TUCSON AUDUBON SOCIETY

Tucson Audubon connects people to their natural environment. Focusing on birds and other wildlife, we inspire and motivate people to conserve natural resources in southern Arizona for use and enjoyment by all.

Founded in 1949, Tucson Audubon is southern Arizona's leading non-profit engaging people in the conservation of birds and their habitats. We involve people through recreational birding, extend their horizons through education programs, and engage them in conservation actions from planting trees and counting birds, to working with local, state, and national policy makers.

EQUALITY ARIZONA

Our Mission

To be the preeminent LGBTQ advocacy organization for the State of Arizona and to work collaboratively to establish a comprehensive network of individuals and organizations to secure, protect and defend the equal civil rights and welfare of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people in Arizona.

Our Vision

To make Arizona a state where LGBTQ persons are valued as full and equal members of society – whose sexual orientation, gender identity or expression are viewed with legal and moral neutrality, and sexual and gender diversity are seen as something to celebrate.

http://www.equalityarizona.org

WORLD VETS

World Vets develops, implements and manages international veterinary and disaster relief programs to help animals, educate people and have a positive impact on communities.  Improving animal welfare and alleviating suffering are high on our priority list but our work extends beyond that.  Our programs help to prevent the spread of diseases from animals to humans; our livestock programs help small farmers to pull themselves out of poverty, and our disaster relief efforts for animals directly impact people who might otherwise remain in dangerous situations if the needs of their animals are not addressed.

World Vets recognizes the importance of the One Health concept in which health of humans, animals and their ecosystems are inextricably linked.  Our programs help not only animals, but also people and the communities in which they live.

World Vets is able to improve the lives of thousands of animals each year by providing free veterinary care through our dedicated volunteer force of over 3,600 individuals combined with financial support and in-kind donations.

Our volunteers have a wide range of skill, expertise and experience. Our volunteer force is comprised of veterinarians, licensed and non licensed technicians, pre veterinary, veterinary and technician students, as well as those who are simply animal lovers.  All our volunteers are passionate about helping animals and the desire to make a difference.

The Field Museum

The Field Museum was incorporated in the State of Illinois on September 16, 1893 as the Columbian Museum of Chicago with its purpose the "accumulation and dissemination of knowledge, and the preservation and exhibition of objects illustrating art, archaeology, science and history." In 1905, the Museum's name was changed to Field Museum of Natural History to honor the Museum's first major benefactor, Marshall Field, and to better reflect its focus on the natural sciences. In 1921 the Museum moved from its original location in Jackson Park to its present site on Chicago Park District property near downtown where it is part of a lakefront Museum Campus that includes the John G. Shedd Aquarium and the Adler Planetarium. These three institutions are regarded as among the finest of their kind in the world and together attract more visits annually than any comparable site in Chicago.

Th Althea R. Sherman Project

Althea Rosina Sherman (1853-1943) was an illustrator, educator, ornithologist, and writer born in National, Iowa. After studying art and earning her Master’s degree from Oberlin College in 1882, she taught illustration for a number of years.

But in 1895 she returned home to National to care for her ailing parents. During this time Althea began a second, self-taught career in ornithology. She became a pioneer in the life studies of specific bird species and kept meticulously-detailed journals of her observations.

Sherman published more than 70 articles in the scientific and ornithological journals of the day. Her research on several species was used by Arthur Cleveland Bent in his Life Histories of North American Birds series. She was elected a “Member” of the American Ornithologists’ Union. In addition, she was selected for inclusion in Who’s Who of the Women of the World and American Men of Science.

Her background in art helped her create realistic illustrations of her subjects. Sherman’s paintings of the American Goldfinch inspired the Iowa Legislature to adopt it as the State bird.

In 1915, Sherman hired local carpenters to build a 28-foot-tall, 9-foot-square wooden tower, from her own designs, to attract and observe nesting Chimney Swifts. A staircase wound from bottom to top through three floors and enclosed a 2-foot-square artificial chimney.

Doors, windows, and peepholes into the chimney allowed Sherman to be the first person ever to witness and record the entire nesting cycle of these birds. Her Chimney Swift Journals, covering 18 years and more than 400 pages, form the cornerstone for all subsequent swift research. They may offer the most extensive study of this species in existence.

