Charities Blog

Giving Something Back

From the Archives: Charity Holiday Challenges

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In the UK, a new way to give to charity has been buzzing in the headlines, giving dangerously, that is.

We’re talking about “The Charity Challenge“, which is like a travel/tour operator with a unique twist – it gives people the chance to have a large-scale adventure holiday and at the same time, organizes it so that your holiday raises money for charity. Think of climbing Mount Everest or following an Inca trail in deepest Peru – terribly exciting and death-defying stuff, and you get to help others too along the way.

Actually, the unusual concept has been around for the past 15 years, established in 1991 by Erich Reich, who used to be a Director at Thomas Cook. He first got the idea when he was asked by a friend to help raise funds for a Children‘s Home in London. Reich rode for 400 kilometers in the Middle Easters desert and was inspired ever since.

His company, Classic Tours, has been booming ever since and leads as the world’s largest “Challenge Operator”. Just this year, the company will be taking over 3,000 participants on high-adrenalin challenges all over the world – from Brazil to Mongolia.

“Since 1991 we have helped approximately 120 charities raise something in the order of �32m, and that’s net, not gross.” Reich explains.

So how does it work?

Reich explains further:

“We then organise everything, from flights and accommodation to logistical support on the ground. On charity bike rides, for example, we have our own teams of mechanics. In the developing world, we even supply our own medics.

The nature of the challenge is very individual, some people have never camped before so for them it can be a challenge just to go to the loo behind a rock.”

Even though we’re a tour operator, no money comes directly to us from clients. We give the charity a cost per individual for the services on the ground and they pay us in turn,” says Reich.

[tags]charity challenge,charity event,charity tour,charity travel,charity trek[/tags]

Originally posted on November 22, 2010 @ 1:33 pm

Putting Disabled People to Work

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The sight of a disabled child or person who pushes himself to earn a living despite having deficiencies in some parts of their bodies or from their manner of thinking is something that should inspire the normal man. Putting aside their current situation and status to give them a reason to live is the most important factor that touches the hearts of people who see them.

Disabled People Who Want To Live Normally

There are a lot of foundations that have taken this cue and even gone to the extent of helping them earn their keep and efforts through referrals and sponsorships. Working for a cause is the best term to generalize everything that these disabled people invest. Rarely would you see people putting time for such people who make the best out of what they can.

People who have some deficiencies cannot live normally but in most cases, it is the disabled people who seem to show more promise because they know that in their hearts that there is so much to accomplish if they are given a chance to be side by side with the normal and fortunate people of today.

[tags]disabled, charities, foundations[/tags]

Originally posted on September 30, 2010 @ 5:30 pm

Investigate Before You Give To Charity: What To Ask

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Theres not much worse than door-to-door solicitors who you actually have to deal with in your own home. When it comes to people asking for donations, by far the easiest ones to refuse (if desired) are the letters (chuck it in the bin if you’re not interested), second comes the telephone solicitations (sorry, I’m not interested, or some other lame excuse which the person on the recieving end does not see, thankfully).

But door-to-door solicitations are the most difficult to deal with, rather like the kindly-faced vacum cleaner salesman or friendly Mormon at your door. I remember some years ago when a “Norwegian Wooden Floor” salesman knocked on our door one day, with a neckbrace. Needless to say, a week later, our living room floor was covered in some very expensive flooring.

But back to the topic. Dealing with solicitors can get hairy, so here are some things you should be ASKING should you get a phone call, or worse, the door-to-door solicitor.

And most importantly, if you are feeling pressured, getting repeated visits or feeling harassed, ring your Better Business Bureau IMMEDIATELY and report them.

1. WHAT? is charity’s name and details such as address, contact numbers, license, website.
2. WILL your donation be tax deductible? Ask if they have the necessary licences etc.
3. ASK about registration and licensing. This is required in most areas.
4. ASK about the percentage of the money that will go to the cause – especially of it is for a benefit event.

** WATCH out for those that pressure you to give money right then and there. A good charity will welcome your donation at any time.

[tags]Charity tips,investigating charities,questions to ask charities,donation tips[/tags]

Originally posted on November 29, 2010 @ 4:12 pm

Can You Give More Than You Can Save?

