Style + Philanthropy = Closets for Causes

Founded by designer Talia Bella, Closets for Causes is a premiere cause marketing agency that bridges the gap between style and philanthropy. Closets for Causes raises funds and awareness on behalf of non-profit organizations by working with some of Hollywood's biggest celebrities and auctioning off their pre-owned belongings. In addition, the agency generates celebrity buzz by integrating social media, blogs, viral videos, and other strategies in their campaigns. Closets for Causes' partner organizations include the American Red Cross, Hounds of Hope, Pencils of Promise, Children Mending Hearts, and the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.

The latest celeb to team up with Closets for Causes is comedian Michael Yo, who has donated many items from his personal wardrobe. Proceeds from the auction will benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Yo's mother is a two-time breast cancer survivor, so the cause is very close to his heart. Other celebrities who have previously collaborated with Closets for Causes are Jenna Ushkowitz, Sophia Bush, and Brooke Davis.

The Bob Woodruff Foundation: Support for All Injured Troops

In 2006, award-winning television reporter Bob Woodruff was covering the Iraq war when he sustained serious injuries. He and his family realized that they were in a unique position to serve as a national voice for US service members and their families; hence, they subsequently founded the Bob Woodruff Foundation (BWF), which became an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in early 2008. Since then, the Bob Woodruff Foundation has been providing resources and support to injured service members, veterans, and their families so that they can return to their communities and thrive physically, psychologically, economically, and socially. BWF works to assist all injured service members of America, especially those who have sustained the “hidden injuries of war,” i.e., traumatic brain injury and combat stress, as these have a long-lasting impact on an individual and are the most difficult to treat.

Whether a service member or veteran is seeking counseling, job training, or career placement, the Bob Woodruff Foundation can connect them to the assistance they need through national and community-based programs. BWF also works with key federal, state, and local experts to ensure that troops return to civilian life successfully. Moreover, the organization educates the public about the needs of soldiers coming back from war. To date, BWF has raised more than $14.5 million for injured service members and their families and invested over $12 million on education, public awareness, and various programs – efforts that have impacted over a million veterans, service members, family members, and support personnel.

Earlier this month, the Bob Woodruff Foundation held its annual benefit event, Stand Up for Heroes, to raise funds and kick off the New York Comedy Festival. This year's event, which raised more than $3 million, was streamed live on YouTube and included performances by Bruce Springsteen, John Mayer, Roger Waters, Ricky Gervais, Jon Stewart, and Robin Williams, among others.

Mike Tyson Launches Charity to Help Needy Children

Former world heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson wants to “give kids a fighting chance” with his new charity, Mike Tyson Cares. The foundation will provide for the needs of children from broken homes by offering health care, shelter, mentoring, school assistance, job placement help, financial support, and other services. Mike Tyson Cares will officially launch on December 7 at MGM Grand Las Vegas' Tabu Ultra Lounge. Proceeds from the star-studded event will benefit the non-profits Awakenings and The Shade Tree, both of which are dedicated to serving the disadvantaged youth in the Las Vegas area.

In addition, Tyson is auctioning off an opportunity to sit ringside with him at the December 8 Pacquiao vs. Marquez fight in Las Vegas. Proceeds from the auction, which is being held on CharityBuzz, will benefit Mike Tyson Cares.

“I want my legacy to be about charity and helping children,” said Tyson. “This is my start.”

Cahonas Scotland: Bringing About Positive Change in Male Cancer Awareness

Headquartered in Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, Cahonas Scotland is a male cancer awareness charity founded by Ritchie Marshall. The non-profit was established to help improve Scotland's poor health record and raise the profile of male cancers in the country. By working with individuals, representative groups, and cancer-focused organizations, Cahonas Scotland ensures that men, especially those who are most at risk of significant health inequalities, have open access to information and are no longer embarrassed about their health issues.

Cahonas Scotland has four missions: to increase the availability of resources and support services that cater to the needs of men living with cancer; to educate the public about male cancers to reduce stigma and discrimination; to alleviate the suffering of men who have cancer; and to make sure the charity's efforts contribute to real positive change in male cancer awareness.

Recently, Cahonas Scotland launched its year-end fundraiser, the Celebrity Loosen Up Auction, on International Men's Day. Inaugurated in 1999 in Trinidad and Tobago, the annual International Men's Day is celebrated on November 19, and the theme for this year is “positive male role models.”

