Suns Nite Hoops: Preventing Crime in Phoenix Through Basketball

Based in Phoenix, Arizona, Suns Nite Hoops is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to assisting young adults who are in need of educational advancement, vocational development, and life skills enhancement. The charity runs a basketball program that is designed to reduce crime, teach essential life skills, and guide young men to become responsible citizens by giving them a positive alternative to gangs, drugs, and violence.

Suns Nite Hoops was started in 1994 after a group of community leaders in the Phoenix area decided to do something about the metropolitan's rising crime, unemployment, and broken families. Determined to further crime prevention and community welfare, the group began researching the feasibility of developing a new program that would help young men reach their education and employment potential. By the following year, the Phoenix Suns had formed a community-based board for Suns Nite Hoops, while Phoenix Suns Charities had pledged $200,000 of operational seed money to the program. Suns Nite Hoops officially got off the ground in 1996 following much planning and preparation.

In the Suns Nite Hoops program, participants play in an organized basketball league for one year. Each year consists of three seasons and playoffs that conclude in a championship game. The program is held twice a week from 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm, the “prime time for crime.” All participants are required to attend on-site pre-game workshops that are hosted by the National Curriculum and Training Institute. Conducted in a fun and interactive format, the workshops teach various personal and social development skills, parenting skills, job skills, and life skills. Participants learn conflict resolution, anger management, teamwork, resume writing, interviewing, and maintaining employment, among others.

Participants who do not follow the program's strict rules lose eligibility and are suspended. By keeping the basketball league highly competitive, participants are motivated to stay out of trouble and complete the season and are less likely to return to crime afterward.

Street Child Africa: Getting African Kids Off the Streets

Founded in 1994, Street Child Africa is a small charity determined to make a big difference in the lives of street children in Africa. Headquartered in Thames Ditton, Surrey, Street Child Africa funds 12 grassroots organizations across 8 sub-Saharan countries to support children who do not have access to education, health care, and national development strategies. Working towards a world where all African youngsters are safe, loved, and attain their potential, Street Child Africa aims to engage, educate, and empower street kids in a nurturing environment.

Through their partner organizations, Street Child Africa fosters children's skills, learning, and physical and emotional well-being. The charity also encourages kids to enjoy and express themselves through art, music, sports, and play. Street Child Africa not only answers the immediate needs of street kids but also plans for their long-term future and addresses the root causes of street migration. To date, Street Child Africa has raised more than £6 million.

Career Transition For Dancers: Helping Dancers Express Their Potential

Founded in 1985, Career Transition For Dancers is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping dancers define their career possibilities, develop various skills, and reach their potential both on and off the stage. Career Transition For Dancers' free programs, which are designed to assist dancers in every stage of their career, has delivered support to thousands of dancers in the US.

CTFD's counseling service guides pre-professional, mid-career, and mature dancers through self-evaluation and discovery and offers long-term motivation. The only organization in America that provides financial assistance, Career Transition For Dancers gives scholarships and grants to dancers who are looking to earn degrees, certification, or new skills, as well as seed money to those who wish to start a business. Additionally, the non-profit offers helpful and relevant materials and resources on its website and in its New York and Los Angeles offices.

Since its inception, Career Transition For Dancers has provided more than 55,000 hours of individual and group career counseling and awarded $4.5 million in educational and entrepreneurial assistance.

buildOn: Transforming Communities at Home and Abroad

It was 1990 and Jim Ziolkowski had just graduated cum laude from Michigan State University with a  bachelor's degree in finance. He was backpacking around the world, and witnessed plenty of suffering caused by extreme poverty. He also saw something different at a Nepalese village, which was having a two-day celebration for the opening of a school. Ziolkowski saw hope due to education, and the images of his travels stuck with him after he returned to the United States and began working in corporate finance. Determined to do something about what he saw abroad and aware of the poverty faced by several urban youth in America, he quit his job and founded buildOn in 1991.

Originally called Building With Books, buildOn seeks to end poverty, illiteracy, and low expectations through service and education. The non-profit organization builds schools in developing nations as well as empowers urban US high school students through in-class and intensive after-school programs. Students in buildOn's youth development programs learn about local and global issues and then contribute service to help solve them. Every week, participants tutor grade school kids, assist senior citizens, feed the homeless, and more. They also travel to developing countries to build schools alongside villagers, bringing literacy to children and adults around the world. Designed to nurture confidence and real-world skills in American youth, buildOn's after-school programs are currently being implemented in Chicago, Detroit, New York, Oakland, San Francisco, Philadelphia, and Connecticut, where the non-profit is headquartered.

