A Unity of Ideas and People Across the Country

As a donor to the Republican Jewish Coalition, Jay Selznick helps the non-profit organization helps to further the relationship between the Jewish population and Republican leaders. Thanks to Jay Selznick and supporters across the country, the Republican Jewish Coalition continues to expand its influence in policymaking and valued initiatives.

Established in 1985, the RJC maintains a position as the valued liaison between politics and faith. The group oversees 40 chapters across the country and nurtures a deeply impactful Legislative Affairs Department. In this regard, the non-profit guarantees that the concerns of its members reach the important discussions ongoing in the nation’s capital. Additionally, RJC supervises a diverse Communications Department that holds affiliations with numerous major media outlets, effectively placing the issues that matter in the consciousness of the public.

Outside of these departments, RJC hosts a wealth of events in which members may connect with their peers and participate in engaging discussions. The symposiums frequently features prominent figures in government and thought, with upcoming and recent speakers including Congressman Allen West, GOP Senate Candidate Tom Smith, Congressman Jim Renacci, Shoshana Bryen of the Jewish Policy Center, and Representative Jon Runyan. Outside of affording attendees compelling lectures, the RJC organizes workshops. Recently, the RJC hosted Grassroots Training Seminar and Victory Team Development at locations across the U.S. This popular opportunity included education about social media influence and community advocacy methods.

To learn more about the RJC’s mission, read news articles about the issues that matter, peruse biographies of the organization’s leaders, locate a branch near you, or make a donation, visit rjchq.org.

A Call to Men Aims to Redefine Manhood

Founded by Tony Porter and Ted Bunch, A Call to Men is a national organization dedicated to preventing violence and discrimination against girls and women, which it believes is ultimately the responsibility of men. By working together with non-profit and grassroots organizations, government agencies, colleges, and corporations across the United States, A Call to Men seeks to change society's current definition of manhood and start a national movement of men dedicated to the cause. Through workshops, seminars, and other educational tools, the group raises awareness about domestic and sexual violence among men and challenges them to rethink their beliefs regarding women.

Both co-founders of A Call to Men are nationally recognized for their efforts to help women, having served as consultants to the Department of Justice Office of Violence Against Women and the White House Commission on Violence Against Women and Girls. Porter is currently working with the National Football League and National Basketball Association, while Bunch is an advisory board member to the New York State Integrated Domestic Violence Court.

AbilityFirst Sees Beyond Disabilities

For more than eight decades, California-based charity AbilityFirst has been serving special needs children and adults with cerebral palsy, autism, Down syndrome, and other physical and developmental disabilities. Established in 1926 by a group of compassionate citizens, two of which were Rotarians Paul Dietrich and Lawrence L. Frank, AbilityFirst started out as the Crippled Children's Society of Southern California. In 1999, the organization adopted its current name in order to better reflect its enhanced mission – to help not only children, but also adults; and to address the needs of not just people with physical challenges, but those with developmental disabilities as well.

Today, AbilityFirst has 24 locations throughout Southern California, including housing complexes, work centers, group homes, community centers, a camp, and an employment services office. Accredited by the American Camping Association and the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, the organization is constantly working towards a society that values every individual by focusing on their capabilities instead of disabilities; a society that provides an equal opportunity for all people to lead productive lives.

To achieve its mission, AbilityFirst offers several socialization, recreational, and employment programs for both children and adults. For the former, these include after-school enrichment programs that teach important skills such as etiquette, making friends, computer skills, creative writing, gardening, arts and crafts, and more. Kids enrolled in an AbilityFirst after-school enrichment program are also brought to museums, community happenings, and sports events.

Meanwhile, AbilityFirst's adult programs assist men and women in pursuing activities that they find meaningful and interesting, thereby helping them reach their full potential. The organization's adult day programs are designed to nurture each individual's physical, cognitive, social, and creative skills. AbilityFirst also runs employment programs that place adults with developmental disabilities in jobs at one of the charity's work centers or at a company like AEG, Knott's Berry Farm, and DirecTV.

At 1% for the Planet, a Little Helps a Lot

Over a decade ago, Yvon Chouinard and Craig Matthews realized that although they ran different businesses (Chouinard founded outdoor clothing company Patagonia, while Matthews owns fly fishing equipment company Blue Ribbon Flies), they shared a common passion for the planet and protecting its natural resources. So in 2001, the two came up with a plan to encourage more businesses to donate 1 percent of sales to environmental charities, based on their own business models.

