February 14 often causes us to think about love – whether it’s a reflective appreciation for the people in our lives we cherish, or an inquiry into what love is – how do we define it, what causes it, and, most importantly, how can we all experience more of it?

While love is a difficult thing to define, we do know that there is some science behind it. Oxytocin is a feel-good molecule released by mammals that helps to create human bonds and feelings of love. Women have the highest amount of oxytocin while they are pregnant, facilitating mother-child bonds. We release oxytocin when we interact with others, like while kissing a significant other or hugging a close friend. In short, it is produced when we are interacting with people close to us – it is the chemistry behind the love we feel for the people in our lives.

However, oxytocin doesn’t only create the warm-fuzzies that bond us to friends and family. I recently watched a talk on TED by Paul Zak, author of “The Moral Molecule: The Source of Love and Prosperity”. In this talk, Paul refers to oxytocin as the “morality molecule,” because this same molecule that causes us to feel love for the people in our lives also causes us to feel empathy for strangers. In studies, when people were shown videos of people struggling with issues like cancer and poverty, they experienced increased levels of oxytocin – and oxytocin levels corresponded with how much empathy a person reportedly felt. According to Paul, increased levels of oxytocin also make us more likely to trust, give and behave morally.

So what does all that mean? Love, empathy and morality are biologically tied together – when we experience more of one, we experience more of all three. For me, this makes a lot of sense – when I do something good for somebody else, or when someone else does something good for me, it heightens my sense of others and their needs. It also causes me to feel more warmth and trust towards the people in my life, as well as an increased sense of well-being and happiness.

In short, doing good makes us feel more love, and love makes us happy. This Valentine’s Day, the best way to celebrate all of the complexities of love might be to simply do good – by volunteering, helping a neighbor or giving to charity. One way to do something good is to a make a donation to a cause someone cares about. The World of Children Award has e-cards available that support orphan care.

Below is letter from Adi Roche of Chernobyl Children International to our Co-Founder, Harry Leibowitz. We wanted to share the amazing work that Adi and CCI are doing - we couldn't have supported their extraordinary efforts without YOU!

Dear Harry,

I cannot thank you enough for the second installment of your gift of $25,000. In the name of the World of Children Award, a life-saving child cardiac mission took place in February 2011 in Khariv, Ukraine. With your wonderful gift the volunteer surgeons were able to perform life-saving cardiac operations on up to 40 children to give them a life-expectancy beyond the 2 to 3 years that might normally be expected of children with ‘Chernobyl heart’ congenital heart deformities.

Fourteen medical volunteers, including cardiac nurses, technicians, Clinical Coordinator and two surgeons traveled to Kharkiv, Ukraine for two weeks to complete this mission, perform child cardiac surgeries, upskill local physicians and provide essential medication to perform the surgeries.

As a result of the World of Children funding, we have also been in a stronger position to access additional cardiac experts and specialists to the programme. For instance, two leading Irish cardiac specialists joined a mission to Ukraine in 2011, as a result of the promotion of the World of Children Award to Chernobyl Children International.

Once again Harry, I would like to thank yourself and the entire team for your generosity and support of our work. You have not abandoned these children. You are a true miracle-worker and from the bottom of my heart thank you so much for helping us to continue to serve some of the world’s most fragile, disadvantaged and forgotten children in the affected Chernobyl regions.

In Deepest Gratitude,
Adi Roche
CEO
Chernobyl Children International

Eduardo Manuel Tol Chajon
Age: 7 yr.
Diagnosis: Down’s Syndrome / Autism
Resides: San Pedro, Sacatepéquez, Guatemala
Time at Center: January 2011- Present

Case History

Eduardo is the youngest of 5 children. He was diagnosed with Down’s syndrome very early on, but was only recently diagnosed with Autism at the Center. He arrived at the Center with a history of aggressive / destructive behaviors, unable to sleep at night, unable to eat on his own and still wearing diapers.

In January 2011 Eduardo began attending our Special Education program, receiving classes, Occupational /Sensorial and Speech therapies 5 days a week. Over the course of the year he has made considerable progress. He has begun eating on his own, although he still has trouble chewing. His aggressive behaviors have disappeared. He can now follow simple instructions and preform simple task. His language skills have improved to the point he can request his wants and needs. His posture and motor skills have improved. He is exhibiting a higher degree of self-confidence and independence. He is tending to his personal needs I.e.: goes to the bathroom on his own. He is able to work within the structure of the class. His social interactions have improved dramatically both with his peers and siblings.

This would not have been possible without World of Children funds.

Dear World of Children Award family and friends,

As the New Year approaches we are reminded of the words of Helen Keller…”Your success and happiness lies in you…”

2011 has been a year of great promise for those of us at the World of Children Award…through our Honorees we have supported dozens of children in receiving life-saving surgery in Belarus and the Ukraine…we have funded a new school for the deaf children of Uganda…we have funded a new pediatric ward in a hospital in Nigeria…and much, much more. All of you who receive this note have participated in these accomplishments.

However, we dare not rest on our laurels, for the needs of children globally are as severe as always…and yes, we know that we cannot end the problems as they are pervasive and persistent, but we can, and with your support, certainly do make a difference, one child at a time…adding up to many thousands of children every year. Please read just one account of a child we have helped in Guatemala this year.

Gandhi wrote, “I do not want to foresee the future. I am concerned with taking care of the present. God has given me no control over the moment following.”

So as we all celebrate the renewal of a year ahead of us, let us celebrate what we have done, what we are doing…and let us commit to continue our commitment to the world’s most important and most vulnerable asset…its children.

We wish you all a happy and healthy New Year.

Respectfully,
Harry and Kay

Dear World of Children Award family and friends,

As the New Year approaches we are reminded of the words of Helen Keller…”Your success and happiness lies in you…”

2011 has been a year of great promise for those of us at the World of Children Award…through our Honorees we have supported dozens of children in receiving life-saving surgery in Belarus and the Ukraine…we have funded a new school for the deaf children of Uganda…we have funded a new pediatric ward in a hospital in Nigeria…and much, much more. All of you who receive this note have participated in these accomplishments.

However, we dare not rest on our laurels, for the needs of children globally are as severe as always…and yes, we know that we cannot end the problems as they are pervasive and persistent, but we can, and with your support, certainly do make a difference, one child at a time…adding up to many thousands of children every year. Please read just one account of a child we have helped in Guatemala this year.

Gandhi wrote, “I do not want to foresee the future. I am concerned with taking care of the present. God has given me no control over the moment following.”

So as we all celebrate the renewal of a year ahead of us, let us celebrate what we have done, what we are doing…and let us commit to continue our commitment to the world’s most important and most vulnerable asset…its children.

We wish you all a happy and healthy New Year.

Respectfully,
Harry and Kay