Action in Africa: Student-Founded Non-Profit Empowers Ugandans

Based in Aspen, Colorado and Bbira, Uganda, Action in Africa Incorporated is a small non-profit organization dedicated to empowering Uganda by educating its youth and inspiring its communities. Action in Africa believes everyone has the right to education, no matter where they live. Through scholarship programs, the organization has put hundreds of children back into the school system, giving them the opportunity to get a well-deserved education. Additionally, Action in Africa collaborates and develops meaningful relationships with locals to bring about lasting change in communities. Action in Africa encourages and supports sustainable programs that are initiated by Ugandans and not dependent on its contribution. The non-profit believes that improving the whole community leads to positive long-term outcomes.

Action in Africa began as a small high school club in 2005. After watching a documentary on child soldiers, a group of Aspen High School students, assisted by their geography teacher, formed a school club to help fight this practice. Four years later, Action in Africa became an NGO with a mission to provide the children of Bbira with proper health care and education and thus nurture the country's next teachers, doctors, and politicians.

After graduating from Aspen High School, the founders of Action in Africa took their cause with them to the college campuses of Chapman, Dartmouth, and Stanford. Over the years, the non-profit has organized various events to raise money and awareness on behalf of Bbira. Through concerts, movie screenings, auctions, and a vow of silence, Action in Africa has raised more than $200,000 and gotten the entire town of Aspen involved. So far, Action in Africa has built or funded a public library (the sixth in Uganda), a girls' dormitory, widows' homes, improvements to St. Johnson's Primary School, and more than 250 school sponsorships. Every year, the organization runs a service trip to Bbira to ensure that the money is being spent efficiently.

Trees, Water & People: Helping Communities Preserve Their Natural Resources

Headquartered in Fort Collins, Colorado, Trees, Water & People (TWP) is a non-profit organization that helps communities protect and manage their natural resources. Founded in 1998 by Stuart Conway and Richard Fox, TWP is composed of a group of conservationists dedicated to equipping people with the skills and knowledge they need to conserve the natural resources on which their long-term well-being depends. TWP believes that natural resources are best protected when locals are actively involved and that preserving local ecosystems results in the ongoing social, economic, and environmental health of communities everywhere.

Trees, Water & People works with local NGOs and community leaders, as well as designs and implements community-led projects. The non-profit's community-based development model stems from the philosophy that the best way to help those in need is by inspiring them to play an active role in caring for their natural resources.

Because TWP engages with local residents and respects their culture, its projects have been well-received in several Latin American communities and on Native American Reservations. TWP has won the Energy Globe Award and the Ashden Award for Sustainable Energy, among other accolades.

WonderRoot Harnesses the Power of Art to Create Change

Founded in 2004 by a group of friends and artists/activists, WonderRoot is an Atlanta, Georgia-based non-profit arts and service organization that seeks to unite artists and community to bring about positive social change. Beginning its work in schools, community centers, and public spaces, the charity opened the WonderRoot Community Arts Center in early 2008. Named the “Best Place to Create Art and a Better World” by Atlanta Magazine, the center hosts arts education programs and artistic performances, serving as a community gathering space and a launching pad for artists.

Over the next few years, WonderRoot launched various signature programs such as 75 Blue Doors, Art on the BeltLine, and the Walthall Artist Fellowship. Now regarded as one of Atlanta's leading cultural organizations, WonderRoot continues to empower artists while providing arts-based solutions to issues of environmental justice, social justice, and health and youth development. WonderRoot believes that artists of all mediums have the potential to change the world.

Wherever the Need Puts Sanitation First

Around the world, 2.6 billion people still don't have access to a toilet. Without toilets, water is polluted with sewage, spreading illness and disease. In fact, poor sanitation kills more people than HIV/AIDS, malaria, and measles combined – every 17 seconds, a child dies from a sanitation-related illness. Those who are most affected by this issue are some of the world's poorest. And when they are sick, they are unable to work or go to school, thus remaining trapped in poverty.

Wherever the Need is working to alleviate poverty by focusing on sanitation. The charity was founded in 1997 by David Crosweller and Andrew Barrs to provide humanitarian aid to those in need. Over the next eight years, Wherever the Need learned that the underlying cause of poverty was poor health due to lack of sanitation. In 2005, the organization was introduced to a long-term solution to the problem: ecological sanitation, or ecosan for short. Since then, Wherever the Need has focused on providing ecosan, clean water, and livelihood programs that allow people to find their own way out of poverty and improve their lives.

Ecosan toilets are toilets that make compost, turning waste into something useful. Capturing waste also prevents raw sewage from being dumped into water sources and the local environment, limiting contamination and the spread of disease. Ecosan toilets can be used for decades and do not require any sewer infrastructure, making them ideal for both remote and overpopulated areas.

Now one of the biggest providers of ecosan in the developing world, Wherever the Need has impacted the lives of more than 50,000 people in India, Kenya, and Sierra Leone to date. In India alone, more than 30,000 people use the organization's ecosan toilets daily. With sanitation in place, Wherever the Need carries out water projects to make clean drinking water locally accessible to everyone, as well as works closely with communities to ensure a sustainable future for them.

The Center For Counseling and Health Resources - Hope in Times of Need

The alternative name of The Center For Counseling and Health Resources says it all: this Seattle-area treatment and therapy facility for mental, physical, and emotional conditions is also known as A Place of Hope. The Center was founded in 1984 by Dr. Gregory Jantz, a licensed mental health counselor dedicated to bettering the lives of individuals in need by helping them rediscover hope and restore balance to the mind, body, and spirit. Today, nearly 30 years later, The Center continues to pursue its simple mission to provide inspired health care, and has become a valuable refuge and resource for struggling individuals from across the country and around the world.

While its mission may be simple, The Center’s offerings and operations are highly detailed. In order to have as broad a reach and to help as many people as possible, The Center runs a wide range of programs for women, men, and adolescents, each targeting a specific issue, disorder, or condition. While general program areas include addiction, anxiety, eating disorders, abuse, and spiritual renewal, all patients receive customized treatments to suit their particular challenges or needs. These personalized plans focus on all aspects of an individual’s health and well-being, including physical health, emotional well-being, spiritual peace, and intellectual growth, and provide a highly integrated treatment experience. The Center’s comprehensive care team includes licensed counselors, psychologists, dieticians, medical personnel, chemical dependency professionals, and fitness trainers, all committed to The Center’s overall goal of hope and healing for each individual.

The significant impact that The Center For Counseling and Health Resources has made on the field of care and healing is evident in the many positive testimonials from former patients, most of whom speak of their time at the facility as transformative, life-affirming, and full of self-discovery. The Center’s treatment philosophy and activities are also strongly endorsed by notable medical and mental health experts such as Dr. Abram Hoffer, one of the world’s leading psychiatrists, and certified master psychopharmacologist Dr. Timothy R. Jennings.

ORAM: Advocating on Behalf of LGBTI Refugees and Asylees

Founded in 2008, the Organization for Refuge, Asylum & Migration (ORAM) is the only international organization dedicated to advocating for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) refugees fleeing persecution due to gender identity or sexual orientation. An official partner of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), ORAM helps those who have been shunned by their families, ostracized by their communities, and criminalized by their governments. ORAM draws upon its deep roots and extensive ties within the refugee and LGBTI spheres to bring about institutional changes that help create a safer path and more receptive environment for refugees. The organization researches and documents abuses faced by LGBTI refugees, advocates and educates on their behalf, and collaborates and lobbies with governments and other NGOs.

ORAM's accomplishments to date include the suspension of the physically invasive practice of phallometry, faster consideration of LGBTIs applying for refugee status, and the first community guide helping LGBTI refugees and asylees integrate into new communities.

Food & Friends: Supporting People With Life-Challenging Illnesses for 25 Years

Founded in 1988, Food & Friends is the only organization in the Washington, DC area providing meals, groceries, and nutrition counseling to people living with life-challenging illnesses. Launched out of the basement of the Westminster Presbyterian Church, Food & Friends began with 20 volunteers delivering 15 meals per day to 60 clients. Today, the organization operates from a state-of-the art kitchen and pantry facility, employing a staff of professional chefs and community dietitians who design nutritious meals for persons living with HIV/AIDs, cancer, ALS, Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis, and other illnesses. Food & Friends serves men, women, and children of all ages, as well as their dependents and caregivers. At any given time, the organization serves nearly 3,000 individuals, most of whom consider Food & Friends as their only support.

