Resources

Roland Ibanda
Featured Creative Artist
(September 2008)

Absolute Return for Kids (Global): Ark is an international charity whose mission is to transform the lives of children who are victims of abuse, disability, illness, and poverty.
http://www.arkonline.org

Adoption: More than 100,000 children in the USA are in foster care waiting for permanent families. Hundreds of thousands of children around the world are living in orphanages or substitute care.
http://photolisting.adoption.com

Adopt-A-Minefield: Adopt-A-Minefield® is a campaign of the United Nations Association of the USA, which engages individuals, community groups, and businesses in the United Nations effort to resolve the global landmine crisis. The Campaign helps save lives by raising funds for mine clearance and survivor assistance, and by raising awareness about the landmine problem. The idea behind Adopt-A-Minefield® is powerful and simple. Designed to move beyond the political and policy debates typically associated with banning the use of landmines, the Campaign provides a practical solution to the tens of millions of mines that contaminate the world, and to the countless survivors of landmine accidents.
http://www.landmines.org

Advocates for Youth (Washington, DC):
RESPECT Young People’s RIGHT To Be RESPONSIBLE
http://www.advocatesforyouth.org

Afghan Hands: It is heartbreaking to see the faces of women when they first come to us. You see scars of great trauma and long-time abuse. Many have lost all hope. But as they see that they can learn, that they have a chance for a better life, and that they can create objects of great beauty, they begin to smile and then to laugh.

Afghan Hands teaches skills to help Afghan widows gain independence, literacy, and livable wages. At our centers in and around Kabul, women learn to create embroidered shawls and scarves, and the exquisite embroidery they make connects them to a wider world.

The centers are places to gather, study, and work. We pay the women to attend classes in the morning and embroider in the afternoon. Without this project, they could not educate themselves. Through Afghan Hands, they leave the walls of their compounds and attend seminars on basic human, legal, and religious rights. They prepare for work as free women do elsewhere in the world. This way, no one will ever imprison them in the name of law, honor, or religion.

We are a nonprofit organization. We are also linked to the Mirmon Orphanage. Our mutual efforts keep expenses as low as possible so that the funds we raise go to women and children we serve.

In the future, we hope to establish small parks and playgrounds for children who now live in areas devastated by wars, drought, and environmental damage. We envision green havens where words of encouragement and hope are shared.

For now, Afghan women, by their own hands, are transforming their lives. This is our mission. Thank you for your interest in them and in their one-of-a-kind handmade pieces.
http://www.afghanhands.org

African Arts Productions (Las Vegas, Nevada): African Arts Productions provides classes in African dance, drum, music, costuming, and theater, and perform in both public and private venues. People of all types and backgrounds are invited to participate. AAP is particularly dedicated to working with at-risk youth, offering mentoring and tutoring in an effort to improve the quality of life for individuals, families, and our community.
http://www.africanartsproductions.org

Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation (Southern Nevada): Founded in 1994 by former professional tennis player Andre Agassi, the Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation (AACF) was created to provide recreational and educational opportunities for at-risk children in Southern Nevada.

Since its inception, the Foundation has supported more than 20 organizations and raised more than $60 million for programs designed to enhance a child's character, self-esteem, and career possibilities. Because all of the Foundation's operating costs are underwritten, every penny raised goes directly towards improving the lives of at-risk youth.
http://www.agassifoundation.org

AG Against Hunger (The Agricultural Community Feeds The Hungry): In May 1990, the local agricultural community saw a need to join forces with food assistance agencies to funnel donations of fresh, surplus produce to food banks and community pantries in California’s Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz counties. Ag Against Hunger was the brainchild of three Santa Cruz County residents, Jess Brown, Executive Director of the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau, Willy Elliott-McCrae, Executive Director of Second Harvest Food Bank and Tim Driscoll of Driscoll Strawberry Associates. They were interested in developing a system to distribute the abundance of surplus crops grown in the tri-county area to the hungry. Their simple solution has become a model for produce recovery and distribution programs.

The program is simple. When growers have a surplus they notify Ag Against Hunger. Their truck collects the produce from approximately 50 different growers and shippers in the tri-county area. It is then distributed to food banks that make the fresh produce donations available to more than 240 nonprofit human service agencies and feeds 75,000 low-income people in the tri-county area each month, and hundreds of thousands more throughout California and the West Coast.
http://www.agagainsthunger.org

AID FOR AIDS: Millions of dollars worth of unused HIV drugs are discarded every year. Jesus Aguais founded AID FOR AIDS International to collect and legally redistribute those drugs to people in need. Since 1996, his organization has provided life-saving therapies to more than 3,000 people free of charge.

AID FOR AIDS (AFA) International is a non-profit organization committed to improving the quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS in developing countries and who are immigrants in the USA. AFA works to empower these people, their caregivers, and the community at large by providing access to medications, health education, HIV prevention strategies and advocacy, and by promoting leadership and capacity building for individuals and organizations.
http://www.aidforaids.org

Alcohol and Drug Programs for Youth (CA.):
http://www.adp.ca.gov/youth/Youth_programs.shtml

Aleutian Pribilof Island Association (Alaska): A non-profit tribal organization of the Aleut people in Alaska providing services including cultural heritage, health, education, social, psychological, employment, vocational training, environment, natural resources, and public safety services.
http://www.apiai.com

All Kids Can! (Dallas, Texas): All Kids Can! is a disabilities awareness program that helps students of all ages learn attitudes of acceptance, dignity, and respect toward all people, especially those with disabilities. The All Kids Can! project will help you and your class discover new friends, develop new ideas, and learn more about people with disabilities through class projects.
http://www.allkidscan.com

All Stars Helping Kids: Believing that everyone can be a star by making a difference in the lives of children, NFL Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott founded All Stars Helping Kids in 1989. All Stars Helping Kids has been a galvanizing force and vehicle for individuals and corporate partners to invest in the future of children and our communities. Motivated by the idea that if you can do more, you should, Ronnie teamed with Marcus Allen and Emmitt Smith in 2006 to create a National Community Fund that pools the resources of Athletes, Individual Donors, and Corporate Partners interested in transforming the lives of millions of disadvantaged children.
http://www.allstarshelpingkids.com

Alternatives (Chicago): Alternatives provides comprehensive and creative programs for young people and their families residing on the northside of Chicago. Programs include counseling, after-school and summer activities, career and employment skills training, and cultural and arts activities. Alternatives facilitates community development efforts involving teens and adults to expand local resources for youth. They work with a network of more than 100 organizations including schools, hospitals, police departments, congregations, local businesses, and other not-for-profit agencies - advocating on behalf of youth. They cultivate the power of choice so young people can discover their future. Their programs provide a means for self-awareness and self-empowerment.
http://www.alternativesyouth.org

AMBER ALERT: An AMBER ALERT is a notification to the general public, by various media outlets in Canada and in the United States, when police confirmed that a child has been abducted.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMBER_Alert

America's Second Harvest (USA): Their mission is to feed America's hungry through a nationwide network of member food banks and engage our country in the fight to end hunger.

Please review their website and help, our combined efforts can make an enormous difference in the lives of hungry Americans.
http://www.secondharvest.org

The American Himalayan Foundation: The American Himalayan Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping the people and ecology of the Himalaya.
http://www.himalayan-foundation.org

The American Horse Defense Fund: AHDF's mission is to facilitate the protection, conservation, and humane treatment of members of all Equine species. AHDF works to address inhumane treatment of horses, ponies, donkeys, mules, and burros, both wild and domesticated through education, advocacy, and litigation when necessary in the state, federal, and international arenas.
http://ahdf.org

The American Indian Center of Chicago: To promote fellowship among Indian people of all Tribes living in metropolitan Chicago, and to help create bonds of understanding and communication between Indians and non-Indians in the city. To advance the general welfare of American Indians into metropolitan community life; to foster economic and educational advancement of Indian people; to sustain cultural, artistic, and vocational pursuits; and to perpetuate Indian cultural values.
http://www.aic-chicago.org

American Indian Child Resource Center (AICRC, San Francisco, CA.): A nonprofit agency providing services to American Indian youth and their families in the greater San Francisco Bay Area.
http://www.aicrc.org

American Indian College Fund (32 Tribal Colleges and Universities): The American Indian College Fund's mission is to raise scholarship funds for American Indian students at qualified tribal colleges and universities, and to generate broad awareness of those institutions and the Fund itself. The organization also raises money and resources for other needs at the schools, including capital projects, operations, endowments or program initiatives, and it conducts fundraising and related activities for Board-directed initiatives. The Fund also supports cultural preservation projects, capital construction and other programs at the tribal colleges.

Note Regarding Donations: The American Indian College Fund has been given high marks from the American Institute of Philanthropy in its Charity Rating Guide & Watchdog Report. The guide evaluates the percentage of organizations' expenses that go directly to programs, and expenses that go toward fundraising costs among other criteria. Of the fifteen organizations serving American Indians listed in a recent report, the American Indian College Fund received the highest rating. To learn more, visit www.charitywatch.org.
http://www.collegefund.org

American Indian Film Institute: The American Indian Film Institute (AIFI) is a non-profit media arts center founded in 1979 to foster understanding of the culture, traditions, and issues of contemporary Native Americans. American Indians have had an uneasy relationship with the media industry since the origins of film over 100 years ago. The quintessential 20th century art form has created and perpetuated enduring stereotypes that are at best tedious, and at worst profoundly erosive to the self-image of generations of Native Americans. Yet the ability of this art form to weaken and erode is matched by its power to heal and strengthen. In film we find a tool to preserve and record our heritage, and a vehicle for Indians and non-Indians alike to "unlearn" damaging stereotypes and replace them with multi-dimensional images that reflect the complexity of Native peoples.

Our organization's roots stretch back to 1975 when the first American Indian Film Festival was presented in Seattle. In 1977, the festival was relocated to San Francisco, where it found its permanent home. The American Indian Film Institute was incorporated in 1979, with the late actor Will Sampson (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest) among its founding members. Today, AIFI is the major Native American media and cultural arts presenter in California, and its festival is the world's oldest and most recognized international film exposition dedicated to Native American cinematic accomplishment.

