Charities...

[Christina]

So...before the years end....who/what kind of charities have you all taken part of this year?

I try to help out whenever I can even though I live in a place where the cost of living is high. But I'm a happier person because of it.

I know that when I order my checks (I don't write that many) I order the ASPCA checks so that my purchase goes towards that foundation. I've also donated money to the local school for my younger cousin, they often have spelling b's or other fundraisers to raise money so that they can buy new things for the school or have field trips.

Tomorrow (along with the bills) I will be sending off a tiny donation to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and also The Humane Society of the United States. And since my husband works for Starbucks, we usually buy toys and donate them to the Starlight Foundation (that's why they have those baskets in the stores for you to donate toys!) And last but not least, I have contributed a little towards the WHToydrive as well.

So please share any local/national/world charities you all contribute to either once in a while or on a normal basis. I'd be interested to know! I think next year I'd like to donate the the St. Jude Children's Hospital charity (I think that is what it's called?). :)

Oh yeah, whenever those people like to stand outside department stores/malls....ringing their bells...if I have any loose change/money I usually donate as well (though I usually carry no cash....)

[the_pm]

I'm a pretty regular Salvation Army donater. I also give away a few thousand dollars worth of Goodwill items every year. I've volunteered for various projects to enhance the City of Canton too - some run-down area renovation, some planting/cleaning time, stuff like that.

I probably don't do as much as I could, but working 60-80 hours every week to keep my hefty mortgage paid puts a bit of a damper on things. Once I sell my house I'll be able to breath a little easier.

[sonicgroup]

One of my family's favorite charities is the US Marine Corps' Toys for Tots program. Every year we donate (in addition to what my father's retail store kicks in) a few thousand dollars in toys to the Marines.

There are also a few local charities we give to around this time of the year, and a couple others throughout the normal part of the year - one of those primarily being the Fraternal Order of Police in our area.

[the_pm]

Well yeah, I contribute to the FOP every year, but I don't consider it a charitable donation - I consider it a "get out of jail free" card for all the times I've been let off the hook as a result of being a frequent supporter ;)

[Christina]

Oh...I forgot to add...I usually donate or raise money for Big Brother Big Sisters through my bowling league (not in a league right now though :( )

[BigBison]

This year, I decided to start a charitable organization, or rather I acquired one. Stay tuned to osteoporosis.org for further information about the Center for Osteoporosis Research and Education. One thing the previous owners hadn't done, was get the proper 501c(3) nonprofit designation. I don't know if anyone else has ever dealt with that, let me tell you it's a real PITA. Fund mobile osteoporosis screenings with your purchase of calcium supplements, or something, once it's alive.

My other donations this year have, unfortunately, been local in nature. I prefer donating anonymously, when tragedy strikes my neighbors like it has in Oak Creek this past year. Recently, my neighbors across the street lost a granddaughter-in-law and a 2-yr-old great-grandson, when their grandson fell asleep for a split second driving one afternoon (ranchers work as many hours as we do) and drifted over the center line, right into a propane delivery truck. :( More recently, a local high-school gal forgot her homework. The kid who was driving 95 in a 45 zone to get her home and back during lunch break, lost control (duh) on the snowpacked, dirt county road. Two dead, two hospitalized after chopper flights to Denver.

That's the short list, in fact that only takes you back to September. Oak Creek only has a population of 800 so you can imagine the impact. Why is it that the insurance companies always manage to find a reason to either not pay, or wait for so long that the surviving family members would go bankrupt if it weren't for donations and fundraisers of local origin. I can't wait until 2005, this year's been an aberration. When it comes to donations from me, the organized charities will have to wait a while. I've lost track of the number of bank-sponsored accounts I made deposits into this past year.

Happy Holidays, and never take your loved ones for granted!

[Corey Bryant]

When I was in the military, I volunteered with the Red Cross (taught CPR, was the HIV/AIDS coordinator for Northern Santa Barbara County, helped out when the 94 Northridge Earthquake hit), did the Toys for Tots (actually went & helped buy the toys, wrap them, did the package of groceries for the families), and was always volunteering for something.

We do give some money to some of the charities, but in all honesty, most of my time is spent on boards like these helping people.

[Christina]

I had fun when I wrapped gifts for Toys for Tots when I lived in Tampa! :) I think it's healthy to try and give back whenever you can even if it's just by providing service to people...

[Corey Bryant]

I would have had a lot more fun if they would have allowed me to play with the toys :dance:

[ethicaldesign]

Sometimes if a couple of projects coincide that I'd like to support I'll do a bit of work for one for free in return for them making a donation to another non profit I might be helping out at the same time. Occasionally I'll do the same for commercial work (do something for free on a commercial project in return for them making a direct donation to a non profit I want to support- which I'm hoping will encourage them to donate money themselves in the future outside of that work).

Most of my donations are of free and very discounted work (funds from commercial projects in the run up to or surrounding that work help to keep my going during the time that I'm working on those projects).

As well as non-profits and charities (who will generally get my services free of charge), I also support ethically oriented business ventures, and creative ventures that are starting out or in early stages of development (musicians, music promoters, bands, writers and so on). Also some small business startups get free or significantly reduced price work aswell (depending upon the nature of their business).

For anyone with design and development skills, I could definitely recommend helping out people with your skills and time as an alternative to sending money. Not only does it help to offer a lot of people/organisations services that they might otherwise be unable to afford (particularly smaller charities and non-profits), but it gives you the opportunity to get to know them and be involved first hand in what they're doing. One project in particular that I'm almost finished now for a fair trade startup has been invaluable in that respect. Some of the discussions I've had with the guy who's starting that have not only taught me a lot about the issues he faces, but has really enjoyable aswell.

It's heartwarming to see so many people here in business supporting others :)

[Pauly]

I'm not sure which ones exactly, we donate all the time, usually to AIDS or Cancer Research, obviously Children in Need and a few others. Giving a pound here and there every week is regular to us :)