Children's Futures

Children's Futures was established in 2001 to serve Mercer County, NJ, and ensure that all children and families get off to a healthy start in life. They aim to increase opportunities for health and wellness, and to ward off health and social problems that can lead to a lifetime of illness and dependency.

The organization's mission is to improve health and development outcomes for children and their families. To achieve this mission, they formally collaborate with schools, social service providers, healthcare agencies, faith institutions, civic associations, employers and others around school readiness and success strategies that have the greatest positive impact on children's immediate health needs, as well as long-term development.

Children's Futures provides services in the following areas:

• Health Education and Outreach
• Prenatal Care Services
• Nurse Home Visiting
• Case Management
• Quality Child Care
• Health Literacy
• Family Support Services
• Professional Training & Technical Assistance

Additionally, the organization hosts conferences and forums, provides training and technical assistance to area agencies, produces reports and advocates for policy changes. Their programs focus on: strengthening parenting, improving primary care systems, improving child care systems and integrating community support.

For more information please visit the Children's Futures website.

If You Give a Kid a Book

BookEnds

In 1993, 8-year-old Brandon Keefe believed he could make a difference. By 1998, he was, forming BookEnds as nonprofit organization in Southern California that is about kids helping kids. The organization recycles children's books through student-run book drives and places them in schools and youth organizations in need of books. They believe that a literate child is the foundation of a thriving community. By providing access to books, children are given the resources to develop literacy skills and to experience the joy and imagination of reading.

Recipients of the BookEnds program include:

• Inner City Schools
• Youth Centers
• Homeless Shelters
• Family Literacy Centers
• After-school Enrichment Programs
• Children's Group Homes
• Juvenile Detention Facilities

For recipient organizations the ratio of books to kids is 3 to 1; the national average is 22 to 1.  Each dollar donated to BookEnds results in more than five dollars worth of books for kids.

BookEnds believes in the power of community service. Through Bookends students have the opportunity to change their lives and the lives of others through community service. Student volunteers collect, sort and personally deliver donated books to quality libraries and inspire a passion for reading.

The Stats to Date:

• 22,000 student volunteers
• 585 empty libraries filled in the Greater Los Angeles area
• 2.1 million books delivered
• Serving over 520,000 at-risk children

For more information please visit BookEnds.

Gifts Making a Difference

Suitcases4Kids is dedicated to helping foster children move with dignity, one suitcase at a time.

History

In 1995 10-year-old Aubyn Burnside had a great idea. Burnside had recently discovered that the average child in foster care has to move three or four times and they carry everything they own in garbage bags."I thought it was horrible that the children had nothing to carry their things in as they moved so many times. I wanted to make them feel special by giving them something of their own," Burnside explained. It wasn't long before the media picked up on the story. Burnside even made an appearance on Oprah and was named one of Oprah's Young Angels of her Angel Network.

A New Chapter

By 2009 the project was all but defunct as Burnside had directed her attention towards other endeavors. Enter Ron Nickerson. He is the founder and president of Suitcases4Kids*, having decided to use his talents and contacts to help children in the foster care system. It was during his research to determine how to best channel his talents that Nickerson discovered Burnside's project and realized it was a perfect fit to accomplish his goals. Nickerson has spent the last 25-years working with children and their families in a variety of settings including residential facilities and psychiatric hospitals. He has also been a social worker for kids in specialized foster care and director of a 30 bed youth detention facility in Boston. Currently Nickerson is a foster dad to several boys with Reactive Attachment Disorder. 

Some Stats

• Number of children in the United States foster care system: over 463,000 (as of 01/2010) 
• Average length of stay in foster care: 27.2 months. 
• Number of children waiting for adoption: 125,535
• Number of children abused or neglected: 742,661

For more information on the organization and how you can help please visit the Suitcases4Kids website.

*Please note the name of the organization Aubyn Burnside founded is Suitcases for Kids. You can visit the organization's site here. (The site has not been updated in several years).

GreaterGood

Background

GreaterGood is a network of websites that offer the unique opportunity to support causes you care about, with no cost to you. The organization partners with and funds leading nonprofit organizations around the world in order to alleviate poverty and hunger, promote peace, address cancer and other widespread health problems, foster literacy and education, preserve vital habitats in peril, and provide protection and care to vulnerable animals.

