Give Love Globally

Hello, my compassionate Plante Lifers!

We’re closing out this month’s theme of showing love in a big way. Real BIG. Like, an entire planet big. 🙂

That’s right. I want to talk to you today about sharing your love with the global community. I think we can all agree the world could use a little more compassion and care right now.

Now, you don’t have to be on the Board of Directors of a charity or join the Peace Corps to make an impact on a larger scale (unless you want to; you rock, girl!) This is about finding the things that light you up that are outside of your little, comfortable circle.

There are so many organizations and activist groups, big and small, across a spectrum of issues that need your support, and now it’s easier than ever for them to reach a worldwide audience, including you!

So make sure your passport is handy and get ready to spin the globe! Here are a few of my favorite organizations and ways to give love globally.

 

Before we dive into specific organizations, let’s talk about the easiest and fastest way to get involved with charitable organizations and global issues: making a donation.

Cash is still Queen (Who run the world?), and these groups rely on funding from around the world to keep their doors open and their resources out to people in need. And if you don’t have a lot of time to volunteer, making a donation is a great alternative.

Plus, it can even be a form of quiet resistance to the doom and gloom news cycle. For example, one of my friends, whenever she notices the Internet exploding with negativity, she presses pause on the social media posts and instead donates a few bucks to whatever the underlying global issue is—be it women’s health, social justice or the environment. She feels like she’s contributed in a positive way without getting into any arguments online.

Thanks to modern technology, you can even let your money fly solo internationally through a number of cool apps that put you in touch with nonprofits in need.

One Today – This app by Google introduces you to a new US-based charity each day, with all the details on what they do, what your donation will fund, and a report on its impact. You can tap to donate $1 to their cause. So a little literally goes a long way!

Charity Miles – I have a client who discovered this app while participating in a 5K, and it’s so easy and addictive. Before you head out for your daily run or to walk your dog, you just open the app and pick a cause you want to support. For every mile you go, Charity Miles, in partnership with big name sponsors, donates a small amount of money to your chosen charity. You can even join existing teams on the app to pool together your miles and cheer each other on!

We all like to know that our money is going to good use and to the right place, so check out Charity Navigator, “America’s largest independent charity evaluator”. They comb through the financial reports of thousands of charities and rate whether they are providing the services they claim with the money you invest. (P.S. This website also runs on donations, if you like to support companies that promote transparency.)

Now, let’s laser in on some cool organizations I want to make sure you know about!

Young Storytellers

What better way to give back on a bigger scale than to help empower the voices of the future generation. Young Storytellers connects actors, artists and other creatives with kids in more than 60 public schools in Los Angeles and New York City. Volunteer to mentor a child and help them bring to life their original stories on stage and film.

DonorsChoose.org

Let’s face it, teachers are heroes. They shouldn’t have to use their own money to buy school supplies or equipment for their classrooms. DonorsChoose.org lets public school teachers across the country request much-needed materials and experiences for their students. You’ll find in-depth summaries on the projects and classrooms, and can easily sort for the most urgent requests.

Environmental Cleanups

In an ideal world, we’d all put trash in its place, but until then, our environment needs our help. There are a lot of groups that organize large scale cleanups both on land, like Adopt A Highway (usually run by each state’s Department of Transportation, and on sea, like Heal the Bay, Surfrider Foundation and Marine Conservation Society. You can find a local chapters near you or check out your neighborhood council for possible events to keep your own street clean.

Water, Water Everywhere (but people need some they can drink!)

There are lots of options when it comes to providing safe and clean drinking water to developing communities, and the larger organizations have the tech know-how to help you set up online campaigns, pledge your birthday to fundraise in lieu of gifts, and track the progress of the project you’ve donated to.

charity:water operates in 22 countries in Africa, Asia, Central and South America. Pure Water for the World focusing on Central America and the Caribbean. Other organizations include Generosity.org and The Water Project.

Hug a Quokka! (so cute)

There are SO many ways to get involved with local and global wildlife conservation. Even by just volunteering at your local or closest national park. Pick your favorite animal, and I guarantee there is an organization working to preserve their natural habitat. Grassroots animal sanctuaries, like Goats of Anarchy or Kangaroo Sanctuary, need love and support too; plus their Instagram feeds are pretty adorable!

If you just love all animals too much to choose just one, start with the World Wildlife Fund.

You Go, Girl!

These organizations empower females all over the world to heal from trauma, grow strong and in turn, add more love out into the world.

The Girl Project, presented by Glamour magazine, support educational programs for girls in more than 100 countries, and their website can direct you to even more, like Girls Inc., which focuses on well-rounded development and advocacy for women’s rights. It’s all interconnected!

I learned about Face Forward from my friend Christina DeRosa. This LA-based organization provides reconstructive surgery & emotional support to survivors of domestic violence & human trafficking.

MY SISTER is fighting sex trafficking one shirt at a time from Minneapolis, MN, but by partnering with larger non-profits and providing employment for survivors, they are sharing their message on a worldwide scale.

And last, but certainly not least, Planned Parenthood, the nation’s oldest and largest provider of family planning services, needs our help. They provide comprehensive reproductive and complementary health care services in settings which preserve and protect the essential privacy and rights of each individual. They advocate public policies which guarantee these rights and ensure access to such services and they provide educational programs which enhance understanding of individual and societal implications of human sexuality.

What global issues do you most want to get involved in? Do you have a favorite charity you’d like to share with our community? Let me know in the comments below or post their link on my Facebook Page!

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LOVE + planet-sized hugs!