Laptop.org has been around for 40 years! Amazing. I haven't figured that one out yet, but I like what they are about and hope to give them more exposure. Here's a little bit about them. Click the link to find out more, and get involved or emulate.
From: About One Laptop Per Child Association
The One Laptop per Child association develops a low-cost laptop—the "XO Laptop"—to revolutionize how we educate the world's children. Our mission is "to provide educational opportunities for the world's poorest children by providing each child with a rugged, low-cost, low-power, connected laptop with content and software designed for collaborative, joyful, self-empowered learning." We have recently reduced staff to deal with tough economic times; see our announcement for details.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Healthcare for the Homeless-Houston
Healthcare for the Homeless "promotes health, hope, and dignity for Houston's homeless through accessible and comprehensive care." I have never found another agency like Healthcare for the Homeless-Houston. If there are any other organizations, like this, please let me know. In the meantime, emulate.
For more info, please check out their website.
From: About Healthcare for the Homeless - Houston
Healthcare for the Homeless - Houston (HHH) originated from an initial partnership between Baylor College of Medicine and SEARCH Homeless Project. After several years of providing medical services to Houston's homeless, the need to integrate care from a broader perspective became evident. Extensive discussion and planning by numerous community-based homeless agencies and healthcare providers led to the formation of the HHH Advisory Council, which is comprised of representatives from the organizations, together with homeless ombudsmen. In 1999, the Advisory Council determined the need to create an independent nonprofit corporation to more effectively utilize scarce resources through cooperative planning.
For more info, please check out their website.
From: About Healthcare for the Homeless - Houston
Healthcare for the Homeless - Houston (HHH) originated from an initial partnership between Baylor College of Medicine and SEARCH Homeless Project. After several years of providing medical services to Houston's homeless, the need to integrate care from a broader perspective became evident. Extensive discussion and planning by numerous community-based homeless agencies and healthcare providers led to the formation of the HHH Advisory Council, which is comprised of representatives from the organizations, together with homeless ombudsmen. In 1999, the Advisory Council determined the need to create an independent nonprofit corporation to more effectively utilize scarce resources through cooperative planning.
Freedom Writers Foundation
Another GREAT movie was Freedom Writers with Hilary Swank. Freedom Writers chronicled the true story of how a classroom of students were inspired by the Diary of Anne Frank to authentically journal their own lives and challenges. The Freedom Writers Foundation was created "to form a community like the one we formed in Room 203, where people feel safe, accepted, and understood."
To learn about their programs and outreach and how you can support and expand it in your community, learn more at their website at Freedom Writers Foundation.
To learn about their programs and outreach and how you can support and expand it in your community, learn more at their website at Freedom Writers Foundation.
Happiness
What makes a community of people happy? It depends on the culture. Policy makers are taking notice, however. According to an article that appeared on the BBC Online, Nigerians are the most happy and the people of Denmark have become more satisfied over the last three decades.
To read the article, click here.
The United States ranked 16th.
To read the article, click here.
The United States ranked 16th.
World Food Programme - Free Rice
Wow, you can play this cool vocabulary game or other games and when you win, the sponsors donate free rice. The World Food Programme fights hunger worldwide. Sean Penn is a leading supporter of the WFP. To play the free rice game, click here. To learn more, click below.
From: About The World Food Programme
The World Food Programme is the United Nations frontline agency in the fight against global hunger. It is the world's largest humanitarian organization.
In emergencies, we get food to where it is needed, saving the lives of victims of war, civil conflict and natural disasters. After the cause of an emergency has passed, we use food to help communities rebuild their shattered lives.
From: About The World Food Programme
The World Food Programme is the United Nations frontline agency in the fight against global hunger. It is the world's largest humanitarian organization.
In emergencies, we get food to where it is needed, saving the lives of victims of war, civil conflict and natural disasters. After the cause of an emergency has passed, we use food to help communities rebuild their shattered lives.
ReasonOnline Magazine
I had to include ReasonOnline because of the refreshing non-spin articles they publish.
