Who Should Get $1,500 From Reader’s Digest? Charity Details Here!
Reader’s Digest called last week to inform me that because I was featured in the “Make it Matter” section of the June/July issue I get a $1500 grant for either my non-profit or a non-profit of my choice. I don’t have a non-profit. I just help them. So I’m going to give the money to a non-profit. Problem is I can’t make up my mind. I worked with dozens upon dozens of different groups and I love them all for different reasons.
To fix the problem I sat down with a group of scientists. Okay, not scientists… People in the know… Anyway, we came up with a list of the non-profits who are efficient, badass, and most of all desperately need money. Vote please! Rock the Vote and all that jazz. Vote for you favorite. Who should get the money? Below are the 5 finalists’ mission statements and a link to each group’s webpage. I have my favorites now I want to see yours. You can vote for your top three at once, but only one time! Poll will be live from July 1st at midnight to 11:59 pm on July 15th. Have fun…
The Charities Mission Statements and Websites:
EarthEcho International – EarthEcho.org
EarthEcho International’s mission is to empower youth to take action that restores and protects our water planet. Education combined with service learning offers a tremendous opportunity to empower young minds, but there is very little ocean education and service learning available today on a national scale. EarthEcho International’s programs works to fill these voids in ways that unite the efforts of other prominent organizations. http://www.earthecho.org
Heal the Bay – HealtheBay.org
Heal the Bay is a nonprofit environmental organization dedicated to making Southern California coastal waters and watersheds, including Santa Monica Bay, safe, healthy and clean. We use research, education, community action and advocacy to pursue our mission. http://www.healthebay.org
Kidsave – Kidsave.org
Kidsave works to create change in policy and practice – so forgotten kids in government care can grow up in families. We help older kids in the US foster care system get adopted, help Russian orphans find families in Russia, and help orphans from Colombia, Russia and Sierra Leone find families and mentors in their own countries. http://www.kidsave.org
Kiva –Kiva.org
Kiva’s mission is to connect people, through lending, for the sake of alleviating poverty. Kiva empowers individuals to lend to an entrepreneur across the globe. By combining microfinance with the Internet, Kiva is creating a global community of people connected through lending. http://www.kiva.org
The Lange Foundation – LangeFoundation.com
The Lange Foundation is dedicated to saving impounded companion animals from being destroyed, and preparing them for a journey to a new, safe, loving world. Lange Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3), tax-deductible organization. http://www.langefoundation.com
Kidsave is my vote and congrats on how you are going about your career and your life.
Very beautiful balance of healing the world while hopefully advances your personal goals. I am not sure I already voted as I am not sure I sent my earlier note.I am attempting to vote the one time.
Best,
Sari Ehrenreich
Thank you so much for featuring us as a finalist for the $1,500 Reader’s Digest grant! We are so honored that you mentioned us and, as you point out, we could definitely use the money!
Best,
Lange Foundation
I am the mom of two Kidsave kids… without Kidsave, my two wonderful children would still be in orphanages and I would never be the mom to the best kids on the planet!
KIDSAVE!!!!!!!
I’m a lucky mom of a Kidsave alumni orphan from Colombia. Today we greeted 8 orphans visiting Southern California from Colombia for 5 weeks in hopes of finding an adoptive family. This program is amazing. These kids are beautiful and have a right to loving parents. Kidsave creates an opportunity that simply isn’t there for these wonderful kids. Please support them!! http://www.kennedyadoption.com
I’d love to see the money go to Kidsave! Having seen firsthand what the organization can (and has) done and also knowing how (relatively little press they get, this would be huge for them! And more importantly this would mean a major life change for several kids. That $ would really make a difference.
Kidsave since 1999-saves kids’ lives.
I’ve been to numerous Kidsave events and have seen firsthand the wonderful outcome of their efforts to find children loving families.
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We have two wonderful nephews as a result of Kidsave!
I vote for Kidsave. I have been lucky to teach two wonderful young ladies who were adopted through the Kidsave program. What wonderful work this organization does!
I would like the money to go to Kidsave too.
Charlie
As a mom of an amazing Kidsave child, my vote is for Kidsave as their work is so incredibly important children needing families.
The latest UNICEF numbers for 2008 indicate that there are an estimated 132 million orphans. My vote is definitely for KIDSAVE!!!!
The Lange Foundation! But all of the charities sound great so you can’t really go wrong.
raegan,
I am just so very proud of YOU! You are making a difference in this world.
Kidsave is a great program doing very good work. If only the organization had more resources! It would be super of Reader’s Digest to donate to Kidsave.
Put all the names in a hat, and draw one out. no one can say that one charity is more deserving than any other another. Then take the good muse to ASIA!!!!! And start all over again.
