Charities Blog

Giving Something Back

Does the Bailout Plan Include Charities?

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The celebrated bailout plan of the U.S. government has evidently been in the air and while it seems that it will push through despite various reaction towards its real good, you have to wonder why the voluntary institutions that provide aid and support are not mentioned among them? Perhaps it is implied?

However, knowing the number of companies in need of financial life support, it is apparent that charity organizations are not among the leaders of groups that are being considered for help. For one, the government seems to have left this issue to the duty of thoughtful donors but aren’t they the ones who are encountering rough sailing from the business crunch?

Assuming that these tycoons are able to get the aid from the government, it should not be automatically implied that they will continue to perform charity donations. For sure, they will be prioritizing their current investments to be able to survive financially. Now this cannot be tagged as being selfish. For one, they have done their share. The charity groups have openly voiced out the need for more donations. The case would have been different if this was being made for their own personal interest. But the fact of the matter is that this is something heeded more towards the general public.

For one, you would never know if you would be the next victim of unseen disasters headed your way. We never know what could possibly happen. But rather than wait for it to happen, taking the call for donations should be made seriously. It is bound to come back to us at times we may need it direly.

Originally posted on September 30, 2008 @ 12:56 am

Zo’s Million Dollar Golf Shootout Charity

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Miami Heat’s Alonzo Mourning is a familiar figure when it comes to organizing charity events and apparently he has another project coming up this year. But this time, his event is not going to take place on the hardcourt. Rather it will be on the greens, a second sport that has been fixed at most basketball stars today.

The 5th Annual Zo’s Million Dollar Shootout will be held at Trump National Golf Club in Winchester New York on August 18. This annual event held by Mourning has solicited quite a big following. Most of them join not primarily to show off their golfing skills and golf swings but also to give support for Mourning’s worthy cause. It is not all about playing to win since in these events, giving is winning already in its own.

“We know there’s a million dollar shooter out there waiting to show off his or her skills so we encourage you to leave your business suits behind for the day and join us on the greens,” said Alonzo Mourning, Founder of Alonzo Mourning Charities. “Your support helps positively impact the youth we serve who might not have a chance to advance without our assistance. With increased financial resources, we’re able to change the lives of so many deserving children through education and mentoring.”

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So if you are in the area, why not join. The cause is for helping out the people in need and it will really feel good doing it all for a worthy cause.

Originally posted on August 6, 2008 @ 7:40 pm

Play Golf For Charity

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Naza TTDI 2008 Charity golf tournament

Charities are not spared from the global inflation that we are experiencing today. While in most countries there are groups who still try to contribute in helping out these noble causes, there are some people who still do their part to the best of their abilities. This can be seen as this Golf Charity Event in Malaysia which had reportedly raised a total of RM1.062mil. The Naza TTDI 2008 Charity golf tournament held at the Saujana Golf and Country Club.

Playing for charity is surely something anyone would love to be in. Enjoying while at the same time doing it for a cause seems to be a good way to satisfy both worlds. But the real beneficiary are the charities that are really now in need of assistance for the growing number of causes that need to be assisted as much as possible.

Naza TTDI group managing director, Datuk Johan Ariffin said despite the global challenges facing the industry through the recent price hikes in material and fuel costs, the increased contribution showed the industry’s commitment to community support.

The beneficiaries of the fund included orphanages and children’s welfare homes, hospital and disease foundations, single mothers, the handicapped and other non-governmental organisations.

Johan hoped that the contributions would help meet a portion of the funding needs of these noble causes.

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So the next time you are planning to hold a charity event, consider something that majority of your community would be participating in. In the case of Malaysia, gold is something that can really draw out a crowd for a cause.

