Donate-Charity

2010-04-27T07:00:00.000-07:00

SOS Children in Thailand

The Kingdom of Thailand, formerly known as Siam, lies in the heart of South-East Asia. It is a country in transition, moving from an agricultural to an industrial-based economy. However, due to the uneven distribution of wealth, environmental degradation and the effects of urbanisation, large disparities in socio-economic welfare remain. Much of the population, particularly in the countryside, lives in extreme poverty.Over 6 million people live in the capital Bangkok, the most densely populated area in the country. Many are migrants from rural areas, living in appalling conditions in the city's teeming slums. HIV/AIDS is a serious issue because of the large-scale sex industry, which flourishes in the city. UNICEF estimates that around 290,000 children have been orphaned by the HIV epidemic, and a further 2,000 are born with the disease each year. In total, UNICEF puts the number of vulnerable children in Thailand at more than 1 million, including orphans, street children and children with disabilities.SOS Children’s Villages began its work in the country in 1972. SOS Children provide orphaned and abandoned children in Thailand with a new mother, a family and a home where they can stay until they are ready for independent life. The charity currently cares for more than 450 children at its five purpose-built Children's Villages in the country. A further 55 youths are supported in three youth houses, where young adults live while they prepare for independence. SOS Children also run nursery schools in Thailand which together serve 330 children from SOS Villages as well as the local community.The SOS Children's Village Bangpoo (Bangkok) was the first to be built in the country in 1972. The Village is located in Thailand’s capital city which is the largest city in the country. It has 12 family houses (each house can home 10 children) and a nursery school. The older children attend the local primary and secondary schools which are located directly opposite the SOS Children's Village. There is a youth home only 12km from the Village with facilities for 20 young people. The home is close to the city centre, an ideal location as the young adults can easily attend the colleges and vocational schools nearby. The youths are also given a monthly budget for running the house, helping them to learn how to control finances and live with a limited income. A youth home is a step towards independent living for youngsters, helping them towards becoming self-reliant. In 2002, an SOS Vocational Training Centre for mothers and staff was opened at Bangpoo, providing workshops to enable them to share their experiences and training to help improve their skills.
In 1990, the charity built a community in Hatyai, near to the Malaysian border. Hatyai is the main city in the south and a large commercial centre. The SOS Village is built on the site of a former rubber plantation approximately 20km outside the city on the main road to Malaysia. It has 12 family houses and a large nursery. In 1993, an SOS Youth Centre was opened. Children usually move out of the Village and into a youth centre when they start a vocational training course or go on to higher education. With the support of qualified youth workers, the young people develop realistic perspectives for their future, learn to shoulder responsibility and increasingly make their own decisions. They are encouraged to develop team spirit and build up contacts with relatives and friends, as well as with the relevant authorities and potential employers.
The third SOS Village is in the provincial capital of Nongkhai on the river Mekong on the northern border with Laos, a mainly agricultural area. The Village, which opened in 1994, has 11 family houses built in the traditional local style and is situated close to the city's modern government district. The Village has a nursery with 3 group rooms and a library, providing day care for 70 children. The staff organise educational visits for the children to local museums as well as community events such as festival celebrations. The charity has built a youth home for females on the Village site and two houses for male youths in downtown Nongkhai. Youth homes provide the older children with the support and training to gradually make the transition to independence.
In December 2006 a fourth SOS village was opened in Chiang Rai, one of Thailand’s poorest provinces close to the northern borders with Myanmar (Burma) and Laos. A hospital, a market, schools, a college and a university are all within a radius of approximately 12km from the Village. The community has 14 family houses and a nursery school with the capacity to provide day care for 100 children. For poor families, and especially for single mothers, this service enables them to go out to work and provide for their children, helping families to stay together.
On the morning of 26 December 2004, a tsunami struck coastal areas around the Indian Ocean. The sea surge was caused by an earthquake off the coast of Banda Aceh, Indonesia. It left more than 280,000 people dead. From the first day on, SOS Children's Villages ran emergency relief programmes. At the beginning the focus was on providing medical care, food and shelter to the victims. The next step was trying to locate surviving relatives of children and determining whether they were able to take care of the children. It was decided to build a new SOS Children's Village for children who had lost all their relatives. Therefore, the fifth SOS Village in Thailand was opened in Phuket in 2008. The community was established to help children in the southern region, particularly children who had lost their families in the Tsunami disaster. The goal is to create a protective environment for affected children where they can grow up with their mental, emotional and physical health safeguarded. The Village is approximately 6km from the town centre and 5km from the beach. It has 12 family houses with the capacity to provide a home to 120 children. The Village has a community centre, which offers medical treatment for the community. There is also a nursery school for up to 75 children. The building includes a multi-purpose hall that can be used by the nursery and for functions involving the whole community. The nursery is open to children from the SOS Children's Village and from the neighbourhood, enabling the children to integrate with the wider community surrounding the Village.
Amena Smiles Again

