Note: The period to nominate charities for this giveaway has expired. Please see this post to find out which charity received the donation!
I will donate up to $500 to the winner’s favorite charity! All you have to do is nominate the charity of your choice by leaving a comment on this post. I will randomly select a charity from the nominations and then donate $1 for every comment received. It is as simple as that.
I have been greatly blessed this year and in the spirit of Christmas, I earnestly want to give back. I thought this would be a great way to do it and to learn about some new charities along the way.
Guidelines for nominating your favorite charity for the donation
This is an excellent opportunity to spread the word about the charity of your choice! Also, in order to make the donation, I need to be able to positively locate the intended charity. Therefore, let me offer these guidelines to ensure your charity gets the consideration it deserves.
In your comment:
- Be sure to use the exact official name of your charity
- In 2 to 3 sentences, tell us who your charity benefits and what they do
- If you would like, leave a link to the charity’s website so I can find it
- Tell us what you particularly love about this charity
Following these guidelines should help ensure that all the necessary information is included to qualify your charity for the giveaway.
Rules for the charity donation giveaway
What would a contest be without a few rules, right? I’ll keep it simple, but I do have to set a few boundaries in order for this to be fair and meaningful. Here it goes!
- All organizations nominated must be actual non-profit charities. Please no “I’m my favorite charity” nominations! A Charity where I cannot verify its official status will not be considered.
- I will close the comments on this post on Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at 5:00 P.M. Central. Only comments received prior to this time will be a part of the random selection giveaway.
- Please only one nomination per person. No spam comments!
- I reserve the right to disqualify any charity that offends me or my beliefs. I doubt this will be an issue, but I thought it was worth mentioning.
- Again, I will donate $1 per legitimate comment to the charity nominated in the randomly selected comment below. The maximum donation is $500. I’d love to see 500 valid nominations!
Be sure to tell your friends so they can nominate their charity!
This is a great way to support your favorite charity without having to spend a dime out of your own pocket! Why not let all your friends, so they can participate too?
Spread the word!
Note: My wife saw this idea in the December 2008 edition of Real Simple Magazine. In response to the “Your Words” question of “How Do You Give Back During The Holidays?”, Kristen from GreenStyleMom mentioned how she did this last year. It seems like a fabulous idea so, I borrowed it.
Photo by dental ben
Hi! I’d like to nominate DC Metro Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship. My husband and I have worked with this group for 11 years, and would love to bless this ministry to college students in the Washington DC area. Thanks for such a great Giveaway!
Read Jen G´s latest article –
The organization is the Hendersonville Rescue Mission. Here’s their site: http://www.hendersonvillerescuemission.net/
They provide shelter to the homeless, food to the hungry, recovery to the addicted and medical assistance.
Thank you.
Read Karen´s latest article – An unexpected surprise
My favorite charity is Trans Youth Family Allies. They educate schools and families about transgender youth with the aim of making life a bit easier for those same youth. They also have an initiative in memory of Ian Benson, a sixteen-year-old trans boy who killed himself last October (and, incidentally, a dear friend), dedicated to raising awareness about suicide among trans youth and prevention of same. What TYFA does fills a notable gap, and they’re consistently running the whole operation on a shoestring. They certainly deserve support.
http://www.imatyfa.org
I’m nominating the University District Food Bank in Seattle. The recession hasn’t hit our city as hard as others, but it’s sobering to see the lines outside the food bank grow longer and longer.
udistrictfoodbank.org
This is such a wonderful idea! I’d like to nominate Love Without Boundaries.
What started as an effort by a handful of adoptive parents to fund life-saving surgery for one child has grown into a network of volunteers doing great things to make a difference in the lives of hundreds of orphaned children living in China. http://www.lovewithoutboundaries.com
I would like to nominate Girls On The Run Bay Area. Girls on the Run of the Bay Area is a life-changing, experiential learning program for girls ages 8 to 13. The programs combine training for a 5K or 1-mile community running event with healthy living education. The curriculum-based programs instill self-esteem and strong values through health education, life skills development, mentoring relationships, and physical training.
I love this program because of the strength & confidence it gives young girls. When I see these girls at their race, they are so excited to be there & so proud of themselves.
Thanks!!
My favorite is DonorsChoose. It’s a program that allows everyday people or companies to donate mini-grants to classrooms in need. Teachers submit proposals, and donors find proposals that they want to fund. My husband’s inner city school has been able to add some amazing instruments to their music program due to the generosity of donors. Donations are tax deductible, and every donor is thanked. The kids in my husband’s classroom are always amazed that someone else cares about them and their education.
http://www.donorschoose.org
Read World’s Greateset Mommy´s latest article – The Ow Plant and Being 11
There are so many deserving charities already mentioned. I nominate Doctor’s Without Borders as others already have.
