When scanning the pages of a favorite magazine, it’s not unusual to find a glossy- yet somber – image of a celebrity endorsing a noble cause.

One of the star-studded causes is the ONE campaign – and the determined, well-voiced organization has landed at Iowa State.

The primary thrust of ONE is in rallying people to sign its online petition – located at One.org – which urges the U.S. government to reserve an additional 1 percent of the federal budget for fighting AIDS and poverty around the world.

Africa seems to be at the center of much of its current awareness raising, but ONE members are quick to say that the group wants to help the whole world.

In fact, the bold rallying cry of the campaign is that it is “the campaign to make poverty history.”

As to how this will be done, ONE’s Web site says that it calls for debt cancellation, trade reform and anti-corruption measures.

All of these are actions are only possible for governments, not individual people – making ONE a philanthropic organization as much as it is a political one. Although ONE is affiliated with many other organizations that raise funds, such as Oxfam and Bread for the World, it names the “voice” of its members as its chosen weapon against poverty and disease.

ONE also encourages writing to senators and representatives and spreading the word in communities about the world’s pressing needs.

“I think of it as kind of an umbrella organization,” said Tom Vance, sophomore in pre-journalism and mass communication, referring to the affiliated organizations, which provide physical necessities to the people ONE is trying to speak for.

Because of those connections, people can use the information they acquire from ONE, he said, and be directed to places that allow them to help meet real needs.

ONE is currently working on plans for being a part of World AIDS Day, and as other projects formulate, its members are aiming to get as many members as possible so that the campaign will someday be “as big” as Dance Marathon is here, Vance said.

On a more personal note, Vance said, he has noticed a lot of the things in his life he is either thankful for or has realized he can do without.

Such realizations are in line with other goals of ONE.

“To let people examine themselves, and see how good we have it in the U.S.,” Vance said, quickly adding that not everyone has it “good” here.

Vance, who is also involved in Uhuru magazine – which attempts to confront racism issues – sees ONE as playing a part in addressing “the bigger problems in life of equality.”

“That’s why I feel so passionate about it,” he said.

Karla Martinez, senior in pre-journalism and mass communication and another member of ONE, heard about the organization by means of an advertisement graced by Brad Pitt.

She went to the Web site, she said, and “became more interested to do something.”

Martinez eventually found herself hosting a “ONE party” at her house to help inform people about how to stand up for extreme poverty and AIDS. She eventually connected with Ellen Walsh, now the president of ONE at Iowa State, and other students who had similar interests.

When asked what she learned from being a part of the campaign, Martinez said she has come to understand that extreme poverty is all over the world.

“The United States government has the power to help these nations – so why don’t we do it?” she said.