Amena lived happily with her husband and three children till the killer waves of the Tsunami destroyed her house completely. The Tsunami changed Amena's life - the once happy family was left with nothing. However, with Amena's own efforts and the support given by SOS Children's Villages Thailand, today Amena is resettled. Amena lives with her husband and three children in Ban Kluay Nok, Ranong province, in Thailand. The Muslim village is on the bank of a small canal with a mangrove forest near the mouth of the Andaman Sea. The giant Tsunami waves completely destroyed Amena's house, but fortunately her family survived.Since the village lies deep in the forest, it was very difficult for the rescue units and emergency relief units to enter the community. Amena and her family were struck in the mangrove forest and lived without food and shelter for a week. Finally, emergency relief units came to the area and the family were relocated in a temporary shelter."After losing everything - my house, boats and fishing nets, I felt like giving up my life. But every time I looked in my children's eyes I got encouragement to move ahead in life," Amena says. The family needed support to survive and rebuild their lives. SOS Children's Villages Thailand donated boats and fishing tools to help them to begin their livelihood. Amena also began to work as a casual labourer. She saved some money and opened a small grocery shop opposite her new permanent house donated by SOS Children. Finally, there is a smile on Amena's face. Every evening her children stand outside their new house and wait for their father to return home. They know that they will see their father with his new fishing tools coming back home to have dinner.

Local contacts
SOS Children Thailand18 Moo 3, Soi BoonsiriSukumvit Road10270 Samutprakarn / ThailandTel +66/2/380 46 82Fax +66/2/756 20 29email: sosthai@bkk4.loxinfo.co.th

2010-01-21T23:19:00.000-08:00

Despite Bottlenecks, Red Cross Aid Getting to Haiti Survivors

Thursday, January 21, 2010 — More than a week after a catastrophic earthquake shattered the Port-au-Prince region and surrounding areas in Haiti, the Red Cross, with the help of the generosity of the American public, is delivering relief—through first aid posts, hospitals, relief distribution sites, water trucking programs and family linking stations—and helping to make life better for those affected.

Logistical challenges are still making it difficult to get aid into Port-au-Prince. Airports are crowded, roads are heavily congested and travel by road from the Dominican Republic has increased to an 18-hour journey.

Despite all the bottlenecks, supplies are slowly getting through. The Red Cross has now been able to reach survivors outside the capital city, providing first aid in camps and prioritizing the need for food, water and other basic supplies. Teams are focused on purifying the water supply available in the country and expect to deliver clean drinking water to 200,000 people each day by truck.

There are more than 400 Red Cross workers from around the world in Haiti, as well as thousands of local volunteers. Responders from seven countries are treating injuries and performing surgery at hospitals and medical centers throughout Port-au-Prince.

In just the first week of the relief operation in Haiti, the American Red Cross has committed and spent funds in three basic areas: food and water; relief supplies; and logistical and support services. So far, more than 100 tons of Red Cross aid has arrived in Haiti, and planes and trucks carrying additional assistance are arriving in the region every day.

Half of the funds are being used to bring food and water to earthquake survivors. The American Red Cross is providing more 3 million pre-packaged meals, more than 1 million water purification packets and thousands of jerry cans so people can collect and transport clean drinking water.

Thirty percent is for purchasing and distributing relief supplies, which includes items such as blanket, tarps, soap, hygiene supplies, kitchen sets and first aid supplies.

The remaining 20 percent of funds is to provide logistical support and other items needed to keep the relief effort running. This includes the purchase of vehicles to deliver relief supplies, warehouse space, gasoline, transportation costs and the deployment of relief specialists.
As the aid pipeline to Haiti improves, the American Red Cross will provide large tents for an initial 14,500 people and is working around the clock to find and send more.

In addition, nearly 70 Creole-speaking Red Cross volunteers left Miami today and will join the USNS Comfort on Friday to translate for patients receiving medical care from the U.S. military.
American Red Cross President and CEO Gail McGovern traveled to Haiti on Tuesday to visit relief operations and help coordinate the distribution of aid. She witnessed firsthand the enormous devastation and the difficult of getting aid into the country. Yet even with these enormous challenges, McGovern said, the Red Cross is truly making a difference.

“I saw American Red Cross staff, armed with first aid kits, going out to treat people. They have a truck and a door that they were using as a stretcher, and they were taking injured to a field hospital run by another country’s Red Cross. And every time a Red Cross truck would go through the streets, the people would clear the way to let it pass.”

Seeing the resilient spirit of the Haitian people as well as the tireless efforts of Red Cross teams from around the world left a strong impression on the American Red Cross president.
“I feel like I left a piece of my heart in Haiti, “ McGovern said. “Know that the Red Cross is going to do whatever we can to help the people of Haiti, both in the short term but also as part of what we know will be a vast and long-term recovery for this nation and its people.”

