In 1934, Rosalie Edge planted the seeds of Hawk Mountain Sanctuary when she leased 1,400 acres of Hawk Mountain property and hired wardens to prevent hunters from shooting at the raptors. Today, the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Association is a non-profit organization based in Pennsylvania; Edge purchased and passed on the deed to the sanctuary’s association in perpetuity.
The wild bird sanctuary spans East Brunswick Township and Albany Township in eastern Pennsylvania with stretches located along the Appalachian flyway. Due to its prime location, the sanctuary is among the perfect locations for viewings of migrating raptors and kettling. Every year during the late summer and fall, an average of 20,000 eagles, hawks and falcons pass by the lookouts – truly, a magnificent sight that makes the trip worthwhile.
The passing birds are then identified and counted by volunteers and staff of the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary. The resulting annual counts are considered as the world’s longest-kept records of raptor populations, which have provided conservationists with useful information essential in their conservation efforts.
Hawk Mountain Sanctuary also holds a unique place in history. It is the oldest wildlife sanctuary of the world with an exclusive focus on the observation and protection of birds of prey. It is also neither owned not financially supported by the government, thanks to its self-sufficiency.
Aside from its status as a National Natural Landmark status, the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary also hosts a few notable attractions. These include Schaumboch's Tavern, which is listed on the US National Register of Historic Places, and John Denver’s bench on the South Lookout.
The sanctuary also has the Acopian Center for Conservation Learning, a place where students from all over the world come to learn about biology, environmental science, and ornithology, among related fields, usually in work-study internships. The center was named in honor of the sanctuary’s most generous benefactor, Sarkis Acopian.
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
Friday, September 25, 2015
Occidental Arts and Ecology Center: Building Ecological Literacy
The Occidental Arts and Ecology Center (OAEC), a non-profit organization, has been and continues to be the most vocal advocate for the preservation and promotion of ecological agriculture and biodiversity. Founded in the early 1970s, its dedicated men and women are committed to the cultivation of ecological literacy among individuals, groups and organizations in the United States particularly in Northern California. Its stated mission also includes building the capacity of social and civic movement leaders and stakeholders in guiding their communities toward a better future – viable in the economic sense, regenerative in the ecological aspect, and just in the social factor.
OAEC is also a pioneer in organic farming in California – its farm was one of the first to be certified organic in the state. Its living seed collection, which has more than 3,000 heirloom herb, fruits, and vegetables seeds, has inspired activists, educators, and biologists, even amateur gardeners, to find practical approaches in environmental issues while also getting the appropriate nutrition.
OAEC is also a pioneer in organic farming in California – its farm was one of the first to be certified organic in the state. Its living seed collection, which has more than 3,000 heirloom herb, fruits, and vegetables seeds, has inspired activists, educators, and biologists, even amateur gardeners, to find practical approaches in environmental issues while also getting the appropriate nutrition.
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
Climate Solutions: Pushing for a Clean Energy Economy
Climate Solutions, a non-profit organization based in the Northwest of the United States, prides itself on being a pioneer of a clean energy economy. Its dedicated men and women have cultivated the leadership and promoted the vision of clean energy and economic prosperity co-existing for the benefit of society.
Since its founding over 15 years ago, the organization has led and continues to lead successful initiatives in the delivery of policies, partnerships, and models for clean energy and climate change. Climate Solutions focuses its efforts on the acceleration of the effective and efficient transition from fossil fuel use to clean energy use that, in the process, contribute to a better environment.
With three offices, the Climate Solutions has built several winning coalitions in the pursuit of changes in policy regarding renewable energy, carbon reduction, and energy efficiency. The Northwest has proven to be a fertile ground for initiating meaningful changes in policy as well as in program and project implementation. The organization continues to play crucial roles as an active advocate and catalyst as well as campaign hub for its partners and stakeholders.
With its strategic partnerships with a wide range of entities ranging from non-profit organizations to national governments, Climate Solutions has built a powerful alliance for positive actions on climate and clean energy on the local, regional and national levels. Such is its effectiveness that Climate Solutions has been selected by Guidestar’s Philanthropedia as among the United States’ high-impact non-profits in the field of climate change in 2012 – the only regional Northwest organization on the list, too.
Climate Solutions has several programs including:
Since its founding over 15 years ago, the organization has led and continues to lead successful initiatives in the delivery of policies, partnerships, and models for clean energy and climate change. Climate Solutions focuses its efforts on the acceleration of the effective and efficient transition from fossil fuel use to clean energy use that, in the process, contribute to a better environment.