Food & Friends offers a broad range of nutrition services, including home-delivered meals, home-delivered groceries, and nutrition counseling and education. Six days a week, even on holidays, Food & Friends delivers healthy and delicious meals directly to its clients' homes. Each delivery includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, and, if needed, liquid nutritional supplements. For individuals who live outside the meal delivery area, the organization provides groceries to those who are able to prepare their own meals or have a caregiver to do so. Clients review food safety and nutrition with a dietitian and receive a recipe booklet that contains cooking tips and recipes based on the food included in their grocery deliveries. Food & Friends' community dietitians also offer individualized nutrition counseling, cooking classes, workshops, and more.

All services provided by Food & Friends are free of charge. Since its inception, the organization has delivered almost 16 million meals to more than 22,500 clients living throughout the District of Columbia, seven counties of Maryland, and seven counties and six independent cities of Virginia.

Larkin Street Keeps Homeless Youth Off the Streets

Larkin Street Youth Services helps San Francisco youth between the ages of 12 and 24 rebuild their lives. The non-profit was founded in 1984 by a group of local business owners, church members, and neighbors who were concerned about the increasing number of young people engaging in risky behaviors on the city's streets. Today, Larkin Street has 25 comprehensive programs in more than 15 sites across San Francisco, providing youth with a safe haven; restoring their sense of self-respect, self-confidence, hope, and trust; and teaching them school, life, and job skills. Serving thousands of individuals each year, Larkin Street has become an internationally recognized model for innovative and effective care for homeless and runaway youth.

A pioneer in its field, Larkin Street Youth Services is the only agency in San Francisco and one of a few nationwide to offer an extensive breadth of services with outstanding results. Three out of four youth who complete Larkin Street's programs stay off the streets for good.

La Casa de las Madres: A Refuge for Domestic Violence Victims in San Francisco

Based in San Francisco, La Casa de las Madres is California's first and the nation's second shelter dedicated to victims of domestic violence. Founded in 1976 by a group of Bay Area women, the once-quiet shelter is now the city's leading voice for women, teens, and children exposed to domestic violence. La Casa de las Madres responds to calls for help from victims of all ages 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Working to create a community where violence against women and children is not tolerated, La Casa provides survivors with the tools to transform their lives. In addition, the non-profit seeks to prevent future violence by educating the public and changing the community's perceptions about domestic violence.

La Casa de las Madres, which means The Home of the Mothers, was named so to honor the memory of one of the founders' mothers, who was brutally murdered by her partner in front of her teenage daughter. The founders of La Casa also wanted to convey the safety, nurturing, and unconditional acceptance within the shelter's doors, similar to the loving and comforting arms of a mother we all seek during a crisis.

Today, 15,000 individuals benefit from La Casa's expert intervention and prevention services each year. La Casa addresses both the immediate and long-term needs of individuals and families, responding to the unique needs of victims and survivors at every step of their journey towards healing. The free and confidential services offered by La Casa de las Madres include counseling; support groups; economic empowerment; crisis response and intervention; assistance with housing stability; safety planning and risk assessment; restraining order assistance; and information, advocacy, and referrals for medical, housing, legal, therapeutic, and child care issues. Moreover, the non-profit reaches over 50,000 community members annually through its education and outreach activities.

People for Care & Learning: Empowering the World's Poorest

Founded in 2002, People for Care & Learning (PCL) is a non-profit humanitarian organization that combines training with opportunities to give the poor a chance at a better life. Operating in Southeast Asia and the United States, PCL aims to eradicate the cycle of poverty by adopting a holistic, systematic approach that focuses on six key areas: education, housing, feeding programs, business development, water and health, and children and widows. PCL is dedicated to serving disadvantaged communities around the world by giving them a working chance.



A top-rated non-profit, PCL relies completely on donated gifts, 100 percent of which go directly to projects; nothing is deducted for operating, travel, or overhead expenses. To date, People for Care & Learning has dug 56 clean water wells and built 105 homes. Every month, PCL serves 6,400 meals, provides medical care to 828 patients across 8 clinics, and delivers leadership development training to 461 students across 9 locations, among others.

Beyond Blind Institute: Unique Programs for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Based in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, Beyond Blind Institute (BBI) is an innovative non-profit organization dedicated to empowering blind and visually impaired men and women seeking equal opportunity in today's society. Beyond Blind takes an immediate and aggressive hands-on approach to each individual's health and fitness, career and education, and emotional and social well-being. Promoting technical skills, low-vision-aid technology, and research and development of different eye diseases are also part of BBI's mission.

 Beyond Blind offers a wide range of programs that are designed to re-cultivate each individual's strengths and talents that have been left behind due to blindness. A favorite among BBI members is Brushes of Blindness, an art program that allows them to express their emotions and creativity through artistic media such as pencil, oils, acrylics, sculpture, and mixed media. Classes are taught by popular artists in the local community and members' artworks may be offered for sale to the public.

BBI also runs a fitness program called Bodies Beyond Blindness, which consists of cardio, weight training, spin cycling, and yoga classes, as well as nutritional counseling. Sightless Chef is a culinary program that teaches BBI members how to prepare nutritional meals to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The three-hour classes meet twice a month and are sponsored by Whole Foods Market at Downtown at the Gardens. Members can also learn how to play golf through Beyond Blind's A Blind Shot program. Held twice per month at Abacoa Golf Club, classes are taught by South Florida PGA president Warren Bottke.

Beyond Blind Institute was founded by Joyce Gugel, a leading advocate for the blind and visually impaired in America. Having been legally blind for many years, she has successfully overcome the challenges associated with her rare congenital eye disease, Stargardt's. Gugel has led Beyond Blind Institute since its inception in 2009.

Simply Smiles: A Brighter Future for Children and Their Families

Headquartered in East Norwalk, Connecticut, Simply Smiles is a non-profit organization that helps impoverished children, their families, and their communities. Simply Smiles operates programs in the US and Mexico that are impactful, scalable, sustainable, and successful. Just like how you would help a loved one, the charity not only fulfills the immediate needs of those in need, but also works together with them to create long-term solutions that address the root cause of their problems. Simply Smiles sees each individual and supports them in this way, building their dignity and making them smile, on a scale of thousands. With this holistic and personal approach, the charity provides food, clothing, shelter, education, health care, infrastructure, and jobs.

Simply Smiles was founded by Bryan Nurnberger, a former history and special education teacher and rock and ice climbing guide. A graduate of the University of Colorado, he now serves as president of Simply Smiles.

Catholic Relief Services: Protecting Human Life Worldwide

The official international humanitarian agency of the American Catholic community, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) exists to help disadvantaged people overseas while promoting the dignity of the human person and the sacredness of human life. CRS serves anyone in need, regardless of their religion, race, or ethnicity. The charity was founded in 1943 by the Catholic Bishops of the US to assist World War II survivors in Europe. Since then, CRS has reached over 100 million people in 91 countries around the world.

As a pro-life organization, Catholic Relief Services protects and advances human life worldwide by directly meeting basic needs and combating injustice. CRS works with Catholic institutions around the globe, as well as participates in humanitarian initiatives carried out by governments, other faith communities, secular institutions, and other groups.

A top-rated charity by CharityWatch and Charity Navigator, CRS adheres to strict standards of efficiency, transparency, and accountability – 93 percent of the organization's expenses go straight to programs. CRS focuses on six key areas of service, namely: emergencies, hunger, education, health, peace, and helping at home.

With a holistic approach to emergency relief and long-term development, CRS works to ensure that all people, particularly the poorest and most vulnerable, have access to basic necessities, health care, education, and a peaceful environment. In the event of a war or natural disaster, CRS is usually among the first on the ground providing food, water, shelter, and other basic needs. In addition, the charity looks at the root causes of conflict and helps communities create lasting peace and change. To fight chronic hunger and poverty around the world, CRS takes a multi-pronged approach that includes mitigating hunger, developing sustainable work options, improving water and sanitation, and providing microfinance for small businesses, among others. At home in the US, CRS educates Catholics about important issues and encourages them to advocate for positive changes.

Humane Society International: Protection for All Animals

Working to create a culture of compassion for all animals, Humane Society International (HSI) is one of the only global animal protection organizations in the world dedicated to protecting all animals, including companion animals, farm animals, animals in laboratories, and wildlife. With operations on every continent, HSI strives to reduce animal suffering through direct care and services, fieldwork, humane education, policy formation, and funding of in-country partners. Over the years, the organization has responded to disasters, saved wild animals from abuse, protected street dogs and marine mammals, and fought factory farming and toxicity testing on animals.

Following Typhoon Haiyan, Humane Society International has sent teams of veterinarians and technical staff to the Philippines. They are now assessing the situation on the ground and working with local and federal authorities to help the people and animals that have been affected by the disaster. To support Humane Society International's response efforts, click here.

