|
|
|
If you have any favorite charities, tell me about them!
 | |
| Arizona School Tax Credit Don't forget the annual Arizona school tax credit! People can claim a credit for making contributions or paying fees to a public school for support of extra curricular activities or character education programs. An individual may also claim a credit for making a donation to a qualified school tuition organization for scholarships to private schools. People filing individuals tax returns can claim a credit of up to $200. Married couples filing a joint return can claim up to $400. Puppies Behind Bars The non-profit Puppies Behind Bars began with just five puppies, with a goal of training prison inmates to raise the puppies to be guide dogs for the blind. After the events of September 11, 2001, PBB expanded its focus to meet law enforcement needs and began also training puppies to become explosive detection canines (EDCs). In 2006, the group began raising dogs to assist disabled children and adults. The group also began the Dog Tags: Service Dogs for Those Who’ve Served Us program, where fully trained dogs are donated to wounded soldiers coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan, including those who have been developed Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The dogs not only transform the lives of the ones they end up serving, but also do a great deal of inmate rehabilitation. | |
 | |
| HomeBase Youth Services The mission of HomeBase Youth Services is teaching at-risk and homeless youth how to live healthy and independent lives. Seven nights per week, HBYS’ vans canvass the areas of metropolitan Phoenix and Tempe most densely populated with homeless youth. The vans are stocked with food, clothing, hygiene supplies, medical/dental supplies, blankets and more. Using a non-confrontational, respectful approach, staff and volunteers work to address basic needs, such as food, water and hygiene items, and slowly build relationships with these traumatized, physically and emotionally injured youth. Youth are encouraged to come to the Outreach Center for services that can help them overcome their homeless situation. A fully equipped medical van staffed with a nurse practitioner, outreach specialists and volunteers also travels the streets, providing critical medical services to at-risk youth. The Outreach Center provides the second phase of intervention. Once the youth’s basic needs are satisfied, the Center works to address their long-term needs. The Center offers bus tickets for runaway youth to reunite with their families (when appropriate), meals, clothing, hygiene supplies, laundry and shower facilities, referrals for overnight shelter and/or permanent housing, medical care referrals, advocacy, and individual case management. HomeBase Youth Services’ Transitional Living Program helps fill the enormous gap in services for homeless youth in Arizona between the ages of 18 and 21. Located in Phoenix, this 25-bed, single story, apartment-style, transitional living facility provides youth with a safe, stable environment where they feel cared for and valued. As a follow-up component of the Transitional Living Program (TLP), HBYS will provide assistance and options for the graduating youth wanting to move into an Independent Living housing environment. To address the lack of prevention services in Arizona, HBYS' prevention specialists go into Phoenix and Tempe area schools to educate students on the realities of life on the streets. Modules on substance abuse, runaway prevention, conflict resolution, domestic violence, and sexual assault are presented to youth. In the Phoenix area, clothing donations can be delivered to the Dustin Center, located at 1301 E Almeria Rd, Phoenix. The Dustin Center is just north of McDowell and 13th Street and is open Monday through Friday 7am to 4pm. Childhelp Childhelp is a leading national non-profit organization dedicated to helping victims of child abuse and neglect. Childhelp’s approach focuses on prevention, intervention and treatment. The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline, 1-800-4-A-CHILD, operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and receives calls from throughout the United States, Canada, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Guam. Childhelp’s programs and services also include residential treatment services (villages); children’s advocacy centers; therapeutic foster care; group homes; child abuse prevention, education and training; and the National Day of Hope, part of National Child Abuse Prevention Month every April. Several of Chidhelp’s programs were firsts, and continue to be studied by professionals worldwide as "models that work." Childhelp has two Arizona facilities, with one in downtown Phoenix and the other in Flagstaff. Southwest Human Development Southwest has grown into the state’s largest early childhood provider with a staff of 500 serving more than 50,000 children and families each year. Child Health and Welfare programs range from child abuse prevention to mental health to early literacy. The agency’s goal is to prevent problems before they begin, and whey they already exist, to intervene and early and effectively as possible. A full array of services for children with disabilities and their families are offered, including the largest early intervention and assistive technology programs in the state. Southwest’s highly regarded Head Start program offers low-income children a high-quality education, health