You can help the victims of countless crises, like the recent earthquake in Haiti, around the world each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster, please do so at the time of your donation by mailing your donation with the designation to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013 or to your local American Red Cross chapter. Donations to the International Response Fund can be made by phone at 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) or online at http://www.redcross.org/.

About the American Red Cross:The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit http://www.redcross.org/ or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org/

2009-12-02T04:00:00.000-08:00

Seattle Goodwill

Organization Number: 91-0568708
Organization Name: Seattle Goodwill
Address: 1400 S. Lane Street
Address:
City: Seattle
State / Province: WA
Zip / Post Code: 98144
Country: United States
Phone: 1-877-448-3446 Ext:
Fax: 1
Organization Email: goodwill@seattlegoodwill.org
Website Address: http://www.seattlegoodwill.org

Detailed Description: Seattle Goodwill is a private, non-profit organization that has been serving our Puget Sound communities since 1923. Our comprehensive Job Training and Education programs help individuals experiencing significant barriers to economic opportunity to realize their education and employment goals.

A significant portion of the operating funds for our programs comes from sales made in our thrift stores. Merchandise for our stores comes from generous donations of used and new items from the public. These donations are critical to our mission. By donating and shopping at one of our stores, our supporters are also participating in one of the largest recycling operations in our region. These efforts result in conservation of resources and an improved environment.

Goodwill is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to help low income and disadvantaged individuals in our community prepare for and secure jobs so they may achieve economic self-sufficiency for themselves and their families.

The people we help face poverty, lack of education and job skills, limited English proficiency and other life issues, often in combination, which have kept them from finding or keeping employment.

At Goodwill, each client works with a workforce development professional to create a career plan designed to enhance professional growth.

Seattle Goodwill is affiliated with Goodwill Industries International, headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland. Although we are a Goodwill Industries International member, each member Goodwill is independent and autonomous.

Goodwill Industries International provides us with support and information to help us provide the best services and programs possible. There are 208 independent Goodwill member organizations throughout North America and around the world.

Each of these organizations has similar programs and mission statements, but operates autonomously of other Goodwill organizations. The other three member Goodwill organizations in Washington State are Tacoma Goodwill Industries, headquartered in Tacoma, Goodwill Industries of the Inland Northwest, headquartered in Spokane, and Goodwill Industries of the Columbia, headquartered in Kennewick. For information about Goodwill organizations outside of Washington State, please call Goodwill Industries International at 1-800-664-6577 or visit their website at www.goodwill.org.

2009-10-18T08:00:00.000-07:00

Keep A Breast - October 2006 Fundraiser
OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

SPECIAL FUNDRAISING EVENT
Keep A Breast Kings & Queens officially opens on October 7th at the Receiver Gallery in the Mission District, San Francisco. The exhibition will be open to the public through October 29th. This exhibition fuses skateboarding’s past and present, uniting the most influential men and women in the industry to raise awareness for breast cancer.

The one-of-a-kind art show features breast casts of Pink, Elissa Steamer, Rosa Gonzalez, Amy Gunther and more, decorated by leading athletes and artists such as Mark Gonzales, Robert Williams, Ed Templeton and Wes Humpston.

'Keep A Breast' and 'Roxy' have teamed up in an exclusive campaign to increase breast cancer awareness.

Roxy team riders Lisa Anderson, Megan Abubo, Kassia Meador, Candice O'Donnell and Marloes van Elswijk star in a series of one-minute Public Service Announcements that promote methods of coping, prevention and detection.

We will premier one every week at http://keep-a-breast.org/, please stay tuned.

All casts will be auctioned online at keep-a-breast.org and proceeds benefit Keep A Breast’s youth education.

“Keep A Breast is excited to bring to you this one-time event completely comprised of people dedicated to skateboarding and making a difference through their creative talent,” says Shaney Jo Darden, executive director of The Keep A Breast Foundation. All casts are customized into artistic symbols that will raise awareness of cancer and benefit Keep A Breast’s youth education and awareness programs.

The Keep A Breast Foundation is a unique non-profit organization creating plaster forms of the female torso, customized by fine artists and auctioned to raise funding for breast cancer. Our mission is to produce art events that increase breast cancer awareness among young people and benefit breast cancer education, prevention and treatment programs in communities around the world.

Keep A Breast Foundation
824 Vista Way
Oceanside , CA 92054
email: info@keep-a-breast.org
web: http://keep-a-breast.org/

2009-07-19T03:17:00.000-07:00

Join UNICEF in the world of social media

UNICEF has been helping the world’s children for over 60 years but is still firmly focused on the future – and that means keeping pace with the latest ‘social media’ trends.

Did you know that UNICEF is on YouTube, Facebook, MySpace and Twitter and would like to see you there, too?

These easy-to-use platforms allow people and organizations to connect online. In UNICEF’s case, this interaction serves an important cause: ensuring health, education, equality and protection for the world’s children. Here are some ways for you to take part.