The goals of AIFI are inherently educational: to encourage Native/non-Native filmmakers to bring to the broader media culture the Native voices, viewpoints and stories that have been historically excluded from mainstream media; to develop Indian and non-Indian audiences for this work; and to advocate tirelessly for authentic representations of Indians in the media.
http://www.aifisf.com

American Indian Library Association (AILA): AILA was founded in 1979 in conjunction with the White House Pre-Conference on Indian Library and Information Services on or near Reservations. At the time, there was increasing awareness that library services for Native Americans were inadequate. Individuals and the government began to remedy the situation.
http://aila.library.sd.gov

An affiliate of the American Library Association (ALA), the American Indian Library Association is a membership action group that addresses the library-related needs of American Indians and Alaska Natives. Members are individuals and institutions interested in the development of programs to improve Indian library, cultural, and informational services in school, public, and research libraries on reservations. AILA is also committed to disseminating information about Indian cultures, languages, values, and information needs to the library community. AILA cosponsors an annual conference and holds a yearly business meeting in conjunction with the American Library Association annual meeting. It publishes the American Indian Libraries Newsletter, which appears in four issues each year.

The American Society For the Prevention of Cruelty To Animals: The ASPCA was founded in 1866 as the first humane organization in the Western Hemisphere. The Society was formed to alleviate the injustices animals faced then, and they continue to battle cruelty today. Whether it’s saving a pet who has been accidentally poisoned, fighting to pass humane laws, rescuing animals from abuse, or sharing resources with shelters across the country, the ASPCA works tirelessly for humane treatment of animals.
http://www.aspca.org

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA): ASHA is the professional, scientific, and credentialing association for more than 127,000 members and affiliates who are speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists in the United States and internationally.
http://www.asha.org

The American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign: The American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign is dedicated to preserving the American wild horse in viable free-roaming herds for generations to come, as part of our national heritage. Its grassroots efforts are supported by a coalition of over forty organizations.

The general public and the media can learn from the continually updated information and research found on this website to help raise awareness of the plight of the American wild horse. For Campaign updates and alerts, please join their email list.
http://www.wildhorsepreservation.com

Amnesty International: Amnesty International (AI) is a worldwide movement of people who campaign for internationally recognized human rights.
http://www.amnesty.org

Amnesty International Music Human Rights: Music for Human Rights is your place at Amnesty International and on the web to learn about the issues and to take action to protect your rights and the rights of others. Find out what your favorite musicians are doing to spread the word and then join them in the fight for human rights.
http://www.amnestyusa.org/musicforhumanrights

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Ancient Forest International (Global): Since 1989, Ancient Forest International (AFI) has been instrumental in the protection of primary forests around the world. With the help of its international ancient forest network, AFI develops opportunities for wildlands philanthropists and communities to work together to acquire and protect strategic and invaluable forest-lands. AFI has helped coordinate the purchase of nearly a million acres of ecologically critical forested land, primarily along the Pacific coast of North and South America.

California: Over the last 150 years, 95% of northern California's coniferous forestlands have been cut. AFI is committed to protecting what is left and to restoring the rest. To do so, AFI works cooperatively with other nonprofits, industrial, and non-industrial landowners, concerned individuals, and government agencies. AFI is advocating for the acquisition of several local forest areas critical to regional conservation planning.

California North Coast Wildlands Program: AFI works across a fragmented yet still-viablelandscape. As the southwest portion of the globally unique Klamath-Siskiyou eco-region, California's North Coast is a World Wildlife Fund-prioritized, sparsely populated bio-region of abounding diversity, ecological significance, and majestic beauty. Here there is potential for conservation of true wildlands, and not just of "open space."

AFI is pivotal in helping to fund and coordinate efforts of place-based groups representing thousands of square miles of arguably the most extensive, wild, and abundant habitat remaining in the contiguous USA. From Ukiah to Eureka and from the ocean east to the Coast Range AFI seeks, through collaborative process, to identify specific core habitat priorities -- their respective linkages and appropriate conservation strategies -- and to coalesce citizen support around threatened public lands. On private, industrial forest-lands they build funding coalitions for fee-title acquisition.

Visit their website to learn about their North Coast Range Project, Redwoods to Sea, California Wild Heritage Campaign/Wildlands Project, Hole in the Headwaters, Rainbow Ridge, additional USA projects, and projects in other countries.
http://www.ancientforests.org

The AFI website was designed by Michael Eastwood of the Trees Foundation.

Trees Foundation (Redway, CA.): Trees Foundation mission is to restore the ecological intergrity of California's North Coast by empowering and assisting regional community-based conservation and restoration projects.
http://www.treesfoundation.org

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Animal Welfare Institute (AWI): AWI is a non-profit charitable organization founded in 1951 to reduce the sum total of pain and fear inflicted on animals by humans.

In the organization’s early years their particular emphasis was on the desperate needs of animals used for experimentation. In the decades that followed they expanded the scope of their work to address many other areas of animal suffering.

Today one of their greatest areas of emphasis is cruel animal factories, which raise and slaughter pigs, cows, chickens and other animals. The biggest are in the USA, and they are expanding worldwide.

Another major AWI effort is the quest to end the torture inflicted on furbearing animals by steel jaw leghold traps and wire snares. AWI continues its work to protect animals in laboratories including promotion of development of non-animal testing methods and prevention of painful experiments on animals by high school students.

Representatives of AWI regularly attend meetings of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora to fight for protection of threatened and endangered species. Similarly, they attend meetings of the International Whaling Commission to preserve the ban on commercial whaling and they work to protect all marine life against the proliferation of human-generated ocean noise including active sonar and seismic air guns.

AWI works to minimize the impacts of all human actions detrimental to endangered species, including the destruction of natural forests containing ancient trees, and pollution of the oceans destroying every kind of marine life.
http://www.awionline.org

The Lance Armstrong Foundation (Austin, Texas): Founded in 1997 by cancer survior and champion cyclist Lance Armstrong, the LAF is located in Austin, Texas. LAF inspires and empowers people affected by cancer and unites people to fight cancer.
http://www.livestrong.org

Artists For Charity (International): Artists for Charity shares music and brings awareness to those in need. Please review their website and buy the CD, Guitarists 4 The Kids. Over eighteen international artists joined efforts on this CD to help raise awareness of underprivileged kids in need. All net proceeds will be donated to World Vision and their causes. I am friends with one of the musicians, Tommy Merry, who lives in the Bay Area. Tommy and the other remarkable musicians on the CD are talented creative artists who generously support programs and organizations that help kids.

If you are a creative artist I urge you to contact Mike Bowman (World Vision Canada) and offer your services for the various projects Artists For Charity sponsor.
http://www.artistsforcharity.com

Arts Council of Mendocino County (Mendocino County, CA.): The mission of the Arts Council of Mendocino County is to introduce, promote, and benefit the arts in order to enrich the quality of life for the citizens of the county.

Objectives include expanding opportunities for artists and arts organizations, supporting art education, promoting the role of the arts in the local economy, and increasing public awareness of the value of the arts. They support and promote the arts throughout Mendocino County, and advocate for artists and arts organizations with government and business leaders.
http://www.artsmendocino.org

Asian American Dance Performances (San Francisco, CA.): Asian American Dance Performances provides a vehicle through which Asian Americans can express, interpret, and articulate their diverse cultural heritages and experiences through dance. Be sure to review their LINKS page, they have several wonderful website links.
http://www.unboundspirit.org

ASHOKA: Global organization that finds and supports social entrepreneurs and outstanding individuals with ideas for far-reaching social change.
http://www.ashoka.org

BANANAS (Alameda, CA. & National): BANANAS is a child care resource and referral service that is often called R&R, short for resource and referral. They create R&R's in California and in the rest of the country. They exist to help parents find child care and children's services in their communities.

BANANAS develops new child care resources and helps to maintain existing ones so that parents have a good selection to choose from. They provide counseling to parents as they tackle the difficult task of choosing child care. They provide back-up support in different languages (written materials, workshops, support groups, and advice-line) to parents. They participate in cooperative activities in communities and work to help build a better world for children and families.
http://www.bananasinc.org

Baltimore Horse Country’s Emergency Preparation Horse Rescue and Horse Welfare: This website very generously provides several horse rescue links and information about what you should do before donating to a rescue organization.
http://www.bcpl.net

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mendocino County (CA.): Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mendocino County (BBBS) depends on community donations to run their programs. Every $1,000 donated sponsors a community-based match, and every $500.00 donated sponsors an in-school match for a full school year.

Other than their traditional matching program they provide a high school mentoring program, the Music Zone program, the Jump program, the SAFE program, and Que Onda which is a new after school program that will start in May, 2008. Please visit their website to learn about these programs.
http://www.bigbrothersbigsistersofmendocino.com

BIRCHBARK BOOKS: Please, delight yourself, visit this website.
http://birchbarkbooks.com

Birthday Wishes (Massachusetts): This wonderful organization was invented by volunteers working in homeless shelters. They believe every child should have a birthday party, and that children in homeless shelters are especially deserving. In 2002, three volunteers, with $500.00, gave their first party for fifteen homeless children. In 2004, they incorporated, serving 200 children in ten shelters. In 2007, more than 300 volunteers celebrated 450 children in 32 Greater Boston shelters — on a budget of $25,000. When the Birthday Wishes organization partners with a shelter they promise that every child who lives there will enjoy a birthday party. Costs are kept low through in-kind donations for party supplies.
http://www.BirthdayWishes.org

blueEnergy: blueEnergy is a nonprofit organization that provides a low-cost, sustainable solution to the energy needs of marginalized communities through the construction, installation, and maintenance of hybrid wind and solar electric systems. blueEnergy manufactures wind turbines and other key components locally to keep energy costs low, improve equipment serviceability, and create employment where it is desperately needed.
http://www.blueenergygroup.org

Boikarabelo (South Africa): Boikarabelo was founded in 1990. It is a school, orphanage, medical clinic, and village. They care for children whose families can't afford to care for them and for children orphaned by HIV/AIDS. Some of the children are living with HIV as well.

Note: Angels in the Dust is not a guilt-trip film. It shares the story of Marion Cloete and her family. They left a privileged life to build Botshabelo, which is now called Boikarabelo. There are plenty of excellent reviews available online. I urge you to see this remarkable film.
http://www.boikarabelo.org

Boulder Youth Choir (Colorado): A non-profit organization dedicated to teaching young singers (boys and girls, 8-18 years old) the proper techniques of singing and stage performance. Singers must have the desire both to learn and to perform beautiful, challenging choral music. Whenever possible, the music is performed in its original language. The BYC also emphasizes proper singing techniques, as well as appropriate stage and performance etiquette. The BYC is a non-profit organization, and is not affiliated with any other organizations, religious or non-religious. This allows the choir to perform any music of quality. The choir performs a variety of sacred music that has both Christian and non-Christian origins, as well as secular or non-religious music.
http://bcn.boulder.co.us/arts/byc

Boys and Girls Clubs of America: In every community, boys and girls are left to find their own recreation and companionship in the streets. An increasing number of children are at home without adult care or supervision. Young people need to know that someone cares about them. Boys and Girls Clubs of America strive to enable all young people, especially those who need them most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.
http://www.bgca.org

Bread and Roses: Bread and Roses is the not-for-profit cultural arm of New York's Health and Human Service Union, 1199/SEIU. Its 220,000 predominantly Latina and African American women members are employed in all job categories in health care institutions throughout the metropolitan area, New Jersey, and Florida.

