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The Top 3 Most Charitable Celebrities

On February 13, 2018

Celebrities have the resources, tools and power to make a positive impact in the world. Some, however, stand out from the rest in their charitable actions. Here are three of the most charitable celebrities in Hollywood.

#1) Justin Timberlake

Singer, songwriter and actor Justin Timberlake is known for its charitable contributions. Even during his adolescent years as the lead singer for NSYNC, the pop star sought to help others through the band’s annual Challenge for the Children event. The multi-day star-studded event raised money for five nonprofit charities.

In 2001, Timberlake founded his own nonprofit charity, the Justin Timberlake Foundation. At first, the Justin Timberlake Foundation raised money to fund music education programs. However, it’s since expanded into other forms of charitable giving. Timberlake has also worked with Habitat For Humanity, Red Cross, ONE Campaign, Kids Wish Network and Shriners Hospitals for Children.

#2) Taylor Swift

Named the most charitable celebrity of 2012 and 2013 by Today.com, Taylor Swift is another celebrity known for her charitable actions. In 2008, the famous singer donated $100,000 to help victims of the Iowa flood. When a massive 7.0 earthquake struck the nation of Haiti just a few years later, she recorded a song to raise funds for the victims. In 2010, Swift donated $500,000 to help victims of the Tennessee floods. She even started a project to protect children from predators.

More recently, Swift joined forces with more than 300 other female actresses to protect women in Hollywood from harassment.

#3) Rihanna

Rihanna consistently ranks as one of the most charitable celebrities. In 2006, the Grammy Award-winning singer founded a nonprofit to help children suffering from terminal illness. Known as the Believe Foundation, it seeks to raise awareness for terminal illnesses afflicting children, including leukemia. Rihanna’s Believe Foundation also seeks to aid 100,000 children who need bone marrow transplants each year.

In 2008, Rhianna partnered with the apparel company H&M to raise awareness for AIDS. Along with other celebrities, she designed clothes for the company to use in its Fashion Against AIDS campaign. That same year, the pop star performed charity concerts as part of the A Girl’s Night Out campaign, with proceeds going towards the Believe Foundation. While the concerts were free, companies paid for sponsorship.

While Justin Timberlake, Taylor Swift and Rihanna go above and beyond in their charitable contributions, there are countless other celebrities who give back to the community.

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Top 4 Most Unusual Charities

By Philip Burroughs

On February 13, 2018

In Philanthropy, Philip Burroughs

Some charities work outside the box. They either choose an unexpected recipient, like guinea pigs or very tall people, or they devise a novel approach, like the 501st Legion. Consider the following examples:

1) 501st Legion
The 501st Legion is an international organization that debuted in 1997. It has three purposes: give to the community, promote interest in “Star Wars,” and help fans design and make their costumes. As the members all dress like storm troopers and other villains, they describe themselves as “bad guys doing good.” They hold Star Wars-themed fundraisers, appear at other organizations’ events, and do volunteer work like visiting children at hospitals.

2) The Critter Connection
Most animal rescue organizations are devoted to dogs and/or cats. The Critter Connection, which was established in 2004, is an organization dedicated to the rehabilitation and rescue of neglected and abandoned guinea pigs. Its founder, Cindy Kuestler, established the organization when she realized that animal shelters were not equipped to take care of guinea pigs. The Critter Connection helps find new homes for guinea pigs and educates owners about the proper way to take care of their pets. The Critter Connection, which is based in Durham, Connecticut, has so far found new homes for 1,800 guinea pigs.

3) Tall Clubs International Foundation
Tall Clubs International (TCI) is a support group for very tall people that they define as women who are at least 5’10” and men who are at least 6’2”. Among their services is a scholarship program for people under 21 who are about to start their first year of college. The founder, Kae Sumner Einfeldt (1916 – 1996) was 6’3” herself. As a young woman, she grew increasingly frustrated with furniture and clothing designed for smaller people. She and eight other equally tall friends established the first tall club in 1938 in California both for mutual support and to help them negotiate lower prices for custom-made furniture. TCI still advertises companies that offer goods and services designed for the very tall.

