Donate

[archenemy]

Like many of you, I donate yearly to various charities--three of them are wilderness/outdoor focused. Mostly now I just donate to the same ones out of habit and am thinking it might be time to reexamine those choices.

 

I am looking for some suggestions and discussion around what ya'll support and why.

[ivan]

must be nice to have the option!

[Dechristo]

I'd identify it as "commitment". The option is manifest in the amount given.

[G-spotter]

I give blood instead of money.

[Dechristo]

so do all climbers

[G-spotter]

I'm talking about to the bloodbank though, not to the handcrack.

[Couloir]

I've been running marathons for the Leukemia Society. Kids with cancer is a tough deal. But running a marathon and raising money is easy compared to what people with the disease go through.

 

You could either send them a check or get involved physically here.

[ivan]

I'm talking about to the bloodbank though, not to the handcrack.

regretably i have problems honestly answering a number of those questions they ask in the way they want to allow me the privilege of them spiking me

[archenemy]

I've been running marathons for the Leukemia Society. Kids with cancer is a tough deal. But running a marathon and raising money is easy compared to what people with the disease go through.

 

You could either send them a check or get involved physically here.

Wow, what timing. We just got an email about this at work to join the work team going up 69 flights in a bldg downtown and raising money for Leukemia research. Twice in one day--must be the right thing to do. Thank you for your input here, I really appreciate it.

[Couloir]

Wow, what timing. We just got an email about this at work to join the work team going up 69 flights in a bldg downtown and raising money for Leukemia research. Twice in one day--must be the right thing to do. Thank you for your input here, I really appreciate it.

I've always wanted to do one of those. There used to be one in DT Portland, but to my knowledge it doesn't exist anymore. Seattle has a lot taller buildings so I bet it would be a good challenge. Good luck!

[rob]

I am looking for some suggestions and discussion around what ya'll support and why.

 

forgotten children's fund -- I always try to donate to children's charities. These guys buy toys for needy kids who would normally get nothing during the holidays. They're 100% volunteer-based, so you get a lot of bang for your buck. Incidently, they are always looking for volunteers around christmas to drive around and help wrap and deliver presents, which is a good way to help out if you got no cash. They are also local.

 

Downtown Emergency Service Center -- I volunteered at one of their shelters last year and was really impressed with their permanant housing programs and outreach. Also local.

 

ACLU of Washington Foundation -- The ACLU Foundation engages in litigation and education programs, and donations to the foundation are tax-deductible, unlike the ACLU (which engages in lobbying and whose donations are not tax-deductible).

[ryland_moore]

Arch, it sounds like you would be interested in donating to a local or regional land trust to help conserve open spaqce around you community. There are a lot of them around Seattle. The Nature Conservancy is intgernational so while they are the largest environmental non-profit in the world, your dollars may not go to protecting or restoring a parcel in your area. I'd look at this map to determine the land trust in your back yard. Plus, you will be invited to go out onto the lands you helped to conserve and listen to interesting speakers. It is a great bunch of people.

[archenemy]

Good call!! Nature Conservancy is one that I do currently donate to. It is good to hear that this one should stay on the list.

[archenemy]

I am looking for some suggestions and discussion around what ya'll support and why.

 

forgotten children's fund -- I always try to donate to children's charities. These guys buy toys for needy kids who would normally get nothing during the holidays. They're 100% volunteer-based, so you get a lot of bang for your buck. Incidently, they are always looking for volunteers around christmas to drive around and help wrap and deliver presents, which is a good way to help out if you got no cash. They are also local.

 

Downtown Emergency Service Center -- I volunteered at one of their shelters last year and was really impressed with their permanant housing programs and outreach. Also local.

 

ACLU of Washington Foundation -- The ACLU Foundation engages in litigation and education programs, and donations to the foundation are tax-deductible, unlike the ACLU (which engages in lobbying and whose donations are not tax-deductible).

I am interested in learning more about the Downtown Emergancy Svcs gig. Do you have a contact there whom I could speak to? If so, would you mind PMing me the info?

