Giving It Away

Now is the season when we have that special feeling to give. Some of it is Christmas and all the presents we pass around our family and friends, but it is something else about this time of year.

Is it the baby in the manger that makes us part with our dollars? Is it the last month of the year to create tax deductions? Do we just become overcome with goodwill of the season?

Whatever the reason, our mailboxes are filled with request that tug at our hearts and wallets. Even our shopping ventures are interrupted by beggars for every cause under the sun just wanting a parcel of our holiday funds.

As we sit back enjoying the warmth of family in front of a fireplace engulfed in our drink and abundance, remember these folks the rest of the year.

·      A Child's Wish Association of America

·      AARP Foundation

·      Accion International

·      Accuracy in Media

·      Action Against Hunger-USA

·      Action on Smoking and Health

·      ActionAid USA

·      AdoptAPlatoon Soldier Support Effort

·      Africa-America Institute

·      African Wildlife Foundation

·      Africare

·      AFS-USA

·      AIDS Research Alliance

·      Air Force Aid Society

·      Alaska Conservation Foundation

·      Alley Cat Allies

·      Alliance for Retired Americans (National Office)

·      ALS Association

·      Alzheimer's Association (National Office)

·      Alzheimer's Foundation of America

·      American Action Fund for Blind Children & Adults

·      American Association for Cancer Support

·      American Association of State Troopers

·      American Association of State Troopers Foundation

·      American Bird Conservancy

·      American Brain Tumor Association

·      American Breast Cancer Foundation

·      American Cancer Society

·      American Civil Liberties Union

·      American Civil Liberties Union Foundation

·      American Civil Rights Union

·      American Council of the Blind (National Office)

·      American Diabetes Association

·      American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research

·      American Farmland Trust

·      American Federation of Police & Concerned Citizens

·      American Forests

·      American Foundation for Children with AIDS

·      American Foundation for Disabled Children

·      American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

·      American Foundation for the Blind

·      American Friends Service Committee

·      American Heart Association

·      American Humane Association

·      American Indian College Fund

·      American Institute for Cancer Research

·      American Jewish Committee

·      American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee

·      American Jewish World Service

·      American Kidney Fund

·      American Legion National Headquarters

·      American Leprosy Missions

·      American Life League

·      American Liver Foundation

·      American Lung Association (National Office)

·      American Near East Refugee Aid

·      American Parkinson Disease Association

·      American Printing House for the Blind

·      American Red Cross

·      American Refugee Committee

·      American Rivers

·      American Sexual Health Association

·      American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

·      American Studies Center

·      Americans United for Separation of Church and State

·      AmeriCares

·      Amnesty International of the USA

·      AMVETS National Headquarters

·      AMVETS National Service Foundation

·      Andre Agassi Foundation for Education

·      Animal Legal Defense Fund

·      Animal Welfare Institute

·      Anti-Defamation League & Foundation

·      Arbor Day Foundation

·      Arc of the United States (National Office)

·      Armed Services YMCA of the USA

·      Army Emergency Relief

·      Arthritis Foundation

·      Asia Foundation

·      Asia Society

·      Asian American Legal Defense & Education Fund

·      Asian Relief

·      Associated Humane Societies

·      Association for Firefighters and Paramedics

·      Association on American Indian Affairs

·      Autism Speaks

·      Autism Spectrum Disorder Foundation

·      Avon Products Foundation

·      B'nai B'rith International

·      Bailey House

·      Bat Conservation International

·      Bend the Arc - A Jewish Partnership for Justice

·      Best Friends Animal Society

·      Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America (National Office)

·      Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation

·      Blinded Veterans Association

·      Bob Woodruff Family Foundation

·      Born Free USA United with Animal Protection Institute

·      Bowery Residents' Committee

·      Boy Scouts of America (National Office)

·      Boys and Girls Clubs of America (National Office)