The International Rescue Committee: 80 Years of Humanitarian Work

Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has been responding to the world's worst humanitarian crises for 80 years. A global leader in emergency relief, rehabilitation, post-conflict development, and protection of human rights, among others, the IRC provides vital care and assistance to those who are forced to flee from war or disaster and helps them rebuild their lives.

Restoring safety, hope, and dignity to conflict-affected communities around the world, the IRC works in more than 40 countries and 22 US cities. The IRC's humanitarian work includes emergency response; post-conflict education, training, and development; refugee resettlement in America; women's empowerment and protection; and advocacy for the cause of refugees.

When an emergency arises, the IRC arrives on the scene within 72 hours. The organization stays as long as is necessary, assisting survivors in their journey to healing, recovery, and rebuilding. The IRC focuses on creating lasting solutions, promoting local capacity and self-sufficiency. In 2012, the International Rescue Committee gave 1.4 million people access to clean drinking water and sanitation, provided 14 million people with primary and reproductive health care, provided schooling or child-friendly spaces for nearly 600,000 children, counseled or cared for more than 19,000 vulnerable kids, and more.

The IRC consistently receives high marks from charity watchdog groups and publications for its efficient use of funds and the effectiveness of its work, holding a four-star rating with Charity Navigator and an A+ rating with the American Institute of Philanthropy. More than 90 cents of every dollar spent by the organization goes to programs and services that directly benefit individuals and communities in need.

The IRC is currently on the ground in the Philippines mobilizing a humanitarian response to Typhoon Haiyan. To help, visit Rescue.org/Typhoon. Donations will be directed exclusively to the IRC's relief efforts in the country.

The 52nd Street Project: Life-Improving Theater Programs for NY's Inner-City Kids

The 52nd Street Project (The Project) is a New York-based independent non-profit that brings together kids ages 9 to 18 from the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood with theater professionals to create original works. The Project uses theater to enhance children's creativity, expression, sense of self-worth, literacy skills, and appreciation for the arts.

Creating more than 80 new plays and serving over 150 children each year, The Project was founded in 1981 by actor and playwright Willie Reale to improve the quality of life for the kids of Hell's Kitchen. With the support of Ensemble Studio Theatre, where he is a company member, and the Police Athletic League's Duncan Center, Reale created theatrical projects specifically for New York's inner-city kids.

The 52nd Street Project currently offers six theater programs, including One-on-One, where a child and an adult perform a play written by the adult; Two-on-Two, where two children perform a play written by one adult and directed by another; Playback, where kids write a play for themselves and their adult partners; and The Teen Ensemble, a two-year-long class on performance, writing, voice, and movement. Though the kids learn to act and write plays through these programs, The Project is really about making them proud of themselves. It is about giving children an experience of success, an opportunity to prove that they have something valuable to offer.

For its first 15 years, The Project conducted its programs in borrowed spaces. In 1996, the organization opened The Clubhouse, a place where children can flourish in the middle of their tough neighborhood. The subsequent expansion of The Clubhouse and addition of its own theater has allowed The Project to offer programs in other art forms such as poetry, dance, photography, and theatrical design.

In 1994, Reale received a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship for creating The 52nd Street Project.

AMIGOS: Shaping Tomorrow's Young Leaders Since 1965

In 1965, youth pastor Guy Bevil led a team of teenagers into rural Honduras to save people from a polio epidemic. Their mission was to go to the most abandoned areas, where no health service was available. They did just that, protecting thousands from the disease. The team returned to the United States more mature, appreciative of foreign cultures, and aware of the personal benefits of helping others. Their success proved that young people can make a positive difference in the world. It also led to the establishment of Amigos de las Américas (AMIGOS), an educational charity that inspires and nurtures young leaders through volunteer programs abroad, particularly in Latin America.

Headquartered in Houston, Texas, AMIGOS now has affiliated chapters in more than two dozen major US cities. Over 20,000 young people have participated in its programs to date, each of them becoming a lifelong catalyst for social change.

Bevil believed that young people are just waiting for an opportunity to do important things and will always rise to whatever challenge they are given.

 

Inner-City Arts: Providing Arts Education to Skid Row Students Since 1989

Widely regarded as one of the most effective arts education providers in America, Inner-City Arts is an oasis of creativity, learning, and achievement in the heart of Skid Row in Los Angeles. Dedicated to helping create a safer and healthier LA, Inner-City Arts was founded in 1989 by Bob Yates, an artist and teacher, and Irwin Jaeger, an entrepreneur, after budget cuts eliminated arts instruction from public schools in the late '70s. Yates and Jaeger were determined to bring the benefits of the arts to underprivileged children in the Skid Row area who were already struggling.


In its first year, Inner-City Arts served 60 elementary school students. Since then, countless elementary, middle, and high school students have visited the non-profit's award-winning campus to study visual, performing, and media arts under the guidance of professional teaching artists in well-equipped studios.

Additionally, the Inner-City Arts – Annenberg Professional Development Program provides training for classroom teachers, graduate students, community partners, and others who wish to teach arts education.

Love146: Saving Children From Trafficking and Exploitation

Founded in 2002 as Justice for Children International, Love146 is a non-profit organization committed to ending child trafficking and exploitation. The charity takes it name from a young girl who was being sold for sex at a brothel in Southeast Asia. In 2002, the co-founders of Love146 traveled to the region and a couple of them accompanied investigators to a brothel in an undercover probe. All of the girls wore red dresses with a pinned number for identification, and they all sat watching cartoons blankly as predators looked at them from the other side of the glass.

Rob Morris, president and co-founder of Love146, recalls that these children no longer had light in their eyes, except one. The girl whose number was 146 wouldn't watch the cartoons and was looking beyond the glass with a piercing gaze. She still had fight left in her. Some time later, the brothel was raided and the children were rescued. The girl only known as 146 wasn't among them, but the co-founders named Love146 after her to serve as a reminder of why they started the organization.

Now operating across three continents, Love146 aims to help the millions of other children who are also represented by the number 146. The charity provides holistic care for survivors and journeys with them as they are reintegrated back into society. In response to the lack of safe places for rescued children, Love146 expanded existing safe homes throughout Asia and subsequently built the Round Home in the Philippines. Love 146 also provides prevention education in high schools, group homes, and residential care facilities in the US, speaking directly with teens and increasing their awareness of the signs of exploitation, the tactics of traffickers, and the services available to them. Furthermore, the non-profit trains professionals such as social workers and teachers, giving them tools to prevent child trafficking and help victims, as well as financially supports other organizations fighting child trafficking and exploitation.

Charity Cars: Providing Struggling Families With Free Cars Since 1996

The leading car donation and distribution charity in America, The Original 1-800-Charity Cars (d.b.a. Free Charity Cars) is committed to providing donated vehicles to struggling families. Clients are referred to Charity Cars by other non-profit organizations, social service agencies, churches, and through its own website, FreeCharityCars.org. Typical recipients include victims of natural disasters, military families, victims of domestic violence, families transitioning from public assistance to work, the medically needy, the working poor, and families residing in transitional living shelters.

Since 1996, Charity Cars has witnessed the profound effect getting a free car has on clients. Recipients gain a new sense of hope and self-esteem, motivating them to succeed. Many of them have described the experience as being given a second chance at life, as the automobile is regarded as a symbol of personal freedom and self-sufficiency. The Charity Cars donation program has been well-received by the general public, with several donors reporting they can empathize with the recipients as they have been in similar situations in the past.

The first car donation charity of its kind in the country, Charity Cars aims to help disadvantaged families transition from dependency to self-sufficiency. In addition to being the pioneer of the free car ownership concept, Charity Cars operates the largest car donation and distribution program in the US and has awarded more than 4,500 vehicles nationwide to date. Winner of the Walt Disney World Outstanding Community Service Award, the organization has been featured on Oprah, CBS Morning News, Montel, Good Morning America, Two Guys Garage, as well as in national publications such as The Non-Profit Times, People Magazine, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, and the Associate Press.

Those who wish to donate a car can call Charity Cars or fill out an online form. Representatives will contact donors to schedule a convenient time for free towing.

Pittsburgh Charity Distributes Free Tickets to Children From Low-Income Backgrounds

Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Tickets for Kids Charities (TFK) is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing arts, educational, sports, and other tickets to low-income children and families. TFK was founded in 1994 after noticing the excessive number of empty seats at many of the city's shows and events. Since then, the organization has helped 1.4 million individuals gain free admission to arts, cultural, educational, sports, and family entertainment events. TFK obtains tickets through a network of partners that comprises individuals, theaters, museums, amusement parks, sports teams, zoos, aquariums, educational institutions, producing agencies, and more. TFK then distributes those tickets to children and their families via social service agency partners.

