All you have to do is take a quick look around you, and, sure enough, references to tigers will pop up instantly. Tigers offer an irresistible metaphor for power, beauty and courage, so it's little wonder that their image and form are employed so widely and readily. But employees deserve to be paid.

The enormous appeal of the tiger can be put to work as a powerful force in raising the money so desperately needed in efforts to save the wild tiger from extinction. You can be hugely instrumental in facilitating such fundraising efforts within your own community, from the simple to the sublime. Simply, if you're willing to work at it, you can help to save wild tigers.

You can create a wonderful team and morale building opportunity for your employees by encouraging them to work together to raise funds for tiger conservation.

If your school indeed has a team of "Tigers," why not solicit pledges from members of your community in return for games won or points scored - just like other sports fundraisers solicit pledges for kilometers run, or laps swum, or miles ridden. You may want to give yourselves a clear goal, like adopting a real live wild tiger.

Maybe you are about to embark on a journey to Asia to search for real tigers. Why not ask for pledges in return for every one that you see? If you don't see any, just think of the power such an unfortunate story will have on the generous people who offered to support you.

Or how about a literary event at the local library where all the stories and poems that make reference to tigers (more than you might think) are read aloud - and new ones composed - in return for donations. You might even combine such an event with an auction of tiger artwork produced by local artists or children. Tiger-oriented fundraising opportunities abound, but they are rarely capitalized upon.

We are eager to help you organize and promote your effort, regardless of how big or small it may be and no matter where you choose to donate the funds you raise. We're even happy to supply tiger-oriented literature for you to hand out during your drive and poster that you can exhibit. And you can be sure we'll tell our members and Web site visitors all about your project so they, too, will have a chance to contribute to your project.

Every contribution matters, regardless of how big or small. And every generous impulse must be encouraged.