4) Helping Hands: Monkey Helpers
Helping Hands: Monkey Helpers provides disabled people with capuchin monkeys as service animals. The monkeys’ intelligence and dexterity enable them to perform a wide range of tasks from turning pages to retrieving dropped objects to pressing buttons. The monkeys can even reposition limbs in a wheelchair. They are also small enough to cuddle and, they typically live for 30 to 40 years. Helping Hands, which was established in 1979, trains the monkeys and then matches them with people based on the temperaments of both monkey and recipient, the temperaments of other people in the house, and the client’s needs.

How Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos Could Reshape Philanthropy

By Philip Burroughs

On February 9, 2018

In Philanthropy, Philip Burroughs

With an estimated net worth exceeding $110 billion, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is currently ranked as the richest person in the world. Unlike many other billionaires, though, Bezos worked to achieve this accolade. In 1994, he founded Amazon using investment capital provided by his parents’ retirement savings. Today, Amazon is the world’s largest online retailer, generating more than $136 billion in annual sales.

Now that Bezos has surpassed Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates to become the world’s richest person, many people are wondering what’s next for the tech-savvy entrepreneur. As explained by NY Times, Bezos has his eyes set on philanthropy.

In May 2017, Bezos announced plans to integrate a homeless shelter into Amazon’s Seattle headquarters. Under this change, approximately half of the building’s space will be renovated with private rooms to support 220 homeless individuals and their pets. While the renovation is still ongoing, Bezos expects the project to be complete by 2020.

Like many major metropolitan U.S. cities, homelessness is a serious problem in Seattle. Statistics show that more than 10,000 people live on the streets or in homeless shelters in Seattle King County. Bezos’ plan to integrate a homeless shelter into Amazon’s Seattle headquarters will undoubtedly curb these numbers. Most importantly, though, it will pave the way for other companies to perform their own philanthropic work.

The proposed homeless shelter is just the tip of the iceberg regarding Bezos’ philanthropy. In June 2017, he asked for philanthropy ideas on Twitter. In his post, Bezos cited his work with the homeless shelter’s construction but explained that he wants to make an “urgent and lasting” impact. In response to this request, more than 50,000 users have provided Bezos with ideas through his Twitter account.

Of course, Bezos has performed philanthropic work in the past. In 2012, he donated $2.5 million to support a referendum for same-sex marriage. In January 2018, he and his wife donated $33 to the college scholarship fund TheDream.US. Bezos has also funded projects such as the Bezos Center for Innovation, the Bezos Family Foundation and the Bezos Center for Neutral Circuit Dynamics.

So, what’s next for the Amazon CEO and founder? Only time will tell, but it’s apparent that Bezos wants to make a positive impact with the wealth he’s earned. And with $110 billion to his name, he has plenty of options on the table.

Bill Gates Donates $100 Million to Help Find a Cure For Alzheimer’s

By Philip Burroughs

On December 19, 2017

In Cancer Research, Philanthropy, Philip Burroughs

There is no question that Bill Gates is one brilliant individual. Fortunately, if there is one by-product from a man that has made billions it would be the fact that he is actually one generous person. His latest useful endeavor is to donate $100 million towards research to find a cure for Alzheimer’s.

It goes without saying that Alzheimer’s is a terrible disease. At last count, it had stolen the memories and intellect of over 47 million Americans. Those statistics continue to rise simply because there is no known cure for the disease. Luckily for us, Bill Gates is trying to change that.

For Gates, the main focus of this most recent act of philanthropy is to fund the Dementia Discovery Fund, which is a group dedicated to some of the more out-of-the-box ideas behind why this disease is so consistently devastating. This group is also dedicated to looking at the immune system of the brain for clues on how this disease is able to flourish. Perhaps most interestingly, this is the first time that Gates has donated money to fund research into a noncommunicable disease. Normally, the Microsoft tycoon usually has done a lot of work through his foundation regarding HIV, Malaria and Polio just to name a few.

For scientists, finding a cure to a devastating disease is practically the holy grail. Individuals can spend whole careers dedicated to studying just one disease. Funding for the development of new drugs for a disease can be a serious roadblock to an already daunting process. This is one of the reasons why Gates’ donation is so important.

Another reason is because of the immense amount of failed trials regarding the new drugs for treating this disease. Gates knows there have been many failed trials, so his funding will go to helping new trials to development. He is also hoping that a new emphasis will be placed on Alzheimer’s research simply because there are currently very few drugs that treat the disease specifically, only drugs that treat memory loss or confusion.

