Dear Everyone,
I hope that you’re enjoying what proves to be a happy and prosperous 2012.
As the new year begins, I’ve committed myself to raising awareness about various charities and causes. I’ve done so mostly on Twitter, so I’d like to to take this opportunity to share a few of these organizations with you.
Organizations that help the Homeless:
Salvation Army USA (A faith-based organization that helps the homeless, the hungry and others in need)
Yonge Street Mission (A Toronto faith-based organization that helps the homeless and young people in crisis)
Covenant House (Providing havens in North and Latin America for homeless youth)
Organizations that combat Human Trafficking and Slavery:
ACT (An Australian organization)
Organizations that help Children with Cancer:
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (A paediatric cancer research hospital that doesn’t turn families away)
Alex’s Lemonade Stand (Funding research into paediatric cancer/providing financial support to families)
Organizations that fund Cancer Research and provide support to Cancer patients:
Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation (Funding research/providing support and resources)
Jen’s Thank You Alliance (Providing financial and inspirational support to young adult cancer patients)
An Organization that comforts grieving families through photography:
Organizations that promote Literacy:
World Literacy Canada (Supporting women and children’s literacy in Canada, India and Nepal)
ProLiteracy (Supporting adult literacy in the USA and around the world)
As we look forward to a year filled with possibility, I ask you to join me in supporting charities and in raising awareness. We can make a difference.
All the best for 2012,
SR
I am honoured to have had all three of my novels appear on the New York Times and USA Today Bestseller lists. I was a Semifinalist for Best Author in the 2011 and 2012 Goodreads Choice Awards. {
Thank you for starting off 2012 with this list of charities. Benevolence and charity are a great state of mind to begin a fresh new year, and it further illustrates your compassionate, kind heart.
All the best to you, SR. May 2012 be an amazingly wonderful year for you and yours.
Becca
Dear SR,
thanks for taking the time to highlight these great charities. I have personal experience with the work of NILMDTS – the work they do for grieving families faced with one of the most difficult times in a person’s life is absolutely amazing. When my stepdaughter lost her baby due to stillbirth, a local photographer associated with this organization came in and took the most beautiful pictures of her baby. These are images we will treasure always and they helped us with our grief.
Your kindness and compassion inspires me.
All the best to you for 2012 and beyond.
Sandra
Thank you for keeping these causes front and center. They do so much good work…as do you, in reminding us of the importance of giving.
May 2012 bring many blessings and much joy to you and your loved ones.
Mango
Thanks for the info, Sylvain. I donate mostly to the Salvation Army. My understanding is that very little of that money donated is used for administration purposes. And, I donate to STARS (having been a paramedic); and I donate to charities that help animals. Feather
I support several different groups but the one I spend the most hands-on time with is Mother’s Making a Change in Marietta, Georgia. It provides support and training for women who have had their children taken away from them as a result of their drug abuse. The program has treated over 100 women and has a 99% success rate.
DeJean
SR, you single handedly help make the world a brighter and happier place. I am grateful for knowing you.
I support a charity (and also run this race) called ‘run for her’ – A race/walk for Ovarian Cancer Research, treatment and awareness. ‘run for her’ has raised almost $4 million for the Cedars-Sinai Women’s Cancer program. To date, ovarian cancer is the deadliest of all gynecological cancers. When diagnosed early, the 5 year survival rate is almost 95%. Sadly, only 15% of ovarian cancer cases are diagnosed early. I am helping raise awareness whenever possible.
Thank you for the outlet, SR!
I give frequently and with Joy. When I am moved I move. It’s just that simple. I am by no means a well off individual. I struggle like everyone else BUT I always give as my heart leads me to and I NEVER regret doing it. Sometime charity is financial and other times it’s in the act or giving over time. All these things have value to somebody. You never have to look far to find a need and fill it.
Like I said I have always given with a happy heart and I have always been taken care of. You must be wise but above everything you must do it for the right reason. Do it because you can and because every life is precious and every moment to move, short. Words, actions and deeds are the one thing everyone possesses and everyone can change life as we know it by sharing them.
Squally. <3
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If you feel so moved can I suggest a few?
– Compassion (like World Vision but more money goes into the area and families and their ethos is great)
– Angel Light Link (an Australian org I helped start) It targets young teenage girls. Tackling issues before they become life changing problems. Google them.
– Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep ( simply because what they do has had a profound effect on some very dear friends of mine, though I doubt they ever received the benefit of their work. It’s just the simple knowledge they are out there.)
– Anything and everything that protects young girls/women. There are whole cultures that find no value in a girl. They are thrown away, some left to starve to death, mutilated or worse. They are targeted in sex trafficing and slavery. With all my being this appalls me. Regardless of the cost to self I will always chose to move against this insanity.
Squalls (who can’t seems to be quiet about this… woops ) ;oD
Thanks everyone for your comments.
Sandra, I want to express my sympathy for your family’s loss. Please accept my condolences.
Thank you for sharing your story with us. You’ve reminded us that these organizations help our friends, our family and our neighbours – not simply strangers. When we donate to charity we aren’t just helping others; we’re helping ourselves.
All the best everyone and thanks,
SR
Dear SR,
Thank you for championing this cause. Raphael House in San Francisco is near and dear to my heart. It is a family shelter in one of the worst sections of the city. My family and I have cooked dinners there for years.
One evening, we presented a young girl a birthday cake decorated with flowers from the shelter’s garden. I will forever remember the look on her face and in her eyes: she had never received a birthday cake before. Ever.
We take so, so much for granted. There is truth in the saying, “In giving shall you receive.”
Thanks for allowing me to spread the word about such a special place.
Yours,
Sarah
I wanted to thank you for such a marvelous review. To be called an intelligent writer by an intelligent writer is a balm for a weary soul. Your review will sit by my desk where I can read it whenever I want to stab my eye out with a pencil. In such a harsh world, I am glad to know there are minds and hearts such as yours out there. Again, thank you so very much. Or, grazie mille — from my poor grasp of Italian.
Yours,
Sarah
Thank you kindly, Miss Sarah.
And thank you for your good words about Raphael House. I found their website and have been very impressed with their work.
All the best,
SR