Five: High Flying With the National Audubon Society

Here in America, today is National Bird Day, so the first thing that came to mind was the National Audubon Society (NAS). The reason it is National Bird Day is because the NAS holds an annual Christmas Bird Count ending on January 5 of each year. This year was the 117th! My family has long been a fan, stemming from my mother has who has a plethora of bird feeding and nesting in her back yard. We have a tree called "The Waiting Room" where various species take turns in the queue, and it can mesmerize you indefinitely if you let it. So each year for various holidays, we've given her gifts related to the birds, and many of them have come from or supported the NAS.
For over a hundred years (since 1901), the National Audubon Society has led the field (in my perhaps not at all humble opinion)  in conservation, science, policy and education.  They have programs in 22 states with almost 500 local chapters. I think the bird education and identification is the most fun part, so let's take a look at that. The NAS has a fabulous free bird guide: http://www.audubon.org/bird-guide  and a lot of free phone apps, which I highly recommend. Just a precautionary tale: not a great idea to start playing the bird calls in front of your 150 pound Great Dane.
Because they offer exquisite photographs and have contest for some of those pictures, I have not included more than my receipt image. Plus it's so cold and snowy here, I thought you might enjoy taking a look at the beauty in their site. This page offers tips, ethics and more if you want to get out there and photograph you own. http://www.audubon.org/photography.
Speaking of the receipt picture, I have  small story.  I used to take shower in summer in the early evening to sit outside in the warm sun to dry my hair. I wish I could remember the brand, but one summer, I was astounded to find hummingbirds coming up to me that time of day. Apparently, they loved the smell of the conditioner and would pick up my hair and sit on my shoulder at times. I often wish I could recreate it intentionally but to no avail - probably for the best. Those memories are precious, yet I forget until moments like this when I see a picture and find myself so honored for those moments. Thank you , National Audubon Society for being one of the oldest and most dedicated nonprofits in America. Happy National Bird Day. everyone.

Four: Arm in Arm Goes Hand in Hand with Philanthropy

Anyone here from New Jersey? What a great program you have with Arm in Arm. I chose Arm in Arm as I was looking through Charity Navigator's nonprofits with a perfect 100 score. I like the connotations behind being arm in arm and being in this together - it reflects the whole feeling behind this initiative: bringing people and organizations together with hope and inspiration.
Arm in Arm "connects people in need of food, housing and job support with people who want to help." With 15 staff member and hundreds of volunteers, Arm in Arm, in a community based approach, supports three areas: food, housing, and job support. Through their "client choice" style pantries, clients "shop" according to family size and up to date nutritional guidelines, which I find more empowering than some systems. The stories clients and volunteers share inspire me and describe more of their activities. In one, we see a volunteer helping a family to manage their utility debt by acting as mediator between the family and the company. This proactive assistance can mean so much to someone struggling and overwhelmed by making things manageable. It is both an answer to a problem and a means to achieving more. I've always felt solution oriented when it comes to problems, so I admire programs that do more than just solve a current issue, which is what Arm in Arm does with job support. By offering training, experience, education and more, Arm in Arm's clients can build resumes with actual experience then transition back to the workplace:

Trainees build stronger resumes and make themselves marketable in several ways: 

• Working and gaining experience in customer service, inventory, and food handling in our Client Choice pantries
• Occasional office assistance
• Increased comfort and computer literacy with online learning platforms, job applications, and correspondence
• Pursuit of career-related education through online certificate courses in safe food handling (ServSafe) and retail/customer service (International Grocer’s Association/Coca-Cola Institute)
• Discussions of interview skills and job search success with representatives form area businesses such as Starbucks
• Workshops led by partner agencies such as Dress for Success (job search techniques and support) and Family Guidance Center (financial literacy and credit counseling)
• Individualized guidance in online job applications, interview skills, and work habits

(http://arminarm.org/finding-work-and-financial-stability/) 

I have some experience and endless appreciation for nonprofits who are truly comment based, so  thank you Arm in Arm for being an amazing resource for your community. 

Three: National Braille Literacy Month

January is National Braille Literacy Month. In researching today's charity, The National Federation of the Blind, I also found a certain peace knowing they are there advocating, mentoring, and finding ways to assist and empower blind people and researching and addressing blindness itself. "The purpose of the National Federation of the Blind is to act as a vehicle for collective self-expression by the blind. " https://nfb.org/who-we-are  I found great peace in reading about the NFB both in their programs and advocacy as well as in the tone and tenor of the site's copy and design. The resources they offer appear excellent and inclusive. The main appeal for me is the NFB's desire to empower and the means by which the NFB does so, because I think, by nature, philanthropy must address empowerment. The NFB has state and local chapters in every state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. They have a products and technology sector: https://nfb.org/products-and-technology, including the KNFB Reader app, which looks amazing and is up for a 2016 Golden Apple Award. I hope you'll find the sentiment behind each of "The Courtesy Rules of Blindness" below can be applicable in many situations.