GreaterGood accomplishes this mission by:

• Alleviating and addressing the root causes of world hunger and food insecurity and promoting peaceful co-existence.
• Early detection and treatment of breast cancer and other widespread health concerns, particularly in women.
• Preventing and treating childhood illness, disease and other children's health and well-being concerns.
• Promoting children's literacy and education.
• Protecting and restoring the environment.
• Providing care and feeding of rescued animals in shelters and sanctuaries and addressing the root causes of their conditions.

How it Works

Each person's daily click on the Click to Give sites displays sponsor advertising. One hundred percent (100%) of sponsor advertising is paid as a royalty through GreaterGood.org. Supporters can also contribute directly to charity by purchasing Gifts that Give More, where 100% of the donations are given to charity, or by purchasing one of the over 4500 products they carry. There is a 5-30% charity royalty paid on every item purchased from any of the GreaterGood network of online stores.

Results

Last year GreaterGood  gave over $3.07 million to charity. And how's this for transparency, you can view exactly where the money went. The organization's website provides a breakdown of every charity they donated to, and the amount of money it received. Site visitors can even look at GreaterGood's giving from the last three years. The IRS 990 forms filed by GreaterGood are also easily accessible.

For more information please visit GreaterGood.org.

Project H.O.M.E.

Project H.O.M.E (Housing, Opportunities for Employment, Medical Care, Education)

None of us are home until all of us are home.

Background

Since 1988, Project H.O.M.E has been a leader in providing comprehensive and effective services to persons who experience chronic homelessness. The organization empowers people to break the cycle of homelessness, address the structural causes of poverty, and attain their fullest potential as members of society.

Co-founded by Sister Mary Scullion and Joan Dawson-McConnon, Project H.O.M.E is a nationally recognized organization that provides supportive housing, employment, education and health care to enable chronically homeless and low-income persons to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty. Under their leadership, Project H.O.M.E. has grown from a winter shelter to 447 units of housing and three businesses that employ formerly homeless individuals.

What makes this organization so effective, is its mission to alleviate the underlying causes of poverty, not simply treating the symptoms and its commitment to the dignity of every person.  They strive to create a safe and respectful environment where everyone supports one another in their struggle for self-esteem, recovery, and the confidence to move towards self-actualization. This mission is achieved through a continuum of care comprised of street outreach, a range of supportive housing, and comprehensive services. Project H.O.M.E. addresses the root causes of homelessness, through neighborhood-based affordable housing, economic development, and environmental enhancement programs, as well as providing access to employment opportunities; adult and youth education; and health care.

Project H.O.M.E is committed to social and political advocacy. An integral part of Project H.O.M.E.'s work is education about the realties of homelessness and poverty and vigorous advocacy on behalf of and with homeless and low-income persons for more just and humane public policies. It is also committed to nurturing the spirit of community among persons of walks of life, all of whom have a role to play in making this a more just and compassionate society.

The organization's website provides resources and facts about homelessness, particularly in Philadelphia, where Project H.O.M.E. is based. It is also important to note that Project H.O.M.E.'s board of directors include residents from the housing units, as well as program alumni.

Values 

The work of Project H.O.M.E. is rooted in their strong spiritual conviction of the dignity of each person. They believe:

• that all persons are entitled to decent, affordable housing and access to quality education, employment, and health care.
• in the transformational power of building relationships and community as the ultimate answer to the degradation of homelessness and poverty.
• that working to end homelessness and poverty enhances quality of life for everyone in the community.
• that the critical resources entrusted to Project H.O.M.E. to achieve its mission must be managed honorably and professionally.

Programs

Housing & Street Outreach- designed to deal with the complex issues of persons with special needs such as mental illness and addiction. The program consists of street outreach, a range of supportive housing from entry-level to permanent housing, and comprehensive services including health care, education, and employment.

