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.