Sorry this post has taken me so long to produce, but I've really been hoping that a few more suggestions might get thrown our way before I made it.
So it would seem that people are definately interested in something show related. In that light, these are the charities I have done a little research on. I will do my best to make this brief, but I want to include enough information that people feel like they can make a decision, or at least narrow things down. Please know that these are chairities I have researched based on discussions held here and my own personal interpretation. They are not a final list, just a way of assisting the norrowing down of our options. If you have other suggestions please make a post or let me know and I will include it in the list. Here goes...First Book First Book is a nonprofit organization with a single mission: to give children from low-income families the opportunity to read and own their first new books. The primary goal of First Book is to work with existing literacy programs to distribute new books to children who, for economic reasons, have little or no access to books.
Connection to Gilmore Girls - Obviously Rory's love of literature is the main connection here. This charity is one that is also supported by Alexis in real life.
Support/donation method - You can donate to First Book online via credit card or by mailing a check (obviously we would raise the money here and then send one lump sum payment). Every $2.50 donated purchases one new book for a child in need.
For more information on this charity visit - http://www.firstbook.orgJohns Hopkins Children's Centre Founded in 1912 as the children’s hospital of the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center offers one of the most comprehensive pediatric medical programs in the country, from performing emergency trauma surgery, to finding causes of and treatments for childhood cancers, to delivering a child’s good bill of health. With recognized Centers of Excellence in 20 pediatric sub-specialties including cardiology, transplant, psychiatric illnesses and genetic disorders, Children’s Center physicians, nurses and staff provide compassionate care to more than 90,000 children each year.
Medical Breakthroughs at the Children's Center• First successful "blue baby" operation to correct congenital heart defects
• First preventive treatment for rheumatic heart disease
• Discovery of the genes responsible for the most common cranio-facial disorders
• Ground-breaking treatment for the painful crises of sickle cell anemia
• Discovery of one of the first methods of gene therapy for cystic fibrosis
Connection to Gilmore Girls - IN 2004 the following was reported on EW.com.... The season premiere of The WB's Gilmore Girls saw Luke get a new cell phone number (860-294-1986) that actually works, connecting callers to a very enthusiastic, very un-Luke-like message from actor Scott Patterson asking for donations to benefit the Johns Hopkins Children's Center in Baltimore. Series creator Amy Sherman-Palladino confesses the real-live digits satisfy more than altruistic urges. ''If I hear someone say '555' on television, I'm going to put my own head through a wall,'' she laughs. Her loathing of fake TV phone numbers led to the purchase of an actual one. Knowing fans would call, Sherman-Palladino left it up to Patterson, who has been involved with various charities, to choose the message. ''It's kind of nice,'' she says, ''anytime you can be associated with something a little bit hopeful.''
Support/donation method - There are a number of ways to donate to the Children's Center. You may designate a gift to a specific department or research project, or to honor a doctor who has provided wonderful care to a loved one. Gifts can also be made to the Johns Hopkins Children's Center to support the many special programs and services we provide to our young patients and their families. These undesignated gifts are used at the discretion of the chairman for the hospital's most current pressing needs. Online monetary donations can also be made (again we would raise the money here and send off collectively).
For more information on this charity visit - http://www.hopkinschildrens.orgEIF Women's Cancer Research Fund The Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) harnesses the collective power of the entertainment industry and channels its unique assets to raise awareness and funds for critical health, educational and social issues in order to make a positive impact in our community and throughout the nation.
Through our Women's Cancer Programs, the Entertainment Industry Foundation is committed to saving lives by raising awareness about the importance of early detection of breast and reproductive cancers, providing funds to advance research on treatment and early detection methods, and supporting community programs that assist the millions of women at risk of or affected by cancer as well as their families.
Connection to Gilmore Girls - Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel support/ed EIF's Women's Cancer Research Fund as 2005 ambassadors to philosophy's Shower for a Cure event on QVC.
Support/donation method - Donations can be made to a general EIF fund that supports all their intiatives, or alternatively an individual intiative can be singled out for the donation to apply to.
For more information on this charity visit - http://www.eifoundation.org/national/wcp/splash.htmlNational Breast Cancer Coalition Since 1991, the National Breast Cancer Coalition's trained advocates have lobbied at the national, state and local levels for public policies that impact breast cancer research, diagnosis and treatment. Our grassroots advocacy effort has hundreds of member organizations and tens of thousands of individual members working toward increased federal funding for breast cancer research and collaborating with the scientific community to implement new models of research, improve access to high-quality health care and breast cancer clinical trials for all women, and expand the influence of breast cancer advocates in all aspects of the breast cancer decisionmaking process.
Connection to Gilmore Girls - When the folks at fanforum.com ran their LG FYC - Give Lauren an Emmy campaign the excess money that was raised was donated to a charity of Lauren's choice. Lauren chose the NBCC which it is widely known she supports having lost her mother to the disease.
Support/donation method - Individuals and organizations eager to make a difference in the fight against breast cancer are invited to join NBCC, or make a contribution in honor of or in memory of a friend or family member. Plus, there are several ways you can get even more involved.
Individuals (minimum $35 annually): In addition to the satisfaction of supporting advocacy to end breast cancer, you will receive our Call to Action print newsletter with updates on breast cancer research and legislation, discounts on conference registration, and information on other training opportunities and special events. Provide your email address and we'll alert you to advocacy opportunities and share the latest on pending legislation. For additional action, we can also put you in touch with a statewide or local advocacy group.
Organizations and Groups (minimum $100 annually): Organizations joining NBCCF receive our Call to Action print and enewsletters, a members-only information packet with our annual legislative and public policy priorities fact sheets; an invitation to our annual membership meeting; notice of education and training opportunities and special events. Optional benefits include email action alerts* and toll free conference call briefings. [Note: Individual members of your organization need to join NBCC separately to get benefits listed above.]
For more information on this charity visit - http://www.stopbreastcancer.org//index.phpChildren International - Child Sponsorship Children International is a nonprofit humanitarian organization dedicated to bettering the lives of impoverished children, their families and communities.
We achieve our goals primarily through child sponsorship, which unites children in need with individual sponsors who wish to address the children's immediate and basic needs. Sponsorship gives poor children the tools and opportunities necessary for success by providing benefits and supporting programs for each child - primarily in the areas of
education and health.
Connection to Gilmore Girls - With the main focus of this charity being to educate people out of their situation of poverty, the education component obviously ties in strongly with the show's theme of education and it's importance. The show was also steeped in relationships and families which, when a child is sponsored is again addressing a connection. Those that have or are sponsoring a child will understand only to well how a strong bond is formed.
Support/donation method - Again online monetary donations are available. However in this situation it would not be viable to sponsor for a month and then stop. So as previously suggested in discussions we would look to raise enough to sponsor a child for at least a year (which comes to around $300), and then re-assess the situation from that point on. The reason for this option popping up time and again is the update factor, meaning that we could literally have contact with an individual and see the progress and difference our donation would be making. A great way to bring the community together.
For more information on this charity visit - http://www.children.orgPlease discuss and let your thoughts be known.
We can rebuild it. We have the technology. We have the capability to build the world's best Gilmore Girls forum. The ORG Forum will be just that. Better than it was before. Better, stronger, faster. 