Subscribe to UNICEF on YouTube
Join thousands of YouTube subscribers in advancing UNICEF’s life-saving efforts through the power of video. Stay up to date with the latest UNICEF news from around the world. Subscribe…

Become a ‘fan’ of UNICEF on Facebook
This popular social-media tool allows UNICEF to bring informative content – including video, audio and photos – to thousands of Facebook ‘fans’. Engage with other fans and start your own discussions. Become a fan…

Become a ‘friend’ of UNICEF on MySpace
A pioneer in social media, MySpace enables UNICEF to reach out to thousands of ‘friends’ with rich multimedia content. Share it all with your own MySpace community. Become a friend…

Follow UNICEF on Twitter
Twitter’s social-messaging utility, available via your computer or mobile device, lets you stay connected with UNICEF’s worldwide efforts in real time. Follow UNICEF…

2009-04-24T10:58:00.000-07:00

Film documents efforts to push polio ‘The Final Inch’ towards eradication

Enormous strides have been made in consigning polio to history, but the effects of climate change could bring it roaring back. That alarming prospect was one of several topics covered in the panel discussion at a special New York screening of ‘The Final Inch’, an Academy Award-nominated film about polio in India.

Made by Vermillion Films and Google.org, and directed by Irene Taylor-Brodsky, ‘The Final Inch” documents efforts to stamp out polio in the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar – which are among the few remaining areas where the paralyzing and often fatal childhood disease remains endemic. The documentary was produced with assistance from UNICEF India.

Watch the video on the ‘The Final Inch’ screening.
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Learn more about this documentary short on polio in India.

World Health Day 2009
This year on World Health Day, 7 April – an annual observance marking the founding of the World Health Organization – WHO, UNICEF and their partners drew attention to the state of health facilities in emergencies. Children and families in the Gaza Strip, for one example, continue to suffer ill effects in the wake of the conflict that ended there in January. The level of humanitarian aid allowed into the territory remains below what is urgently required to meet the health needs of children and families.

More...

International Day for Mine Awareness
On 4 April, the third annual International Day for Mine Awareness was observed worldwide. The world’s first humanitarian mine-action programme began in Afghanistan two decades ago, but the country remains dangerously contaminated. In the first half of 2008 alone, 445 mine incidents were reported. Tragically, many involve children, who mistake the deadly hardware for toys or valuable scrap metal. But with the help of UNICEF-supported interventions, those numbers are dropping.

More...

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UNITE FOR CHILDREN

Executive Director Ann M. Veneman and Google.org ‘Chief Philanthropy Evangelist’ Dr. Larry Brilliant at a special screening of ‘The Final Inch’.

VIDEO: UNICEF correspondent Chris Niles reports on the screening of the documentary on polio in India .

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(Real Player)

Gazans still recovering from ill effects of conflict

Clearing the legacies of war from Afghanistan's soil

Subscribe to the UNICEF Newsletter

UNICEF now offers two RSS feeds: UNICEF News, with the latest stories from our homepage; and UNICEF Photo Essays, featuring images from around the world. Find out more.

2009-02-08T02:39:00.000-08:00

UNICEF launches flagship report on maternal and newborn health

Having a child remains one of the biggest health risks for women worldwide. Fifteen hundred women die every day while giving birth. That's a half a million mothers a year.

UNICEF's newly released flagship report, 'The State of the World's Children 2009', addresses the seemingly intractable problem of maternal mortality.

The report highlights the difference in pregnancy risk between women in developing countries and their peers in industrialized nations - a gap often termed the greatest health divide in the world. That gap also applies to newborn health: A child born in a developing country is almost 14 times more likely to die during the first month of life than a child born in a developed one.

"Saving the lives of mothers and their newborns requires more than just medical intervention," said UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman, who launched the report in South Africa. "Educating girls is pivotal to improving maternal and neonatal health, and also benefits families and societies."

Watch the launch video. high | low

Learn more about maternal and newborn health.

'Childinfo' website monitors the situation of children and women

UNICEF has also launched a new Childinfo website, which presents the latest statistical information on children and women - including data from 'The State of the World's Children 2009'.

Starting in March, the site will provide access to 'Childinfo News', a web-based newsletter with regular alerts on:

New data available from 'Childinfo', as well as recent and upcoming publications
UNICEF's leadership role in monitoring the situation of children and women, particularly in relation to the Millennium Development Goals
Results of UNICEF's data analysis and methodological work
And progress made towards implementing the fourth round of UNICEF-supported Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys programme, also known as MICS4.

Want to be the first to know? Sign up today to receive 'Childinfo News'.

More...

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2008-12-05T02:59:00.000-08:00

Sharing Your Bounty: Providing Holiday Meals to the Less Fortunate

Of all the festivities associated with the winter holidays, the one thing many people look forward to most is the big holiday meal. Whether it’s turkey on Thanksgiving, a Christmas ham, or a pot roast at a Hanukah dinner, food is indelibly intertwined with our holiday celebrations.