 In 2012, Tickets for Kids partnered with over 2,600 social service agencies across the US. TFK distributed nearly 115,000 tickets valued at more than $3.6 million and facilitated access to over 5,000 events at no cost to the agencies or their clients.

The Tony Hawk Foundation Increases the Number of Skateparks in America

Founded in 2002 by former professional skateboarder Tony Hawk, the Tony Hawk Foundation is the only national grant-giving organization in the US whose sole focus is the development and financing of public skateboard parks that promote healthy, active lifestyles. The Tony Hawk Foundation seeks to foster long-term improvements in society, with an emphasis on serving youth in disadvantaged communities.

As a teen, Hawk considered the local skatepark his home away from home; skateboarding taught him lessons in perseverance, leadership, and initiative. Today, he is most passionate about children and skateboarding. After receiving thousands of e-mails from parents and kids who did not have a safe place to skate, Hawk decided to establish the Tony Hawk Foundation to help skaters, parents, local leaders, and law enforcement across America develop quality skateparks.

Since its inception, the Tony Hawk Foundation has awarded 525 grants to support free skateparks in low-income neighborhoods. To date, more than 415 grant recipients have opened their skateparks and are serving about 4.5 million children annually.

Easter Seals: Disability Services for All

Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Easter Seals is a non-profit organization that has been helping individuals with disabilities and special needs and their families live better lives for nearly 100 years. Easter Seals provides exceptional services and support so that people affected by autism and other disabilities can overcome life's challenges and achieve their personal goals.

The beginnings of Easter Seals can be traced back to 1907, when businessman Edgar Allen lost his son in a streetcar accident. The lack of adequate medical services in his hometown of Elyria, Ohio prompted Allen to sell his business and launch a fundraising campaign to build a hospital. Through the hospital, Allen discovered that children with disabilities were often hidden from the public. This led him to start the National Society for Crippled Children, the first organization of its kind, in 1919.

Fifteen years later, the National Society for Crippled Children introduced its Easter “seals” campaign to raise money for its services. The first seal was designed by Cleveland Plain Dealer cartoonist J.H. Donahey, and donors placed it on envelopes and letters to show their support. The campaign turned out to be a huge success, and by the 1960s, the Easter “seal” had become so well-recognized that the National Society for Crippled Children officially changed its name to Easter Seals.

Today, Easter Seals helps over a million children and adults living with disabilities and special needs and their families each year. The organization's main services include children's sevices, adult and senior services, medical rehabilitation, employment and training, and camping and recreation. Through a network of over 550 sites in America and Ability First Australia, Easter Seals delivers innovative and family-focused services that are customized to meet the needs of each community served. Easter Seals relies on 23,000 staff members, thousands of volunteers, and countless supporters to carry out its mission.

Jumpstart Prepares Low-Income Preschoolers for a Brighter Future

Many children from low-income communities are never exposed to activities that encourage a love for language and learning. According to studies, once they start behind, they're very likely to stay behind. Jumpstart, a national early education organization, exists to change that. To help children from low-income communities close the achievement gap, Jumpstart recruits and trains college students and community Corps members to make a lasting impact on the lives of preschool kids. The organization's proven curriculum nurtures the language and literacy skills children need to be ready for kindergarten, preparing them for success.

Since 1993, Jumpstart has trained nearly 30,000 college students and community volunteers to assist 50,000 preschool children across America. Over the years, Jumpstart has received several accolades for its achievements and contributions, including the AmeriCorps Spirit of Service Award, five Fast Company Social Capitalist Awards, and the Alfred P. Sloan Award for Excellence in Workplace Effectiveness and Flexibility.

Alley Cat Allies: Care and Protection for Stray and Feral Cats

The only national advocacy organization in the US dedicated to the protection and humane treatment of cats, Alley Cat Allies was founded in 1990 by two women who saw that the needs of stray and feral cats were not being met by the animal control pound and shelter system. To end the killing of cats by pounds and shelters, they created educational materials and wrote step-by-step instructions on the care and protection of these felines. Alley Cat Allies was the first organization to introduce humane methods of feral cat care in America, particularly the practice of spaying and neutering entire colonies with Trap-Neuter-Return. The organization has since led the movement for the protection of outdoor cats and continues to fight against unnecessary killing, promote humane care, and educate the public about the lives of cats.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Alley Cat Allies empowers veterinarians, activists, caregivers, non-profits, and policymakers nationwide with the tools and knowledge they need to practice and advocate for stray and feral cat care in their own communities. The organization has helped tens of thousands of people save and improve the lives of millions of felines, as well as inspired and assisted grassroots activists to start feral cat groups in their neighborhoods. Alley Cat Allies is solely responsible for bringing the humane treatment of cats into the national spotlight and has prompted America to better understand and respect them.

Today, Alley Cat Allies is the recognized authority on feral cats and has more than 500,000 supporters around the world. The organization is currently headed by president and co-founder Becky Robinson, who possesses years of experience in hands-on investigation and managing large-scale feral cat programs. She has advised veterinarians, organizations, and communities on the domestic cat species and has helped several neighborhoods launch or improve cat protection programs.

Animal Defenders International: Protecting Animals Worldwide

Founded in 1990, Animal Defenders International (ADI) campaigns to protect animals in entertainment, rescues animals in distress, and educates the public on animals and environmental issues. With offices in Los Angeles, London, and Bogota, ADI also provides technical advice to governments and drafts and secures progressive animal protection legislation. The organization has an international reputation for exposing behind-the-scenes animal suffering through video and photographic evidence and supporting this evidence with scientific research.

With a holistic, self-sufficient approach to attaining long-term protection for animals, ADI works at all levels of each campaign, including undercover investigation, scientific and economic research, technical report publication, and public education. Everything is done in-house in order to maximize outreach and minimize expenses.

Animal Defenders International works together with the National Anti-Vivisection Society and the Lord Dowding Fund for Humane Research for the protection of animals. ADI is currently led by Jan Creamer, who serves as president and CEO.

Keep a Child Alive: Everyone Has the Right to Health Care

Keep a Child Alive (KCA) was founded in 2003 by longtime AIDS activist and film/TV producer Leigh Blake after her previous fundraiser, Red Hot & Blue, built the AIDS Research and Family Care Clinic in Mombasa, Kenya. A woman had walked into the clinic, desperate to obtain anti-retroviral drugs for her son. Moved by the woman's courage, Blake paid for the medication, which at the time cost more than most Africans could afford. Soon, Blake's friends and colleagues heard about the children's need for medication and offered to help as well.

Blake started KCA to provide vital anti-retroviral medicine to children and families with AIDS in impoverished nations. Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Alicia Keys subsequently became the organization's first global ambassador. With an approach that's “in-your-face, irreverent, and ever-changing,” KCA was the first NGO to ask the public for donations specifically for AIDS treatment. The charity's documentary, Alicia in Africa: Journey to the Motherland, became the first film of its kind to be released online for free worldwide. KCA also pioneered the first charitable SMS campaign in the US, which saw great success on American Idol.

Keep a Child Alive believes that every individual has the right to health care and that all children deserve a future. KCA's focus areas include HIV treatment and care, nutritious food, orphan care, and loving support for children and families affected by HIV/AIDS in Kenya, South Africa, Rwanda, Uganda, and India. With two consecutive four-star ratings from Charity Navigator, KCA has so far placed more than 9,000 children and family members on anti-retroviral treatment and served over 300,000 people. In addition, the organization's annual Black Ball fundraiser has raised $18.5 million since 2004. Created by founder Leigh Blake, the Black Ball is a star-studded event that features musical collaborations with Alicia Keys and other leading artists, all for a good cause.

The Nathan Hale Foundation: Helping our Heroes

Like many business leaders, Kevin Craffey has dedicated himself to giving back to the community that fostered his own development. In addition to supporting children and teenagers through the Coos County Youth Foundation in New Hampshire, he has also strived to help the men and women who have served our country through a prominent Plymouth, Massachusetts-based organization, the Nathan Hale Foundation, which operates the Nathan Hale Veterans Outreach Centers. Kevin Craffey and other philanthropists have sought to ensure that all American heroes receive the kind of support they once provided to us through their service.

Named for the American patriot who famously uttered "I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country" before his execution at the hands of British troops during the Revolutionary War, the Nathan Hale Foundation was initially established and incorporated in April of 2006. Founded by Christopher C. Hart and supported by donors and volunteers like Kevin Craffey, the organization currently includes two Outreach Centers in Plymouth and Middleboro, Massachusetts. Mr. Hart, who was unable to serve in the military but felt compelled to do something in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, quickly put together plans for his outreach initiative, and through the help of funds provided by Kevin Craffey, along with the support of local congressmen and women, the outreach center became a reality.

Today, the Nathan Hale Foundation offers a number of free services to veterans, from classes on crafts and painting to counseling and transportation to medical appointments. The future of the foundation, which will be supported by Kevin Craffey and other philanthropists dedicated to the organization's cause, will be the Nathan Hale Therapeutic Wellness Recovery Center, which will include rock climbing walls, cutting-edge rehabilitation equipment, and counseling services designed to meet the needs of servicemen and women. To this end, the organization holds numerous events to raise awareness and gather supporters, including the Nathan Hale Foundation 5k, held or the first time on Veteran's Day, 2012, and Hale to the Arts, a gala event showcasing the art made by program participants.

To join Kevin Craffey in supporting the foundation, visit www.thenathanhaleveteransoutreachcenterplymouthma.com

Shoe4Africa: A Charity That Started With a Pair of Shoes

Back in 1995, Toby Tanser was training athletics in Kenya. Before he returned to Sweden, he gave his last pair of shoes to a taxi driver at the departures stand in Nairobi. That event eventually led to the founding of Shoe4Africa, a non-profit dedicated to empowering people through sports and education, creating unique health initiatives, and promoting AIDS awareness.

In 2010, Shoe4Africa began building a school. This year, the non-profit started building East Africa's first public children's hospital.

With a focus on health and education, Shoe4Africa promotes AIDS awareness by holding sporting events where PHOs offer counseling, advice, and guidance; hosting AIDS awareness races; and giving out leaflets in the Kalenjin language. Moreover, Shoe4Africa distributes AIDS awareness kits to schools, holds peace sports days for schools, and brings sports and educational equipment to those in need. The charity advocates women's empowerment and peace as well.

Tanser, who serves as CEO of Shoe4Africa, is also its only full-time staff. The non-profit relies heavily on volunteers in Africa, the US, and elsewhere.

Face Forward Helps Victims of Violence Start Anew

One-third of women in the world have experienced physical, sexual, emotional, or other abuse in their lifetime. About two-thirds of reported domestic violence incidents are categorized as “simple assaults,” yet up to 50 percent of these “simple assaults” leave victims with physical injuries, disfigurements, and scars. These remind the victim of the abusive event and cause physical and psychological pain that is oftentimes more agonizing than the event itself, causing them to feel ashamed and unable to fully recover and move forward.

Face Forward, a Beverly Hills non-profit, is on a mission to help victims of violence find a new beginning. Founded in 2007 by Deborah and David Alessi, Face Forward provides free physical and emotional reconstruction for women and children who have been victims of domestic or gang violence. Face Forward works with community leaders around the US to find victims of violence who are working towards recovery and are living with physical evidence of past abuse. The charity provides facial reconstructive services for these individuals, as well as partners with local community centers that offer complementary housing, counseling, legal assistance, and job searches. Face Forward ensures that more than 90 percent of all donations go toward victim treatment and recovery.



Prior to establishing Face Forward, the Alessis have long supported charitable initiatives and have served as board members and benefactors of many non-profit organizations. Now the CEO of Face Forward, Mrs. Alessi, a Scottish-born businesswoman, previously worked in the aviation industry and managed the Royal Family of Bahrain's fleet of private aircraft. Her husband, Dr. Alessi, began his practice in facial plastic reconstructive surgery and head and neck disorders more than two decades ago. For years, he cared for several indigent trauma patients when no other doctor would. Mrs. Alessi realized that these patients not only required physical reconstruction but emotional support as well. She and her husband founded Face Forward to provide both.

Charity Helps Women Dress for Success

Founded in 1997 by Nancy Lublin, Dress for Success is an international non-profit organization dedicated to helping disadvantaged women find jobs and remain employed by providing professional attire and career development services. Clients, who must have an interview scheduled first, receive a suit appropriate for their potential job on their initial visit. After they're hired, Dress for Success supplies them with additional clothing that can be mixed and matched to make several outfits. The organization's clients are referred by various non-profit and government agencies, including immigration services, homeless shelters, job training programs, domestic violence shelters, educational institutions, and more.

Dress for Success also offers employment retention programs to assist women in gaining economic independence and become self-sufficient. The non-profit runs the Professional Women's Group program, a support system for women joining the workforce and building their careers, and Career Center, which provides career guidance and technology skills.

Since its inception, Dress for Success has served over 700,000 women around the world.

H.E.A.R.: A Hearing Protection Non-Profit

As a former singer and bass player for a rock band, Kathy Peck suffered from hearing damage and tinnitus due to repeated exposure to loud music. In 1988, after attending an earsplitting concert, she and local physician Dr. Flash Gordon decided to address the problems and dangers of blaring music. Together, they launched H.E.A.R. (Hearing Education and Awareness for Rockers), a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing hearing loss and tinnitus among musicians and music fans, especially teens, through education awareness and grassroots outreach advocacy. Hearing damage from loud sound, which can result from attending concerts, playing music, using stereo earphones, and more, is often cumulative, not immediately detectable, and irreversible.


H.E.A.R. serves musicians, music fans, DJs, sound engineers, and anyone who needs help with their hearing. The non-profit's programs include public service announcements in mainstream media, information and earplug tables at concerts across the US, and hearing screenings, among others. H.E.A.R.'s interactive website, Hearnet, is updated regularly with information and resources on hearing loss, hearing aids and assistive listening devices, ear doctors, and more. H.E.A.R. also produced the award-winning Listen Smart rockumentary, which features interviews with popular musicians such as Ozzy Osbourne, Moby, Wyclef Jean, and Lars Ulrich of Metallica, as well as information on the short-term and long-term effects of noise exposure, tips on hearing protection, and advice from music professionals.

Acting as a bridge between the music and medical communities, H.E.A.R. wants everyone to be able to enjoy music for a long, long time. Recognized as a leader in the charge against preventable hearing damage, H.E.A.R. has received support from performers like Pete Townshend of The Who, Les Claypool of Primus, and Lars Ulrich; media outlets such as MTV, Guitar Player Magazine, and Keyboard Magazine; and medical groups like The American Academy of Audiology and The American Speech-Language and Hearing Association.

Musicians Fund Provides Sweet Relief to Struggling Artists

Sweet Relief Musicians Fund is a non-profit organization that has, since 1994, been providing assistance to all types of career musicians who are struggling to make ends meet while dealing with disability, illness, or age-related problems. Grant recipients include recording artists, composers, songwriters, and club and session musicians from every musical genre, including pop, rock, classical, jazz, country, blues, hip hop, reggae, and everything in between.

For the past 19 years, Sweet Relief has been offering vital assistance to professional musical artists in need. Musicians, professionals, fans, celebrities, venues, companies, and organizations have all contributed to the fund, and benefits have been performed all over the country, with performances donated by both established and emerging artists, to assist struggling musicians.

Sweet Relief has helped musicians with medical and living expenses by covering prescriptions, medical treatment, insurance premiums, housing costs, utilities, food costs, and other basic necessities. While not every applicant receives a financial grant, Sweet Relief never turns anyone away. The charity also offers other resources such as information, counseling, and financial services.

A few years ago, Sweet Relief launched a directed artist and project fundraising initiative to assist musicians who face major illness or injury and have an under-insured health plan. In these cases of overwhelming financial and personal distress, Sweet Relief takes on the role of organizer, advocate, administrator, event planner, and media partner to bring together friends, family, fans, and industry partners to help the artist.

Sweet Relief was founded in 1993 by singer-songwriter Victoria Williams, who was forced to drop out of a career-making tour with Neil Young due to multiple sclerosis. Following her diagnosis, a group of friends created an all-star album of her songs called Sweet Relief, which alleviated much of her medical debt. Knowing there are many musicians like her, Williams donated some of the proceeds from the album to start Sweet Relief Musicians Fund.

UK Charity Wipes Away Ill Children's Tears

Wipe Your Tears is a UK-based children's charity that was founded by Damian McCoy in 2003. In the autumn of that year, McCoy saw a television program about the plight of sick children in the UK and how serious illness affected their loved ones. That show resulted in several conversations and ideas on how to help these children, and Wipe Your Tears was born.

The charity's mission statement and message to children is, “If you wipe your tears, we will help you smile.” Wipe Your Tears is committed to making the lives of children who suffer from serious or terminal illness and their families a little better by granting their wishes. Wipe Your Tears provides end-of-life wishes such as helping children meet one of their heroes or going somewhere they've always dreamed of, funds vital pieces of equipment like a wheelchair or specialist bed, offers financial support to families in need, gives Christmas presents to kids in wards, and more.

ChildLine: A Sympathetic Ear for Young People in the UK

ChildLine is a UK-based private and confidential service for young people up to the age of 19. Children and teens can call, email, or chat with a ChildLine counselor about anything that's bothering them – no problem is too big or too small. ChildLine counselors are trained staff and volunteers who all have experience listening and talking to youth. They are individuals who come from various backgrounds with one thing in common: a sincere desire to help troubled kids and teens.

ChildLine is provided by the NSPCC, a charity dedicated to ending cruelty to children in the UK. The service was launched in October 1986 by Esther Rantzen. During its first year, ChildLine assisted 23,000 young people. Since then, ChildLine has counseled more than 2.6 million children on a number of issues, including bullying, physical abuse, and sexual abuse. ChildLine launched its website in October 2009, offering help to children online for the first time.

Non-Profit Has Been Keeping America Beautiful for 60 Years

Since launching its first public service announcement on litter prevention in 1956, Keep America Beautiful has been bringing people together to build and maintain vibrant communities throughout the nation. Every year, the non-profit engages millions of volunteers to take greater responsibility for improving their community's environment. With a network of over 1,200 affiliate and participating organizations, Keep America Beautiful offers solutions that create beautiful public places, promote recycling, reduce waste, make a positive impact on local economies, and inspire numerous environmental stewards. Believing that long-term change happens when people work together, Keep America Beautiful works to build and sustain clean communities that are socially connected, economically sound, and environmentally healthy.

Keep America Beautiful was formed in 1953, long before being green was in, by a group of corporate and civic leaders who met in New York City to discuss the idea of bringing the public and private sectors together to promote a national cleanliness ethic. Today, Keep America Beautiful runs several programs and initiatives, including America Recycles Day, the Cigarette Litter Prevention Program, Graffiti Hurts, National Planting Day, the Great American Cleanup, and more. The Great American Cleanup is the country's largest annual community improvement program – volunteers pick up litter, plant trees and flowers, clean seashores and waterways, beautify parks and recreation areas, handle recycling collections, and conduct litter-free events and educational programs. Last year, 4.2 million volunteers participated in the Great American Cleanup to return almost $230 million in measurable benefits in 20,000 communities across the US.

In 2013, Keep America Beautiful aims to clean and restore 200,000 public acres and sites, 100,000 miles of roads and highways, and 10,000 miles of rivers, lakes, and shorelines; place 5,000 recycling bins in public spaces; plant and/or sustain trees, community gardens, and green spaces; construct and restore 5,000 playgrounds; and educate 250,000 children to become the next generation of environmental stewards.

The Somaly Mam Foundation: Working Towards a World Without Human Trafficking

Human trafficking is a multi-billion dollar industry and the fastest-growing criminal enterprise in the world, with two million women and children sold into slavery every year. The Somaly Mam Foundation (SMF) is a non-profit organization committed to ending sex slavery and empowering its survivors as part of the solution.

SMF was founded in 2007 by Cambodian trafficking survivor and activist Somaly Mam and United States Air Force Academy alums Jared Greenberg and Nicholas Lumpp. The Somaly Mam Foundation exists to eradicate sex slavery, liberate its victims, and empower survivors to create and sustain lives of dignity. The organization works closely with partners in Southeast Asia, where Mam and her team have rescued women and children from abuse and exploitation for nearly 20 years. SMF supports shelter services, rescue operations, and rehabilitation programs in the region, where trafficking remains a widespread issue.

Additionally, the Somaly Mam Foundation runs awareness and advocacy campaigns that feature its survivors as living examples of change and engage the public in the fight against modern slavery.

Soles4Souls: Distributing Shoes and Clothing to People in Need Since 2004

Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Soles4Souls is a global non-profit organization dedicated to fighting poverty by collecting new and used shoes and clothing and getting them to people in need. Shoes are necessary for working, attending school, and avoiding disease, among others; yet, millions of people in the world lack adequate footwear while tons of shoes and apparel are thrown away each year.

Soles4Souls distributes footwear and clothing in two ways. The charity collects new but non-marketable overstocks, returns, and discounted models from corporations and retailers and gives them directly to those who need them, both in the US and overseas.

Soles4Souls also receives millions of articles of used shoes and clothes from individuals, schools, civic organizations, faith-based institutions, and corporate partners. These items are sorted in Soles4Souls' national warehouse system and typically sold, along with some new pieces allocated by manufacturers, to selected micro-enterprise organizations. These private and non-profit companies are contracted to provide shipping, inventory, financing, training, and other support to ultra-small businesses in countries where there are virtually no job opportunities. By creating sustainable jobs in devastated or developing nations such as Haiti, its citizens learn to support themselves and become self-sufficient. The positive impact charity makes is short-term, but jobs create sustained income that passes through the local economy.



Founded in 2004, Soles4Souls is dedicated to the highest standards of operating and governance, as evident in its four-star rating with Charity Navigator. The organization is currently led by CEO Buddy Teaster, who has extensive experience in entrepreneurship, C-level leadership skills, executive education, and non-profits. In the past, he served as president and COO of Executive Business Services, the holding company of StarKart, RTM Networks, and the National Association of Local Advertisers; and chief network officer of Young Presidents' Organization, a non-profit that seeks to develop better leaders and the largest CEO network in the world.

Using Music and the Arts to Elevate the Hope of Abused Children

Every year, hundreds of thousands of children in America become victims of abuse or neglect. In 2001, entertainer Sheila E. and business manager Lynn Mabry founded Elevate Hope Foundation (EHF) to provide abused and abandoned children an alternative mode of therapy, one that involves music and the arts. EHF supports the existing programs of like-minded organizations through monetary and in-kind donations of items such as musical instruments and art supplies.

In addition to backing community centers, programs, and services that directly help neglected children, EHF will build the Compassion Care Center of the Arts (CCCA) in the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area. CCCA will offer a safe environment for victims of child abuse and their parents and/or caregivers by providing treatment through the arts, music, recreation, and crisis counseling. Services will include music therapy, reading and writing classes, anger management courses, and family counseling, among many others. CCCA will aim to touch the lives of over 3,000 children annually.

Denver Charity Makes Sure Every Teen Has Something to Wear to Prom

The Prom Dress Exchange is an annual event that provides affordable prom wear to teens in the Denver area and beyond. It began as a prom dress drive more than 10 years ago and officially became a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation in 2010 after Laura Bauer took over as president. As a single mother of three who had gone prom shopping at thrift stores, Bauer was the perfect candidate to lead the organization.

 Bauer knows from personal experience that gems can be found in thrift stores. When she learned that the founder of the Prom Dress Exchange was ready to move on, she committed herself to continuing the service. Entirely run by volunteers, the Prom Dress Exchange collects and stores gently used prom wear and accessories throughout the year and holds a blowout sale every March. Teens only need to present a valid student ID and donate $10 or bring an outfit to exchange to be admitted to the event. Those who cannot donate won't be turned away, however, as the goal of the Prom Dress Exchange is to ensure that every teen can attend their prom in style.

This year's Prom Dress Exchange was held at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. The event saw more than 320 teens choose from over 1,350 donated prom dresses and formal wear.

“I am thrilled for each and every teen that leaves the Prom Dress Exchange event feeling like Prince Charming or Cinderella,” says Bauer. “What we do truly has an impact on the self-esteem of each teen who participates in our program.”

No donated item – be it a dress, a suit, a pair of shoes, or jewelry – ever goes to waste at the Prom Dress Exchange; those that do not find a home at the annual sale are passed on to other organizations.

Best Friends Animal Society: Every Animal Matters

A national leader in the no-kill movement, Best Friends Animal Society began in the 1980s, when a group of friends decided to do something about the routine killing of cats and dogs in shelters across the US. They started taking some of those “unadoptables” to a safe place and cared for them, eventually finding loving forever homes for the vast majority of these animals.

Best Friends Animal Society's ultimate goal is to “save them all” – the dream that one day, animals will no longer be killed in America's shelters. The organization works towards this dream by implementing spay/neuter and trap/neuter/return programs, increasing the number of people who adopt animals, and working with like-minded organizations and individuals to hold fundraising drives, mutual adoption events, and public education campaigns.

Additionally, Best Friends Animal Society runs the country's largest no-kill sanctuary for pets, where about 1,700 animals can be found at any given time.

Mind: 60 Years of Championing Good Mental Health for Everyone

The best-known mental health charity in the UK, Mind provides support and advice to empower anyone experiencing a mental health issue. One in four people will experience a mental health problem every year, yet hundreds of thousands are still struggling to get the support and services they need. Mind believes that no one should have to go through this alone and exists to ensure that every individual experiencing a mental health condition ultimately gets the support and respect they deserve.



