It's amazing how putting a lower-case i in front of a word can infuse it with so much promise: Think iPod or iMac; now add iOrphan to the list.

iOrphan.com is California registered non-profit that is using the Internet to raise awareness--and funds for orphans and homeless children living in the countries of the former Soviet Union. As I've written before in my posts on ArkAngels and Rotary OrphanAct, I believe in an obligation to make better the lives of Russian orphans even if they cannot find a place in permanent, loving families.

iOrphan was founded by Kirill Bogouslavski, a finance and technology executive who was born and raised in Vladivostok, Russia. He first became involved with orphans when he was only a teenager himself. And the experience left a lasting impression:

"I saw these fifty troubled children ages ten to fourteen come together and build friendships, learn integrity and self-reliance, support each other and develop social and survival skills that would become the most important tools in their lives. Having come back to their orphanages, these kids brought with them new philosophy of friendship and trust and taught these real values to many others."

Bogouslavski came to America at the end of the last decade, and earned at MBA at Ohio State University. He then built what seems to have been a good living in information technology, but a visit back to Russia put orphanages again front and center. He delivered a washing machine to the Vladivostok Orphanage for Infants, a gesture that would be small in our daily lives but one that meant the world to a baby home filled with infants with physical or neurological challenges. And slowly, helping orphans changed from a part-time pursuit to a full-time occupation.

In the last four years, iOrphan has delivered more washing machines, as well as stoves, furniture, showers, boilers, bathrooms, and even a playground to orphanages in Artem, Yaroslavski, Olga, Serzhantovo and Vladivostok, and a family commune in St. Petersburg. And while I have enormous respect for all that Bill and Melinda Gates have done with their foundation, iOrphan deserves kudos because it has done its work on a shoestring, raising money small donation by small donation. Click on its Projects page and you'll be able to quickly send as little as $20 or $50 to help one of its current efforts. There are projects for larger budgets too, but iOrphan doesn't make them its sole focus. iOrphan spends 100% of the donations it receives on these projects; you can get access to all of its financial statements on this page.

Take a look at iOrphan.com and see what you can do.