CASA—The
National Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Association mission is
together with its state and local members, support and promote court-appointed
volunteer advocacy for abused and neglected children so that they can thrive
in safe, permanent homes.
http://www.nationalcasa.org/htm/about.htm
FarmAid—The mission of Farm Aid is to keep family farmers
on their land. Family farmers are our only guarantee for fresh, local food.
Our goal is to bring together family farmers and citizens to restore family
farm-centered agriculture. Family farmers ensure safe, healthful food, protect
natural resources, and strengthen local economies.
http://www.farmaid.org/site/PageServer
Greater Barber County Historical Action Association—The
Greater Barber County Historical Action Association, Inc. (GBCHAA) was organized
for the purpose of preserving the history of Barber County, Kansas; through
the enhancement of existing historical groups, development of a cultural and
historical center and to the encouragement of economic development in Barber
County.
http://www.cyberlodg.com/gbchaa
Happy Tales Humane— Happy
Tales Humane is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality
of life of animals in Middle Tennessee by rescuing, caring for and finding
adoptive homes for unwanted pets, by taking action to prevent pet over-population,
fostering a respect for all life, encouraging volunteerism, and by educating
the community about responsible pet guardianship.
http://www.happytaleshumane.com
Learn Through Laughter –Learn Through Laughter
("LTL") provides
financially challenged, yet, deserving children and youth the chance to experience
educational, humor-driven, theatrical arts through measurable programs and enriching
events. LTL is sponsored in part by the world renowned LAFFAPALOOZA! Comedy Arts
Festival as a vehicle that supports "deserving children and youth".
Learn Through Laughter performers have included Chris Tucker, Nick Canon, Raven-Symone
(Cosby, That's So Raven - Nickelodeon), Kenan and Kel (The Kenan & Kel
Show - Nickelodeon), The Famous Jet Jackson (Disney), and of course,
LAFFAPALOOZA!'s Celebrity spokesperson, Jamie Foxx.
http://www.learnthroughlaughter.org
MDA Mattie Fund — The
Muscular Dystrophy Association is a voluntary health agency working to defeat
neuromuscular diseases through programs of worldwide research, comprehensive
services, and far-reaching professional and public health education. The
Association’s programs are funded almost
entirely by individual private contributors. MDA has established a memorial
fund in memory of Mattie J.T. Stepanek, its 13 year old, National Goodwill
Ambassador - a best-selling poet who died one year ago on June 22, 2004.
http://www.mdausa.org
Monroe
Carell Jr.Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt — Vanderbilt
Children's Hospital was created to give children a place to hope and a
place to heal. Our focus on research, education and advocacy allows us
to provide comprehensive, state-of-the-art care delivered in a nurturing,
family-centered environment. It's the only way we know how to treat children
and the families that love them.
http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu
Partnering in Health — Partnering
in Health is a comprehensive internal medicine practice dedicated to the
treatment of patients with special needs. 50% of the patients have special
needs such as addictive, compulsive or behavioral problems that impact their
health. Of those 50%, at least a third do not have insurance and cannot afford
the treatment necessary to ensure good health.
http://www.partneringinhealth.org
See Jane – See
Jane seeks to engage professionals and parents in a call to dramatically increase
the percentages of female characters -- and to reduce gender stereotyping --
in media made for children 0-11. See Jane founder, Academy Award winner
Geena Davis, says, “By making it common for our youngest children to see
everywhere a balance of active and complex male and female characters, girls
and boys will grow up to empathize with and care more about each others’ stories.”
http://www.seejane.org
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital – St
Jude Children's Research Hospital is internationally recognized for
its pioneering work in finding cures and saving children with cancer and
other catastrophic diseases. Founded by late entertainer Danny Thomas and
based in Memphis, Tennessee, St. Jude freely shares its discoveries with
scientific and medical communities around the world. No family ever pays
for treatments not covered by insurance, and families without insurance are
never asked to pay.
http://www.countrycares.org
Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development – Our
mission is to improve the quality of life of persons with disorders
of thinking, learning, perception, communication, mood and emotion caused
by disruption of typical development. The Center brings together scientists
and practitioners in behavior, education, genetics, and neuroscience
to work together in unique ways to solve the mysteries of development and
learning.
http://kc.vanderbilt.edu
W.O. Smith Music School –
a fun place where education, instruction and encouragement
is offered to children with a passion for music without the means to afford
lessons or instruments.
"Our school is named for William Oscar Smith,
musician and teacher. Dr. Smith, a professor at Tennessee State University
and a member of the Nashville Symphony Orchestra, dreamed of a school
where children from low-income families would have music instruction of
the highest quality made available to them. This school is a fulfillment
of that dream."
http://www.wosmith.org
Previous Charities
The Breast Cancer Research Foundation
The Jacob Wetterling Foundation
Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters
St Jude Children's Research Hospital
United Cerebal Palsy of Middle Tennessee