·      Boys Town

·      Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence

·      Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence

·      Braille Institute of America

·      Brain & Behavior Research Foundation

·      Bread for the World

·      Bread for the World Institute

·      Breast Cancer Charities of America

·      Breast Cancer Fund

·      Breast Cancer Research Foundation

·      Breast Cancer Society

·      BrightFocus Foundation

·      Brookings Institution

·      Brother's Brother Foundation

·      Cal Farley's Boys Ranch and Affiliates

·      California Police Youth Charities

·      Camp Fire National Headquarters

·      Cancer Care

·      Cancer Federation

·      Cancer Fund of America

·      Cancer Recovery Foundation of America

·      Cancer Research Institute

·      Cancer Survivors' Fund

·      CARE

·      Caring for Our Children Foundation

·      Carter Center

·      Catalyst

·      Catholic Charities USA (National Office)

·      Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights

·      Catholic Medical Mission Board

·      Catholic Relief Services

·      CEDARS

·      Center for American Homeless Veterans

·      Center for Biological Diversity

·      Center for Community Change

·      Center for Constitutional Rights

·      Center for Reproductive Rights

·      Center for Science in the Public Interest

·      Center for Victims of Torture

·      Central Asia Institute

·      charity: water

·      Chesapeake Bay Foundation

·      Child Find of America

·      Child Welfare League of America

·      ChildFund International

·      Childhelp

·      Childhood Leukemia Foundation

·      Children Incorporated

·      Children International

·      Children With Hair Loss

·      Children's Cancer Fund of America

·      Children's Cancer Recovery Foundation

·      Children's Cancer Research Fund

·      Children's Defense Fund

·      Children's Health Fund

·      Children's Hunger Relief Fund

·      Children's Inn at NIH

·      Children's Leukemia Research Association

·      Children's Wish Foundation International

·      Christian Advocates Serving Evangelism

·      Christian Appalachian Project

·      Christian Record Services

·      Christian Relief Services Charities

·      Christopher Reeve Foundation

·      Church World Service

·      Circle of Friends for American Veterans

·      Citizens Against Government Waste

·      City Harvest

·      City of Hope

·      Coalition for the Homeless

·      Coalition to Salute America's Heroes

·      Committee for Missing Children

·      Committee to Protect Journalists

·      Common Cause

·      Common Cause Education Fund

·      Community Charity Advancement

·      Compassion & Choices

·      Compassion International

·      Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS)

·      Concord Coalition

·      Conservation Fund

·      Conservation International Foundation

·      Convoy of Hope

·      Corporate Accountability International

·      Cousteau Society

·      Covenant House

·      Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America

·      CureSearch for Children's Cancer

·      Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

·      D.E.L.T.A. Rescue

·      Dakota Indian Foundation

·      Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation

·      Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

·      David Livingstone Missionary Foundation

·      Defeat Diabetes Foundation

·      Defenders of Wildlife

·      Diabetes Action Research and Education Foundation

·      Diabetes Research & Wellness Foundation

·      Diabetes Research Institute Foundation

·      Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International

·      Direct Relief & Direct Relief Foundation

·      Disabled American Veterans

·      Disabled Police and Sheriffs Foundation

·      Disabled Police Officers Counseling Center

·      Disabled Police Officers of America

·      Disabled Veterans National Foundation

·      Disabled Veterans Services

·      Doctors Without Borders USA

·      Don Stewart Association

·      DonorsChoose.org

·      Doris Day Animal League

·      Drug Policy Alliance

·      Ducks Unlimited

·      Earth Island Institute

·      Earthjustice

·      Earthworks

·      Easter Seals (National Office)

·      Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee

·      Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation

·      EngenderHealth

·      Entertainment Industry Foundation

·      Environmental Defense Action Fund

·      Environmental Defense Fund

·      Environmental Working Group

·      Epilepsy Foundation & Epilepsy Research Foundation

·      Episcopal Relief & Development

·      Family Care International

·      Farm Aid

·      Farm Sanctuary

·      Federation for American Immigration Reform

·      Feed Our Veterans

·      Feed the Children

·      Feeding America

·      FINCA International (National Office)