• Street Outreach: Outreach Teams develop trusting relationships with homeless individuals who have severe mental illness or substance addiction.
• Women's Emergency Respite Center: serves women with a long history of street homelessness, many of whom are incompatible or resistant to city-run shelter services.
• Supportive Housing & Services: enables each person to break the cycle of homelessness, move towards self-sufficiency and achieve his or her full potential.
• Alumni Program: provides residents with the opportunity to stay connected to Project H.O.M.E. community even after moving out of the supportive housing programs.
• Affordable Rental Housing: an eleven-story building developed to help address the gap in Philadelphia's affordable housing inventory.
• Affordable Homeownership Program: designed to stimulate housing production in North Philadelphia, create positive community impact and scale, and increase development and transformation of a distressed urban community into an attractive place to live. The program includes Block Preservation and Place Making Initiatives, and  the Homebuyer Reservation Program

Community Development- The organization's revitalization work is focused in the North Central Philadelphia community known as 'St. Elizabeth's/Diamond Street" neighborhood and Ridge Ave commercial corridor, (a 33-square block neighborhood).

Since 1995, Project H.O.M.E. has been working in partnership with neighborhood residents, corporations, foundations, government, faith communities and others to revitalize this neighborhood. Efforts include the development of affordable rental housing, renovation of affordable homes for homeownership, greening of vacant lots, adult and youth education and enrichment programs and community based health care services.

• Economic Development: the program addresses the persistent challenges of long-term economic disinvestment: "vacancy, blight, and high rates of unemployment."
• Health Services Program: is committed to addressing the health and wellness needs of the urban community.
• Community Organizing: works in cooperation with local Block Captains and civic associations on activities such as community emergency food banks, block clean-ups, and the nationally ranked youth drill team, the North Philly Footstompers.
• Honickman Learning Center & Comcast Technology Lab: programs at this 38,000 square foot, three-story technology center are tailored to help residents of the community- children, youth, adults and families- move towards greater prosperity by increasing their educational and employment opportunities.

Education & Employment- Project H.O.M.E recognizes that education and employment are critical tools to help all people improve the quality of their lives. This is particularly vital for formerly homeless people and people from economically distressed neighborhoods that may not have access to meaningful educational and employment opportunities.

• Honickman Learning Center & Comcast Technology Lab
• Kindergarten-Sixth Grade Program
• Teem Program
• Adult Education and Workforce Development
• Employment Services
• Employment Initiatives
• Art Program
• Social Enterprises: Cafe & Thrift Shop

Awards & Honors

(Just to name a few)

• The National Alliance to End Homelessness' Nonprofit Sector Achievement Award
• STAR award from The National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty
• Named as one of the "16 most efficient and innovative charities [they] know of anywhere," by Philanthropy Roundtable.

Click here for more information on Project H.O.M.E.'s initiatives.

I'd love to hear about any organizations in your city that are addressing the underlying causes of homelessness and poverty in the community.

Operation Kids

Operation Kids is a 501(3)c dedicated to improving the lives of children. Recognizing the many dimensions to a healthy, happy child, they support a researched community of charities providing solutions to issues affecting children's education, health, safety, and well being.

Their mission is to identify the most pressing issues facing the largest number of children, and then support a community of qualified charities and programs most effectively addressing those issues. Issues are determined under the direction of their Whole Child Committee, a select group of experts in children's issues. The Committee helps Operation Kids staff identify effective solutions to those issues. The staff then seeks to identify who demonstrates the most impact and efficiency when implementing those solutions. Operation Kids demands full accountability and transparency in use of its donations. Therefore an "OK" endorsement that a charity or one of its programs receives identifies it as a effort deserving of complete donor confidence.

Their corporate giving consultant service helps companies identify and partner with charities that demonstrate the highest standards of effectiveness and impact, and whose partnership contributes to the company's brand-building efforts. Operation Kids also has competencies in media relations, special events management and Online charitable marketing and fundraising.