Since the construction of the organization's first school in Misomali, Malawi in 1992, buildOn has built 500 schools globally, educating 77,190 children and transforming communities. buildOn's schools in Malawi, Nepal, Haiti, Mali, and Nicaragua mean that students who had previously been learning in temporary shelters, traveling long distances to school, or not going to school at all now have access to education.

More than 20 years later, Ziolkowski still leads buildOn as president and CEO. In 2010, he was named one of Catholic Digest's 12 Catholic Heroes.

Born Free: Keeping Wildlife in the Wild

After starring in the 1966 classic wildlife film “Born Free,” Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna made a lifelong commitment to protecting wild animals. Bill began producing wildlife documentaries and films, including “An Elephant Called Slowly,” which featured them with an elephant calf called Pole Pole (“Po-lee Po-lee”). Pole Pole was only two when the Kenyan government gave her as a gift to the London Zoo. In 1982, Bill and Virginia visited her at the zoo. Imprisoned in an unnatural environment and without any companions of her own kind, Pole Pole had aged prematurely and paced her enclosure frustratedly. When Bill and Virginia called her name, she turned and came to them with her trunk outstretched, trying to touch their hands. Virginia describes the moment as “heartbreaking” and “life-changing.” The couple renewed their campaign to give the elephant a better life, but Pole Pole died the following year at just age 16. The tragic event led Bill and Virginia to launch Zoo Check in 1984 with their son Will.

Zoo Check has since evolved into the Born Free Foundation, a renowned international wildlife charity today. Dedicated to compassionate conservation and animal welfare, Born Free protects endangered species and stops individual animal suffering around the world. With the belief that wildlife belongs in the wild, the organization works to phase out zoos, as well as rescues animals in tiny cages and provides them with lifetime care. Working with local communities to help people and wildlife live in harmony, Born Free protects lions, elephants, wolves, gorillas, polar bears, dolphins, tigers, marine turtles, and several more species in their natural habitat. In addition, Born Free runs high-profile campaigns that change public attitudes, influence decision-makers, and get results.

Born Free helps hundreds of thousands of animals worldwide each year. Despite its global impact, the charity is not a big anonymous organization but a family of like-minded people working towards the same goals. Celebrity supporters include Bryan Adams, Joanna Lumley, Martin Shaw, and more.

ACT Today!: Early Treatments for Autism

In America, 1 in 88 children have an autism spectrum disorder. While studies have shown that early and intense therapies are effective in treating individuals with autism, most children do not receive such treatments due to financial restraints and the fact that they're not covered by medical insurance. Often, families must put together a treatment program for their child via several funding sources. National non-profit organization ACT Today! fills the gap by providing treatment services and support to children with autism and their families.

Founded in 2005 by a group of passionate people and Dr. Doreen Granpeesheh, ACT Today! stands for Autism Care and Treatment Today! As the name implies, ACT Today! promotes immediate action to treat autism. The organization introduces and helps facilitate early and ongoing treatment by giving individuals and families affected by autism the resources they need such as funding, guidance, and referrals. ACT Today!'s mission is to see every child with autism reach their highest potential.

Ending Children's Illiteracy With Their First Book

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., First Book is a charity that gives kids in need access to new books. Dedicating to ending illiteracy, the organization wishes to see all children, regardless of background, achieve more in school and in life through books. Learning to read is critical to success; however, books are scarce for kids who are growing up in poverty. In fact, 80 percent of the preschools and after school programs serving such children do not have a single book for their students. Meanwhile, in some of the lowest income neighborhoods in America, there is only 1 book available for every 300 children.

Illiteracy affects society as a whole. Because kids and adults with low or no literacy skills have negative outlooks on education, health, and employment, they are more likely to drop out of school, stay in poverty, and engage in criminal and anti-social activity. Over the course of their lifetime, an illiterate individual will cost the United States more than a quarter of a million dollars.

Rated a four-star charity by Charity Navigator, First Book provides an essential resource to overcoming illiteracy – access to an ongoing supply of new, high quality books. To achieve this mission, First Book has pioneered innovative channels to provide books and educational resources to schools and programs serving children in need, at greatly reduced prices and for free. To date, the organization has delivered more than 100 million books to America's most disadvantaged youth. There are currently over 35,000 schools and non-profits registered with First Book, with more joining every day.

Aside from serving young readers, First Book also offers high quality books on college preparation; anti-bullying; science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM); healthy eating and exercise; and several other topics. Since 2008, First Book has been on the Chronicle of Philanthropy's annual Philanthropy 400 list.

