Invent your own charity

[Rudey]

OK guys, if you could create your own charity, what would it be for?

Remember to take into account all that's out there (ie no more Make a Wish foundations).

I've been toying with this for a year and would really like to see what ideas are out there. I figure if any of you really have a good idea and would like to make something of this, I would like to be one of your earliest contributors. If you're not interested in anything other than throwing ideas out there, that's great too!

-Rudey

[APhi Sailorgirl]

I think that I would create a charity for college students who get really sick and either need help paying medical bills, whether they have insurance or not, or if a college student needs insurance, help them find it or pay part of the premium.

I got a horrible blood disease my junior year resulting in a lot of medical care and also resulted in once my parents plan dropped me as a dependent, not being able to get other health insurance. It's still a mess, so if I could, I would help other students out there who may be going through something similar.

College students and recent grads are the hardest to get medical insurance.

[TheEpitome1920]

I have so many ideas but high up on my list is a foundation to increase the recruitment and retention of Black males in Higher Education.

[Rudey]

Originally posted by TheEpitome1920
I have so many ideas but high up on my list is a foundation to increase the recruitment and retention of Black males in Higher Education.

OK, but that's like me saying I want to end world hungry. How? What do you want to do, or do differently, that another charity that does the same can't?

-Rudey

[Tippiechick]

I would like to start the "Help the Tippiechick" foundation

Really, I would probably go for something geared toward helping rehabilitate abused, sick, or homeless animals instead of them ending up being euthanized. The spaying and neutering of animals would be encouraged...

I know there are probably better ways of helping the world, but this is my personal cause...

[honeychile]

Originally posted by TheEpitome1920
I have so many ideas but high up on my list is a foundation to increase the recruitment and retention of Black males in Higher Education.

Excellent idea!!

After years of working in geriatrics, I can think of several. One would be a type of Make A Wish for Senior Citizens - most people have no idea how many people reach 75-80 years old, and have so many regrets that they gave so much of their lives to work that they never had the time for travel, their children, grandchildren, etc. And trust me, they often cry about it.

Or the better DNA databank of convicted criminals, so that the truly innocent people who are sitting on death row are better able to be exonerated.

[aephi alum]

The aephi alum needs to burn her mortgage foundation

Seriously, I would put together something to enhance the resources and facilities of no-kill animal shelters and to encourage adoption of adult animals. I hate the thought of dogs, cats, etc. being put down simply because no one adopted them within a few days of their arrival. The problem is that no-kill shelters can fill up pretty quickly if the animals aren't adopted, and most people want a puppy or kitten, not a full-grown dog or cat. So the fund would be designed to expand shelter facilities, provide food, water, and medical attention, and spay or neuter the animals, as well as encouraging people who want to adopt to consider adopting an adult animal.

[Taualumna]

In this part of Canada, there are many kids of immigrant families who don't know English when they start school (there are some schools, both urban and suburban, where 75%+ students don't come from an English speaking home). Because they were born in an English speaking community, they don't always qualify for ESL (English as a Second Language) classes. I'd like to start a charity/fund/program to help these kids become fluent quickly so they can understand what the teacher is saying, and so that they don't have to isolate themselves from the class.

[Lil' Hannah]

Rudes, what about a foundation that donates money to schools that can't afford to buy supplies, books, etc.? Help the children!!

[TheEpitome1920]

Originally posted by Rudey
OK, but that's like me saying I want to end world hungry. How? What do you want to do, or do differently, that another charity that does the same can't?

-Rudey

I personally don't know of a charity that focuses specifically on the retention or recruitment of Black males in Higher Education.

Some ideas include...

Provide scholarships to ease financial issues
-also a book fund so that no student is left without books for a class

College Tours which would include HBCUs and TWIs

Provide racial sensitivity training for high school counselors
-often times HS counselors will discourage Black men from attending college unless they have athletic abilities

Establish a mentoring program that begins freshman year of high school through college graduation
- this mentoring program would include workshops that discuss everything from health issues to writing admissions essays. And Black males would be paired up with professional Black men and other community members.

[labeachgrl]

I think a charity focused on supplementing underfunded after-school programs would be a worthwhile cause, especially those focused on reaching:

Those kids who are accelerated learners are getting missed because the teachers are focused on disciplining the class.

Those kids who need help over a stumbling block (such as a subject in math) which result in the kd getting more and more behind until they give up.

Those kids who have a little mischief in them, they need a place to be active AND safe.

An alternative to latchkey kids - working parents need help from the time school is over until they get home from work to have a safe place for their kids to go.

[Dionysus]

Originally posted by TheEpitome1920
I personally don't know of a charity that focuses specifically on the retention or recruitment of Black males in Higher Education.

Some ideas include...

Provide racial sensitivity training for high school counselors
-often times HS counselors will discourage Black men from attending college unless they have athletic abilities)

Establish a mentoring program that begins freshman year of high school through college graduation
- this mentoring program would include workshops that discuss everything from health issues to writting admissions essays. And Black males would be paired up with professional Black men and other community members.

And mentors need to give them statistics showing how few people make it in music, professional sports, and starting their own business. I know sooo many young black guys who fall into the trap in believing that they have more chance in "making it big" than making money by getting decent jobs.

[Lady Pi Phi]

Originally posted by Lil' Hannah
Rudes, what about a foundation that donates money to schools that can't afford to buy supplies, books, etc.? Help the children!!

The company I work for does this. While they don't have their own foundation. The company asks for donations of paper, pens, pencils, etc,etc which they in turn donate to The Daily Bread Food Bank who then hands them out to children who can't afford school supplies.

[Rudey]

I had thought about a charity for soldiers but I couldn't figure what to make. It's just what I was caring about at one point, and still do, just like some people do about animals.

About kids and mentoring and college tours, I know of one organization at least stsrted by a university of pennsylvania grad who is pretty old now and in finance where he does that and guarantees kids their college money if they go.

I figured since I can't come up with an idea for a specific charity, maybe I can help create a venture fund for charities.

-Rudey

[Peaches-n-Cream]

My bf and I are actually in the process of starting a charitable foundation. We have to hammer out the details, but I will let you know when it's official which hopefully will be in about two months. This foundation is in the same vein as what some of you have described.