The non-profit ONE campaign, which was co-founded by U2's Bono, has come under fire over a series of lavish gifts sent to journalists.

The organisation sent items including a $15 moleskin leather notebook and a $20 bottle of water to New York newsrooms.

ONE aims to increase government funding for and effectiveness of international aid programs.

The gifts were timed to arrive ahead of the UN's Summit on the Millennium Development Goals, which began yesterday (September 20).

According to the New York Post, all of the packages were delivered by courier. Other items included a small tin of Band-Aids and two syringe-style pens.

A spokeswoman for ONE declined to comment on how much money had been spent on the gifts, but said they were aimed to attract journalists' attention.

“We think it's important enough to try and break through the clutter,” she said. “That's why we sent the boxes."

Daniel Borochoff, from the the American Institute of Philanthropy in Chicago, said the PR drive as a "risk".

(by Jason Gregory)