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Freerice.com is a non-profit website that aims to educate and
provide free rice to people who are hungry. It was created by John Breen of poverty.com initially to help his child review for the SAT’s. After which he realized that the site had potential, so he decided to donate it to United Nations World Food program.
By now you must be asking how these virtual grains converted to real grains of rice. The
site’s generous sponsors and advertisers make it possible to do so. All you have to do is invest your time in order to feed the hungry in Uganda, Nepal, Cambodia, Bhutan and Bangladesh. According to Wikipedia, “Since its inception, as of October 15, 2010, Freerice players had earned sufficient rice to feed over 4.32 million people for one day.”
It is wonderful to learn and be educated through games while fighting world hunger at the same time. The site boats of different subjects to choose from. There are games that improve your knowledge in English vocabulary or grammar. You can also learn a new language such as Italian, Spanish, German or French. Apart from these you can also test what you know about humanities, math, science and geography. The main objective is for you to choose the correct answer among the choices give. Once you do ten grains of rice is donated. As your correct answers increase, the grains of rice add up so you end up giving more as you enjoy the game padded sumo wrestling suits.
Share the love while taking a break or make time to visit the site when you can. Each minute you spend on the website will make a big difference.
Originally posted on October 21, 2011 @ 1:43 pm
Thirst Aid
The non-profit group has been running for quite sometime since the Tsunami’s of past and they have been filling the gap that left millions of people without clean drinking water. Founded by Curt and Cathy Bradner, an American couple who have given up everything to help the poor people of Myanmar (formerly Burma) many of whom lack basic necessities for safe and healthy living as most of Asia’s developing countries. Myanmar, being run by a Military Junta has been cut-off from the rest of the world by a military that reports directly to their generals. Suspicious of Westerners (mostly Americans) whom they distrust due to criticism they receive from most of the West.
The couple have been working in the country for quite sometime and have bought Visas (long term) which is a rarity in the country. The tsunamis devastated much of the effected areas contaminating water tables, decaying animals and people who were left without proper burial have also contributed to the pollution which if not corrected, would kill just as many people that were killed during the disaster itself. Disease is the aftermath of any disaster and many of them are spread through contaminated drinking water. Many of the developing world’s diseases are water-borne and the couple who started it all has been working ever since to get safe and clean drinking water to all who needs it. They have focused their efforts on Myanmar due to the utter isolation of the country from the rest of the world.
They sold everything they had and made a promise to get clean and safe drinking water to all who need it. The tsunami ravaged Myanmar was a perfect area for them to operate in due to little or no contact with the outside world. They designed simple filters made of pottery and lined with coconut husks that are capable of filtering out almost all of the harmful bacteria and other contaminants that may be present in the water. It is estimated that every 15 seconds, a child dies form disease caused by drinking untreated or polluted water and they have been fighting ever since to bring their low cost water filters to poor people who do not have much cash to purchase commercial filtration systems. The coconut and earthen filter removes all but the tiniest contaminants with a colloidal silver solution mixed in to kill any deadly pathogens that may still be left in the water. They are then safe for all to drink, especially children whose small bodies can be easily ravaged by disease.
The country is so poor that most live in huts outside of the capital with not much in terms of modern infrastructures to support the country’s growing population. They need help in their projects and their children back home manage and maintain their web site which is one of the ways they earn money for their many projects. They have managed to produce filtration systems that run from car batteries and they are in urgent need of money for funding and other purposes for them to continue helping those who need it the most.
Originally posted on July 27, 2011 @ 2:33 pm
ThoughtsFurPaws
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
Social Media Becoming More Useful For Charities
Charities have long had to adjust to the changing landscape surrounding them. Gone are the times when even the average person gave freely to charities. There are many reasons for this, perhaps the harsh economic atmosphere worldwide being the foremost. In any case, whatever the reason, charities – especially the smaller ones – are hard pressed to find ways and means to generate more funds.
