ORG Community Charity - We can give as good as we get!

[QweenB]

if you are starving and nakkie!

Hehehe, that made me giggle.

You and me both, lol.

Timezones also make these get togethers hard. I want to do a bit of math though...how many grains of rice would you say comprises of an average serving size for a third world country - I am sure it would be a lot less than we would personally eat, say maybe half a cup of uncooked rice? Someone count that out for me, hehehe!

B xxx

[honkifuluvGG]

Hey guys.

Okay a few things to mention here.  Firstly I love the idea of a rice-a-thon but I would really love it if we could focus on choosing a charity first.  When that is done I would be happy to organise this.  I think as B mentioned with the different time zones etc., this will be tricky but the best way I can see it working would be to choose a rice-a-thon day whereby people can go onto the site as often as possible and then come back here and post the rice raised total.  At the end of that day we can tally it up.  And if we work on those figures B was talking about we may even work out how many meals we provided.

Secondly, on the topic of choosing a charity.  We will never get something that suits everybody that visits here.  The aim of discussion is to see what ideas are thrown up and from that we can narrow it down and then perhaps take a vote.  To that end, I am in the process of collecting data to make a very comprehensive post which will include a brief summary of the charity, it's pros and cons plus a link for you to check it out yourself.  I will then check with Heidi about making a poll to get our final verdict.  And then we can move forward and workout the logistics of making that work.

In the meantime, any new ideas/suggestions for charities would be greatly welcomed.  And if somebody makes a suggestion that is not up your alley, feel free to respectfully say so, but please don't get into full on debates about the politics of it all.  We need to keep an upbeat vibe in this thread so that the true spirit of what we would like to achieve will filter through to those that are viewing this idea for the first time.

Any questions please feel free to PM me or ask in this thread and I will answer as soon as possible.

 

[Lovefiend]

how many grains of rice would you say comprises of an average serving size for a third world country

That's what I was wondering!! I was  trying to picture like, 5000 grains of rice, and what that would actually look like, and h ow many people it would feed! I ave no idea!!
If I get bored, I'll count out the grains in a bowl

Wait, does FREERICE have somewhere to email them, or post comments? We should suggest along with the amount of rice, that they put an average of how many meals/people it would feed.

[Fantasy]

For the how much comprises half a cup, does anybody want to weigh out a grain of rice, weigh a half cup of rice, and then to the crazy math thing you math people pull of so well? Sure, it won't be exact, but it will be a nice average estimate, no?

And I am glad, so glad, to see that a humble suggestion from lil' ol' me has blossomed so. Makes my heart flutter and my eyes tear. Hehee. I just dontated 2000 grains of rice. And I am about to see if there is a suggestion place at www.freerice.com (There it is, theres my necessary link for my posts.)


Found this on the website for some of you questioning how the advertising works:
Who pays for the donated rice?
The rice is paid for by the advertisers whose names you see on the bottom of your vocabulary screen. This is regular advertising for these companies, but it is also something more. Through their advertising at FreeRice, these companies support both learning (free vocabulary for everyone) and reducing hunger (free rice for the hungry). We commend these companies for their participation at FreeRice.


If FreeRice has the rice to give, why not give it all away right now?
FreeRice is not sitting on a pile of rice―you are earning it 20 grains at a time. Here is how it works. When you play the game, advertisements appear on the bottom of your screen. The money generated by these advertisements is then used to buy the rice. So by playing, you generate the money that pays for the rice donated to hungry people.

[Sooks]

B I'm sorry if you felt there was a negative vibe here. This thread is certainly not the place for negativity! I hope that I wasn't causing problems. I think that for the most part, people were just speaking of which charity or donation meant the most to them and which didn't. I'm not sure about the whole UN conversation, thus I stayed out of that one. I'm a little too easily confused! I like hearing what others think about the posed ideas though! Though, I do think my comments about the freerice.com site being legit or not were not really necessary...I was just thinking aloud a little too much. I still go there and have learned quite a lot!! So if nothing else, people are getting a good education! Right?!

Good points were made about the music and food/ shelter ideas. I'm still interested on finding out something about possible education charities for children. Though, again, I suppose that if you're starving and lack clothes and shelter, you won't be attending school. However, I think that there are so many who can't get an education and that's important too. Just a thought!

Looking forward to hearing more on what people's thoughts are!

I've been so inspired by all this talk of donating to a charity, I've donated to 2 more charities this year! And we adopted a family in our department at work this year...it was a lot of fun! It's definitely a lot of fun to give as a group!!

[MasBYUgal]

Wow, I feel like I've got a lot of catching up to do.  I remember when this topic came up a long time ago and I researched what charities various GG  actors supported.  I've only skimmed the 1st page, but I think it's a great idea.

Also, I just barely checked out freerice.com and I'm an addict already.  In fact. I'm going to send t to the teachers I used to work w/ because it would be a great ESL extra credit activity.  It reminds me of the increase your vocabulary section of reader digest.

