Give hope, food and happiness this Easter

Seattle, WA (22 March, 2012) — Easter eggs are an ancient symbol of new life, representing nature’s decision that winter will end and spring will bring sunshine, green grass and blossoming flowers. But for those who live in developing countries around the world, eggs symbolize more than just the Easter holiday and springtime &mdash they represent hope, food and happiness for families and children in need. As children dye eggs this Easter, their peers in poverty-stricken communities will be cherishing gifts from the World Vision Gift Catalog.

The catalog offers more than 250 life-changing gifts ranging in price from $16 to $39,000 that can be purchased in the name of a friend or family member. To celebrate Easter blessings, gift-givers can choose from a variety of springtime items including:

• Two chickens offer a daily supply of eggs with plenty of protein: $25.
• A sheep gives plenty of milk, cheese, and wool for children: $105
• A goat and two chickens provide a steady supply of eggs, milk and meat to feed children and help families: $100
• Ten ducks produce protein-rich eggs to feed a family year round and both eggs and ducklings can be sold for extra income: $60
• Traditional water wells provide safe water for up to 150 people.

New this year, World Vision has launched My Gift Catalog. This site allows fundraisers to start a gift catalog giving page to celebrate birthdays, weddings or to honor a loved one. Each fundraiser has a personalized page with photos, selected gifts and information about why they would like gifts from the World Vision Gift Catalog.

After purchasing an item, the person whose name the gift was given in receives a special card describing the gift and its impact. Donors can also receive free handmade gifts such as hand-carved serving spoons from Kenya and jewelry from Thailand with a cash contribution to the Maximum Impact Fund.

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About World Vision:
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. We serve the world's poor — regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. For more information on their efforts, visit WorldVision.org/press or follow them on Twitter at @WorldVisionNews