One way by which charities are adjusting is by using social media. Twitter is one of the most popular tools that charities are making use of to reach out to more people who might want to give cash, goods, and services to help those who are in need. Of course, there are other social media platforms which can be used, such as Facebook.
So how can your charity take advantage of technology in this respect? Social media platforms have a worldwide reach. By creating an account for your charity, you can expand your reach to the other side of the world without expending extra money. Maybe a little effort is needed, but the benefits far outweigh it.
Think about all the “lost” friends that have reconnected through social media. These reconnections may very well serve as potential donors. Even those who may not have heard of your charity before may very well be moved to help out your cause due to your regular tweets and updates on Facebook. The idea is to get the word out to as many as possible and nothing beats social media when it comes to that!
Originally posted on October 30, 2009 @ 1:25 pm
New Search Engine For Charities
I have always believed that technology is something that can be used for great good, and this latest development from Infospace is the perfect example. Infospace is based in Bellevue, WA, and is an Internet search provider. In line with their business, the company has launched a new search engine which focuses specifically on charities!
Dubbed Do Great Good, the web site’s URL is www. DoGreatGood.com. So how does the search engine help charities? In fact, the new search engine compiles search results from Google, Yahoo, Bing, and Ask. Half of the revenue generated by the search engine then goes to charity.
Here’s “how it works” from the web site itself:
Like other search engines, Do Great Good makes money when you search the Web on our site. And only Do Great Good lets you support causes you care about at no cost to you by donating half of that money to charity! The more you search, the more you help. It’s that simple!
I have to admit that I am a slave to Google. I can’t even use Yahoo to search because I am not satisfied with the results. Plus, I am so used to seeing the interface of Google that it just doesn’t seem right if I don’t use it. Then again, I think I just might try using Do Great Good for a bit, if only for the charities that will benefit. Also, it might actually give me more varied results since it compiles results from several search engines.
What say you?
Originally posted on July 23, 2009 @ 5:30 am
“Friends” Get Together To Help Women In Congo
They were the best of friends in the long running TV show Friends, and they are really close friends in real life as well. I am sure you know the people I am talking about – Jennifer Aniston and Courtney Cox. These girls have taken their friendship to great lengths, and now, they are getting together to extend a helping hand to some women who need it the most.
The friends are currently busy with a project which is aimed at empowering women in Congo. More than giving their verbal and public support, Aniston and Cox are actually spending time to help the cause out. One activity they engaged in was to take part in a dinner which helped raised awareness for their charity. They were joined by Sheryl Crow. The friends are now working on catching the attention of Senator Hilary Clinton.
The organization is called OmiPeace, which is actually a humanitarian fashion brand, and is run by Mary Fanaro, another friend (not a TV “Friend,” as I am sure you know). Courtney Cox is really passionate about what they’re doing. It was quite touching to read what she said: “OmniPeace was created to give back. I can’t think of a better way to support my best friend and all the work that she and OmniPeace do to donate to causes supporting peace, education, human rights and the end of extreme poverty by 2025. Mary’s passion is so contagious and wonderful. It has taught me that anything is possible with enough perseverance and tenacity.”
To find out more about OmniPeace and how you can help, visit www.omnipeace.com/.
Originally posted on November 8, 2009 @ 4:02 pm
Charity Blogging At WordPress
The average blogger I know has not made it big time like those high profile probloggers we all hear and read about. Truth be told, not everyone has goals of reaching that status; many blogger friends that I have are content with how their blogs are faring. And while they are not making big bucks with their blogs, they do find ways to spread their blessings around.
One idea a friend alerted me to is this new widget from SocialVibe, which offers bloggers a chance to help a specific charity. Bloggers who use the WordPress platform can sign up for this widget and configure it to benefit a charity. Here are the specifics from Media Post:
As a result, WordPress bloggers can now sign up for a SocialVibe widget, choose a specific charity and corresponding brand sponsor, and then embed the ad unit in their blog to start earning micro-donations from the brand once readers interact with the sponsored units.