I nominate the Down Syndrome Research and Treatment Foundation, http://www.dsrtf.org. DSRTF is the largest source of private funding for research into cognitive functioning in people with Down syndrome. I have a 5 year old daughter with DS and thus DSRTF is near and dear to my heart.
We just found the Kiva charity and decided to give money to that in lieu of some of our Christmas gifts this year. I like this charity because your donation enables budding entrepreneurs in the developing world to start a business. You basically give someone an interest free loan of your choosing and they start a business to support them selves and their families. They pay it back and then you can give it to someone else that needs it helping people all over the world. Check it out: http://www.kiva.org/
What a wonderful opportunity! My favorite charity is Feel Your Boobies. It is a local Breast Cancer chapter in Harrisburg, PA that targets women under the age of 40 to “feel their boobies.” There is a 3 generation history of breast cancer on my mother’s side, so I really feel it is important to get the message out to young women as soon as possible. Thank you for your generosity! http://www.feelyourboobies.com
I am nominating SERVANTS CENTER http://www.servantscenter.org/
I have worked with them, and they serve a purpose that is needed, and not often looked after. Mentally impaired homeless people get off the streets of GR MI, and into safe apartments, get meds, get frienship, and best of all, experience the heart of Jesus.
My mom has M.S., so the National Multiple Sclerosis Society is definitely my charity of choice. This would be so great for them-they would use the money for research, and to hopefully figure out a cure and the causes of MS! I love that they are working hard to find a cure and to help all of the people who live with MS. Thanks for the chance, and it is truly special that you are doing this! Thanks!
Here is their website: http://www.nationalmssociety.org/index.aspx
thanks again
Read Jill W´s latest article – Busy busy week!
Louisiana Assistive Technology Access Network (LATAN)
http://www.latan.org/jennie
LATAN) Mission
LATAN assists individuals with disabilities to achieve a higher quality of life and greater independence through increased access to assistive technology (AT) as part of their daily lives. LATAN serves Louisiana citizens of all ages with all types of disabilities and limitations due to aging who need assistive technology and daily living aids. This includes aids that individuals use to assist them in daily activities, such as canes, wheelchairs, communication devices, hearing aids, keyboard alternatives, and vision aids.
What is Assistive Technology?
Assistive technology (AT) is best described as any device, technology, and aids that allow a person with any and all disability to be more independent. AT helps people with disabilities perform the daily activities most other people take for granted. Getting out of bed and going to work or school may only be possible for some people because of the use of AT. Once at work or school, using a computer, reading or communicating with peers are tasks that may also require the use of AT. AT plays a vital role in ensuring that people with disabilities achieve their best and participate fully in the community.
Who Benefits From Assistive Technology?
In Louisiana alone, approximately 26%, or over 1.13 million, of Louisiana’s 4.3 million residents are individuals with disabilities or functional limitations, including some 493,660 persons over the age of 64. Most, if not all of these individuals experience some degree of functional limitations and could benefit from some type of assistive technology in the course of their daily lives.
LATAN’s Vision
LATAN envisions a future in Louisiana in which individuals who use assistive technology (AT) are independent, satisfied with their lives and have access to their communities. LATAN strives to bring that vision to fruition each day through its consumer-responsive programs and services.
What a great blog post and thanks for this opportunity to tell you about Special Kids in Tulsa Ok. Special Kids provides exceptional childcare to children who face developmental, physical or medical challenges so that their parents can work, attend school or pursue personal interests.
These people have consistently and tirelessly given superior and exceptional daycare to those children that other daycares turn away.
Check out their website to see the fantastic job they are doing everyday to help with family and child inclusion were there was none in their community.
Website: http://www.specialkidscare.org
Thanks again for your kindness and interest!
Mine is UCSD Student Foundation. It is a charity run by students to teach them how to fund raise and manage an endowment. All of the profits go towards student scholarships, helping ensure students can afford higher education.
I love this charity because it taught me to love non-profits and development and gave me inspiration everyday.
Engineers without Borders
Thank you so much for this offering! The website is the World Peace Hologram Project at http://www.worldpeacehologram.org where sessions for inner and global peace are donated by International Resonance Repatterning Practitioners weekly. Participants submit issues and intentions for topics of Family, Relationship, Health, Finances/Career, Green Planet, Humanitarian and Life Needs and support shifts for Natural Disasters and World Events.
