Charities

Bill Clinton

'The Postcode Lottery is the best example of generating public aid I know about.’

When former US President Bill Clinton saw the success of the Postcode Lottery in the Netherlands, what impressed him most was the way it gets people involved in helping charities. In fact, he made a point of mentioning it at the meeting of world leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Shared out
“The power of private citizens to do public good is greater than at any time in history! The Postcode Lottery is the best example of using technology to generate public aid that I know about.”
Clinton also liked the way that prize money from the Postcode Lottery is shared out among lots of people. They don’t have lottery winners like we do in America where the winner receives the (winning) ticket and gets all the money. Instead the winner’s draw is based on postcodes, for example one neighbourhood in a city.”

He also pointed to the fact that 20% of the money collected by the Postcode Lottery goes to charity, adding: “This is important! This makes a difference.”

Raising money
Since leaving office, Clinton has been busy raising money for charity via his Clinton Foundation. It’s an organisation that’s involved in projects like Aids prevention, poverty reduction and halting climate change – so charity is something that’s close to his heart.

Charities benefit
Here in Scotland, every ticket you buy raises money for charities in Scotland, with three of them benefiting from 20% of ticket sales: Scottish Wildlife Trust, CHILDREN 1ST and Maggie’s Centres. Just like Bill Clinton, we believe this is important – and another very good reason to subscribe to the People’s Postcode Lottery.

Bill Clinton

Praise for the Postcode Lottery at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2006

William J. Clinton, Founder, William Jefferson Clinton Foundation; President of the United States (1993-2001), named climate change, global inequalities and cultural/religious divides as the major challenges facing today's world.

On 28 January in a conversation with Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman, World Economic Forum, Clinton said climate change is the only problem "that has the power to end the march of civilization as we know it". He is also concerned by developments that "aggravate rather than promote equality" and the world's "enormous cultural and religious divides".

Clinton advocates a view of greater global cooperation through contact between people over the borders, and the power of private citizens to do good for the public cause.

“The power of private citizens to do public good is greater that at any time in history! This is because of globalization and the sharing of information and contacts and because of the Internet which allows people to pool their resources.
Americans gave 1,4 billion to Tsunami relief: 30% of the American households donated - half of which was transacted over the Internet. But per capita, giving in the UK and The Netherlands was greater.

The Dutch lottery is the best example of using technology to generate public aid that I know about. They don't have lottery winners like we do in America where the winner receives the (winning) ticket and gets all the money.
Instead the winner's draw is based on postal codes, for example one block in Amsterdam or in a village. And then everybody in the village who bought a ticket, gets a cheque. But all the profits go to international relief and development. So this is important! This makes a difference."

William J. Clinton Foundation
55 West 125th St.
New York, NY 10027
Fax: 212-348-9541
www.clintonfoundation.org