·      Find the Children

·      Firefighters Charitable Foundation

·      Firefighters Support Foundation

·      Firefighters Support Services

·      First Candle (National Office)

·      Fisher House Foundation

·      Fistula Foundation

·      Food and Water Watch

·      Food Bank for New York City

·      Food for the Hungry

·      Food for the Poor

·      Fortune Society

·      Foundation Fighting Blindness

·      Foundation for AIDS Research

·      Foundation for American Veterans

·      Freedom Alliance

·      Freedom from Hunger

·      Fresh Air Fund

·      Friends of Animals

·      Friends of the Earth

·      Friends of the Israel Defense Forces

·      Friends of UNFPA

·      Front Range Equine Rescue

·      Fund for Global Human Rights

·      Futures for Children

·      Gaia-Movement Living Earth Green World Action USA

·      Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation

·      Gay Men's Health Crisis

·      Girl Scouts of the USA (National Office)

·      Girls Incorporated (National Office)

·      Give Kids the World

·      Glaucoma Foundation

·      Global Fund for Women

·      Global Green USA

·      Global Hunger Project

·      Good Charity

·      Good360

·      Goodwill Industries International (National Office)

·      Gorilla Foundation

·      Government Accountability Project (GAP)

·      Grameen Foundation USA

·      Greenpeace

·      Greenpeace Fund

·      Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind

·      Guide Dogs for the Blind

·      Guide Dogs of America

·      Guiding Eyes for the Blind

·      Guttmacher Institute

·      Habitat for Humanity International (National Office)

·      Hadassah

·      Handicap International

·      Healing Heroes Network

·      HealthRight International

·      Hearing Health Foundation

·      Heart Center of America

·      Heifer International

·      Helen Keller International

·      Help Hospitalized Veterans

·      Help Our Wounded

·      HelpMeSee

·      Heritage for the Blind

·      Heritage Foundation

·      Hispanic Scholarship Fund

·      Hole in the Wall Gang Fund

·      Homes for Our Troops

·      Hospice Education Institute

·      Human Rights Campaign

·      Human Rights Campaign Foundation

·      Human Rights First

·      Human Rights Watch

·      Humane Farming Association

·      Humane Society of the United States

·      Huntington's Disease Society of America

·      In Defense of Animals

·      Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund

·      Innocence Project

·      Interfaith Alliance Foundation

·      International Campaign for Tibet

·      International Eye Foundation

·      International Fellowship of Christians and Jews

·      International Fund for Animal Welfare

·      International Medical Corps

·      International Peace Institute

·      International Planned Parenthood Federation-Western Hemisphere

·      International Rescue Committee

·      International Union of Police Associations, AFL-CIO & Affiliates

·      Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund

·      Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America

·      Islamic Relief-USA

·      Izaak Walton League of America

·      Jane Goodall Institute

·      Japan Society

·      JDRF International

·      Jewish Federations of North America

·      Jewish National Fund

·      Jewish War Veterans of the USA

·      Judicial Watch

·      Junior Achievement USA (National Office)

·      Keep America Beautiful (National Office)

·      Kids Wish Network

·      Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund

·      LatinoJustice PRLDEF

·      Law Enforcement Education Program

·      Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund

·      League of Conservation Voters

·      League of Conservation Voters Education Fund

·      League of Women Voters Education Fund

·      League of Women Voters of the US

·      Learning Ally

·      Legal Momentum

·      Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

·      Lifesavers

·      LiveStrong Foundation

·      Lupus Foundation of America (National Office)

·      Lupus Research Institute

·      Lutheran World Relief

·      Macular Degeneration Association

·      Make-A-Wish Foundation

·      MAP International

·      March of Dimes Foundation

·      Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation

·      Marine Mammal Center

·      Marine Toys for Tots Foundation

·      Mays Mission for the Handicapped

·      MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger

·      Meals on Wheels America (National Office)

