OMG Season of Sharing List

Art for Refugees in Transition

39 million people around the world are refugees or internally displaced. More than 40 percent of refugees are children. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, 2007.

A.R.T. provides curriculum and training programs to engage both children and adults in refugee communities in visual, performing and creative arts drawn from their own cultures. These activities provide local and international relief institutions with tools to help refugee communities recover from the trauma, terror and dislocation of war.

A.R.T - is not only looking for monetary contributions, but also donate airline miles, volunteer services and those who can provide printing.


Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice

Founded in 1977, Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice is a dynamic global foundation providing critically needed financial support to lesbian-led, LGBTI and progressive organizations. Separated by continents, language and culture, Astraea grantees are seizing opportunities, and laying the groundwork necessary for women and LGBTI people to claim their human rights. Today, Astraea is the only foundation in the world solely dedicated to supporting LGBTI organizations in both the U.S. and internationally. They raise funds and issue grants based on the belief that all women can participate in the philanthropic process - from giving to grantmaking

Best Friends Animal Society

Best Friends Animal Society is guided by a simple philosophy: kindness to animals builds a better world for all of us. They are a no kill animal sanctuary for all animals, big and small. And their goals are : Develop, implement and share world-class standards for companion animal care, including their physical, emotional and behavioral health. End the killing of animals who are labeled "unadoptable" in shelters, by bringing about a time when every pet can enjoy a loving home and when every family can find their special companion through humane sources. Initiate and lead social action on behalf of animals everywhere by providing organizational resources and vision, and by sharing our knowledge and experience freely, so that all communities can achieve the goal of No More Homeless Pets.

Equality Now

Equality Now was founded in 1992 to work for the protection and promotion of the human rights of women around the world. Working with national human rights organizations and individual activists, Equality Now documents violence and discrimination against women and mobilizes international action to support their efforts to stop these human rights abuses. Through its Women’s Action Network of concerned groups and individuals around the world, Equality Now: distributes information about human rights violations; takes action to protest these violations; brings public attention to human rights violations against women


FINCA International
In 22 countries, FINCA's Village Banking programs give the working poor capital loans to finance self-employment activities, improve family income and achieve financial independence.


International AIDS Vaccine Iniatitive (IAVI)

Founded in 1996, the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) is a global, public-private partnership working to accelerate the development of a vaccine to prevent HIV infection and AIDS. IAVI researches and develops vaccine candidates, conducts policy analyses, and serves as an advocate for the field with offices in Africa, India, and Europe. IAVI supports a comprehensive approach to HIV and AIDS that balances the expansion and strengthening of existing HIV prevention and treatment programs with targeted investments in new AIDS prevention technologies. As the world's only organization focused solely on the development of an AIDS vaccine, IAVI also works to ensure a future vaccine will be accessible to all who need it


GLSEN - Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network

GLSEN strives to assure that each member of every school community is valued and respected regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. They seek to develop school climates where difference is valued for the positive contribution it makes in creating a more vibrant and diverse community. They welcome as members any and all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or occupation, who are committed to seeing this philosophy realized in K-12 schools.


Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind

Since 1946, the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind has provided guide dogs free of charge to blind people who seek enhanced mobility and independence. Their students come from all over the United States and many foreign countries. Their trademark small classes and individualized instruction often attract students who may have special requirements. They have successfully trained hearing-impaired blind people as well as many physically challenged people to benefit from a guide/helper dog. In addition to providing Second Sight through their guide dogs, the Guide Dog Foundation offers extensive public education vehicles to broaden society's understanding of vision, visual impairment, blindness, and disability rights.

Heifer International

Heifer brings a holistic approach in order to build sustainable communities. They'e developed a set of global initiatives – areas of emphasis that must be addressed to meet the mission of ending world hunger and poverty and caring for the earth. They are:Agroecology,Animal Well-Being,Gender Equity,HIV-AIDS,Microenterprise,Urban Agriculture,Young People's Initiative.

Through Heifer family are giving live stock as well as other resources and tools for self-sufficiency and to build strong village and communities.

Through Heifer - you can purchase a llama, a cow, a goat, a sheep, or yes even a flock of geese that can make the difference in someone's life.

Jewish National Fund

Founded in 1926, the Jewish National Fund (JNF) America has been a vital part of Zionist history, achieving its goal of purchasing the land that would become the State of Israel, helping to develop that land into a thriving nation, and protecting Israel's environment. Over the past century, JNF has planted over 240 million trees, built over 180 dams and reservoirs, developed over 250,000 acres of land, created more than 1,000 parks throughout Israel and educated students around the world about Israel and the environment. As a global environmental leader focusing on Israel, JNF is committed to improving the quality of life for all who live in the Middle East.


LA Conservation Corp

Celebrating their 20th anniversary this year the LA Conversation Corp's primary mission is to provide at-risk young adults and school-aged youth with opportunities for success through job skills training, education and work experience with an emphasis on conservation and service projects that benefit the community.

The Nature Conservancy
Since 1951, and with over one million members annually The Nature Conservancy has protected more than 119 million acres of land and 5,000 miles of rivers worldwide — and we operate more than 100 marine conservation projects globally. Work in more than 30 countries — protecting habitats from grasslands to coral reefs, from Australia to Alaska to Zambia. And address threats to conservation involving climate change, fire, fresh water, forests, invasive species, and marine ecosystems.

