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The Origins of Charity

August 12, 2011 By Charities Blog

What does the word CHARITY mean, exactly? The word has many connotations these days – from simply giving alms to the poor, to a more divine, selfless way of giving.

So just in case you were wondering, here are the word’s origins. The rest is up to you.

“….The word “charity” entered the English language through the French word “charite” which was derived from the Latin “caritas“.

In the twelfth century it indicated a state of benevolance towards the poor.

In the fifteenth century charity was used to indicate ‘the state of love or simple affection which one was in or out of regarding one’s fellows; an occasion or body of people seeking to embody that state; the love of god, in both directions.

The fraternity was the embodiment of this ideal. In 1700, it meant ‘an optimistic judgement about the good intentions of others; an act of benevolence towards the poor or needy; an institution erected as a result of such an act.”

In Christian theology:

“…Love, in this sense of an unlimited loving-kindness towards all others, is held to be the ultimate perfection of the human spirit, because it is said to both glorify and reflect the nature of God. In its most extreme form such love can be self-sacrificial. Confusion can arise from the multiple meanings of the English word “love.”

The love that is caritas is distinguished by its origin, being Divinely infused into the soul, and by its residing in the will rather than emotions, regardless of what emotions it stirs up. This love is necessary for salvation, and with it no one can be lost.”

Filed Under: Charities, Ideas, Religious Tagged With: charity-definition, charity-history, Charity-origins

Christian Foundation for Children and Aging

December 3, 2010 By Charities Blog

school2Looking for a worthy charity to get involved in? Why not take a closer look at the Christian Foundation for Children and Aging, which was ranked number 4 out of the top 10 charities in the United States. It has also earned the distinction of earning eight 4-star ratings (in a row, mind you) from Charity Navigator. Charity Navigator is perhaps the most reliable charity evaluator in the U.S. today.

So what does the Christian Foundation for Children and Aging do? This is their mission statement:

• We provide personal attention and direct benefits to children, youth, aging and their families so they may live with dignity, achieve their desired potential and participate fully in society.
• We invite people of good will to live in daily solidarity with the world’s poor through one-to-one sponsorship.
• We build community by fostering relationships of mutual respect, understanding and support that are culturally diverse, empowering and without religious or other prejudice.

From what I have seen, it is similar to World Vision, wherein people can sponsor children around the world. Sponsorships can be had for children from preschool to high school and I think CFCA also helps those who want to study college or vocational training. The money that sponsors give go to tuition fees, books, uniforms, and other school supplies. They currently operate in 24 countries.

If you are interested in helping out, visit the Christian Foundation for Children and Aging web site for more specific details.

Filed Under: Charities, Children, Organizations, Religious

Putting Disabled People to Work

September 30, 2010 By Charities Blog

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]

Filed Under: Activities, Analysis, Campaigns, Charities, Children, Disabled, Fundraising, Ideas, Inspiration, Mental Illness, Organizations, Products, Programs, Religious Tagged With: Charities, Disabled, foundations

Colleges Benefit From Anonymous Donor

April 26, 2009 By Charities Blog

This is what I was talking about in my last post: people who give away what they have in order to help others who need it more. You have perhaps heard of this anonymous donor who has been giving away humongous sums of money to colleges all over the United States. I just saw it on FOX News last night, and boy, was I pleasantly surprised.

According to the New York Times, this is how the giving goes:

The call typically comes from a banker, bringing word of a fairy godmother. This is followed quickly by a check arriving in the mail — or two checks, the larger earmarked for scholarships for women and minority students, the smaller to be spent at the recipient’s discretion.

Take note of the gender – it is a woman who is giving away this money. While that should not really matter, it provides an interesting topic for conversation. Who could this woman be?

In any case, it does not seem that we are going to find out anytime soon. Even the recipients of the moneys are not allowed to find out who the donor is; not the school board, not the president, no one!

So which schools have been blessed with these donations? Binghamton University in New York, Montclair State University in New Jersey, the University of Southern Mississippi, and Michigan State University to name a few. And just in case you have no idea about the sums involved, reports say that the donor has given away a total of $70 million to date.