The original Chimney Swifts’ Tower drew hundreds of visitors from this country and abroad.

http://www.althearsherman.org

AUTISM SPEAKS

Autism Speaks was founded in February 2005 by Bob and Suzanne Wright, grandparents of a child with autism. Their longtime friend Bernie Marcus donated $25 million to help financially launch the organization. Since then, Autism Speaks has grown into the world's leading autism science and advocacy organization, dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. We are proud of what we've been able to accomplish and look forward to continued successes in the years ahead. The minimum donation online is $10, so I won't be blogging until February 24.

Northern Illinois Pug Rescue

This weekend we are babysitting Pugsley, our dear friends newly adopted rescue pug. In honor of his visit, I am donating to a worthy cause on his behalf.

Northern Illinois Pug Rescue and Adoption, Inc. (NIPRA) is a 501c3 non-profit organization that exists to assist the community in placing any needy Pug dog in a permanent, loving home. All adoption fees and donations go solely for the rescue, care, and placement of mistreated, unwanted or homeless Pugs.

NIPRA’s mission is…
To rescue, care for, and find suitable homes for unwanted, stray, or abandoned Pugs. To reduce pet overpopulation by increasing public awareness of the need to spay and neuter pets. To provide educational programs promoting the humane treatment of animals. This mission is accomplished through the dedication and energy of our board of directors and legion of faithful volunteers.

NIPRA accepts all stray and abandoned Pugs, regardless of age or health, which we care for until we find responsible new homes. Our ability to accept animals is limited to the space that we have available. We euthanize only in cases of irremediable health problems or other grave circumstances.

Greater Chicago Food Depository

We are Chicago’s food bank — a nonprofit food distribution and training center that provides food for hungry people while striving to end hunger in our community.

The Food Depository, founded in 1979, makes a daily impact across Cook County with a network of 650 pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, mobile programs, children’s programs, older adult programs and innovative responses that address the root causes of hunger. Last year, the Food Depository distributed 66 million pounds of shelf-stable food, fresh produce, dairy products and meat, the equivalent of 150,000 meals every day.

WALK MS

Welcome to Walk MS — connecting people living with MS and those who care about them. It is a day when we come together to show the power of our connections

LINCOLN PARK ZOO

Lincoln Park Zoo is open 365 days a year, and is FREE every day. Lincoln Park Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

Best Friends Animal Society

Nearly 30 years ago, when Best Friends helped pioneer the no-kill movement, more than 17 million homeless pets were dying each year in our nation's shelters, according to the Shelter Pet Project (consisting of Humane Society of the United States, Maddie's Fund, and the Ad Council.). Today, that number is around four million unnecessary deaths annually - that is tremendous progress, but Best Friends is committed to reducing that number to zero. By implementing targeted spay/neuter and TNR programs to reduce the number of animals who enter shelters, and by increasing the number of people who adopt pets, we know we can end the killing. We know we can Save Them All.

AMERICAN CONIFER SOCIETY

This year the American Conifer Society celebrates its twenty-fifth anniversary and we are looking back to honor those who made this celebration possible. When ACS was formed in 1983 the founders wrote that, The purposes of the American Conifer Society are the development, conservation, and propagation of conifers, with an emphasis on those that are dwarf or unusual, standardization of nomenclature, and education of the public.

Today I donated $10 to the ACS, so I will not be posting until February 17.  Happy President's Day!!!

Join the ACS:www.conifersociety.org

BIRDLIFE INTERNATIONAL: Spoonbill Sandpiper Fund

Conservation status Spoon-billed Sandpiper is listed as Critically Endangered because it has an extremely small population, estimated at just 120-200 pairs in 2009, which is in rapid decline. The main causes of its population decline are believed to be hunting on its non-breeding grounds and widespread habitat loss in its breeding and non-breeding range. In addition to this, the recruitment of young birds into the breeding population is very low, leading to fears that the population is ageing and could crash even more suddenly and dramatically.

