Junior Achievement

Junior Achievement is the world's largest organization dedicated to educating students in grades K-12 about entrepreneurship, work readiness and financial literacy through experiential, hands-on programs.

Our programs help prepare young people for the real world by showing them how to generate wealth and effectively manage it, how to create jobs which make their communities more robust, and how to apply entrepreneurial thinking to the workplace. Students put these lessons into action and learn the value of contributing to their communities.

JA's unique approach allows volunteers from the community to deliver our curriculum while sharing their experiences with students. Embodying the heart of JA, our classroom volunteers transform the key concepts of our lessons into a message that inspires and empowers students to believe in themselves, showing them they can make a difference in the world.

Tonight Geordan and I are bowling in a Junior Achievement bowlathon with the Northern Trust. Today, I have donated $10 to JA, so I will not be blogging on May 31.

Bird Life Intl.: Migratory Flyways Program

BirdLife is the global authority on the status of birds. Our work shows that most migratory birds are declining

There are BirdLife Partners throughout the world's major flyways, so we are ideally placed to take joined-up action to conserve migratory birds

BirdLife's national Partners are working together to protect chains of IBAs used by migrating birds

BirdLife is advising governments, industries and development banks on reducing threats to migratory birds

Two thousand species of bird, 20% of all known species, make regular seasonal movements. Many travel thousands of miles between their breeding places and their wintering grounds. More than 40% of these migratory species are declining, and nearly 200 are now classified as globally threatened. They face many dangers: destruction and degradation of habitats, loss of critical stopover sites such as coastal wetlands, illegal hunting, poisoning and pollution, and collisions with badly-sited infrastructure like power lines and wind turbines.

Baby2Baby

Baby2Baby supplies families in need with essential baby gear and clothing for their children up to age 12. By distributing new and gently used items to over 50 non-profit organizations, Baby2Baby reaches over 67,000 children per year.

California Academy of Sciences

The California Academy of Sciences is a multifaceted scientific institution committed to leading-edge research, to educational outreach, and to finding new and innovative ways to engage and inspire the public.
The Academy’s mission—to explore, explain and sustain life—extends to all corners of the institution; from a research expedition in the highlands of Papua New Guinea, to a teacher-training program in a California classroom, to an interactive game on the museum exhibit floor.

Support our mission to explore, explain, and sustain life!
Your gift will support our School and Youth Field Trips Program to help bring 150,000 student and youth group visitors to the Academy in 2014 at free and greatly-reduced rates.

Heifer International

We empower families to turn hunger and poverty into hope and prosperity – but our approach is more than just giving them a handout. Heifer links communities and helps bring sustainable agriculture and commerce to areas with a long history of poverty. Our animals provide partners with both food and reliable income, as agricultural products such as milk, eggs and honey can be traded or sold at market.
When many families gain this new sustainable income, it brings new opportunities for building schools, creating agricultural cooperatives, forming community savings and funding small businesses.
A donation of $10 was made to Heifer International, therefore I won't be blogging on May 26.

The American Pigeon Museum

The American Pigeon Museum and Library was formed in 1973. Its original directors were William Bonwell, W. D. Grimes and Kenneth Lagree. For several years the AHPI collected miscellaneous items concerning the history of the pigeon keeping, but received several major contributions of materials from prominent members of the hobby.

Click on the image below to go directly to their website:

Frederik Meijer Gardens

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park opened in April 1995 after 13 years of planning and fundraising by the West Michigan Horticultural Society. In 1990, Fred and Lena Meijer were asked for their support, and they embraced the concept of a major cultural attraction centering around horticulture and sculpture. The original vision has turned into a top cultural destination in the Midwest region, known internationally for the quality of the art and gardens.

Meijer Gardens' dream and commitment is to create a legacy of lifelong learning, enjoyment and a rich cultural experience for generations to come. It is a non-profit organization, privately funded by grants, foundations and individual and corporate gifts. The organization is operated by almost 200 full and part-time staff, more than 800 volunteers and supported by gifts from more than 21,000 member households and many donors.

Meijer Gardens promotes the enjoyment, understanding and appreciation of gardens, sculpture, the natural environment and the arts.

EcoHealth Alliance

EcoHealth Alliance integrates innovative science-based solutions and partnerships that increase capacity to achieve two interrelated goals: protecting global health by preventing the outbreak of emerging diseases and safeguarding ecosystems by promoting conservation.