It’s much like ads but instead of merely earning money for your blog, the benefits go to the charity you choose. And what kind of “interaction” from the readers is needed? This part I like: people can go watch a video and rate it – that sort of thing. It is not merely clicking on a link for the sake of clicking. Another nice thing about the widget is that it keeps track of your “donations.” For example, you can see a line like “My blog has donated so and so number of books to students in need.”
Originally posted on June 30, 2009 @ 3:30 am
Sophia’s Heart Foundation
Have you been watching American Idol? I have to be honest and say that I got hooked this season. I had never watched this show before, as I rarely watch TV anyway. I don’t know how it came about but I remember flipping through the channels one weekend many months ago and I just somehow got stuck on Idol.
Anyhow, my favorite contender was Danny Gokey. I don’t know, but there is something about this guy that screamed “genuine!” Naturally, I did some research on him, to know more about the person. I found out that he is running a charity called Sophia’s Heart Foundation, and I thought that it would be good to give them a shout out.
Sophia is the name of Danny’s late wife, who passed away due to a heart condition. In her 27 years here on earth, she showed a passion for children, emphasizing the need to meet their needs in every aspect possible. Upon her passing, her husband Danny felt the need to continue her work, and thus the charity was born.
Today, Sophia’s Heart Foundation works alongside many other entities in order to help children ages 0 to 18. The people involved in the organization are dedicated to providing various activities and assistance to children. Some of the ways by which you can help:
-Music and arts workshops
-Scholarships
-Provide food, clothing, and shelter
-Provide medical aid to families in need.
If you are interested in helping out, visit Sophia’s Heart Foundation and find out more about them.
Originally posted on May 24, 2009 @ 2:23 pm
Got Old Mobile Phones? Don’t Chuck Them!
Have you gone through your old stuff lately? I have not, really, but after reading this a short announcement on The Belfast Telegraph, I realized that I might be hoarding a treasure trove without really knowing it.
The announcement was about donating your mobile phone and helping certain charities. If you are like some people, you might have several old mobile phones just sitting around at home. This is especially true for those who have a penchant for getting a new gadget every so often.
Think about it, what do you do with your old mobiles when you buy new ones? Personally, I usually give the old ones away. In spite of this, however, I found that I have at least 3 more mobile phones that are unused in my house. Check – you might have the same situation.
In any case, how can you help while getting rid of the technological clutter at home? I did some simple searching on Google and actually found many organizations which accept mobile phone donations. The Charity Guide provides an extensive list of groups which accept mobile phone donations.
In case you are wondering, old cell phones that are donated are used for a variety of reasons. Some of them go to victims of domestic violence so that they can call 911 in emergencies. Some go to senior citizens so that they can also reach help easily when they need it.
So if you have a cell phone or two that you do not use anymore, check out Charity Guide and other resources – you can help in this simple way.
Originally posted on January 31, 2009 @ 12:36 pm
Miss Australia Offers herself to Charity
People will do crazy things and this is perhaps what many are thinking when Miss Universe Australia, Laura Dundovic, offered herself for a date with the highest bidder via a website. The website is located at http://eswap.co.au. The bidding starts at $1 dollar which commences on August 14 and will run for 10 days. The winning bidder will be having dinner with Ms. Australia at an exclusive restaurant.
Many may call it nothing new although the first thing that we would associate such a move would be in the movies. But today, it is a reality and all for charity. It is not about the distinction of being able to date Miss Australia but about helping for a charitable cause. The proceeds from the auction will be handed over to the Children’s Hospital at Westmead.
“It’’s a bit exciting to be auctioned off as a date but it’’s been three years since I last went on one, so I have high expectations and am expecting to get swept off my feet,” The Daily Telegraph quoted Dundovic, as saying.
Originally posted on August 15, 2008 @ 12:00 am