November Amway Japan customers, distributors and employees created orange ribbon ornaments to decorate holiday trees. For every ribbon used in the display,  Amway donated 10 yen to a shelter for abused children.

As a sign at the display proclaims, it’s a way to create a Merry Christmas for all children this holiday season.