Remembering Those In Need ... especially this year!

Holiday Giving

With the holidays upon us, it's a time to give gifts to our loved ones, friends and customers.

In a volatile economy gift buying could decrease for some. And at the same time there are wonderful groups doing important work whose donations are suffering.

This holiday season, rather than buying expensive gifts, I will be making donations to charity in the names of my loved ones, friends and customers. It's like giving twice!

Each year I list a group of charities to donate to during the holiday season.

This year I’ve added two very important charities:

One is a memorial fund for the children and adults killed in the Newtown, CT School Massacre. You can donate here at www.newtownmemorialfund.org

I’ve also added the Robin Hood Relief Fund to help the victims of Hurricane Sandy.
You can donate here https://www.robinhood.org/take-action/SandyRelief.aspx

Please remember that while these two groups should be remembered first and foremost, other charities lose donations when donors focus on the immediate. So please try to give generously to a few. Please spread your holiday giving as much as you can.

Here is a list of top registered charities you may want to consider:

Alzheimer's Associaton
To eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.

American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and service.

American Heart Association
Our mission is to build healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke. That single purpose drives all we do.

America's Second Harvest (New name is FEEDING AMERICA)
The nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity

Brokers Build
Brokers Build is a campaign for real estate brokers to raise $1M to build homes with Habitat For Humanity in New York City
(Full Disclosure - the writer of this blog is a Broker Who Builds)

Darfur - Not On Our Watch
Focusing global attention and resources towards putting an end to mass atrocities around the world.

Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS
The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation seeks to prevent pediatric HIV infection and to eradicate pediatric AIDS through research, advocacy, and prevention and treatment programs.

Feed The Children
Feed The Children provides food, medicine, clothing, educational materials and other essentials to children and their families domestically and internationally.

Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry. HFHI seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action.

Juvenile Diabetes Foundation
JDRF is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research.

Love Our Children USA
Love Our Children USA^TM is the leading national nonprofit and ‘Go-To' prevention organization fighting all forms of violence and neglect against children in the U.S. Since 1999, Love Our Children USA has broken ground in preventing violence against children and eliminating behaviors that keep them from reaching their full potential. STOMP Out Bullying^TM - A national anti-bullying and cyberbullying program for kids and teens is a signature program of Love Our Children USA. It focuses on reducing and preventing bullying, cyberbullying and other digital abuse, educating against homophobia, racism and hatred, decreasing school absenteeism, and deterring violence in schools, online and in communities across the country.

(Full Disclosure - the writer of this blog is the founder and chief executive officer of this charity)

March Of Dimes
Dedicated to improving the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.

MS Society
The MS Society is a collective of passionate individuals who want to do something about MS now-to move together toward a world free of multiple sclerosis. They help each person address the challenges of living with MS by funding cutting-edge research, driving change through advocacy, facilitating professional education, and providing programs and services that help people with MS and their families move their lives forward.

North Shore Animal League
North Shore Animal League America, headquartered in Port Washington, NY, is the largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization in the world.

ONE
ONE is Americans of all beliefs and every walk of life - united as ONE - to help make poverty history

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
St. Jude is unlike any other pediatric treatment and research facility. With research and patient care under one roof, St. Jude is where some of today's most gifted researchers are able to do science more quickly. All patients accepted for treatment at St. Jude are treated without regard to the family's ability to pay.

Stand Up To Cancer
Stand up to cancer raised funds for research in unprecedented effort to end cancer's reign
as a leading cause of death

Starlight Children's Foundation NY*NJ*CT
Starlight Children's Foundation helps seriously ill children and their families cope with their pain, fear and isolation through entertainment, education and family activities.

Susan G. Komen For The Cure
The largest grassroot network of people working together to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care, and energize science to find a cure.

UNICEF
Raises funds for programs and increasing awareness of the challenges facing the world's children. The oldest of 37 national committees for UNICEF worldwide, they are part of a global effort to save, protect and improve children's lives.

For other registered charities please visit www.guidestar.org