Day 50 – Donating to Hurricane Relief

CNN: The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. The areas covered include the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. The National Weather Service defines a hurricane as a "tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 74 mph or higher." Hurricanes are rated according to intensity of sustained …

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Day 49 – Decriminalizing Marijuana

Though the War on Cannabis—a subset of the notorious War on Drugs—has proven fruitless and wasteful, it still costs U.S. taxpayers about $3.6 billion, according to the ACLU. Between 2001 and 2010, there were over 8 million pot arrests in the U.S. with Blacks 3.73 times as likely to be arrested for marijuana possession. Download …

Day 48 – Giving the Gift of a Goat

I love the concept of providing a path toward independence and sustainability via giving. As the oft used adage suggests, “Give a man a fish, and he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he eats for life.” Help him grow a fish farm and you'll feed a village. Research has proven …

Day 47 – Putting an End to Child Labour

Unicef: Millions of children around the world are trapped in child labour, depriving them of their childhood, their health and education, and condemning them to a life of poverty and want. Current global estimates estimate that 168 million children aged 5 to 17 are trapped in child labour. Child labour spans various sectors, including agriculture, …

Day 46 – Needing a Local Place of Worship

I've pretty much avoided organized religion and church for many years. With few exceptions, the most profound spiritual experiences I've had throughout my lifetime have been solitary excursions into nature. That said, I've loved gathering for extended, uninterrupted worship and stimulating interactive fellowship with open-minded, open-hearted spiritual seekers. I hate being preached at. I hate …

Day 45 – Encountering Lewy Body Dementia

This week I watched the stirring new documentary chronicling Robin William's final days, Robin's Wish. Robin has always been a particular hero and favorite of mine. His comedic genius was/is unparalleled. Beyond just being a comedian and actor, he was a man of great heart. He was also a broken man who struggled with depression …

Day 44 – Stopping the Slaughter of the Bees

USDA: Each of us depends on pollinators in a practical way to provide us with the wide range of foods we eat. In the United States, more than one-third of all crop production – 90 crops ranging from nuts to berries to flowering vegetables - requires insect pollination. Check out this interesting USDA infographic. Greenpeace: …

Day 43 – Caring for Our Military Veterans

Statista: In 2019, there were more than 18 million veterans in the United States. Almost 6 million had served in the Vietnam War, and less than 10 thousand remained from wars prior to World War II. USA Today: More than 5 million veterans have at least one disability, 1.2 million live in poverty, and 77% …

Day 42 – Keeping Free Online Education Free

When I was growing up in the 60s, my primary source of all information trivial and important was the World Book Encyclopedia. It was probably the best investment my mother ever made. I spent hours upon hours thumbing through its many alphabetized volumes, first taking in pictures and accompanying captions, before diving into the articles …

Day 41 – Curbing Shipping Industry Pollution

While politicians continue to debate the legitimacy of Global Warming /Climate Change along with self-interested multi-nationals arguing for little or no change in defense of their corporate coffers, people suffer and die. While much focus remains concentrated on lowering auto emissions and utilizing alternative forms energy; transferring the financing burden on domestic consumers, the egregious …

Day 40 – Encouraging Beleaguered Teachers

Teachers are front-line, essential workers and heroes, most especially so during the ongoing Covid Pandemic. Though caught in the ever-churning quagmire of political positioning and squabbling, they have done their best to provide a safe, effective learning environment for our children. They are worthy of our support and encouragement. Time recently interview teachers across the …

Day 39 – Understanding the Autism Spectrum

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) refers to a group of complex neurodevelopment disorders characterized by repetitive and characteristic patterns of behavior and difficulties with social communication and interaction. The symptoms are present from early childhood and affect daily functioning. The term “spectrum” refers to the wide range of symptoms, skills, and levels of disability in functioning …