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One thing about giving this coming Christmas, a lot of usually generous patrons are bound to save more. The economy is something to fear from recent months and the layoffs and the faltering business tycoons are factors that can strike fear in what the future holds for most of us. So in the end, victims include charities who may have to make do with whoever can spare some of their wealth for this year’s holiday season.

It is not the first time that we have encountered this problem. In fact, we have seen this happen centuries before. While many have been gallant as far as helping out charities, money is certainly the least to be expected as far as help is concerned. Alternative help comes in the form of clothing, food or even company. These are factors that are equally helpful and people just have to stick to the fact that the occurrences that has hit the whole world is something beyond their hands.

As far as charitable efforts in trying to raise funds, it can still help. But don’t expect it to impact in the forecasted revenue it can generate. People are buying less and regardless if it is of superior or heartfelt quality, people are certainly going to pick up things that they really need and pass on what they don’t really have use for.

Charities may brace for the worst. But the good thing is they can expect this to improve as the economic storm can only prove better tomorrows for people of today.

Originally posted on November 8, 2010 @ 8:00 am

Waste Trading Markets: Convenient Recycling

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I recently received an email with the following information regarding Waste
Trading Markets in my area. I think it is a great idea to get people recycling and hope that this kind of markets will come up in many more commercial areas. What do you think?

THE “WASTE” TRADING MARKETS!

Trade scrap paper for new (office/ mimeo) paper!

Trade used ink cartridges for new!

Sell your electronic waste (junk computers) and old /broken appliances!

Sell your used lead acid batteries! Redeem the following for cash:
PET plastic bottles and other plastics, aluminum/tin cans, scrap glass.

Drop off points also provided for junk cellphones, cellphone batteries, styrofoam…

These Waste Markets aim to make recycling convenient and accessible, especially for those who frequent commercial shopping areas, and also to show
that we all CAN make recycling a habit!

Please help spread the word to family, friends and colleagues. Ask around at your local community service offcice, or better yet, start one yourself. Proceeds of this can go to the needy – another fantastic way one person’s junk can help others!

Originally posted on July 16, 2010 @ 11:56 am

A Charity for Deafness Guidance

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When you organize a charity, even medical science may need a hand. The gift of medicine and helping out people who may have some deficiencies on their health is pretty much a growing concern and considering that many people today are suffering in terms of seeking medication and assistance for various health issues, good causes such as charities are a great way to help them out.

One of these medical problems deals with hearing. The number of people who suffer from deafness is apparent and while there are medical solutions to it, they do not come cheap. Some have to console themselves with the fact that money talks and unless some good soul or program is raised, the inevitable task of enjoying the sense of hearing will only remain a goal for them.

In a move not to really help cure deafness immediately, worthy causes such as the ones being undertaken by the charity Deafness Research UK can do their small part by distributing pamphlets and guiding people suffering from deafness. In the pamphlets, guides and practical advice will be given to help concerned people, something that can really count a lot if people would read on it.

Vivienne Michael, chief executive of Deafness Research UK, commented: “Through the ‘Trouble With your Ears?’ leaflet, we aim to raise awareness of ear problems and give them more prominence on the public health agenda.”

She suggested that the provision of good-quality information could both improve people’s health while at the same time lower the burden placed on doctors by reducing the number of avoidable ear problems.

Source

Originally posted on December 10, 2010 @ 9:50 pm

The Limited Choices of People Seeking Aid

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Hunger in the World of Poverty

Around the world, it cannot be denied that there are a lot of people who are experiencing poverty and issues regarding their manner of living. A lot would depend on where they are situated, the country and of course the manner of living that majority of the region is experiencing. Not all countries are blessed with a good economy to which people can find a way to survive with the available jobs to choose from. Some are just plain unlucky to be situated in them like Vietnam, Africa and so on.

The good thing about the world is that people from other countries do not hesitate to lend a helping hand to the best of their abilities. Help in any form cannot be measured and people in need do not really have much choice. Hence beggars really cannot be choosers in this case.

Help in the form of food, clothing and other materials essential for living is being sent to most parts of the world. Some would even render volunteer work and services just to reach them. In a sense, they can call themselves lucky that there are people who still care for what the world has to deal with today.

Originally posted on August 25, 2010 @ 1:43 pm

Fighting Online Child Pornography: The IMEC

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As mentioned in the last post, fighting for children being abused by online pornogaphers is a vital cause we should all be part of. Today, child exploitation on the internet is a sickening MULTI-BILLION dollar industry. Here are some of the grueling facts to be aware of according to data from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC):

19% of identified offenders had images of children younger than 3

39% had images of children younger than 6

82% had images of children younger than 12.