·      Media Research Center

·      Medical Teams International

·      MedicAlert Foundation United States

·      Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

·      Mennonite Central Committee

·      Mental Health America

·      Mercy Corps

·      Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund

·      Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research

·      Military Order of the Purple Heart Service Foundation

·      Miracle Flights for Kids

·      Mission Continues

·      Mothers Against Drunk Driving

·      Movember Foundation

·      Ms. Foundation for Women

·      Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation

·      Multiple Sclerosis Association of America & Affiliates

·      Multiple Sclerosis Foundation

·      Muscular Dystrophy Association

·      NAACP & NAACP Special Contribution Fund

·      NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund

·      NAMI

·      NARAL Pro Choice America (National Office)

·      NARAL Pro-Choice America Foundation (National Office)

·      National 4-H Council

·      National Alliance to End Homelessness

·      National Anti-Vivisection Society

·      National Association of Chiefs of Police

·      National Association of Police Organizations

·      National Audubon Society

·      National Breast Cancer Coalition Fund

·      National Cancer Assistance Foundation

·      National Cancer Center

·      National Cancer Coalition

·      National Caregiving Foundation

·      National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

·      National Children's Cancer Society

·      National Children's Leukemia Foundation

·      National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare

·      National Council of La Raza (NCLR)

·      National Council on Aging

·      National Disaster Search Dog Foundation

·      National Emergency Medicine Association

·      National Federation of the Blind

·      National Foundation for Cancer Research

·      National Hemophilia Foundation (National Office)

·      National Humane Education Society

·      National Jewish Health

·      National Kidney Foundation

·      National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund

·      National Legal Aid and Defender Association

·      National Military Family Association

·      National Multiple Sclerosis Society (National Office)

·      National Organization for Women (National Office)

·      National Osteoporosis Foundation

·      National Park Foundation

·      National Park Trust

·      National Parkinson Foundation

·      National Parks Conservation Association

·      National Police Defense Foundation

·      National Psoriasis Foundation

·      National Rifle Association

·      National Rifle Association (NRA) Foundation

·      National Right to Life Committee

·      National Right to Life Educational Trust Fund

·      National Right to Work Committee

·      National Right to Work Legal Defense & Education Foundation

·      National Trust for Historic Preservation

·      National Urban League (National Office)

·      National Veterans Foundation

·      National Veterans Services Fund

·      National Vietnam Veterans Foundation

·      National Wildlife Federation

·      Native American Heritage Association

·      Native American Rights Fund

·      Natural Resources Defense Council

·      Nature Conservancy

·      Navy SEAL Foundation

·      Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society

·      Negative Population Growth

·      New Israel Fund

·      Noah's Lost Ark

·      North Shore Animal League America

·      Ocean Conservancy

·      Omaha Home for Boys

·      One Acre Fund

·      Operation Homefront

·      Operation Smile

·      Operation USA

·      Opportunity International

·      ORBIS International

·      Ovarian Cancer Research Fund

·      Oxfam-America

·      Pacific Legal Foundation

·      Pancreatic Cancer Action Network

·      Paralyzed Veterans of America

·      Parents Television Council

·      Parkinson Research Foundation

·      Parkinson's Disease Foundation

·      Partners in Health

·      Partnership for Drug-Free Kids

·      Partnership With Native Americans

·      Pathfinder International

·      Paws for Purple Hearts

·      PCI-Media Impact

·      Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue

·      Pearl S. Buck International

·      People for the American Way

·      People for the American Way Foundation

·      People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals

·      Performing Animal Welfare Society

·      Pet Partners

·      PetSmart Charities

·      Phoenix House Foundation

·      Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine

·      Physicians for Social Responsibility (National Office)

·      PKD Foundation

·      Plan International USA

·      Planet Aid

·      Planned Parenthood Action Fund

·      Planned Parenthood Federation of America

·      Ploughshares Fund

·      Police Protective Fund

·      Population Action International

·      Population Connection

·      Population Council

·      Population Services International

·      Prevent Blindness America

·      Prevent Cancer Foundation

·      Prevent Child Abuse America (National Office)

·      Prison Fellowship Ministries

·      Project Concern International

·      Project Cure

·      Project HOPE

·      Proliteracy Worldwide

·      Prostate Cancer Foundation

·      Public Citizen

·      Public Citizen Foundation

·      Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

·      Rainforest Action Network

·      Rainforest Alliance

·      Reach Out and Read, Inc.

