Skip to Content

charities

Models Win $21 Million in Lawsuit, Must Donate $2 Million to Charity

Filed under: Charity

The New York Daily News reported last week that five women's charities -- including an eating disorder program -- will share $2 million from a class-action settlement with major modeling agencies, as ordered by a federal judge. The money is what is left over after thousands of aspiring and established models got their share of a $21 million settlement with the agencies, including Wilhelmina, Ford and Click. The models sued in 2002, claiming the agencies fixed prices. A settlement was reached in 2005, but legal disputes delayed the final payouts. Manhattan Federal Judge Harold Baer originally ruled that after the models and their lawyers were paid, the remaining $6 million would be divvied up among the charities. The models and their lawyers appealed his decision, and after recalculating the payouts, a $2 million pool was left. Baer signed a final order that included $347,826 for Columbia University's eating disorders program and $173,913 for its heroin detox program. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute will receive $86,956 for its "Heart Truth" campaign and New York University School of Medicine will receive $347,826 for two heart research studies aimed at women.

Orangutan Outreach Red Apes Wine

Filed under: Wine, Charity


Orangutan Outreach has paired up with Custom Grapes to bring two lovely causes together: a love of great wine and a desire to conserve the world's orangutans. Grapes for Apes is a collection consisting of 5 Chilean varietals and a Spanish Cava each priced at $19.99, with $7 of that going to save and protect red orangutans in Indonesian. And you can be reminded of your good deed each time you open a bottle as the little face of an orangutan is printed right on every label.

Via Green Daily

Jenny's Light, Charity of the Day!

Filed under: Charity, Charity of the Day, Children

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!

Pratham USA, Charity of the Day

Filed under: Charity, Charity of the Day, Big Givers

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.

Lavender Trust, Charity of the Day

Filed under: Auctions, Charity, Charity of the Day, Big Givers

Lavender Trust is an charitable program that helps women dealing with breast cancer. What makes Lavender Trust different than all the other cancer care organizations, is their focus on a younger age group, they work primarily with women around the age of 30 who've been recently diagnosed. Programs are all free to the public and include a helpline, peer support and direct health care advice. Last year many celebrities generously donated dresses to an auction which raised funds to keep these worthwhile programs going. You can help support their cause by donating directly or by shopping at their fabulous online boutique, all proceeds go directly to Lavender Trust breast cancer support initiatives.

The Wounded Warrior Project, Charity of the Day!

Filed under: Charity, Charity of the Day

The Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) was founded on the core belief that veterans are our nations greatest citizens. WWP's goal is to raise awareness and enlist the public's help for severely injured service men and women. Some of the wonderful services provided by this amazing organization include medical care and stress counseling for the wounded as well as financial support for families of the wounded, including housing, food, child care, and transportation costs to the hospital so the service member does not have to recover alone. They offer a variety of ways you can help through fundraisers and corporate donations. A donation of $99 or more purchases a backpack for one soldier, filled with much-needed comfort items such as toiletries and other personal goods. They also have a great online store, with clothing and other cool WWP goods. I love this charity!

Friends of the Orphans, Charity of the Day

Filed under: Charity, Charity of the Day

For over 40 years, Friends of the Orphans has been helping orphaned children throughout the Caribbean and Latin America. Every day, Friends of the Orphans supports over 3,500 children in Bolivia, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Peru. Children become orphans a number of ways, many lose parents to HIV/AIDS, many impoverished parents simply cannot afford to care for their children so they abandon them. Orphaned children are at high risk of being exploited, either through child labor or the sex industry. Friends of The Orphans has orphanages in nine countries, the one shown above is in Nicaragua and houses 324 children. The homes have no set age limits or time restrictions, children and teens can stay as long as they want! In return they serve one year as volunteers, helping new children who arrive daily. Thankfully there are organizations like Friends of the Orphans, that refuse to turn their back on those who need help. To learn how your donation can sponsor a deserving children visit their website.

The Children's Health Fund, Charity of the Day

Filed under: Charity, Charity of the Day


It seems lately that this country is having a lot of issues in a lot of different areas, but one of the biggest is health care. Millions of children in this country are without health insurance and live in families that cannot afford to pay for their basic medical needs. The Children's Health Fund works to provide guaranteed health access for all children nationwide, along with contributing healthcare support services during emergencies (9-11, Hurricane Katrina). The Children's Health Fund was founded back in 1987 by pediatrician Irwin Redlener, MD and singer/songwriter Paul Simon.

