Giving Tuesday!
In the hustle and bustle of my favorite time of year, one of my favorite things to do is look at ways to give back. While "giving" most often refers to money, it can also be very helpful to give of your time and resources, so don't be afraid to think outside of the box :) Some of you may be thinking I'd really like to give, but don't have any idea what to give to. My response to that is to think about what issues you care about and find established organizations who are doing great things in those areas. If you don't have time for that, I'm more than willing to give you some suggestions! I will gladly take a break from writing my final paper (which, incidentally is asking people for money) to give you a few suggestions of organizations that are close to my heart.
We sponsor children through Africa New Life and Love Does- both wonderful organizations that not only provide the necessary food and water, but also pay for education. If regularly sponsoring a child is too much of a commitment right now, both of these organizations also take one-time donations to help fund special projects.
If you're looking for a more local opportunity, I suggest visiting DonorsChoose, where teachers from schools all over the country fundraise to meet classroom needs. You can find a classroom at a school in your neighborhood, or one that has been designated in an area of highest need, and make a direct impact on children in your area.
Partners in Health is an amazing global health organization that is literally saving the world through life-giving treatments in some of the world's neediest places. If you give before midnight tonight, your gift will be matched, so it's like giving twice as much! (Valpo friends, the book about Dr. Farmer was the best one in CORE, so you should say thanks by giving to his organization.)
If you've had Haiti on your mind ever since Hurricane Matthew, I suggest giving to either PIH above, or Help One Now, which has been working with local leaders for several years to provide education and resources to the Haitian people, especially the orphans and vulnerable children. They have a child-sponsorship option, as well as a one-time giving fund and I've been amazed at the way they're transforming communities and empowering families since I first became aware of them a little over a year ago.
If you have a loved one who has been fighting a disease, consider donating to a foundation that supports families and research for that disease, like the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, American Cancer Society, LIVEstrong, or the Ronald McDonald House.
December 1 is World AIDS Day, and the RED campaign is hoping for an HIV-free generation by 2020. RED has a series of great auction items going right now, so you might even get a real bang for your buck. (If you win the Hamilton tickets and don't take me, I'm going to have to seriously reconsider this friendship...)
If you live near us and want to see your gift have an immediate impact on our community, check out Walk the Walk Foundation, which is a great organization that gives gifts to children in need during the holidays, and also puts together diaper drives and back-to-school backpacks. We know and love the Mitchells and their heart for this community.
You can also check out facebook to see which of your friends might be trying to crowdraise or kickstart something they're passionate about, and give to them. I'll be giving to my friend Mike Brandow's Debut Album on kickstarter.
and, if this whole idea of giving gets you as excited as it gets me, then please consider joining us over at The Legacy Collective. It's a giving community that we've been a part of for about a year and a half, and since then we've been able to give significant funding to several needs like the Syrian Refugee Crisis, Hurricane Matthew Relief, homelessness, foster kids... the list continues to go on and on... and we'd love to have you join us.
So, there are my suggestions. Even if you don't care as much about health disparities or education as I do, please consider finding a cause close to your heart and giving to them. Guys, December is the only month I receive gifts, and giving is still my favorite thing about this time of year. (Hey! if you're looking for a gift for me, consider giving to one of the above organizations in my honor!)
We sponsor children through Africa New Life and Love Does- both wonderful organizations that not only provide the necessary food and water, but also pay for education. If regularly sponsoring a child is too much of a commitment right now, both of these organizations also take one-time donations to help fund special projects.
If you're looking for a more local opportunity, I suggest visiting DonorsChoose, where teachers from schools all over the country fundraise to meet classroom needs. You can find a classroom at a school in your neighborhood, or one that has been designated in an area of highest need, and make a direct impact on children in your area.
Partners in Health is an amazing global health organization that is literally saving the world through life-giving treatments in some of the world's neediest places. If you give before midnight tonight, your gift will be matched, so it's like giving twice as much! (Valpo friends, the book about Dr. Farmer was the best one in CORE, so you should say thanks by giving to his organization.)
If you've had Haiti on your mind ever since Hurricane Matthew, I suggest giving to either PIH above, or Help One Now, which has been working with local leaders for several years to provide education and resources to the Haitian people, especially the orphans and vulnerable children. They have a child-sponsorship option, as well as a one-time giving fund and I've been amazed at the way they're transforming communities and empowering families since I first became aware of them a little over a year ago.
If you have a loved one who has been fighting a disease, consider donating to a foundation that supports families and research for that disease, like the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, American Cancer Society, LIVEstrong, or the Ronald McDonald House.
December 1 is World AIDS Day, and the RED campaign is hoping for an HIV-free generation by 2020. RED has a series of great auction items going right now, so you might even get a real bang for your buck. (If you win the Hamilton tickets and don't take me, I'm going to have to seriously reconsider this friendship...)
If you live near us and want to see your gift have an immediate impact on our community, check out Walk the Walk Foundation, which is a great organization that gives gifts to children in need during the holidays, and also puts together diaper drives and back-to-school backpacks. We know and love the Mitchells and their heart for this community.
You can also check out facebook to see which of your friends might be trying to crowdraise or kickstart something they're passionate about, and give to them. I'll be giving to my friend Mike Brandow's Debut Album on kickstarter.
and, if this whole idea of giving gets you as excited as it gets me, then please consider joining us over at The Legacy Collective. It's a giving community that we've been a part of for about a year and a half, and since then we've been able to give significant funding to several needs like the Syrian Refugee Crisis, Hurricane Matthew Relief, homelessness, foster kids... the list continues to go on and on... and we'd love to have you join us.
So, there are my suggestions. Even if you don't care as much about health disparities or education as I do, please consider finding a cause close to your heart and giving to them. Guys, December is the only month I receive gifts, and giving is still my favorite thing about this time of year. (Hey! if you're looking for a gift for me, consider giving to one of the above organizations in my honor!)
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| I really loved this image from the Red Cross- also a great organization to give to, either with your wallet or your body! |
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