Founded in 1999 and incorporated in 2000, the organization is dedicated to sound principles of charitable giving. They:

1. Measurably improve the lives of children

• Improving Safety through The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's "Net Smartz" program
• Improving Health through the life-changing and life-saving medical procedures of Operation Smile and the Children's Organ Transplant Association
• Improving Well-Being through Right to Play's effective programs teaching conflict resolution through sport, in more than 23 countries
• Improving Education in New Orleans through the Edible Schoolyard Project, funding for summer science internships at New Orleans Charter Science and Math High School and programs for intellectually disabled children provided by Best Buddies

2. Provide donors with a more accountable and fulfilling experience

• Individual donors- your donation, combines with others, support programs and charities where they make a measurable impact. You can know your gift made a real difference
• Corporations/Businesses- By understanding the strategy behind corporate philanthropy, they can carefully design and manage corporate giving for maximum impact, thereby better serving your employees, customers, and communities
• Foundations- They vet charities and programs and help guide the foundation's giving based on its mission and focus, to ensure maximum impact
• Charities- They share best practices and efficient management principles to increase efficiency, accountability, and effectiveness

3. Research the most pressing issues facing the largest number of children

• While any issue affecting children is important, some affect greater numbers in more significant ways. Understanding issues in context is valuable to those looking to make the greatest impact with their charitable contributions.

4. Identify charities and programs most effectively addressing key issues

• Charities exhibit a wide range of effectiveness and efficiency. Many are well-managed. Some though well intended are not. Donors deserve to understand the effectiveness of a nonprofit organization before giving.

The organization's administrative expenses are fully met through monthly payments from an investment fund, so all contributions to Operation Kids:

• Reach the child in need
• are focused on your area of interest
• are leveraged through matching funds campaigns
• are managed every step of the way

For more information please visit Operation Kids website.

Global Playground

Global Playground's mission is "to raise awareness and share resources with people of the developing world to create educational opportunities where they do not exist."

The organization was founded by young professionals in New York and Washington D.C., and was incorporated in 2006. The organization funds projects that increase access to and quality of education to children in the developing world.

Global Playground is committed to funding the education of children in underdeveloped and developing countries, and promoting the importance of education and cross-cultural understanding in the developing world. They believe education is the most promising means to eliminating violence, poverty, intolerance, and misunderstanding in our world. They also believe that young minds are most open to cross-cultural understanding and the appreciation of differences.

The organization's first project: Project Uganda, is a school for 300 children in the rural Wakiso District. Their new initiatives include: Project Cambodia, a middle school for 150 children in the outskirts of Kandal, and Project Thailand, a library for 400 children in the remote Mae Hong Song province. Global Playground is currently researching Central American and Eastern Europe for future projects.

For more information, please visit Global Playground's website.

Cambodian Children's Fund

Cambodian Children's Fund (CCF) was founded by Hollywood film executive Scott Neeson after a visit to Cambodia in 2003. Having been forever changed by his experience, Neeson left the glitz of Hollywood to live in Phnom Penh year round as CCF's Executive Director.

CCF was originally developed as one shelter providing a safe haven for 45 children in critical need. Today the organization has grown to five separate facilities, where nearly 400 children receive nutrition, housing, medical treatment, dental services, and vaccinations. The also receive an education, job training, and access to cultural and athletic activities.

CCF is also increasing  their community relief efforts to provide suffering families better access o education, healthcare, food assistance and safe drinking water- which is essential in an environment where an estimated 80% of illnesses are water related.

CCF Programs include the following:

• The CCF Education Program- which provides a comprehensive education, culture and sports and extra-curricular activities, and eventual public school integration. Subjects include: multi-level English,  local language reading and writing, social studies, and math. In addition evening cultural classes teach traditional Khmer music, dance and drama.
• Region of Lazio Community Leadership Program- designed for students who are smart, articulate and charismatic- children who are demonstrably natural leaders, regardless of their education status or grade level. The program emphasizes entrepreneurship, human rights issues, social activism and media studies, as well as land rights and community intervention. The goal of this program is to prepare a select group of promising students to enter Cambodian society with skills, ambition, and integrity to become progressive leaders and spokespeople for the emerging generation.
• The CCF Vocational Training Program- is invaluable to older children who came to CFF with limited schooling, as they are unlikely to complete high school at a reasonable age and go on to higher studies. The program encourages children to pursue on- and off-site studies in: computer training, cosmetology, hair-dressing, graphic design, restaurant management, and language instruction. In 2006, CCF also opened Star Bakery, a facility that provides training in baking techniques, bread production, food hygiene, and business management.
• CCF Healthcare Program- the program oversees the healthcare, nutrition, and medical treatment of over 300 students.

