Giving locally: 10 Philadelphia nonprofits on ‘Giving Tuesday’
'Giving Tuesday' at a Salvation Army location in New York City. (Photo by Carlo Allegri for Hanes)
After a day of giving thanks followed by four days of shopping madness, the first Tuesday in December challenges us to give instead of buy. 2013 marks the second annual “Giving Tuesday,” a movement towards a national day of giving.
This list offers ideas for 10 Philadelphia-based nonprofits that do wonderful work serving children, families, and animals in our area. All the organizations have links for easy online donations, but many offer up other ways to contribute as well. Below is a link to each organization with a description of their work as posted on their websites.
The Children’s Literacy Initiative
Children’s Literacy Initiative (CLI) is a nonprofit that works with teachers to transform instruction so that children can become powerful readers, writers and thinkers. Many schools throughout our city have benefitted from CLI’s classroom libraries, teacher coaching, and support for parents and children as well.
While many of us remember the days of canned food drives at our schools, offices or community centers, in today’s world, one of the most effective ways to combat hunger is by a financial donation. This allows Philabundance to strategically procure and distribute emergency food to areas of need, as well as strategize long-term solutions to create better access and resources for our most vulnerable communities. With many families feeling the blow from recent SNAP cuts, it’s more important than ever to support organizations like Philabundance.
Project Home works to find housing, employment opportunities, medical care, and education for people affected by homelessness. Project HOME empowers people to break the cycle of homelessness, address the structural causes of poverty, and helps them attain their fullest potential as members of society.
Congreso is a nationally recognized multi-service organization. Congreso’s goal is to alleviate poverty and promote economic self-sufficiency to ensure that our most vulnerable populations have the educational credentials and workforce skills to compete in a global economy. Congreso places the client at the center for all decisions and achieves its goals through measuring client outcomes and creating strategic partnerships. Congeso is an established leader of education, workforce, and health, behavioral health, and safety services.
A gift to the Philadelphia’s Children First Fund will directly impact Philadelphia’s public school students through targeted program areas in: Arts, Music and Culture, Athletics, Early Childhood Education, Health, School Climate, and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
Maternity Care Coalition’s mission is to improve maternal and child health and well-being through the collaborative efforts of individuals, families, providers and communities. MCC serves over 4,000 women and babies a year. Additionally, MCC is Pennsylvania’s largest provider of Early Head Start services.
The mission of Women Against Abuse is to provide quality, holistic and compassionate services, in a manner that fosters self-respect and independence in persons who have been victimized by domestic violence. The program and services offered by Women Against Abuse are guided by a philosophy of service that seeks to empower women and respect their diversity.
Women’s Community Revitalization Project
The Women’s Community Revitalization Project (WCRP) is committed to social and economic equity for low-income women and their families. We develop housing and neighborhood facilities; provide supportive services; advocate for policy change; and honor leadership, dignity, and justice in our communities.
PAWS is an organization dedicated to saving Philadelphia’s homeless, abandoned, and unwanted animals. PAWS is the city’s largest no-kill shelter and operates a high-volume, low-cost clinic serving pet owners and rescue organizations that lack access to affordable basic veterinary care. Through its adoption locations, special events, and foster care network, PAWS finds loving homes for thousands of animals each year. PAWS is working to make Philadelphia a place where every healthy and treatable pet is guaranteed a home.
AIDS Law Project Of Pennsylvania
The AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania is a nonprofit, public-interest law firm providing free legal assistance to people with HIV/AIDS and those affected by the epidemic. The ALPP educates the public about AIDS-related legal issues, trains case management professionals to become better advocates for their HIV-positive clients, and works at local, state and national levels to achieve fair laws & policies. The Project is committed to breaking the physical and linguistic barriers that often impede access to legal services. The Philadelphia AIDS Law Project makes home and hospital visits to clients too ill to travel to offices.
Do you participate in Giving Tuesday? What Philly organization would you add to our list?
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