However, I have to admit I am skeptical about donating money to charities until I know how the organization uses the money.  I want t make sure it's going to where it's needed and not just ...

[GilmoreGrlBabe]

hey..im new to the board my name is Shanya, well i havent read through all of the posts but i have a good organization to give to. Friendship walk..

Not least among the struggles facing children with special needs such as Down's syndrome, autism, ADD or other emotional and/or physical challenges of this nature is a profound sense of loneliness. Being different or misunderstood deprives hundreds of special children in our community of the most basic necessities of childhood: friendships, play-dates and outlets for youthful recreation and expression. The Friendship Circle addresses these challenges in a way that celebrates, rather than laments, the uniqueness and individuality of children with special needs.

Founded in 2002, the centerpiece of the Friendship Circle program is the pairing of local teenagers for weekly home visits with the children, and extends from there to a full range of activities and events including: Sunday Circle, Fitness Programs, Winter Camp, Miracle Sports League, Rock Climbing, Mom's Night Out and Sib-shop support groups — all catering to special needs children and their families.

By integrating the wisdom of professionals and the energetic spirit of teenagers, the Friendship Circle brings out the best from within all of those involved. Through the gifts and joys of friendship, the young volunteers are able to reach the children in ways that most forms of therapy can not. Furthermore, the program has had a profound effect on the teenagers themselves instilling within them the values of giving and gratitude.

 

The underlying philosophy of the Friendship Circle is that every child is an entire world worthy of love, laughter, nurturing and connection. A child with special needs can feel the pain of loneliness and the euphoria of friendship like any other child. The real beauty of the Friendship Circle is that it has so many winners: The special-needs children, their families, the teenage volunteers, the staff members and the benevolent supporters. All are part of a seamless circle of giving and sharing.

The Friendship Circle is nonsectarian and nondenominational. Programs are open to all and are offered free of charge to qualifying families. Funding comes primarily from charitable donations from throughout the community.

What can be more satisfying and worthwhile than transforming an entire world that is the life of a child?

For further information, please visit the Friendship Circle website at


if your interseted pm me your email and i will give you my friends page and you can donate money..i hope you do!

[honkifuluvGG]

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.org


Johns 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.org


EIF 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.html


National 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.php



Children 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.org


Please discuss and let your thoughts be known.

[Lovefiend]

I take it my ideas have been ignored.

[Heidi]

I take it my ideas have been ignored.

The goal of this thread certainly isn't to ignore anyone.  Would you like to repost your thoughts?  I'd be happy to go back and copy and paste them here.  Or I'm sure we could have Caryn edit her post.

~Heidi

[Lovefiend]

Ok, so on the school-building front Here's The SoulieJOlie project website, here's the info on it:
 
About Us

In July 2005, Katja, a member of the SoulieJolie forums, made a post regarding Cambodian Vision In Development (CVD) and we decided we wanted to help by getting the whole site involved and help the CVD spread the word of their good work. This in turn will hopefully bring more awareness to the plight of the Cambodian people and what they need.

Katja provided us with the information we needed and we discovered that one of the overlooked aspects is education.

As education is important to all of us, SoulieJolie decided that we wanted to help the Cambodian people get the education that they need and more importantly deserve. With all of this in mind, the SoulieJolie Project was born.

In Cambodia a child only needs $5 to receive a school uniform, pen, notebook and ruler. We were surprised by how cheap this cost is compared to that of the western world so we decided not to just settle with helping to raise money for these basic needs we decided to go true ‘Jolie’ style and push the boundaries and not only giving them the basic needs but help raise money to build them a school as well.

This is no small task as we need to raise around $25,000.

When we reach this goal, CVD will assign one full time member of their staff to keep updating of report, photo, and interview with beneficiaries (SoulieJolie) on a regular basis in order to provide a journal of how the members money is being spent on the school. The school will also be tagged with our name (SoulieJolies' school) and the amount that the members donated. We have even been invited to go and inaugurate the build when it completes.

Then it's over to the Cambodian government, who will be responsible to pay for teachers etc.
 
And Here's the company that they work through in Cambodia. Just to give ya'll some more info about how that kinda thing is done, if that's what you're into.

Oh, as an added note:
$25000 is a lot of money, one of the ways they make it up is by selling those little rubbber bracelets. I know last time I mentioned it, everyone said they didn't like merchandise, but they'r easy. They cost next to nothing, you order them from a company online alreadymade. They cost US$5 per bracelet, for postage and handling as well.
It means peopel will have something to remind them of their donation and what they're doing for the world.
It's also a way of getting the word out. People have often looked at my bracelets, and asked what they're for, and been itnerested in the cause. So that might happen with the GG.org bracelets!!!

Plus, the Freerice-a-thon idea seems to have been ignored, depsite it being the easiest, cheapest, quickest, and with immediate results.
Also, it doesn't need to be 'organised' per se'. We just need to decide one day, (or group of days), and get people to post their tally's here on this thread. Simple, easy and efficient. It can be done and over whilst we wait for the charity to be decided on.

