Inspiration: Three Charities That Make A HUGE Difference…
“The life of a man consists not in seeing visions and in dreaming dreams, but in active charity and in willing service.” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Inspiration: Three Charities That Make A HUGE Difference... As we give, so we shall recieve.....
Every so often, we come across charitable individuals or organizations that remind us of why making even a small difference in the lives of others enriches us all. The three charities I selected today are amongst the best in the world because they not only care deeply but give completely. Sure, I bet there are others you support and love; I’d love to hear about them too so we can applaud their humanitarian endeavors. All deserve that much. Another great charity I like is Make a Wish Foundation.
Smile Train was created in 1999 by co-founders Brian Mullaney and Charles B. Wang to provide free cleft palate surgery to the poorest children around the world. It was created as an act of faith and love and by 2011, it had assisted over 650,000 children. SmileTrain, as a provider of free cleft lip and palate surgery for hundreds of thousands of children around the world depends on the charitable donations of doctors, nurses, individuals like you and me, and corporate donors around the world. They are, according to the New York Times, one of the most productive charities – dollar for deed – in the world.
In terms of the data and breadth of their work; the average yearly program growth is 27.6%. Number of staff members is 50 , 80+ Number of countries in which Smile Train has helped children. They provide 1,000+ Free medical articles & publications. They have 1,100+ Number of Smile Train partner hospitals and organize 1,400+ Number of Smile Train medical conferences. They have an impressive 2,600+ number of partner surgeons and will complete 100,000+ total number of free cleft surgeries. This year, they also provided 2.4 million Free “Smile Pinki” DVDs to educate 30 million Households on useful information about cleft lip & palate.
“Where there is charity and wisdom, there is neither fear nor ignorance.” St. Francis of Assisi
Inspiration: Three Charities That Make A HUGE Difference... a droplet of water, an ocean to bear...
charity: water turns five years old. And we want to thank you. from charity: water on Vimeo.
Charity: Water is on a mission to provide clean water to poor communities globally. It is the brainchild of Scott Harrison, the founder, who was a NYC club promoter for 10 years and founded Charity: Water in 2006 in answer to the pressing concerns around the lack of clean water in many poor nations of our world. We live in a world where almost a billion people on the planet don’t have access to clean drinking water; this means higher incidences of diseases and death by waterborne bacteria. This organization works to provide clean water to communities worldwide. Happy 5th Birthday Charity: Water!
In terms of the data and breadth of their work; to date, they have 4,282 projects funded. They know 2,060,000 people will get clean water. Their reach is in 19 countries with 25 local partners. For just a $20 donation, we can provide one person with access to a clean water project. 100% of public donations go directly to water projects and that is making a huge difference in the lives of many around the world. More below. 😉
“Every good act is charity. A man’s true wealth hereafter is the good that he does in this world to his fellows.” Molière
Inspiration: Three Charities That Make A HUGE Difference... help a fellow human today...
The International Rescue Committee (IRC), serves in the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster.
In terms of the data and breadth of their work; they are in over 40 countries and in 22 U.S. cities. They arrive on the scene within 72 hours. Provide over 4.4 million people access to clean drinking water and sanitation. Served nearly 14.5 million people with primary and reproductive health care.Vaccinated 210,000 children for measles and other childhood diseases, helped 152,000 women deliver healthy babies. Trained 6,000 educators, supported 2,300 schools attended by 373,000 children, over half of them girls. Supported skills training for over 11,500 young people, put 12,000 children in child-friendly spaces and children’s clubs. Counseled and cared for nearly 12,000 survivors of sexual violence and educated and mobilized over 2.5 million men, women and children to lead prevention. Assisted over 17,200 refugees who departed from camps and cities in East Asia to enter the United States.
In the United States, they resettle some 9,600 newly arrived refugees and provide services to over 24,500 refugees, asylum seekers, and victims of human trafficking.
The IRC mission is about RESCUING LIVES; Responding to crisis and restoring safety. Healing the sick and preventing disease. Rebuilding communities and renewing dignity. Protecting and empowering women and girls. Taking care of children and reuniting families. Uprooted by war and persecution, a refugee’s journey can span years and borders on the road to safety. For over 75 years, and with enormous skill, passion and daring, the IRC has helped refugees rebuild their lives. Source: IRC. What are your thoughts? What charities inspire you? Which ones get your donations/time? Do you have any new ones to suggest? Do share! Thank you. 😉
This post was inspired by two prompts from WP Daily Post: Write a review of a review of a movie or product and WP Daily Post: Share something that makes you smile.