The following year, their non-profit 1% for the Planet was officially launched at the Patagonia store in San Francisco, California. A total of 21 businesses, including a winery and guide service, joined the alliance on that day. In 2004, folk rock singer-songwriter Jack Johnson became the 50th member in conjunction with his music and film companies. Johnson subsequently released his album In Between Dreams, with 1% for the Planet's logo on the back of the CD jacket. In addition, Chouinard's book, Let My People Go Surfing, which ends with the story of the organization, was published. The publicity from these two projects helped boost membership, which reached more than 200 by the end of 2005.

Despite an unstable financial market, 1% for the Planet saw a larger number of sign-ups in 2008 than in any other year. Today, the network consists of nearly 1,500 member businesses in 38 countries. Since its inception, 1% for the Planet has initiated more than $50 million in charitable giving to over 2,900 environmental organizations around the world.

In 2010, 1% for the Planet released its digital music album, 1% for the Planet, The Music, Vol. 1. The record, which includes exclusive and rare songs by 40 artists, reached the top spot on Amazon's MP3 chart and became one of the top 40 overall albums on iTunes. All proceeds from the album go to 1% for the Planet's efforts in creating a healthier planet.

Walking With Anthony Gives Hope to SCI Victims

In February of 2010, Micki Purcell's son Anthony suffered a debilitating spinal cord injury after diving into a hidden sandbar in Miami Beach waters. Following a four-hour surgery and several weeks of recuperation and rehab at Jackson Memorial Hospital, Anthony joined Project Walk in Carlsbad, California to regain his movement.

Through her experience with Anthony's injury, Micki learned that the recovery outcome of spinal cord injury can be changed, and that there is a possibility of walking again for many victims. Unfortunately, they are often told that they have to spend the rest of their lives in a wheelchair and have no idea where to turn for help.

Thus, that same year of her son's accident, Micki founded Walking With Anthony, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping other people with spinal cord injury. Micki's mission is to give as many victims as possible access to proven therapies and solutions by offering financial assistance. In addition, Walking With Anthony seeks to raise awareness, support research, and expand rehab centers for spinal cord injury.

Emmylou Harris to Sing at Rocket Dog Rescue's July Fundraiser

Founded in 2001 by animal activist Pali Boucher, Rocket Dog Rescue is an all-volunteer, non-profit group dedicated to rescuing animals in overcrowded Bay Area shelters. The organization gives the animals, who would otherwise be put down, a second chance at life by placing them in temporary foster homes and finding permanent homes for them. Since its inception, it has saved more than 6,000 animals.

On Tuesday, July 3rd, Rocket Dog Rescue will be hosting its Festival for Dogs fundraiser on the scenic grounds of the Lagunitas Brewing Company's Tap Room and Beer Sanctuary. Headlining the benefit concert is Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter and musician Emmylou Harris, who runs her own non-profit dog rescue organization in Nashville called Bonaparte's Retreat.

Harris is also the proud parent of rescued dogs – one of them is Bella, a black lab mix who is the subject of her hit song “Big Black Dog”. According to Harris, Bella is one of her rescues who goes on tour with her. “I think of all the years on the road I wasted without a dog. They make it so much more pleasant. I'm making up for lost time now.”

Rocket Dog Rescue's Festival for Dogs will start at noon. Throughout the day, attendees will be treated to live music, food, beer, and art. There will be a silent auction and adoption event as well. Singer-songwriter Misisipi Mike Wolf will take the stage at 12:30 pm, followed by seven-piece band Sioux City Kid at 2:30 pm. Harris will start performing at 7 pm.

“We are so honored and excited to have Emmylou play a benefit concert for Rocket Dog Rescue,” says Boucher.

Tickets to the Festival for Dogs are now on sale on the Lagunitas Brewing Company website. All proceeds from ticket sales and the event itself will go directly to Rocket Dog Rescue.

