2015 Service Work

Annual Non-Profit

2015: FRIENDS OF NGONG ROAD ANNUAL SPONSORSHIP OF A YOUNG GIRL Friends of Ngong Road (FoNR), a Minnesota-based 501(c)(3), and Ngong Road Children Association (NRCA), a registered Kenya NGO, operate with the shared mission of providing education and support for impoverished Nairobi children whose families have been affected by HIV/AIDS. The devastation

caused by HIV/AIDS in Kenya has left the country with approximately 1 million orphaned children and many more living with a surviving HIV+ parent. Children in this program all live in the slums of Dagoretti, Nairobi where the median household income is under two dollars per day. Approximately 50% of the children in the program are orphans and the other 50% live with a surviving HIV+ parent; 5% of children in the program are themselves HIV+. Without the opportunity provided by a high-quality education, these children would be sentenced to lives of continuing poverty and would be an economic drag on Kenyan society. Unfortunately, Kenya’s public education system is not up to the task as it is woefully underfunded and inconsistent in quality. FoNR believes that placing at-risk children in high-performing private schools for primary education and public high schools gives them the best chance of success and will have a long-term positive ripple effect on Kenya, Africa and the world. To learn more, click HERE.

Non-Profit Of The Month

DECEMBER 2015: HELP FOR HEROES

HELP FOR HEROES – Founded by Andres Gonzalez Jr.., a decorated retired New Orleans Police officer, Help for Heroes, Inc. is a non-profit organization set up to provide financial and other assistance to law enforcement officers, first responders and/or their families, especially those injured or killed in the line of duty. Please click HERE to donate.

NOVEMBER 2015: MATHEWS-DICKEY BOYS' & GIRLS' CLUB and THE ANGELMAN SYNDROME FOUNDATION

The Mathews-Dickey Boys’ & Girls’ Club, a non-profit organization, was founded in 1960 by Martin L. Mathews and the late Hubert “Dickey” Ballentine. Initially, the Club was designed to provide structured recreational activities to neighborhood youths.

Today, the Club serves thousands of young men and women, ages 5-18, throughout the St. Louis-metropolitan area. The Club also serves as a meeting center for various community, social and business organizations and as an outreach resource center for troubled youth.

The Club is a non-profit, 501 (c)3 United Way member agency. For more information or to donate, click HERE

NOVEMBER 2015: The Angelman Syndrome Foundation

The Angelman Syndrome Foundation – Named for the English pediatrician who identified it, Angelman syndrome (AS) is a rare neuro-genetic disorder that occurs in one in 15,000 live births. Characteristics include developmental delay, lack of speech, seizures, and walking and balance disorders. It is often misdiagnosed as cerebral palsy or autism, due to lack of awareness. Despite these constant challenges, individuals with Angelman syndrome have a happy demeanor, laugh frequently and are often smiling.

Angelman Syndrome Foundation is the largest non-governmental funder of AS specific research. Click HERE to visit the Angelman Syndrome website.

OCTOBER 2015: KIPP: BAY AREA SCHOOLS ESSENTIAL COLLEGE PREP PUBLIC EDUCATION

The mission of KIPP Bay Area Schools (SUMMIT ACADEMY) is to operate high-achieving public schools in educationally underserved communities, developing in our students the knowledge, skills and character essential to thrive in college, shape their futures, and positively impact the world.

KIPP, the Knowledge Is Power Program, is a national network of free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory public schools dedicated to preparing students in underserved communities for success in college and in life. By opening schools in the neighborhoods that need them most, KIPP schools are showing that something very different is possible for students in low-income neighborhoods. In 2013-14, 141 KIPP schools in 20 states and the District of Columbia serve more than 50,000 students. Nationally, KIPP students are enrolling in college at a rate of more than 80 percent, which is double the national average for low-income students.

SEPTEMBER 2015: The mission of the Trombone Shorty Foundation

The mission of the Trombone Shorty Foundation is to perpetuate the musical heritage of New Orleans through music education, instruction, mentorship and performance to prepare young, underserved musicians for success in music and in life. The Foundation established The Trombone Shorty Music Academy in 2013 and added a new program, The Fredman Music Business Institute, in 2014, both partnerships with Tulane University. The programs offer quality music performance and music business education to motivated high school students by nurturing their talent and allowing them to prepare for a career in music. To learn more and to donate, click HERE.

AUGUST 2015: GERRY'S PANTRY

GERRY’S PANTRY through The SHARE Fund is a registered 501c3 nonprofit charitable outreach agency which provides various types of material and financial support to families and individuals in need during emergencies or times of severe hardship. Our primary goal is to provide the needed resources of food, shelter, and clothing. We help with basic needs in times of emergency or financial crisis.

We reach out to our neighbors in need to help them maintain dignity during difficult times, provide lifestyle guidance, and refer to other agencies & resources, when eligible, thus maximizing aid. Led by an Executive Director, with the help of an Administrative Coordinator, over 100 dedicated and talented volunteers deliver direct services and provide support activities to run our programs and services. Our volunteers generously share their time for the benefit of others, and without them, the GERRY’S PANTRY and the SHARE Fund could not operate. To learn more about GERRY’S PANTRY, click HERE.

JULY 2015: NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROM (NOFAS)

NOFAS prevents alcohol use during pregnancy and supports individuals, families, and communities living with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs). NOFAS educates the public, practitioners, and policymakers about the risk of alcohol use during pregnancy and FASD, the leading known preventable cause of brain damage, developmental disabilities, and birth defects, and a leading known cause of learning disabilities and behavioral problems in children, adolescents, and adults.