Everything we do is done through volunteer efforts, web-design, expansion, communication, and supporting participants. We are very much in need of a web-administrator and look forward to collaborating with peace organizations in the next year.
Contact Chair: kimberlyrex@worldpeacehologram.org
This is an excellent idea! I started a nonprofit called Amoration, under the International Humanities Center (http://www.ihcenter.org/groups/amoration.html). We empower talented artists and engineers for crisis aid endeavors while creating extraordinary interactive works for the public. We are currently working on http://lightningtemple.net as a way to collaborate with hundreds of designers, creators and performers toward a common mission: to spark and ignite the imaginations of millions.
Our work on the ground is similar to Doctors Without Borders and we work closely with an allied organization, Burners without Borders; you are welcome to contact me here for more information about our work and volunteer team.
Official Name: The Phelps School
Who They Benefit and What They Do: The Phelps School is an independent boarding and day school dedicated to providing a personalized education for the boy who seeks success academically, personally, and socially. Their first obligation is to create a caring, sensitive climate, which emphasizes the positive in every situation. The student’s educational program is planned in terms of his individual capacity, ability, needs and interests.
Website: http://www.thephelpsschool.org/
What I Love About Them: They do what they say they do.
I’d like to nominate The Charis Project, http://thecharisproject.com/ . Right now, it is supporting an individual who has taken in 40 minority ethnic children who have escaped Burma for Thailand on their own without families. These children usually end up in slavery if they aren’t taken in by people like him. A family here in the States will soon be moving to help him and expand the organization. It’s something quite small, but has immediate impact on these children–and there’s virtually no overhead since it’s so small!
I nominate Family-to-Family, which pairs families with abundant resources with families who need help. The donor families send a package of groceries to their recipient family once a month; some family-to-family pairs develop friendships across the distance. It’s a worthy shoestring organization, and I hope all will consider it.
The web address is family-to-family.org
Thank you, Jeff, for this generous initiative. What a great idea!
Read Naomi´s latest article – Head exploding
Eden Reforestation Projects establishes Nurseries & Plants Trees in Ethopia, Sudan & Madagascar, plus has an invitation to begin planting trees in Haiti. They hire local folks, keep fantastic records & do it all for $.10 per tree. What an outstanding impact they are making on the planet as well as the local economies. http://www.EdenProjects.org
http://www.catholiccharitiestulsa.org
I nominate Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Tulsa.
I have heard all my life the great things this organization has accomplished, mostly because I am a church member of the Diocese of Tulsa.
I’m nominating Tupelo Children’s Mansion in Tupelo Mississippi. They are a great organization that helps children who are orphaned or whose parents are having issues that would cause the children to be placed into foster care.
Additionally this organization has a ministry that reaches out to troubled teen girls and has an unwed mothers support ministry offering prenatal care and support through the first weeks of parenting or by helping those mother’s place their children for adoption.
here is their website: http://www.tcmm.org/
Read Blessed´s latest article – My First Hunting Trip
I would like to nominate Nomsa.
Nomsa is a non-profit organization based out of Florida but quickly spreading to other states. Nomsa benefit the homeless in different cities by providing food and blankets, among other things.
Their website is: http://www.nomsa.org
I love this charity because one of my best friends, Lee Anne started it. After traveling with me to Africa for a 6 month service trip she decided to start the organization. Her perseverance and determination to make a difference in “her own backyard” is so inspiring to me.
Read caryn´s latest article – one year.
http://www.heifer.org/
Heifer International is an amazing organization which teaches people to be self-reliant through the gift of livestock and training in how to raise those animals. In turn, the recipients pass along the offspring of their livestock, making this truly a gift that keeps giving.
Read threeundertwo´s latest article – Extreme measures.
Thank you for the opportunity to nominate Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Colorado. If you have the opportunity, please watch the video on the home page of our website.
http://www.bbig.org
The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Colorado, Inc. is to invest in youth by providing positive mentors to assist them in becoming happy, healthy, peaceful, contributing citizens … one child at a time.
Our organization benefits the children in Southwest Colorado who are in need of a friend and mentor.
I particularly love the impact our program has on children.
