‘Tis the season for generosity, so this year we invite you to consider adding a charity to your nice list. If you’re not sure where to start, we've listed a few non-profit organizations that we think are worth checking out. Whether you donate your time, money, or even blood, we hope you’ll join us in sharing the spirit of the season with the charity of your choice.
American Red Cross
http://www.redcross.org
The American Red Cross exists to provide compassionate care to those in need. Their mission is preventing and relieving suffering at home and around the world, through five key service areas: disaster relief, supporting military families, collecting lifesaving blood donations, providing health and safety services, and giving international support such as responding to disasters, building safer communities, and educating future humanitarians.
Fund for Teachers
http://www.fundforteachers.org
Fund for Teachers supports educators' efforts to develop skills, knowledge and confidence that impact student achievement. By trusting teachers to design unique fellowships, Fund for Teachers grants validate teachers' professionalism and leadership as well. Since 2001, Fund for Teachers has invested $20 million in more than 5,500 teachers, transforming grants into growth for teachers and their students.
Rainforest Alliance
http://www.rainforest-alliance.org
The Rainforest Alliance works to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-use practices, business practices, and consumer behavior. Rainforest Alliance believes that the best way to keep forests standing is by ensuring that it is profitable for businesses and communities to do so. They are committed to helping farmers, forest managers, and tourism businesses realize greater economic benefits by ensuring their employees and the ecosystems within and around their operations are protected.
Your local Audubon chapter
http://www.audubon.org
For more than a century, Audubon has worked to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth's biological diversity. You can support the National Audubon Society at the link above, or find your local Audubon chapter at http://www.audubon.org/search-by-zip.
Sarapiqui Conservation Learning Center
http://www.learningcentercostarica.org
The SCLC focuses its efforts in four areas — environmental education, community development, conservation, and tourism — in order to help form future environmental leaders, raise the organizational capacity of local communities, promote sustainable land use, and connect tourists to the local community. Their programs include environmental education, rural tourism activities, English classes, community outreach, women’s groups, and scholarship funds for high school students. The programs are run by international volunteers and community members, serving hundreds of local people and thousands of eco-tourists each year.
Sea Turtle Conservancy
http://www.conserveturtles.org
The Sea Turtle Conservancy, formerly known as the Caribbean Conservation Corporation, is the world's oldest sea turtle research and conservation group. An international nonprofit 501(c) 3 organization, Sea Turtle Conservancy was founded in 1959 by world-renowned sea turtle expert Dr. Archie Carr to save sea turtles from eminent extinction through rigorous science-based conservation. Headquartered in Florida, the organization carries out worldwide programs to conserve and recover sea turtle populations through research, education, advocacy and protection of the natural habitats upon which depend upon. Over the course of 50 years, Sea Turtle Conservancy's research programs have yielded much of what is now known about sea turtles and the threats they face, and the organization is applying this knowledge to carry out the world's most successful sea turtle protection and recovery programs.
FIRST
http://www.usfirst.org
FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) was founded in 1989 to inspire young people's interest and participation in science and technology. FIRST designs accessible, innovative programs that motivate young people to pursue education and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math, while building self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills. Since its beginning, FIRST has had a positive impact on students and academic communities.
Books for Africa
http://www.booksforafrica.org
The mission of Books for Africa is to end the book famine in Africa to help create a culture of literacy and provide the tools of empowerment to the next generation of parents, teachers, and leaders in Africa. Books donated by publishers, schools, libraries, individuals, and organizations are sorted and packed by volunteers who carefully choose books that are age and subject appropriate. It costs about 50 cents to send a book from the United States to Africa. Books for Africa have shipped more than 28 million books to 49 different countries since 1988.
