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The world is becoming smaller, in ways, but the gap between those who have and those who haven't is growing with each disaster, war, land feud, or power struggle. I give to the International Red Cross. These brave people are often found where no one else is willing to go. Locally, I give to the United Way through payroll deduction. It’s painless, and I can choose where my money goes. UW gives us a list of charities, and the percent of administrative costs to run them, so we can make smart choices. In the last several years, I have given to The Traumatic Brain Injury Foundation in memory of my brother. Visit the Red Cross, http://www.icrc.org/ and the United Way, http://national.unitedway.org/.
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My favorite organization here in NYC is The 52nd St Project. They work with inner-city kids and teens, offering after school homework help and special tutorials, as well as a mentoring program called “smart partners” where a kid is paired up with an adult. The pair meet once a week during the school year for tutoring, and playing educational games, or just checking in - in a safe, healthy environment. The other part of the project is theatre-based. Kids write plays (and in the process learn writing skills and life skills such as conflict resolution), which professional actors perform in, or perform in plays that adults have written (on topics of the kids choosing). They have camps in the summer where kids get to go and write and learn and perform. All of these services are free of charge, and aside from the amazing staff, the adults and professionals are all volunteers. The people who run this place are really inspiring, giving people, who make a real difference in many children’s lives. Visit http://www.52project.org/ in New York.
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I support many causes locally - my church and the local soup kitchen of which I was once Treasurer, our volunteer fire departments and rescue squads, youth activities and schools - and nationally - mostly veterans’ organizations because of my family’s military history. I’ve selected two of my favorites to share. These two organization work with our veterans in opposing ways.
The scope of the Wounded Warrior Project is to help the young men and women who return to us with major disabilities: blindness, brain damage, amputated limbs, etc. We hear so much about the deaths which are relatively low as compared to the fatalities of prior conflicts but we do not hear about the ones who are saved but severely wounded - those who return to us and face major obstacles to a “normal” life. One mother of a wounded soldier commented that her son arrived in the U.S. clad only in a pair of gym shorts and a tee-shirt. She blessed the project for immediately providing him with a filled backpack. It included things we take for granted: toothbrush, deodorant, etc. and restored his worth and sense of individuality. Visit http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org.
The National D-Day Memorial is in Bedford, Virginia. It was placed there in opposition to those who thought they knew better because the spot is out of the way and off the beaten track to the visiting public (the site was chosen because the tiny town of Bedford suffered the highest per capita loss of men during the D-day landings). In spite of the hostile predictions, the Memorial has broken all projected visitor records in the five years since its dedication. It is not a government memorial and all its operating funds come from the public through entry fees and donations. In spite of being crippled by huge loans at opening, it has managed to get on a sound fiscal footing and is a place of sad reveries to the fast disappearing WWII veterans who travel many miles to visit. It's also a source of needed education to our school children who also travel to spend the day. For those of us between the two groups, it’s a place to reflect on man’s inhumanity as well as his nobility - a tangible prod to our resolution that history not repeat itself. Visit http://www.dday.org.
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When I stopped smoking, about twenty years ago, I decided to use that money to help others. My donations might not be huge, but I figure “every little bit” helps and it’s better than having that money go up in smoke!
Visit http://www.smiletrain.org, which provides free cleft lip surgery worldwide.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. Founded by late entertainer Danny Thomas, St. Jude has treated children from every state in the U.S. and from more than 70 foreign countries. Eighty-four cents of every dollar received goes directly to research and treatment. Visit http://www.stjude.org.
The American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults is a service agency which specializes in providing to blind people help which is not readily available to them from government programs or other existing service systems. The services of the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults are planned especially to meet the needs of blind children, the elderly blind, and the deaf-blind. Visit http://www.actionfund.org.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest has been a strong advocate for nutrition and health, food safety, alcohol policy, and sound science. Its award-winning newsletter, Nutrition Action Healthletter, is the largest-circulation health newsletter in North America, providing reliable information on nutrition and health. Visit http://www.cspinet.org.
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is an independent international medical humanitarian organization that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural or man-made disasters, or exclusion from health care in more than 70 countries. Visit http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org.
Special Olympics is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities to become physically fit, productive and respected members of society through sports training and competition. Special Olympics offers children and adults with intellectual disabilities year-round training and competition in 26 Olympic-type summer and winter sports. There is no charge to participate in Special Olympics. (Special Olympics is recognized as a tax-exempt organization under U.S. Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3).) Visit http://www.specialolympics.org.
The Paralyzed Veterans of America, a congressionally chartered veterans service organization founded in 1946, has developed a unique expertise on a wide variety of issues involving the special needs of their members, veterans of the armed forces who have experienced spinal cord injury or dysfunction. Visit http://www.pva.org.
Second Harvest distributes food and grocery products through a nationwide certified member network, increases public awareness of domestic hunger and advocates for public policies that benefit the hungry of America. Visit http://www.secondharvest.org.
The International Rescue Committee helps people fleeing racial, religious and ethnic persecution, as well as those uprooted by war and violence. At the outbreak of an emergency, they provide sanctuary and lifesaving assistance. For refugees driven from their homes, they provide emergency assistance: water, food, shelter, sanitation and medical care. When the emergency has subsided, they enable people to rebuild their lives by providing education, training and economic assistance. They help thousands of refugees resettle in the United States every year, and their offices across the country make sure that all new arrivals receive shelter, food and clothing. They also provide recently arrived refugees with translation services, English-language instruction, job training, employment services and other counseling. Last, but not least, they are vocal public policy advocates, calling attention to critical issues affecting refugees around the world. Visit http://www.theirc.org/.
As one of the world's premier cancer centers, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center is committed to exceptional patient care, leading edge research, and superb educational programs. The close collaboration between their physicians and scientists is one of their unique strengths, enabling them to provide patients with the best care available today as they work to discover more effective strategies to prevent, control, and ultimately cure cancer in the future. Their education programs train future physicians and scientists, and the knowledge and experience they gain at MSK has an impact on cancer treatment and the biomedical research agenda around the world. Visit http://www.mskcc.org.
In addition, I contribute to the local Ronald McDonald House, the Salvation Army, the local hospice group, the Marine Toys for Tots, the March of Dimes, the local library foundation, Public Radio, the local theater groups, the local Humane Society, and the organizations of my religious affiliation. When I buy my dog’s flea protection meds from the ASPCA, I make a donation there, too.
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