What charities do you give to? Which are you involved in?
 

I was curious what causes people are involved in and which they donate money to (outside of the philanthropies through your GLO, unless you're really involved).

I've been watching to get involved with some sort of charitable organization in my area but haven't yet decided which would be right for me. So i'd like to hear what others are involved in.

Last night I read the new issue of Marie Claire, and it had a lengthy feature about the lack of food in Africa and all the starvation. That pulled at my heartstrings and put some things in perspective for me.

Of course, several pages later there's a fashion spread featuring $5000 skirts and $1600 tops... but that's another debate.

So, what do you give your time and money to?

This is an easy one for me - I had to get a list together for my company yesterday of the volunteer work I've done over the last year. :)

Keep in mind that until a few months ago, I made peanuts, so the only way I could give to charity was with time (vs. donations.)

The trick - for me - is to pick something you're emotionally invested in. Then it doesn't feel like just another thing you have to do.

These are the groups I've been involved with over the last year - most I just see once a month or so, but a few I invest time in every week.

• HART, although if I still lived near Richmond, I'd be volunteering at the shelter where I adopted my dog
• the county police department
• various stuff through FM (it changes, but usually something like CMN, a homeless shelter, a local 5k, etc.)
• reading to an older sister at a local nursing home
• tutoring 4th graders at my mom's elementary school

I used to work with Civil Air Patrol, but I wasn't a good fit with the people they have there right now - I wasn't enjoying it, so I figured I'd move on to something else and try back in a year or so. I did CAP in high school and it was really, really good for me.


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I did a lot for Special Olympics before I became a member of ASA. We had a huge lighted parade in my hometown, and we would pack up many of the floats and transport them to Special Olympic awards ceramonies, and have a parade for them.

The professional group I'm involved with NAWIC - National Assoc. of Women in Construction - does Habitat for Humanity, and donates many items to women's shelters.

Habitat for Humanity is pretty great. I'm a big fan.

(Although now it makes me think of that scene in Wedding Crashers where Rachel McAdams describes meeting her frattastic fiancee while on a mission with Habitat.)

I did a lot with Habitat in college, I was an officer in of our collegiate chapter and went on 2 spring break trips with Habitat, so it's one that i'm thinking of getting involved in. But I know I got frustrated with the Pittsburgh area chapter for awhile, so i'm iffy on it.

I remember an ad for Habitat awhile ago with a lady saying something like "They're just keys to you, but for me..." and her describing how great it was to have a house of their own. That got to me. NAWIC does women's build habitat houses - all women crews...it's pretty cool.

This sounds ridiculous, but....

I loved church in high school and did a ton of church-related stuff. Something that I heard over and over again was, "The greatest argument for Christianity is Christians. The worst argument against Christianity is Christians."

Meaning - I assume - people are only going to be as impressed with your group as they are impressed with the people. And I've seen that a LOT - like with the Civil Air Patrol thing.

I know firsthand it's a GREAT organization. But if you just have a few bad apples.... or bad management... or just a bad attitude as a group... you really turn off the flow of volunteers. Nobody wants to be a part of that. And then you're missing out on people who could've provided a lot of expertise, enthusiasm, a fresh outlook, etc., etc.

Just think it's sad that you really can have GREAT groups that don't get to do great things because they have not-so-great people working for them/managing them.

Clean Water Fund
ASPCA
local policeman's fund
Hogar Crea (local women's shelter)

There's more I can't think right now.

Childrens hospital of Orange County, as well as Hoag Hospital.


ANd one day when I am rich enough, any gala event that the Playboy mansion throws.

I'm on a couple boards. Maybe I've made a difference. Who knows?

-Rudey

Rainbow Village is an organization that provides transitional housing for families that are trying to get back on their feet financially. Most of the families consist of women with small children who are fleeing abusive relationships. My alumnae chapter adopted RV as its local philanthropy several years ago, and I've gotten pretty involved with it over the past two years.

I also do quite a bit with Anysoldier.com, which is an organization that provides support to our military men and women currently deployed overseas.

I do receptionist work and peer counseling at a local pregnancy care center. I also choose to donate there. It is extremely emotional but also immensely rewarding. It's definitely not for everyone- but I've been called!

I donate money to:
-The Pittsburgh Project (a mini Habit for Humanity)
-Project Grace (funds a small town in WVa, in all ways)
-Caris (Chicago)

I donate my time and money to:
-Fresh Start Divorce Seminars, Inc.
-Women's Center & Shelter
-South Hills Crisis Pregnancy Center
-Ronald McDonald House (through ADPi)

Plus, I tithe (give 10%) to my church, and click on several computer sites that donate money towards different charities (Animal Resue, Breast Care, Crisis Pregnancy, Bibles Overseas, Missionaries, etc).

How did you get involved in those boards? Did you start off volunteering and worked your way up, did you know someone, etc?

One had an established Senior Board. They wanted to get younger professionals involved because they really cared about it (and wanted others to) and I joined when the Junior Board was being established. Since I joined so early on I was exposed quite a bit to how the Board chose to define its mission. I'm happy that board had such an excellent President to lead it and dedicate so much time to it.

Another board I guess I could say I worked my way up in. Board membership for this is a formality but I don't think I'm different than any long-term volunteer or donor.

I think a major component to board memberships is how much money you can bring in. A lot of board members volunteer or raise awareness, but what separates you from the volunteers is if you can bring in that cash. Usually it's written into the bylaws how much you are responsible for and some people may want to stick to volunteering for that reason. Someone asked that I join a Senior Board but I couldn't afford it. And I've seen a lot of people just drop out of these boards which shows they didn't really think about it when they joined.

And a lot of board members usually serve with other boards so I guess once you get going with one, the next thing you know you're asked to join another and another and another. You start getting emails about fundraisers every week and have no idea which of your friends is in which or why half of these charities even exist.

http://www.boardnetusa.org/ may have something you might be interested in. A lot of charities have Junior Boards for people our age if you're interested but it's not the same as volunteering or donating to.

-Rudey