We have reached an important milestone.

The Amway One by One Campaign for Children has been transforming lives for 10 years.

What started as a corporate initiative in 2003 has become a grassroots movement of Amway distributors and employees helping children around the world. While Amway affiliates build alliances with local partners, it is the 3 million distributors and 20,000 employees who have helped us to bring our efforts for children to scale.

At the end of 2012, we have counted 10 million children who have been positively impacted through Amway One by One.

Actions include building hospital playrooms in Russia, enabling better nutrition at schools in rural China, providing customized bikes for children with disabilities in Australia, constructing homes in Guatemala and mentoring urban youth in the United States. There are more examples in every region where Amway does business.

Amway One by One has always been about inspiring and encouraging individual actions for children in need. Now, looking back over ten years, we see a beautiful mosaic of hope, inspiration and generosity.

Thanks to everyone who has joined Amway to build better lives for children in our communities.

This year, we celebrate these accomplishments and recognize the work of so many Amway people. But we also challenge ourselves to deepen our efforts, and will close the year with a demonstration of collective support for children in need, around the world.

One of the longest-standing partnerships – which even predates the Amway One by One campaign – is the 30-year partnership between Amway and Easter Seals. Easter Seals provides services for those with disabilities or special needs – services that are often beyond the financial means of families that struggle to care for their children.

Amway Independent Business Owners (IBOs) and employees across North America have made this cause their own, and continue to find creative ways to raise funds – and visibility – for Easter Seals. Recently, several IBOs who have been top contributors and fundraisers over the years were recognized at an event hosted by the New York Yankees baseball team’s “Yankee Stadium Legends Suite Club” – the event itself raising $500,000 for Easter Seals.

The event set the pace for the largest Easter Seals Walk With Me events in the country, this year led by Miss America Laura Kaeppeler.

Miss America not only led the procession to Yankee Stadium on behalf of Amway, but also spent time with IBOs at a local Easter Seals center, meeting with the children and families who benefit from the services.

Click here for a video that shares more about the activities. Thanks to Marsha Champion for sharing this story. 

Amway will once again recognize four of its Independent Business Owners from across the US, Canada and the Caribbean through the 2012 Amway Hero Awards.

Through May 31, 2012, you can share your stories of inspiring IBO heroes that fit one or more of these categories:

DETERMINATION: Recognizing personal responsibility, work ethic, and dedication to self-improvement despite difficult circumstances.

GENEROSITY: Recognizing commitment to improving the world through extraordinary volunteerism or philanthropy.

LEADERSHIP: Recognizing a positive focus on mentoring, teaching, and helping others succeed without personal gain.

PATRIOTISM: Recognizing noteworthy service to community or country through civilian or military endeavors.

Click here for the nomination form.

The stories of last year’s winners are on the Achieve Magazine website. We will be sure to share the stories of this year’s winners after they are announced.

One of the challenges for any fundraiser is that everywhere you look, there’s a worthy cause to support. Easter Seals Canada, in an attempt to stand out from the crowd decided to stand above the crowd.

Way, way, above.

The Easter Seals Drop Zone is a dynamic and exciting way for people to become everyday superheroes, raising a minimum of $1,500 in pledges for the right to rappel down one of Canada’s tallest buildings.

This year, there were 13 Drop Zone events in Canada. Amway Canada has been a proud sponsor of this event since its inception and employees and Independent Business Owners (IBOs) alike have embraced the cause as part of our One by One Campaign efforts. This year, IBOs and employees participated in seven of the 13 events across the country, raising over $25,000 – funds which support children and families dealing with disabilities, who are supported by Easter Seals.

That brings Amway’s seven year total to over $400,000 for all our Easter Seals fundraising efforts, which includes both Drop Zone and our on-line donation programs. The incredible efforts of the Canadian independent business owners who helped to raise those dollars were recognized this past June by the Canadian Direct Sellers Association when they presented Amway Canada with the industry’s Making a Difference Award.

This year marked the first time the Drop Zone was held in London, ON – Amway Canada’s home town. And Angela Abdallah, Amway Canada’s national marketing manager, was quick to throw her hat – and her cape – into the ring.

So what’s it like to rappel down One London Place? You can see for yourself – we’ve posted photos on the Amway Canada Facebook page both from the event and from the training. And we’ve also posted videos on the Amway Canada YouTube page, including a head-cam video that Angela created during her decent, which provides you with an incredible first-person view of what it’s like to rappel. And you can also view Alberta-based IBO Shaun Guthrie’s video of his rappelling efforts – and Guthrie was the top fund-raiser in his area.

“The hardest part is that first step off the roof. But a really deep breath and a thought or two about the kids who can’t take a step at all really helped to put it in perspective.” said Abdallah. “And when you’re greeted at the bottom by one of those kids, you know it was well worth the thrill of it – noodle legs and all!”

Each year, the Drop Zone gets bigger and better and we’re looking forward to even more support next year. Amway Canada and its IBOs will be there, taking that leap of faith for Easter Seals kids.

Thanks to Angela Abdallah and Jason Menard for sharing this story.

Amway employees and Independent Business Owners (IBOs) in Canada have been consistent supporters of Easter Seals Canada for many years, through a combination of quiet collections and dramatic events.

Last month, the Direct Sellers Association in Canada recognized Amway Canada with its Making a Difference Award. The award represents efforts through the Drop Zone events that have raised nearly $360,000 for Easter Seals.

During Drop Zone events, Amway employee and IBO superheroes rapel down skyscrapers to raise visibility and funds for Easter Seals in a dozen cities across the country.

From child development centers to adaptive technology and physical rehabilitation, Easter Seals Canada offers a variety of services to help address life’s challenges and achieve personal goals. We celebrate this success with a fantastic partner!

Thanks to Carmela Ianni for sharing this story.