Originally posted on July 25, 2008 @ 3:43 am

Beach Watch

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midway.jpgThe Marine Conservation Society of Britain is a charitable organization in the UK which took up the challenge of promoting conservation awareness in the UK’s Territorial Waters. Their report for the year 2007 shows that the threat of plastic pollution is still on the rise in spite of all the conservation and plastic re-processing efforts like the one in Ireland which has been hailed a success story in the short time that it has been in the works.
Truly, the plastic pollution crisis of our seas has become so much of a problem that even deserted islands like the former WW2 hotspot, the Midway Atoll are suffering from the scourge of plastics. The island of Midway, now a conservation site and sanctuary for migratory sea birds such as the two species of albatross that are suffering dearly with high chick mortality due to plastic ingestion. These albatross species are considered to be endangered in the US and Canada since 2002 and are further being decimated by the plastic pollution which wash up on shore as the atoll is located in between swirling sea currents. The adults collect food from the seas surrounding the islands and then feed their young sometimes regurgitating plastics, passing them on to their young. The chicks being fragile die from complications such as blocked digestive tracts and more side-effects of the ingested plastic leaving them to starve to death.
The breeding colonies that call the atoll home have considerably lost new additions to their populations due to the incidence of high chick mortality. Conservation efforts by the American and Canadian authorities are trying to help the birds get back on their normal breeding populations. The loss of a species from an ecosystem has wide and complicated implications, some of which we are beginning to understand like the demise of bees all over the world which is expected to impact global crop production which can lead to food shortages.

Originally posted on April 1, 2008 @ 5:03 am

Human and Nature – Will the conflict ever end?

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trout.jpgBad news for the Eastern Idaho’s Yellow Cut-Throat Trout, for they are becoming scarcer and scarcer. The culprit, crops and resort gardens along with their insatiable need for water to keep them growing. Runoff from farms are also becoming a problem for the run-off which is usually rich in nitrogen fuels the explosion in growth of blue green algae such as the case with the Gulf of Mexico. Nitrogen is a naturally occurring and present element that under normal circumstances is dealt with by bacteria and other micro-organisms in streams as they head to rivers and then seas. Too much, and the natural control and filtering system of these bodies of water diminish in effectivity resulting in too much nitrogen-rich water reaching the seas causing “Dead Zones” near the mouths of these river outlets.
In Montreal, Canada the problem is also attributed to too much nitrogen this time from golf courses that need green lawns to continue and attract customers. Previously rich waters are now turned into brackish rivers and streams that cannot support normal fish and plant life due to insufficient oxygen in the water. This might be one of the problems that were not anticipated by the clamor for such immediate solutions such as alternative fuel production.
It seems more education is needed for the balance between commerce and eco-friendliness would become a true reality for man has a lot to learn while he continues to poison the very earth that gives us all life. Let us just pray that we have enough resolve to initiate change before it is too late.

Originally posted on April 13, 2008 @ 7:31 pm

The Forgotten Places of Flooded Areas in the Philippines

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Can you imagine a place where it is practically like Waterworld? Well there is such a place in the Philippines. It is near the borders of Malabon and Navotas, two of the low areas where floods are sure to rise whenever the strong rains come in.

Normally, floods can die down after a couple of weeks after the rains have stopped. But it is really hard to believe that there are places that go through practically a year barely above water. For most of the residents in Malabon and Navotas, the site is something that really needs the attention of the local government considering that not only is it uncomfortable, it is entirely a health risk location as well.

But this place is not always that flooded. There was a time when people there could walk around and play ball even. However today, rafts are the common site to bring people to and from dry land. And with the series of rains hitting the area, it is not helping at all.

There is no doubt that among the causes for floods are the problematic issues of garbage and total disregard of the infrastructure of this place. But while that is already a given, should that allow the Philippine government from disregarding the welfare of these people? They are no different from the common ones living in the country today and apparently something has to be done. Calling President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, are you listening? It was in the news last night!

Originally posted on August 18, 2008 @ 11:47 pm

Do Charities Still Make Sense Today?

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Everyone is suffering and surely the people who can support charities have been limited to the groups that can still hold concerts or even special shows. But independently, you will be surprised to find good Samaritans who can still devote time and a part of their income to the charity. Of course, you have to consider, their welfare comes first before doing a good deed.

There are other forms of charities though outside the standard concerts. There are other ways such as golf tournaments where participant fees and green fees act as the funds to be given to charity. If we see them a lot in the movies, they are actually done in real life. Basketball, golf and tennis, all of these events make periodic charity events and at least they are all doing it for a worthy cause.

Here are some scheduled events for charity in the world of golf:

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The fifth annual Off the Wall and Open Door Youth Centres golf tournament will begin at 7 a.m. with a shotgun start at GolfNorth Acton. Cost is $90 per player for 18 holes of golf, cart and a barbecue lunch. Community heroes are needed to sponsor a youth to attend and play ($90). You can also assist by sponsoring a hole for $50, or donating a prize or raffle item. Tax receipts are available for sponsorships and donations. All funds raised go to the Youth Centres.
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Fore the Animals golf tournament to aid the Upper Credit Humane Society will be held at the Caledon Country Club on Monday, Sept. 8. Registration, driving range and putting contest opens at 10 a.m.; shotgun start, scramble format at 12:30 p.m. Cocktail reception, gourmet dinner and silent auction, followed by awards and prize ceremony, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Golf and dinner package (per golfer), $170; dinner only (per person), $50.
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The 13th annual Community Living North Halton charity golf tournament will be held Tuesday, Sept. 16 at Eagle Ridge Golf Club in Georgetown.
Entry fee is $175 per golfer which includes cart, lunch and dinner. The cost for dinner only is $45.
Proceeds go to the CLNH’s Saturday Centre, a respite program for school-aged children with developmental disabilities.

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Originally posted on August 4, 2008 @ 7:38 pm

Myanmar Cyclone Nargis

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myanmaraid.jpgMany have been left homeless and the country is in shambles, the Military Junta run country is facing a catastrophe with them denying entry to most of the aid agencies from the West. Reports are beginning to trickle in that hundreds of thousands are dead and hundreds of thousands are without shelter, safe drinking water and food. The government had not allowed Western aid agencies to enter the most affected areas and reporters from Western news agencies are being told to go out. The government insists they can handle the distribution of aid which they are allowing into the country through aid flights from the US which has offered millions in aid. Many other countries have shown willingness to give aid and send in their aid workers but the government is standing firm and is still not issuing visas to foreign aid people for a proper distribution and mobilization of aid for those who need it most.
The UN has appealed again and again along with many aid agencies from overseas for the government to open air and waterways for aid transportation. The UN has expressed discontent and aid agencies are frustrated for they still could not send in their people to handle the disaster. Reports are trickling in that dead bodies are everywhere, in canals and rice paddies rotting which gives more urgency to the need for proper aid along with people who are better equipped and experienced in handling such situations.
The poor country is in disarray and without proper medical facilities even for a developing country and with little support infrastructure to ferry and distribute aid, many more deaths would surely result in the aftermath of the cyclone. Various aid agencies are now accepting aid and donations in hopes of the border being opened soon to allow foreign aid such as food, water, temporary shelter and many other basic necessities to help the people of Myanmar.

Originally posted on May 4, 2008 @ 7:36 am

Chinese Quake Update

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china2.jpgMany have died and there are still a lot of people missing in the deadly earthquake that struck on the 12th of May. The government has sent in their elite paratroopers into the most inaccessible areas that are still cut off from the rescue efforts in hopes of getting a better picture of the total devastation. The Chinese government has already asked for help with regards to rescue equipment and supplies, most of which have already been fielded in the many affected areas. With thousands of soldiers working frantically to free survivors still trapped beneath the many collapsed structures, questions are arising from these areas where some of the most heavily damaged structures are schools and government buildings. Days after the quake, rescuers are getting desperate for the first two days are the most critical and important to get people out. After that amount of time, only bodies would be found but soldiers and other rescuers are keeping hopes up as they work as fast as they can to get to people still trapped in the rubble. The country is beginning to receive aid from Western countries who early on have expressed their intent to help the Chinese government. With resources stretched to the limits, the aid is quickly being fielded to areas that need it most. For more information on how you can help the victims of the Chinese earthquakes you can contact the UN, and other aid agencies who have been working hard to send aid to the many who have suffered as a result of one of the most deadly quakes of recent times.

Originally posted on May 16, 2008 @ 6:16 am

Help is on the Way against Tropical Storm Gustav

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This year has seen a lot of storms and hurricanes and the aftermath of them all is what we must all brace for. If you are among the people hit by them, then accept our sympathy. For the others spared by them, perhaps it would not be too much to ask to extend a helping hand to our brothers and sisters who have unfortunately been hit by these freaks of nature.

Surely, expect the Red Cross to lead the way as they have done so in preparing for the apparent coming of a new hurricane names Gustav. Based on previous hurricanes such as Katrina, advanced measures to help avoid worsening disasters would be the foremost importance and hence to make sure that help is at hand, advanced appointments on where Red Cross personnel should be stationed has already been made.

Food and aid are among the foremost necessities needed in times like these and each helping hand would count. With the past storms as basis for what hurricanes have brought to various parts of the world, hopefully the Red Cross as well as the volunteers are ready and prepared for whatever lies in between and after the aftermath of Tropical Storm Gustav

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Originally posted on August 31, 2008 @ 3:27 pm