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.