Generous donors, thankful for the opportunity to feast with family and friends, are also moved this time of year to help provide holiday meals to the less fortunate. While there are many efficient, well-run charities that offer holiday meals to those in need, there are also some who spend their money inefficiently, often spending a large portion of your donation on fundraising.

This holiday season Charity Navigator urges you to be careful before you donate to a charity promising to provide holiday meals. Often, charities that advertise in the newspaper, send solicitations in the mail, or put up billboards advertising their holiday meal programs are spending a good portion of your donation to pay for those advertisements.

In order to provide a holiday meal for those in need we advise that you:

Research any advertisement you see. If you receive a solicitation in the mail, or see an advertisement in the local newspaper, from a charity promising to provide holiday meals, check up on how it spends its money by seeing if it’s one of the over 5,000 charities we rate.
Use our search features to find a well-run charity near you. By using our advanced search feature you can search for charities within your state, city, or within a set radius from your zip code. You can also combine your search with a key word such as “homeless,” “meals,” or “food.” Within the results of your search click on “Re-sort by: Overall Rating” to see these charities listed from highest to lowest rated (most to least efficient). Once you’ve developed a list of efficient charities that offer food for the less fortunate, contact them directly, using the information provided on their ratings page, for more information about their programs. Should you choose to give cash, you can make an online contribution by clicking on the Donate Now button featured on the charity's Charity Navigator ratings page.

Consider volunteering your time all year long. While the desire to provide meals for the less fortunate may seem strongest during the holidays as we enjoy feasts of our own, the need is the same throughout the year. Make a New Year’s resolution to donate your time serving meals on a weekly basis or schedule and organize food drives at various times throughout the year.

2008-09-14T06:27:00.000-07:00

Caribbean storms displace hundreds of thousands of children and their families

Hurricane Ike has made its unwelcome presence felt in the Caribbean this week, leaving a path of destruction across many smaller islands before slamming into eastern Cuba, which had already borne the brunt of Hurricanes Gustav and Hanna.
Meanwhile in Haiti, an estimated 800,000 people, including 300,000 children, are struggling to recover from massive flooding caused by the back-to-back storm systems. The government has officially requested international assistance. Large quantities of humanitarian supplies were pre-positioned prior to hurricane season in the Caribbean, but the number of storms that have developed this year was unexpected.
Watch the video. high low
Learn more about the storms battering the Caribbean
Jude Law and Jeremy Gilley visit Afghanistan to promote peaceBritish actor and Peace One Day envoy Jude Law recently travelled to Afghanistan with film director Jeremy Gilley, the founder of the Peace One Day global campaign for ceasefires and non-violence. During their two-day mission, they screened a new documentary, ÂThe Day After PeaceÂ, about the efforts of ordinary Afghans to stop the fighting in their country.
Mr. Law and Mr. Gilley asked all parties involved in the conflict to observe International Peace Day again this year. It is scheduled to take place on 21 September. More...
Women and children worst-affected by flooding in Bihar, India
Flooding along the Kosi River has affected almost 2.7 million people in India and about 70,000 in Nepal. The displaced population is largely marginalized, each of them surviving on about 46 cents a day. An estimated 500,000 marooned individuals have been evacuated and 198 relief camps providing food, water and medical supplies have been set up.
UNICEF has supplied bleaching powder to purify water and oral rehydration salts to treat diarrhoeal dehydration Â as well as disposable delivery kits, plastic sheeting, vitamin A supplements and other relief supplies. More...
UNICEFUNITE FOR CHILDREN
Â© UNICEF/2008
Haitian children temporarily relocated in a school in Port-au-PrinceÂs Tabarre district during Hurricane Gustav.
VIDEO: UNICEF Director of Emergency Programmes Louis-Georges Arsenault discusses preparing for and responding to natural disasters in the Caribbean.
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Related links
Storms batter the Caribbean, displacing thousands
Jude Law and Jeremy Gilley visit Afghanistan to promote peace
Women and children affected by flooding in Bihar
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2008-08-02T10:26:00.000-07:00

UNICEF Executive Director tours programmes in Madagascar

On the first-ever visit by a UNICEF Executive Director to Madagascar, Ann M. Veneman this week accompanied senior government officials to regions recovering from Cyclone Ivan, which struck the island nation in February.
Watch the video. high low

The three-day visit allowed Veneman an opportunity to see UNICEFÂs reconstruction work as well as ongoing programmes in a country that has made strides in decreasing child mortality. In a meeting with President H.E. Marc Ravalomanana, she discussed the countryÂs objectives in improving access to safe water and sanitation.

Veneman also delivered an appeal to families to register their children at birth and launched a tetanus campaign along with the Minister of Health, Dr. Ralainirina Paul Richard. Madagascar is one of nine countries in Eastern and Southern Africa that have not yet eliminated maternal and neonatal tetanus.
Learn more about Ann M. VenemanÂs trip.

