Holiday Giving

As the year draws to a close, it is a time of celebration for all the advances in science and technology this year, which impact our health for the better. It is also a time for reflection and for supporting the health advocacy causes that are important to us. The season of giving has arrived!

Local, global, or issue-specific, the sophisticated online world of charitable giving can guide you on how to be an effective giver, with detailed resource tools to help you achieve the type of impact you would like to make with your donation.

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Want to start local? Donating to food banks is a
direct way to help in your community. You can contribute by dropping off food at a local pantry, helping in a soup kitchen, or donating funds to services for special populations, such as Meals on Wheels. Here are some notable food bank resource sites:

City Harvest 
Feeding America
Food Bank of New York City
Food Research and Action Center
Meals on Wheels
No Kid Hungry
Salvation Army

Have specific causes you care about, such as the training of service dogs, providing home health care for disabled veterans, or supportive housing for homeless families? Charity Navigator is your resource. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, Charity Navigator is the leading organization in rating the financial health of charities. Each charity is awarded an overall rating from zero to four stars. The rating system evaluates how responsibly a charity functions day-to-day, as well as how it maintains its programs over time. Here is my 2011 interview with Sandra Minutti, Vice President of Marketing  & CFO at Charity Navigator, with links to tips on successful charitable giving.

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Do you faithfully read reviews on restaurants before you make a reservation? Founded in 2007, Great Nonprofits is the Zagat’s guide of the charity world. They specialize in showcasing direct reviews from people who have donated to, volunteered for, or benefited from a nonprofit organization. If you connect to stories, this site offers first-person accounts on a wide range of nonprofits organizations.

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Are you at your best when you get involved in fundraising, with activities such as training for a marathon, arranging a bake sale, or volunteering for Habitat for Humanity? Crowdrise is a Facebook-like social media fundraising platform where friends and family can follow your fundraising journey and donate to your cause. Setting up real-time interactive page is just a few clicks away with Crowdrise’s easy-to-understand tutorials.

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The holidays can be a hurried time of year, so remember to take mindful time-outs as you need them. Listening to music is the way I stay present. Here is a piece from one of my musical heroes, Pops--Louis Armstrong. His playful, joyful spirit always inspires me to capture moments of delight as they come.