Bread and Roses was founded in 1979 as a cultural resource for union members and students in New York City who would otherwise have little access to the arts. Special emphasis is given to programs that signify and interpret their history while generating new artistic expression.

Note: This is a great program. By all means take time to review their website and the links they share.
http://www.bread-and-roses.com

Brewery Gulch Inn (Mendocino, CA.): This is a jewel of a place to stay. The media reviewers are right. The evening hors d'oeuvres are plentiful and delicious. Skip going out to dinner. Stay beside the roaring fire and relish gourmet dishes, decadent desserts, Mendocino wines, micro brew beers, and organic sodas. In the morning enjoy a leisurely and scrumptious organic breakfast with fresh flowers on your table and singing birds so near your windows that you delighted eyes will see the multi-colors of their feathers. While dining in your woodland nest, gaze just beyond your windows at a misty ocean view of Mendocino's Smuggler's Cove. Your heart will sigh.

Those of you who have read my novels are familiar with my relentless fascination with trees and wood. Naturally, I wanted to stay at Brewery Gulch Inn to see the reclaimed redwood. Logging in Mendocino in the 1800s depended on the Big River for transporting giant redwood trees to the mill. As these trees were swiftly floated downstream, some of the grandest trunks sunk into the murky depths due to their tremendous weight.

Over a century later, during a construction project on a nearby bridge, these 100-150 year old pristine logs were found deeply settled and preserved in silt. Some ranged up to 16 feet in diameter. Dr. Arky Ciancutti, a lifelong lover of wood, salvaged, traded for, and bought 100,000+ board feet of the redwood, ranging from 40-inches to 12 feet in diameter. His inspired vision for the wood has been realized and is now available for us to appreciate. Brewery Gulch Inn exquisitely showcases the eco-salvaged, virgin-growth "guiltless" redwood. The inn has spectacular water views and is surrounded by hundreds of acres of unoccupied meadow and natural woodlands.

Homer Barton, a compelling character in the area's history, was fresh from the California gold fields in 1884. While panning for gold, he saw that it was the merchants, not the miners, who were getting rich. He envisioned becoming boomtown Mendocino's chief food supplier. He financed this enterprise by working as one of the first drivers of the oxen teams employed to drag the redwood logs to the Big River. He established the first thriving farm in Mendocino County, and later added a successful dairy and brewery on the prime land currently owned by Dr. Ciancutti. Sheltered from coastal winds, blessed with excellent water, and a favorable climate, the property continues to be ideal for growing a large variety of vegetables and fruits. Barton ferried his produce across the Big River daily.

When Dr. Ciancutti bought the land in 1977, as a private homestead for his family, there had only been one prior owner since 1910. In 1984, he refurbished the original farmhouse, opening it as a small bed and breakfast. Beauty abounds on the ten-acre site that includes numerous species of protected native plants, three ponds, and two frolicking streams. Dr. Ciancutti has taken advantage of the favorable climate by adding lovely gardens, as well as planting 3,000 bulbs each year. He has also created a splendid two-acre woodland garden with 600 rhododendrons and 1,000 ferns forming a backdrop.

When we arrived a friendly and unassuming man happened to be parking his car near ours. He quickly offered to help carry our luggage. Later he delighted us and other guests with local stories while graciously serving awesome hors d'oeuvres. I am allergic to alcohol and could not drink the numerous wines and beers offered. As soon as he learned about my allergy he presented me with an amazing assortment of organic sodas and waters. He was such a cool guy. It turns out that his name is Guy, Guy Pacurar. He purchased Brewery Gulch Inn from Dr. Ciancutti in July, 2007 and has plans that continue a vision for the inn that are magnificent.
http://www.brewerygulchinn.com

Note: Visit, even if you do not stay at the inn as a guest, go see the incredible redwood. Also, Dr. Ciancutti, he is still present with his interest now mostly focused on his family and organic farming.

The Bridge: Indian Training Trust Fund (Imperial Beach, CA. and National): They promote the development of good enterprises in American Indian communities on a national level using traditional, social, and academic curriculum within a creative and dynamic scholastic context. They foster belief in the stewardship of the environment and promote the building of relationships centered and focused upon the spiritual, intellectual, emotional, and physical aspects of our shared past, the present, and with faith in the future.
http://www.indiantraining.org

Bring Me A Book Foundation (Mountain View, CA.): To provide easy access to the best children's books, and to encourage parents to read aloud to children.
http://www.bringmeabook.org

BROADWAY CARES/EQUITY FIGHTS AIDS (New York): Mobilizing the unique abilities within the entertainment industry to mitigate the suffering of individuals affected by HIV/AIDS.
http://www.bcefa.org

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Buffalo Field Campaign (West Yellowstone, Montana): Working in the field every day to stop the slaughter of Yellowstone's wild free roaming buffalo.
http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org

Recyle Printer Cartridges and Cell Phones: Each year 400+ MILLION printer cartridges and 100+ MILLION cell phones are thrown into the trash. By recycling those cartridges and phones, we can turn TRASH into CASH. Help raise funds for the Buffalo Field Campaign. You don't need to have a printer to participate. You can help by setting up their FREE recycling supplies in your place of work or passing them out to family, friends, and neighbors.

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James Burgett (California): Burgett's nonprofit organization has repaired thousands of broken or discarded computers and donated them to schools, groups, and individuals around the world. He is a pretty amazing guy.
http://www.accrc.org

Café Reconcile (New Orleans, LA.): Housed in a five-story, 12,000 square foot building reclaimed in the economically distressed Central City neighborhood of New Orleans, the work of Reconcile New Orleans is to provide at-risk youth an opportunity to learn life and interpersonal skills and operational training for successful entry into the hospitality and restaurant industries; to provide an economic development cornerstone for the blighted and declining but slowly returning Central City neighborhood, and to provide services to address unmet neighborhood needs (such as quality family-based literacy instruction for adults and children) until other organizations can establish additional programs in the community.
http://www.cafereconcile.com

CAFF (Community Alliance with Family Farmers): CAFF is building a movement of rural and urban people to foster family-scale agriculture that cares for the land, sustains local economies, and promotes social justice.
http://www.caff.org

Cahuillas Indians (Southern California): The Cahuillas are Takic-speaking peoples who reside in Southern California in what are now Riverside and San Diego counties. Many, but not all, of the Cahuilla peoples live on reservations-Cahuilla, Agua Caliente, Santa Rosa, Torres-Martinez, Cabeson, Morongo, Los Coyotes, Ramona, and Saboba. These reservations were established after many years of conflict with local and federal authorities in the 1870s. Today the Cahuillas number about twenty-four hundred people. Prior to European intrusion, however, when they occupied the better part of Riverside County and the northern portion of San Diego County, they numbered from six thousand to ten thousand people.
http://www.manataka.org/page550.html

Cahuillas Indians: Cahuilla Indians on Wikipeda.

Californians Against Waste (Sacramento, CA.): Californians Against Waste is an American environmental advocacy organization that takes action on local, state, and national levels to conserve natural resources and prevent pollution through the expansion of a recycling economy.

They are dedicated to conserving resources, preventing pollution, and protecting California’s environment through the development, promotion, and implementation of waste reduction and recycling policies and programs.
http://www.cawrecycles.org

Camp David of the Ozarks (Rolla, MO.): Camp David of the Ozarks (CDO) is a free christian summer camp for children of prisoners. These at-risk children and teens are in desperate need of hope. CDO’s week long summer camps are especially designed to meet this need. Through Bible lessons, games and parties, with camp grandmas and grandpas, and a counselor that is shared with only one other camper, these youth discover they are special, significant, and that there is hope for tomorrow!

CDO offers Junior Camps for children ages 8 to 12, and Senior Camps for teens ages 13-16.

CDO is a member of The Association of Christian Camps and Conferences.
http://www.campdavidozarks.org

Candid Austin Teen Magazine (Austin, Texas): Candid Austin Teen Magazine is the first magazine published, written, and run solely by teenagers for college-bound teenagers in Austin, Texas. Candid is a 32-page, full-color publication printed by CSI Publishing. It is free to residents of the Austin area. The editors want the magazine to be free because teens are often financially limited.

“Candid” means sincere, open, and unprejudiced. A candid (unposed) picture is a glimpse of a life in action, a millisecond of energy and reality captured by a camera. This authenticity is what Candid Magazine strives to encapsulate: real teenagers at their best in their natural environments.

Candid Magazine was created by four Westwood juniors in the summer of 2006. The magazine features educational and entertaining information relevant to college-bound Austin high school students and is presented in a quality, yet appealing manner. Candid is the first Austin magazine specifically for teenagers. The editors hope that the magazine will eventually transcend the boundaries of schools and districts.

Note: I am excited to learn about this magazine. This is a cool group of young people doing something that is creative, constructive, and awesome. Check out Candid Magazine!
http://www.candidaustinteen.com

Care Wear (USA): Care Wear is a nationwide group of volunteers who provide handmade baby items to hospitals. Volunteers who knit, crochet, and sew are invited to join the effort.

Care Wear began in 1991 as a personal effort to provide much needed apparel for premature and low birthweight infants undergoing treatment in neonatal intensive care units of several children's hospitals in the Washington, D.C. area. Initial obstacles included the need to down-size patterns for infants as small as fifteen ounces and the task of contacting each hospital regarding sizes and quantities of garments needed.

Because of the high demand for preemie-sized items, efforts began to recruit others to help. As of December 2004, Care Wear had grown to 2400+ active volunteers.
http://www.carewear.org

Career Gear (New York City, New York): A Suit, A Second Chance: Career Gear, a grassroots non-profit organization, was founded in New York City in 1998 to promote the gainful employment and self-sufficiency of disadvantaged men who are actively seeking employment.

They started with the simple goal of providing appropriate business clothing for job seekers and have grown to provide services and resources that help their clients secure employment and workplace advancement.

