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. Bright Endeavors
Home. It’s more important than ever. It’s comfort, contentment, safety, and security. At Bright Endeavors, we craft home fragrance products that ground you in those feelings and wrap you in the comfort of home.
But our candles do something else, too: Artfully hand-poured by the young moms in our paid job training program, each Bright Endeavors candle lights the way toward strong families and bright futures. As a social enterprise of the Chicago nonprofit New Moms, Bright Endeavors engages young moms in our paid job training program where they learn comprehensive skills, gain confidence, and forge career paths, all while learning what is required to power a small business for our growing brand of artisanal scented candles. 100% of Bright Endeavors proceeds support New Moms’ nonprofit programs providing housing, job training, college success, and family support for young moms facing barriers caused by systemic poverty.
5. READING POWER
Our work is fueled by a fundamental belief that literacy changes lives and we focus our work on schools which lack the resources many of their students need to succeed. Children from underserved populations face several obstacles to their education before even entering the school doors. Despite these obstacles, Reading Power students develop the resiliency needed to survive difficult situations. Having the one-to-one social and emotional support of Reading Power tutors in their lives cannot be undervalued. This daily interaction gives these students what all children deserve and need. It is a critical component of our program’s success.
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. Northern Illinois Food Bank
We work with over 900 food pantries, mobile food truck markets, and soup kitchens who distribute perishable and non perishable foods that you can choose from based on your dietary needs. Ensuring all our neighbors have access to the food they need to thrive is a community-wide effort. If you are able to give your time, talent or resources – we value and need your partnership.
Together, we can ensure that everyone in Northern Illinois has the nutritious food they need to thrive. An anonymous family foundation is offering to match gifts this season, up to $300,000! Your gift today can have twice the impact. Because of this generous matching gift, every $10 you give can provide a neighbor with $160 worth of groceries – and 96% of your gift will go directly to our feeding programs