The National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (NOFAS) is the leading voice and resource of the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) community. Founded in 1990, NOFAS is the only international, non-profit organization committed solely to FASD primary prevention, advocacy and support. NOFAS seeks to create a global community free of alcohol-exposed pregnancies and a society supportive of individuals already living with FASD. NOFAS effectively increases public awareness and mobilizes grassroots action in diverse communities and represents the interests of persons with FASD and their caregivers as the liaison to researchers and policymakers. By ensuring that FASD is broadly recognized as a developmental disability, NOFAS strives to reduce the stigma and improve the quality of life for affected individuals and families.

JUNE 2015: INSPIRE FOUNDATION

MAY 2015: WITS (Writers in Schools, Houston, Tx.)

Writers in the Schools (WITS) engages children in the pleasure and power of reading and writing. Every child deserves a holistic education that encourages critical thinking, creativity, and personal responsibility. Writing is an art that must be practiced and developed over time. Low-income students can thrive and grow through high-quality art education programs. The relationship between the WITS writer and the classroom teacher is a partnership. WITS supports classroom teachers as they adopt new approaches to teaching creative writing. WITS writers reflect Houston’s diversity to meet the needs of the community.

Everyone has a personal story to tell. WITS provides opportunities for storytelling and the skills needed to do it well. To learn more about WITS-Houston click HERE.

April 2015: Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF)

JDRF is the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. JDRF’s goal is to progressively remove the impact of T1D from people’s lives until we achieve a world without T1D. JDRF collaborates with a wide spectrum of partners and is the only organization with the scientific resources, policy influence, and a working plan to better treat, prevent, and eventually cure T1D.

JDRF’s highest priority remains funding research to deliver a cure for T1D and its complications. At the same time, JDRF is also focused on developing better treatments that will transform the way people with T1D treat the disease today, in order to help them live healthier lives now and in the future. Finally, JDRF also seeks to prevent T1D, to keep future generations from developing the disease. This is all part of JDRF’s promise of “less until none”: to progressively remove the impact of T1D from the lives of those living with the disease until it is no longer a threat to them or their families. To donate to please click HERE.

March 2015: Compassionate Burial for Indigent Babies (CBIB)

Compassionate Burial for Indigent Babies (CBIB) is a non-profit organization that was founded in 2007 to ensure that unclaimed and aborted babies receive a proper burial. Our Mission is the respectful burial of babies that have been found thrown in trash bins or otherwise would not receive burial. Some babies have even been discovered in sewers. As a non-profit 501c3 formed to provide proper funerals/burials, our belief is that all life deserves respect and dignity. We greatly appreciate your support and any monetry donation. Keep in mind all donations are tax deductible. To donate click HERE.

March 2015: Our Sisters' School

Our Sisters’ School is a tuition-free, independent middle school for girls in grades 5 through 8. We welcome students from diverse faiths, races and cultures to join our unique learning environment. Founded in 2007 and with the first class of girls enrolling in 2008, our mission is to educate and inspire middle school girls from the Greater New Bedford area to reach their full potential in a safe, supportive and challenging environment. We encourage our students to approach education with sincere effort, mutual respect and integrity.

Our Sisters’ School is 100% privately funded and relies on the generosity of our donors. Massachusetts law prohibits state funding for single-sex education, yet many families prefer an all girls learning environment for their daughters during middle school. Evidence supports the fact that when you educate a girl, you educate the next generation. We are doing just that! Are you interested in donating? Click HERE.

FEBRUARY 2015: ADOPT A COP

ADOPT A COP 2015 Showing our appreciation to the men and women of NOPD by donating to a special meal for officers during the grueling Mardi Gras season. NOPD officers work extremely demanding 12 hour shifts during the parade season with little or no breaks. As a show of thanks, we are making our donation to provide meals for officers in each police district, division or unit. To donate one or more meals at only $5 per meal, click HERE.

FEBRUARY 2015: ANGEL'S IN NEED

Also in February we began a 2014 annual sponsorship of a child with the ANGEL’S IN NEED organization whose mission is to serve children with special needs and their families both locally and abroad. Our goal is to enrich the lives of these children and families by supporting already existing programs and organizations devoted to our cause as well as aiding in the development, implementation and financial support of programs where they are non-existent, all in an attempt to provide the children with opportunity and a sense of community in which to blossom. Angel’s in Need, Inc. operates on a strictly volunteer basis. There are no salaries involved and there is no overhead. We are a 100% volunteer, 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. For more information on ANGEL’S IN NEED or to make a donation, please click HERE.

The Battle of New Orleans: A Meaningful Victory documentary. 2015 Bicentennial Documentary celebrates our Country’s greatest victory over the British. The film is hosted and produced by Tom Gregory and Marcia Kavanaugh.

JANUARY 2015: The Wounded Warrior Project (WWP)

The Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) is a veterans service organization that offers a variety of programs, service and events for wounded veterans of the military actions following the events of September 11, 2001. It operates as a nonprofit 501(C)(3) organization with a mission to “honor and empower Wounded Warriors”[2] of the United States Armed Forces, as well as provide services and programs for the family members of its registered “alumni,” as its registered veterans are called. WWP’s vision is to “foster the most successful, well-adjusted generation of wounded service members in our nation’s history” as it works to raise awareness and enlist the public’s aid for the needs of severely injured service members, help severely injured service members aid and assist each other and provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs.