The mission of ThEX is to provide a place where people in financial need can meet with others who may be willing to help. The place should be private enough so that Needers can keep their dignity and self-esteem while still asking for help. Both Givers and Needers should be able to communicate with each other so that Givers fully understand the needs before they give. The structure should be efficient so that most of the gift actually gets to the Needer. ThEX should always be creative, anticipating new challenges and opportunities, and appropriately adapting to them.

The idea of ThEX evolved from the medical condition of a friend who was in financial need because of his being diagnosed with a terminal and expensive disease. A group of friends gathered to raise money to provide for home health-care aids, nurses, expensive medical equipment and other necessities associated with the disease. Importantly, all of the money was available for his needs. There were no costs for overhead deducted from our gifts.

As time passed, we wondered what options exist for others who need financial help. Surprisingly, there are not many. There are thousands of tax-deductible charities to be sure, but in most all cases they provide goods and services, not financial assistance. Folks who need financial help are essentially alone. Could that be changed?

This thought led to the idea of creating a place for those in financial need to meet with others who may be willing to help; think of it as a global, electronic marketplace. People in need could privately post their needs. Those willing to help could offer financial assistance.

This marketplace would be different from conventional charities in three important ways.

• First, it would be peer-to-peer giving, as opposed to giving to an organization.
• Second, it would facilitate financial gifts, not goods and services.
• And third, it would be significantly more efficient than most charities; Almost 100 percent of one’s gift would be donated to the person in need.

The result of these ideas is the website you are now on. You’re invited to look around. If you need financial help, you’re invited to become a Needer. If you wish to help, consider becoming a Giver. Read the FAQs; they are questions we asked ourselves as we developed the site.

If you know of others who may need financial help, let them know about ThEX. If you know folks who are willing to help those in need, let them know, too.

ThEX will not solve everybody’s financial needs, nor was it intended to do so. But it is a place where everybody can start, no matter where they are, no matter who they are, no matter what their needs.