RARE

Conservation ultimately comes down to people – their behaviors toward nature, their beliefs about its value, and their ability to protect it without sacrificing basic life needs. And so, conservationists must become as skilled in social change as in science; as committed to community-based solutions as national and international policymaking.
Nowhere are community-based solutions needed more than in the world’s areas of highest biodiversity – from Latin America and the Caribbean to Africa and India to Asia and the Pacific islands. These areas may be rich in natural resources, but poverty is also high, making social and environmental change a challenge for hundreds of thousands of communities.
Rare and its partners in 50+ countries throughout these regions are committed to designing conservation programs that benefit both people and nature – ensuring that change is embraced and sustained.

Matthaei Botanical Garden

Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum Mission:
Promoting environmental enjoyment, stewardship and sustainability through education, research, and interaction with the natural world.

Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.
-Frank Lloyd Wright
The purpose: provide a hands-on University and community laboratory for conserving, restoring, and celebrating the environment

The business: develop citizens and leaders dedicated to appreciating, understanding and restoring our environment; promote environmental education, research and public outreach

The values: inspire and enrich people's lives through contact with plants and nature; recognize the restorative value of nature and beautiful gardens; engage scientists and artists in research, teaching, and outreach activities; apply ecological principles in our horticulture and land stewardship; advance sustainable practices and the conservation of biodiversity, particularly that of the Great Lakes Region.

Ella Sharp Museum

Ella (Merriman) Sharp was a resident of Jackson who lived from 1857 to 1912. A generous, civic-minded individual, she left her estate, Hillside Farm, and her home, the Merriman-Sharp Farmhouse, to the city of Jackson for use as a park and a museum. Today visitors can enjoy Ella’s gift in a number of ways.

Durrell Wildlife Trust

With your help, we are working intensively to save 50 target species from extinction in Mauritius, Madagascar, the Caribbean and beyond. But what difference are we making? To answer this question, we’ve created the Durrell Index – a tool to measure and demonstrate our conservation actions and impacts. Follow the pathway below to see our ‘key performance indicators’ of how we save species from extinction.

Because of the importance of the work they do, and the impact Gerald Durrell's writings had on my life, I am donating $10 to the Wildlife Trust to support their incredible work.

Gibbon Conservation Center

The Gibbon Conservation Center

Was established in 1976 by Alan Richard Mootnick.
Houses the rarest group of apes in the Western Hemisphere.
Is the only institution in the world to house and breed all four genera of gibbon.
Has successfully reproduced 7 gibbon species.
Provides observation and non-invasive research opportunities for students and scientists.
Participates in all relevant Species Survival Plans (SSPs).
Provides consulting services to zoos, museums, government agencies such as the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and individual scientists on species identification and gibbon care.
Assists with gibbon rescue programs in Thailand, Taiwan, Vietnam and Indonesia.
Offers educational opportunites for students of all ages.

Our Mission

To promote the conservation, study and care of gibbons through public education and habitat preservation

CHARITY WATER

charity: water is a non-profit organization bringing clean
and safe drinking water to people in developing nations.

It's hard not to think about water today. In the western world, we face growing concerns about our stewardship of the world's most precious resource. There's talk of shortages, evidence of reservoirs and aquifers drying up, and of course, plenty of people who simply don't care.

But forget about us.

Most of us have never really been thirsty. We've never had to leave our houses and walk five miles to fetch water. We simply turn on the tap, and water comes out. Clean. Yet there are 800 million people on the planet who don't have clean water.

It's hard to imagine what 800 million people looks like really, but one in nine might be easier. One in nine people in our world doesn't have access to the most basic of human needs. Something we can't imagine going 12 hours without.

Here, we'd like to introduce you to a few of those 800 million. They are very real, and they need our help. They didn't choose to be born into a village where the only source of water is a polluted swamp. And we didn't choose to be born in a country where even the homeless have access to clean water and a toilet.

We invite you to put yourself in their shoes. Follow them on their daily journey. Carry 80 pounds of water in yellow fuel cans. Dig with their children in sand for water. Line up at a well and wait eight hours for a turn.

Now, make a decision to help. We're not offering grand solutions and billion dollar schemes, but instead, simple things that work. Things like freshwater wells, rainwater catchments and sand filters. For about $20 a person, we know how to help millions.

Frank Lloyd Wright Trust

Frank Lloyd Wright Trust

The Frank Lloyd Wright Trust is a Chicago-based not-for-profit organization that renews the vision of Frank Lloyd Wright through programs and educational initiatives about architecture, design and culture to perpetuate Wright’s all-inclusive artistic vision and belief in the integrity of the natural and built environment.

The Trust conducts ongoing historic preservation and operates public tours, programs and events at major Wright sites, including his Home and Studio (1889/1898) in Oak Park, a Chicago suburban community; The Rookery Light Court (1905-07) in downtown Chicago; Unity Temple (1905-08) in Oak Park; the Frederick C. Robie House (1908-10) in Chicago’s Hyde Park; and the Emil Bach House (1915) in Chicago’s Rogers Park.