Scientists know there are a lot of biomarkers that can be found in individuals that later develop Alzheimer’s. One of the things Bill Gates hopes his donation will do is spur researchers to look outside the box and spur the development of medications that can taken as a preventative measure. For instance, you wouldn’t give someone Lipitor to prevent a heart attack; it would already be too late. With Gates’ donation, there is none too soon now a much better chance that new drugs will develop to make Alzheimer’s a thing of the past.

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Unique Ways to Donate This Holiday Season

By Philip Burroughs

On November 21, 2017

In Philanthropy, Philip Burroughs

Winter is coming. And with it comes the unavoidable holiday shopping season. And with that comes a bevy of other traditions and seasonal activities. One of the most common traditions during this time is an increase in giving. The holiday season is meant to inspire and promote cheer and charity. For most, this is the only time of year worth donating either time or money; for others, this is the time of year to really go all out with charity and giving. Soup kitchens fill up, homeless shelters are chock full of volunteers, and salvation army buckets are filled to the brim with dollar bills. And those are all fine methods of donating, but why not get a bit creative? Here are some unique ways to donate this holiday season.

Tabs for a Cause

The holiday season means shopping. We buy gifts for friends, family and sometimes, co-workers that we barely speak to. Odds are, you’ll be doing a lot of shopping over the next month. And if you’re like most holiday shoppers, you’ll be looking for the best possible bargains. Naturally, we all like to go gift shopping online, where we have multiple tabs open on our web browsers in order to compare and contrast prices. This year, turn those open tabs into charitable contributions! With Tabs for a Cause, for every tab opened, Tabs for a Cause’s various sponsors will donate a fraction of a penny! That may not sound like a lot, but just think about how many tabs are being opened just as we speak.

Charity Miles

The winter months are a great time to stay in shape. The short days, long nights and frigid temperatures can certainly put a damper on the holiday spirit, but that shouldn’t stop you from maintaining a healthy body. Go out there and stay fit, and be charitable while doing it. With Charity Miles, you can rack up dollars for donations through exercise. Simply download the app for your iOS or Android device and track your activity. Different activities account for different donations. For example, bicycling earns 10 cents per mile, while walking or running can earn 25 cents per mile.

This holiday season will be here before you know it. While I like to promote philanthropy and charitable giving all year long, I understand that this is just a very popular time for giving. So, with that being said, utilize your holiday time with family and friends, but also make sure to give however you can.

Have a safe and happy holiday.

California Wildfires: How You Can Help

By Philip Burroughs

On November 1, 2017

In Philanthropy, Philip Burroughs

After a natural disaster, the main questions on everyone’s mind are:

What can I do to help?
Where do I send donations?
What needs to be donated?

The recent wildfires in California are no exception. People everywhere mobilized immediately to aid the fire-ravaged area. Sometimes, though, this can be more hindrance than help. For example, well-intentioned locals arrived in burned-out neighborhoods to assist with clean-up efforts. The ashes from the remains of homes and cars are toxic, however, and the local people were not trained to properly dispose of hazardous material, posing a risk to their own health.

Because the needs of survivors can change daily, and may differ from one area to the next, the best way to help after a natural disaster is to do a little research first. A quick search of news websites from the area, or of social media pages, will give you a good idea of the areas that need aid most. On Facebook, you can search Tubbs Fire, for example, and find multiple groups organizing aid for the area.

For Napa Valley, the greatest need is monetary donations. This is the most practical, as cash can be put to a variety of uses to help the region recover. Money can be sent via the Napa Valley Community Foundation’s website, which accepts credit cards, checks, and wire transfers.

Crowdfunding is another good way to donate. Check websites like GoFundMe and YouCaring, which have multiple fundraisers for the areas affected by the fires.

If you prefer a more traditional charity, you can donate to The United Way of the Wine Country, Salvation Army NorCal Wildfire Fund, or The Red Cross. The Red Cross is asking for both donations and volunteers.

Redwood Credit Union has set up funds to collect for relief efforts as well.

The Graton Day Labor Center, along with other advocacy groups, are helping to support undocumented or displaced workers who have lost their jobs and income due to the fires.

