Friday, December 31, 2010
A question for our readers: What are your favorite charities?
It is New Year's Eve, and because I am a huge procrastinator I do a big chunk of my annual charitable giving on this day. Via credit card, obviously, so that I can bag that all-important deduction in the current year, which -- thank you GOP voters! -- is now in my interest since my marginal rates will not be increasing in 2011. This year I have been particularly disorganized and therefore have accomplished less than half of my giving objectives, so I need all the help I can get. While I will re-up for last year's charities, I hope to do a bit more. What causes or institutions do you support, and why?
22 Comments:
By 
, at
Fri Dec 31, 08:51:00 AM:
Here's a handy way to give back
By 
pam, at
Fri Dec 31, 09:05:00 AM:
Because it's still an epidemic and people still need to know how to get care, and a hot meal.
http://bostonlivingcenter.org/
By , at
Fri Dec 31, 09:06:00 AM:
Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund: As a previous XO of the Marine Corps Wounded Warrior program I can say unequivocally that this organization is the finest of its kind... Bar none.
By JPMcT, at
Fri Dec 31, 09:35:00 AM:
Besides the local vet groups I think the best bang-for-the-buck is with the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation and Cystic Fibrosis.
The former because the research is getting very promising...but needs a quantum leap, the latter because they have already done such a remarkable job and are on the cusp of a cure for one of the most common genetic defects.
...you could also do your giving in the name of your favorite Democrat politician...they sure could use some improvement in their charitable giving statistics.
By Dawnfire82, at
Fri Dec 31, 10:01:00 AM:
The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education.
http://myfire.thefire.org/Page.aspx?pid=218
By Don Cox, at
Fri Dec 31, 10:16:00 AM:
I think cancer research is the most deserving charity to support, but I don't know the name of the US equivalent of the British cancer research organisation.
The others I support are also British. One helps blind people - there must be a US equivalent.
By , at
Fri Dec 31, 10:26:00 AM:
After Katrina experience, my giving choice is any of the mission through churches which offer disaster relief. Denomination of your choice.
By The Conservative Wahoo, at
Fri Dec 31, 10:37:00 AM:
By , at
Fri Dec 31, 10:40:00 AM:
The USO phone calling card program. What could be nicer for a parent or spouse than a phone call from their deployed loved one?
Retread
By Progressively Defensive, at
Fri Dec 31, 10:43:00 AM:
Dawnfire82 - cool!
They are all great causes, but there is a case to be made that Dawnfire82 might have the charity-multiplier there. Or else a charity involving charter schools that is verified legitimate. We waste so much of our hard work because of government sleaziness such that if we could at least teach not so much conservatism as skepticism of the quasi-socialist narrative associated with heightened government involvement in our economy, all charities would benefit.
I'm taking a chance on this Harlem Academy, a charter school. It is kind of cool; one of the school children makes me a card each year. ... Of course, the Assistant VP for Janitorial Services might be making $500,000 and be in a jacuzzi with 4 hot "strippers" in St. Barts as I write, but c'est la vie.
By , at
Fri Dec 31, 10:43:00 AM:
Soldier's Angels http://www.soldiersangels.org/
Spirit of America http://www.spiritofamerica.net/
Eric Hines
By Andrew Hofer, at
Fri Dec 31, 10:58:00 AM:
I hope you will look at Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic (www.rfbd.org) where I am on the Board. Helping people with visual or other text impairments is a great way to contribute to both a more just and a more productive society, providing equal *opportunity* (but not necessarily equal outcomes).
By Simon Kenton, at
Fri Dec 31, 11:15:00 AM:
Concur on Soldier's Angels. I like Canyonlands Field Institute, which runs outdoor education programs in the high desert near Moab.
www.canyonlandsfieldinst.org/
By , at
Fri Dec 31, 12:12:00 PM:
Since you are kind enough to ask, Alzheimer's Association.
www.alz.org
TIGOBLUE
By , at
Fri Dec 31, 12:28:00 PM:
Valour IT
Safe2Tell www.safe2tell.org
Denver Rescue Mission
Dress for Success
By , at
Fri Dec 31, 02:31:00 PM:
Isles, Inc., in Trenton, which is helping to rebuild Trenton in many different ways, from rehabbing properties to training people for jobs. It started out 30 years ago with $10,000 and has done some amazing things. We make our largest charitable donation to this group.
The Centrist
By Mystery Meat, at
Fri Dec 31, 03:36:00 PM:
Dittos on the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund and Soldier's Angels. I donate to both. I've met two Marine families that have benefitted directly from the Semper Fi Fund. 95%+ of their donations are paid out directly to injured Marines.
Now that my nephew is back from Afghanistan, I contribute to Soldier's Angels. My nephew tells me some of the guys in his unit got packages from Soldier's Angels and were grateful for them.
You really can't go wrong with either one.
By , at
Fri Dec 31, 10:51:00 PM:
Heh - accidentally posted this in last year's thread.
Since 9/11, I've been donating to a number of charities tha support service members and their families:
Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund
Soldier's Angels
Spirit of America
Fisher House Foundation
All do great work, but the Semper Fi fund, in particular, has an amazingly high percentage of donations going to their mission, as opposed to fund raising and admin expenses.
By , at
Sat Jan 01, 10:22:00 AM:
My choice is Sierra Wildlife Rescue. This is an all-volunteer organization that rescues and rehabilitates injured and orphaned wildlife in the foothills of the Sierra mountains of California (specifically El Dorado county). The organizations uses all of its funds for direct costs of such work and does not spend any of its funds on political or quasi-political PC "animal rights" causes. The group commonly helps 1000-1500 animals and birds a year. I and my wife specialize in care of the large mammals including fox, coyotes, and bobcats. So, if you're so inclined, we always welcome new members and/or contributions. Check us out at www.sierrawildliferescue.com and Happy New Year to all of the Tigerhawk contributors, commentors, and lurkers.
Hangtown Bob
By Assistant Village Idiot, at
Sat Jan 01, 07:18:00 PM:
My children are adults, so we choose a charity which we all contribute to each Christmas rather than exchange more than stocking presents. This year was obscure for all of you, but big for us: Casa Iosef in Romania (via REMM in Gurnee, IL), who rescued our 3rd and 4th sons before we adopted them. Some of the children were never adopted out, because of EU rules for Romania's entrance, and are still there. We have all worked there, and the little girls are known to us.
http://remm-ministry.org/
By , at
Sat Jan 01, 09:34:00 PM:
Boy Scouts. I have spent the last 20 years creating memories for some of the finest people I have ever met. They have not all been gems, but I would trust my life to any of them simply because they KNOW what is right, and what is expected of them.
-Dave
By , at
Mon Jan 03, 03:55:00 PM:
The Scott Hazelcorn Children's Foundation named after a friend of mine that died in the WTC on 9/11. The organization sponsors a camp for a week and other events during the year for children of 9/11 victims. They have been branching out to other families of violences and illness providing a week of fun, with mental health counselors as well, so that kids can spend time with other kids who are in the same predicament.