From now until November 25, fans can bid on autographed items donated by various celebrities from the worlds of music, movies, television, and sports. Cahonas Scotland hopes that the online auction and campaign will encourage men to discuss and deal with their health issues. Stars who have “loosened up” and donated ties and scarves include Sir Paul McCartney, Brad Pitt, Eric Clapton, Piers Morgan, Olly Murs, Brandon Flowers, and John Slattery. Female celebrities such as Katy Perry, Jessie J, Dita Von Teese, Sienna Miller, Amanda Holden, and Dawn Porter have also pledged their support to male cancer awareness. Money raised from the campaign will go towards Cahonas Scotland's efforts to advance education about male cancers and prevent discrimination and stigma around the cancer experience.

Building Bridges for the Future: American for Peace Now

Some non-profit organizations aim to assist the individual. By providing health care to persons afflicted by terminal illnesses or affording one-on-one tutoring to socio-economically disadvantaged youths, they hope to empower the single person who may then contribute to the community as a whole. Other groups stress a larger goal accomplished by the participation of people devoted to the cause. In this factor lies Americans for Peace Now (APN). Theodore H. Friedman and numerous other volunteers work together to further the mission.

Established in 1981, APN exists to foster understanding between the Israeli and Palestinian states. Friedman formerly served on the Board of Directors of the organization and later catalyzed its inclusion into the Conference of Major American Jewish Organizations. Today, APN oversees a number of initiatives and events. The non-profit oversees grassroots political activism campaigns, organizes large demonstrations, and monitors the safe settlement of Israelis in the West Bank. APN also maintains an active voice through government relations, effectively creating a diplomatic channel through which citizens and officials and communicate. APN emphasizes a host of pressing issues, including Palestinian statehood, the boycott and divestment of Israel, U.S. National Security, aid to Palestinians and Israelis, and Palestinian statehood. Dedicated to providing the world with intelligent conversations rather than violence, APN also supervises a number of news outlets. The group publishes News Nosh, daily news from Israel, as well as a cache of online articles exploring the current political climate and video segments entitled Hard Questions, Tough Answers. Working for peace for over 30 years, APN continues to elicit progress. 

Carrie Ann Inaba Launches Animal Charity

Dancing With the Stars judge and lifelong animal lover Carrie Ann Inaba has launched the CAI Animal Project to support the rescue, welfare, and well-being of animals. Founded in partnership with the Entertainment Industry Foundation, the CAI Animal Project aims to develop original programs to help animals in need, especially the homeless critters of America. The charity will also work with other pre-existing organizations to ensure that animals are given what they need, be it medical care, housing, food, transport, fosters, or friends.

The CAI Animal Project will offer financial assistance to the animal rescue community as a whole, raise awareness about animal issues via social and other media, educate the public about pet adoption, and help place rescue animals in loving homes, among other missions. The proud parent of four cats and two dogs (all rescues), Inaba has been an active participant of the animal rescue community for many years.

“Love is the most beautiful thing in this world,” she says. “But the love of an animal is the purest thing in this world.”

Pencils of Promise: The Global Movement That Began With a Pencil

Over 75 million children in the world do not have access to education. During a trip to India, Brown University alum Adam Braun met one of them. The small boy was begging on the streets, and when Braun asked him what he wanted the most in the world, his reply wasn't money or food. He wanted a pencil.

“I reached into my backpack,” Braun recalls. “Handed him my pencil. And watched as a wave of possibility washed over him.” Inspired by the “profound power and promise” of something as simple as giving a pencil to a child, Braun spent the next five years backpacking across more than 50 countries, handing out pens and pencils. He met countless local parents and children, and talking to them made him realize that there was a need for an international education non-profit that was led on-the-ground by a staff of locals to ensure its success.



In October of 2008, Braun founded Pencils of Promise with $25 to build a school in Laos. Since then, Pencils of Promise has grown into a global movement of passionate individuals dedicated to creating a better world through education. So far, the organization has completed 74 schools in Laos, Nicaragua, and Guatemala; educated over 4,500 children; and delivered more than 2.8 million education hours. Additionally, Pencils of Promise is currently building or planning 32 more schools.

Beyond building schools, Pencils of Promise provides support to its villages through ongoing education programs. The organization also hires and invests in local talent, many of whom are women and minorities, giving them professional development training. Local teams then monitor and evaluate Pencils of Promise's impact through data analysis and conversations with communities.

Pencils of Promise is one of the world's most impactful new non-profits today, with a large social media following and recognized by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Katie Couric, and Barbara Walters.

The Lupus Foundation of America: Spearheading Lupus Research

Headquartered in Washington, DC, the Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) is the largest and oldest national non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for people affected by lupus. The LFA's mission is twofold – to serve the needs of those living with lupus, as well as to lead efforts to find a cure for the chronic, autoimmune disease.