Thanks.

[wfinley]

My wife and I give a small amount every year; not near enough but we're trying.

 

The environmental orgs we support are smaller groups that are tackling big issues; I prefer not to give or become involved with larger nationwide groups. We are members of:

 

- Ak Center for the Environment (http://akcenter.org/) - our local enviro nonprofit that tackles alot of local issues.

- Northern AK Environmental Center (http://www.northern.org/) - these guys are focuses on northern alaska issues like ANWR

- The Renewable Resources Coalition (http://www.renewableresourcescoalition.org) which is a group of hunters and fishermen hoping to block a large mine in western alaska.

 

Outside of Alaska I give to the Greater Yellowstone Coalition (http://greateryellowstone.org) which I think does great work.

 

In the past I have donated to Earthjustice which I think does great work as well.

 

Politically I donate some time and money to democrats running for office in Alaska (because I live here), Washington (because Cantwell really gives Ted Stevens a hard time and I want to support that) and Virginia (where I'm originally from). However donations are sporadic and only occur during elections.

 

Socially my wife and I give to United Way. We also give to the following climbing clubs:

- The American Alpine Club

- Mountaineering Club of Alaska

- The Carolina Climbers Coalition (because they need the money to buy big rocks in NC!)

 

And finally... we always buy girl scout cookies.

 

 

 

[wfinley]

PS... here's the URL for CCC: http://www.carolinaclimbers.org/

They are currently raising money to buy Laurel Knob which is one of the largest rock faces on the east coast and until last year, closed to climbing. These guys are a model of how climbers and land owners can work together and come to an agreement that benefits all.

[archenemy]

Thanks!

[sobo]

I've been running marathons for the Leukemia Society. Kids with cancer is a tough deal. But running a marathon and raising money is easy compared to what people with the disease go through.

 

You could either send them a check or get involved physically here.

Wow, what timing. We just got an email about this at work to join the work team going up 69 flights in a bldg downtown and raising money for Leukemia research. Twice in one day--must be the right thing to do. Thank you for your input here, I really appreciate it.

 

Another vote for Leukemia Society. I make my contribution every year on May 19. I lost my older sister when she was just 32 years old to Acute Myelogenous Leukemia. Wasn't even diagnosed until two frigging days before she died, and I was in the last final exam of my senior year at Va Tech. Didn't even have time to donate bone marrow.

 

Also, if you're in to helping seriously/terminally ill kids, check out Camp Prime Time up near White Pass. I contribute engineering design talent and plain old sweat and muscle to renovate the old WSU Survey Camp that CPT uses as it's camping area. Water distribution/storage/delivery system design, operation, and construction; sewer collection/treatment system design, operation, and construction; building modifications/renovations, concrete work, firewood collection/chopping, you name it. Donating money is good if you don't want to make the trip over for the work parties during the spring and fall. A really good cause. The Camp is run/staffed by all volunteers, there are no paid positions anywhere, and every nickel donated goes towards giving the kids' and their parents the best stay possible at the camp.

[Couloir]

There are so many great things the Leukemia Society does, but the thing I like about Team in Training is that you can choose any number of events. Whether it be marathons, triathlons, or cycling events, any ability is welcome. The have great coaching and good seminars on how to raise money. If you need it, they'll hold your hand the entire way. A very solid program.

 

A couple of years ago I ran the Chicago Marathon. I had to raise a boat load of money to get there. It definitely isn't a free ride. And the accomodations are modest at best. When I first learned out how much money I needed I thought there is no way I can raise that much. But I sent out my letters and you would not believe the response I got. People seemed to go out of their way to donate. I sponsored a little girl who was a direct beneficiary of a new drug on the market and she was alive because of it. It was amazing. I made my goal and more. It's been incredibly gratifying.

 

[archenemy]

There are so many great things the Leukemia Society does, but the thing I like about Team in Training is that you can choose any number of events. Whether it be marathons, triathlons, or cycling events, any ability is welcome. The have great coaching and good seminars on how to raise money. If you need it, they'll hold your hand the entire way. A very solid program.