With three offices, the Climate Solutions has built several winning coalitions in the pursuit of changes in policy regarding renewable energy, carbon reduction, and energy efficiency. The Northwest has proven to be a fertile ground for initiating meaningful changes in policy as well as in program and project implementation. The organization continues to play crucial roles as an active advocate and catalyst as well as campaign hub for its partners and stakeholders.
With its strategic partnerships with a wide range of entities ranging from non-profit organizations to national governments, Climate Solutions has built a powerful alliance for positive actions on climate and clean energy on the local, regional and national levels. Such is its effectiveness that Climate Solutions has been selected by Guidestar’s Philanthropedia as among the United States’ high-impact non-profits in the field of climate change in 2012 – the only regional Northwest organization on the list, too.
Climate Solutions has several programs including:
- New Energy Cities involving partnerships with small- and medium-sized communities toward substantial carbon reductions by 2030.
- Sustainable Advanced Fuels focuses on the acceleration of the use of low-carbon alternatives to petroleum fuels.
- Business Leaders for Climate Solutions has entrepreneurs, executives and investors on board, all of whom are committed to concrete actions in the reduction of global warming and pollution, among others.
Friday, September 18, 2015
The Food Group: Blending Good Food, Culture and Marketing
The Food Group prides itself on being a leader in the marketing industry when it comes to blending good food, contemporary culture, and effective marketing. In the process, the full-service agency delivers powerful ideas that contribute to its clients’ success in the competitive food industry.
With its innovative applications of proprietary data-driven technology and tools, the Food Group has gained a deeper understanding about the motivations underlying the complex relationships between people and their food. With its creative approach to problem-solving, it has also been recognized as one of the food industry’s thought leaders, a status that can also be attributed to its creative leadership. The men and women behind the Food Group are also food-obsessed and technology-friendly, a combination consistently harnessed for the benefit of their clients.
The result: Projects that create meaningful connections between Food Group’s clients and their target audiences across multiple platforms and disciplines. The Food Group has, indeed, contributed to building many of the world’s most iconic businesses and their brands.
With its innovative applications of proprietary data-driven technology and tools, the Food Group has gained a deeper understanding about the motivations underlying the complex relationships between people and their food. With its creative approach to problem-solving, it has also been recognized as one of the food industry’s thought leaders, a status that can also be attributed to its creative leadership. The men and women behind the Food Group are also food-obsessed and technology-friendly, a combination consistently harnessed for the benefit of their clients.
The result: Projects that create meaningful connections between Food Group’s clients and their target audiences across multiple platforms and disciplines. The Food Group has, indeed, contributed to building many of the world’s most iconic businesses and their brands.
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
Foodlink: Working Toward Hunger-free Communities
In 1976 on a local news show, Tom Ferraro appealed for food donations from the community in support of an increasing number of emergency food pantries. He received a call to pick up a food donation from the warehouse manager of Thomas English Muffins, which filled up an entire school bus – and thus the seeds of Foodlink were sown.
Foodlink started as the Genesee Valley Regional Food Clearinghouse, which was later renamed as the Genesee Valley Food Bank and then its current name in 1992. Despite the name changes, the non-profit organization’s mission has remained through the years – to rescue and redistribute food that would otherwise be wasted from a wide range of donors including manufacturers, retailers, and restaurants to human service organizations.
Today, Foodlink serves several of these organizations in the 10-county area encompassing the Genesee Valley and Finger Lakes Region of Upstate New York; the counties are Allegany, Genesee, Orleans, Seneca, Livingston, Monroe, Wayne, Wyoming, Ontario, and Yates. The non-profit organization has rescued and redistributed more than 18 million pounds of food yearly to its network of 500 programs. Foodlink is also a founding member of Feeding America, thus, making it an active part of 200 food banks across the United States.
Together with its donors and stakeholders, Foodlink is linking people in need with the nutritious food that they require for daily survival. Foodlink’s regional network including its agencies serves 15 million meals on an annual basis to approximately 200,000 people. Since its establishment, the organization has distributed an estimated $125 million worth of food for the various communities it serves.
But it does not stop there. Foodlink also provides beneficiaries with nutrition education courses, among other 30- food-related programs.
By directly addressing the health disparities associated with food insecurity, Foodlink continues to make a positive impact on the community and, in the process, work toward a hunger-free America.
