Each day during December, I'll be featuring a charitable organization that I support. These are my personal choices and reflect nothing other than that.
After actor Christopher Reeve was paralyzed in a riding accident in 1995, he and his wife Dana became activists on behalf of those with spinal cord injuries, mobility impairment, and paralysis. The year he was injured, they teamed up with the American Paralysis Association to form what is now the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, which continues its work in their memory. The organization funds research into cures for paralysis and provides resources to improve the lives of those living with paralysis.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
Charity December: Housing the Homeless
Each day during December, I'll be featuring a charitable organization that I support. These are my personal choices and reflect nothing other than that.
Today I'm spotlighting two organizations I've just learned about recently myself, both of which help provide housing to the homeless. (Information about other homeless assistance programs is available through the National Coalition for the Homeless.)
First is a local Atlanta charity, Nicholas House, which has provided housing for homeless families for over 26 years. The organization accepts families in their entirety, in contrast to most shelters, which are generally gender-specific. Nicholas House has provided transitional housing for more than 1,500 families.
Second is the Ali Forney Center in New York, which provides housing and other assistance to homeless lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth, many of whom have been thrown out of their homes by their families because of their sexuality. In addition to emergency and transitional housing, the center provides health care, food, showers, employment assistance, and street outreach. Links to similar programs in other locations are also provided on the center's website.
Today I'm spotlighting two organizations I've just learned about recently myself, both of which help provide housing to the homeless. (Information about other homeless assistance programs is available through the National Coalition for the Homeless.)
First is a local Atlanta charity, Nicholas House, which has provided housing for homeless families for over 26 years. The organization accepts families in their entirety, in contrast to most shelters, which are generally gender-specific. Nicholas House has provided transitional housing for more than 1,500 families.
Second is the Ali Forney Center in New York, which provides housing and other assistance to homeless lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth, many of whom have been thrown out of their homes by their families because of their sexuality. In addition to emergency and transitional housing, the center provides health care, food, showers, employment assistance, and street outreach. Links to similar programs in other locations are also provided on the center's website.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Charity December: Equality Now
Each day during December, I'll be featuring a charitable organization that I support. These are my personal choices and reflect nothing other than that.
Note: I was sick on December 9, which is why I had to miss a day.
I discovered Equality Now through the annual Can't Stop the Serenity events, which combine screenings of Serenity (the "Firefly" movie) with auctions, raffles, and other fund-raising opportunities that benefit Equality Now (as well as other organizations). Equality Now's purpose is to end violence and discrimination against women and girls throughout the world. From their website: "Issues of urgent concern to Equality Now include rape, domestic violence, reproductive rights, trafficking of women, female genital mutilation, and the denial of equal access to economic opportunity and political participation."
Note: I was sick on December 9, which is why I had to miss a day.
I discovered Equality Now through the annual Can't Stop the Serenity events, which combine screenings of Serenity (the "Firefly" movie) with auctions, raffles, and other fund-raising opportunities that benefit Equality Now (as well as other organizations). Equality Now's purpose is to end violence and discrimination against women and girls throughout the world. From their website: "Issues of urgent concern to Equality Now include rape, domestic violence, reproductive rights, trafficking of women, female genital mutilation, and the denial of equal access to economic opportunity and political participation."
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Charity December: Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS
Each day during December, I'll be featuring a charitable organization that I support. These are my personal choices and reflect nothing other than that.
I'd planned a different charity for today, but with the news that As the World Turns has been cancelled, I'm moving this one up the list, in honor of Van Hansis and Jake Silbermann, who play Luke and Noah on the show. They've been big supporters of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, and as a long-time Broadway fan, so have I (well before I started watching ATWT). BC/EFA works through the theater industry to raise funds to provide services to people with AIDS and other critical illnesses, both through programs for those working in the entertainment industry and through grants to community-based service organizations.
I'd planned a different charity for today, but with the news that As the World Turns has been cancelled, I'm moving this one up the list, in honor of Van Hansis and Jake Silbermann, who play Luke and Noah on the show. They've been big supporters of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, and as a long-time Broadway fan, so have I (well before I started watching ATWT). BC/EFA works through the theater industry to raise funds to provide services to people with AIDS and other critical illnesses, both through programs for those working in the entertainment industry and through grants to community-based service organizations.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Charity December: Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Each day during December, I'll be featuring a charitable organization that I support. These are my personal choices and reflect nothing other than that.
Seven years ago, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Thankfully, it was caught very early, and she's been cancer-free for over six years now. There are many breast cancer charities that do great work, but today I'm featuring Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Founded in 1982 and best known for the annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure series of 5K/fitness runs, the organization is "the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists" (from their web site). The foundation raises funds to support research into finding a cure and raises awareness about prevention and treatment options.
Seven years ago, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Thankfully, it was caught very early, and she's been cancer-free for over six years now. There are many breast cancer charities that do great work, but today I'm featuring Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Founded in 1982 and best known for the annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure series of 5K/fitness runs, the organization is "the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists" (from their web site). The foundation raises funds to support research into finding a cure and raises awareness about prevention and treatment options.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Charity December: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Each day during December, I'll be featuring a charitable organization that I support. These are my personal choices and reflect nothing other than that.
In college, I was a little sister to Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity, whose national charity was St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. (The fraternity recently renewed its partnership with St. Jude.) Founded by actor Danny Thomas (a TKE brother), St. Jude treats children of all ages who have cancer and other serious illnesses, without regard to the family's ability to pay. The hospital also supports and conducts research to discover cures and better treatment options. About 5,700 patients are treated at the hospital every year.
In college, I was a little sister to Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity, whose national charity was St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. (The fraternity recently renewed its partnership with St. Jude.) Founded by actor Danny Thomas (a TKE brother), St. Jude treats children of all ages who have cancer and other serious illnesses, without regard to the family's ability to pay. The hospital also supports and conducts research to discover cures and better treatment options. About 5,700 patients are treated at the hospital every year.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Charity December: Heifer International
Each day during December, I'll be featuring a charitable organization that I support. These are my personal choices and reflect nothing other than that.
A few years ago, I gave my sister a water buffalo for Christmas. (Veggie Tales fans will get the in-joke.) Wouldn't have been able to do it without Heifer International. Sure, you can actually give a heifer; the animals go to families in developing nations, both to supplement their food and to help them make money to improve their living conditions. But beyond heifers and water buffalo, you can give animals as varied as llamas, honeybees, goats, and geese, plus trees and all sorts of different combinations. (And if you can't swing a full animal, you can even give part of one.)
A few years ago, I gave my sister a water buffalo for Christmas. (Veggie Tales fans will get the in-joke.) Wouldn't have been able to do it without Heifer International. Sure, you can actually give a heifer; the animals go to families in developing nations, both to supplement their food and to help them make money to improve their living conditions. But beyond heifers and water buffalo, you can give animals as varied as llamas, honeybees, goats, and geese, plus trees and all sorts of different combinations. (And if you can't swing a full animal, you can even give part of one.)
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