All children should have the right to play but for some on the world's most disadvantaged communities, the simple joy of sport and play is not always available. The Right to Play program uses the medium of sports and activities for a variety of purposes including teaching HIV prevention, helping rehabilitate children affected by war, encouraging the healthy, phsycial, social and emotional deveopment of refugees and simply bringing laughter and play to children in need. The program accepts donations and trains volunteers as coaches but one simple way you can help is by buying a mini red ball which is available at Adidas stores.
Posh Paws is an idea put into motion by Cantoni furniture store and inspired by a small polyethylene dog originally created by designer Eero Aarnio as part of his children's collection. The Posh Paws version takes the original dog, adds in a few local and national celebrity designers, and comes up with an entire line of adorable and unique puppy toys (toys that are puppies, not toys for puppies) that are up for sale to benefit various charities in the name of animal rescue and helping stray pets find permanent homes. My favorite is this one by Zsofia Mezey Koppani.
Jenny's Light is a charity devoted to raising awareness about perinatal mood disorders. The organization was founded by the family of a woman named Jenny who suddenly took both her and her husband's life while suffering from untreated post partum depression. Jenny's Light funds research into post natal mood disorders and also provides support to women suffering from the darkness and hopelessness that sometimes occurs after giving birth. Help shine light on this serious health issue, donations are greatly appreciated as much research still needs to be done!
The 46664 Foundation, named after the number former South African President Nelson Mandela wore while imprisoned for 27 tears, aims to raise awareness and to educate people about the global HIV/AIDS crisis. The campaign began in 2003, when Mandela realized that to reach the youth of the world he needed to engage the support of the people who most appeal to them. Mandela, supported by Dave Stewart of Eurythmics, Brian May and Roger Taylor of Queen, and Bono (natch), persuaded more than 30 of the world's top artists to come together to perform at a global awareness concert for HIV/AIDS in Cape Town.
Mandela will be 90 this year, and to celebrate, as well as to raise funds for 46664, there will be a global launch of limited-edition 46664 wrist bangles during the birthday celebrations in London on June 27. The goal is to create jobs as well as bring at least R1-billion (R=South African Rand, equal to $0.12587 on June 23) to the fight against HIV/Aids. Offered will be 90 platinum bangles (at the cost of R135 660 each), 90 24-carat gold bangles (R67 260), 466 18-carat gold bangles (R54 948) and 46,664 silver bangles (R1 995). The initiative will be a South African effort using metals from local suppliers, the skills of local craftsman and domestic suppliers from the tooling, machining and packaging industries. At least 60 percent of revenues from the sale of bangles will go to the 46664 HIV/Aids prevention campaign.
Pratham USA was started in 1994 by UNICEF, with the goal to educate the children of India in the areas of reading writing and basic math. Based on the principal that children who attend school make more productive members of society and are less likely to fall into poverty, Pratham works by improving India's schools instead of replacing them or imposing new ways of life. Recently Google awarded a $2 million grant to Pratham to assist their efforts! Check out the amazing work this organization is doing here.
The Tony Hawk Foundation has a very broad mission of working to foster lasting improvements in society and it aims to do this mainly by empowering and supporting the youth of today. The Tony Hawk Foundation creates and supports various recreational programs around the country but usually favors (of course!) putting up skateboard parks in low income communities.
The Surfrider Foundation is dedicated to preserving the world's oceans, waves, and beaches, and works to further that mission through educational programs and the development of grassroots awareness. Their programs include everything from the expected like monitoring water quality and teaching kids to respect the beach to the slightly less expected, like information on how to create an "ocean friendly garden" that reduces runoff and harmful pollutants.
You can take part in their programs hands on if you live near any of the nations coasts (they have chapters pretty much everywhere) or join online and support them from anywhere.
Luke's Wings is an organization dedicated to supporting veterans who have been wounded in battle. Their unique mission is to reunite veterans with their immediate families during their hospital stay away from home. Recognizing that additional time away from loved ones can hinder the healing process on an emotional and physical level, Luke's Wings flies the family to wherever the wounded soldier is! Luke's Wings shops around for the best deals on air fare tickets and receives special deals from travel agencies, the tickets are purchased with money from generous donors around the globe. Get involved with this innovative organization and help a family in need during their most trying time!
Want a stylish way to help solve one of todays most urgent humanitarian crisis? Relief Beads is a campaign that sells handmade African bracelets to raise awareness and money for the people of Darfur. Funds from bracelet sales go directly to refugee camps and medical clinics in the most urgently needed locations. The funds from every eight bracelets sold, provides medical care for 100 refugees! Since conflict begin in 2003 over 2.5 million people have been forced to leave their homes. Support this worthwhile cause, pick up your bracelets today!
Women For Women improves the lives of women in war torn regions with their holistic whole health approach, they address both mental and educational needs as well as physical health issues. Women who enter their amazing one year program have no where else to turn. Through education, they're transitioned from victim to survivor then active citizen. Over the years this organization has empowered hundreds of thousands of women in Congo, Afghanistan, Sudan and Nigeria. They're able to do so because of their successfull sponsor program. It matches potential donors with a woman in need within four weeks, once you've been matched you recieve all the information about your new "sister", and you assist her with your monthly contribution. Learn more about Women For Women's inspiring work and then get involved!
I live right smack in the middle of the Midwest in Iowa, and with the drastic weather this country has been experiencing (in this area it's excessive rain and flooding) crops are getting destroyed and many farmers are being threatened with the possibility of losing their farms, homes, and livelihoods. Farm Aid Inc. is working to help family farms across the country to stay alive, profitable, and on their land through a variety of efforts, including fund raising concerts from big names like Dave Matthews, John Mellencamp, Willie Nelson, and Counting Crows. Check to see if there's one your area!
The Nancy and Daniel Benoit Foundation (NDBF) is dedicated to preventing steroid abuse through education and raising awareness about the unfortunate effects steroids can have on users and those close to them. The foundation was started by Nancy Benoit's sister... Nancy and her seven year old son were murdered last year by her then husband professional wrestler and steroid abuser Chris Benoit. The one-year anniversary of these senseless deaths is this month, donating to their cause is a great way to help keep their memory alive while furthering education/prevention efforts.
Lifesavers Inc. is all about saving horses -- all kinds from unwanted or homeless domestic pets to retired working animals to wild mustangs. Created in 1997 it's a fairly young organization that serves as a source of news and contacts to other horse related campaigns (like this one geared towards saving America's wild mustang population) and events like this horse dancing competition and this women's empowerment workshop. They also provide links to horse rescue resources and homeless horses that are available for adoption -- I love horses and seeing these that need a home makes me wish I had room for a one!
The Search Dog Foundation(SDF) produces the nation's most highly trained search and rescue dogs. In times of natural disaster or terrorist attacks, chances are the dogs that will be coming to our aid will be graduates of this amazing organization. Training for each dog runs around $10,000, takes up to a year and requires extensive one-on-one time. The dogs that train at SDF are from shelters, which makes me love this organization that much more. SDF receives no government funding, and relies on the generosity of the public to keep the whole thing running!
Milkweed Editions Inc. was founded in 1979 in Minnesota with the intention of "making a humane impact on society." The independent non-profit publishing house puts out 12 - 20 new books each year and strives to use literature's unique ability to reach people and change their thinking to make the world a better place. They support writing creations of all kinds (fiction, nonfiction, children's, poetry) as long as it conveys a message in keeping with their mission of the essence of the human heart and spirit.
