Director of Narrative
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One of my co-workers is the kind of guy that gets really involved with things. He’s an active member of two different organizations related to the industry our company is in, started a Lions Club chapter in his community, volunteers his time for various non-profits, and gives to charities (ranging from signing up for the KQ Adopt-A-Soldier program despite not being a gamer to setting up collection bins for the local food bank). Just today when I was looking for a place to dispose of a pile of old dead computers, my co-worker found a guy in his community that collects computer bits to build computers to send to third world nations for kids to use. So yeah, he really makes an effort to make an effort and he’s always getting me and the other guys to do things as well. So, he approached me today about cooking a dinner at the local Ronald McDonald House. I dig cooking, did it for a living for over a decade, and like making people happy, so I’ll probably do it.
But this got me thinking. The Ronald McDonald House is a pretty well-known non-profit, and I’ve always rooted for the underdogs. So my challenge to y’all is to enlighten me to some more obscure charities that are really doing something fresh and amazing. I know 99% of charities are doing some good for someone, but I’m looking for the really creative ones or ones that seem to have a good take on some of the problems the world faces.
The Ronald McDonald House is a pretty well-known non-profit, and I’ve always rooted for the underdogs. So my challenge to y’all is to enlighten me to some more obscure charities that are really doing something fresh and amazing. I know 99% of charities are doing some good for someone, but I’m looking for the really creative ones or ones that seem to have a good take on some of the problems the world faces.
Big ups to the Ronald McDonald House. My brother's second child was born with a variety of health problems that required some serious neonatal surgery. It required them to stay at a hospital far from home. So they put them up at the Ronald McDonald House...completely free of charge...completely taken care of in terms of meals, etc...all so they could focus on the baby. So, I'm a big fan of that charity.
I'd also recommend the Make-a-Wish Foundation. They do some really great things.
Also, the Shriners in our area fund a variety of programs to help children with all kinds of problems...from burn victims to birth defects. They're really good people.
And lastly, the Christian ministries that sponsor children and refugees in poverty-stricken third world countries really do make a difference. My wife is living proof of that. And she could go on and on about the difference they make in improving lives around the world.
But that's just my two-cents,
--Neil
In the new year I'm going to volunteer to be a Court Appointed Child Advocate.
I don't know if it's a national program, but I heard about it in Kentucy, and it exists here in Oregon. You basically undergo training and get sworn in before a Judge. You act as a liason between the Judge and the Child.. Making sure the child has a line of communication directly with the Courts, in cases of abuse, neglect, and so forth.
You visit the home, the school, and meet with the child in a neutral location (like McDonalds) for some private talk.. and you make reports directly to the Judge. When the child goes to Court, you meet them there and sit with them. You're an extra pair of eyes and ears when there's just not enough paid social workers to cover every case. And the Courts really read the reports and take them into account.
You're trained and supervised.. but basically you volunteer your unpaid time to take the pressure off the system. Making sure that communication does happen where it needs to happen (between the child and the Courts). Social Workers can't be everywhere.. but when people step up and volunteer their time the system has at least a chance to do what it is supposed to do.
Usually there is a lack and a desperate need for male volunteers as well.
Its not exactly a charity in the traditional sense, but when you can vounteer your time it sure can make a difference.
Black Hills Regional Food Bank
I donate my Holidays and community service hours here.
Soldiers Angels
They also have an annual competition between US military branches to see which can raise the most money. The Valor-IT competition provides laptops with voice-activation for wounded soldiers.
Go Team Navy!
In the new year I'm going to volunteer to be a Court Appointed Child Advocate.
...fantastic program...
Wow! That's a great idea! Now I love that!
Also, Daigle, your guy sounds awesome. People like that are the real heroes in the world.
I don't know about America, but Ireland has a few good charities giving to children.
The saddest thing is though, you cannot trust charities on face value. Many, many charities that are asking for money, especially those who are giving to Third World Countries do do good works, but a fraction of what your giving too. Trocaire do build wells and help villages, but 90%+ of your money goes to administration costs, and its owner/creator is a very well-off man. So if you really want to do good, be cynical and research any charity your giving money to, and never feel guilted into contributing to a sham charity be earnest college kids, thats how the make money, I'm in college and their everywhere, students from rich families deciding to do good, and making people feel guilty, in their smug western arrogance, not even researching where the money goes, or who their working for.
Now, that was all a frame to say that the Bill Gates charity fund is the most effeicient Third World charity on the go, their quite underratted because their not publicity grabbing, they go in, spend the money as effeicently as they can and get out, no convert to be saved Catholocism, no exorbitant administration fees, and no publicity to hide fraudulent practice, to get the best charity-value for your money, Bill Gates is the way to go.
Pity their not hugely active in Ireland is all!
In Oregon, I like SMART, a children's literacy charity.
There's also a charity in NYC where local restaurants donate their excess food to some of the organizations in the area, I just can't recall the name. I always thought that was a keen idea.
RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16, 2011 Top 32
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There's also a charity in NYC where local restaurants donate their excess food to some of the organizations in the area, I just can't recall the name. I always thought that was a keen idea.
This is actually a pretty widespread idea, called the reclaimed food movement among other things. If you contact a food bank, community kitchen or Meals on Wheels affiliate, they usually have something to do with this.
I'd also like to make a plug for Big Brothers/Big Sisters and local teen pregnancy prevention organizations. There's a lot of kids out there who make a bad choice and end up as parents at ages 12 and up. These groups teach them how to avoid this and give them the tools they need to delay parenthood until they're out of childhood themselves.
I don't understand the topic. What's so good about this Will guy anyway? :P
Hunting down the facts now.
I used to do some "creative saturdays" workshop for children on out-of-town communities. To have a swarm of screaming children sorrounding you reaching for clay or paints is just awesome... I wish I could still do it but my selfishness got in the way... Not so much of "charity" but that's the only way those kids will ever lay their hands on those materials and let themselves go.