GREYHOUNDS ONLY

The mission of Greyhounds Only is to place retired racing and at-risk greyhounds into responsible, loving homes, to educate the public about the greyhound breed, to provide access to high-quality medical care and to collaborate with others who share our common goals.

Greyhounds Only is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit greyhound rescue and adoption group based in Northeastern Illinois. We take in retired racing greyhounds from all over the country and find them good homes. We serve Chicago and the Chicagoland area, the Northeastern corner of Illinois, and the Southeastern corner of Wisconsin.

If you are new to the Greyhound breed, we encourage you to read these articles. If you think that a greyhound is right for you, then you can see all of our adoptable hounds and begin our adoption process by submitting an application. Questions about greyhounds or Greyhounds Only can be answered by emailing us at questions@greyhoundsonly.com, or you can call us at 847-421-9828 or 773-297-GREY(4739). In Southeastern Wisconsin, you can call us at 262-542-0331

- See more at: http://www.greyhoundsonly.com/#sthash.9dbJHelq.dpuf

Kohl Children's Museum

Our Mission

Kohl Children’s Museum of Greater Chicago provides engaging informal learning environments featuring interactive exhibits and programs that encourage young children ages birth to 8 to become effective learners through self-directed complex play.

Core Values

All Museum exhibits and programming are research-based to be challenging, educational, appealing and engaging to young children.
Parents, caregivers and teachers play a crucial role in guiding children toward activities that promote effective learning, while allowing them to direct their own learning experiences.

Complex play experiences involve a blend of physical, emotional, imaginative, cognitive, and social activities.
Trained staff using best practices in early childhood education enhance effective complex play experiences for children.
All Museum facilities, exhibits and programming are accessible by children in the same manner, regardless of differing levels of physical, auditory, visual, social-emotional, or cognitive ability.
All Museum facilities and programming model strong stewardship of the environment.
We embrace the opportunity for those with diverse backgrounds to interact and play together.
We create opportunities for those in the Chicago area whose geographical or economic circumstances preclude direct Museum visitation can still participate through interactive outreach programming.
Informal environments augment the more traditional, formal educational structure.
We create a setting that brings all generations of family together to share the early childhood learning experience with one another

WTTW Chicago Public Television

OUR MISSION

WTTW/WFMT is Chicago’s premier public media organization committed to creating and presenting unique content for television, radio, and digital media.

WE ARE:

...dedicated to bringing Chicago and the world together and invite our audiences to explore the knowledge and creative life of the arts, sciences, humanities, and public affairs.

...committed to diverse perspectives, accessibility, innovation, community engagement, and life-long learning – we embrace the power of public service to make lives richer and our region stronger.

...trusted by parents, grandparents, care-givers, and teachers and provide educational content that promotes the healthy development of our children.

...balanced in our objective, in-depth reporting and encourage our audiences to engage in dialogue and make informed decisions.

DUCKS UNLIMITED

Ducks Unlimited's conservation programs have always had a strong biological foundation. That science and research tradition continues today with hundreds of studies to address the habitat needs of waterfowl. Although a great deal of work has been done and many important questions answered, there is still much to learn about how the birds respond to landscape, habitat and environmental changes.

DU has embraced an approach of constant monitoring and evaluation which allows for continual refinement of its habitat programs. In the end, such an approach ensures that each and every dollar invested in conservation programs is used as effectively and efficiently as possible.

CHICAGO HOUSE

In 1985, a courageous group of community volunteers formed Chicago House, the first organization in the Midwest to provide housing for people with HIV and AIDS. In those early years of the epidemic, we rallied to support friends who had lost everything — their homes, jobs, even the support of their families. We volunteered our time and energy to restore dignity to the lives of these friends in their final days.

That spirit continues to drive our organization, from our board of trustees to every volunteer and donor. Together, we continuously evolve Chicago House to meet the changing nature of the disease, and the needs of those who suffer from it.

Today, HIV and AIDS increasingly impacts people who are dealing with homelessness, mental illness, substance abuse, and extreme poverty. Even before being diagnosed, many of these families and individuals have never had homes, never had jobs, never had a support network of friends or family. Medical advances give them a chance to live longer, healthier lives, and to improve those lives, but the process is not easy. Nothing about AIDS is easy.