Filed Under: Inspiration, News, Religious, Women

Colleges Benefit From Anonymous Donor

April 26, 2009 By Charities Blog

This is what I was talking about in my last post: people who give away what they have in order to help others who need it more. You have perhaps heard of this anonymous donor who has been giving away humongous sums of money to colleges all over the United States. I just saw it on FOX News last night, and boy, was I pleasantly surprised.

According to the New York Times, this is how the giving goes:

The call typically comes from a banker, bringing word of a fairy godmother. This is followed quickly by a check arriving in the mail — or two checks, the larger earmarked for scholarships for women and minority students, the smaller to be spent at the recipient’s discretion.

Take note of the gender – it is a woman who is giving away this money. While that should not really matter, it provides an interesting topic for conversation. Who could this woman be?

In any case, it does not seem that we are going to find out anytime soon. Even the recipients of the moneys are not allowed to find out who the donor is; not the school board, not the president, no one!

So which schools have been blessed with these donations? Binghamton University in New York, Montclair State University in New Jersey, the University of Southern Mississippi, and Michigan State University to name a few. And just in case you have no idea about the sums involved, reports say that the donor has given away a total of $70 million to date.

Filed Under: Inspiration, News, Religious, Women

Colleges Benefit From Anonymous Donor

April 26, 2009 By Charities Blog

This is what I was talking about in my last post: people who give away what they have in order to help others who need it more. You have perhaps heard of this anonymous donor who has been giving away humongous sums of money to colleges all over the United States. I just saw it on FOX News last night, and boy, was I pleasantly surprised.

According to the New York Times, this is how the giving goes:

The call typically comes from a banker, bringing word of a fairy godmother. This is followed quickly by a check arriving in the mail — or two checks, the larger earmarked for scholarships for women and minority students, the smaller to be spent at the recipient’s discretion.

Take note of the gender – it is a woman who is giving away this money. While that should not really matter, it provides an interesting topic for conversation. Who could this woman be?

In any case, it does not seem that we are going to find out anytime soon. Even the recipients of the moneys are not allowed to find out who the donor is; not the school board, not the president, no one!

So which schools have been blessed with these donations? Binghamton University in New York, Montclair State University in New Jersey, the University of Southern Mississippi, and Michigan State University to name a few. And just in case you have no idea about the sums involved, reports say that the donor has given away a total of $70 million to date.

Filed Under: Inspiration, News, Religious, Women

Non-Profit Groups – the backbone of charitable institutions

February 4, 2008 By Charities Blog

Volunteer work.jpgThe several charities around all rely on manpower in the form of volunteers may they be aimed at people or towards nature. The many charities survive because of people who are dedicated to provide the proper care and help to those who may need it wherever they may be. Volunteer nurses and doctors go to distant lands to help people such as those who are currently suffering in Darfur helping the sick and injured as they live day by day in uncertainty.

Donations flow to those who suffer in the far reaches of the earth, delivered by volunteers who choose to do a little for their fellow man such as pilots, military men and others who just want to help. Financing is not the only aspect one can help with in terms of wanting to help. Habitat for Humanity has projects that construct free housing for the homeless relying on volunteer masons, electricians and the regular Joe to do the building. Thousands of houses have been built by these volunteers some of whom come back, time after time for the unseen reward of gratitude one gets from those who benefit from their hard work.

The people who need help are endless in this world and at any one time, a person dies in misery, his life becoming worthless and insignificant just because they are nobody’s. That is what we aim to change, everybody is somebody and all should know that. The children of Africa who have survived drought and famine now face AIDS and a life without parents due to the disease. Much can be done if everybody pitches in including businesses for they are the main source of funding besides governments and donations. Helping all those who need it is the goal, volunteering is the soul.