[wmushell]

First, I have to say that I have spent the last 20 minutes or so visiting the websites of the charities listed and each and every one of them are deserving organizations.  I have actually heard of the first four listed before and one I actually already donate to (the NBCC).  All of them have reputations for being upstanding and very passionate about helping their individual causes to the absolute best of their abilities.  I have only recently learned of the last site, but am impressed by what I've learned from their site.

I very much appreciate how comprehensive the range of interests are in this list -- a lot of ideas to consider.  Also, I am very grateful to Caryn for taking the time to research charities that are directly linked to the show and sharing that connection here as that has been said to be important to all of us.  The fact that the actors of our favorite show actually support many of these makes this project even more worthwhile to me. 

I take it my ideas have been ignored.

Kate, I'm going to say that this is not true.  You were the first one to remind us and bring up the breast cancer support that Lauren finds important.  As you can easily see, the cause for curing breast cancer is duly supported on this list.  As for the cause you just re-posted, it was not ignored but simply represented by a different charity that is remarkably similar in their goals.  This makes complete sense as it would seem the site you listed is already receiving the support of another fan site.  If our goal is to actually help, Child International appears to do that in the exact way the site you listed does.  Because your very specific suggestion wasn't used is neither here nor there - there are dozens upon dozens of legitimate charities who do wonderful things so supporting one is not a blight on another.  You have to make choices in life and that is reality.

As far as other ideas you've had such as the bracelets, etc.: 

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. 

Please discuss and let your thoughts be known.

These statements make it more than clear that it is not a final list.  Simply saying "I think my idea for the bracelets should be included on the list" or whatever else you feel strongly about that was not mentioned would have been more than sufficient.  I want to say something here -- a lot of ideas have been thrown out by a lot of people . . . there is no way to 100% please everyone and is the reason why every single idea couldn't be included.  You've made this about you and that is a shame -- obviously these are all important, worthwhile charities to consider and to act like it is lacking in anyway is your choice.  Personally, I feel that most members could find at least one of these as exciting to support.

Plus, the Freerice-a-thon idea seems to have been ignored, depsite it being the easiest, cheapest, quickest, and with immediate results.
Also, it doesn't need to be 'organised' per se'. We just need to decide one day, (or group of days), and get people to post their tally's here on this thread. Simple, easy and efficient. It can be done and over whilst we wait for the charity to be decided on.

I also do not understand this in any way whatsoever.  It appears to me that many of us, myself included, have been visiting freerice.com often.  Obviously, due to the fact that it is free allows us to also support another charity with monetary donations.  So, it is not being ignored.  In the meantime, we are also individually doing freerice.com as so many of us have found it to be a great site.  The fact that the tallying of how much we actually are raising as a group in a rice-a-thon has already been mentioned to be something to focus on once the other charity is chosen.  The opinion that it is not when you want it to be is again neither here nor there. 

I would like to really do something together as an ORG.  I think we have a chance to make a difference and we have to look towards the greater good as opposed to our individual selves to accomplish this.

[Lovefiend]

As for the cause you just re-posted, it was not ignored but simply represented by a different charity that is remarkably similar in their goals. This makes complete sense as it would seem the site you listed is already receiving the support of another fan site. If our goal is to actually help, Child International appears to do that in the exact way the site you listed does. Because your very specific suggestion wasn't used is neither here nor there - there are dozens upon dozens of legitimate charities who do wonderful things so supporting one is not a blight on another. You have to make choices in life and that is reality.

Thanks for clearing that up for me, Shell, I agree, any good charity is good!!! I wasn't aware that another charity had been put in place of the idea.
The charity that I'd brought up, was only there was a few people mentioned that education was something that was something that was important, and that was one place I knew that worked toward education. Which is something important to me, and a few other people here, I know!!
So, thanks for letting me know about that

Plus, the Freerice-a-thon idea seems to have been ignored, depsite it being the easiest, cheapest, quickest, and with immediate results.
Also, it doesn't need to be 'organised' per se'. We just need to decide one day, (or group of days), and get people to post their tally's here on this thread. Simple, easy and efficient. It can be done and over whilst we wait for the charity to be decided on.

It appears to me that many of us, myself included, have been visiting freerice.com often. Obviously, due to the fact that it is free allows us to also support another charity with monetary donations. So, it is not being ignored.

Again, thanks for clearing this up, Iwas under the false impression that not many people were going to the site, or using it. It's really great to hear that more people are going to it than I had thought, apologies for the mis conception, and way to go everyone who's been going there!!!

[GilmoreGrlBabe]

hey what about the www.friendshipwalk.com its a great fundraiser! you guys should atleast check into it

[Lovefiend]

That's really awesome, and for those in the US, that's such an awesome thing, I wish Icould do it!!!
But I think (correct me if I'm wrong here!!) that the charity needs to be worldwide?
I'm not sure, I could be wrong, in which case that's really awesome. It's such a worthwhile thing, I know that people with special needs can really need/want someone to treat them well, and I think it's so great that that organisation is there!!