It's National Delurking Day! Woohoo!
I ask whoever comes to visit my blog today, whether you usually comment or just lurk in the background wondering when I will ever learn to use a hairdryer (answer: NEVER!), to say hello in the comments and tell me about your favorite charity, perhaps one I don't know well (bonus points if you give me the URL).
In return, I pledge to donate $1 for every comment received by midnight Friday January 15th to the Red Cross effort to support the Haitian people. And I pledge to donate another $1 for every comment to one of the cool charities that you fine, fine people tell me about (I get to pick! FUN!).
I'll start:
Hi!
One of my favorite charities is Raising a Reader. http://www.raisingareader.org/. They encourage parents to read daily to their children and provide bookbags with a rotating bunch of books for the kids to take home. They call it "book cuddling" which is SO APT. I wish I could cuddle with a book RIGHT NOW.
Your turn!
35 comments:
Great idea! Today my favorite charity is Doctors Without Borders. I heard on NPR that it is helpful to give to the organizations already on the ground in Haiti. Doctors Without Borders is already running a relief hospital to help with the demand for medical treatment. http://doctorswithoutborders.org/
I've worked in raising funds before with Feeding America (aka America's Second Harvest). They are a great charity.
I'm Bethany. I just started to read your blog last week.
I feel strongly about http://www.nationalshare.org/ which is a pregnancy loss and miscarriage support program. I also feel that Samaritan's Purse is an excellent organization, and I am happy to participate in their Operation Christmas Child.
Hi! I'm doing the same thing over at my blog today, so please stop by & leave me a comment!
Happy Delurking Day!
Thanks for your generosity!
I became a big fan of Partners in Health after reading Paul Farmer's bio, Mountains Beyond Mountains.
http://www.pih.org/home.html
Jebus, the PRESSURE! So, I like Heifer International, because I've only heard good things about them and because I feel like they are not "fishing for the people" but "teaching people to fish"... which is to say, they are giving something to people that has long-lasting and more permanant positive outcomes. Or, ah, something like that.
Well, look at that! I REALLY butchered what I was trying to say.
Get it from the horse's mouth here:
www.heifer.org
I have never heard of that, but it might become my new charity.
My favorite charities are local ones. I like helping where I live. We have two great ones here that do a little of everything.
Yay! I like St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
My favorite charity is Smile Train, www.smiletrain.org
My daughter was born with a cleft, and it was repaired easily and with a modest co-pay. Smile train provides the same service for free to kids in developing countries. What could be better--giving a child a smile!
I love reading your blog!!!
Hillary had a great point about donating to charities where you live. Here's my favorite: http://www.hibiscuschildrenscenter.org/
Happy Delurking Day!
I LOVE this post!
So many great causes. Here's one that really needs help and possibly one that you haven't heard of:
http://www.helenaptochiafoundation.org
The Helena Ptochia Foundation raises money to build hospitals in Africa specifically to repair vesico vaginal fistulas. These occur in women after prolonged, obstructed labor. The after effects are horrible - the women become incontinent of both feces and urine and end up being ostracized by their families and their communities.
It is a relatively (by U.S. standards) simple procedure to repair but in Africa there are not many hospitals that do this procedure.
This foundation is currently building a hospital in Ghana for the specific purpose of repairing these fistulas.
Thanks for letting me give them a plug!
I LOVE this post!
So many great causes. Here's one that really needs help and possibly one that you haven't heard of:
http://www.helenaptochiafoundation.org
The Helena Ptochia Foundation raises money to build hospitals in Africa specifically to repair vesico vaginal fistulas. These occur in women after prolonged, obstructed labor. The after- effects are horrible - the women become incontinent of both feces and urine and end up being ostracized by their families and their communities.
It is relatively (by U.S. standards) simple to repair but in Africa there are not many hospitals that do this procedure.
This foundation is currently building a hospital in Ghana for the specific purpose of repairing these fistulas.
Thanks for letting me give them a plug!
Let's see...Swistle beat me to Jt. Jude's so how about The United Way?http://national.unitedway.org/
We actually donate a portion of every paycheck to them. They are area specific and very accountable for who they give money to.
Hello, i don't just lurk but i often comment and blab, but i'd second Doctors Without Borders especially in these times with what Haiti is going through right now.
I read your blog in the mornings, while I'm getting breakfast ready for my son (14 months old). I kept meaning to leave you a comment, because I live in the Northern VA area--we just moved this last summer for my husband's job, but I'm a procrastinator. I hear you with the difficulties of settling into a new place...especially this place. :)
My favorite charity...oh, that's a tough one. I'm a total sucker for good causes. I'll have to echo the plug for Heifer, Int'l, though, because they provide good to entire communities through their services.
Gotta echo the Heifer Int'l as a favorite charity. But I also like to help at home too. I am blessed with everything I need, but I need to be reminded that not everyone is, and since I sometimes eat more food than I need, my charity for today is Los Angeles Regional Foodbank. http://www.lafightshunger.org/
Good work, CBHM!