Finally, animal shelters and stores in the Bay Area need volunteers and monetary donations to help animals who have lost their homes or owners. The Napa, Sonoma, and Marin County Humane Societies are specifically asking for monetary aid, while The Napa County Animal Shelter and Adoption Center is asking for volunteers to show up at 8 a.m. to help clean and organize.

More info, including links, can be found at http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-help-california-fires-20171014-story.html.

Hurricane Harvey and Irma Relief

By Philip Burroughs

On September 26, 2017

In Philanthropy, Philip Burroughs

Hurricanes Harvey and Irma impacted different areas of the United States, but the needs of the people who live in these areas are similar. They have lost their homes, vehicles, clothes, and food. Some people are starting over with nothing but the clothes that they had on when they had to evacuate their homes. Fortunately, there are ways that you can help the victims of these hurricanes so that it’s easier for them to pick up the pieces and start the rebuilding process.

One of the best and easiest ways that you can help the victims of the hurricanes is to send money. You can send donations to the American Red Cross or other organizations that are collecting funds. When you search for organizations, make sure that they are accredited and that they offer a receipt of some kind so that you have a document of how much money you give and what the money will be used for by the organization.

A way to help that many people don’t think about after a disaster is to give blood. Hospitals are often stretched to their limits after a disaster because there are people with injuries who might need blood. The hospital might not be able to get blood supplies delivered to the building because of road conditions. However, if you donate blood through the American Red Cross, the organization has ways of making sure the supplies get to where they need to go in a timely manner.

Donate clothing, food or other items to groups that will send the supplies to the people who have been affected. Many churches and schools begin to collect supplies soon after storms pass through. There are usually a few collection times when you can donate if you aren’t able to get anything together right away. Volunteer your time to organize the donations that are received. You could also volunteer to watch children of the families who have been affected so that they can begin the cleanup process.

If your home is large enough, then consider letting someone stay in an extra room. If this isn’t an option, then prepare food to give to those who are in need. Another way that you can help from your home is to wash the clothes that people have left over from the storm. You could also wash the clothes of the people who are working, such as linemen, as they often don’t get a break from trying to get the power back on or from cutting trees.

Charity Highlight: Special Olympics

By Philip Burroughs

On August 22, 2017

In Philanthropy, Philip Burroughs

I’ve always been a major proponent of philanthropic and charitable endeavors, and have mentioned this multiple times on this site. Because I care so deeply about creating a hospitable environment for my community, as well as everyone around the world, I’ve decided to highlight a few charitable organizations and institutions that routinely help make the world a better place to live in. Today’s highlight is an organization that I am quite familiar with: the Special Olympics. While many people have heard of the Special Olympics, not many people know exactly how it works and what its goal is.

Founded in 1968, the very first Special Olympic games were held in Chicago at Soldier Field. Boasting 1,000 athletes with intellectual abilities from over 26 U.S. states and Canada and featuring 200 events, the Special Olympics officially became the largest sports organization for people with intellectual disabilities. And what had originally started as a small sporting event in a single football field has blossomed into a multinational event with millions of participants and volunteers.

Right now, you’re probably wondering how the Special Olympics works. You’ve also probably seen the Olympic Games before at least once, so you are familiar with the concept: the best athletes from several countries around the world compete against each other in a series of winner-take-all sporting events. These games are held seasonally (summer and winter) and are comprised of events such as running, swimming and volleyball (summer) and skiing, snowboarding and luge (winter). The Special Olympics differ in a few ways.

Firstly, the Special Olympics features a total of 35 different events, including sailing, gymnastics and snowshoeing. Unlike the Olympics Games, the Special Olympics features multiple regional events throughout the year, across the world. It also holds summer and winter World Games, which see the world’s best athletes with intellectual disabilities compete against each other, similar to the Olympic Games.

The organization is absolutely huge and is a great charity to donate to. The organization accepts donations of all sizes. And if you can not make a monetary donation, you can always volunteer your time, which is just as important. Why not spend some time and become a part of something much larger than yourself. Become a part of a worldwide mission of acceptance, athletics and togetherness and donate to the Special Olympics.