The LFA assists people with lupus and their health care providers by supplying them with latest education materials and tools, offering support groups, and hosting various programs and events with medical experts. The organization also advocates for people with lupus through awareness campaigns, social networking, and media outreach. In addition, the LFA runs a national research program called “Bringing Down the Barriers” to accelerate the science and medicine of lupus.

Over the years, the Lupus Foundation of America has achieved a number of milestones, including publishing the only lupus-focused magazine, launching the only research program dedicated to pediatric lupus, and convening the second International Conference on Lupus Flares.

Only Make Believe Brings Real Joy to Chronically Ill Kids

Founded in 1999, Only Make Believe is a non-profit organization that organizes and performs interactive theatre for chronically ill children in hospitals and care facilities. Currently bringing joy and inspiration throughout New York City, Only Make Believe plans to reach as many kids as possible by eventually expanding across the United States and around the world. Only Make Believe began as a project of The James and Dena Hammerstein Foundation, with its first event taking place at Rusk Institute's Pediatric Unit, NYU Langone Medical Center. Dena started Only Make Believe in memory of her husband James, theatre director and producer and son of renowned librettist Oscar Hammerstein II.

Believing that freeing a child's imagination played an integral role in the healing process, Dena decided to bring the magical world of theatre to kids living with chronic illnesses and disabilities, as having them travel to the theatre would be too overwhelming for many of them.



What makes Only Make Believe different from other charities that perform at hospitals and care facilities is its six-week interactive program. Performances are conducted once a week for six weeks, allowing the actors and children to bond and get to know each other. And because the kids get to participate in the show, they're engaged, inspired, and empowered. At present, Only Make Believe has eight scripts, with two more in the works.

During its first year, Only Make Believe served only one hospital and reached 132 children. Since then, the organization has visited about 50 hospitals and performed with more than 25,000 kids in the NYC metropolitan area. In March of 2011, Only Make Believe conducted a trial in Washington, DC. The trial was a success, leading the non-profit to recently start performing at Children's National Medical Center, The Children's Inn at NIH, and the Psychiatric Institute of Washington.

The Human Rights Campaign: Advocating for Equality for Everyone

Founded in 1980, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is the largest civil rights organization dedicated to achieving equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans. With over a million members and supporters across the country, HRC advocates for fairness for all at work and in the community through its various outreach, advocacy, and education programs.

The Human Rights Campaign's programs include the HRC Coming Out Project, which encourages LGBT Americans to come out and live their lives openly by providing empowering resources and guidance. The organization also runs the HRC Family Project, which is catered to LGBT families; it provides up-to-date information on relevant matters such as civil unions, marriage, adoption, parenting, schools, state laws and legislation, and more. Meanwhile, the HRC Workplace Project offers resources, on-site training, and expert counsel to executives and decision makers to help them position their company as a workplace that respects employees of all sexual orientations.

Toys for Tots Delivers a Message of Hope to Needy Kids This (and Every) Christmas

In the fall of 1947, Major Bill Hendricks, USMCR was asked by his wife Diane to deliver a homemade doll to an organization that would give it to a needy child at Christmas. When Hendricks learned that there was no such organization, Diane suggested that he start one. That year, Hendricks and a group of Marine Reservists in Los Angeles collected and distributed 5,000 toys to disadvantaged children. Because Hendricks' Toys for Tots project was so successful, the Marine Corps decided to adopt it in 1948 and turned it into a national campaign, running the program in every community that had a Marine Reserve Center. Hendricks, who served as the director of public relations for Warner Brothers Studio on weekdays, was able to get various celebrities to support Toys for Tots. Walt Disney designed the campaign's logo and first poster, while Sammy Fain and Paul Webster composed the theme, which was recorded by Peggy Lee, Nat “King” Cole, and Vic Damone.

The Marines have collected and distributed toys for less fortunate kids ever since to bring them the joy of Christmas. Beginning in 1980, only new toys were collected to avoid health and safety issues and to deliver a message of hope. This in turn boosts self-esteem and encourages children to become productive, responsible, and patriotic members of their community.

In 1991, the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation was established as a non-profit charity committed to supporting the program. To date, Toys for Tots, which is now an official activity of the US Marine Corps and an official mission of the Marine Corps Reserve, has delivered over 452 million toys to more than 209 needy children in America. Over the years, the Foundation has earned a number of accolades, including the DMA Nonprofit Federations' “Outstanding Nonprofit Organization of the Year” and Reader's Digest's “America's Best Children's Charity.” The Marines have recently kicked off this year's Toys for Tots campaign, which is being conducted in more than 700 communities in all 50 states.