The Career Gear Alumni program promotes job-retention and career advancement. The participants are disadvantaged men transitioning from job-training programs into the workforce.
http://www.careergear.org

CaringBridge® (Global): A free and easy to use Internet service that allows hospital patients to communicate with others through their own private web page. CaringBridge® offers free personalized websites that allow people to stay in touch with family/friends during a health crisis, treatment, and recovery. The goal of the service is to ease the burden of keeping family/friends updated, while providing a way for people to share love, support, and encouragement. CaringBridge® was created in 1997 by a Minnesota web designer to help an ailing friend communicate with loved ones worldwide.
http://www.caringbridge.org

The Carter Center (Global): The Carter Center is committed to advancing human rights and alleviating unnecessary human suffering. They strive to create a world in which every man, woman, and child has the opportunity to enjoy good health and live in peace.
http://www.cartercenter.org

The Caspar Community Center (Caspar Village on the Mendocino Coast, CA.): The Caspar Community Center has been a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization since 1997. Its mission is to preserve and enhance the quality of all life in Caspar, CA. Their goal is to envision, plan for, and set in place, the means for a sustainable community for the next hundred years. They earnestly invite interested users of the community center to join in the greater work of the community and to gather with them each second Sunday per month.
http://casparcommons.org

About Caspar: Caspar is an unincorporated town located in coastal Mendocino County, California. In the Caspar area is the historic Point Cabrillo Light Station, which was built in 1909. Caspar was first settled in 1857 by Siegfried Caspar, who later sold the land to Jacob Green Jackson, one of the founders of the Caspar Lumber Company, which turned Caspar into a significant logging town in Northern California from 1864 to 1955. Pilings from the mill can be seen on Caspar Beach, located south of the community.

In 2000, a large chunk of the Caspar headlands was purchased by the Mendocino Land Trust, forming Caspar Headlands State Reserve.

The Catalina Island Marine Institute: The Catalina Island Marine Institute is a non-profit educational program run by Guided Discoveries on Santa Catalina Island, California. Thousands of children come over from the Southern California mainland to Catalina every year to study marine biology through hands-on programs including snorkeling, labs, boat rides, squid dissections, and more. Locations on Catalina Island include Toyon Bay, Fox Landing, Cherry Cove, and Campus by the Sea (at Gallagher's Cove). There are also summer camps held during the summer.
http://www.astrocamp.org

The Center for Children of Incarcerated Parents (CCIP): CCIP was founded in 1989 by Denise Johnston and Katherine Gabel. Their mission is the prevention of intergenerational crime and incarceration. Their goals are the production of high quality documentation on and the development of model services for children of criminal offenders and their families.

Note: This is an impressive program and they have a great website. Please visit their website to learn how you can help children of incarcerated parents.
http://www.e-ccip.org

Centers of Disease Control and Prevention: CDC is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services based in unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia adjacent to the campus of Emory University and east of the city of Atlanta. It works to protect public health and the safety of people, by providing information to enhance health decisions, and promotes health through partnerships with state health departments and other organizations. The CDC focuses national attention on developing and applying disease prevention and control (especially infectious diseases), environmental health, occupational safety and health, health promotion, prevention and education activities designed to improve the health of the people of the United States.
Offical Website: http://www.cdc.gov

Center of Science in the Public Interest: The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) is a U.S. not-for-profit consumer organization headed by Michael Jacobson. Founded in 1971, CSPI's mission statement states that its twin missions are to conduct innovative research and advocacy programs in health and nutrition and to provide consumers with current and useful information about their health and well-being.

Since 1971 CSPI has been a strong advocate for nutrition and health, food safety, alcohol policy, and sound science. Its award-winning newsletter, Nutrition Action Healthletter, with 900,000+ subscribers in the United States and Canada, is the largest-circulation health newsletter in North America.

The newsletter is $10.00 a year and is priceless. You can order it from the website.
http://www.cspinet.org

Check Yourself A place for teens to check where they are with drugs and alcohol. CheckYourself.com is a unique resource. It’s a place for older teens to think about their relationship with drugs and alcohol, and invites them to consider their substance use risks.

The site allows visitors to "look in the mirror" by answering quiz questions about their lifestyle, reading first-person stories, communicating with other teens, and playing decision making games to see how they might act in situations involving drugs and alcohol.

CheckYourself.com also gives teens a voice by allowing them to share their own "moments of truth". Visitors get factual answers to questions about substance abuse, learn how to share their concerns with people who can help them, and get information about counseling and treatment facilities.

Support for CheckYourself.com is provided from the Partnership for a Drug-Free America. The Partnership gives the factual information about drugs and alcohol, and monitors postings to make sure they comply with the terms of use. The website is a unique, evolving, and independent resource where teens can communicate with and learn from each other.
http://www.checkyourself.com

Chelsea Green Publishing Founded in 1984, Chelsea Green Publishing is regarded as the preeminent publisher of books on sustainable living with well over 400 titles in print.

Note: They have a fantastic quarterly newsletter.
http://www.chelseagreen.com

THE CHICAGO DJEMEBE PROJECT (Chicago): Building on a combined 20 years of training, performance, and teaching experience in the Malinke djembe drumming tradition from Guinea, West Africa, The Chicago Djembe Project has offered intensive workshops, youth programs, and performances in Chicago since 1999.

Through its own work, and the remarkable Master Teachers it has brought to the city, CDP has been a catalyst in substantially raising the level of djembe practice and performance in Chicago.

CDP were the North American Representatives/Contacts for Master Drummer Famoudou Konaté from 1999 to 2004, organizing his highly successful annual Mini-Camp Workshop Tours. CDP also introduced Chicago to Mamady Keita, sponsoring his Chicago workshops from 1999 to 2002, and helped establish Master Dancer Moustapha Bangoura's career in Chicago with his first workshops here in 1999.

Instructor Lilian Friedberg is an American with European, Jewish, and Ojibwe ancestors. Manager Jim Banks is an African-American. Their partnership embodies the mission of the Chicago Djembe Project: Respect and cooperation across cultures and genders through the African Djembe Drum Tradition.

Hooked on Drums is CDP's new partner organization, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit founded in late 2006. HOD is deeply committed to teaching African music to youth, especially inner-city at risk youth, to help foster creativity, curiosity, discipline, self-confidence and well-being.

Note: I am excited about this organization and I hope youth advocates will contact this incredible staff and try to to bring the Hooked on Drums program to their communities. I often meet youth who are very interested in drums. Youth advocates can help establish such programs as Hooked on Drums and Guitars Not Guns in their communities, especially to serve at-risk teens. I have seen the awesome affect learning to make music has on young lives. It is an incredible thing to witness. Frequently these very kids join the staff as they grow older, becoming instructors to help to continue providing the program to their communites. Many of these young people become excellent role models to their peers and to younger children. It is a win-win for the youth and for the community.
http://www.chidjembe.com

Children of the Earth United (Columbia, MD.): At this time of global imbalance, the Children of the Earth United organization believes it is imperative that children join together to create a healthier planet. They believe that an effective way to make this happen is to educate the general public about eco-logical concepts and to provide a forum for people to share knowledge and ideas.

Children of the Earth United aims to help people:

Develop a greater understanding and respect for animals, plants, water, soil, air, and energy systems.

To comprehend the positive and negative environmental effects of our actions.

To acquire a knowledge of practical, sustainable living strategies which consciously and carefully utilize our natural resources.

To obtain information about nature programs, centers, and organizations.

To share and learn from each other’s creative ideas and knowledge.

To accomplish these objectives through a free comprehensive, interactive educational information system accessible through the internet and through specific educational programs geared towards mainstream society.
http://www.childrenoftheearth.org

Clean Slate (Southern California): CleanSlate does not only assist gang members in their effort to move forward in their lives. Their client’s range from survivors of domestic violence to those effected by the justice system in various ways. They also serve those who just need a tattoo removed because they are no longer the person they were at the time they got the tattoo.
http://www.cleanslatela.org

Clinton Global Initiative: Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), a project of the William J. Clinton Foundation, is a non-partisan catalyst for action, bringing together a community of global leaders to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
http://www.clintonglobalinitiative.org

Cloud Forest Institute (Global): Adventures in Education! Preparing students to forge a peaceful, sustainable, diverse, healthy, respectful, equitable, and hopeful future.

CFI was formed as a 501 (c) (3) scientific and educational organization in 1996. CFI offers students educational alternatives in international settings that address issues of environmental and social significance through Service Learning while striving to exist sustainably with the natural environment.

CFI offers educational alternatives to students of all cultures and ages through learning contracts via the internet and at designated research sites around the world. The sites are self-sufficient, they utilize alternative energy technologies, and sustainable, organic food production techniques. CFI’s goals are to make quality education accessible globally, and to foster an environmentally conscious philosophy.

CFI accepts students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin, and any sexual orientation.
http://www.cloudforest.org/Cloud_Forest_Institute

Colorado Youth at Risk (Denver, Colorado): In 1993 a group of dedicated passionate community members came together to address the growing issue of youth violence and school drop out rates. Denver had just experienced what was referred to as the “Summer of Violence”, a period of intense gang activity.

In 1994 the Colorado Youth at Risk organization worked with high school dropouts, including young people associated with Crips, Bloods, and Skinheads. Since 1994 they have addressed the mentoring needs of youth who are at risk of dropping out of school.

The organization strives to re-engage students and to encourage them to examine their future possibilities if they complete high school. Their students are from diverse backgrounds and range in age from 14-16 years old. They are referred by partner schools. Teachers and counselors recommend students who are then invited to voluntarily participate in the program.

Steps Ahead for Youth: Steps Ahead for Youth is a one year intensive community-based mentoring program for ninth graders. It sets itself apart by delivering a five day residential Launch Course, monthly structured workshops with a community of mentors and youth, and one-on-one mentoring. The program serves 90 youth annually.

Touchstone Program: Touchstone is available to students who complete the Steps Ahead for Youth program. It provides support and guidance from 9th grade through high school graduation. Youth learn to take personal responsibility, to strengthened relationships, and to develop and understand their personal vision and goals.

Recent Impressive Results:

95% of students in the Steps Ahead for Youth program stayed in school

78% improved school performance

78% decreased the number of times they received disciplinary actions

Note: The staff of Colorado Youth at Risk organization wanted to make a difference. With their unique programs they lift at risk youth up on strong shoulders and enable them to see ahead. They are guiding young people to paths that will lead to brighter futures. This is a remarkable program that other communities should adopt.

http://www.coloradoyouthatrisk.org

The Colorful Flags Program: The Colorful Flags Program breaks down ethnic mistrust by teaching specific cultural facts and five basic human relations statements in the five most spoken languages in a school community or organizational community (excluding English).

