Charities Blog

Giving Something Back

Children Generosity Without Prejudice (From the Archives)

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Charity abounds and it is not limited by age as the charity event sponsored by Save the Children showed many people when they flocked to several locations to support a “Sleep-over” program that aimed to raise awareness and funds for less fortunate kids all over the world. The event was held in June when they also broke records for the most number of children who have participated in an event of the sort anywhere in the world.
Children should be educated in the roles they are to play in this ever troubled world for they are some of the most affected by strife and misery when problems occur. May it be economic turmoil, conflicts or even victims of long past wars, they are the most scarred and abused which leaves them helpless and maimed both physically and mentally unable to deal with life that should have been in front of them.
Most of the world’s displaced children suffer from poverty, crime and other illegal activities such as child labor that they sometimes feel nobody cares for them and their future. Organizations who aim to help them like the UN through UNICEF and other Non-Governmental charities aim to change that and again bring hope into their lives educating them and teaching them all they need to know that would allow them to face tomorrow and see it as bright as it could be.
The event, in partnership with the Autism charity TreeHouse, was successful in showing that children where ever they may be have the power to change and influence their world in their own little ways. More power to the people who makes such events and charities possible, and to the millions of people who give to others in need as we all make this world a better place to live in for all.

Originally posted on June 14, 2011 @ 3:14 am

Wacky Charities – Keep-a-Breast.Org

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Breast cancer kills millions all over the world and like most killer diseases, early detection is the key. New treatments and diagnostic procedures aim to cut off the disease as early as possible to allow the best approach and combination of treatments that may result in reduction or prevention of the disease taking hold in the first place. The Keep-a-Breast Organization aims to raise awareness of the disease through one of the most innovative and wacky methods I’ve ever seen in quite sometime, taking plaster casts of breasts (the whole torso actually) and having prominent artists working with them, turning them into works of art for all to enjoy.

With tie-ups in media and other organizations, they hope to bring the message of prevention and care to all women they come across through exhibitions of their art (torso casts) along with mini-versions they offer at events such as concerts and exhibits of their collection.
The life-casts are made, painted and auctioned off to fund other awareness programs they hope to reach more of the younger generation with. From tee’s to other items, they do auctions and sell merchandise for the benefit of breast cancer awareness. Breast cancer is considered to be the the sixth most lethal disease that afflicts women from all ages which makes the call for better diagnosis and treatment all the more urgent. Support Keep-a-breast.Org and help women become aware of the risks and methods by which they can stay healthy and safe for the rest of their lives.

Originally posted on December 17, 2010 @ 4:30 am

Be Careful Of Fraudulent Charities

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scholorship_military-veterans-picThis kind of news makes me mad; steaming mad. There are so many people who are less fortunate than the average person. And there are few enough people who are willing to help them out. Then these unscrupulous people or groups of people try to take advantage of those who have giving hearts. I think that there’s a special place in hell for people like them

Anyhow, the reason for the mini rant is this piece of news I read at The Miami Herald. Apparently, there are those who engage in fraudulent activities, trying to collect money in behalf of military veterans, police, and firefighters. According to the report:

The Florida attorney general on Wednesday joined a national effort to fight fraud committed by groups claiming to collect money on behalf of protection agencies and veterans, but they give misleading information about how much of the money would actually be given to those groups.

”Operation False Charity” includes 76 actions against 32 fundraising companies, 31 individuals and 22 nonprofits — or groups claiming to be nonprofits. The effort is led by the Federal Trade Commission, and attorneys general, secretaries of state and other law enforcers in 48 states and the District of Columbia.

You know what’s worse? Some of these groups are actually REAL charities. The problem is that the money that they collect do not ALL go to the causes that they are supposed to champion. While that is not wrong or uncommon in itself, people are misled and majority of the money goes to administration costs, which includes wages of those who work in the organizations.

For more information, get in touch with the FTC.

Originally posted on April 12, 2011 @ 8:35 am

Investigate Before You Give To Charity: What To Ask

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Theres not much worse than door-to-door solicitors who you actually have to deal with in your own home. When it comes to people asking for donations, by far the easiest ones to refuse (if desired) are the letters (chuck it in the bin if you’re not interested), second comes the telephone solicitations (sorry, I’m not interested, or some other lame excuse which the person on the recieving end does not see, thankfully).