From: About Reason
Reason is the monthly print magazine of “free minds and free markets.” It covers politics, culture, and ideas through a provocative mix of news, analysis, commentary, and reviews. Reason provides a refreshing alternative to right-wing and left-wing opinion magazines by making a principled case for liberty and individual choice in all areas of human activity.
Reason Online is updated daily with articles and columns on current developments in politics and culture. It also contains the full text of past issues of the print edition of Reason. Reason Online is entirely free.
Reason and Reason Online are editorially independent publications of the Reason Foundation, a national, non-profit research and educational organization.
From: About Reason
Reason is the monthly print magazine of “free minds and free markets.” It covers politics, culture, and ideas through a provocative mix of news, analysis, commentary, and reviews. Reason provides a refreshing alternative to right-wing and left-wing opinion magazines by making a principled case for liberty and individual choice in all areas of human activity.
Reason Online is updated daily with articles and columns on current developments in politics and culture. It also contains the full text of past issues of the print edition of Reason. Reason Online is entirely free.
Reason and Reason Online are editorially independent publications of the Reason Foundation, a national, non-profit research and educational organization.
Global Green
Global Green first got my attention when I learned about the Make It Right Foundation founded by Brad Pitt. After looking further at Global Green, I was impressed by their huge undertaking to "stem global climate change by creating green buildings and cities." They strive to create drinking water for all people on the planet as well. Please include them in your knowledge base and get involved.
From: About Global Green
Founded in 1993 by activist and philanthropist Diane Meyer Simon, Global Green is the American Arm of Green Cross International (GCI), which was created by President Mikhail S. Gorbachev to foster a global value shift toward a sustainable and secure future by reconnecting humanity with the environment.
Global Green USA is the only national environmental non-profit headquartered in Southern California with offices in New Orleans, Washington DC, and New York, and is one of 31 national GCI affiliates throughout the world.
From: About Global Green
Founded in 1993 by activist and philanthropist Diane Meyer Simon, Global Green is the American Arm of Green Cross International (GCI), which was created by President Mikhail S. Gorbachev to foster a global value shift toward a sustainable and secure future by reconnecting humanity with the environment.
Global Green USA is the only national environmental non-profit headquartered in Southern California with offices in New Orleans, Washington DC, and New York, and is one of 31 national GCI affiliates throughout the world.
The Secrets of Okinawa's Elderly
Hmmm....I love fat, salt and sugar and I want to live long and be healthy. But, it seems there's evidence that although it's possible to live a long and healthy life, the fat, salt and sugar needs to be removed from your diet. Darn. I found this article on AOL that was actually from CNN. I must do more research on this one. :)
From: AOL Article on The Secrets of Okinawa's Elderly
(Dec. 8, 2008) -- In Okinawa, Japan, it's not unusual to see people in their 90s and older running, dancing, or even climbing trees. Illnesses like cancer, heart disease and Alzheimers are almost unheard of. The island has the world's highest percentage of people 100 or older.
What is Okinawa's secret? CNN spoke to a gerontologist who has studied life there for 15 years. He pointed to a range of factors, not the least of which was a diet low in fat, salt and sugar. Okinawans remain physically active well into old age, enjoy a strong sense of community and have access to good health care.
From: AOL Article on The Secrets of Okinawa's Elderly
(Dec. 8, 2008) -- In Okinawa, Japan, it's not unusual to see people in their 90s and older running, dancing, or even climbing trees. Illnesses like cancer, heart disease and Alzheimers are almost unheard of. The island has the world's highest percentage of people 100 or older.
What is Okinawa's secret? CNN spoke to a gerontologist who has studied life there for 15 years. He pointed to a range of factors, not the least of which was a diet low in fat, salt and sugar. Okinawans remain physically active well into old age, enjoy a strong sense of community and have access to good health care.
Charter for Compassion
I was really taken with this website because I had never seen anything like it. I guess what really struck a chord with me was their mission to create harmony by establishing common ground among people all over the world. That makes complete sense! They state that one of the 3 things that their charter affirms is that "compassion can build common ground." To learn more, please visit their website and emulate!!
