Origins

• In 2009, Christ Otto, a Massachusetts minister, contacted 120 of his closest friends and ministry supporters to join him in a symbolic campaign against abortion. Otto asked individuals to mail in an empty red envelope to President Obama as an expression of their feelings over his stance on abortion.
  
  

Envelope Details

• Otto's Red Envelope Project was crafted to send a message about abortion. According to the website Send Red Envelopes for Life, each red envelope was meant to have the following message handwritten on its back: "This envelope represents one child who died in abortion. It is empty because that life was unable to offer anything to the world. Responsibility begins with conception. I urge you to change your position on abortion and respect life."
  
  

Popularity

• While Otto only intended for his project to extend to friends and supporters, others quickly became involved. In April 2009, the unofficial sources in the White House mail room confirmed they had received many red envelopes. The project's supporters put the numbers at close to 2.25 million. The project has also inspired several blogs, websites and social media groups. As of August 2010, a Red Envelope Day was slated for March 31, 2010.