Thanks to everyone who submitted their favorite organizations for the Cheque-Raising for Charity project. If you haven’t already, please consider making a charitable donation before the end of the year. You may choose to give to one of these organizations or let the passions of your fellow poker players inspire you to find a cause that is important to you.
Edited for an 11th hour submission.
Alzheimer’s Association
ALZ.org (submitted by Brian Ibbott, host of the wonderful Coverville cover songs podcast and also a poker player!)
Alzheimer’s Research is personally important to me because of my wife’s Grandmother Lenore. I watched her whole family go through so much because of the disease, which really affects the family, and not just the person who has it. You never knew what to expect when you visited Lenore. Would she recognize you, would she not, or would she think you were someone totally different – someone she loved, or someone she was angry with. It was really really hard for Tina, and hard for me to watch her go through it.
Partners in Health
Partners in Health provides community-based care, both medical and social, to people in countries ravaged by natural disasters and diseases. They emphasize solidarity with populations they have served in Haiti, Peru and Siberia. I chose them as a worthwhile organization for donation after the hurricane devastated Haiti because they were already on the ground and involved with Haiti before it hit. They seem like a real grassroots organization that gains the trust and confidence of the people they serve.
Green America
Green America is a nonprofit consumer organization which promotes environmental sustainability, as well as social and economic justice. For just $20/year, members receive newsletters with insights and recommended actions for dealing with the latest issues, as well as the Green Pages, the annual directory listing socially-responsible companies. They have formed a Green Business Network which provides green jobs in up-and-coming organizations. They are a sponsor of the Green Festival which travels to major cities bringing guest speakers, documentary films, fair trade and eco-friendly vendors and educational institutions. Great way to learn to vote with your pocketbook!
Batey Relief Alliance
The mission of Batey Relief is to create productive and self-sufficient environment for children and families severely affected by poverty, disease and hunger in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Batey Relief Alliance delivers humanitarian services to vulnerable children and their families severely affected by extreme poverty, disease and hunger in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. While Haiti saw an outpouring of support after last January’s earthquake, tremendous problems (including a serious cholera outbreak) remain while fundraising efforts have suffered from donor fatigue.
Batey Relief Alliance is important to me because a close friend worked in the Dominican Republic, and to a lesser extent, Haiti for a year and commended their work. I have $35 automatically deducted and donated to Batey Relief every month. Unfortunately, Batey Relief Alliance has not yet been evaluated by Charity Navigator. However, Bill Clinton, whose William J. Clinton Foundation puts 95% of their funding into programs, endorsed the BRA on its website.
Thanks to everyone who contributed recommendations or money!
Thanks to everybody who participated and donated!