Can a different Credit Card make a Difference?

Written by Staff Writer on August 6th, 2008

Can a different credit card make a difference? American Express believes so. With its Members Project program (http://www.MembersProject.com), American Express invites Cardmembers to submit ideas for projects to make a positive impact on the world. American Express will fund this endeavor with a $ 2.5 million budget to be allocated to 5 projects. The categories of projects will range from Arts & Culture to Community Development, from Education to Environment & Wildlife and Health.  The first project will receive $ 1.5 million, the second project will receive $ 500,000, the third $ 300,000, and $ 100,000 to each of two additional projects.

The Members Project 2008 Advisory Panel includes:

Geoffrey Canada – President & Chief Executive Officer for Harlem Children’s Zone
Mike Feinberg – Superintendent & Co-Founder of KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program) Foundation
Jane Goodall, Ph.D., DBE – Founder, the Jane Goodall Institute & UN Messenger of Peace
Dr. Sanjay Gupta – Neurosurgeon & CNN Chief Medical Correspondent
Judith Jamison – Artistic Director, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Craig Kielburger – Founder & Chair, Free The Children
Vanessa Kirsch – President & Founder of New Profit Inc.
Dr. Michael L. Lomax – President & CEO, UNCF – the United Negro College Fund
Dr. Wangari Maathai – 2004 Nobel Peace Laureate & Founder – Greenbelt Movement
Gail Sheehy – Author & Journalist
Edward Skloot – Director, Center for Strategic Philanthropy & Civil Society, Terry Sanford Institute of Public Policy, Duke University
Jeanette Takamura, M.S.W., Ph.D. – Dean & Professor of Social Work, Columbia University

Cardmembers are invited to submit their ideas for projects that make a positive impact in the world, and at the same time participate in the conversation at the Members Project site.