Join me in supporting and donating to organizations and nonprofits that do incredible work- locally and worldwide. And get your children involved- share stories with them about how you as a family are able to make a huge impact on the lives of others! Here are a few places that my family donates to, and a little description of each. Just about every one of these, I have a personal connection to, so trust me, the money is going to incredible use. Feel free to share this list and comment with other places you contribute to- i’d love to read about it!
1.The Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth (CSFY)
At the Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth, we lead and support campaigns to ban life without parole and other extreme sentences for children. In partnership with those directly impacted by these policies, we build coalitions, educate key decision makers and influencers through the media and in-person meetings, negotiate with key stakeholders, and advance reforms that ensure youth receive second chances.
2. Healing Hands of Joy
In Ethiopia, there are approximately 37,500 – 39,000 cases of untreated obstetric fistula. This number is further compounded by the 3,500 new cases of fistula that develop each year. However, there is hope. Healing Hands of Joy was established to make motherhood safer in Ethiopia and eliminate preventable childbirth injures such as obstetric fistula. Our model focuses on four program activities: The Safe Motherhood Ambassador Program, Community Engagement and Awareness, Monitoring and Evaluation, and Strategic Initiatives. Together, we are able to prevent this horrible tragedy while restoring the lives of women who have previously been impacted.
3. By The Hand
Helping children who live in under-resourced neighborhoods have abundant life. By The Hand is a Christ-centered, after-school program that takes kids by the hand and walks with them from kindergarten through college, loving and nurturing them—mind, body and soul. With people like you making The Solution possible, our kids are graduating from high school and enrolling in college as healthy, educated, and hopeful young adults.
4. L.A.C.E.S.
Sport is more than a game to L.A.C.E.S. We work to create a sustainable, replicable model of community development using sports as a tool to reach at-risk youth and empower their local communities. One of the fundamental principles of the L.A.C.E.S. model relies on full integration of local community leaders into all aspects of the organization. L.A.C.E.S. is now impacting the lives of hundreds of children every day, providing them an opportunity to grow, develop and build their future potential! It’s amazing how, when so many people come together, the battles that seem overwhelming to fight are being overcome when you simply invest in the life of a child.
5. RAICES
We are a nonprofit agency that promotes justice by providing free and low-cost legal services to underserved immigrant children, families, and refugees. With legal services, social programs, bond assistance, and an advocacy team focused on changing the narrative around immigration in this country, RAICES is operating on the national frontlines of the fight for immigration rights. We defend the rights of immigrants and refugees, empower individuals, families, and communities, and advocate for liberty and justice.
6. Equal Justice Initiative (EJI)
The Equal Justice Initiative is committed to ending mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the United States, to challenging racial and economic injustice, and to protecting basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in American society.
7. International Justice Mission (IJM)
Every day, countless people are trafficked into slavery, as slave owners make a profit off their vulnerability. We work with local justice officials, community partners, advocates and people like you to end it for good.
8. Fill A Heart 4 Kids
a local 501(c)(3) charity serving foster children and homeless youth in the Chicagoland area. They strive to provide necessities and positive experiences for this underserved population in order to help their hearts heal and restore their dignity. They have a variety of ways to get involved, even from the comfort and safety of your own home. They also accept donations, which are tax deductible, and funds go directly to support the children they serve.
9. Cabrini Green Legal Aid (CGLA)
At CGLA, we mitigate the criminal records barrier by employing an interdisciplinary approach, bringing together teams of lawyers and social workers to comprehensively support client goals. CGLA leverages strategic partnerships across other social service sectors including workforce development and housing organizations to maximize our collective capacity to serve our mutual clients. Through our policy and advocacy efforts, we work to remove the systemic barriers that perpetuate the cycle of poverty by way of coalition- building, legislative support, and leadership development.
10. Phoenix Rising Foundation (Food Pantry)
The Phoenix Rising Foundation runs a food pantry to serve the needs of our community. We appreciate donations by individuals and community organizations to assist residents experiencing temporary financial difficulties or who are on fixed incomes and hard-pressed to make ends meet. Donations to the Foundation are critical to the operations of the Food Pantry, which is not supported by taxpayer dollars. Donations of cash are used to purchase food from the Northern Illinois Food Bank; each dollar donated can purchase 10 pounds or more of food.