"Cambodian children are some of the most deprived and abused in the world. They've had no choice in being born into a country with some of the highest rates of child prostitution and domestic violence in the world... In such a plentiful world, it is inexcusable that any child should have to live this way."

The above statement appears to be ever-present in the minds of those working to advance CCF's mission. It is a call to action for all of us. As Bono has said, we cannot let the misfortunes of geography determine the fate of others.

For more information, including how you can sponsor a child, please visit CCF's website.

First Book

First Book provides new books to children in need, addressing one of the most important factors affecting literacy: access to books.

Founded in 1992, by Kyle Zimmer, the organization has gone from distributing 12,000 books in year 1, to approximately 8 millions books in 2008. To date, First Book has distributed more than 60 million free or low cost books in thousands of communities.

First Book operates out of the U.S. and Canada, securing books from publishers. The organization doesn't take individual book donations, but at $2.50 per book, your dollar goes far.

For more information on First Book please visit their website. 

Philadelphia Mural Arts Program

Today's feature focuses on the power of the arts in community building and healing. Philadelphia's Mural Arts Program (MAP) is a public art program that works in partnership with communities, grassroots organizations, city agencies, prisons, and schools. Though focused on serving the Philadelphia area, the organization's work has drawn national attention for its use of the mural to help prevent crime and rehabilitate those convicted of crimes, all while beautifying city neighborhoods. MAP is one of the largest public arts initiatives of its kind in the United States.

MAP's mission is "to engage in art education and community public art collaborations, and to increase public access to art." Their goals are to:

• Develop sustainable partnerships with community organizations in order to create murals that reflect the community's culture, history, and vision.
• Catalyze community development, neighborhood activism, and civic pride.
• Foster youth development through experiential art education and mentorships with professional artists.
• Support artists and artisans in sharing their talent and experience with youth and communities in Philadelphia.
• Use the power of art and the mural design process as tools for community engagement, blight remediation, beautification, demonstration of civic pride, and prevention and rehabilitation of crime.

MAP creates over 100 community murals per year. To date the organization has educated of 20,000 under served youths and produced over 2,800 murals. 

Their programming provides free, quality art education programs to at-risk youth, and programs in restorative justice serving youth and adult offenders in local prisons and rehabilitation centers. Using the restorative power of the arts to break the cycle of crime and violence. 

More recently MAP has gone "off the wall" to include Special Projects. These projects include Gateway projects, public sculptures, art along major commercial corridors, and a range of other creative projects designed to transform the city and its residents through art.

For more information on MAP's programs, articles on their work, and how you can get involved please visit MAP's website.

Operation Warm

The mission of Operation Warm is to provide children in poverty with a new, warm winter coat.

The organization provides new warm coats to children in need through strategic partnerships and community organizations. Their vision is that every child wearing a new winter coat is healthy, is able to attend school regularly, and has strong self-esteem. They hope each child they reach believes "I am of value."

Since its founding in 1998, by Dick Sanford, Operation Warm has distributed more than 375,000 coats to children living in poverty. That equates to approximately $14 million.

Two points from the site that just can't be ignored:

1. Winter coats are one of the most requested items by schools and service agencies
2. For many, a new winter coat from Operation Warm is the first item of new clothing the children have ever received.

"The coat helps to prevent the social isolation these kids feel about themselves and their unsolicited poverty. By keeping children warm, Operation Warm helps build self-confidence and improves self-esteem. When children feel good about themselves and fit in, they can arrive at school, warm, on-time and ready to learn."

I urge you to visit Operation Warm's website to learn more about this important work and how you can help.

Somos Children's Village

Today's organization is working towards a significant goal- building a village for abandoned and orphaned children in Guatemala.

The Somos Project is creating Children's Village, housing 49 children, in seven homes with seven foster mothers raising the household of children. These children will not be adopted out. The homes are meant to be long-term,  creating a permanent foster family. The Village will focus on education, leadership, and the arts, with the children attending the local community school.