But door-to-door solicitations are the most difficult to deal with, rather like the kindly-faced vacum cleaner salesman or friendly Mormon at your door. I remember some years ago when a “Norwegian Wooden Floor” salesman knocked on our door one day, with a neckbrace. Needless to say, a week later, our living room floor was covered in some very expensive flooring.

But back to the topic. Dealing with solicitors can get hairy, so here are some things you should be ASKING should you get a phone call, or worse, the door-to-door solicitor.

And most importantly, if you are feeling pressured, getting repeated visits or feeling harassed, ring your Better Business Bureau IMMEDIATELY and report them.

1. WHAT? is charity’s name and details such as address, contact numbers, license, website.
2. WILL your donation be tax deductible? Ask if they have the necessary licences etc.
3. ASK about registration and licensing. This is required in most areas.
4. ASK about the percentage of the money that will go to the cause – especially of it is for a benefit event.

** WATCH out for those that pressure you to give money right then and there. A good charity will welcome your donation at any time.

[tags]Charity tips,investigating charities,questions to ask charities,donation tips[/tags]

Originally posted on November 29, 2010 @ 4:12 pm

Putting Disabled People to Work

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The sight of a disabled child or person who pushes himself to earn a living despite having deficiencies in some parts of their bodies or from their manner of thinking is something that should inspire the normal man. Putting aside their current situation and status to give them a reason to live is the most important factor that touches the hearts of people who see them.

Disabled People Who Want To Live Normally

There are a lot of foundations that have taken this cue and even gone to the extent of helping them earn their keep and efforts through referrals and sponsorships. Working for a cause is the best term to generalize everything that these disabled people invest. Rarely would you see people putting time for such people who make the best out of what they can.

People who have some deficiencies cannot live normally but in most cases, it is the disabled people who seem to show more promise because they know that in their hearts that there is so much to accomplish if they are given a chance to be side by side with the normal and fortunate people of today.

[tags]disabled, charities, foundations[/tags]

Originally posted on September 30, 2010 @ 5:30 pm

How Can You Identify the Homeless from Syndicates?

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Children of Hope

One thing about the Philippines is that you will find a lot of beggars in the streets. You will also see acts of charity which is heartwarming. But one thing most people fail to realize is on whether these acts of kindness are indeed going into their pockets or to the people who organize and deploy them in different parts of the metropolis.

Sad to say, begging in the Philippines has been made into a business. Despicable as it may seem, it is a reality to which some wiser Filipinos have been advised not to give to the poor or if ever, just give something in kind like food, canned goods, or clothes. That way, you are giving them something that they can use rather than money which is obviously holding true to its word as a source of all evil.

Through this, true acts of charity are being made. You are helping unfortunate people through the actual needs based on the hierarchy of John Maslow. These are acts that syndicates hate since it deprives them of profiting through using people. Addressing the needs of the actual people may at times be the best way and good blessings. But for people who are handling them, they are given ultimatums and punished if they do not meet quotas. Yes, they are given quotas making begging more of a profession rather than something to which any person can provide any form of help.

Pathetic as it may seem, if you find yourself coming across such people in the Philippines, try not to give any form of cash to them. You can either say NO or give something that a person would really need outside that of money.

Originally posted on October 28, 2010 @ 2:15 am

Fighting Online Child Pornography: The IMEC

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As mentioned in the last post, fighting for children being abused by online pornogaphers is a vital cause we should all be part of. Today, child exploitation on the internet is a sickening MULTI-BILLION dollar industry. Here are some of the grueling facts to be aware of according to data from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC):

19% of identified offenders had images of children younger than 3

39% had images of children younger than 6

82% had images of children younger than 12.

There is also strong evidence of increasing involvement by organized crime and extremist groups.

Children have become a commodity in this insidious crime. While there is no empirical research on the scope of the problem, but there are estimates.

A 2002 report by ECPAT International and the Bangkok Post estimated that 100,000 child-pornography web sites existed on the Internet in 2001.

According to the Internet Watch Foundation in the United Kingdom, there has been a 1500% increase in the number of child-pornography images since 1997.
In 2003, the National Criminal Intelligence Service in the United Kingdom estimated that child-pornography web sites had doubled worldwide; that half of the sites are hosted in the United States; and that the number of sites in Russia had doubled.

NCMEC reports that most child pornography consumers and child victims are Americans; however, the financial transactions are increasingly moving offshore.