Bigs and Littles have fun together — and create memories that last a lifetime. We call it “Little moments … Big magic.” Research on our volunteer programs points to the powerful, positive, lasting impact Bigs have on children’s lives. Littles are:
52% less likely to skip school
46% less likely to begin using illegal drugs
More likely to get along with their families and peers
Are 27% less likely to begin drinking alcohol
Are 33% less likely to hit someone
a few facts
Littles range in age from 6 to 17
There are no fees for BBBS services
BBBS offers free monthly outings to all matches, i.e. rafting, ice skating, pumpkin carving, horseback riding, holiday parties, etc.
Thank you for your consideration.
Thanks for the opportunity!
The non-profit I’m nominating is called Children’s Medical Missions West. http://www.cmmwest.com
It’s an awesome organization that brings children from impoverished countries to the US for free surgeries and medical care, and when the children are healthy again, they return. Most mof the kids are from Africa and Haiti. My mother-in-law is the woman who started it, so if you pick it, don’t tell her I said so many nice things about her;)
Thanks!
Read Doug Endel´s latest article – AIDS Awareness Day
I love the ASPCA. They do so much for animals of all kinds. I wish they had more offices all over the country, as they are important, and some local alternatives aren’t as… good.
If i win i would like the money to go to the A.A.A. crisis pregnacy center in Livonia Mich.They help people who find themselves going to have a baby and not knowing what to do. they help them face the situation instead of having an abortation. I think they do a great job.
I second Emily’s nomination.
The Phelps School’s Affirmations of POWER:
I think POSITIVELY
I serve OTHERS
I seek WISDOM
I pursue EXCELLENCE
I live RESPONSIBLY
Go Lions!
http://bro-saintlouis.blogspot.com/
http://brostl.org
I nominate the Board of Religious Organizations ( BRO – St. Louis). Our group just finished providing toys for the holidays to nearly 3,250 children in need this year, in the St. Louis area. All year we provide layettes for moms and newborns in need. We offer volunteer opportunities to retired folks and seniors and others who want to give back to their community. We work with area churches and synagouges and community groups, we do not discriminate on the basis of gender, age, religion, handicapping condition, nationality, national origins,or sexual orientation or any other reason. Our clients are referred to us by area social service agencies. We do the best job we are able with the resources available to us. Thank you!!!
Read Donna Cook´s latest article –
As many others have already said, I also nominate Compassion International. Over 80% of donations are given directly to impact children. The number of orphans today is unprecedented in history, and this organization has a long standing record of serving “the least of these.”
I nominate Ulster Project Arlington.
Here’s their goal: “The Ulster Project is dedicated to promoting a peaceful parity of esteem between Roman Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland by building tolerance, trust, and ongoing positive relationships among potential leaders from these Christian traditions.”
It’s an amazing program that has changed, and continues to change lives.
http://www.upatx.com
Read Heather´s latest article – typealizer
It’s so hard to choose just one charity! There are many worthwhile out there, doing incredible work!
I really love the philosophy of Heifer International- where one family receives a farm animal for free that will provide food and income for them but they must pay it forward to another family by donating the first offspring.
Read Barb @ getupandplay´s latest article – This is what we do at work …
i nominate The Forget Me Not/Sunflower program at Sacred Heart hospital in Spokane, WA.
This organization gives families, who’s babies and young children die, the chance to have some memories made, such as photography and hand/foot molds. It also helps these families with support after they are sent home from the hospital.
http://www.shmc.org/index.php/womenscenter/1052
http://www.northwestwoman.com/pastarticles/assets/womensissues/aprmay08_wi_1.pdf
http://www.spokesmanreview.com/tools/story_pf.asp?ID=261413
Read Arah´s latest article – santa
Hello -
I nominate 501c3 Poverty Eradication Network of Tanzania – PEN of TZ or PEN Trust it’s sister NGO in Tanzania. Our focus is on the alleviation of poverty through education, nutrition and construction. We are very transparent with all donations and are a small two person volunteer organization so all funds go to our programs.
Please check out our website at http://www.pentrust.org for more details on our programs.
Ahsante sana – Andrea
Read Andrea M. Wall´s latest article – Happy Thanksgiving!
I would like to nominate the American Cancer Society’s Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/hm_lls). They provide facts, assistance and research funding to search for a cure for blood cancers. I do this in honor of my mother, Betty Schissler, who succumbed to a terminal blood cancer, myelofibrosis, in February of 1999.
My favorite charity is the Capital Area Food Bank: http://www.austinfoodbank.org/
I believe they do important work with the money and food products they receive.
What a wonderful idea for a contest!
Read Gabriel´s latest article – Happy St. Nicholas Day!