screenings and family services. Infant/toddler Head Start serves families with children up to age three in their home and provides a streamlined transition to the preschool program. Nationally recognized education and training programs are available to professionals and organizations working with young children across Arizona, the U.S. and internationally. The Arizona Institute for Early Childhood Development is dedicated to expanding best practice and research-based early childhood development programs that can make real and measurable differences in the lives of young children. The Institute focuses on three core areas: infant mental health, early literacy and child abuse prevention. Arizona's Children Association Arizona's Children Association is a statewide child welfare and behavioral health organization. The association's mission is to protect children and preserve families, which is accomplished by providing each child with a healthy family environment on a permanent basis. Arizona's Children Association currently provides more than 40 diverse programs that fall into three primary categories: prevention, intervention and permanency. Programs include in-home counseling, behavior management, parenting skill development, emergency financial assistance, and adoption and foster care. Big Brothers Big Sisters Big Brothers Big Sisters matches children ages 6 through 18 with mentors in professionally supported one-to-one relationships. In Community-based Mentoring, Bigs and Littles meet in their community to share fun activities for as little as an hour a week. In Site-based Mentoring, Bigs and Littles meet once a week in schools, libraries and community centers to talk and have fun. It’s not about being a tutor... it’s about being a friend. BBBS also has an initiative called Amachi, which connects the children of prisoners with mentors recruited through local religious congregations. Another initiative, the Hispanic Mentoring Initiative, continues the Big Brothers Big Sisters tradition of outreach to all at-risk youth by emphasizing the connection with Hispanic communities and the recruitment of Latino volunteers and Littles. | |
 | |
| Bicycle Inter-Community Action & Salvage (BICAS) BICAS is a 501(c)3 collectively run community education and recycling center for bicycles that welcomes people of all ages and walks of life. Through advocacy and recycling of the bicycle, the BICAS mission is to promote education, art, and a healthy environment while providing service and opportunity for those in need. For those with bikes in disrepair, BICAS offers tools, parts, and community mechanics who can answer questions and provide assistance. BICAS also offers numerous classes and workshops to teach the community how to safely and effectively maintain, rebuild, and ride bicycles. Classes include Build-A-Bike, Basic Maintenance, school programs involving bicycles, and the Weed & Seed program, which provides no-cost Build-A-Bike classes to residents of the low income neighborhoods of Tucson. BICAS also makes the most of old, unusable bicycle parts by creating bicycle art, which can then be found in the form of displays, fashion accessories, bike racks and trash containers around town. Last but not least, BICAS also sells and rents refurbished bicycles. Handlebar Helpers Handlebar Helpers is a community "earn-a-bike" and apprentice program. The five focus areas of Handlebar Helpers are: encourage volunteerism, provide job and life skills for community youth, provide positive adult role models for at-risk youth, provide reconditioned bicycles to employees who bike to work, and promote safe bicycling and environmental stewardship. Through the Earn a Bike program, participants earn "bike bucks" for their hours of volunteer service. These bike bucks can then be used to buy one of the bicycles refurbished by Handlebar Helpers. The bicycles are awarded at a special ceremony, along with a new helmet and lock. Along with the Scottsdale Police Department, the recipients are provided with information on how to safely use their bicycles. Through the Bicycle Incentive and Keen Effort for Scottsdale program (B.I.K.E.S.), Handlebar Helpers also strives to increase the number of city employees who ride a bicycle to work. Employees who pledge to follow certain basic rules are each provided with a bicycle, helmet and lock. The bicycle can be used for commuting to work and personal use. When a change in jobs or other conditions prohibit commuting by bicycle, the bicycles are returned to Handlebar Helpers. | |
 | |
| CARE CARE tackles underlying causes of poverty so that people can become self-sufficient. Recognizing that women and children suffer disproportionately from poverty, CARE places special emphasis on working with women to create permanent social change. Women are at the heart of CARE's community-based efforts to improve basic education, prevent the spread of HIV, increase access to clean water and sanitation, expand economic opportunity and protect natural resources. CARE also delivers emergency aid to survivors of war and natural disasters, and helps people rebuild their lives. Be the Change: Save a Life Looking for more ways to contribute to organizations with an international focus? This is a initiative brought to you by ABC News that profiles a whole bunch of innovative groups. From ridiculously inexpensive and easy-to-use infant incubators to installation of water and sanitation systems, you'll find a plethora of projects to contribute to. | |