·      Reading Is Fundamental

·      Red Cloud Indian School

·      Redwings Horse Sanctuary

·      Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice

·      Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice Educational Fund

·      Research to Prevent Blindness

·      Resources for the Future

·      ReSurge International

·      Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

·      Ronald McDonald House Charities (National Office)

·      Rotary Foundation of Rotary International

·      SADD (National Office)

·      Salesian Missions

·      Salk Institute for Biological Studies

·      Salvation Army-Central Territory

·      Salvation Army-Eastern Territory

·      Salvation Army-Southern Territory

·      Salvation Army-Western Territory

·      Samaritan's Purse

·      San Francisco AIDS Foundation

·      Save the Children

·      Save the Redwoods League

·      Scholarship America

·      Seeing Eye

·      Senior Citizens League (TREA)

·      Seniors Coalition

·      Seva Foundation

·      Shriners Hospitals for Children

·      Sierra Club

·      Sierra Club Foundation

·      Simon Wiesenthal Center

·      Smile Train

·      Soldiers' Angels

·      SOS Children's Villages-USA

·      Southern Poverty Law Center

·      Southwest Indian Foundation

·      SPCA International

·      Special Olympics

·      Special Operations Warrior Foundation

·      St. Bonaventure Indian Mission & School

·      St. Francis Mission Foundation

·      St. Joseph's Indian School

·      St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

·      St. Labre Indian School Educational Association

·      Starlight Children's Foundation (National Office)

·      Starr Commonwealth

·      Student Conservation Association

·      Sunshine Foundation (National Office)

·      Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation

·      TechnoServe

·      The Y (National Office)

·      Tiger Haven

·      Tiger Missing Link Foundation

·      Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors

·      TREA Memorial Foundation

·      Trevor Project

·      Trout Unlimited

·      Trust for Public Land

·      U.S. English

·      Unbound

·      UNCF/United Negro College Fund

·      Union of Concerned Scientists

·      United American Patriots

·      United Animal Nations

·      United Breast Cancer Foundation

·      United Cerebral Palsy (National Office)

·      United Methodist Committee on Relief

·      United Service Organizations

·      United Spinal Association

·      United States Association for UNHCR

·      United States Deputy Sheriffs' Association

·      United States Fund for UNICEF

·      United States Justice Foundation

·      United States Navy Memorial Foundation

·      United States Olympic Committee

·      United to End Genocide

·      United Way Worldwide

·      Veterans Assistance Foundation

·      Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. and Foundation

·      Veterans of the Vietnam War & The Veterans Coalition

·      Veterans Support Foundation

·      Veterans Support Organization

·      Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund

·      Vietnam Veterans of America

·      VietNow National Headquarters

·      Volunteers of America

·      Walker Cancer Research Institute

·      Water.org

·      Waterkeeper Alliance

·      Wilderness Society

·      Wildlife Conservation Society

·      Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation

·      Wishing Well Foundation USA

·      Witness for Peace

·      Woman to Woman Breast Cancer Foundation

·      Women for Women International - U.S.

·      WonderWork

·      World Concern

·      World Emergency Relief

·      World Food Program USA

·      World Resources Institute

·      World Vision

·      World Wildlife Fund

·      Wounded Warrior Project

·      Yosemite Conservancy

·      Young America's Foundation

·      Youth Development Fund

·      YWCA of the USA (National Office)

I’m sure there are many more in your local neighborhood with great needs for little Tommy who needs shoes or Fido who needs a home or Sally who has lost her mother or….