What Does it Mean to Be a Blue Key Champion?

We asked our Blue Key Champions what being a Champion means to them. Here is what they said:

“It has made me personally aware of the challenges faced by refugees and displaced persons, along with the role of USA for UNHCR. In addition, being a Champion has connected me with many interesting, altruistic, vibrant people who I would not have ‘met’ were it not for this effort. I think we have created a community that could ostensibly remain unified in order to continue to help important causes in the future.”  ~Paula Kiger

Getting our Blue Keys gave us an opportunity to teach our son about helping others in a tangible way. For him, holding his own key brought home how he can make a difference in the world with one small gesture and he talks about it often. We have to teach our kids how big the world is and how very lucky we are not to be in a similar situation to the children around the world who have been forced from their homes. ~Janet Fouts

With social media we have incredible tools at our disposal, and rather than just using them as sales and marketing tools for ourselves, we can give back by using the power of online word of mouth to promote great causes and create change. Like many others, I might not have the financial means to give a lot to a cause like USA for UNHCR, but I can be a good steward of my online properties and use them to spread the word. ~Ken Mueller

The whole experience has put different resources and their impact in perspective. I have resisted learning about refugees for years. Needs of people and their vulnerability overwhelmed me. The Blue Key campaign however created chances to learn and contribute in incremental ways, through a team effort. I am grateful for it. ~Jill Foster

As a former intern with UNHCR, I longed for a way to stay involved within the States once I returned home. I found my passion in NY and I couldn’t incessantly go on about the wonders of my internship and not back it up with concrete actions. To see my friends and family learn more about refugees through this campaign has been amazing. I hope that in some small way, I can turn my love for refugees and the lifesaving work of UNHCR, into tangible assistance for vulnerable people worldwide. ~Teresa Baranowski

The Blue Key campaign has shown that just a few people can make a difference in a problem that seems bottomless. It is much easier to turn away than to do something. I think the awareness this brings to those of us that are far away from the problem is invaluable. ~Kami Watson Huyse

Participating in the Blue Key campaign has shown me in practice what I’ve always believed in theory – many people doing a little part of a large mission can truly make a difference. It used to completely paralyze me, emotionally, to know that there are so many suffering and that there’s only so much good a single person can do, even working ceaselessly their entire lifetime. As a Blue Key champion, I’ve learned that there are other people, close by, who care as deeply as I do. And social good projects can work, with reasonable goals and expectations; working together, we not only can change the world, we *are*. ~Tinu Abayomi-Paul

Being a Blue Key champ has connected me with people I’ll never meet, and given me the knowledge that I’ve helped change the life of someone. I’ve always liked helping people, but being able to give something of myself to someone who truly needs it is an amazing feeling. ~Matt LaCasse

Being a Blue Key champion has reminded me of the power we all have to help each other, which is something that’s all too easily forgotten. It’s a feeling that sticks with you. ~Mandy Boyle

Watching the campaign take agile turns along the way with the champions creating simple but imaginative and highly effective ways to make the campaign succeed has been a learning experience. I think we should have everyone create a video on lessons learned and allow access to that educational material folks only if they buy a Blue Key. ~Shashi Bellamkonda [Shashi... we like how you think!]

We are lucky to have such passionate and determined people to help us Champion the cause of refugees. Thank you Blue Key Champions for all you do to help us save lives around the world.