The mission of the Trust is to engage, educate and inspire the public through architecture, design and the legacy of Frank Lloyd Wright, and to preserve the Trust's historic sites and collections.

The Alex Foundation

The goal of The Alex Foundation is to support research that will expand the base of knowledge establishing the cognitive and communicative abilities of parrots as intelligent beings. These findings will be used to encourage the responsible ownership of parrots, conservation and preservation of parrots in the wild, and veterinary research into the psychological diseases and care of these birds.  Through these efforts The Alex Foundation, and the memory of Alex, will live on and will accomplish its mission to improve the lives of all parrots worldwide.

Natural History Museum-London

Winner of Best of the Best in the Museums and Heritage Awards 2013, the Natural History Museum is a world-class visitor attraction and a leading science research centre.

Through our collections and scientific expertise, we are helping to conserve the extraordinary richness and diversity of the natural world with groundbreaking projects in more than 68 countries.

The Xerces Society

The Xerces Society is a nonprofit organization that protects wildlife through the conservation of invertebrates and their habitat. Established in 1971, the Society is at the forefront of invertebrate protection worldwide, harnessing the knowledge of scientists and the enthusiasm of citizens to implement conservation programs.

Butterflies, dragonflies, beetles, worms, starfish, mussels, and crabs are but a few of the millions of invertebrates at the heart of a healthy environment. Invertebrates build the stunning coral reefs of our oceans; they are essential to the reproduction of most flowering plants, including many fruits, vegetables, and nuts; and they are food for birds, fish, and other animals. Yet invertebrate populations are often imperiled by human activities and rarely accounted for in mainstream conservation.

The Society uses advocacy, education, and applied research to defend invertebrates.

Over the past three decades, we have protected endangered species and their habitats, produced ground-breaking publications on insect conservation, trained thousands of farmers and land managers to protect and manage habitat, and raised awareness about the invertebrates of forests, prairies, deserts, and oceans.

http://www.xerces.org

Missouri Botanical Garden

Founded in 1859, the Missouri Botanical Garden is the nation's oldest botanical garden in continuous operation and a National Historic Landmark.

The Garden is a center for botanical research and science education, as well as an oasis in the city of St. Louis. The Garden offers 79 acres of beautiful horticultural display, including a 14-acre Japanese strolling garden, Henry Shaw's original 1850 estate home, and one of the world's largest collections of rare and endangered orchids.

For over 154 years, the Garden has been an oasis in the city, a place of beauty and family fun—and also a center for education, science, and conservation.

Center for Plant Conservation

The Center for Plant Conservation (CPC) is dedicated solely to preventing the extinction of U.S. native plants. The Center was one of the first organizations created to meet this need. The Center is a network of 39 leading botanic institutions. Founded in 1984, the Center operates the only coordinated national program of off-site (ex situ) conservation of rare plant material. This conservation collection ensures that material is available for restoration and recovery efforts for these species. CPC also works in research, restoration, technical assistance, education and advocacy through the efforts of the network and the national office.

The cooperative CPC network maintains the National Collection of Endangered Plants. Believed to be the largest living collection of rare plants in the world, the collection contains more than 750 of America’s most imperiled native plants. Live plant material is collected from nature under controlled conditions and then carefully maintained as seed, rooted cuttings or mature plants. Network institutions conduct horticultural research and carefully monitor these materials so that imperiled plants can be grown and returned to natural habitats. Several CPC institutions are also involved in restoration projects in the field (in situ). Scientists are stabilizing current populations of imperiled plants and reintroducing new populations in appropriate habitats.

These conservation efforts are undertaken to complement other preservation activities for our nation’s flora, such as habitat protection and management. Off-site storage and cultivation of genetically appropriate plant material is a critical step in supporting restoration in the wild. The Center’s goal is to protect the most imperiled U.S. plants from extinction and restore them to secure habitats in cooperation with multiple conservation agencies and organizations.

Almost 1,000 U.S. plant species are already listed under the federal Endangered Species Act or qualify for listing. Without human intervention, many of these species may be gone within our lifetime. Research by CPC has shown that 80 percent of the at-risk plants of the United States are closely related to plants with economic value somewhere in the world, and more than 50 percent are related to crop species.

National Pigeon Association

About the National Pigeon Association

Founded in 1920, the National Pigeon Association is an all-breeds pigeon club with an International membership. Encompassing all varieties of domesticated pigeons, the NPA promotes, educates, and acknowledges the efforts of fanciers in the continued development and care of our "favorite feathered friends!"

As an educational organization, the National Pigeon Association has produced numerous books, pamphlets, and magazines publicizing the enormous contributions the domestic pigeon has made to society. These contributions range from the carrying of messages for nearly all of the major ancient civilizations to helping mankind understand the fundamentals of genetics.

