I have recently won a $100 Amazon gift certificate.
Of course I won it largely by standing on the shoulders of giants, so I feel I didn’t really earn it. Apart from that, I don’t have an amazon account, and as an Englishman, American money isn’t much use to me anyway.
I’m sure there must be a worthy American charity that needs it more than I do. Please nominate yours here, I’ll select one.
You might turn it over to Aries28, who is a volunteer with a literacy program in Alabama. Quite a few Dopers participate in her “Book Fairy” program, and she is also working on building a good library for the kids.
Links:
Would you help a reading program for underprivileged kids?
Wanna be a Book Fairy again this year?
Would Canadian work?
An old friend of mine’s charity: International Centre to Combat Exploitation of Children
lexi, I’m sure its a very worthy charity, but does it particularly need to buy books?
The Book Fairy program is a definite possiblity.
They fund shelters - which always need books.
There’s always the Hal Briston Foundation.
Buy the VP a Segway - very worthy.
Actually, don’t buy the VP a Segway. I’d donate it to NPR.
Would that be the Hal Briston Foundation for the Preservation of Large Colored Fonts? I.e., the
HBFFTPOLCF
Certainly there has to be a school in your area that could use some books. Go there and let them order some on-line, or maybe a local retirement home could use some DVD’s for their community room. I always find it better to go to the source and make sure the gift is actually used for something for the greater good. Amazon does ship there, don’t they?
Or you could dontate to www.moveon.org as they will find a way to use it.
Out of the suggestions I received, I think that Aries28’s Book Fairy program can make the best use of it. I have instructed Bricker to send them my prize.
My favorite charity has always been Heifer International. Their aim is to end world hunger, not by passing out boxes of food*, but by giving families animals such as goats, chickens, cows, rabbits, honey-bees, etc. The family is taught how to care for the animals, and when the animals reproduce, they’re required to give a certain number away to other people, so that those people benefit in turn.
*passing out boxes of food is certainly appropriate and necessary in cases such as the current famine in West Africa, but clearly isn’t a long-term solution
Your local women’s shelter. That $100 will assist in getting this woman and her children away from a dangerous environment and closer to independence.
Here’s a website I always recommend with regards to charitable giving: Charity Navigator