This program has serviced over 130,000 K-12 students in 17 school districts in Southern California. It has also serviced police departments, social service agencies, and various other organizations.

Please visit this wonderful website and explore!
http://www.class.csupomona.edu/colorfulflags/index.html

Common Sense (Keeping Your Kids Internet Safe and Smart): The nation's leading non-partisan organization dedicated to improving the media lives of kids and families.
http://www.commonsense.com/internet-safety-guide

Common Sense Media: Family movie reviews, family movies, family films, movie rental reviews, and reviews of TV shows, video games, music CDs, books, magazines, and web sites.

Media is fun and our kids love it. We also know that kids now spend so much time absorbing its messages and images that it has become "the other parent" in their lives. As a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, Common Sense Media exist to provide parents with trustworthy information to help manage their kids' media lives.
http://www.commonsensemedia.org

The Community Foundation of Mendocino County (Mendocino, CA.): The Community Foundation of Mendocino County is a county-wide nonprofit organization that administers permanent charitable funds established through gifts and bequests from individuals, families, businesses, and other organizations. Established in 1993 by community leaders who saw the need for a common investment and grant management vehicle for private charitable gifts made by people who want to “give back” to the community the organization currently manages over sixty funds with assets of over eleven million dollars and growing.
http://www.communityfound.org

Companions Journeying Together, Inc: Companions Journeying Together, Inc., provides a forum to personally impact the emotional, spiritual, and social lives of incarcerated people and their families. Their vision is for a society that lives by the principles of restorative justice.
http://www.cjtinc.org

Computers 4 Kidz: Computers 4 Kidz provide children with the technology to achieve and succeed. They would like to see all children have access to a computer, in their home, as a valuable educational tool.

This non profit organization provides individuals and businesses an alternative method of disposing of unneeded yet valuable computer equipment which helps conserve natural resources through a cycle of re-use. They rely entirely on donations. Please visit their website to learn about their current needs.
http://computers4kidz.tripod.com

THE CONSCIOUS ALLIANCE: Since inception in 2002, CONSCIOUS ALLIANCE has successfully collected and distributed over 500,000 pounds of non-perishable food donations to local food pantries and impoverished communities across the United States, through their collaborations with musicians such as String Cheese Incident, STS9, Dave Matthews Band, Jack Johnson, Phil Lesh, and many others.

In addition, they successfully built a much needed food storage and distribution facility on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. The unit is used to store and distribute emergency food supplies to more than 100 families at the end of each month when bills are due and emergency food is critical in making it to the next month.

THE CONSCIOUS ALLIANCE began as one young, college student’s vision and drive to help others. It all started when Justin Baker, founder and executive director of THE CONSCIOUS ALLIANCE, mobilized a group of friends and fellow students to come together as food drive volunteers. Baker’s vision led him to host campus-wide food drives with the hopes of not only collecting and distributing food to impoverished Indian Reservations in the Western United States, but to also raise awareness that poverty does still exist on American Indian Reservations today.

Note: Everyone associated with THE LOOSE END OF THE RAINBOW thanks THE CONSCIOUS ALLIANCE for their concern for people in need and for their very generous support to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota.

To learn more about THE CONSCIOUS ALLIANCE please visit their website.
http://www.consciousalliance.org

Conservation International: Conservation International (CI) is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., that seeks to protect Earth's biodiversity "hotspots," high-biodiversity wilderness areas as well as important marine regions around the globe. The group is also known for its partnerships with local non-governmental organizations and indigenous peoples.

CI was founded in 1987 and now has a staff of more than 900 employees. Its work occurs in more than 40 countries, primarily in developing nations in Africa, the Pacific Rim, and the Central and South American rainforests.

CI's mission is to conserve the Earth's living natural heritage, our global biodiversity, and to demonstrate that human societies are able to live harmoniously with nature.
http://www.conservation.org

The Contact Consortium: The Contact Consortium is a California 501 c (3) non-profit corporation founded in 1995 by software architect Bruce Damer, anthropologist Jim Funaro, and science fiction writer Keith Ferrel to serve as a catalyst and forum for the emerging medium of multi-user virtual worlds and virtual communities in cyberspace.

The Contact Consortium is the first global organization focused on inhabited virtual spaces on the Internet. These spaces are shared in real time by thousands of users and represent a new frontier in the experience of cyberspace. The non-profit Consortium supports special interest groups, holds conferences, sponsors research and papers, and serves as a catalyst for this new medium. A broad Consortium corporate, institutional, and individual membership is working to ensure that this "cyberspace beyond the web document" will emerge as a powerful place to learn, play, work, and interact in the 21st Century.

The Contact Consortium was born out of CONTACT: Cultures of the Imagination, a seventeen year old organization which has engaged anthropologists, space scientists, fiction writers, and others in pioneering exercises simulating human contact between speculative cultures. The Contact Consortium was built on these foundations to become a structure for the development of human contact, community, and culture in digital space.
http://www.ccon.org

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora: CITES is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.
http://www.cites.org

Cowboys for Kids (Arizona): CFK is a 501 (c) (3) tax exempt, charitable, nonprofit organization. They are a group of dedicated people who volunteer their time and talents to many fund raisers and children's projects such as Family Fall Fest, Santa's Helper Program, Pumpkin People Project, Stick Horse Races, Auction, Bull Riding, Sheep & Steer Riding, Rodeo, Youth Scholarships, fun trips to special events, and more. Nearly 100% of all funds raised go directly to projects.

Their generous supporters enabled them to donate $95,000+ in monetary funds to Phoenix area children. The value is higher when you include services rendered and non-cash donations such as clothes, food, toys, etc. The Santa's Helper program has reached hundreds of children and the Youth Scholarships provide a helping hand to many deserving students.

Cowboys for Kids also provides children and adults a chance to experience the old west — to be a "cowboy for a day." In our country's recent past, the cowboy and the rodeo were a way of life. CFK tries to keep that spirit alive and preserve the cultural and historical place of the American Cowboy for future generations to enjoy.

Their motto is "Working Together — Making a Difference." They believe in good, strong community involvement and they work with and donate to other nonprofit organizations in an joint effort to make a positive impact on family and children's issues.

Note: This is a great organization, please visit their website!
http://www.cowboysforkids.net

Crazy Horse Memorial: The official site of Crazy Horse Memorial and the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation, a registered 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization. Sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski and Lakota Chief Henry Standing Bear officially started the Memorial in 1948 to honor the culture, tradition, and living heritage of North American Indians.
http://www.crazyhorse.org

Create Now! (Los Angeles, CA.): Their mission is to change troubled children's lives through creative arts mentoring, resources, and opportunities. They serve high-risk and at-risk children and youth who have been abused, neglected, abandoned, orphaned, are left homeless, runaways, foster children, teen parents, victims of domestic violence, children of prisoners, substance abusers, gang members or incarcerated. For the past ten years, they have reached almost 10,000 of these children. This is a great organization.
http://www.createnow.org

Note: The number of low-income and marginalized youth is 40% higher in the Los Angeles home-base area of Create Now! than the national average.

The work done by Create Now! is motivated by the Los Angeles statistics* listed below:

• 123,177 child abuse and neglect cases were filed in 2005. • 35,000 children are homeless. • 12,000 runaways from around the world live on our streets. • 40,000 gang members in 700 gangs live in poverty. • Over 4,000 youth reside in detention facilities because of crimes committed. • There are more incarcerated youth in L.A. than in 48 other states. • 21,000 children live in foster care because of family abuse and neglect. • 58% of foster youth end up in prison. • Over 40% of foster youth have been pregnant or fathered a child. • 91% of youth offenders commit repeat crimes. • One in three public school children struggle to function in English.

*Statistics are courtesy of the United Way "State of the County Report" 2003, Department of Children and Family Services, Shelter Partnerships, and the Department of Probation.

The Crib Collective (Chicago): They are a live-in not-for-profit organization that recognizes the power in young people to create positive change in their communities. Through social entreprenuership, they train, support, and partner with young people across the cultural divide between N. Lawndale and Little Village. They live and work in and for these two neighborhoods comprising of the Greater Lawndale Community.

They imagine a West Side in which positive social leadership and innovation are the distinguishing characteristics of youth. They see a community strengthened by empowered and impassioned young people in partnership with others across boundaries of race, culture, and age. This is a terrific organization.
http://cribcollective.org

Culture Wrap: Culture Wrap is a nonprofit organization, with no religious or political affiliation. They are dedicated to promoting cross-cultural understanding through the use of media arts.

They connect filmmakers and film audiences around the world in an effort to engender multicultural friendships and cross-cultural collaborative partnerships.

By combining entertaining films and media projects with charitable projects that improve cross-cultural relations, they extend a film’s positive cultural message by offering opportunities for audiences to become actively involved in helping cultural communities in need around the world.

In addition to their films, they offer audiences an additional world of cultural background information and links to world culture communities.

As a nonprofit organization, the revenues made from their in-house productions return to the organization and its mission to engender cross-cultural understanding and the promotion of cross-cultural collaboration. Besides this complete dedication to recycle their entertainment revenue, their films support charitable and humanitarian cross-cultural projects by attaching their causes to our movies.
http://www.culturewrap.org

Dab the AIDS BEAR Project: The story of Dab the AIDS Bear began in San Francisco in the early 1980s, as Dab Garner’s friends, most still in the prime of life, began to be stricken -- first by an unknown disease, then by one with no cure and little possibility for treatment. Already a longtime volunteer, Garner decided to try to comfort friends who had no way out from their illness, so he created his first AIDS Bear.

"At that point in time, people usually didn’t leave the hospital because of opportunistic infections and depleted immune systems," he recalls. "I hoped my bears would be some companionship and comfort for the fear and pain they were enduring."

Today, the positive impact of antiretroviral therapy is well-documented, but it can cost as much as $40,000 a year. In 2006, four people died in South Carolina while on ADAP (AIDS Drug Assistance Program) waiting lists for medications, and Dap the AIDS Bear went back into action.

That year Garner formed a grassroots organization based on his bear called Dab the AIDS Bear Project to raise money to produce and distribute more bears and advocate more strenuously for federal support to underwrite AIDS therapies. "I could not stand by as my HIV family were dying and not use my voice," said Garner.

