“I saw the pride shining in the eyes of the man beside me as he passed over a hand-made brick. He was donating hours normally spent farming the small field that fed his family in order to be part of the team building a home for a village family who possessed even less than he did. Later, when the North American volunteers retired for the evening, he would bolt down a small meal and then go out into the night to tend to his crops. I had sacrificed some of my leisure time and a bit of cash in order to volunteer, but he was literally risking hunger in order to improve the lives of other human beings.”

That moment clarified the difference between giving a hand up versus a hand out. A hand up delivers lasting change that continues to make a positive impact long after the donor has left the scene. A hand out may be necessary during a crisis, but it doesn’t solve the long term problems. And I think it is important that a hand up allows room for human dignity, because the donors and the recipients share responsibility for the project’s outcome.”

Shawn Dawson, Dream Mountains Founder

Canadian businessman and adventure traveler Shawn Dawson is using his dream of summiting the highest peak on each of the seven continents to support seven charities dedicated to giving a hand up. With the help of his network of friends, family, and professional associates, he is committed to raising a dollar for each foot of the combined total elevation of the seven summits--$142, 114.

Any climber will tell you that making it up a mountain is a combination of team work and individual effort. We invite mountaineers to make their adventure a little bigger by dedicating their climb to raise funds for charities that make a direct, positive impact in people’s lives. Family, friends, and professional associates can track a climber’s expedition and contribute to chosen causes.

Raise a dollar, a euro, a pound, a yen, etc., for each foot of a climber’s ascent.

Charities currently chosen by climbers include:

• Habitat for Humanity – builds houses and schools around the world
• Watercan -- clean water, basic sanitation, and hygiene education
• CARE – strengthens capacity for self-help and delivers relief in emergencies
• Amnesty International -- seeking basic human rights on behalf of all individuals
• School Breakfast Program – studies show that a child without breakfast performs much more poorly at school