One Laptop per Child

One Laptop per Child's mission is to create 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. The XO laptop is designed and built especially for children in developing countries, living in some of the most remote environments. It’s about the size of a small textbook. It has built-in wireless and a unique screen that is readable under direct sunlight for children who go to school outdoors. It’s extremely durable, brilliantly functional, energy-efficient, and fun. Biggest way you can join in is to donate one or more laptops at amazon.com/xo. Or do "the buy one get one" - donate an XO laptop to a child in a developing nation, and to purchase an XO laptop for yourself. But there of other ways to participate; host a fundraising drive, help at a nearby pilot, or spread the word.


Operation Smile

Operation Smile is a worldwide children’s medical charity. Founded by Dr. William P. Magee Jr., a plastic surgeon, and his wife, Kathleen S. Magee, a nurse and clinical social worker. Since 1982, more than 120,000 children and young adults with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities have been treated by thousands of volunteers worldwide and thousands of medical professionals have been trained globally. Operation Smile was launched after its first mission to the Philippines in 1982. Operation Smile currently has a presence in 51 countries.

Opportunity International
Opportunity International is a global network of partner organizations that raise funds and implement microfinance programs for poor entrepreneurs in developing countries.

Seacology

Seacology is the world's premier environmental organization with the sole purpose of preserving the highly endangered biodiversity of islands throughout the world. Indigenous people are all too often faced with the dilemma of choosing between protecting their precious natural resources, and economic development. Seacology searches for win-win situations where both the local environment is protected and islanders receive some tangible benefit for doing so. They work closely with islanders right from the beginning, their projects enjoy strong local support and consequently lead to long-term benefits. Their ever-expanding list of projects shows that they are truly making a difference in protecting threatened island biodiversity throughout the world.


Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Susan G. Komen for the Cure is an organization supporting breast cancer research. Since its inception in 1982, Komen has raised over $1 billion for research, education and health services, making it the largest breast cancer charity in the US. It has more than 75,000 volunteers nationwide — 122 affiliates in the United States (47 of 50 states) and 3 in other countries.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure states that its aim is to "reduce the burden of breast cancer on a global level". Believing that no single approach to breast health will prove effective around the world, Komen works with local communities and organizations to develop programs for particular groups or cultures.

There are organization worldwide fighting to win the battle against breast cancer, all need help, support, volunteers, and voices.

The Tibet Fund

Under the guidance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Tibet Fund was founded in 1981 to help Tibetan refugees improve their lives and enable them to maintain their Tibetan way of life and culture. They bring urgently needed resources to the educational, cultural, health and socio-economic institutions that sustain the Tibetan way of life, language, and traditions. The Tibet Fund's support helps to sustain the Tibetan refugee settlements in India, Nepal and Bhutan and provide rehabilitation services for the thousands of new refugees who continue to arrive from Tibet every year. The Fund works in close cooperation with the Central Tibetan Administration to develop programs to benefit Tibetans.

UNICEF

Some of you may know UNICEF from the little orange boxes at from Halloween, but it'ss so much more. Created by the United Nations General Assembly on December 11, 1946, to provide emergency food and healthcare to children in countries that had been devastated by World War II UNICEF became a permanent part of the United Nations System in 1953. It relies on contributions from governments and private donors and UNICEF's total income for 2006 was $2,781,000,000. Governments contribute two thirds of the organization's resources; private groups and some 6 million individuals contribute the rest through the National Committees.

UNICEF's mission is to provide special protection for the most disadvantaged children: victims of war, disasters, extreme poverty, all forms of violence and exploitation, and those with disabilities. Their work aims to fulfill their basic needs and restore their dignity.


Variety -The Children's Charity

Variety the Children's Charity is an outgrowth of the "Variety Club," a social organization founded in 1927 by 11 men affiliated with the entertainment industry in Pittsburgh, PA. On Christmas Eve 1928, a baby named Catherine was found in the Sheridan Theatre in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Her adoption initiated the charitable work of Variety the Children's Charity. Variety Children's Lifeline was founded in 1982 to provide medical and surgical assistance to children in less-developed countries. And in 2007, Variety Children's Lifeline provided life-saving and life-enhancing surgeries to over 3,000 children in 52 countries. Today, Variety has 50 Tents (Chapters) in 14 countries. Variety has raised over US$1.5 billion for children around the world.

Variety has remained to its entertainment roots, with its Celebrity Ambassadors and their Movie Industry Advisory Board.

Water for People

Founded in 1991, Water For People (WFP) helps people in developing countries improve their quality of life by supporting the development of locally sustainable drinking water resources, sanitation facilities and health and hygiene education programs. Their vision is a world where all people have access to safe drinking water and sanitation; a world where no one suffers or dies from a water- or sanitation-related disease. Water For People works with highly trained and reputable local nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in many of its programs including the Peace Corps, CARE, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Rotary International to name a few. In addition to these groups, Water For People considers municipalities, the community members themselves and donors as vital partners in facilitating sustainable water programs.