In addition to promoting the teddy bear and raising awareness about the crisis of the ADAP lists, Dab the AIDS Bear Project publishes a survival guide for new HIV/AIDS patients, sponsors a support group, and produces awareness events in the Jacksonville area. The organization hopes to be incorporated as a nonprofit soon.

What keeps Garner going? It’s more than just a soft-heart. Bears can get angry, too -- angry at the disease and at ignorance, too.

"If I can save one person by getting them to protect their health or one person who is on an ADAP list, that's one more person saved from the cold grip of AIDS," said Garner. "That's the best present I could ever get."

http://www.dabtheaidsbearproject.com

DARFUR: A GENOCIDE WE CAN STOP: There are a number of things you can do to help stop the killing in Darfur and bring peace and security to the region. Visit this website.
http://www.darfurgenocide.org

DARFUR PEACE & DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION: Darfur Peace and Development Organization is non-profit and non-sectarian. It seeks to restore reconciliation where conflict exists in the Darfur region of Sudan through humanitarian aid and services to the needy people in the region, without regard to race, religion, sex, or national origin.
http://www.darfurpeaceanddevelopment.org

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DEAR GOD KID LETTERS: I don't know who the authors are of these letters. The letters were emailed to me. They are little gems that share the mind and heart of a child.

Dear God, Instead of letting people die and haveing to make new ones why don't you just keep the ones you got now? Jane

Dear God, I went to a wedding and they kissed right in church. Is that ok? Neil

Dear God, I think the stapler is the greatest invention. Ruth M.

Dear God, In bible times did they really talk that fancy? Jennifer

Dear God, I think about you sometimes even when I'm not praying. Elliott

Dear God, I am Amearican what are you? Robert

Dear God, I bet it is very hard for you to love all the everybody in the whole world There are only 4 people in our family and I can never do it. Nan

Dear God, Please put another holiday bewteen Christmas and Easter. There is nothing good in there now. Ginny

Dear God, If you watch in church on Sunday I will show you my new shoes.
Mickey D.

Dear-God-if-we-come-back-as-something-please-don't-let-me-be-Jennifer-H.-because-I-hate-her. Denise

Dear God, I would like to live 900 years like the guy in the bible. Love, Chris

Dear God, If you give me a genie lamp like Alladin I will give you anything you want except my money or my chess set. Raphael

We read Thos. Edison made light. But in Sun. School They said you did it. So I bet he stoled your idea. Sincerly, Donna

Dear God, If you let the dinasor not exstinct we would not have a country. You did the right thing. Jonathan

Dear God, Please send Dennis C. to a different camp this year. Peter

Dear God, Maybe Cain and Abel would not kill each other so much if they had their own rooms. It works with my brother. Larry

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Delmarva Youth Magazine (Salisbury, MD): Delmarva Youth, a full-color, glossy cover magazine, was created in July, 2006 to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of young people living on the Eastern Shore. While their mission is to encourage the great things that kids in their community are doing, the magazine also strives to provide parents with information and resources invaluable to encouraging and raising good kids. The magazine has grown into a much-anticipated publication: informative, creative, and celebratory. It is enjoyed by readers of all ages.

Note: This is a wonderful youth magazine, check it out!
http://www.delmarvayouth.com

Dental Care for Children (Southern CA. and Mexico): Founded in 1991 by pioneer dentist and philanthropist Dr. Charles Tozzer, Dental Care for Children has delivered over $1,500,000 in free dental care to over 7,500 destitute kids, the ones who need it most. With throngs of dedicated volunteers, Dr. Tozzer has spearheaded the delivery of these crucial services to the children in orphanages and underprivileged school districts in both Mexico and Southern California. With your help, the next step is to expand free dentistry to more of the world’s poorest children.
http://www.dentalcareforchildren.org

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Keenan Dietiker (Poet for Peace): Eighteen-year-old artist and poet Keenan Dietiker has published his first book, a collection of art and poetry. The volume, "Voices of the Soul," was unveiled in April, 2008. Copies can be ordered from Lulu

Profits from the sale of this book will be donated to Living Compassion's Africa Vulnerable Children Project.

Note: The staff and creative artists associated with A Starry Night Productions feel that young creative artists like Keenan Dietiker greatly impact and make a positive affect on the world. We encourage you to purchase "Voices of the Soul," and we have selected Dietiker to be our "Featured for Summer, 2008 Generous Person" because of his remarkable gift to the Living Compassion's Africa Vulnerable Children's Project. He is the youngest creative artist we've ever featured.

To learn more about the Living Compassion's Africa Vulnerable Children's Project please review the Living Compassion website.
Living Compassion

http://poetforpeace.com

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Divided We Fail: Americans should have the peace of mind that comes with knowing that their futures will be financially secure. Yet, millions of Americans worry about their health and long-term financial security. For many, the American dream is eroding along with this security. We can't let this happen.

We must act and we must act now. If we don't, the next generation will be the first in American history to be less well off than their parents.

AARP, Business Roundtable, SEIU, and NFIB are stepping up to this challenge with Divided We Fail so that Americans can achieve long-term financial security and get the health care they need. We intend to rally individuals, policymakers, and business leaders to this cause, whether it be:

strengthening Social Security
making affordable, quality health care available for all
making prescription drugs more affordable for all
creating incentives to save for retirement,
or expanding job opportunities so people can keep working and contributing to society as they get older.

We believe all Americans should have access to affordable, quality health care and peace of mind about their future long-term financial security, and we're going to mobilize our members and the public to demand solutions.
http://www.aarp.org/issues/dividedwefail

Dot On Shaft Guitars (Canada): Natalie and Mike have generously donated guitars to Guitars Not Guns and other music mentoring programs. Check them out, they are very cool. Be sure to review their affiliates listing too.
http://www.dotonshaft.com

Drowning Creek Studio, LLC™ (Commerce, Georgia): Drowning Creek Studio, LLC™ is a small art studio owned & operated by Jeff Wood and Judy Gex. DCS creates collectible limited edition art prints and concert & event posters for select clients. The shop, located in an old slaughter house, is equipped with state-of-the-art computers, screen print, and digital imaging devices. Printing primarily on Living Tree Paper® with resin-based, eco-friendly UV inks, DCS has also become a leader in eco-friendly printing for the music industry. No petro-chemical solvents are used in DCS' printing process. The degradable celluloid film positives are generated digitally using no developing chemicals. Biodegradable, soy-based Franmar chemicals are used for clean-up and reclaiming needs. Packing materials and boxes are recycled, and waste water is triple-filtered.

Note: Everyone associated with THE LOOSE END OF THE RAINBOW thanks Drowning Creek Studio, LLC™ for their concern for people in need and for their very generous support to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota.

To learn more about Drowning Creek Studio, LLC™ please visit their website.
http://www.drowningcreek.com

Dress for Success (New York City, New York & International): Dress for Success promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support, and career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.

Founded in New York City in 1997, Dress for Success is an international not-for-profit organization offering services designed to help clients find jobs and remain employed. Each client receives one suit when she has a job interview and may return for a second suit or a separates outfit when she finds work.
http://www.dressforsuccess.org

EARN (Earned Assets Resource Network): EARN, founded in 2001, is a non-profit organization based in San Francisco, California that helps working poor Americans leave poverty through investments in assets. EARN also leads change in public policy related to asset-building.

EARN breaks the cycle of poverty by matching the savings of low-wage workers and helping them invest in assets that build wealth, creating a cycle of prosperity across generations. EARN is a nationally-recognized, award-winning pioneer, engaging low-wage workers, businesses, policymakers, and other nonprofits in its efforts to fulfill its three core promises:

1. Empower low-wage workers in the Bay Area to escape poverty permanently through asset building products and services.

2. Create, demonstrate, and evaluate innovative asset-building practices that can be replicated on a large scale.

3. Champion state and local asset-building policies that open the door to financial success to low-wage workers.

Note: EARN has been awarded the Fast Company Social Capitalist of the Year Award, and was named one of the ten most innovative nonprofits in the world when it was chosen as one of the ten finalists in the Amazon.com Nonprofit Innovation Award.
http://www.sfearn.org

The Earth Organization: The Earth Organization is a non-profit, non-partisan, issue-oriented organization. Our members come from all walks of life, from all cultures, races and religious backgrounds, all motivated by a common cause: to reverse the dwindling spiral of life on Earth, and to create a healthy, habitable planet on which all life flourishes and prospers, and of which we can be proud.

The Earth Organization's international offices work in association with other environmental groups around the world in projects of mutual interest. One of these co-venture partners is The Earth Organization in the United States, a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation.

The Earth and practically all major life forms on it are currently in danger, as ecosystems become degraded and extinctions continue to escalate at an alarming rate.

It took billions of years to develop a viable, balanced relationship amongst life forms on planet Earth. In less than 100 years, Earth's survival potential has deteriorated to a point where we must now consider that man himself could one day become an endangered species. Something can be done about it.
http://www.earthorganization.com

EastSide Arts Alliance (Oakland, CA.): The EastSide Arts Alliance (ESAA) is an organization of artists, cultural workers, and community organizers of color who live and/or work in the San Antonio district of Oakland. They are committed to working in the San Antonio and other Oakland neighborhoods to support a creative environment that improves the quality of life for the communities and advocates for progressive, systemic social change.

EastSide Arts Alliance uses the voice of art and culture to nurture a genuinely multi-cultural community that benefits all people in their neighborhood and provides creative opportunities for youth and adults to share their own cultural traditions and innovations. They present community workshops, events, and festivals where Oakland residents learn to use the arts to share their views on issues which affect their lives, as well as the life and health of the communities they live in.

Through positive and progressive programming and cultural organizing, EastSide Arts Alliance promotes community sustainability for future generations through self-determination, political and cultural awareness, and leadership development. They are building a community cultural arts center to be a unifying, neighborhood gathering place that will house the organization's on-going activities and other cultural events initiated by residents and local artists.
http://www.eastsideartsalliance.com

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Eastern Cherokee, Southern Iroquois & United Tribes of South Carolina, Inc.
P.O. Box 7062
Columbia, SC 29202
803-699-0446

Easter Cherokee, Southern Iroquois and United Tribes of South Carolina, Inc. (ECSIUT) is 501 (C) (3) Tax Exempt Charitable Non-Profit cultural arts and educational outreach organization. They promote scholastic research, foster accurate documentation, and inspire genealogical, biographical, historical, and heritage research associated with the Cherokee tribe and all other Native America Indian tribes, and individuals of Native American Indian descent in South Carolina.