Day 38 – Preventing Suicide – At Risk Groups

Globally, 800,000 people die due to suicide every year, which is one person every 40 seconds. About 80% of suicides occurred in low- and middle-income countries. It is the second leading cause of death for those between the ages of 15 and 24 in the world. Even in the relatively prosperous U.S., more than 48,000 …

Day 37 – Remembering the AIDS Epidemic

It's easy to forget that we continue to face another global pandemic, some say "epidemic" from HIV/AIDS, now going on its 40th year! Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) was first reported on in early 1981. Read a historic synopsis of the disease. After living four decades with the disease, here's …

Day 36 – Revolutionizing Financial Services

Blockchain News: Blockchain Technology has high prospects of bringing significant revolution into the banking and finance markets. These markets are cluttered with too many intermediaries. Blockchain advantages include; decentralization, transparency, security (very pertinent), reliability, reduced cost, reduced room for errors, simplicity, traceability, and immutability among others. But it's not just the Crypto World that is …

Day 35 – Localizing & Individuating Your Gift

Giving doesn't have to focus on the global and the grandiose, such as eliminating world poverty or bringing peace on earth. Your donations don't have to equate to a pittance added to the big pot philanthropy to a huge organizations like the United Way or the Red Cross, although they are great  charities. Technology utilized …

Day 34 – Freeing Those That Can’t Afford Bail

From The BailProject.org: On any given night in America, there are nearly half a million people sitting in jail before trial simply because they can’t afford bail. People in pretrial detention now make up more than two-thirds of America’s jail population. They are presumed innocent under the law, yet they will suffer the harms of …

Day 33 – Finding New Cancer Treatments

Slash, poison, burn. That’s what a leading cancer doctor calls the protocol of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. We spend $150 billion each year treating cancer, yet a patient with cancer is as likely to die of it today — with a few exceptions — as one was 50 years ago.  “The First Cell”: Dr. Raza …

Day 32 – Ending Gun Violence Against Kids

Here's a staggering statistic: Guns kill twice as many kids as cancer does! Nearly twice as many kids died from gun injuries in 2016 as died from cancer, the study by a team at the University of Michigan found. The gun fatality rate for U.S. children is 36 times higher than the rate in other …

Day 31 – Honoring Our Fallen Military Heroes

Each Memorial Day, we pause to remember those who have served in the military in defense of our country and much-taken-for-granted freedoms.  Unfortunately, most of us forget the meaning of the day in the midst of enjoying hamburgers, beer and potato salad.  Why just one day to honor those who have fought and died as …

Day 30 – Healing Through the Power of Art

The American Art Therapy Association characterizes art therapy as an approach to mental health that utilizes the process of creating art to improve mental, physical, and emotional wellness. Psychology Today: Art therapy involves the use of creative techniques such as drawing, painting, collage, coloring, or sculpting to help people express themselves artistically. Throughout my own …

Day 29 – Playing Music as Medicine

There are a number of reputable, scientific studies that affirm the premise of music as medicine. Below are the top 5 results from the Google search "scientific studies on the power of music to heal" Harvard Health Publishing Medical News Today BBC/Science Focus Stat News American Psychological Association The search results also highlighted an NPR interview with …

Day 28 – Facing History and Ourselves

We live in very turbulent times. It's getting more difficult to make sense of things. Hard to know what is true and how to accurately interpret the news. It helps to have context. It helps to understand the big picture. It is said that "history repeats itself" and "those that don't learn from history are …

Day 27 – Adopting a Furry Friend

I've never been a "pet" person per se. I had a German Shepherd (Freedom) as a teen and inherited by daughters kitty (Simba) for a year or so as an old guy. However, I've observed the love and devotion poured upon many a pet in my time. I've seen much joy and companionship provided by …

Day 26 – Empowering Young Women of Color

In searching for a reputable, well-vetted charity whose purpose is to empower young women of color, I encountered the problem that many are newly formed and haven't yet developed the track record with the nonprofit rating agencies; namely Charity Navigator, Charity Watch, and  Guide Star. This forces one to rely on news media, their respective website, and …