Just Give, Charity of the Day

Filed under: Charity, Charity of the Day

The number of charities in the world is countless, non-profits cover all areas imaginable with some serving world-wide and others serving only their immediate local areas. And although you may know you want to share some of your blessings with others by giving money or volunteering, it can be more than a little intimidating to try and find one to support. Just Give is an organization that works to connect people who want to give with the charities that need them most. You can search their website and find charities that serve needs you're passionate about, serve locations near you or near loved ones, or you can simply browse around until something strikes you. Happy giving!

Seattle Aquarium Society, Charity of the Day

Filed under: Charity, Charity of the Day

The Seattle Aquarium Society is about not only supporting the Seattle Aquarium but also educating people about and preserving the Puget Sound and other marine habitats. Money donated goes towards researching marine species like the six gill shark and the giant Pacific Octopus, training "Beach Naturalists" who volunteer to teach beach visitors how to enjoy themselves without hurting the environment, or even simply helps feed the otters. High level memberships of $300-$5000/year get you additional goodies like behind-the-scenes tours and invites to special wine tastings, Presidential dinners, and the Splash! Reception that happens each year.

The Caring Institute, Charity of the Day

Filed under: Charity, Charity of the Day

Inspired by the goodness and generosity of Mother Teresa, The Caring Institute promotes the values of caring, integrity, and public service. Their credo is "You can do well by doing good" and at the center of everything they do is the principle that one person can make a difference. They offer programs for youth education, making dreams come true for terminally ill children, and encouraging expressions of caring through art with an annual poster contest. They also give out National Caring Awards every year to recognize deserving adults and youth who have gone above and beyond in caring for and helping others.

More Big Donors Giving Anonymously

Filed under: Charity


Being rich isn't always about being famous, in fact many wealthy individuals go to great lengths to keep out of the spotlight -- even when it comes to being recognized for generous gifts to charity. Recently I posted on billionaire Chuck Feeney and his anonymous "giving while living" motto, but he's not the only one out there that wants to give money away without being recognized -- as one donor put it "I don't want to walk into the coffee shop and have strangers come up and talk to me about this gift."

The reasons why this trend is growing vary wildly, sometimes it's a simple matter of safety and privacy and sometimes it's about family politics -- they don't want all their relatives knowing how much they really have. Anonymous giving is generally a good thing, I think. After all, it's about the charities, not the donors who keep them going.

Year Up, Charity of the Day

Filed under: Charity, Charity of the Day


Although opportunities abound in this country, many of them depend on having a decent education and a basic skill set that isn't always available to many of young people -- especially those living in urban areas. Year Up is a year long program for urban young adults age 18-24 aimed at filling in the educational cracks and giving them the tools and skills they need to move on to higher education and full-time jobs. Originally founded in Boston 5 years ago, Year Up now also has locations in New York, Providence, and Washington D.C.

Marriott's New Orleans Volunteer Package

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Services, Charity

Taking a vacation can be about so much more than just treating yourself -- what about getting away from it all in a way that's not only fun for you but also helps others? Marriott is offering a "Big Easy Spirit to Serve Getaway" package that offers luxurious amenities combined with charitable donations and volunteerism. The package includes a room at a Marriott hotel with breakfast for two in the morning, a "Care Concierge" who will help hook you up with volunteer organizations in the area and help you find a way to help that is meaningful to you, and then $50 of every night's room rate will be donated to Habitat for Humanity. All for rates of $159-$259/night.


Via LA Times Travel Blog

The Elephant Sanctuary, Charity of the Day

Filed under: Charity of the Day

Established in 1995 and existing on 2,700 acres in Hohenwald, Tennessee, The Elephant Sanctuary is devoted to providing a safe refuge for endangered Asian and African elephants that are old, needy, and sick after being retired from zoos and circuses. It is also passionate about educating others on the crisis facing these large and gentle creatures, and working to stop the capture and training of elephants from their natural habitats to perform in circuses and safaris. They have 23 elephants total in the sanctuary, and you can meet them all by name and picture and either send a general donation or sponsor a specific "girl" after reading each of their bios and getting to know them in photo albums.

Featured Galleries

Aperion SLIMstage30 Speaker System
Fortis Spaceleader Volkswagen Design White Watch
Gustafsson & Sjogren Stockholm watches
Sensai Summer Skin Care and Makeup Must-Haves
Four Season Provence
Casa Noble Tequila
Turks & Caicos Style
Ulysse Nardin Lady Diver Watch New Colors
Vacheron Constantin Historiques Aronde 1954 Watch