They strive to preserve, present, protect, and document Cherokee history, material culture, and historic buildings and folkways in South Carolina. ECSIUT is dedicated to creating an increased public awareness of Cherokee and other Native American Indian art, history, culture, and the many contributions Native American Indians have indeed made to American society, particularly in South Carolina.

ECSIUT shares the unique culture of Cherokee Indians and other Native Americans Indians through publications, exhibitions, symposiums, festivals, workshops, PowWows, and other activities to foster a harmonious spirit of unified voice among Native American Indian communities in South Carolina which improves their quality of life.

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EcoMall (Global): Lists environmentally friendly companies and products, news, and resources relating to the environment, information about activism, and more.
http://www.ecomall.com

Edge Foundation: Edge Foundation was established in 1988 as an outgrowth of a group known as The Reality Club. Its informal membership includes of some of the most interesting minds in the world.

The mandate of Edge Foundation is to promote inquiry into and discussion of intellectual, philosophical, artistic, and literary issues, as well as to work for the intellectual and social achievement of society. Edge Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit private operating foundation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Contributors to Edge own the copyright to their original writing posted on the website and their posting is in effect a license permitting Edge Foundation, Inc. the electronic use of this work. In the event Edge Foundation, Inc. wishes to use the work in a print medium it will not do so before asking and securing the written permission of the author. Edge Foundation, Inc. owns the cumulative copyright to the site.
http://www.edge.org

Educational Video Center (New York): Teaches documentary video production and media analysis to youth.
http://www.evc.org

The Ella Baker Center for Human Rights (Oakland, CA.): The Ella Baker Center for Human Rights is a non-profit strategy and action center based in Oakland, CA. They work for justice, opportunity, and peace in urban America and promote positive alternatives to violence and incarceration through four cutting-edge campaigns.

Instead of communities with more prisons and more police, the Ella Baker Center works to implement better schools, cleaner environment, and more opportunities for young people and working people. Their four awesome campaigns are:

Books Not Bars: Addresses the ineffective and inhumane over-incarceration of youth.

Silence the Violence: Building youth leadership and promoting cultural ventures and policies to end violence on Bay Area streets.

Bay Area PoliceWatch: Working to educate survivors and to reform police practices and policies through legal workshops, seminars, and campaigns.

Green-Collar Jobs: Addresses the lack of meaningful work opportunities for at-risk youth and formerly incarcerated people. The Green-Collar Jobs Campaign catalyzes workforce opportunities in the burgeoning “green” economy, creating dignified jobs for low-income families.
http://ellabakercenter.org

Ellis Island: We Are Ellis Island (New York): Ellis Island, the great national landmark and irreplaceable American icon, is in dire need of repair and your help. From 1892 to 1954, the island was a gateway into the United States for over 12 million people from all over the world. Today nearly 40% of all Americans can trace their roots to Ellis Island. In 1954, the island was closed but not protected from the elements of weather. In the 1990's, the main building was renovated and reopened as a museum, but much of the historic site still remains closed to the public.
http://www.weareellisisland.org

Note: My paternal Italian grandfather came to America via Ellis Island at age nineteen. His older brothers came before him, one at a time, each working and saving funds to pay the passage for them all to get to America. My grandfather told me that when he reached Ellis island he kissed the ground and cried. He had little money and could not speak English. His brothers were waiting for him in California. A man was selling bananas at the train station in New York. My grandfather bought some before boarding the train to California. Soon he discovered that he didn't like bananas at all. As the train pulled from the station he handed them to some boys out the window. The grateful boys ate them immediately. My hungry grandfather was stunned and humored. Unlike the boys who peeled the fruit, he had never seen a banana before and had tried to eat them skin and all.

Emerald Earth Sanctuary (Boonville, CA.): Emerald Earth is an intentional community in Mendocino County located on 189 beautiful acres of mixed forest and meadows, which is owned by their non-profit corporation Emerald Earth Sanctuary. They make decisions by consensus, and they value direct, open communication and conflict resolution. They are currently seeking new members.

On their somewhat remote rural site, they practice sustainable living skills such as organic gardening, permaculture, herbal medicine, natural building, and home power generation. They teach workshops on these topics and some of their members have written books on natural building and green spirituality.

Important Note: Please do not place this website's email addresses on any mailing lists and please do not send members unsolicited advertising, large documents, images. or attachments.
http://www.emeraldearth.org

End Hunger in America (USA): Michigan State University and Second Harvest Gleaners Food Bank of West Michigan collaborated in a two-year international award-winning research project to determine if and how local communities in the U.S. can adequately address their area's hunger problem.

The research found that adequately addressing the need is possible, and is much more within reach than most people believe it could possibly be.

Between 30 and 40 million people in the United States are hungry or are just a meal or two away from it. The End Hunger in America website shares compelling information. Please take time to review it and learn what you can do to help. You can download the steps to ending hunger free.

If we each do our personal part, if we join hands together to end hunger in America, this goal will be achieved.
http://www.endhungerinamerica.org

Eth-Noh-Tec (San Francisco, CA.): By layering ancient Asian mythologies, folktales and Asian urban legends with Asian American sensibilities Eth-Noh-Tec creates an exciting new blend of storytelling and kinetic theater. Eth-Noh-Tec performs throughout the United States and abroad.
http://www.ethnohtec.org

Faerie Films (California): Faerie Films is currently in production on All Jacked Up a full-length, theatrical release; a docu-dram-edy that explores the typical eating habits of teenagers and exposes the truth about “the system” that preys on their naiveté, keeping them on course for a dismal future if they don’t rise above it all.

Please review their beautiful website to learn more about this incredible endeavor.
http://www.faeriefilms.com

Farm Aid (USA): Farm Aid features the best that music has to offer, while remaining true to its ultimate mission.

Willie Nelson, Neil Young, and John Mellencamp organized the first Farm Aid concert in 1985 to raise awareness about the loss of family farms and to raise funds to keep farm families on their land. Dave Matthews joined the Farm Aid Board of Directors in 2001.

Farm Aid has raised more than $30 million to promote a strong and resilient family farm system of agriculture. Farm Aid is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to keep family farmers on their land.
http://www.farmaid.org

Feed The Pig: The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants ("AICPA") has created a national public service campaign to encourage people to take control of their personal finances. The campaign, Feed the Pig ™, is a component of the 360 Degrees of Financial Literacy effort which aims to educate Americans about how financial issues affect their lives. It features a website, www.360financialliteracy.org, offering free tools and resources to help people manage their finances through every stage of life.
http://www.feedthepig.org

Female Prisoners’ Poetry Collected by Sue Stauffacher: Sue Stauffacher is a professional journalist and has been writing a children's book review column for several years. She the author of Harry Sue, a novel published by Knopf (ISBN-10: 0440420644 ISBN-13: 9780440420644) for children ages 8-10.

Sue's writing workshops with women separated from their children due to imprisonment or neglect as a result of their drug use, have resulted in compelling ebook of poetry and letters.
http://www.fcnetwork.org/womens_poetry.pdf

Fight Meningitis (PROTECT YOUR TEENS): Although meningitis is uncommon, a person can catch it by having close personal contact with a person who is sick with the disease. There are also people who can carry the bacteria in their nose and throat but never become sick. Contact with these carriers can also cause someone to become infected with meningitis.

Experts believe that some behaviors can put people at greater risk for getting meningitis.

These include:

* Living in close quarters, such as college dormitories.

* Being in crowded situations for prolonged periods of time.

* Sharing drinking glasses, water bottles, or eating utensils.

* Kissing.

* Smoking or being exposed to smoke.

* Activities that make people run-down and may weaken the immune system, such as staying out late and having irregular sleeping patterns.

While there isn’t a way to be 100 percent protected, you can help reduce the risk of getting meningitis by avoiding the behaviors that spread it. There is also a vaccination that can help prevent it. Ask your child’s health-care provider about how to protect your child.
http://www.fightmeningitis.com

Firelight Foundation (Santa Cruz, CA. and Africa): Their mission is to support and advocate for the needs and the rights of children who are orphaned or affected by HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa. They strive to increase the resources available to grassroots organizations that are strengthening the capacity of families and communities to care for children made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS.
http://www.firelightfoundation.org

First Americans in the Arts (California): First Americans in the Arts (FAITA) is a non-profit organization created to recognize, honor, and promote American Indian participation in the powerful arena of the entertainment industry, incorporating the areas of film, television, music, and theater. FAITA presents an annual award ceremony recognizing outstanding achievement, performances, and contribution by and to the Native American Indian entertainment community.
http://www.firstamericans.org

Fotovision (San Francisco Bay Area, CA.): Fotovision is a non-profit organization founded in 2003 by a group of prominent photojournalists, media professionals, and educators from top US photojournalism programs. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, the organization's members run the spectrum from amateur photographers to professionals who have received such awards as the Pulitzer Prize and the World Press Photo Award.

Fotovision's mission is to advance documentary photography and storytelling. They do this through education, dialogue, and community. Their vision is to inspire and enable positive change by creating a global photographic community that gives voice to the human condition.

The curriculum is designed to span the various skills and techniques needed as a long-term, in-depth photo project is developed: field-work, editing, funding and marketing, book publishing, multi-media issues and more. They create opportunities for photographers to hear lectures by master photographers like Sebastião Salgado, James Nachtwey, Eugene Richards, Alex Webb, and others. In addition, they give Bay Area photographers and people interested in documentary the rare opportunity to study with these masters in small groups.
http://www.fotovision.org

The Free Child Project (Global): They are dedicated to making social change, education, and resources more accessible for young people around the world.
http://www.freechild.org

Free Rice Game (Global): For each word you get right, the organization donates 20 grains of rice through the UN World Food Program to help end hunger. As of 04-26-08 over 29 billion grains of rice have been donated.

Warning: This game may make you smarter. It may improve your speaking, writing, thinking, grades, and job performance.

http://www.freerice.com

Freedom Writers (National): The Freedom Writers Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded in 1997, positively impacts communities by decreasing high school drop out rates through the replication and enhancement of the Freedom Writers Method.
http://www.freedomwritersfoundation.org

Freevibe: Freevibe is a drug awareness website designed for teens. It gives websites and addresses of institutions that help with addictions, perceived reasons for doing drugs, and the effects of drugs. They provide factual information about marijuana, perscription drugs, meth, ecstasy, inhalants, and more. This is a hard-hitting website, they don't pull any punches. Check them out.
http://www.freevibe.com

Friends of Ecuador: The challenges in Ecuador are such that the country needs as many friends as possible. There are a number of Americans, who work in or visit Ecuador, that feel strongly about the country. The single largest group of friends of Ecuador is the Ecuadorian immigrant community that lives in the United States.