Day 25 – Aiding Victims of Sexual Violence

RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) is the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization. You can donate to RAINN here.  Although reports of sexual violence have fallen by half over the last 20 years, every 73 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted. And every 9 minutes, that victim is a child. Meanwhile, only 5 out …

Day 24 – Defending the Myanmar Rohingya

It started as a Google search. A question. Results filtered to deliver updates within the last year. What people group is the most oppressed in the world? Answer: Rohingya people. Never heard of them. Here's a bit of their story. Wiki: The Rohingya people have been described as "one of the world's least wanted minorities" …

Day 23 – Buying Fair Trade Products

Fair Trade an arrangement designed to help producers in developing countries achieve sustainable and equitable trade relationships. Fair trade is grounded in three core beliefs; first, producers have the power to express unity with consumers. Secondly, the world trade practices that currently exist promote the unequal distribution of wealth between nations. Lastly, buying products from …

Day 22 – Eradicating Malaria World-Wide

Malaria is one of the most severe public health problems worldwide. It is a leading cause of death and disease in many developing countries, where young children and pregnant women are the most affected. The costs of malaria – to individuals, families, communities, nations – are enormous. CDC In 2018, an estimated 405,000 people died of malaria. The …

Day 21 – Dying with Compassion and Dignity

Dying, along with sex and birth, is one of the most intimate of human experiences. We are uncovered and vulnerable, a time when only our most trusted companions are allowed access. These most sacred of occasions should always be contextualized with compassion and dignity. For the dying, many times it represents a final relief from …

Day 20 – Breaking the Cycle of Addiction

Addiction Center. Whether it’s a problem with alcohol, opioids, cocaine, or any other substance, addiction kills thousands of Americans every year and impacts millions more. Every year, worldwide, alcohol is the cause of 5.3% of deaths (or 1 in every 20) About 300 million people throughout the world have an alcohol use disorder About 88,000 …

Day 19 – Feeding the Hungry Children

Around the world, 821 million people do not have enough of the food they need to live an active, healthy life. One in every nine people goes to bed hungry each night. Hunger and malnutrition are the biggest risks to health worldwide - greater than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined. Globally, food deprivation still claims …

Day 18 – Fighting for Human Rights Globally

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a milestone document in the history of human rights, drafted by representatives with different legal and cultural backgrounds from all regions of the world. Crafted in 1948 by the United Nations, it sets out the fundamental human rights to be universally protected, and it has been translated into …

Day 17 – Rebuilding Police Survivors’ Lives

We face increasing controversy and animosity between those who wish to support needed racial and social justice changes and those who want to support our police and military. I've heard it stated, that if Black Lives don't matter, no lives matter. This is absolutely true. Notwithstanding, those who protect and serve the citizenry merit our …

Day 16 – Maintaining Our Hiking Trails

“In the woods, we return to reason and faith. There I feel that nothing can befall me in life — no disgrace, no calamity, (leaving me my eyes,) which nature cannot repair.” Nature, Ralph Waldo Emerson. Extended backwoods adventures, backpacking along trails far from the clamor of civilization, have been inspirational and restorative throughout my …

Day 15 – Decreasing Prisoner Recidivism

Recidivism is an important issue for the American criminal justice system today. We see offenders cycle in and out of prisons and jails, and this has important implications for public safety and the stability of American communities. Ninety-five percent of inmates in state and federal prisons will be released eventually, and studies have consistently shown …

Day 14 – Reducing Homelessness in America

As it has in so many other arenas of American life, the coronavirus pandemic has exposed the depth and severity of the nation’s homelessness crisis. According to a recent study, the economic disruption, housing instability, and mass unemployment that Covid-19 has touched off in the U.S. could lead to a 45% spike in overall homelessness …