Filed Under: Activities, Charities, Disabled, Disaster Relief, Elderly, Environmental, Families, Fundraising, Jobs, News, Organizations, Programs, Religious Tagged With: catholic-charities, charitable-organizations, Charities, Charity-Work, NGOs, Non-Profit-Groups, relief-efforts, Volunteer-groups, Volunteer-jobs, volunteer-work, Volunteering, Volunteers

Volunteer Work instead of Cash makes sense

January 28, 2008 By Charities Blog

Volunteers.jpgMany of us have heard of charities and some might have even supported one in the many non-profit groups that are out there. Whichever purpose a charity may serve which is the foundation of an organization being categorized as a charity Charities are grouped into four major categories which are; for the alleviation of poverty, the advancement of education, the advancement of religion and for purposes that is beneficial to the community. The first groups are those who work to improve the quality of life for those who are considered to be well below the poverty line. This has these organizations like Habitat for Humanity provide housing, clothing, food and other life necessities that the people they aim to help have none of. For education, there are organizations that subsidize or provide facilities such as schools, books and other aids to help promote better education allowing the people they help to help themselves in the future. Religious charities are often declared or treated separate from most other forms of charities for they have more bearing on the religious aspect of lives to which the constituents of a particular area they aim to serve may belong to several groups. The last form of charitable organizations, Community Charities, aim to help the community as a whole providing necessities tot heir constituents such as proper facilities that allow access to potable water, respectable habitat and more.

All these forms of charities rely on their armies of volunteers who provide the bulk of their manpower needs. Some are full time volunteers who regularly give time and effort for others who may need assistance in the many activities the charity they belong to conducts. Others are more on a per need basis which has them called to provide services such as doctors and nurses who give time and skills for a particular mission or activity such as a medical missions to a remote jungle towns. There are even casual volunteers who express their aim to help as they get to know of the aforementioned activities.Whichever form or type of service one commits; there is no better reward than to see a community that prospers with healthy constituents that have benefited the many activities you have partaken in.

Filed Under: Campaigns, Charities, Children, Disabled, Disaster Relief, Elderly, Environmental, Families, Fundraising, Ideas, Programs, Religious

Charities… For Real!!!!! ( Part 2 )

November 20, 2007 By Charities Blog

Giving.jpgJust want to give and not want to know the turns and climbs of the system, just be sure to give to a reputable organization, who gets your donation to those who needs it. Some don’t even need and want the recognition as a donor and give anonymously which may be true to many celebrities to avoid backlashes of the other kind (those who have creative minds and make different sense of their actions rather than the true aim of the act). That’s what all charitable acts should ideally be, selfless and uncompromised without question. Sad, that there are people and organizations of the criminal type who prey on the many charities using their names for unspeakable acts victimizing both donor and recipient and benefiting only themselves.

Want to make sizeable donations of cash or kind? Use the above recommended online tools that helps you get the resources to those who need them. Say, you have a materials manufacturing firm who specializes in tents and other temporary housing facilities and furnishings and it just happens to be that Katrina just passed by leaving many homeless or the Tsunami’s that did the same, you can contact the federal aid agencies or the more recognized groups like the Red Cross who can get your surplus inventory to the areas that need them most. Even the air force can get your supplies there for you provided you make the right calls to the right people. Getting it there all by yourself might not be always possible and you may even put yourself at risk so leave most of the initial disaster recovery work to the experts if it is dangerous.

“A helping hand is always needed somewhere by somebody in need, we just have to work together for a better world where we see humans in each and every one of us, regardless of our differences.”

Filed Under: Campaigns, Charities, Disaster Relief, Elderly, Environmental, Fundraising, Ideas, Jobs, Organizations, Religious, Volunteering

Donation To Catholic Charities

June 7, 2007 By Charities Blog

The most notable donations given to charities would usually be in the form of cash or clothes. While there are many other things that catholic charitable institution would indeed need, they will in no way dictate what these needs are. Catholic charities such as that of the Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County, are numerous, most of them placed on their website but do not obligate people to actually prioritize them.

Catholic Charities

Donations are done through own free will. They will normally come unsolicited and it would depend on the people who put premium on them if they would be able to adhere towards these requests. Gifts in the form of cash gifts, legacy gifts, memorial and honorary gifts are some of the many types of donations that they would need and it would be up to the donors to choose on which among them would be ideal and affordable on their end.

[tags]charities, catholic, religious, organizations, foundations[/tags]

Filed Under: Activities, Charities, Families, Fundraising, Inspiration, Organizations, Programs, Religious, Tips, Volunteering Tagged With: catholic, Charities, foundations, Organizations, Religious

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