2nd Annual 25 Days of Giving

It’s time for my 2nd Annual 25 Days of Giving. On Thanksgiving, and for 24 days following, I am going to take 5 minutes out of each day to donate money to one cause that I believe is working to make our world a safer and more compassionate place. I have chosen to donate to organizations both local and global, those that are large-scale and those that are close to my heart. I hope that you will join me in donating to the causes below, or others that resonate for you. Let’s end 2017 with fierce love, and begin 2018 with fierce hope.

  1. First Nations Development Institute

First Nations Development Institute improves economic conditions for Native Americans through technical assistance & training, advocacy & policy, and direct financial grants.

https://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5855/donate_page/firstnations?track=WebFooter&_ga=2.134680946.2058034588.1511385301-446759633.1511385301

  1. Native American Heritage Association

Tow of the poorest counties in the U.S. are on the Crow Creek and Pine Ridge Reservations in South Dakota. NAHA is committed to fighting hunger with emergency food supplies and basic life necessities in this area.

https://www.naha-inc.org/donate/

  1. United for Puerto Rico

United for Puerto Rico distributes thousands of supplies to those affected by Hurricane Maria, assigning funds for the purchase of first need goods in local suppliers, while helping wholesale and retail markets and at the same time aiding in the economy’s recovery.

https://www.unidosporpuertorico.com/en/

  1. United We Dream (DACA)

United We Dream seeks to address the inequities and obstacles faced by immigrant youth and believe that by empowering immigrant youth, we can advance the cause of the entire community—justice for all immigrants.

https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/unitedwedreamaction?refcode=homepagebutton

  1. RAINN: Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network

RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) is the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization, operating the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE) in partnership with more than 1,000 local sexual assault service providers across the country and operates the DoD Safe Helpline for the Department of Defense. RAINN also carries out programs to prevent sexual violence, help victims, and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.

https://donate.rainn.org/

  1. Flint Kids

*All donations made 11/28/17 will be matched! Donating to the Flint Child Health & Development Fund supports long term health and development needs of Flint children ages 0-6 who were exposed to lead.

https://www.cfgf.org/cfgf/GoodWork/FlintArea/FlintKids/tabid/855/Default.aspx

  1. Coalition to Stop Gun Violence

Our organizational structure is unique among national gun violence prevention organizations. CSGV is composed of 47 national organizations working to reduce gun violence. Our coalition members include religious organizations, child welfare advocates, public health professionals, and social justice organizations. This diversity of member organizations allows us to reach a wide variety of grassroots constituencies who share our vision of non-violence.

https://secure.csgv.org/page/contribute

  1. SPLC: Southern Poverty Law Center

The Southern Poverty Law Center is dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry and to seeking justice for the most vulnerable members of our society. Using litigation, education, and other forms of advocacy, the SPLC works toward the day when the ideals of equal justice and equal opportunity will be a reality.

https://donate.splcenter.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=463

  1. HRW: Human Rights Watch

HRW defends the rights of people in 90 countries worldwide, spotlighting abuses and bringing perpetrators to justice.

https://www.hrw.org/donate-now?promo_id=1005

  1. CAIR: Council on American-Islamic Relations

CAIR’s mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

https://www.cair.com/donations/general-donation/campaign/#/donation

  1. Colorado UpLift

Colorado UpLift employs full-time staff who are committed to the students they serve. As teacher/mentors and life coaches, they develop long-term relationships as early as elementary school. This bond continues through middle and high school, providing the relational support missing from students’ lives.

https://www.coloradouplift.org/donate

  1. Save the Elephants

Our mission is to secure a future for elephants and to sustain the beauty and ecological integrity of the places they live; to promote man’s delight in their intelligence and the diversity of their world, and to develop a tolerant relationship between the two species.

http://www.savetheelephants.org/new-donate-page-US/

  1. MaxFund

MaxFund is a true no kill animal shelter and adoption center that challenges the traditional methods of animal sheltering by leading the no kill movement in Colorado. We strive to give animals, including the injured, abandoned, and abused, a “second chance at life.”