Favorite is Horse Feathers Equine Rescue Inc. Saving horses who are abused, neglected, unwanted or slaughter bound. Teaching kids in the Kids Program how to properly care for horses, helping them with their school work, teaching them to be productive members of society, to get along with their peers and responsibility.
I would like to take this opportunity to nominate Horse Feathers Equine Rescue in Guthrie, Oklahoma. Not only do they offer a chance at a new life to abused, neglected, or unwanted horses, they also supply education to the general public on the proper care, feeding, and safe handling of the horses. A special program has been implemented for children of all ages to learn about and interact with the horses, providing them with hands on experience in caring for and someday possibly owning their own horse.
What a great idea! It is interesting to see so many national/international charities.
I am nominating Bridging Communities, Inc. – a small non-profit that cares for the homebound elderly of Southwest Detroit.
We work on the premise that just as it takes a village to raise a child; it takes a village to care for an elder. To follow this vision, we are rebuilding the “village” in Southwest Detroit for the homebound elderly through direct services provided by professional staff and volunteers, through building intergenerational relationships, and through rebuilding the physical infrastructure of their village through community and housing re-development.
http://www.bridgingcommunities.org
I particularly like what BCI is doing because we are creating long term care options for folks who normally would not be able to access quality care in their neighborhoods.
I’d like to nominate Perkins School for the Blind:
http://www.perkins.org/
They provide education and services that build productive, meaningful lives for children and adults around the world who are blind, deafblind or visually impaired with or without other disabilities.
It’s an amazing place, and they provide incredible services for so many people.
David Brainerd Christian School is 7 years YOUNG. It provides an independent Christian college preparatory education for grades 6 – 12. We are currently organizing our first ever alumni association (50 people strong) and would like to establish a scholarship for a deserving student.
I am impressed with David Brainerd Christian School and its faculty and coaches because of their caring, christian attitudes towards their students. We are molding our students to be positive, contributing influences in the community and the world – check us out at http://www.dbcs.org .
Read Tamra´s latest article – Art II-Drawing/Watercolor
The Phelps School
Dedicated to the education of each individual boy. Students from all different backgrounds are respresented at the school. Many face hardships that need additional support provided through the boarding environment and specialized curriculums. Its a private school with an amazing mission and wonderful staff who are truly dedicated to providing the best education and life skills for the students!
I would like to highlight the Marshfield Clinic’s Angel Fund (http://www.marshfieldclinic.org).
The Marshfield Clinic is a not-for-profit, multi-specialty clinic located in Wisconsin. As part of its historic mission, it focuses its charitable efforts within the areas of patient care, medical research and medical education.
I am particularly proud of the Clinic’s efforts in patient care as demonstrated by its long-standing Angel Fund operation. The Angel Fund is designed to help patients with unexpected non-medical expenses, including food, clothing, lodging, gas to get to medical appointments, and other life necessities when other resources are not available.
The Angel Fund truly helps people in need when they may need it most. Just one more example of how Marshfield Clinic works to keep patients healthy regardless of their ability to pay. Best of all, this fund is here to stay thanks to the support of Marshfield Clinic Administration and the unrelentless passion by all of the Angel Fund’s volunteers to keep it going strong!
Read Chad Selenske´s latest article – Med-Peds Physician Joins Marshfield Clinic Marshfield Center
So difficult to pick just one charity!
This is my new favorite though:
http://www.medsandfoodforkids.org
Children are dying in Haiti everyday from malnutrition and this organization provides its unique “peanut butter medicine” to try and turn that around.
Any country where 129 of every 1,000 children die before their fifth birthday needs help. This is wrong, pure and simple, and needs to be changed ASAP.
Changing Minds, Changing Lives. That’s the mantra of The Arc of Maryland. We know that individuals with developmental disabilities (DD) can and do contribute in many important and inspiring ways to society. But these individuals need supports, need education, need open minds. DD includes what we call mental retardation, autism, downs, and a cadre of other syndromes.) The Arc of Maryland, is part of network of local, state and national organizations. In Maryland, nearly 18,000 people linger on a waiting list for basic services so they can become contributing members of society. The Arc launched a grass roots campaign Changing Minds, Changing Lives which has helped create change. Your donation will help us push this work to another level.
Read Peggy Hoffman´s latest article – Blog and Twitter Meme – a game of connections
The Advocacy Project http://www.advocacynet.org
They are work to promote the voices of disadvantaged communities around the world.
They provide community based organizations with tools and training to disseminate information that will create social change.
They work in 21 countries around the world.