Thanks to new medications and advances in treatment, the battle for life itself has eased. The battle for quality of life has not. Chicago House will help its clients win that battle. And through the compassion and contributions of people like you, we hope to guide the women, men, and children at Chicago House toward wholeness and self-sufficiency.

You can donate to Chicago House through Network for Good. The minimum donation online is $10, so I won't be blogging on February 9.

Howard Brown Health Center

Howard Brown Health Center exists to eliminate the disparities in health care experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people through research, education and the provision of services that promote health and wellness.

About Howard Brown Health Center

Howard Brown Health Center (HBHC) was founded in 1974 and is now one of the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQ) organizations. With an annual budget of over $22 million, the agency serves more than 18,000 adults and youth each year in its diverse health and social service delivery system focused around seven major programmatic divisions: primary medical care, behavioral health, research, HIV/STD prevention, youth services, elder services, and community initiatives. HBHC serve men and women, infants, youth, and children through a multi-site operation based in Chicago that includes a main health and research center in the Uptown neighborhood (Sheridan Road), Aris Health by Howard Brown Health Center, the Broadway Youth Center, and three Brown Elephant resale shops in Chicago (Lakeview and Andersonville neighborhoods) and Oak Park.

FENCES FOR FIDO

What is Fences For Fido?

We have a simple but life-changing mission:  Improving the lives of dogs living outdoors on the end of chains, tethers or in small kennels by building them a free fenced yard, insulated dog house, and spay/neuter.

Why is chaining dogs unsafe for a community and isolating for a dog?

Dogs are social animals. Their wild ancestors live in packs. When dogs live with humans, we are their pack. A dog on a chain is separated from his pack and forced to live a solitary life. This causes emotional distress and behavioral problems. The Centers for Disease Control and the American Veterinary Medical Association warn that chained dogs are about 8 times more likely to bite and have more behavior problems. It’s also difficult to provide good care to a chained dog, because chains catch on obstacles, which can be dangerous, and dogs can’t reach their food, water, or shelter. Also, chained dogs are very vulnerable to attacks by other dogs and wild animals, and can become pregnant if not spayed.

EQUALITY ILLINOIS

OUR MISSION
The mission of Equality Illinois is to secure, protect and defend equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Illinois.
OUR VISION
Equality Illinois envisions a fair and unified Illinois where everyone is treated equally with dignity and respect and where all people live freely regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.
OUR VALUES
Inclusiveness: Equality Illinois belongs to all those who believe in its vision and mission. Staff and volunteers will be accessible to and proactively engage others in EQIL’s statewide community as owners of the vision and mission.
Respect: Equality Illinois believes in the value of others — their opinions and their work. It is respect for others that builds collaborations and partnerships.
Fairness: Equality Illlinois believes that everyone should have the same rights, responsibilities and opportunities afforded to them regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression

Click on the Link Below to Visit their Website:

Michigan Audubon Society

Michigan Audubon connects birds and people for the benefit of both through conservation, education, and research efforts in the state of Michigan.

RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE

It’s something we see every day – children healing faster because they’re surrounded by their families. And while RMHC may not be able to make the medicine taste better or erase the pain of a much-needed treatment, we can help lessen the burden for more than seven million families each and every year. Since 1974, our network of local

Chapters have been making children happier and healthier by keeping families together – giving them a place to rest and refresh. A place that feels like home. These programs, tailored to meet the urgent needs of each community, can now be found in 58 countries and regions across the globe.

COUSTEAU SOCIETY

Founded in 1973 by Captain Jacques-Yves Cousteau, the Society has more than 50,000 members worldwide. Under the leadership of President Francine Cousteau, the Society continues the unique explorations and observations of ecosystems throughout the world that have helped millions of people understand and appreciate the fragility of life on our Water Planet. Half a century of protecting water systems has expanded to embrace a wide variety of programs to encourage communities to achieve sustainable harmony with Nature as the Cousteau Label program.Headquartered in Hampton, Virginia, membership-supported, not-for-profit environmental education organization, the Society is dedicated to the protection and improvement of the quality of life for present and future generations.

Since their minimum donation is $10, I won't be updating my blog until February 3rd.