New figures show drop in AIDS deathsUNICEF Chief of HIV/AIDS programmes Jimmy Kolker greeted as ÂencouragingÂ recent figures from UNAIDS. The Â2008 Report on the global AIDS epidemicÂ reveals that fewer people are dying of AIDS than in previous years and fewer are becoming infected. Kolker said the report shows that new treatments and prevention messages are working, but noted that Âthere are still huge challenges for preventing new infections,Â especially among young people. More...

CNN highlights UNICEF and child survival UNICEFÂs worldwide programmes were featured in a historic global broadcast on CNN and CNN International on 6 July. ÂThe Survival Project: One Child at a TimeÂ, hosted by CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta, reported on work being done by UNICEF and its partners to protect and support children in countries such as Laos, Iraq, Ethiopia and Peru. The broadcast featured UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors Lucy Liu and Clay Aiken, among other celebrity advocates of child survival. More...

UNICEF

2008-07-05T05:08:00.000-07:00

Jackie Chan beings a message of peace to youth in Timor-Leste

On a recent visit with the young people of Timor-Leste, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Jackie Chan encouraged them to use martial arts as a peaceful, unifying force.

Timor-Leste, which received its independence six years ago, is one of the poorest nations in East Asia and the Pacific. In recent years, the country has descended into violence. With it, martial arts, once a popular activity for Timorese youths interested in sports and fitness, have also suffered a setback, with more and more young people applying their skills to acts of crime and violence.

Mr. Chan reminded some 3,500 young people gathered at the national stadium that Âit does not matter what school of martial arts we are from as long as we are united. Training for martial arts helps you to strengthen your eyes, your mind and your body. When you have a good body and mind, let's help people. Don't harm them.Â

The Government of Timor-Leste recognizes that strong youth-focused policies, as well as better education and employment opportunities, are critical to the countryÂs future. UNICEF is working with the government to protect and promote the rights of young people.

Learn more about Jackie ChanÂs visit.

Helping earthquake-affected children in China

Classes have resumed for thousands of students displaced by the massive May earthquake in Sichuan, many of whom are studying in temporary schools or out in the open. Heavy rains and soaring summer temperatures are hindering recovery, and aftershocks remain a constant threat in the region. UNICEF remains committed to providing psychological support for survivors and the displaced. MoreÂ

Rebuilding lives in cyclone-ravaged Myanmar

In Myanmar, UNICEF has completed hundreds of missions to cyclone-affected townships in the Yangon district. Activities include health screening for children under five and installing water treatment plants. UNICEF has set up child-friendly spaces throughout the area ravaged by the cyclone. Deliveries of school tents and other supplies have been challenged by strong winds. More...

UNICEF
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2008-06-29T01:20:00.000-07:00

LIVESTRONG.COM Launches [Lance Armstrong Foundation]
by Lance Armstrong

On behalf of everyone involved, I’m pleased to announce the launch of LIVESTRONG.COM, an ambitious web site project that aspires to be THE destination on the internet to inspire and inform people about leading a healthy, fit lifestyle. We’ve assembled a strong partnership of the Lance Armstrong Foundation and Demand Media, Inc., one of the leading social media companies in the world, as well as an incredible team of world-renowned experts in their respective health fields.

LIVESTRONG.COM is not just another web site packed with health information and expert advice. In my opinion, there is plenty of information already out there and furthermore, sitting at your desk surfing the web is not the key to a healthy, active life. LIVESTRONG.COM aspires to be a totally interactive community, where you can connect with people of similar interests and health concerns and obtain easy to find, specific advice from respected experts. We’ve made a strong effort to have the tone of the site be upbeat and motivating, rather than dry and academic. Consider this distressing news from a recent survey fielded by Harris Interactive: 86% of Americans attempt healthy lifestyle changes but only 46% are successful. I don’t think this failure rate is due to lack of knowledge, but instead with a flawed approach. As an athlete, I know it’s easy to set goals – whether it’s winning the Tour de France, lowering my marathon time or trying to eat a little healthier. The hard part is follow-through: staying focused and motivated over the long term. We envision you using LIVESTRONG.COM to get motivated, focused and then take real-life, decisive action to achieve your goals.

Breaking bad habits or implementing new ones takes tremendous focus – you have to refrain from your vices or repeat your good behavior every single day for at least a month for changes to truly take hold. Just as with my goal of winning the Tour de France, achieving great things is nearly impossible to do alone. Winning the Tour was not as simple as me pedaling faster than the guys in the other color jerseys; it was a massive logistical, analytical, emotional and physical operation requiring the support of teammates, team employees, coaches, trainers, mentors and loved ones to remain on the path to success.

Similarly, you will achieve best results with your goals and lifestyle changes when you have an effective support system in place. I’ll never forget the massive frustration Bart Knaggs and I experienced in trying to find reliable information, treatment options and research about testicular cancer on the internet when I was first diagnosed. Well, the internet has come a long way since then and you will not believe the incredible amount of interactive tools and resources available at LIVESTRONG.COM.