From: About The Charter for Compassion
The Charter for Compassion is a collaborative effort to build a peaceful and harmonious global community. Bringing together the voices of people from all religions, the Charter seeks to remind the world that while all faiths are not the same, they all share the core principle of compassion and the Golden Rule. The Charter will change the tenor of the conversation around religion. It will be a clarion call to the world.
From: About The Charter for Compassion
The Charter for Compassion is a collaborative effort to build a peaceful and harmonious global community. Bringing together the voices of people from all religions, the Charter seeks to remind the world that while all faiths are not the same, they all share the core principle of compassion and the Golden Rule. The Charter will change the tenor of the conversation around religion. It will be a clarion call to the world.
Global Philanthropy Group
This is a really interesting group. Imagine advising the world's leading philanthropists. I am impressed with the initiatives that they have taken on and impacted. I have to applaud Trevor Neilson who is behind this group, I think it his group, for the great job of advising Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, and Bono, to name a few on their humanitarian contributions. Bravo to all of you and keep up the very great work that you are doing! This is a great example of the power of pulling together for the greater good. There is so much that can be done and together everyone achieves me; it's trite but true!
From: About The Global Philanthropy Group
Global Philanthropy Group advises the world's leading philanthropists. We work with high net worth individuals, charitable foundations and corporations to design and implement highly-leveraged philanthropic strategies. Our management expertise and proprietary network of global experts help our clients achieve lasting, meaningful results.
Global Philanthropy Group's experience encompasses pressing global issues including economic development, education, poverty, HIV/AIDS, disaster recovery and redevelopment, refugees, microfinance, water, global health, immigration, orphans, foster care, global trade, malnutrition, climate change, green building, malaria, conservation, crimes against humanity, genocide and childhood obesity.
From: About The Global Philanthropy Group
Global Philanthropy Group advises the world's leading philanthropists. We work with high net worth individuals, charitable foundations and corporations to design and implement highly-leveraged philanthropic strategies. Our management expertise and proprietary network of global experts help our clients achieve lasting, meaningful results.
Global Philanthropy Group's experience encompasses pressing global issues including economic development, education, poverty, HIV/AIDS, disaster recovery and redevelopment, refugees, microfinance, water, global health, immigration, orphans, foster care, global trade, malnutrition, climate change, green building, malaria, conservation, crimes against humanity, genocide and childhood obesity.
Saving Homeless Pets' Lives
Petsmart has this great non-profit that saves pets' lives. It's a great organization. I love animals and would like to applaud Petsmart for this initiative. Learn more at their website below.
From: About Petsmart Charities
A lifelong, loving home for every pet.
Saving homeless pets’ lives. That's the heart and soul of everything we do.
Through our adoption centers alone, we help save one life every minute they are open. In addition, all the programs we create and animal welfare agencies we support help to end euthanasia while promoting healthy relationships between people and pets.
From: About Petsmart Charities
A lifelong, loving home for every pet.
Saving homeless pets’ lives. That's the heart and soul of everything we do.
Through our adoption centers alone, we help save one life every minute they are open. In addition, all the programs we create and animal welfare agencies we support help to end euthanasia while promoting healthy relationships between people and pets.
American Society of Criminology
I was excited to learn about this organization and love what they are up to - crime prevention! What I need to know is what they know is being done to prevent crime. I am adding them to the blog so that they are included. If anyone knows more about any success in crime prevention, PLEASE let me know.
From: About The American Society of Criminology
The American Society of Criminology is an international organization whose members pursue scholarly, scientific, and professional knowledge concerning the measurement, etiology, consequences, prevention, control, and treatment of crime and delinquency.
From: About The American Society of Criminology
The American Society of Criminology is an international organization whose members pursue scholarly, scientific, and professional knowledge concerning the measurement, etiology, consequences, prevention, control, and treatment of crime and delinquency.
Global Business Coalition GBC
The Global Business Coalition is an NGO, a non-governmental organization, that focuses on AIDS, TB and malaria. I was excited to find out about them and encourage you to learn more by going to their website.
From: About the Global Business Coalition
Applied Knowledge and Collaboration Get Life-Saving Results
GBC occupies a unique place in the community of NGOs—a pivotal place. We apply the private sector's special capabilities to the fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. We are an unusual NGO, one comprised entirely of businesses.