The International Centre For Missing and Exploited Children, or the IMEC, is a global agency which promotes the well-being and safety of children all over the world though its various programs.

Visit the orginazation’s site to get the latest facts, legislation on the issues as well as ways on how YOU can help end this terrible crimes today.

[tags]Children,Child exploitation,child crimes,pornography[/tags]

Originally posted on October 7, 2010 @ 3:44 pm

The Dilemma Of Celebrity Adoptions (From the Archives)

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art.elton.john.afp.giOn the one hand, the children being adopted by celebrities are given another shot at life – a much better shot, actually. On the other hand, celebrity adoptions may be sending out the wrong message. This is what the charitable organization EveryChild is concerned about.

The recent news that musician Elton John is planning to adopt a 14-month-old boy from a Ukrainian orphanage is the root of the charity’s sentiments. Elton John has been active in helping raise awareness for infants who are infected with HIV. His recent visit to the Ukraine is part of his efforts.

While he has always considered adoption, he said that he had concerns about it as he is not exactly a spring chicken and his career is not exactly the perfect setting for raising a child as well. However, when he laid his eyes on Lev, the baby boy, and interacted with him, Sir Elton John said that he changed his mind.

Now back to the concern of EveryChild…according to James Georgalakis, EveryChild’s Communications and Advocacy Manager, people in developing countries might get the wrong message from all these celebrity adoptions. He told CNN that:

“Research conducted in the Ukraine in 2007 which showed high-profile celebrity adoptions and news around foreigners coming into the country and adopting children generally was actually encouraging vulnerable young mothers to abandon their children into homes hoping their child would be adopted by a rich foreigner and have a better life. So it’s quite well documented that these high-profile adoptions could actually be increasing the number of children in institutions.”

Having read that information, I do see the point that EveryChild is concerned about. However, limiting or disallowing celebrity adoptions may not be the solution. What do you think? Should celebrity adoptions be restricted or is there another way to approach the issue?

Photo courtesy of CNN

Originally posted on February 3, 2011 @ 9:16 am

The First Step in Giving Back

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If you’ve been thinking of giving your time or money to a charity or non-profit organization, the first step to consider is WHERE? As first-timers will quickly find out, there are thousands of people, places and organizations to choose from, and choosing the right one for you can be a daunting task.

The best way to begin is to ask yourself this question: “What means the most to me?” Think about the things most important to you, what you have a passion for, or perhaps a health concern that has affected someone close to you. Reflect on this, and it should be easier to find the charity for you.

Whether you have a lot of money or not is irrelevant when it comes to giving financially or otherwise. There are many ways to give money, online and offline, through direct gifts, donor-advised funds, giving circles, or through your place of employment. Giving of your time, on the other hand, can be a much more rewarding way to help, as this offers you some first-hand experience with those you wish to help. This does take more thought, however, as there other concerns such as proximity, time constraints, safety and the impact the experience could have.

Whatever you choose, it really doesn’t take much to get started on giving back through a charity. With the right organization or issue, some time and energy and the willingness to help, everyone can make a difference in the world today.

Originally posted on August 18, 2010 @ 1:41 pm

Christian Foundation for Children and Aging

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school2Looking for a worthy charity to get involved in? Why not take a closer look at the Christian Foundation for Children and Aging, which was ranked number 4 out of the top 10 charities in the United States. It has also earned the distinction of earning eight 4-star ratings (in a row, mind you) from Charity Navigator. Charity Navigator is perhaps the most reliable charity evaluator in the U.S. today.

So what does the Christian Foundation for Children and Aging do? This is their mission statement:

• We provide personal attention and direct benefits to children, youth, aging and their families so they may live with dignity, achieve their desired potential and participate fully in society.
• We invite people of good will to live in daily solidarity with the world’s poor through one-to-one sponsorship.
• We build community by fostering relationships of mutual respect, understanding and support that are culturally diverse, empowering and without religious or other prejudice.

From what I have seen, it is similar to World Vision, wherein people can sponsor children around the world. Sponsorships can be had for children from preschool to high school and I think CFCA also helps those who want to study college or vocational training. The money that sponsors give go to tuition fees, books, uniforms, and other school supplies. They currently operate in 24 countries.

If you are interested in helping out, visit the Christian Foundation for Children and Aging web site for more specific details.

Originally posted on December 3, 2010 @ 7:44 am