Big Brothers Big Sisters of America

Support Doctors Without Borders

There are more than 33 million people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide, according to the World Health Organization, the majority of them in sub-Saharan Africa. Doctors Without Borders began treating people living with HIV in the 1990s and started antiretroviral treatment programs in Cameroon, Thailand, and South Africa in 2000. MSF now operates HIV/AIDS programs in 32 countries and provides ARV treatment to more than 100,000 HIV-positive patients—including 7,000 children.

Doctors without borders rejects the idea that poor countries deserve third-rate medical care and strives to provide high-quality care to patients and to improve the organization's practices. Through the Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines and, in recent years, in partnership with the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, this work has helped lower the price of HIV/AIDS treatment and has stimulated research and development for medicines to treat malaria and neglected diseases like sleeping sickness and kala azar.

Donate today to help these people get the drugs they desperately need!

Earth Day Celebrates 40 Years

40 Years ago, Senator Gaylord Nelson was troubled by the idea that the state of our planet was not an issue. Then, over a period time, he started Earth Day, which celebrated it's 40th birthday yesterday. (To read more on the start of Earth Day, click here)

Earth Justice is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the magnificent places, natural resources, and wildlife of this earth, and to defending the right of all people to a healthy environment, throughout the whole year.

Just because Earth Day has passed us by, does not mean we can ignore the planet. Everyone could make easy sacrifices each day to help out planet. It's as simple as recycling a can instead of throwing it in the trash, avoid lingering in the shower, or even bringing reusable bags to the grocery store.

These things are not a huge inconvience and could make a huge difference if everyone participated. Click here for more easy tips to help the planet.

Abortion Coverage

The new health care reform has been the cause of many debates recently, and one of the biggest issues is the abortion amendment. NARAL Pro-choice America Policy Director Donna Crane appeared on ABC 7 to discuss the issue.

Preventing Hunger

Did you know an estimated 1.02 billion people in the world go hungry? Every year, 3 million children under five die due to malnutrition. In the United States alone, over 49 million people—including 16.7 million children—live in households that struggle to put food on the table.

It's time to put an end to hunger, and yes, it is possible.

The following nonprofit organizations work to help put an end to hunger, among other things. It is said that the world's population could put an end to hunger with an extra 13 billion dollars a year. If everyone donated a little time and/or money, it would be relatively easy. Please search through these organizations and find out ways in which you could help.

Action Against Hunger
Africare
Bread for the World
Care
City Harvest
Feed My People
Food Bank of NYC

No Plans for Spring Break?

Although there are plenty of options for students to use their free time during spring break, more than 11,000 students will travel across the country to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity for their spring break. The youth volunteers are participants of Collegiate Challenge, Habitat for Humanity’s year-round alternative break program.

Habitat for Humanity has been around for years, working with volunteers, to build simple and decent houses.Thousands of low-income families have found new hope in the form of affordable housing. Churches, community groups and others have joined together to successfully tackle a significant social problem – decent housing for all.

Today, Habitat for Humanity has built more than 300,000 houses, sheltering more than 1.5 million people in more than 3,000 communities worldwide.

To learn more about Habitat for Humanity, or to volunteer your time as well, visit their website at www.habitat.org/

NAACP Launches Historical Timeline

Black History Month may be over, but the NAACP is still offering new ways to educate. They recently launched a new interactive historical timeline highlighting events in the civil rights movement and advancements in NAACP's own history.

The timeline includes photos, video archives and film clips in addition to a detailed interactive narrative. Look around, explore, discover, and learn.

SPCA: Animal Cruelty/Abuse Prevention

The SPCA has been protecting animal rights for years. At the Prince George's county centers, they have a cruelty/abuse prevention program. They have full-time volunteer employees, a 24 hour answering service, and humane officers trained to look for neglect. You can find more information here.

Salvation Army Responds to Chile Earthquake

Affecting around two million people, an 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Chile left many in need. The Salvation Army immediately provided emergency services to these people, providing food, water, first aid kits, emergency packets, blankets, candles, and more. Learn more of Salvation Army's emergency relief of the Chile earthquake here.

Is it better to join a non-profit organization or to start one on your own. This video talks about how it is better for people to join a non-profit organization and how they work.

Planned Parenthood: Still Protecting Women's Rights

Planned Parenthood is known for their health care services in settings which preserve and protect the privacy and rights of an individual and advocate the public policies. They provide real sex education to teens and promote research and reproductive health care and encourage understanding of their inherent bioethical, behavioral, and social implications.

They provide HIV/STD testing, birth control services, abortion services, emergency contraceptive services, LGBT services, and plenty of other health issues and educational services. To learn more about the services offered or to locate health centers, visit their website at www.plannedparenthood.org.

If you're interested in helping Planned Parenthood by advocating for an issue, volunteering at your local health care center, or donating money to their organization, you can visit their Action website. The site is loaded with different ways you can help make a difference alongside planned parenthood.