Charity Highlights

“The more we learn about those in need, the more we can help” - Janice Milliman, BSW

• ALS Association (ALS Association)  Calabasas Hills, CA
  Also known as: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association
  Stated Purpose:"To find a cure for and improve living with ALS [amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease]."
  
  ALSA awards grants to physicians and scientists at universities, hospitals, and other institutions to determine the cause, find a cure, and develop treatments for ALS. In 2005, ALSA awarded grants for 22 new investigator-initiated studies while continuing support for 80 ongoing projects. ALSA also holds workshops on topics related to ALS to bring researchers and investigators together to exchange information on progress in research and treatment methodologies.
  
  With over thirty subject areas, fact sheets distributed by ALSA address issues such as minimizing fatigue, nursing care, slurring of speech, breathing difficulties, and feeding tubes and nutrition. ALSA offers information on the ailment, coping, managing symptoms to maximize function, and aspects to consider in making the complex decisions involved with the disease designed for people living with ALS and their families.
  
  ALSA Centers are clinics certified by the Association that, in addition to meeting established clinical and academic criteria, have experience with ALS, equipment and facilities for performing neurological diagnostics and imaging, and available on-site ancillary services.
  
  ALSA also offers referrals for clinical and social services for patients, family members, and health care professionals.
  



• OPERATION LOOKOUT (OPERATION LOOKOUT)  Everett, WA
  Since 1984, thousands of missing children and their victim families have received aid through OPERATION LOOKOUT®. Help is always free of charge and as close as the nearest phone or Online.
  OPERATION LOOKOUT® works on a national and international level by giving practical and technical help to victim families when children are missing before age 18. We are supported entirely by donations.
  OPERATION LOOKOUT® is not a private investigation agency, but an organization that networks with law enforcement officials, mental health professionals, government agencies, attorneys, and other non-profit organizations.
  The missing youth 24 hour HELPLINE, 1-800-LOOKOUT or 1-800-782-SEEK can be called to report a missing child, for information, search assistance, advice, and sightings. OPERATION LOOKOUT® will remain involved throughout the duration of a case until the child is recovered and we will not close a case until authorized by law enforcement or the searching family. There is never a fee for service.
  
  



• Second Harvest (Second Harvest)  Chicago, IL
  America's Second Harvest—The Nation's Food Bank Network is the nation's largest charitable hunger-relief organization:
  
  The America's Second Harvest Network secures and distributes more than 2 billion pounds of food and grocery products to more than 200 food banks and food-rescue organizations in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico each year.
  
  The America's Second Harvest Network supports approximately 50,000 local charitable agencies operating more than 94,000 programs including food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, after-school programs, Kids Cafes, Community Kitchens and BackPack Programs.
  
  Each year, the America's Second Harvest Network provides food assistance to more than 25 million low-income hungry people in the United States, including more than 9 million children and nearly 3 million seniors
  
  



• St. Andrew's Children's Clinic (St. Andrew's Children's Clinic)  Nogales, AZ
  The Clinic of Love . . . La Clinica de los Niños . . . These are affectionate names for St. Andrew's Children's Clinic in Nogales, AZ, celebrating its 33rd year of giving free medical care to children from poor Mexican families.
  
  One autumn day in 1973 in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, some concerned parents of children with cerebral palsy began a small home school. The public school system had no place for their children. The therapist who came to teach them recruited a doctor to attend to medical needs.
  
  Today, the caring parents' original idea flourishes. Housed in an Episcopal church just north of the Mexican border, St. Andrew's Children's Clinic welcomes almost 250 children and their families the first Thursday of each month, except hot July.
  
  Powering the Clinic are Three Essentials:
  
  1. Volunteers-from surgeons to food servers; many come for an hour and stay connected for years.
  
  2. Donations-of money, medicine, and essential goods from churches, businesses, civic groups, charitable trusts, and individuals.
  
  3. Love-from parents facing great obstacles in their quest for help.
  
  The children, from ages 1 month to 18 years, have a myriad of medical problems, from spina bifida to cerebral palsy, from Down's syndrome to speech and hearing problems, and more. X-rays, laboratory tests, prescriptions, orthopedic devices, and hearing aids are just some of the aids these children need right now, or over time.
  



• Volunteers of America, Inc. (Volunteers of America, Inc.)  Alexandria, VA
  Stated Purpose: "to reach and uplift all people and bring them to the knowledge and active service of God by serving people and communities in need and creating opportunities for people to experience the joy of serving others."

“Charity Highlights” will be updated periodically, featuring several charitable organizations in need of your support.  The more we learn about those in need, the more we can help

Please email us if you would like to suggest a charitable organization for the list.