Juicy Juice Plans to Donate 35 Million Pieces of Fruit to People in Need

Last month, Nestlé Juicy Juice, hunger relief charity Feeding America, and television hostess Samantha Harris kicked off the Juicy Juice Fruit for All Project at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. The program will run through August and was launched to help alleviate summertime childhood hunger nationwide. Each time Juicy Juice is bought or an online challenge is completed, a piece of fruit will be donated to children and families in need. So far, more than 4 million pieces of fresh fruit have been donated – there's still quite a way to go before the goal of 35 million is reached, though.

Harris said she's delighted to be part of the Fruit for All Project. “I've always felt passionately that no one should have to suffer from hunger, but now that I am a mom, I know how devastating it would be to struggle to provide healthy meals for my kids.”

According to Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of Feeding America, the program will encourage families to join the fight against hunger in their own communities.

Over the Years: the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

As a pharmaceuticals executive with nearly three decades of experience, Ellen Scharaga maintains a close relationship with the healthcare industry. Currently involved in the upper management of a group that deals specifically in oncology, she holds an even deeper perspective on the effects of cancer. Committed to research into the epidemic, Ms. Scharaga donates to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Established in 1949, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society aims to change the way we deal with these types of cancers, from the treatments available to patients to the resources available to their families. Since establishment, the organization poured more than $750 million into research concerning blood cancers and significantly increased the lifespan of individuals affected by these conditions. The group oversees nearly 70 chapters throughout the United States and the doctors at the head of studies regularly receive awards including the Nobel Prize and the Albert Lasker Clinical Medical Research Award. Treatment and research innovations spearheaded by the organization include the first successful bone marrow transplant, the identification of drug combinations that lead to long-term remissions in children, the use of organic cell products to improve immune system performance, and the architecture of revolutionary targeted therapies. In recent years, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society worked to release a number of groundbreaking drugs, among them Velcade, Rituxan, and Gleevac.

In order to continue the life-saving research made possible by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, volunteers gather at numerous fundraising events including Light the Night Walk, Team Training, and American Bicycle Race for Life. To learn more about the group’s progress or how to contribute, visit lls.org.

Rainforest Charity Cool Earth Turns Five

Last Wednesday, rainforest charity Cool Earth celebrated its fifth birthday in the House of Lords. Founded by Johan Eliasch and the Rt. Hon. Frank Field MP in 2007, Cool Earth provides a way for individuals and organizations to protect a piece of rainforest and do something about climate change without having to rely on governments and policies. With projects in Papua New Guinea, the Congo, Ecuador, and Peru, the charity has saved 215,000 acres of rainforest so far.

Spending only less than 10 percent of donations on admin, Cool Earth partners with indigenous communities and acquires legal land tenure for the people who reside in the forest. The charity only protects areas that are in impending danger and would otherwise be cleared without its intervention.

Last week's celebration was hosted by Field, along with actress Pamela Anderson and fashion designer Vivienne Westwood. Westwood, who donated one million pounds to the charity earlier this year, said at the event, “If we don't save the rainforest we can forget about it, we won't save the planet.”

Guests included students who had sponsored trees as well as celebrities such as Jerry Hall and Eliza Doolittle. All attendees received a Vivienne Westwood bag, and one contained a golden leaf, which ended up with Doolittle. The leaf served as an invitation to join Cool Earth in a visit to one of its project areas in the Amazon. Doolittle expressed her excitement at the opportunity. “I've always wanted to go out to the rainforest and to get involved. [I] can't wait to get out there.”

Rainforests are home to two-thirds of the world's animal and plant species, and 1.6 billion people depend on them for their livelihoods. As Anderson said, “Saving rainforest really is the important issue and supporting  Cool Earth is an effective way to take action.”

John Grisham Wants Your Name in His Next Book

International bestselling author John Grisham is giving one lucky fan the chance to appear in his next novel. The auction for a permanent spot in literary history is currently being held on CharityBuzz.com until Wednesday, June 13th. The winning bidder's name of choice, which can be their own, a family member's, or a friend's, will be used by Grisham for a character in his upcoming book. Details about the character, whether it will be a major one or a minor one, a hero or a villain, will only be revealed once the novel is released, though. The winner will also receive a signed copy of the book.

Proceeds from the auction will benefit Ubuntu Africa, an organization committed to improving the wellbeing of HIV-positive children in underserved South African communities through comprehensive health care programs. Ubuntu Africa provides practical and personalized services such as social work, HIV education, counseling, and life skills training.