Positive Motivation Tip: Find your charitable path and make a difference…
Related articles
- Charity:Water Thanks Glamberts (onthemeaningofadamlambert.wordpress.com)
- I Have Beans (embejoetc.wordpress.com)
- Girl Gets Charity Wish Met After Death in Crash (abcnews.go.com)
- Inspirational Music Video, People Get Ready, Showcases Smile Train Org (prweb.com)
PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: All Photos Humanitarian, Water droplet, Armenian Refugees, via Wikipedia…
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet
This is very powerful and inspiring information Elizabeth. Charity and what we do for others in need is vital for the survival and the uplifting of our society.
TY for your feedback Walter. Charity begins with us and at home …. and your comments are true. 🙂
The journey is not traveled alone
– but Europe is constructing a fence vs. the boat people from Africa …
http://flickrcomments.wordpress.com/2010/12/23/immigrants/
The journey is never alone… TY for for the extra information Frizztext. It is helpful. 🙂
thank you Eliz for inspiring me again:
http://flickrcomments.wordpress.com/2011/09/08/refugee-journeys/
You are welcome… Honestly, I’m inspired by all of my blog buddies and what they write daily… Your daily writings too. Thank you! 🙂
Frizztext, my husband is preparing a submission to our government about mandatory detention in Australia of asylum seekers.
I’m glad he is taking steps to champion a cause that matters; especially as a recent asylum seeker too. We can all add our voices and make a small difference. TY Robyn! 🙂
We sponsor a child in Mozambique through World Vision and I support the ASRC (Asylum Seeker Resource Centre) here in Victoria.
World Vision does good work around the world… I did some sponsorships in the past for my kids. They enjoyed it very much. 🙂
Elizabeth, thank you for including the Make-A-Wish Foundation among this esteemed group of charities. Families, wish kids, and even doctors tell us that wish experiences can make a huge difference during extremely dark times. It’s only because of the support of thousands of volunteers, donors, and other supporters that we have been able to grant more than 270,000 wishes to kids with life-threatening medical conditions since 1980. Great post!
TY for your wonderful comment and yes, Make-A-Wish Foundation is a fantastic charity! 🙂 Nothing beats seeing the joy in a sick child’s eyes when a heart felt wish is met… Kudos as you are definitely one of my top ten! TY! 🙂
This is great information. I am aware of the water and cleft palate ones. The more they are publicized the better; so well done you. You are always the source of something positive!
Thank you Peter, I’m glad to share because we can all lend our voices to causes that matter and then learn about new ones we can support… It’s all good! TY for your feedback. 🙂
I am so happy to see you feature “Smile Train” as one of the charities you support. I have been support them for about five years now. The work they do seems simple, something we would take for granted in this country (USA), but millions of children suffer without the simple, corrective surgery. It is something we can do to make a difference. I will continue to support them and hope that others will do so, too. Again, thanks for including “Smile Train” in your post.
I’m happy to read that they are one of your favorite charities too… I love the work they do and it’s a joy to sing the praises of charities that do make a difference… TY for affirming the Smile Train. 🙂
Thanks for shedding light on these three charities. We all need to remember to give back. Miriam
TY Miriam I do concur… and there are many others I didn’t mention… 🙂 Kudos to all beneficial charities out there! 🙂
Over the years, we’ve supported each of these charities and others like them ~ Doctors without Borders, Childreach, Save the Children, UNICEF, Habitat for Humanity, Make A Wish Foundation, WWF, African Wildlife Foundation, Defenders of Wildlife, Friends of the Earth, Environmental Defense Fund, Land Trust Alliance, National Audubon, National Wildlife Federation, Global Fund for Women, FINCA, Technoserve, etc.
So many wonderful charities doing so much good work. 😀
TY Nancy for adding some more names to the ones mentioned. There are many doing great work and if we all add one to our list, we will all be contributing to change on an awesome planet… Love it! 🙂
Very good of you to bring this to our attention Eliz! I myself donate to orange babies, an organisation who helps children of which the mother is infected with aids. I’m sure there are many more charity organisations that do great work, if only every person in the world who can would donate some money regulary we could all really make a difference.
Orange Babies! Love that name and what a wonderful way to give back Lian… Yes, there are many out there and we support the ones we like and others do same. TY for your feedback. 🙂
What a great post and reminder for all of us to lend a helping hand.
