More and more people are paying attention to the crisis in Darfur, and savedarfur.org is greatly responsible for the much needed recent increase in awareness. Across the globe, the Save Darfur Coalition is inspiring action, raising awareness and speaking on behalf of the people of Darfur. Many businesses have gotten involved to help raise funds for the fight. I'm happy to see that one of my favorite stores has gotten on board, Urban Outfitters. Always stylish and affordable, their new tee shirts benefit savedarfur.org and have a message of support printed on the front. The Public Library Seeds of Hope tee, is $25, get yours today and help spread the word while donating to the cause!Savedarfur.org (Charity of the Day), Teams Up With Urban Outfitters
More and more people are paying attention to the crisis in Darfur, and savedarfur.org is greatly responsible for the much needed recent increase in awareness. Across the globe, the Save Darfur Coalition is inspiring action, raising awareness and speaking on behalf of the people of Darfur. Many businesses have gotten involved to help raise funds for the fight. I'm happy to see that one of my favorite stores has gotten on board, Urban Outfitters. Always stylish and affordable, their new tee shirts benefit savedarfur.org and have a message of support printed on the front. The Public Library Seeds of Hope tee, is $25, get yours today and help spread the word while donating to the cause!The Candies Foundation, Charity of the Day
The Candies Foundation is devoted to helping educate today's youth about the "devastating" effects of teen pregnancy. I find the word devastating a bit dramatic (that's the word they use), however what is shocking is the staggering amount of teens that get pregnant each year. According to The Candies Foundation, 750,000 teens will get pregnant in the US this year, which equals three out of every ten! The Candies Foundation does fabulous work publicizing their message and teaching preventative care for both parents and teens via their educational website and outreach programs. My favorite part is the t-shirts. Cute and stylish they sell for $15, with 100 percent of proceeds going directly to educational programs.
Lavender Trust, Charity of the Day
Lavender Trust is an charitable program that helps women dealing with breast cancer. What makes Lavender Trust different than all the other cancer care organizations, is their focus on a younger age group, they work primarily with women around the age of 30 who've been recently diagnosed. Programs are all free to the public and include a helpline, peer support and direct health care advice. Last year many celebrities generously donated dresses to an auction which raised funds to keep these worthwhile programs going. You can help support their cause by donating directly or by shopping at their fabulous online boutique, all proceeds go directly to Lavender Trust breast cancer support initiatives.Puppies Behind Bars, Charity of the Day
Puppies Behind Bars is an innovative organization that teaches prison inmates to raise and train puppies to be service dogs for the disabled, and explosive detection canines for law enforcement . What began with five puppies placed in a New York maximum-security prison for women, has grown to over a hundred puppies in seven different correctional facilities! The puppies live in cells with the inmates and receive the extensive care, attention and training they require to one day become service dogs. This amazing program, benefits inmates by giving them a sense of servitude and responsibility as well as much needed love and affection. To learn more about Puppies Behind Bars visit their website, which features an online boutique with proceeds going directly to the program
Drawbridge, Charity of the Day
Drawbridge is an organization based in California that provides an art program for homeless and otherwise vulnerable children to promote joy, creativity, and exuberance. Through their art programs Drawbridge also works to build healthier families by culturing a supportive community and teaching children to have an attitude of helping others. Drawbridge was founded in 1991 and currently covers 6 counties in California, with plans in 2008 to expand to two new locations. You can participate in any number of ways, including hosting their traveling art exhibit called "Through Our Eyes."
Gallery: Through Our Eyes: Artwork by Homeless Children
Plant A Billion Trees Project, Charity of the Day
The Atlantic forest in Brazil is considered one of the worlds most endangered tropical rain forests, with as little 7 percent of it's original area remaining! As we all know trees are quite literally the lungs of the earth, without their constant releasing of oxygen we would all be in trouble, what you may not know is that forests like the Atlantic also help regulate the earths climate and atmosphere. The Plant A Billion Trees Project plans to do just that...plant a billion trees in the Atlantic Forrest over the next 7 years, basically they are going to re-forest 2.5 billion acres of land. I write about charities every day and I can't think of one I've heard of that is more important than this amazing project! The facts are staggering, and so impressive, after the project is done 10 million tons of carbon dioxide will have been removed from our air, planting these trees will do the same thing as removing 2 million cars from the road!! I urge you to get involved with this powerful movement. One dollar equals one tree, so tell everyone you know! Plant a Billion Trees website.