Coalition members "re-purpose" their business know-how, infrastructure and reach into tools for improving public health. Combined with the work of nonprofits, multilaterals and governments, this translates into more lives saved. Business also helps turn saved lives into productive lives.
Chevron Corporation Vice Chairman Peter Robertson sums up the GBC role this way: "We have resources, but we're not experts in disease. GBC helps us apply our resources where they can really make a difference."
Says former UNAIDS head Peter Piot, "GBC is defining a new economic development model."
From: About the Global Business Coalition
Applied Knowledge and Collaboration Get Life-Saving Results
GBC occupies a unique place in the community of NGOs—a pivotal place. We apply the private sector's special capabilities to the fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. We are an unusual NGO, one comprised entirely of businesses.
Coalition members "re-purpose" their business know-how, infrastructure and reach into tools for improving public health. Combined with the work of nonprofits, multilaterals and governments, this translates into more lives saved. Business also helps turn saved lives into productive lives.
Chevron Corporation Vice Chairman Peter Robertson sums up the GBC role this way: "We have resources, but we're not experts in disease. GBC helps us apply our resources where they can really make a difference."
Says former UNAIDS head Peter Piot, "GBC is defining a new economic development model."
The Hunger Project
The Hunger Project was formed in 1977 and continues today to eliminate poverty and end hunger. Bravo to them as they continue to impact these issues around the world.
From: About The Hunger Project
Mission
The Hunger Project is a global, non-profit, strategic organization committed to the sustainable end of world hunger.
In Africa, Asia and Latin America, The Hunger Project seeks to end hunger and poverty by empowering people to lead lives of self-reliance, meet their own basic needs and build better futures for their children.
The Hunger Project carries out its mission through three essential activities: mobilizing village clusters at the grassroots level to build self-reliance, empowering women as key change agents, and forging effective partnerships with local government.
From: About The Hunger Project
Mission
The Hunger Project is a global, non-profit, strategic organization committed to the sustainable end of world hunger.
In Africa, Asia and Latin America, The Hunger Project seeks to end hunger and poverty by empowering people to lead lives of self-reliance, meet their own basic needs and build better futures for their children.
The Hunger Project carries out its mission through three essential activities: mobilizing village clusters at the grassroots level to build self-reliance, empowering women as key change agents, and forging effective partnerships with local government.
Ron Clark Academy
I am a huge movie buff and came across The Ron Clark Story with Matthew Perry. I can't recommend it enough. A true story, Ron Clark transformed a class of students at a Harlem school who had been given up on by themselves, the school and their families. These students excelled beyond anyone else in the school according to the movie. So successful was Ron Clark's transformation that he went on to establish the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta. He shares his tips and techniques in his book "The Essential 55," 55 Rules that he used in that first class. The first rule is "We are family."
Learn more about The Ron Clark Academy and borrow, copy and emulate...his stuff works!
About The Ron Clark Academy
Thank you Ron!
Learn more about The Ron Clark Academy and borrow, copy and emulate...his stuff works!
About The Ron Clark Academy
Thank you Ron!
About Kiva: Poverty Elimination, Microfinance
Kiva is an awesome non-profit that brings funds to small business entrepreneurs all over the world in order to alleviate poverty. Please learn more by visiting their website, connect with them and emulate.
From About Kiva
We Let You Loan to the Working Poor
Kiva's mission is to connect people through lending for the sake of alleviating poverty.
Kiva is the world's first person-to-person micro-lending website, empowering individuals to lend directly to unique entrepreneurs in the developing world.
The people you see on Kiva's site are real individuals in need of funding - not marketing material. When you browse entrepreneurs' profiles on the site, choose someone to lend to, and then make a loan, you are helping a real person make great strides towards economic independence and improve life for themselves, their family, and their community. Throughout the course of the loan (usually 6-12 months), you can receive email journal updates and track repayments. Then, when you get your loan money back, you can relend to someone else in need.