Foodlink started as the Genesee Valley Regional Food Clearinghouse, which was later renamed as the Genesee Valley Food Bank and then its current name in 1992. Despite the name changes, the non-profit organization’s mission has remained through the years – to rescue and redistribute food that would otherwise be wasted from a wide range of donors including manufacturers, retailers, and restaurants to human service organizations.
Today, Foodlink serves several of these organizations in the 10-county area encompassing the Genesee Valley and Finger Lakes Region of Upstate New York; the counties are Allegany, Genesee, Orleans, Seneca, Livingston, Monroe, Wayne, Wyoming, Ontario, and Yates. The non-profit organization has rescued and redistributed more than 18 million pounds of food yearly to its network of 500 programs. Foodlink is also a founding member of Feeding America, thus, making it an active part of 200 food banks across the United States.
Together with its donors and stakeholders, Foodlink is linking people in need with the nutritious food that they require for daily survival. Foodlink’s regional network including its agencies serves 15 million meals on an annual basis to approximately 200,000 people. Since its establishment, the organization has distributed an estimated $125 million worth of food for the various communities it serves.
But it does not stop there. Foodlink also provides beneficiaries with nutrition education courses, among other 30- food-related programs.
By directly addressing the health disparities associated with food insecurity, Foodlink continues to make a positive impact on the community and, in the process, work toward a hunger-free America.
Friday, September 11, 2015
USAction: Working Toward a More Progressive America
USAction, a national association of progressive community organizing groups founded in 1999, partners with other organizations in contributing to a better United States. By uniting various individuals, groups and organizations on the local and national levels as well as online and on the ground, the federation organizes for meaningful change, democracy and power in the country.
Toward this end, USAction works toward the promotion of investments in the future of the United States and its people. These include initiatives in supporting good jobs for everyone in America including stopping job-related discrimination; providing quality and affordable healthcare for all including the passage of the Affordable Care Act; stopping all wars wherein the United States in involved including the war in Iraq; and restoring physical infrastructure, among others.
The organization’s activities include joining Health Care of America Now, which pushed for affordable healthcare; launching the Dog the Blue Dogs campaign; and joining liberal advocacy groups.
Toward this end, USAction works toward the promotion of investments in the future of the United States and its people. These include initiatives in supporting good jobs for everyone in America including stopping job-related discrimination; providing quality and affordable healthcare for all including the passage of the Affordable Care Act; stopping all wars wherein the United States in involved including the war in Iraq; and restoring physical infrastructure, among others.
The organization’s activities include joining Health Care of America Now, which pushed for affordable healthcare; launching the Dog the Blue Dogs campaign; and joining liberal advocacy groups.
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
Bibles for the World: Sharing the Gospel to the World
Bibles for the World, a non-profit organization, is a charter member of the Evangelical Council for Accountability. Its declared mission is to share and spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ through dedicated ministry to the unreached peoples, as well as to the Church and Christian leaders in the developing countries especially in India.
By establishing strong and strategic partnerships with its ministers, donors and partners, the Christian organization has so far been successful in reaching as many people as possible. Its three-fold approach in spreading the Gospel is as follows:
As a non-profit, Christian-based organization, all donations to Bibles for the World are considered tax deductible, as allowed by the law. The men and women behind the organization take their stewardship of both their ministry and their stewardship over the donations seriously. As such, the organization spends only 15% of donations to administrative expenditures while 85% goes to programs.
Bibles for the World undertakes careful monitoring of programs and their costs, apply the donations including grants according to their intended purposes, and leverage funds for maximum impact. For this reason, the organization has been awarded a 4-star rating by the Charity Navigator in recognition of its exceptional financial health including its ability to grow its finances well.
By establishing strong and strategic partnerships with its ministers, donors and partners, the Christian organization has so far been successful in reaching as many people as possible. Its three-fold approach in spreading the Gospel is as follows:
- Distribution of Bibles and biblical resources including scripture portions;
- Provision of Christian education via affiliated schools in Delhi and in Northeast India with the goal of raising well-educated children with a strong love for God; and
- Establishing networks of national Christian leaders and Indian churches for greater effectiveness in sharing the Gospel.
As a non-profit, Christian-based organization, all donations to Bibles for the World are considered tax deductible, as allowed by the law. The men and women behind the organization take their stewardship of both their ministry and their stewardship over the donations seriously. As such, the organization spends only 15% of donations to administrative expenditures while 85% goes to programs.
