A New Tradition: 25 Days of Giving
I have decided that beginning Thanksgiving Day of 2016, I am going to start a new tradition – 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 2016 with love, and begin 2017 with hope.
- Standing Rock Sioux Tribe
For legal, sanitary, and emergency use of the Sioux Tribe who are protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline, fighting big oil in the name of clean water for all citizens.
http://standingrock.org/news/standing-rock-sioux-tribe–dakota-access-pipeline-donation-fund/
- The White Helmets
The White Helmets are an unlikely group of heroes. These former tailors, bakers, teachers and other ordinary Syrians banded together in 2013 to save the lives others were working so hard to take. They have now saved more than 73,530 lives.
https://peoplesmillion.whitehelmets.org/act/peoples-million/?source=whweb
- SURJ: Showing Up for Racial Justice
We know that we will have to take risks. Every day, People of Color take risks in living their lives with full dignity and right now we are in a moment where young Black people are taking risks every day. We challenge ourselves and other White people to take risks as well, to stand up against a racist system, actions and structures every day. We know that in that process, we will make mistakes. Our goal is to learn from those mistakes and keep showing up again and again for what is right and for racial justice.
https://showingupforracialjustice.nationbuilder.com/one_time_donations
- 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
- 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.
- True Colors Fund
Co-founded by Cyndi Lauper, the True Colors Fund works to end homelessness among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth, creating a world in which young people can be their true selves.
https://my.truecolorsfund.org/checkout/donation?eid=107399
- 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.
- 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.
- Greenpeace
Greenpeace is the leading independent campaigning organization that uses peaceful protest and creative communication to expose global environmental problems and to promote solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future.
- Campaign Zero
A decades-long focus on policing minor crimes and activities – a practice called Broken Windows policing – has led to the criminalization and over-policing of communities of color and excessive force in otherwise harmless situations. In 2014, police killed at least 287 people who were involved in minor offenses and harmless activities like sleeping in parks, possessing drugs, looking “suspicious” or having a mental health crisis. These activities are often symptoms of underlying issues of drug addiction, homelessness, and mental illness which should be treated by healthcare professionals and social workers rather than the police.
http://www.joincampaignzero.org/#vision
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- HRC: Human Rights Campaign
The Human Rights Campaign represents a force of more than 1.5 million members and supporters nationwide. As the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer civil rights organization, HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are ensured of their basic equal rights, and can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community.
https://give.hrc.org/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=1954&ea.campaign.id=51848
- 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
- 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&
- 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
- MALDEF: Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund
MALDEF strives to implement programs that are structured to bring Latinos into the mainstream of American political and socio-economic life; providing better educational opportunities; encouraging participation in all aspects of society; and offering a positive vision for the future.
https://www.maldef.org/donations/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=49:jtf
- 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.
- 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.
- The Adoptee Citizenship Act
The bill will grant retroactive U.S. citizenship to all internationally adopted individuals regardless of when they were born, addressing the issue that left thousands of adoptees who were born before February 28, 1983 unprotected by the Child Citizenship Act (CCA) of 2000.
http://adopteerightscampaign.org/donate/
- The Trevor Project
Founded in 1998 by the creators of the Academy Award®-winning short film TREVOR, The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) young people ages 13-24.
http://www.thetrevorproject.org/section/about
- 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
- Roots Ethiopia
Roots Ethiopia is a non-profit that exists because we believe access to work and education are the foundations for building a poverty free world. We believe there should be no barriers to Ethiopian families succeeding in work and at school. We assist families to send their children to school, we support women to create valuable local market work, and we join 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. We are a smart and small organization with strong local leadership in Ethiopia. We have 175 kids in school, over 400 women led businesses, and 13 schools with stand-out learning resources.
https://rootsethiopia.networkforgood.com/projects/9997-roots-ethiopia