There is also strong evidence of increasing involvement by organized crime and extremist groups.

Children have become a commodity in this insidious crime. While there is no empirical research on the scope of the problem, but there are estimates.

A 2002 report by ECPAT International and the Bangkok Post estimated that 100,000 child-pornography web sites existed on the Internet in 2001.

According to the Internet Watch Foundation in the United Kingdom, there has been a 1500% increase in the number of child-pornography images since 1997.
In 2003, the National Criminal Intelligence Service in the United Kingdom estimated that child-pornography web sites had doubled worldwide; that half of the sites are hosted in the United States; and that the number of sites in Russia had doubled.

NCMEC reports that most child pornography consumers and child victims are Americans; however, the financial transactions are increasingly moving offshore.

The International Centre For Missing and Exploited Children, or the IMEC, is a global agency which promotes the well-being and safety of children all over the world though its various programs.

Visit the orginazation’s site to get the latest facts, legislation on the issues as well as ways on how YOU can help end this terrible crimes today.

[tags]Children,Child exploitation,child crimes,pornography[/tags]

Originally posted on October 7, 2010 @ 3:44 pm

Philippine Residents In Need Of Donations

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Remember what happened to Louisiana when Hurricane Katrina hit several years ago? The hurricane dumped more than an inch of rainfall for three hours, and then it dumped 0.5 inches of rain for the next 5 hours or so. We all know what happened.

Now think of a tropical storm dumping an average of 2.24 inches of rain per hour for six hours straight. Think of a metropolis crammed with millions and millions of people – many of them living near swollen rivers in makeshift shanties. You can just imagine the disaster!

This is exactly what happened to Metro Manila and outlying areas on Saturday, September 26. The center of the nation was left helpless under the wrath of nature. Even the business district was flooded, with cars being swept away by the flood waters.

Ordinary people were left stranded in the middle of the highways. Others were stuck on the roofs of their houses. The less fortunate ones were carried away by the raging waters.

One thing is clear: these people need help.

You will be amazed at how quickly the Filipino people are banding together to offer their help. Numerous institutions have opened their arms as hosts to those who have been displaced. Churches, schools, and community centers have risen to the occasion. Others have volunteered to pack relief goods. People have also been using technology non-stop to do their part – spreading information, asking for rescue, even sending donations to the Philippine Red Cross through their mobile phones. Nothing is too small, and nothing too big – the Filipino nation is showing their “bayanihan” spirit and is proud of it.

For those who want to donate or help in whatever way you can, here’s the relevant information.

• Red Cross donation via SMS: text REDAMOUNT to 2899 (Globe) or 4483 (Smart)
• Relief goods can be sent to Caritas Manila Office at Jesus St., Pandaca Manila near Nagtahan Bridge (tel.no. 5639298/5639308). Relief goods can also be brought Radio Veritas at Veritas Tower West Ave. Corner EDSA (tel no. 9257931-40).
• TeamManila stores in Trinoma, Mall of Asia, Jupiter Bel-Air and Rockwell shall be accepting relief goods (Canned Goods, Ready-to-drink Milk, Bottled Water and Clothes) for distribution by Veritas to displaced countrymen due to Typhoon Ondoy.
• Generous souls in the US who wish to help in the rescue and relief operations, you may donate through the American Red Cross. Call 1-800-435-7669.

Originally posted on September 27, 2009 @ 4:00 pm

ThoughtsFurPaws

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thoughtsfurpaws2
The blog is a collection of pet charities and concerned individuals, which combines posts from pet lovers from all over who are tasked into improving the lives of neglected and abandoned pets. The many charities that deal with pets have been wrecked by intrigue and drama that you don’t know which is which. The pages contain warming stories straight from the people who do the rescue work themselves as well as pet lovers who are passionate about our furry friends.
Not just for furry but all types of animals and pets are subject with many links to several blogs that also aim to raise awareness regarding the plight of dogs, cats, birds and even farm animals that are being raised for the pet trade. Hear the warming stories of adopted animals as far as Baghdad that have been brought home to the States, helping their adopted owners deal with the turmoil that is war.

Originally posted on October 21, 2010 @ 9:38 am