A screen shot of Compassion International's MySpace

Christian group receives award from MySpace

A Christian development agency is being recognized by a social networking internet website, reports MNN.

Compassion International was awarded the MySpace Impact award, says Compassion's Chris Giovagnoni. "It's an award that's handed out by MySpace, the social networking site, for organizations that have a presence in MySpace and that are trying to essentially change the world. "

According to Giovagnoni, they competed against two other organizations, and through the votes of our friends on MySpace, they were given the award in the poverty and relief category.

The award wasn't only monetary. "The financial award was $10,000," he said, "along with some featured placement on MySpace which is helpful for us in communicating our message and what Compassion is about and what makes Compassion distinct."

Compassion isn't solely a Christian's ministry. Giovagnoni says this award is to encourage non-believers to get interested in their work, which is allowing Compassion to share their belief in Christ. "As we're exchanging comments and messages with the people who are there, people are befriending us and specifically saying, 'I'm an agnostic' or 'This is what I believe, but I believe what you are doing is fantastic.' So we're definitely reaching out to those people."

Compassion is allowing their MySpace friends to decide what to do with the money. They've decided to use it for their Child Survival Program to combat infant mortality in many of the areas in which they work. Every day nearly 28,000 children under age 5 die from easily preventable causes. The money provided will help with immunizations, nutrition, education for parents and more.

Giovagnoni says being on MySpace will help the next generation understand the needs of children around the world, and more importantly, do something about it. "What the power of social networking allows us to do is have one individual take an action and have that multiplied."

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[02/09/2008]

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