Beyond the seven homes, the Village will also have buildings for activities, guest rooms, art and music workshops, a library, administrative space, a larger playground and soccer field. The Village will be eco-sustainable, with alternative power, rain water capture, grey water recycling, solar energy, and organic gardens and orchards.  

The Village is working with the local Guatemalan community. Children's Village will be managed by the Village Director, who is a local Guatemalan. More local Guatemalans will be employed in various areas of the Village.

I urge you to visit the site. It's filled with detailed information about every aspect of the project. There is a very clear mission, and very clear plan how to achieve that mission. This is a wonderful project to provide a loving home and happy life for children whose young lives have already experience a great deal of sadness. For more information about Project Somos' progress or how you can get involved please visit their site.

Play for Peace

PLAY for PEACE's mission is "to bring together children, youth, and organizations from communities in conflict, using cooperative play to create laughter, compassion and play." The organization seeks to prevent violence in conflict-torn areas by teaching people how to live, play, and work together.

PLAY for PEACE objectives:

• To promote positive relationships among the people of societies in conflict
• To foster leaders for peace around the world
• To build self-sustaining learning communities in which all regions work interdependently to build a more peaceful world
• To create a non-threatening environment, free from fear, in which people of all ages can experience the joys of play.

Based on the creation of ongoing learning partnerships, the organization allows each person to build positive, life-long connections with others. This community building strategy has a special focus among peoples with a history of intercultural tension. The organization believes cooperative play is an effective tool to promote cross-cultural relationships. PLAY for PEACE works in Guatemala, India, the Middle East, Northern Ireland, and North America.

PLAY for PEACE is a global organization. It works through Hub Organizations, who work with their community to instill change by cultivating local leadership. PLAY for PEACE, and its Hub Organizations, work through community leaders and youth facilitators to teach children, teens, and adults to trust and respect each other, and to break down cultural barriers.

PLAY for PEACE was kind enough to supply the following information on their organization and work:

"Currently operating out of six hub institutions (NEIU in Chicago, Hazlewood College in Northern Ireland, Illinois State University, Shaishav in India, Jerusalem International YMCA in Israel, and the University of San Carlos in Guatemala), "PLAY for PEACE" is a cross-cultural community that works together as a system to build lasting peace and give the children of the world hope for a better life.

In the past four four years, the global "PLAY for PEACE" community has provided over 4.1 million participant days to these communities. Through the cooperation of our regional Hub and Partner organizations, teenagers from conflicting cultures are brought together to be leaders for peace in their neighborhoods. These youth facilitators learn experience-based educational methodologies and models that empower them to be effective in their service. They come together week-by-week to facilitate cooperative, relationship building activities for the community's younger children. Then, motivated by the peace-building lessons they have learned, they frequently unite in creating and leading other local initiatives that promote positive, lasting relationships between the conflicting cultures of their community."

For more information please visit the PLAY for PEACE website.

Habele

Habele: Outer Island Education Fund

Habele translated means to realize a future; to wish.  Based in South Carolina, the organization makes this wish a reality through its dedication to the advancement of educational opportunities in the remote islands and atolls of Micronesia, an impoverished former American trust territory in the Central Pacific. This mission is achieved through two objectives. 

The primary goal of Habele is to provide scholarships and tuition-assistance grants to children living in the "low" or "outer" islands, so these children can attend independent schools located in larger district centers.

Secondly, the organization supports public schools through book donations, material assistance, and performance-based teaching awards.

What's great about this fund? Well for starters, the Board members are all former teachers, who have lived and taught in the Outer Islands. They understand the needs of the children and schools to help cultivate the educational process. It's also worth noting that the organization is run entirely by volunteers, as in no paid employees. 

Please visit Habele's website for more information on how you can donate money, books, supplies or time.

The Heifer Project

In 1944, Dan West founded the Heifer Project with the hope of ending hunger by providing a source of food, rather than a short-term remedy.  More than 60 years later, the organization has served millions of families in 128 countries.

Their mission is simple: to work with communities to end hunger and poverty and to care for the earth. Their strategy is simple: have people share their animals offspring with others, in other words, "pass on the gift."

Passing on the Gift means that each family receiving a heifer, (a young cow that hasn't yet given birth), agrees to donate the female offspring to another family in need. Thus the gift of food is never ending.