The vision for Friends of Ecuador is to create an on-line community. All members may add content, talk with one another, share information, organize projects, link with organizations in Ecuador, and provide donations to help ensure a healthier and more prosperous Ecuador for Ecuadorian people.
http://friendsofecuador.org

Friends of Yemin Orde (Serving 22 Countries): Friends of Yemin Orde is a 501-C-3 organization based in Washington, DC, that supports the programs of Yemin Orde Youth Village in Israel. Yemin Orde is home to more than 500 disadvantaged youth from 22 countries. Located just south of Haifa, Yemin Orde is a home and school environment. Their success with refugee, disadvantaged, and at-risk youth has attracted widespread acclaim. Most recently, Yemin Orde has formed the "Yemin Orde Communities," a network of childcare organizations using Yemin Orde's innovative programs and methods.
http://www.yeminorde.org

Friends for Youth (San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties, CA): Friends for Youth has been serving peninsula at-risk youth for 28+ years. It is an award-winning agency that creates and supports one-to-one friendships between youth-in-need and caring adults.
http://www.friendsforyouth.org

Friendship Park (Mendocino, CA): The construction of the park was a great community effort accomplished in just four years through the dedication of local volunteers and donors who shared a common vision. Most of the materials, much of the professional labor, and all the funds needed were donated. On April 18, 1993, the park was dedicated and the familiar cry of “Let’s play ball!” echoed across the field. Members of fourteen coast Little League teams joined in the joy of the first opening day.
http://www.friendshipparkmendocino.org

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Gaiam Real Goods Solar Installation Services (California & Colorado, USA): Gaiam Real Goods professionals have 200+ years of combined experience in solar and renewable energy. Plus, their staff walks its talk: many of them drive hybrid, biodiesel, and electric vehicles, have solar PV systems on thir homes and/or live off the utility grid. Collectively they endeavor to reduce the carbon footprint from 2000 levels by at least 80% by 2030 to set an example to others to help mitigate global warming.

Their experienced solar experts are typically with their company for the long haul with only minimal staff turnover. The staff receives excellent and continual training in renewable energy and sustainable living.

Please visit their website to learn more about their Solar Living Center in Hopland, California. The center has the world's greatest environmental store. The Hopland Real Goods store is open every day (except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day) from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Catalogs: You can order Gaiam Living, Gaiam Mind Body, Gaiam Real Goods, and Explorations catalogs from their website.

National Award: Real Goods founder John Schaeffer received the 2007 Green Pioneer Award on October 22, 2207. The annual national award recognizes individual renewable energy leaders that have demonstrated leadership by working to build the market for green power.
http://www.realgoodssolar.com

The Solar Living Institute (Hopland, CA.): Established in 1998 as a spin-off from Real Goods Trading Company, the Solar Living Institute is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit educational organization whose mission is to promote sustainable living through inspirational environmental education. The Institute provides practical, education by example and hands-on workshops on renewable energy, green building, sustainable living, permaculture, organic gardening, and alternative, environmental, construction methods.

The Institute is headquartered at the Solar Living Center, a gorgeous 12-acre renewable energy and sustainable living demonstration site visited by nearly 200,000 people annually in the heart of Northern California’s wine country. Since its inception nearly two million visitors have experienced the Solar Living Center.

The nonprofit Solar Living Institute depends upon donations to continue to offer rich educational programs. Please support the Institute by joining their membership program, making a gift online, becoming an intern, or volunteering.
http://www.solarliving.org

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Gallery Bookshop and Bookwinkle's Children's Books (Mendocino, California): Tony Miksak bought this long established and amazing store in 1980. At the time it was as much an art gallery as bookshop. The store featured paintings and prints by local artists, art supplies, and greeting cards. Over the years paintings were supplanted by an increasingly broad selection of new books on all topics.

In 1988 Tony started the first children's bookstore in Mendocino county. In the years since, Gallery Bookshop & Bookwinkle's Children's Books has delighted local and international readers with a sophisticated mix of titles.

Christie Olson Day bought the shop in 2006 and will continue the store's exceptional tradition. She offers books by local authors and an impressive selection of cards, magazines, calendars, wrapping paper, stationery products, maps, posters, stickers, writing supplies, and more. A dedicated and knowledgeable staff continues to provide stellar customer service.

Book Angels: The holiday season finds Bookwinkle's Children's Books aglow with generous angels. For several years Bookwinkle's staff have collected the first names, ages, first languages, and interests of North Coast children in need. The information is supplied by teachers, parents, and community service groups such as the Food Bank and homeless shelters. Bookwinkle staff showcases each child's particulars on a "book angel" in a beautiful wooden display called a "firmament of stars." Customers are encouraged to be a secret angel and purchase books for the children. Bookwinkle's volunteers devote many hours to wrapping and decorating the book gifts. They track, sort, and provide the gifts to the children's sponsors for gift giving at holiday time.

Note: If you are ever in Mendocino this wonderful bookshop is absolutely a must visit!
http://www.gallerybooks.com

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (Seattle Washington & Global): Bill and Melinda Gates believe every life has equal value. In 2000, they created the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to help reduce inequities in the United States and around the world.
http://www.gatesfoundation.org

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GATHERING OF NATIONS (GON): It has been said by many that the GATHERING OF NATIONS POWWOW is the Mecca of Indian Country; while others have said that there is a magic about the "Gathering".

Many people from around the world have made the GON powwow one of their yearly travel destinations. Since 1983, it has grown to become more than just a powwow; it's an experience!

Held each spring at the University of New Mexico Arena in the "Pit," the GON powwow has blossomed into the most enjoyable, cultural, and entertaining native festival in North America. There you can shop at the impressive Indian Trader's Market, sample the best of native foods, and hear native music on Powwow Alley.

2008: This year the powwow will be presented on April 24-27th. To learn more about this once-a-year cultural festival, Miss Indian World, A POWWOW SUMMER ACROSS NORTH AMERICA by Dr. Lita Mathews (available in paperback book and in audio book), COOKING VEGETARIAN with Melonie Mathews (available in paperback book), and for additional information about the GATHERING OF NATIONS organization, including purpose, activities, photographs, and accomplishments, please visit their website.
http://www.gatheringofnations.com

Gathering of Nations Internet Radio: It costs $500.00+ monthly to keep GON Radio online. If you are able, please consider a donation.

Note: I am most honored that Dr. Lita Mathews, co-founder of GATHERING OF NATIONS, has endorsed THE LOOSE END OF THE RAINBOW. Her vast humanitarian wisdom humbles me each time I converse with her. Dr. Mathews is small in stature, but she has shining warmth as big and as bright as the sun. She is one of those rare people who is often a dime in a room full of nickels. To read her endorsement click here and scroll down: Endorsements

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The Genesius Guild (New York): The Genesius Guild is a non-profit theatre company dedicated to the creation of new theatre. It provides a forum in which artists from all theatrical disciplines can interact to create new plays, musicals, and the cabaret experience through on-going development project series. The goal of their program is to engender the next generation of ground-breaking theatre and artists.
http://www.genesiusguild.org

Gilda's Club Worldwide: Cancer support for the whole family, the whole time.

Gilda's Club is named in honor of the amazing and wonderful Saturday Night Live comedian Gilda Radner, who died of ovarian cancer in 1989. Gilda dreamed that all people affected by cancer, as well as their families and friends, would have access to the same kind of emotional and social support that she received during her illness.
http://www.gildasclub.org

G.I.N.A (Anaheim, CA. & National): The name Gina is in honor of singer-songwriter Gina Bos. In 2001, Gina’s sister, Jannel Rap, founded G.I.N.A. to bring together recording artists in an effort to raise awareness of people who go missing every year. I urge everyone, especially musicians, to help support this organization.
http://www.jannelrap.com

Girls Incorporated (National): An organization that inspires girls to be strong, smart, and bold by providing them the opportunity to develop and achieve their full potential.
http://www.girlsincholyoke.org

Global AIDS Alliance (Global): The mission of the Global AIDS Alliance (GAA) is to galvanize the political will and financial resources needed to slow, and ultimately stop, the global AIDS crisis and reduce its impacts on poor countries hardest hit by the pandemic.
http://www.globalaidsalliance.org

Global Exchange Organization (Global): Human rights organization devoted to building people-to-people ties between first and third world nations and promoting sustainable development.
http://www.globalexchange.org

The Global Fund For Children (Global): They work to advance the dignity of vulnerable children and youth worldwide by supporting and strengthening grassroots groups and harnessing the power of books, films, and photography.
http://www.globalfundforchildren.org

The Global Fund For Women (Global): The Global Fund For Women is an international network of women and men committed to a world of equality and social justice. They advocate for and defend women's human rights by making grants to support women's groups around the world.
http://www.globalfundforwomen.org

Global Warming: Early Warning Signs (Global): This website shares the websites of organizations that produce Global Warming: Early Warning Signs. Visit these sites for more information on the global warming issue and learn what you can do to help.
http://www.climatehotmap.org

Global Warming Kids Site: This EPA site explains what global warming is, what causes it, and what we can do to help stop it. Educational but not overwhelming, the site provides definitions of scientific terms and features simple global warming-themed games.
http://epa.gov/climatechange/kids/index.html

Global Warming Organization (Global): The website of the Cooler Heads Coalition, an international group of non-profit organizations dedicated to smarter thinking on the subject of global warming and climate change. Here you will find essays and articles on the science, economics, and politics (both domestic and international) of the issue. The debate over global warming has become very heated. That's why it's time for Cooler Heads.
http://www.globalwarming.org

Global Warming Solution Organization (Global): GlobalWarmingSolution.Org unites grassroots organizations and individuals committed to bringing about a timely and effective solution to global warming - arguably the greatest threat humanity has ever faced.
http://www.globalwarmingsolution.org

The Golden Carrot (Anza, CA.): The Golden Carrot was founded by Casey O'Connor and is a sanctuary for manageably disabled, elderly, mistreated, and retired horses and ponies.

The organization is also a resource for the community. If you will volunteer to do some chores, such as cleaning stalls, fixing fences, grooming, and exercising horses, Casey will give you free riding lessons.

The Golden Carrot is a 24 acre facility located in an isolated area bordering the Cahuilla Indian Reservation in Southern California. It's a great location for camping, riding, hiking, and living with wildlife and nature. They offer day camps, weekends, and more. Participants learn to ride and care for horses.

Note: The Golden Carrot is a wonderful organization. I want go t