The World’s Most Philanthropic Individuals

By Philip Burroughs

On August 4, 2017

In Cancer Research, Philanthropy, Philip Burroughs

Philanthropy, as I’ve mentioned multiple times before on this website, is crucial. It is necessary that we come together whenever we can and help each other out. Without philanthropy, several organizations and charities couldn’t exist, and that would leave the world in a worse state than it already is. These generous people donate their time and money to give to a cause bigger than themselves, and that is an incredibly noble gesture. That being said, I figured I would round off a few of the world’s most charitable people.

Bill Gates

For anybody who knows Bill Gates and how much money he is worth, this may not come as much of a surprise. However, even for those of you who are already familiar with Bill Gates’ philanthropic endeavors, you may be surprised to know just how much he has actually given away. To date, Gates has given away $27 billion dollars. That’s an incredibly large amount of money. However, he is most famous for co-founding and running the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The foundation distributes grants to organizations and initiatives designed to make the world a better place.

Jon Huntsman Jr.

While he may not be a household name like Bill Gates, Jon Huntsman Jr. is just as philanthropic. As a survivor of both prostate and oral cancer, Huntsman Jr. has dedicated his life to donating to cancer research centers in the hunt for a cure. He has donated over $1 billion and has even joined Warren Buffett’s The Giving Pledge, and institution founded by Buffett that is comprised of the world’s wealthiest billionaires for the sole purpose of donating most of, or all, of their wealth.

Pierre Omidyar

Much like Hunstman Jr., Pierre Omidyar is not necessarily a well-known figure; however, eBay, the company he runs, is incredibly popular. Back in 1998, Omidyar and his wife founded the Omidyar Foundation which has donated millions to a variety of charitable causes and organizations, including human rights, energy and technology. What’s more, Omidyar has even sold 10% of his shares in eBay to several unknown charities. That comes to a whopping $270 million.

Some of the Most Unique Charities

By Philip Burroughs

On July 11, 2017

In Philanthropy, Philip Burroughs

As a deep believer in charitable contributions and philanthropy, I understand and respect the need to help others. I also thoroughly encourage others to go out and donate to their favorite charities. Whether your goal is to help the poor or to fund research for terminal illnesses, investing your time and resources into helping others is an honorable decision.

With that being said, I thought it would be interesting to take a look at some of the more interesting charities and nonprofit organizations out there. These charities all have unique characteristics or go about helping others in unconventional ways, and yet, they are all equally important.

Give Back Yoga Foundation

Do you enjoy practicing yoga? If you do, then you already know of its amazing health benefits; if you don’t, then why not join the 20 million US adults who practice the exercise? Yoga does a world of good for the body; it can improve breathing, reduce weight, boost your circulatory health and even alleviate stress. This is why the Give Back Yoga Foundation exists. The foundation sends trained yoga instructors to several underprivileged areas and offers classes in order to give back to the community. The nonprofit sends instructors to prisons, hospitals and even addiction recovery centers in the hopes of offering balance of mind and body to those who desperately need it.

Cary Creative Center

Americans generate roughly 230 million tons of garbage and solid waste, and less than a quarter of it is recycled. The rest of it ends up in a landfill. That’s a lot of waste that just sits idly by. The Cary Creative Center is looking to solve that issue in an artistic way. The nonprofit sets up classes to teach everyday North Carolina citizens how to recycle their trash in creative ways. Essentially, you can take your would-be garbage and turn it into a beautiful artistic masterpiece that can be fashionable and functional.

Community Voice Mail

You’re probably asking yourself what in the world a “community voice mail” is, right? Don’t worry, when I first heard the term, I was just s confused, But after learning about the program, I couldn’t be happier to include it in this list. Essentially, the Community Voice Mail program offers a phone number and voicemail inbox to the homeless. Why would the homeless need a voicemail? That’s another fantastic question that has a logical answer. Consider this: if you’ve ever been job hunting, you understand the importance of being accessible at all times. You also understand that you will more than likely miss a phone call or two from a potential employer. That is the beauty of voicemail: the employer can leave a message after the tone. Unfortunately, the homeless do not have this luxury. And if someone who is homeless is looking to land a job to get himself back on his feet, he will need a method of communication. That is where the Community Voice Mail program comes in. Through the program, any homeless person can provide the phone number to potential employers and receive and check on their messages from any phone. This is an incredibly unique organization that does a world of good.