https://maxfund.org/Donation-Page

  1. Planned Parenthood

For the past century, Planned Parenthood has transformed women’s health and empowered millions of people worldwide to make informed health decisions, forever changing the way they live, love, learn and work.

https://secure.ppaction.org/site/Donation2?df_id=12913&12913.donation=form1&s_src=Evergreen_c3_PPNonDirected_banner&_ga=1.74805650.1816447012.1479680568

  1. Wounded Warrior Project

Wounded Warrior Project provides free programs and services focused on the physical, mental, and long-term financial well-being of this generation of injured veterans, their families and caregivers.

https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org/default.aspx?tsid=675&campaignSource=ONLINE&source=BS16050&gclid=CPO91rquuNACFUg7gQodR6ELtA

  1. ACLU: American Civil Liberties Union

For almost 100 years, the ACLU has worked to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States.

https://action.aclu.org/secure/sem-become-freedom-fighter-join-aclu?s_src=UNW160001SEM&alt_src=UNV160001SEM&ms=gad_SEM_Google_Search-Evergreen-ACLU%20Brand_ACLU%20Name%20Terms_aclu_e_98977091302

  1. Black Lives Matter

Black Lives Matter is an ideological and political intervention in a world where Black lives are systematically and intentionally targeted for demise. It is an affirmation of Black folks’ contributions to this society, our humanity, and our resilience in the face of deadly oppression.

https://donate.idex.org/checkout/donation?eid=66399

  1. Stand for the Silent

Founded in 2010, Stand for the Silent has fast become one of the leading and most effective anti-bullying organizations. Our mission is simple: bring awareness to bullying and the real devastation it causes.

http://standforthesilent.org/donate.html

  1. NILC: National Immigration Law Center

At NILC, we believe that all people who live in the U.S.—regardless of their race, gender, immigration and/or economic status—should have the opportunity to achieve their full potential. Over the years, we’ve been at the forefront of many of the country’s greatest challenges when it comes to immigration issues, and play a major leadership role in addressing the real-life impact of polices that affect the ability of low-income immigrants to prosper and thrive.

https://nilc.z2systems.com/np/clients/nilc/donation.jsp?campaign=15&

  1. NAACP: National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

Our mission is to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination.

https://donate.naacp.org/page/contribute/make-a-contribution

  1. NRDC: Natural Resources Defense Council

We believe the world’s children should inherit a planet that will sustain them as it has sustained us. NRDC works to ensure the rights of all people to the air, the water and the wild, and to prevent special interests from undermining public interests.

https://secure.nrdconline.org/site/Donation2?df_id=16182&16182.donation=form1&s_src=MRSENRDC116&utm_source=mrad&utm_medium=web

  1. Denver Justice Project

Denver Justice Project hosts teach-ins to educate the community about the power of the district attorney and takes part in candidate forums and outreach efforts to get out the vote, collaborating with elected officials in city council and elsewhere to work towards dismantling systemic racism and achieving reforms in policing.

https://org2.salsalabs.com/o/7315/donate_page/denver-justice-project

  1. Illuminate India

Illuminate India exists to advocate for and help impoverished children in India. By efficiently providing basic needs and therapeutic resources, Illuminate India will help to improve existing circumstances for orphans, vulnerable children and children with special needs.

https://www.razoo.com/us/story/Illuminate-India

  1. Ethiopian Adoption Connection

A free, grassroots effort to reunite family members separated by adoption. More than fifty reconnections since 2014.

https://ethiopianadoptionconnection.org/donate-to-eac/

  1. Roots Ethiopia

Roots Ethiopia is a non-profit that assists families to send their children to school, supports women to create valuable local market work, and joins with communities to improve their schools so everyone has a chance to learn. We know that if we do this in rural Ethiopia, we are building economic and educational equality worldwide.

https://rootsethiopia.networkforgood.com/projects/9997-roots-ethiopia

About Dr. Chaitra Wirta-Leiker

Dr. Chaitra Wirta-Leiker is an adoptee, adoptive parent, and psychologist who provides mental health support focused on adoption, trauma, and racial identity work. She is the author of the "Adoptees Like Me" book series.