Each year, the charity's network of more than 160 local Minds provides direct, specialized assistance and care to nearly 250,000 people. Mind empowers individuals with mental health problems to understand their condition and the options available to them through its confidential helpline, legal advice service, and award-winning publications and website. In addition, Mind campaigns on various issues that could affect anyone with a mental health problem, including protection of legal rights, health services, employment, and legislation. The charity believes that everyone experiencing mental health problems should have access to excellent services and be treated with respect and fairness.

Mind also offers training and consultancy to professionals and lay people who are eager to help end discrimination and advance good mental health for all. Mind's services in this area include workplace training, mental health first aid, applied suicide intervention skills, conferences and seminars, and customized training sessions.

For over 60 years, Mind has worked to improve the lives of all individuals with mental health conditions. Among the charity's more recent successes are the new Independent Mental Health Advocacy service, the Time to Change campaign, and the revised Mental Health Act. Mind aims to reach millions more people in need by the year 2016 and has developed an “ambitious and visionary” plan to achieve its goals. The new strategy includes empowering people with mental health issues to participate fully in society, ending inequality and discrimination, and building an organizational culture of excellence.

City Year: Keeping Kids in School and On Track to Graduation

Every year in America, a million students drop out of school, with most of them being people of color and living in poverty. Almost half of all African-American students will not graduate from high school, and only 60 percent of Hispanic students will. A student who does not finish school is three times more likely to be unemployed and eight times more likely to end up behind bars. The national dropout crisis is not only a civil rights issue, it's also an economic disaster, costing the American economy billions of dollars year after year.

In 1988, Harvard Law School roommates Michael Brown and Alan Khazei founded City Year, an education-focused, non-profit organization that brings together young people of all backgrounds to help keep students in school and on track to graduation. Brown and Khazei believe that young people in service can be a powerful resource for addressing the country's most pressing challenges and that one person can make a difference. Today, City Year is serving 24 cities across the US and in two international affiliate sites located in London, England and Johannesburg, South Africa.

City Year's corps members serve full-time as tutors, mentors, and role models in schools for 10 months, providing academic support, leading mentor groups, organizing community activities, and more. Research from Johns Hopkins University reveals that students who are at risk of dropping out can be identified using three early warning signs: poor attendance, disruptive behavior, and course failure in English and math. However, reaching these kids at the right time and with the right intervention can make a huge difference. Thus, City Year is leveraging the enthusiasm of its corps members and the power of national service to help transform low-performing schools and significantly improve America's graduation rates.

To date, City Year's 17,000 corps members have served more than 1,335,000 students and rendered over 26 million hours of service.

One Family's Fight Against Brain Cancer

Based in New York, Voices Against Brain Cancer is a non-profit organization started by the Lichtenstein family in loving memory of their son and brother, Gary Lichtenstein. Gary was only 24 when he was diagnosed with a brain tumor and lost his battle with brain cancer in 2003. Not long after his passing, his parents and siblings founded Voices Against Brain Cancer to raise money and awareness for the fight against this disease.

Founder Mario Lichtenstein explains that the charity is not just about their family, but about all the families worldwide who are experiencing what they've gone through. The mission of Voices Against Brain Cancer is to find a cure for brain cancer by increasing awareness within the medical community; advancing scientific research; and supporting those affected by the illness, including patients, their families, and caregivers.

At present, few people are aware of the magnitude of brain cancer and brain tumor research remains underfunded. Voices Against Brain Cancer exists to change this.

Save the Children: Over 80 Years of Helping Children and Families in Need

In 1919, teacher and sociologist Eglantyne Jebb founded the Save the Children Fund in England to help children in war-torn central Europe. More than a decade later, a group of concerned citizens who were inspired by Jebb's vision established Save the Children in America to aid Appalachian children and families struggling to survive during the Great Depression. Today, Save the Children works internationally to create lasting, positive change in the lives of children in more than 120 countries. The world's leading independent organization for children, Save the Children has a broad domestic and global footprint thanks to the support of its donors and partners. In 2012, Save the Children helped more than 78 million children in the United States and over 125 million children globally.

Currently led by president and CEO Carolyn Miles, Save the Children works in the heart of marginalized, impoverished, and vulnerable communities, helping children and families help themselves. The organization's core philosophies have always been self-help and self-reliance – that development takes place when people take charge of their own lives. Save the Children helps save children's lives, defend them from exploitation, and assist them in accessing health care and education. Additionally, the organization responds to natural disasters, civil conflicts, and ethnic violence, staying in communities to help them rebuild and recover.



Recognized for its commitment to accountability, collaboration, and innovation, Save the Children has received top awards from charity watchers, publishers, and consumer advocates, including an A+ ranking from the American Institute of Philanthropy, a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, and a Top-Rated Award from Great Nonprofits.

While Save the Children runs diverse programs and follows a multi-disciplinary approach, its mission has always been to improve the lives of children in need around the world. The organization envisions a planet where every child has the right to survival, development, protection, and participation.

The Debbie Allen Dance Academy: Inspiring Young People Through Dance

Opened in 2001 by award-winning choreographer Debbie Allen and retired NBA star Norman Nixon, the Debbie Allen Dance Academy (DADA) in Culver City, California is a non-profit organization dedicated to expanding the reach of dance and theater arts for the youth of the Greater Los Angeles Area and the world. DADA aims to enrich and transform young lives through arts education – whether students decide to pursue a professional career or not, they will walk away from DADA with discipline, self-esteem, creativity, and self-confidence, all of which are important in life.

Allen and Nixon founded the Debbie Allen Dance Academy to fill a void for the young people of the Greater Los Angeles Area who are interested in learning dance. When the academy opened its doors, hundreds of kids and their parents lined up to enroll. Within a decade, DADA has become world-renowned for its mission, faculty, and alumni, many of whom are now working in film, television, and on Broadway.

The Creative Visions Foundation: A Launchpad for Creative Activists

Part incubator, part agency, and part academy, the Creative Visions Foundation (CVF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and inspiring creative activists – individuals who use media and the arts to spur real change in the world around them. Headquartered in California, CVF was inspired by the life of artist, adventurer, and activist Dan Eldon, who was killed in Somalia in 1993 while covering the conflict as a Reuters photojournalist. In 1998, his mother Kathy Eldon and sister Amy Eldon Turtletaub started the Creative Visions Foundation to honor his legacy and to assist people like Dan who create meaningful change in the world around them through media and the arts.



Since then, CVF has incubated over 100 projects and productions on 5 continents. The foundation connects creative activists to mentors, strategic partnerships, funding and distribution channels, and a myriad other tools and resources. By creating a community between those on the ground and those who can help, CVF has assisted its creative activists in raising more than $11.2 million for their projects and reaching over 90 million people worldwide.

To carry out its mission, the Creative Visions Foundation runs three programs: the Creative Activist Program (CAP), Rock Your World, and the Dan Eldon Project. CAP supports up to 75 creative activist projects by providing essential guidance and resources such as fiscal sponsorship, strategic networking, access to CVF's funding partners and network of industry-leading mentors, and seminars and educational programs. Rock Your World is an innovative project-based curriculum targeted at middle and high school students that engages them in real world issues. The program inspires youth to ask questions about the challenges they see locally and globally, then guides them through a process of researching an issue and creating an “action campaign” to address it. Last but not least, the Dan Eldon Project offers exhibitions of Dan's art, products inspired by his art, and educational programs.

HomeAgain: Shelter and Support for Richmond's Homeless

Dedicated to helping homeless individuals and families in metro Richmond, HomeAgain provides shelter and support services to nearly 200 men, women, children, and veterans every night.

The organization runs two 90-day emergency programs, both located in downtown Richmond: the Espigh Family Shelter for women and children and the Men's Emergency Shelter. Upon their arrival, the men, women, and children who enter HomeAgain's emergency programs are given basic necessities such as healthy food, a warm shower, and a safe place to sleep. They then participate in a scheduled day that sets up the framework for rebuilding their lives. Residents are expected to complete daily chores at the shelters while working, seeking employment, or attending school. They also take part in case management and life skill services, including budgeting and money management, mental health therapy, personal goal development, and substance abuse and relapse prevention counseling.

Additionally, HomeAgain operates two transitional programs: Family INRICH and the Veteran's Transitional Program. In both programs, clients must be committed to making significant life changes and living independently and are given access to intensive case management services.

The Children's Center: Caring for Oklahoma's Youngsters

Located in Bethany, Oklahoma, The Children's Center is a private, non-profit pediatric hospital dedicated to providing medical care, comprehensive therapy, and education to children in a cost-effective manner. The Children's Center was founded in 1898 by Mattie Mallory to help the orphans of Oklahoma City. While the center's mission has changed through the decades, it has always focused on the well-being of children and followed Mallory's basic principles of faith, hope, and love.