What a great idea! My favorite charity is CHEO (Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario) They helped me when I was a child, now it's my turn to help them.
http://www.cheo.on.ca/english/hub.shtml
Holla! Officially delurking here. Welcome to Virginia btw - I'm in southern VA. I've always been drawn to St. Jude. Locally I donate to the Children's Hospital in my area.
Okay, you rock, li'l J, as usual.
I second grammalouie's choice and add:
http://www.vitaminangels.org/donate-funds
Recently read about them in the NYT op ed. It is relatively easy and cheap to provide these micronutrients, makes a HUGE difference, and is not as "glamorous" as some issues, so deserves our deliberate remembrance.
Finally, this earthquake is such a blow to the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere. As my friend says, the history is Haiti is the history of every form of oppression since European arrival on this continent. Let us remember that conditions in Haiti - politically, economically, nutritionally, etc.-are oppressive and difficult every day.
http://www.pih.org/home.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Haiti
www.kickstart.org
This organization makes affordable, ingenious inventions that are used to help people in 3rd world countries get out of poverty by simplifying daily tasks and promoting self-sustainability. Check out this article for a description:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/29/science/29cheap.html?scp=7&sq=kickstart&st=cse
Hey sweetie. Great idea. I always read you, even if I don't comment. I love reading your posts.
My fav charity? That's tough. I work with a lot of great non-profits through work, but I'd probably say the YMCA, actually. They're kinda sorta a business, but where I live they do a lot for the community.
Oh, my big-hearted friend J.
Like everyone else, I also have my favorite charities on which I focus my donation efforts. However, if asked for a "favorite," I name the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation:
www.firehero.org
They have three primary purposes: to honor and remember firefighters killed in the line of duty; to provide support to the families and departments of fallen firefighters; and to improve firefighter safety through research, training, and education.
UNICEF
Delurking! What a great and generous idea. My favorite charities are our local animal shelters.
I like the leukemia and lymphoma society because I lost my brother to non-hodgkins lymphoma. Actually, the lymphoma was cured, the treatment killed him. Here's to finding a better treatment!
You are such a generous person. I'm with Swistle. I'm a fan of St. Jude's. My sister and I usually shop for presents for each other at the gift shop since a big portion of the proceeds go to research.
Consider me delurked!
I regularly donate to Oxfam International, but my local Children's Hospital (the Royal Melbourne Children's Hospital)also deserves all the help it can get.
Am moving somewhere in your area mid-year so love reading about your experiences. Thanks!
What a nice idea! So many charities are near to my heart, but I'll plug House of Ruth Maryland: www.hruthmd.org because I worked there for several years and know firsthand the amazing things they do for amazing women!
I love your blog! I would say one of my fav is doctors without borders also
My son was a preemie, so I always support the March of Dimes whenever I can.
What a fabulous idea!
Here is a charity that I like, I happen to know them personally and all help is appreciated!
http://cota.donorpages.com/PatientOnlineDonation/COTAforJonahM/
Hi all,
Me again.
Can't stop thinking about this blog and I love all your choices, especially the Heifer Project. Would also like to add Planned Parenthood Federation, Women to Women International, Freedom from Hunger, Defenders of Wildlife, Wilderness Society, Sierra Club. OMG, the list is LONG!
Big sorting factor for me is their fund raising costs. Many charities incur enormous costs to raise money. Check out:charitywatch.org and click on the "A - Z" listing. It's an eye-opener.
I am totally opposed to giving to any organization that mails me stationery, key chains or other junk I don't want or need.
Just something to think about.
Hi CBHM - I am a total lurker and love keeping up with you thru your blog. Thx for all of the wonderful stories about your girls and your life! That being said my vote for charities would be for either the red cross (for relief for Haiti) or for a local charity, my vote goes to 5 acres (http://www.5acres.org/).
Doctors without Borders, Save the Children are favorites for the broad, impressive humanitarian work they do during and after crisis.
This summer Matt and I fell in love with Big Brother Mouse in Laos, which publishes books in Lao and English that are culturally appropriate and respectful. These go to begin libraries at village schools as well as to individual children. Often these books are the only ones in the house.
LK
Greetings CBHM- I've been lurkin' since right before E arrived. Love your blog! Use to live in MD but am currently an expat finishing a tour in Southeast Asia. BTW I do have a friend who moved from Oregon to VA and she has voiced some similar struggles with the change of Coast and dealing with little ones. Perhaps you two should e-mail/chat? :)
As for charities- I'd say Doctors Without Borders & ASPCA. I echo what someone wrote about providing support on a local level so here I support http://www.furryfriendsfarm.org.my/. It's a great place! Again, love your blog and am always happy when I get a chance to visit it.
Sending warm weather thoughts your way!
-Mutt
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