For our opening launch, we have 15,000 professional articles and videos, over 350,000 nutritional food profiles and 50,000 health and fitness-related questions and answers. I will be contributing regularly to the site, sharing what’s going on in my world and some of the lessons I’ve learned about peak performance and positive attitude, encouraging others to find their inspiration and pursue their own goals. Welcome to LIVESTRONG.COM - I invite you all to enjoy our engaging, healthy community.

2008-05-24T07:55:00.000-07:00

Red Cross Comes to the Aid of Earthquake Survivors in China

The American Red Cross prepared to provide assistance
By Maya Pai, Communications Associate

Wednesday, May 14, 2008 — “So far they have only been able to release 20 or 30 survivors,” says Francis Markus of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, when somberly describing a high school in Beichuan, China. The school housed approximately 1,700 students and teachers, many of whom were in class when the 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck, reducing the building to rubble. The first medical responder to enter Beichuan County was a medical team from the Chinese Red Cross.

Residents look for signs of survivor among the rubble of a collapsed building at the township of Hanwang in Mianzhu city, northeast of Chengdu, in Sichuan province. (Credit: REUTERS/Bobby Yip)
The Red Cross Society of China mobilized immediately after the earthquake, sending employees and volunteers to help those in the affected areas by providing relief supplies such as tents, quilts, water and food. Hundreds of volunteers have been coming in from Chengdu, the provincial capital, to help with rescue and first aid. Others are providing relief supplies such as tents, quilts, water and food. Red Cross relief workers are also providing shelter to thousands of people left homeless.

According to Markus, many of the roads are still blocked and relief distribution networks are just being established. As the full scope of this disaster comes to light, the American Red Cross is ready to support the Red Cross Society of China in its response efforts.

“Our hearts go out to those whose lives were lost and to families affected by this massive earthquake,” said David Meltzer, senior vice president, International Services of the American Red Cross. “We are prepared to help our fellow humanitarian organizations during this critical time.”

The American Red Cross has pre-positioned relief supplies— like tarps, insecticide-treated mosquito nets, and water jugs— in Kuala Lumpur, Dubai and elsewhere to be able to quickly assist survivors of international disasters. The American Red Cross will coordinate its response activities, which may include providing financial support, relief supplies and trained disaster experts— with the International Federation and Red Cross Society of China.

You can help those affected by countless crises around the world each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need. Call 1-800-RED CROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the International Response Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster please do so at the time of your donation.

2008-05-11T08:03:00.000-07:00

Red Cross and Red Crescent Response

Immediately following the storm, the Myanmar Red Cross began assessing the damage as well as caring for survivors' needs by distributing family kits, containing clothing, blankets, cookware and hygiene supplies, and drinking water to the schools and pagodas serving as emergency shelters.

The American Red Cross has contributed $250,000 to relief efforts and is prepared assist the Myanmar Red Cross with additional aid and supplies, estimated at $1.25 million.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has successfully shipped shelter kits, made up of tarps, ropes and hammers, and jerry cans for storing clean water to the Myanmar Red Cross, who is partnering with UNICEF to distribute to the hardest hit areas of the coastal delta region.

The American Red Cross and International Federation will continue to tap into their pre-stocked emergency supplies – such as tarps, hygiene kits and insecticide-treated bed nets – located in warehouses in Kuala Lumpur and Dubai as requested.

The American Red Cross is in close contact with its colleagues at the Myanmar Red Cross and the International Federation. We continue to monitor the situation, assess the needs of survivors and stand prepared to offer additional assistance as future needs are identified.

2008-05-02T22:40:00.000-07:00

UN progress report urges new
commitment to Millennium
Development Goals

NEW YORK, USA, 2 July 2007 – Despite progress made at the halfway point to the deadline for achieving the Millennium Development Goals, the global MDG targets will be achieved only if more concerted action is taken immediately and is sustained until 2015 and beyond.

Despite progress in lifting families and communities out of poverty around the world, a staggering 980 million people still live on less than $1 a day. And one region in particular, sub-Saharan Africa, is not currently on track to achieve any of the goals.
But large-scale advances towards the MDGs in some developing countries show that results for children and families are possible when the collective will is backed by collective action.

'Much remains to be done’
These are among the key findings of a major United Nations update released today in Geneva, ‘Millennium Development Goals Report 2007’.

The report tracks progress on all of the MDG targets set forth by world leaders at the Millennium Development Summit in September 2000. Thes goals include eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, achieving universal primary education and gender equality, reducing child and maternal mortality, combating HIV/AIDS and other diseases, ensuring environmental sustainability and developing a global partnership for development.

“The results presented in this report suggest that there have been some gains and that success is still possible in most parts of the world,” writes UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in the report’s foreword. “But they also point to how much remains to be done,” he adds.

Honouring aid commitments

Accelerating progress on the MDGs requires a combination of strong government leadership, good policies, practical strategies for scaling up public investments in vital areas and adequate financial and technical support from the international community, the report asserts.