I like the choices and the ones mentuoned by fellow bloggers. This is good way to give kudos to the hard workers out there.
Thank you for sharing.
B
TY Bree and love the feedback always… Yes, kudos to all the helpers who make a difference daily; especially those who work behind the scenes. 🙂
Very good post-as very inspirational. Reminding each of us, to help others in need is rewarding as it is so benefical to those in need. I give to a few charities and its not the amount its the thought !
So true Penny, it is not the amount but the thought, the effort, and even the volunteering… TY for your feedback. 🙂
Now that my husband is ‘retired’ he wants to work with Habitat for Humanity. He is very handy and I encourage him to get involved because he would be such an asset. I also have a selfish reason… it would get him OUT of the house.
In all seriousness I totally believe we get what we give and there are way too many who believe that means money. It really means whatever you are able to give, which includes time.
Great post Elizabeth!
b
Wonderful, Barbara!
My husband worked for Habitat for Humanity for a number of years, running the Re-Store in Salisbury, MD ~ wonderful program from top to bottom.
Wonderful program… Yes! 🙂
Oh, I had to laugh about getting him out of the house… but hey, H for H is a great organization and in this climate, the support would be appreciated. I would nudge him to do it as it will do him good to get out and stay busy anyway… Yep to the time comment… it is the most valuable resource. 🙂
I love the idea of a mother and child being able to exchange joyful smiles…I experienced that joy and I wish, from the bottom of my heart, for other mothers and children to have that too..and so Smile Train is one of my favorite charities. I just got an email from them today and there is a donor matching challenge to raise $75,000 .. the donor will match that amount…so a lovely place to offer too. Thank you for this informative post… : )
TY and I got the same email too.. so we can all help them double the donations and do more good. Perfect. TY for your feedback and I love the way you painted a beautiful, vivid picture of the benefits of their work… TY! 🙂
These are great organizations that do much needed work. We can help by giving our dollars or our time. Thanks for spotlighting them.
Oh, btw, I’ve nominated you for an award. Read about it here http://insidejourneys.com/?p=6858 – Congratulations!
TY Marcia for your comment… I agree with you on that too. Anything we offer is a blessing. TY! 🙂
OMG, how did I miss that award Marcia?
TY! and forgive me… I will stop by right away and accept it. TY! 🙂
Those are all wonderful charities and very worthy causes. Thank you for sharing.
TY Jeanne! Glad you approve and like the work they all do… 🙂
We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give. That’s what I consider true generosity. You give your all, and yet you always feel as if it costs you nothing.
TY for your beautiful comment… and many blessings to you. well said! 🙂
All of these are great charities! 🙂 Awesome post!
TY Sharon and I know there are many others out there… These are some of my top favorites and I wanted to applaud their work. TY! 🙂
Charities can make such a huge difference to peopels lives. The biggest problem is when money is scarce who do we give to?
I personally always give to Cancer Charities. They are all worthwhile causes and it’s so difficult to say no 🙁
I love the water charity. Water is a scarce resource and it is the gift of life. Teaching people to be independent is worth more than giving them continued handouts. Money is a short term fix. Long term is control.
sigh…
I don’t have much money so when I return from the UK I am going to offer my help to a charity which collects food for the poor. You stand in supermarkets and basically beg for food from the shoppers – my target will be tourists 🙂 There are so many poor families in portugal and it’s getting worse.
TY PiP! I hear you… sometimes volunteering is even better because all of these groups have small staff to keep costs down… I volunteer for things of late and give what I can… It’s the only way or else it starts to feel like a burden and it shouldn’t… TY and great points. 🙂
Thanks, Eliz, for highlighting three very deserving charities. There is so much need out there, it becomes overwhelming…but each of us can do something, whether it is giving money or time. That’s why I donate a portion of the sale of each book to several charities.
Exactly… whatever we can do to help others is great. A little or a lot go a long way. TY! 🙂
Great deserving charities!
Glad you approve. TY! 🙂
Bless all those charities and the people who recognize them.
I donate to CFC. It pools all the charities in the world. I just settle a one-time monthly automatic payment, and the money goes to different organizations. I think I may have had single out bigger percentage to specific charities. I volunteer to our local hospital and Habitat for Humanity from time to time.
Hi Rommel,
TY for checking in and taking the time to comment… I appreciate it. Volunteering is such a wonderful way to give back and like you, I enjoy doing it as the psychic rewards are satisfying. Glad you give to CFC; a great group too! 🙂