AFSP: Preventing Suicide in America Since 1987

In the United States, someone dies by suicide every 13.7 minutes, and almost a million people make a suicide attempt every year. Concerned with the rise in youth suicide over the past decades, a group of experts on the issue came together with survivors and business and community leaders to form the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) in 1987. Because research and education programs have been successful in preventing heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, the founders hoped that such an approach would also work in dealing with suicide and depression.

Today, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is the leading national non-profit organization solely dedicated to preventing and understanding suicide, as well as to reaching out to individuals whose lives are affected by suicide. To carry out its mission, AFSP funds scientific research on suicide, provides educational programs for professionals, and educates the public about suicide prevention. Additionally, the organization offers resources and programs for survivors and people at risk, and supports pertinent policies and legislation.

Nike’s Global Outreach by Davide Grasso

A leader behind Nike’s marketing and branding for two decades, Davide Grasso wields a sharp understanding of the consumer audience—as well as the brand’s reach. Dedicated to compassion in the global community as well as innovation in the worldwide realm, Grasso shares a bit about how Nike is making a difference below.

A leading brand since the late 70s and currently the top provider of athletic footwear and apparel worldwide, Nike aims to translate its influence into widespread well being as well as the advancement of sports culture. At present, Nike maintains active involvement with the Product Red, a multi-tiered campaign that aims to eradicate AIDS.

Founded and overseen by Bono of U2, Product Red thrives with the assistance of numerous corporate partnerships. Much more than a simple donor-recipient model, the unique program allows companies to design products that will directly benefit The Global Fund to Fight AIDS through a designated portion of profit. Once that money reaches The Global Fund, it helps the charity in its prevention programs, testing centers, medical care facilities, and social services. Unique in its transformation of for-profit transactions into impactful social outreach, Product Red stands one of the largest donors to The Global Fund. In addition to Nike, Product Red thrives with the help of prominent brands including Gap, Emporio Armani, Hallmark, Starbucks, Apple, Converse, Penguin Classics, and Dell. Together, these corporate brands send a positive message to both consumers and communities in need. Since its establishment in 2006, Product Red continues to form more partnerships and engage more of the world in fighting AIDS.

Dream Foundation: Granting Wishes Across America

Founded in 1994 by Thomas Rollerson, Dream Foundation is the first and largest national wish-granting organization for adults in America. Headquartered in Santa Barbara, California, the registered 501(c)(3) non-profit seeks to touch the lives and meet the needs of individuals with life-threatening illness and their families. Together with hundreds of volunteers, hospices, and health care organizations nationwide, Dream Foundation fulfills thousands of dreams across the US every year.

Dream Foundation helps dreamers with a life expectancy of one year or less achieve their final wishes. The organization runs three main programs: the Toy Program, Flower Empower, and the Dream Granting program. The “heart and soul” of the foundation, the Dream Granting program enhances quality of life in ways that medicine alone cannot.

Dream Foundation is a recipient of the Independent Charities of America Seal of Excellence, an award that goes to the best charities in the country – only fewer than 5 percent of organizations reviewed are given this honor.

Amnesty International: Freedom for All

In 1961, two Portuguese students were imprisoned for raising a toast to freedom. British lawyer Peter Benenson responded by publishing an article entitled “The Forgotten Prisoners” in the Observer newspaper. Reprinted in newspapers around the world, his article launched the worldwide campaign “Appeal for Amnesty 1961” and led to the founding of human rights NGO Amnesty International. In July, delegates from Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Switzerland, the UK, and the US came together to establish “a permanent international movement in defence of freedom of opinion in religion.” A small office and library was subsequently opened in Benenson's chambers in Mitre Court, London. The group also established the Threes Network and adopted three prisoners from different political and geographical areas.

Since then, Amnesty International has tirelessly worked to advance the global human rights movement. Over the years, the organization has launched campaigns against torture, inhumane prison conditions, political killings, the death penalty, apartheid, and more. Amnesty International has  advocated for prisoners of conscience, women, refugees, and those living with HIV/AIDS as well. In 2009, the organization launched the Demand Dignity campaign, focusing on slums and informal settlements, maternal mortality, corporate accountability, and making rights law. The international campaign, which included a caravan across Sierra Leone, resulted in the government introducing policies for free maternal health care.

Today, Amnesty International consists of over 3 million members, supporters, and activists in more than 150 countries, all campaigning to end grave abuses of human rights. Independent of any government, religion, political ideology, or economic interest, the group envisions a world where every person can enjoy all the rights that make up the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international standards. In 2011,  Amnesty International celebrated its 50th anniversary with a toast to freedom, a homage to the moment that led to its inception.