The Courtesy Rules of Blindness (https://nfb.org/who-we-are)

When you meet me don't be ill at ease. It will help both of us if you remember these simple points of courtesy:

1. I'm an ordinary person, just blind. You don't need to raise your voice or address me as if I were a child. Don't ask my spouse what I want -- "Cream in the coffee?" -- ask me.
2. I may use a long white cane or a guide dog to walk independently; or I may ask to take your arm. Let me decide, and please don't grab my arm; let me take yours. I'll keep a half-step behind to anticipate curbs and steps.
3. I want to know who's in the room with me. Speak when you enter. Introduce me to the others. Include children, and tell me if there's a cat or dog.
4. The door to a room or cabinet or to a car left partially open is a hazard to me.
5. At dinner I will not have trouble with ordinary table skills.
6. Don't avoid words like "see." I use them, too. I'm always glad to see you.
7. I don't want pity. But don't talk about the "wonderful compensations" of blindness. My sense of smell, touch, or hearing did not improve when I became blind. I rely on them more and, therefore, may get more information through those senses than you do - that's all.
8. If I'm your houseguest, show me the bathroom, closet, dresser, window - the light switch, too. I like to know whether the lights are on.
9. I'll discuss blindness with you if you're curious, but it's an old story to me. I have as many other interests as you do.
10. Don't think of me as just a blind person. I'm just a person who happens to be blind.

Two-day: Wounded Warrior Project

I must begin with thanks - thanks to everyone who chooses to serve this country I love. I am humbled and hold you in honor. Thanks also to today's Donations by the Dozen recipient the Wounded Warrior Project who cares for veterans with many programs and with an adaptive style open to change, "As we continue to discover the ever-evolving needs of you and your fellow Wounded Warriors, WWP veteran programs are also ever-evolving, so check back often to see what’s new at Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP)." Knowing the difficulties in change resistant people, imagine how much teamwork, communication, and innovation it takes to incorporate change into an organization this large. Yet, that is exactly what wounded warriors need: adaptive and responsive care. Plus, how lucky are people involved in an organization where "fun" is one of the core values? The vision is to "To foster the most successful, well-adjusted generation of wounded service members in our nation's history." A worth vision for more than worthy people.

I started this initiative for a few reasons. As I mentioned before, voting and taxes are duties where we have limited choice and little control over the short or long term results. Philanthropy can be as personal and effective as you wish. I want to spread awareness and offer insight to choices we can make to take more control over the change we want to see, and I wanted to open a conversation about the many organizations we can support and recommend to each other. I am hoping somewhere in this journey, each of you will find inspiration, hope, and initiative. Maybe you will offer me a charity to examine, maybe you will donate or volunteer, maybe you just spread the word about the Donations by the Dozen initiative to friends. At any rate, I hope you join us and find something as we continue. 
My brother solely supports the Wounded Warrior Project as his number one charity. My family annually gifts them from our foundation. But there are two other people who helped me to choose Wounded Warrior Project today. The first is @Machob30 on twitter. In a private message discussion, he was the first person to mention the need for giving every day, and I asked him to be the first person to choose his charity of choice for me to support. Then as I was hurriedly trying to build the new website for the Grace Initiative Foundation Tree, LLC, Jose G from GoDaddy's customer service also mentioned it was his favorite. So for my brother, for Machob30, and for Jose, thanks for choosing the Wounded Warrior Project. 

One for All and All for RAINN

The Donations by the Dozen journey starts here, with RAINN.org, because my devotion to philanthropy also began with RAINN. As a survivor myself, I saw a PSA for RAINN one night after a disturbing episode of a show I watched. I stayed up the entire night researching RAINN and called them the next day to find out more. I think it was a matchmaker's dream, because as our relationship progressed, I also progressed and am thrilled to be in the world of philanthropy full time.

I worked on the online hotline for RAINN and am on the National Leadership Council and Speakers Bureau. I've done various fundraisers and spoken and have felt a mutual support from excellent people every step of the way. I even won the HOPE Award in 2013 for Leadership in Fighting Sexual Violence and Supporting Survivors - best day! Since hope was what I want the Donations by the Dozen journey to inspire, I'm happy to choose RAINN, an organization for all people affected by sexual violence, including family, friends, and loved ones as well as survivors. This donation will help at least one survivor through the hotline, so I wish that survivor all of the hope and healing and my heartfelt empathy. Happy 2017, RAINN - thank you for always being there and for offering HOPE.

In this post, I'd like to also recognize Giving Tuesday, because Giving Tuesday is part of what led to this 2017 donation path. Thanks for being there, GT :)

I'm not sure what formats I will find and that I will always share a picture, but I will be held accountable. Today, a screenshot of the receipt worked just fine :)