Charles Darwin and B. F. Skinner are scientific icons because of their association and study of the domestic pigeon. From fertilizer to gunpowder, the domestic pigeon has shaped the civilization we know. The National Pigeon Association embraces and celebrates the historical significance of our close association with this most gentle and peaceful creature.

Another significant contibutor to the hobby of pigeon keeping was Wendell M Levi, who has an NPA award named after him. Dr. Levi wrote one of the most sigficant works about all aspects of the pigeon hobby. His book, written originally in 1941 entitled "The Pigen", made significant contributions to the pigeon hobby. It covered everything from the history of pigeons and pigeon husbandry to anatomy and physiology along with pigeon behavior. It is significant because it is one of the most complete works available, even today.

The NPA Grand National is the largest pigeon show in the United States. The Grand National is held annually in alternating geographical areas of the country. This rotation of our Grand National show allows fanciers from all parts of the United States to take part in this spectacular demonstration of selective breeding. Showcasing over 200 breeds of fancy, exhibition pigeons, the Grand National frequently attracts nearly 9,000 prized, pedigreed Columbidae.

The National Pigeon Association compiles and publishes the NPA book of standards. The NPA provides seamless identification ring bands for all breeds of domesticated pigeons. The NPA hosts the largest pigeon show in the United States. The NPA recognizes and awards NPA Master Breeder, NPA Master Judge, NPA Junior merit, NPA Outstanding service, NPA Lifetime achievement, and NPA Hall of Fame honors. The NPA promotes all aspects of the pigeon hobby.Join the NPA today! Enjoy the camaraderie of individuals like yourself who truly enjoy both the companionship and the contributions of our "favorite feathered friends!"

WIKIPEDIA FOUNDATION

May

by Leonardo Bosano

Wikipedia is the #5 site on the web and serves 500 million different people every month – with billions of page views.
Commerce is fine. Advertising is not evil. But it doesn't belong here. Not in Wikipedia.
Wikipedia is something special. It is like a library or a public park. It is like a temple for the mind. It is a place we can all go to think, to learn, to share our knowledge with others.
When I founded Wikipedia, I could have made it into a for-profit company with advertising banners, but I decided to do something different. We’ve worked hard over the years to keep it lean and tight. We fulfill our mission efficiently.
If everyone reading this donated, our fundraiser would be done within an hour. But not everyone can or will donate. And that's fine. Each year just enough people decide to give.
This year, please consider making a donation of $5, $20, $50 or whatever you can to protect and sustain Wikipedia.
Thanks,
Jimmy Wales
Wikipedia Founder

Imerman Angels: One-on-One Cancer Support

Our Mission

To provide personalized connections that enable one-on-one support among cancer fighters, survivors and caregivers.

Our History

Imerman Angels was created on the belief that no one should have to fight cancer alone and without the necessary support. At 26 years old, Jonny Imerman was diagnosed with testicular cancer and began his fight against the disease. Throughout his experience, Jonny was lucky enough to have loving support from his family and friends but had never met anyone his age who was a cancer survivor. He wanted to talk to someone just like him, someone who truly understood, and was intimately familiar with his experience. In short, he was looking for someone who had already beaten the same type of cancer. This was the beginning of Jonny’s vision and in 2003, it became a reality when he founded Imerman Angels.

What We Do

Through our unique matching process, Imerman Angels partners anyone seeking cancer support with someone just like you - a “Mentor Angel”. A Mentor Angel is a cancer survivor or survivor’s caregiver who is the same age, same gender, and most importantly who has beaten the same type of cancer. A Mentor Angel is walking, talking, living proof, and inspiration that cancer can be beaten.
Our service is absolutely free and helps anyone touched by any type of cancer, at any cancer stage level, at any age, living anywhere in the world.
These one-on-one relationships give a cancer fighter or caregiver the chance to ask personal questions and get support from someone who has been there before. Mentor Angels can lend support and empathy and help cancer fighters and caregivers navigate the system, determine their options and create their own support systems. Frequently, caregivers experience feelings similar to those of the person facing cancer. Mentor Angels can relate while being sensitive to the experience and situation.

North Valley Community Foundation

This fund accepts donations to help families affected by the Orland I-5 bus tragedy April 10, 2014.

At the North Valley Community Foundation, our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, families, friends, and all those affected by this tragedy.

American Conifer Society

About Our Organization
The mission of the American Conifer Society is the development, conservation and propagation of conifers, with an emphasis on those that are dwarf or unusual, the standardization of nomenclature, and the education of the public.

A donation of $10 was made to the ACS, therefore I won't be blogging on Sunday May 4.