MY vote is for KidSave…i love the kidddzzzz!!!…..
love you….talk to you soon….
-Tarashai
My vote goes to Kidsave! My three children became my three children in part due to Kidsave! By finding loving permanent homes for orphaned and abandoned children around the world, we bring solution to a multitude of additional issues that plague this world.
Kids are our future…with that said I also vote for “Kidsave”.
Congrats to you Raegan – xoxo
I love all the non-profits up there, but as an employee of Heal the Bay – I can say that I’ve never seen a non-profit that does as much with the limited resources they have. Thanks to everyone who has been voting for us!
Kudos to all the amazing non-profits!
Heal the Bay! Lordy knows our ocean needs ALL THE HELP it can get right now
I have been an advocate with Kidsave for 3 years now and have seen many “miracles” – my vote could be for no other org.
As a Kidsave mom, and currently hosting 2 awesome kids for the summer that we met through the program…my vote is definitely for Kidsave. They are an amazing organization that really does create miracles for kids in need and the people they touch.
You’ll never regret positively impacting the life of a child. Kidsave makes a huge difference in the lives of childen in need of permanent loving families. The children are beatiful!
my vote goes to kidsave!
Definitely Kidsave!
KIDSAVE!!! so proud to have an amazing mother who is so proud of her work with kidsave… my mom has saved more lives than anyone i know… INCLUDING MINE AND MY BROTHERS!!
I work in Adoptions with Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services. Kidsave is a wonderful agency as they find homes for children in the foster care system!! Many of our “challenging” youth find forever and permanent families through Kidsave.
How thoughtful of you to include your readers in the poll! Although all the organizations sound promising, my vote is for KIDSAVE.
I look forward to your future publications.
Peace & Blessings.
-January
Go Kidsave! I am an adoptive parent and work in adoption. Kidsave has helped many families I know fullfill their dreams of parenting as well as all their work in finding homes for children in orphanges. This donation would go to a great cause!
Cara Helberg
Kidsave! I’m a kidsave dad of two wonderful girls – truly miracle workers!
If you pick Kidsave – My family will personally match your donation 1:1. In fact, the foundation I work for will then match my donation making it 2:1 or a total of $4,500! Anyone else want to join me?
heal the bay!
I vote for Kidsave. I work with an organization that aids foster kids, so I understand the great need. Kidsave!
I vote for Kidsave. We produce documentary programming on at-risk kids and I can say i think this organization is absolutely top notch!
HEAL THE BAY! Our oceans need it now more than ever!
KIDSAVE!!! That’s my vote!!!!
Bogotá DC. Julio 15 de 2010
Mi voto es por KIDSAVE, no solo es merecido, si no que es necesario para continuar su obra de amor, acompañamiento y sostenimiento hasta que logren realizar su proyecto de vida con los niños y niñas que están a su cargo y que cada vez son más.
Nosotros los que pertenecemos a la fundación y apoyamos permanentemente de diversas maneras a su equipo logístico, directivo con sus niños y niñas a cargo, estamos y estaremos in condicionalmente con KIDSAVE pero Reader’s Digest nos complementara necesariamente para continuar y extender tan amorosa obra con los niños y niñas ayudándoles a construir sus proyectos de vida.
Sé que dios y la virgen nos hará lo que se necesario para obtener la ayuda de Reader’s Digest con una copiosa votación.
Carlos A. GOMEZ M.
My vote is for Heal the Bay
Kidsave does wonderful work around the world. They have my vote.
Heal the Bay!!!
Heal The Bay is an amazing organization that engages all ages … Kids and Adults .. to a very worthy cause for all. HEAL THE BAY is my vote. Thanks fir asking for our opinion!
Ray Turenne
My vote is Kidsave!! I adopted my daughter through Kidsave. They have helped a lot of children find families. Kidsave could use the money to help more orphaned children find families in the US.
My vote is definitely for Kidsave! I cannot think of a more worthy organization.
YAY Kidsave!!! I am so happy and honored to vote for this absolutely magnificent organization. Nicole is an Angel and I know that this money is needed and will be put to great use. Everyone involved with KidSave should rejoice, for you do a good work. God Bless all of you!
Fylicia’Marie
Faith is Direction without Detail
Heal the Bay should get the VOTE!
Kidsave does a wonderful job of finding connections for kids in foster care. Kidsave gets my vote!
I vote KIDSAVE!
kidsave is a great organisation which helps many children in Colombia by providing support and finding a special family for each chlid.
I think if Kidsave receives the money, many children could find an opportunity to a better future.
Kidsave, please and thank you!!!