Yes, it’s late, but I’m thinking that’s not such a bad thing, because though the Christmas season is past, the spirit of giving shouldn’t ever be. You’ll remember my December newsletter contest prize was $50 to the winner’s chosen charity. However, as I did last year, I promised I would have a blog post that discussed/listed the other charities that were nominated for the drawing, so we can all learn about additional ways we can help those in need.
I’ve tried to loosely categorize these alphabetically in case you have particular interests, but some could go in more than one category, of course. If I thought the organization was well known, or the name was self-explanatory as to their mission, I didn’t elaborate. However, if that wasn’t the case, I tried to include a little info, either from the website or the description the contestant provided. And of course for those organizations that have websites, I’ve included the links so you can click and learn more about them!
As I said in January, I was not at all surprised to hear how generous so many of you are with your time and resources. I hope this post will lead to additional resources going to these fine organizations. Thanks again for participating!
ANIMALS
Animals for Adoption (Sue Sternberg)
Best Friends Animal Society Home Page
Brunswick Animal League
CAAWS – Capital Area Animal Welfare Society
Humane Society of the United States
International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)
National Wildlife Federation
Peggy Adams Rescue League
Southport-Oak Island Animal Rescue (SOAR)
DISEASE PREVENTION/CURES/FAMILY SUPPORT
American Diabetes Association – NY
Avon Products Foundation Inc.. - Walk for Breast Cancer – NY
Caring Bridge for Audrey Robart – This is a relative of the reader who submitted the organization. Audrey has hit the maintenance phase this month but still has a long way to go. Her mother passed away with leukemia a few years ago at this time of year.
Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Operation Smiley Face – Cancer survivor who sends out “smiley faces” to bring cheer/support to those facing disease/hardhsip
Tenovus – Welsh-based charity for cancer care and research
HANDICAP ASSISTANCE
Canine Companions for Independence – Can give money or time – can raise a puppy for the organization.
Guiding Eyes for the Blind – this organization helps a challenged person live a more full life and at the same time gives some lucky dog a loving home as well as a very important job.
Paws with a Cause – Wonderful work training service dogs for the handicapped, hearing dogs for the hearing impaired, and now they are training seizure-alert dogs also.
KIDS
Easter Seals of Southeastern Pennsylvania is a pre-school that works intensely with children with many different types of disabilities although many are autistic. Most of the children have little or no speech but they work with them each day. Last year, one little boy who was at the end of his last year in the school and had never spoken, actually spoke a sentence one week before the last day of school.
Freedom Writers –There are books about and by Erin Gruwell about her teaching methods and how she inspires others to replicate her success. And yes, this is the organization/woman who inspired the movie with Hilary Swank!
Fresh Air Fund – Since 1877, The Fresh Air Fund has been giving inner-city children the joy of a summer vacation with volunteer host families and at Fund camps, creating unforgettable memories and fresh possibilities.
Gift for Teaching – Organization’s mission is to transfer surplus community resources to teachers to help students in need.
InterServ – faith-based, not-for-profit, human service organization countering the effects of poverty on children, youth, elderly and families in St. Joseph, Missouri and neighboring communities
St. Mary’s School, Lincoln NE – “a wonderful school [who] gives to their poor. Since they are the poorest parish in the city they rent text books from the state. When I asked the principal if I could help with $50 GC for books she gave me a list of "The Boxcar Children" Books for the library where they rarely get donations to add to.”
Ricky Martin Foundation – Children’s rights (Child Trafficking, Violence Against Children, Health, Education, etc)
Victory Junction – Provides camp experience for children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses.
Youth Haven Ranch – local Christian group that teaches underprivileged children the love of Jesus Christ. During the holiday season, they have Christmas parties giving many of these children the only Christmas gifts that they will receive all year.
MILITARY/VETERAN SUPPORT
Fisher House Foundation – helps the injured military and their families with short and long term care needs
Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund – helps the injured military and their families with short and long term care needs
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
One.org – grassroots campaign and advocacy organization backed by more than 2 million people who are committed to the fight against extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa.
Save Darfur Coalition – This organization raises public awareness about the situation in Darfur and mobilizes response for humanitarian aid, ending the violence, promoting long term sustainable development, etc.
World Vision – “they’re one of the charities pretty much every government allows on the ground immediately after disaster strikes”
HUMAN ASSISTANCE(General)
Orlando Sentinel Family Fund – supports nonprofit agencies in Central Florida that provide low-income and underserved residents with basic needs and promote the acquisition of basic skills so that they may fully participate in and be productive members of the community.
Wow Joey, that is a huge list. Sounds like quite a variety of worthwhile causes. Thank you for being the generous soul that you are and helping to inspire others.
What a marvelous and inspiring–and varied–list of good causes.
Terry – thanks for that, but I think the list (and all of you) inspired ME to be more giving this year. :> And thanks, Teresa – I found a few I didn’t know about. It’s amazing to visit these websites; gives one a bit more faith in the human race, to see all the different ways people try to help those less fortunate.