Oprah's Angel Network, Charity of the Day
Oprah is famous for being rich, but she's also famous for being generous in her efforts to give back and make the world a better place. Oprah has her hands in a lot of charitable causes, but one of the most successful is Oprah's Angel Network. Started in 1997 as part of a smaller project that took off somewhat unexpectedly, today Oprah's Angel Network has raised more than $70 million dollars towards improving access to education, protecting people's basic rights, building communities, and creating the leaders of tomorrow.Häagen-Dazs' Help the Honeybees, Charity of the Day
The world depends on honeybees to pollinate the flowers of many favorite foods, flowers, and plant life, thereby continuing the circle of life. As much as 1/3 of our food supply counts on the work of honeybees! Honeybees are in jeopardy, though, so we all need to pay attention and do what we can to help bring them back. Premium ice cream maker Häagen Dazs has launched a "Help the Honeybees" campaign that aims to educate and inspire people by showing them how to spread the message and make a difference in their own area, and also Häagen Dazs will commit funds to the cause every time somebody buys one of their "bee dependent" flavors. The website has a lot going on (plus I think it's beautiful to look at!) so be sure to check it out and maybe enjoy some ice cream for dessert tonight.
Partners in Preservation, Charity of the Day
Partners in Preservation is an alliance between American Express and The National Trust for Historic Preservation and is geared towards the preservation of historic sites all across the US. The initiative involves over $5 million in funds and is spread out over a 5 year period, with the first two years' efforts focusing on Chicago and San Francisco and this year New Orleans.
Nine sites in New Orleans have been nominated for the project and include everything from churches and cemeteries to the building known as "The Birthplace of Jazz." Want to learn more and get involved? Click here.
Thanks Chris!
One Buck for the Planet, Charity of the Day
We constantly hear about big givers, but today's charity One Buck for the Planet focuses on small giving, and lots of it. Based on the simple principal that if millions of people each give a dollar, huge change is possible. One Buck works with only the best green earth charities; the Surfrider Foundation, Trees for the Future, Conservation International and many more. They distribute all donations received to one of the groups they trust to get things done! They take the guess work out of donating for you, no need to spend time trying to figure out which charity to give to. So simple and easy...I love this charity. Who can't afford to give a dollar to help keep the earth healthy for generations to come. Pass the word on about this cool charity!
Raising Malawi, Charity of the Day
Today's Charity of the Day is co-owned by none other than Madonna herself. When Michael Berg and Madonna founded Raising Malawi (RM), their goal was to help over one million orphaned children in Malawi that suffer from deadly diseases, extreme poverty and the effects of severe drought. Raising Malawi volunteers are hard at work, fund-raising, conducting research, and raising awareness. Check out this organization's website, there is a heartwarming and educational letter that Madonna wrote about Malawi and the children that reside there.Sting's Rainforest Foundation Charity Under Fire
Sting has long been known as one of Hollywood's most philanthropic people but this week Sting and his wife Trudie Styler are under fire for their charity The Rainforest Foundation. Charity Navigator has reported that only 41 percent of the money raised by the couple's Carnegie Hall charity concert in 2006 actually went to fund programs that save the rain forest. In their rating system they have given the charity 0 stars.Trudie Styler is quoted in People as saying that the foundation is in it's 20th year and that alone speaks to the efficacy of the nonprofit. In 2006, the charity reported $10 million in net assets including almost $5 million in cash which has caused some to speculate as to what they are doing with the money. This news comes as the Rainforest Foundation's next Carnegie Hall concert is set for May 8 with performances by Billy Joel, James Taylor and Brian Wilson and also includes a charity auction with a variety of donated items to raise money for the foundation.
Adopt-A-Minefield, Charity of the Day
Adopt-A-Minefield (AAM) is a charity that helps clear some of the tens of millions of land mines that contaminate our world, as well as providing medical care and support to victims of land mines and their families. Landmines are brutal weapons that maim or kill 15,000 to 20,000 civilians every year! Adopt-A-Minefield currently provides mine clearance in six countries: Afghanistan, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Cambodia, Croatia, Mozambique and Vietnam. AAM is always in search of generous sponsors to adopt minefields that the United Nations has identified as being in desperate need of clearance. Every dollar raised is forwarded to the United Nations for mine clearance. To learn more about how your donation can help the urgent global landmine crisis visit their website.Goods for Good, Charity of the Day!
Goods for Good has a simple goal, to redistribute excess goods that sit unused in the US, to needy children in Africa. They provide much needed school supplies, clothing, and health and hygiene products to children in crisis, while at the same time reducing waste and overstock at home. Donations are received from a wide range of companies and the sorting and shipping is done by volunteers. If your company has outdated or unused inventory (office supplies, fabric, teaching or marketing tools...) that you wish to discard in an environmentally friendly way, contact this worthwhile organization today!
Kiva, Charity of the Day!
Today's charity is Kiva! Have you heard of it? It's genius! Kiva's mission is to alleviate poverty by allowing individuals to loan money to people in need in the developing world. It's the world's first person-to-person micro-lending website. You simply browse the profiles and choose which entrepreneur you want to lend to, business ideas vary widely, as do the amounts that people are requesting. Some people only need a few hundred dollars to start their dream business! You can loan as little as $25, or you can loan thousands. I plan on loaning to a woman who needs to purchase yam seeds, corn, palm oil, bananas, and peppers for her small business. I am so excited about this innovative charity, check it out!