The Children's Center believes that all children are of equal worth and offers a broad range of medical services, social services, and rehabilitative care to children with complex medical and physical disabilities in Bethany and the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. Committed to maximizing the potential of each child, The Children's Center provides specialized sub-acute medical care, state-of-the-art respiratory care, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology, among other services. Additionally, the center's Pediatric Medical Rehabilitation Unit (PMRU) is the only pediatric-focused inpatient rehabilitation program in Oklahoma.

Project Harar: Rebuilding Faces in Ethiopia

Ethiopia is home to about 90 million people, 85 percent of whom live in rural and remote areas. Africa's oldest independent country, Ethiopia is one of the poorest nations in the world. Young children are deprived of adequate food, water, and medicine; as a result, one in six children die before their fifth birthday. In rural areas, there is only one doctor for every 70,000 people. Moreover, the average annual income of a rural farmer makes it impossible for them to access health care. This leads to many complex conditions like facial disabilities being left untreated.

More than ten years ago, Jonathan Crown was traveling across east Africa on a photographic journey and he ended up in the town of Harar in Ethiopia. While out on the streets around a market one afternoon, Crown was approached by a beggar who wore a veil to hide his missing right cheek and nose. The next morning, he met another street boy with terrible head injuries. In April 2001, Crown started Project Harar to help Ethiopian children like Jemal and Fhami gain access to the medical treatment they so desperately need.

Since then, Project Harar has helped countless young people receive treatment for various facial disabilities such as cleft lip, cleft palate, noma, tumors, and animal attacks. Based in Hampstead, England, the organization works in poor, rural areas in Ethiopia to raise awareness of the treatment available for facial disabilities. Project Harar's Ethiopian employees liaise with local health officials, community leaders, and social workers to find people living with facial disabilities. Candidate patients are provided information sheets and photographic processing to help them make an informed choice, and if they decide to have treatment, Project Harar arranges free transport and accommodation in the capital city of Addis Ababa. After patients return to their villages, Project Harar monitors their progress to ensure they develop healthy and fulfilling lives.

Maestro Cares: Giving Voice to Disadvantaged Children in Latin America

Launched in January of 2012 by singer-songwriter Marc Anthony and entrepreneur Henry Cardenas, the Maestro Cares Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping Latin American children through charitable organizations in the US and developing Latin American countries. Maestro Cares seeks to become the voice for millions of children facing hunger, homelessness, and violence every day. By providing basic needs such as food, housing, education, and clinics to orphaned and abandoned children throughout Latin America, Anthony and Cardenas hope to empower them with the confidence, discipline, and enthusiasm they need to become tomorrow's leaders.

“Our mission is to help Latin American children by creating healthy and safe environments for them, but a major priority is also supporting their academic needs,” said Cardenas. “Education is key because it will bring the children closer to their dreams.”

For its initial projects, Maestro Cares assisted in the development of orphanages in Colombia, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic by providing food, school supplies, classrooms, dorm rooms, and clinics that are necessary for a healthy learning environment. The foundation aims to instill a culture of hope, discipline, confidence, and a strong work ethic among children, and the first orphanage to benefit from Maestro Cares was Orfanato Niños de Cristo in La Romana, the Dominican Republic.

Maestro Cares' most recent project is a partnership with charity auction site Charitybuzz, where fans can bid on a once-in-a-lifetime experience to score front row seats to Anthony's concert and meet and greet with the star backstage. “It's going to be a fun night for a noble cause,” said Anthony. The auction will be open until July 11th and includes other items such as autographed guitars by Ricky Martin, Enrique Iglesias, and Mana. Proceeds from the online auction will go towards the construction of a new residence and learning center for 100 neglected children in the Dominican Republic.

The Elton John AIDS Foundation Leaves No One Behind

After losing many close friends to AIDS in the early '90s, singer-songwriter Sir Elton John established the Elton John AIDS Foundation in the US in 1992 and later in the UK in 1993. Now one of the leading independent AIDS charities in the world, the foundation funds frontline programs that help alleviate the physical, emotional, and financial pain of individuals affected by HIV/AIDS. Believing that AIDS can be ended, the Elton John AIDS Foundation envisions and is working towards an AIDS-free future for everyone in the world.

Since its inception, the Elton John AIDS Foundation has provided information about HIV/AIDS to 150 million people worldwide, supplied livelihood and nutritional interventions to 100,000 people living with or affected by HIV in India, and given 80,000 people in Sub-Saharan Africa access to anti-retroviral treatment, among others. To support its charitable activities, the foundation raises funds through various events such as arts-related exhibitions, clothing sales, and the annual White Tie and Tiara Ball.

The Adoption Exchange: Connecting Foster Children With Loving, Permanent Families

Founded in 1983, The Adoption Exchange is a non-profit child welfare organization working for safety and permanence in the lives of foster children. Believing that every child deserves a loving family, The Adoption Exchange acts as the link between children waiting in foster care and adoptive families. Providing expertise and support before, during, and after the adoption process, the organization recruits families for children who have survived abuse and neglect as well as trains child welfare professionals.

The Adoption Exchange began as an exchange point for caseworkers to discuss placement of children with families looking to adopt in the Rocky Mountain region. Today, The Adoption Exchange impacts national trends in child welfare and connects children in eight member states (Colorado, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming) with American families living in the US and abroad.

Since its inception, The Adoption Exchange has helped place nearly 6,700 waiting children in permanent adoptive homes. The non-profit envisions a world where all children are loved and grow up in safe and permanent families.

A Wider Circle: Helping the Destitute Lift Themselves Out of Poverty

 Described as “an example of the grassroots movement at its best” by the Examiner, A Wider Circle is a Silver Spring, Maryland-based non-profit organization dedicated to helping children and adults lift themselves out of poverty. Never saying no to anybody, A Wider Circle provides basic necessities to impoverished families daily, whether they're transitioning out of shelters or just living without these items. The organization also furnishes the homes of more than 1,000 children and adults every month for free, as well as leads educational workshops about healthy self-esteem, resume writing, and stress management, among others, at low-income schools and shelters. Going where the needs are greatest and doing what is most needed, A Wider Circle helps tens of thousands of people each year and more than 300 social service agencies that regularly contact the non-profit for assistance in serving their clients.

A Wider Circle was founded in 2001 by Dr. Mark Bergel, who at the time was working as a part-time instructor at American University, health professional, and consultant. He volunteered to deliver food to destitute residents in the Washington, DC area and was surprised at the poor living conditions he saw there. As he went from home to home, Dr. Bergel met families without beds, food, and access to basic health information. He subsequently began talking with non-profit leaders, social workers, shelter managers, and school personnel about forming an organization that would develop holistic programs – programs that would address both people's material and “inner” needs.

Shortly after its founding in October, A Wider Circle started delivering programs in February of 2002. During its first year, the organization served 1,081 individuals. Today, A Wider Circle serves over 23,000 people per year. In 2012 alone, A Wider Circle furnished the homes of more than 13,100 children and adults, delivered over 400 educational programs, and recycled more than 2 million pounds of furniture and home goods, collecting them from people who no longer needed them and distributing them to the needy for free.

A Wider Circle has received the Washington Area Women's Foundation Leadership Award and has been named “one of the best” charities by the Catalogue for Philanthropy.

New Hope for LA's At-Risk Youth and Their Families

Located in Los Angeles, California, Aviva Family and Children's Services is a non-profit, non-sectarian social service and mental health agency dedicated to serving mistreated and at-risk youth and their families through a comprehensive range of diverse and culturally sensitive therapeutic and educational programs. Aviva is certified by the Council on Accreditation, an international, independent accrediting organization for providers of behavioral health care and child and family services.

The history of Aviva began almost a century ago, when the Ida Strauss Day Nursery was founded in 1915 to find loving homes for WWI orphans and provide day care to the children of working mothers and widows. Three years later, the Ida Strauss Day Nursery added a small residential program and community center and became the Jewish Alliance. In 1927, the organization was renamed the Hamburger Home to honor a major benefactor. For the next four decades, the Hamburger Home provided lodging for young, single, and working Jewish women. During the 1960s, the women's residence transformed into a residential treatment program for physically and sexually abused adolescent girls of all races and religions. To reflect its commitment to helping its young clients attain a brighter future, the agency changed its name once again to Aviva, which means “rebirth” or “renewal” in Hebrew.

The programs offered by Aviva Family and Children's Services today include enrichment programs for infants and children, foster care and adoption, community-based services such as gang intervention and juvenile justice, and Aviva High School, a special education high school for young girls who have been abused or neglected. Aviva High School, which helps at-risk teen girls graduate from high school and go on to post-secondary education, was awarded the highest level of accreditation (six years) by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, an independent organization that accredits high schools and higher education programs.