While citing worldwide results on increased primary school enrolment and reduced child mortality – as well as slow but significant progress on poverty reduction and gender equality – the report notes that most developed countries have not honoured their commitments to provide “adequate financing within the global partnership for development.”

In particular, notes the Secretary-General, “the lack of any significant increase in Official Development Assistance since 2004 makes it impossible, even for well-governed countries, to meet the MDGs.” In fact, only five donor countries have reached or exceeded the UN target of allocating 0.7 per cent of their Gross National Income for aid to the developing world.

“There is a clear need for political leaders to take urgent and concerted action,” declares Mr. Ban

Children and women at the centre

Still, the MDG progress report stresses that achieving the goals is not just the responsibility of governments. Rather, it is the collective responsibility of every segment of society.

The strength of the MDGs lies in their interconnectedness and their ability to address root causes of poverty and inequality. Empowering women, for example, is not only one of the goals but also plays a critical role in achieving the other seven goals, the report states.

And the status of women also has a direct impact on the well-being of children, who are at the heart of the MDGs. Healthy, educated and empowered women have healthy, educated and confident children.

As ‘Millennium Development Goals Report 2007’ makes clear, only through investment in the future of communities and societies – that is, investment in children – can the cycle of poverty in the developing world be broken, once and for all.

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Environment Organization

2008-05-02T16:26:00.000-07:00

Organization Number: 95-3941826
Organization Name: Surfrider Foundation USA
Address: PO Box 6010
Address:
City: San Clemente
State / Province: CA
Zip / Post Code: 92674-6010
Country: United States
Phone: 1-949-492-8170 Ext:
Fax: 1-949-492-8142
Organization Email: info@surfrider.org
Website Address: http://www.surfrider.org

Detailed Description: The Surfrider Foundation is a grassroots based, non-profit environmental organization that works to protect the coast.

Founded in 1984, Surfrider now has 60 Surfrider chapters located along the East, West, Gulf, Puerto Rican, and Hawaiian coasts. The Surfrider National USA headquarters are in San Clemente, California. Surfrider has over 40,000 members in the U.S.; in addition, International Surfrider chapters and affiliates have been established in 4 foreign countries, Japan, Brazil, France and Australia.

Surfrider Principles

Represented by 40,000 members and 60 local chapters in the U.S., the Surfrider Foundation also has affiliations in Australia, Japan, France, and Brazil. The Surfrider Foundation has adopted the following principles to guide and govern the activities of the organization.

1. SURFRIDER recognizes the biodiversity and ecological integrity of the planet's coasts are necessary and irreplaceable. SUFRIDER is committed to preserving natural living and non-living diversity and ecological integrity of the coastal environment.

2. SURFRIDER promotes the right of to free and open low-impact access to the world's coastlines, waves and beaches. SURFRIDER acts to preserve this right of access.

3. SURFRIDER is dedicated to the protection, rehabilitation and restoration of native coastal ecosystems.

4. SURFRIDER believes environmental education is essential to the future health and well-being of the planet. SURFRIDER seeks to develop and utilize educational materials that are informative, factual, proactive, synergistic and fun.

5. SURFRIDER strives to be accurate and nonpartisan in its communications with its members and the general public. In-addition, SURFRIDER expresses the unique values inherent in wave-riding; individualism, camaraderie, non-materialism, and an appreciation for man's historic relations with the Ocean.

6. SURFRIDER is a grassroots organization effective through the participation of its members. SURFRIDER activities emphasize the value of an involved membership.

7. SURFRIDER encourages all commercial enterprises to adopt the CERES Principles. SURFRIDER will not permit sponsors to divert the Foundation from its mission or projects undertaken.

8. SURFRIDER does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender, or national origin for any reason. SURFRIDER promotes the healthy enjoyment of the coastal environment for all people.

9. SURFRIDER and its representatives, affiliations and chapters agree to abide by these principles and all rules and regulations governing nonprofit 501(c)3 organizations.

AIDS Housing

2008-05-02T14:44:00.000-07:00

Homeless & Crisis Assistance : AIDS Housing Coalition Houston
Next

Organization Number: 76-0416114
Organization Name: AIDS Housing Coalition Houston
Address: 502 W. 24th
Address: City: Houston
State / Province: TX
Zip / Post Code: 77008
Country: United States
Phone: 713 864-1795 Ext:
Fax: Organization Email: ahch@wt.net
Website Address: http://web.wt.net/~ahch

Detailed Description: AHCH operates various levels of housing for people with AIDS. We are the only same day entry shelter in Harris County, TX. We accept residents without prejudice and make appropriate referrals to help them overcome their barriers.

AHCH is about self-empowerment training; identifying barriers that are causing the person to be homeless and stress chemical harm reduction. We help people how ever we can and do not accept government contracts. AHCH does rely solely on public donations and private foundation grants.

From website
http://www.charity.com/