My Monthly Charity that I’ve selected for this month is the USO (United States Organizations). The USO brings the public and U.S. Military together to offer comfort, support, morale, and recreation to U.S. Troops around the world.

“For 68 years, the USO’s mission has remained the same. The USO will support U.S. troops and their families wherever they serve. Across the United States and around the world, the American military knows that the USO is there for them. By supporting the USO, Americans show their appreciation and express their gratitude to the men and women who defend us.” About the USO

Support for the men and women of the U.S. military is what the USO does.  Since World War II, the USO’s mission has not changed in making sure that military personnel all over the world know that the American people support them. Offering programs and services like Internet, e-mail access, housing, emergency assistance, support groups, celebrity appearance and performances amongst many other things the USO does a very important job in supporting our military.

Supporting the troops the way the USO does is very important for boosting morale for those who fight for our nation.  Our military personnel deserve every little bit of support for all the sacrifices they have made for the U.S. people.

Do something for our troops today by donating, volunteering, or becoming partner.

“Until Everyone Comes Home“

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I have selected my local Boys & Girls Club of Albany as My Monthly Charity for June 2009. Through it’s programs and services the Boys & Girls Club helps aid the development of children from 5-20 years of age.

“The Mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Albany is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens.”
- Boy & Girls Club of Albany Mission Statement

The Club is a place for boys and girls to grow and learn with the aid of adult professionals. Focusing on those that may be in disadvantaged situations, these professionals provide support to give these kids opportunity and hope while making it a fun experience.

The Boys and Girls Club’s strategy focuses on a set of senses that they want to give the children they work with. Through their program they want to instill the following senses in their kids:

• **
• A sense of competence- acquisition of new skills, pride and confidence in those new skills and achievements
• A sense of usefulness- through helping others, the club, and the community
• A sense of belonging- feeling welcome, accepted, and secure at the club
• A sense of power and influence- knowing that their opinions are heard and valued

**(source: http://www.bgcalbany.com/about/)

The Boys & Girls Club provides a safe, positive and fun place for kids to grow up with positive self esteem to enhance their lives. Help out the Boys & Girls Club of Albany or find out how you can help your local Boys & Girls Club.

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In observance of Memorial Day I have selected the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Charitable Service Trust as my charity this month. I would like to honor and thank all our veterans for their service to our country. The DAV is dedicated to providing services that disable Veterans in need.

“The DAV Charitable Service Trust supports physical and psychological rehabilitation programs, meets the special needs of veterans with specific disabilities – such as amputation and blindness – and aids and shelters homeless veterans.” – Disabled American Veterans Charitable Service Trust – About Us

Donations to the DAV Charitable Service Trust is put to work in programs that includes a transportation network for veterans to and from VA medical centers, food and shelter for the homeless and needy veterans, rehab for physical and psychological disabilities and much more.

The DAV continues to progress and stay innovative to provide better lives for disabled veterans. The services that the DAV provides will continue to be very important as veterans age and new veterans return from the wars that we fight today.

Support the brave people that have fought for our great country.

Happy Memorial Day

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It’s NBA Playoff time and the NBA cares.  For April 2009 I’ve decided to write about the NBA.  I know they aren’t necessarily a charity but they certainly deserve recognition for the good that they do through NBA Cares.

“NBA Cares is the league’s social responsibility initiative that builds on the NBA’s long tradition of addressing important social issues in the United States and around the world. Through this umbrella program, the NBA, its teams and players have committed to donating $100 million to charity, providing a million hours of hands on service to the community and creating 250 places where kids and families can live, learn or play.” – The NBA Cares Commitment

The NBA Cares initiative has logged close to 1 million hours of hands on service and raised millions of dollars  for communities and families. The NBA’s social responsibilities  initiative  focuses their efforts on issues related to education, youth and family development, and health-related causes.

They have provided learning centers, preached health and wellness, promoted the importance reading and much more to kids and their communities.  Recently the Dallas Mavericks dedicated their 7th Reading and Learning Center to the Dallas community. Another example of what NBA Cares is doing for their communities is the Toyota Rebounds Project. Teaming up with Toyota they are currently working on 15 community projects to refurbish courts and build learning centers.

NBA players and organizations through its’ popularity bring a lot to the table when dealing with social issues and simple enough they make a difference to communities around the world.  Find out what else NBA Cares at www.NBA.com/nba_cares/.

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My monthly charity for this month is going to be the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). To continue the green theme that I’ve been posting about recently, the WWF fits very nicely.  The WWF has globally coordinated efforts in conservation and protecting nature for over 45 years.

“WWF’s mission is the conservation of nature. Using the best available scientific knowledge and advancing that knowledge where we can, we work to preserve the diversity and abundance of life on Earth and the health of ecological systems by

• protecting natural areas and wild populations of plants and animals, including endangered species;
• promoting sustainable approaches to the use of renewable natural resources; and
• promoting more efficient use of resources and energy and the maximum reduction of pollution.

We are committed to reversing the degradation of our planet’s natural environment and to building a future in which human needs are met in harmony with nature. We recognize the critical relevance of human numbers, poverty and consumption patterns to meeting these goals.” World Wildlife Fund Mission

The WWF is 5 million strong worldwide and working in 100 countries. Through science and action along with their global reach, the WWF develops innovative solutions for the coexistence of humans and our precious eco system.

The WWF is involved all over the world including MyBabyTree.org which was My Monthly Charity April 2008 and Earth Hour which I posted about a few days ago.

It’s been a year but here’s my update on My Baby Tree.  I did receive a download for Google Earth to see the plants that were planted in the Indonesia. Check out my baby tree.

We have a delicate balance with nature and the World Wildlife Fund is working hard  to promote this balance around the world.  Find out what you can do at www.WorldWildLife.org to help out.  I’m going to support the WWF by making a donation.

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My Monthly Charity for February 2009 is Samaritan’s Feet.  Samaritan’s Feet is changing the world by giving new shoes to underprivileged children around the world that don’t have shoes.

“Samaritan’s Feet is a non-profit organization dedicated to changing lives though Shoes of Hope distributions around the world. 300 million people wake up each morning without a pair of shoes to protect their feet from injury and disease.The goal of Samaritan’s Feet is to provide shoes to 10 million of these individuals in the next 10 years by teaching them a biblical story of faith, hope, and love, demonstrating those truths in touching them by washing their feet, and treating them to a new pair of shoes and socks.“  Samaritan’s Feet’s Mission

28 years ago Emmanuel Ohonme of Africa was given a new pair of shoes by a good Samaritan that he would never forget.  That new pair of shoes would be the seed that was planted to grow into what is Samaritan’s Feet today.  The story of Emmanuel Ohonme is a great story about hard work and perseverance that made Samaritan’s Feet a reality. Now he and his organization are on a mission to give millions of pairs of shoes to those children that need them.  Read more about Emmanuel Ohonme at http://www.samaritansfeet.org/our-founder.

I first heard about Samaritan’s Feet when I was watching ESPN’s Sports Center, when a story aired about coach Ron Hunter along with other coaches that went barefoot during their games in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King’s sacrifices and to raise awareness for Samaritan’s Feet.  My first thought about this charity was this is a great concept and they’ve done a great job getting national attention, so I had to do it as one of My Monthly Charities.

Samaritan’s Feet is worthy cause that is out to help millions of children around the world protect their feet with a new pair of shoes.  A pair shoes is something many of us take for granted, so imagine living a normal day without shoes. I would surely struggling through that day.   A simple thing like pair of shoes can make a difference and I have a pair of new unworn shoes that I will be donating to them.  Learn how you can help out Samaritan’s Feet’s mission today.

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