“If everyone were to light just one little candle, what a bright world it would be.”

Dean Koontz, Dark Rivers of the Heart

A child—alone, hungry, and cold in a refugee camp—not understanding why she is there, or where her parents have gone. An elderly man—confused and scared, lying in a hospital bed, no family to comfort him. A dog walking the streets—thirsty, hungry, abandoned by its owner, not knowing where to go or who to trust.

Every day we are subject to a disheartening litany of stories about suffering and despair. It can seem overwhelming at times. We want to do something, but what can one person do in the face of so many seemingly overwhelming problems. Nothing? Or perhaps everything?

What if each of us was to simply to take on – along with hundreds of thousands of other citizens – just one of the many challenges faced by humanity? Hunger, homelessness, poverty, disease, injustice… too much for any one person to tackle, but no challenge for thousands of dedicated and involved individuals each tasked to take on a single issue.

By concentrating your efforts on your chosen issue, you are participating in a coordinated response to the challenges of mankind. We help you help society by facilitating:

• Self education
• Join a 22Things Group locally
• Volunteerism
• Membership in advocacy organizations
• Monetary donations
• Speaking out to
• Media
• Elected leaders
• Your peers

22 Things is a new, non-profit organization that will work with the thousands of worthy organizations and charities dedicated to dealing with society’s challenges. Our goal is to coordinate and inspire the participation of people like you who want to help, but don’t know where to begin.

Based on your birth date, you will automatically be assigned to one of the 22 issues, which you can change at any time. Each month we will email a reminder for you to visit the website to report on the effectiveness of your efforts as volunteer, advocate, and donor.

You can sponsor an unlimited number of other members, and you can be sponsored by up to 10 other members. You will be able to send pre-written/selected motivational messages to the members that you sponsor

Your assigned Things is based on the day of month you were born. You can change it at any time:

1. 22 Things administration and development  2. Literacy and job training  3. Crime and justice  4. Substance abuse  5. Human rights  6. Refugee and immigrant issues  7. Peace promotion  8. Environment  9. Healthcare  10. Care of the elderly, disabled  11. Government oversight  12. Poverty reduction and economic development  13. Consumer, investor, and workplace issues  14. Housing and homelessness  15. Arts, culture, and recreation  16. Foster care and adoption  17. Hunger relief and prevention  18. Public safety and disaster relief  19. Animals and wildlife  20. Personal growth and happiness  21. Youth development, education, daycare  22. 22 Things administration and development  23. Literacy and job training  24. Crime and justice  25. Substance abuse  26. Human rights  27. Refugee and immigrant issues  28. Peace promotion  29. Environment  30. Healthcare  31. Care of the elderly, disabled