Kiva partners with existing expert microfinance institutions. In doing so, we gain access to outstanding entrepreneurs from impoverished communities world-wide. Our partners are experts in choosing qualified entrepreneurs. That said, they are usually short on funds. Through Kiva, our partners upload their entrepreneur profiles directly to the site so you can lend to them. When you do, not only do you get a unique experience connecting to a specific entrepreneur on the other side of the planet, but our microfinance partners can do more of what they do, more efficiently.
Kiva provides a data-rich, transparent lending platform. We are constantly working to make the system more transparent to show how money flows throughout the entire cycle, and what effect it has on the people and institutions lending it, borrowing it, and managing it along the way. To do this, we are using the power of the internet to facilitate one-to-one connections that were previously prohibitively expensive. Child sponsorship has always been a high overhead business. Kiva creates a similar interpersonal connection at much lower costs due to the instant, inexpensive nature of internet delivery. The individuals featured on our website are real people who need a loan and are waiting for socially-minded individuals like you to lend them money
From About Kiva
We Let You Loan to the Working Poor
Kiva's mission is to connect people through lending for the sake of alleviating poverty.
Kiva is the world's first person-to-person micro-lending website, empowering individuals to lend directly to unique entrepreneurs in the developing world.
The people you see on Kiva's site are real individuals in need of funding - not marketing material. When you browse entrepreneurs' profiles on the site, choose someone to lend to, and then make a loan, you are helping a real person make great strides towards economic independence and improve life for themselves, their family, and their community. Throughout the course of the loan (usually 6-12 months), you can receive email journal updates and track repayments. Then, when you get your loan money back, you can relend to someone else in need.
Kiva partners with existing expert microfinance institutions. In doing so, we gain access to outstanding entrepreneurs from impoverished communities world-wide. Our partners are experts in choosing qualified entrepreneurs. That said, they are usually short on funds. Through Kiva, our partners upload their entrepreneur profiles directly to the site so you can lend to them. When you do, not only do you get a unique experience connecting to a specific entrepreneur on the other side of the planet, but our microfinance partners can do more of what they do, more efficiently.
Kiva provides a data-rich, transparent lending platform. We are constantly working to make the system more transparent to show how money flows throughout the entire cycle, and what effect it has on the people and institutions lending it, borrowing it, and managing it along the way. To do this, we are using the power of the internet to facilitate one-to-one connections that were previously prohibitively expensive. Child sponsorship has always been a high overhead business. Kiva creates a similar interpersonal connection at much lower costs due to the instant, inexpensive nature of internet delivery. The individuals featured on our website are real people who need a loan and are waiting for socially-minded individuals like you to lend them money
The Hashoo Foundation
The Hashoo Foundation created a poverty elimination program that recently won the BBC World Challenge 2008 for their "Women Empowerment Through Honey Bee Farming." Learn more by visiting their website and emulate!
From: About The Hashoo Foundation's Women Empowerment through Honey Bee Farming Project
The Women Empowerment through Honey Bee Farming Commitment is designed to economically empower women through technical training, enabling them to generate a stable source of income and contribute to their family’s well being. The commitment will address the employment discrepancy between male and female beekeepers in the Northern Areas of Pakistan (NAP) & Chitral and promote equal opportunity. The project’s impact will improve women’s status in their communities, as they become more integrated in the decision-making process within male-dominated societies.
From: About The Hashoo Foundation's Women Empowerment through Honey Bee Farming Project
The Women Empowerment through Honey Bee Farming Commitment is designed to economically empower women through technical training, enabling them to generate a stable source of income and contribute to their family’s well being. The commitment will address the employment discrepancy between male and female beekeepers in the Northern Areas of Pakistan (NAP) & Chitral and promote equal opportunity. The project’s impact will improve women’s status in their communities, as they become more integrated in the decision-making process within male-dominated societies.
What is NOWW News About?
NowwNews focuses on what's working in the world in the areas of poverty elimination, hunger relief, prison reform and the many other areas that create harmonious and thriving communities. The purpose of NowwNews is to provide the "how" and "who" of these incredible projects around the world so that they can be connected and implemented in more and more places. The principle here is that whatever we focus on, our life becomes that, so let's focus on what's working to make all communities thrive.
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