Bibles for the World undertakes careful monitoring of programs and their costs, apply the donations including grants according to their intended purposes, and leverage funds for maximum impact. For this reason, the organization has been awarded a 4-star rating by the Charity Navigator in recognition of its exceptional financial health including its ability to grow its finances well.
Friday, September 4, 2015
Golden Harvest Food Bank: Answering God’s Call to Feed the Hungry
In 1982, Mike Firmin had a difficult decision to make: To accept or reject the offer of a group of local leaders for the creation of a food bank, which will help the community face the challenge of hunger directly. Firmin prayed about the matter to the Lord and eventually decided that he will accept the job offer as a way to encourage others about their Christian obligation to feed the hungry.
Today, Golden Harvest Food Bank provides hungry individuals with healthy grocery items particularly food across its 30 county service areas. Since its creation, it has collected and distributed more than 200 million pounds of food and, in the process, fed over 11 million people – and counting.
Its most notable programs are the Senior Food Box, which provides at-risk seniors with a free box of groceries every month; the BackPack, a program that provides at-risk children with a weekend supply of easy-to-open, delicious and nutritious food; and the Master’s Table, a 6,200-square foot facility with an organic community garden, prayer rooms, and a 152-guest indoor seating capacity.
Today, Golden Harvest Food Bank provides hungry individuals with healthy grocery items particularly food across its 30 county service areas. Since its creation, it has collected and distributed more than 200 million pounds of food and, in the process, fed over 11 million people – and counting.
Its most notable programs are the Senior Food Box, which provides at-risk seniors with a free box of groceries every month; the BackPack, a program that provides at-risk children with a weekend supply of easy-to-open, delicious and nutritious food; and the Master’s Table, a 6,200-square foot facility with an organic community garden, prayer rooms, and a 152-guest indoor seating capacity.
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
Hidden Harvest: Alleviating Hunger and Ending Food Waste
Hidden Harvest, a non-profit organization, is one of the best organizations for donations of food and related items that would otherwise be thrown into the trash. Its dedicated men and women work toward alleviating hunger and ending food waste in the Midland, Bay, and Saginaw in Michigan. It achieves these goals by providing a safe, effective and coordinated system for food rescue and redistribution in feeding people in need.
The organization has a simple principle: Good food, which can be used to feed so many of the hungry in the community, should not go to waste. Every day, staff members and volunteers collect usable food items from a wide range of establishments including hotels, hospitals, restaurants, bakeries, wholesalers, grocery stores, and agricultural centers, among other USDA-approved sources. The collected food items are then immediately delivered - free of charge - to several recipients including food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters for the homeless, and other community programs targeted for in-need neighbors.
But not all food donations can be accepted. The donated food must be prepared, stored and served according to the guidelines set by the concerned government agencies, such as the health department. For example, food prepared with alcohol and served on self-service buffet tables cannot be accepted.
For this reason, Hidden Harvest has staff and volunteers trained in proper food handling procedures. It also has refrigerated trucks used in the collection and delivery of perishable and prepared food items. It also requires beneficiaries of the collected food to have the appropriate storage facilities as well as undergo safe food handling training.
Hidden Harvest ensures its good faith benefactors of their protection against liability for donated food under state and federal Good Samaritan Laws. This is an important aspect of its operations as Hidden Harvest largely relies on food donations to continue its mission.
The organization has a simple principle: Good food, which can be used to feed so many of the hungry in the community, should not go to waste. Every day, staff members and volunteers collect usable food items from a wide range of establishments including hotels, hospitals, restaurants, bakeries, wholesalers, grocery stores, and agricultural centers, among other USDA-approved sources. The collected food items are then immediately delivered - free of charge - to several recipients including food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters for the homeless, and other community programs targeted for in-need neighbors.
But not all food donations can be accepted. The donated food must be prepared, stored and served according to the guidelines set by the concerned government agencies, such as the health department. For example, food prepared with alcohol and served on self-service buffet tables cannot be accepted.
For this reason, Hidden Harvest has staff and volunteers trained in proper food handling procedures. It also has refrigerated trucks used in the collection and delivery of perishable and prepared food items. It also requires beneficiaries of the collected food to have the appropriate storage facilities as well as undergo safe food handling training.
Hidden Harvest ensures its good faith benefactors of their protection against liability for donated food under state and federal Good Samaritan Laws. This is an important aspect of its operations as Hidden Harvest largely relies on food donations to continue its mission.
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