Day 13 – Saving the Phytoplankton

As a conservation cause, ensuring the survival of Phytoplankton doesn't pull on donor heart strings like saving the whales, polar bears, snow leopards, elephants, wolves, or gorillas; but the health of our oceans, and in particular the Phytoplankton, is essential to our survival as human beings upon the planet. Take a breath...and thank the trees. …

Day 12 – Planting Trees & Training Farmers

Trees are vital. As the biggest plants on the planet, they give us oxygen, store carbon, stabilise the soil and give life to the world’s wildlife. They also provide us with the materials for tools and shelter. How many trees are cut down every year? A new study published in Nature estimates the planet has …

Day 11 – Delivering Food to Seniors

Older folks of all races and ethnicities are marginalized by society at large. They become invisible and forgotten. In the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic, our most vulnerable population - seniors - are facing extreme challenges. It can be dangerous navigating a grocery store to purchase essentials. One outstanding charity that is standing in the …

Day 10 – Combating Human Trafficking

WIKI: Human trafficking is the third largest crime industry in the world, behind drug dealing and arms trafficking, and is the fastest-growing activity of trans-national criminal organizations. Human trafficking is the trade of humans for the purpose of forced labour or sexual slavery.  According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), forced labour alone generates an estimated …

Day 9 – Advocating for Restorative Justice

Despite only having about 5% of the world's population, the United States is home to almost 25% of all prisoners in the world. Countries like China and India with much higher populations have both a lower incarceration rate and total prison population than the United States. If we imagine every state as an independent nation, …

Day 8 – Providing Clean Water

1 in 3 people globally do not have access to safe drinking water. More than half of the world does not have access to safe sanitation services – UNICEF, WHO. Some 2.2 billion people around the world do not have safely managed drinking water services, 4.2 billion people do not have safely managed sanitation services, …

Day 7 – Engaging in Micro-lending

Another proven tactic for providing opportunities to disadvantaged people groups throughout the world is through micro-lending.  As a form of peer-to-peer financing, micro-loans are extended to impoverished borrowers who typically lack collateral, steady employment, or a verifiable credit history. WIKI: "Many recipients are illiterate, and therefore unable to complete paperwork required to get conventional loans. As …

Day 6 – Alleviating Extreme Poverty

During my philanthropic explorations, I ran across a well known champion for the poor who some have labeled the “world’s most influential living philosopher;”  Peter Singer, the founder of The Life You Can Save.  Listen to his powerful Ted Talk. The concept behind this unique nonprofit is to carefully vet the best, most effective world charities …

Day 5 – Educating Young Women

As a father of two lovely, very capable young ladies, I am a firm believer in the power and potential inherent in each girl. Unfortunately, many girls are deprived of opportunities to thrive; oppressed by systems that are vested in their subjugation. One of the most empowering things that can be given to these young …

Day 4 – Aiding Syrian Refugees

Unfortunately, Mega-Powers consistently wage proxy wars in the homelands of smaller countries around the globe. While these sponsoring powers are flexing their political and military muscles, posturing to gain supremacy, citizens suffer and die. The archetypical story of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse replays itself continuously; Conquest, War, Famine and Disease ravage the landscape. …

Day 3 – Supporting First Responders

Thank God for all the first responders that stand in the gap between the living and the dying. Putting their own lives at risk to make a difference and help those in need of emergency aid. There are many way to support these brave heroes. Even a simple acknowledgement to a passing police officer or …

Day 2 – Addressing Racial Injustice

Although it's been overly politicized and unfortunately kidnapped to promote a violent counterproductive agenda, racial injustice is real. Systemic and in many ways invisible to most of us. I have grown weary of skewed news reports and so sought for a reputable organization that I could support and learn more from. I ran across one …

Day 1 – Helping Victims in Beirut

The recent tragedy in Lebanon ranks as one of the largest, non-nuclear explosions in human  history.  Thousands injured, hundreds killed, and an untold number of victims left homeless.   News sources recommend a handful of reputable venues to those who want to contribute to relief efforts.  The one that seems to reoccur most frequently is the Red Cross.  In …