Since it's start the organization has expanded its initiatives to advance its mission. These initiatives include: Agroecology, Animal Well-Being, Gender Equity, HIV/AIDS, Micro-enterprise, Urban Agriculture, and Young People's Initiatives.

The website is filled with information on the various programs and the many ways you can get involved. Please visit the site to learn more.

Infinite Skies

Founded in 2006 and based in Alexandria, VA, Infinite Skies is "dedicated to improving the life of children and promoting awareness of children's needs and issues." They have a special focus on children with special needs, including the seriously ill, abused, neglected, and socio-economically disadvantaged.

Their call to "Reach for the Stars" is a collection of programs under the categories: Research, Education, Awareness, Culture, and Health to pursue the organization mission. Here's a brief overview of each category.

Research for Kids- raises and contributes funds to programs, centers, and hospitals dedicated to research on issues and illness affecting infants through adolescents. 

Educating Kids- designed to promote learning and provide educational opportunities for children and schools in need. These programs include providing educational supplies, scholarships, learning conferences, and tutoring services.

Awareness Makes a Difference- programs dedicated to inspiring community involvement, addressing subject matter concerning children, and promoting awareness of children's issues through its volunteer program, educational seminars, discussion clubs for adults, and newsletters.

Cultural Kids- programs include a series of activities and field trips designed to provide exposure to the arts and music, promote cultural awareness, and inspire creativity and confidence.

Healthy Kids- programs are designed to improve the physical and emotional well being of children, including entertainment, performances, and gifts.

For more information please visit the Infinite Skies site.

The Pajama Program

The Pajama Program provides new, warm pajamas and books to children in need in the US and around the world. Many of these children are waiting and hoping to be adopted by a loving family.  The organization's mission is "to provide a loving environment for children who have lived through a great deal of hurt in their young lives to give them hope for a better tomorrow."

Founded in 2001 by Genevieve Piturro and Alice Quirk, the program finds key institutions in major cities where children are living in temporary housing as they wait for adoption. To date the organization has sent pajamas and books throughout the US and to Armenia, Bosnia, Brazil, Columbia, Greece, South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, and the Ukraine.

The Pajama Program is a great example about how something, which seems so small to many of us, can mean so much and have such a big impact.  I strongly urge to visit the Pajama Program website to see how you can get involved. It's also a great way for young people to get involved in philanthropy.

For more about how you can help go to www.PajamaProgram.org 

Academy for Educational Development

Academy for Educational Development's (AED) mission "is to make a positive difference in people's lives by working in partnership to create and implement innovative solutions to critical social and economic problems."

To achieve this AED implements more than 250 human and social development programs throughout the US and in more than 150 countries. The organization works with local and national partners, developing sustainable strategies, to improve education, health, civil society, and economic development.

Programs focus on education, economic development, health, HIV/AIDS, and leadership. AED uses a variety of approaches to combat these issues, including research and evaluation, behavior change, partnerships, social marketing, and training.

Founded in 1961, the organization "envisions a world in which all individuals have the opportunity to reach their full potential and contribute to the well-being of their family, community, country, and world." 

Please visit AED's website for more information on how you can contribute.  And for anyone concerned about how much money goes to running an organization of this size, 91% of expenses are directly related to AED programs. In other words, you know your dollars are going to support AED programs.

Homeless Children's Playtime Project

Founded in 2003,  Homeless Children's Playtime Project (HCPP) is dedicated to nurturing healthy childhood development and reducing the trauma of children living in temporary housing programs in Washington D.C. The organization also promotes affordable housing.

The organization's vision states, "We believe that play is a human right that all children deserve, regardless of housing status. We seek to help create a city that provides every opportunity for homeless children to succeed by advocating for affordable housing and safe shelters for all families."

HCPP's trained volunteers from the community provide children in emergency shelters and transitional housing with arts and educational activities, healthy snacks, sports and recreation, special events, and bicycle, equipment, and toy drives.

In the past five years, 200 volunteers have served more than 500 children at six playtime sites in Washington D.C.

I urge you to visit HCPP's website for more information on how you can get involved.