 

A couple of years ago I ran the Chicago Marathon. I had to raise a boat load of money to get there. It definitely isn't a free ride. And the accomodations are modest at best. When I first learned out how much money I needed I thought there is no way I can raise that much. But I sent out my letters and you would not believe the response I got. People seemed to go out of their way to donate. I sponsored a little girl who was a direct beneficiary of a new drug on the market and she was alive because of it. It was amazing. I made my goal and more. It's been incredibly gratifying.

I'm actually getting a little choked up. I don't know why stuff like this has such a big emotional impact, but it just does.

 

So I talked to my boss today and he is all for it. He's talking to his boss and getting the okay to have me serve as the sucker who will solicit donations from folks at the company and then try to heave my butt up all those flights of stairs. I hope there is an EMT on site!

 

I am pretty excited about this and a little bit nervous. Thanks for your stories, they are so encouraging!!!

[sobo]

Don't know why I didn't think of this one earlier, but... your local Mountain Rescue unit could always use a few bucks.

I give of my time and experience (just like I do for Camp Prime Time) to Central Washington Mountain Rescue, but any unit near to your heart would be more than happy to see your check.

 

And remember to send it directly to the MR unit, not to the County SAR office. If it comes in the door addressed to SAR, it is highly unlikely that the end user (MR) will ever see much of your donation. With so many SAR teams looking for funds (MR, K-9, dive, snowmobile, ORV, PLS, CAP, swiftwater, groundpounders, etc.), your donation will get picked at mercilessly. Best bet is just go the unit of your choice's website and look for a contact there.

 

The usual suspects...

 

CWMR

TMR

PMR

SMR

 

I don't know where you live, Arch, but if you were interested in donating to an MR unit near you, I could tell you which one. Or pick one where you do most of your climbing. If you ever needed "help", I'm sure they'd treat you with way more than the usual extra special kid gloves if you casually mentioned that you're a sustaining donor...

[To_The_Top]

Great thread BTW...

[archenemy]

Don't know why I didn't think of this one earlier, but... your local Mountain Rescue unit could always use a few bucks.

I give of my time and experience (just like I do for Camp Prime Time) to Central Washington Mountain Rescue, but any unit near to your heart would be more than happy to see your check.

 

And remember to send it directly to the MR unit, not to the County SAR office. If it comes in the door addressed to SAR, it is highly unlikely that the end user (MR) will ever see much of your donation. With so many SAR teams looking for funds (MR, K-9, dive, snowmobile, ORV, PLS, CAP, swiftwater, groundpounders, etc.), your donation will get picked at mercilessly. Best bet is just go the unit of your choice's website and look for a contact there.

 

The usual suspects...

 

CWMR

TMR

PMR

SMR

 

I don't know where you live, Arch, but if you were interested in donating to an MR unit near you, I could tell you which one. Or pick one where you do most of your climbing. If you ever needed "help", I'm sure they'd treat you with way more than the usual extra special kid gloves if you casually mentioned that you're a sustaining donor...

I never even thought of that. Thank you for this great suggestion!!!

[Couloir]

I thought of that. And DO think of that. They get my money for sure.

 

Maybe I'm a sucker for little kids with cancer, but to see the debilitating pain these little kids (and adults too) go through pales in comparison to those that have found themselves in need of help by thier own choice. No one chooses leukemia.

[sobo]

I'm with Couloir on this one. Leukemia gets my money (for reasons I cited above), and Camp Prime Time and Central Washington Mountain Rescue gets my time and sweat equity. I started donating my engineering talents to CPT about 15 years ago, figuring my professional life could be a source for giving something back. It took me a while later (like 5 years ago) to realize that my recreational talents could also be used toward a better end than just for myself. That's when I decided to join Mountain Rescue.

 

Everybody should give a little something. You'd be surprised at what you can come up with if you take a moment to examine what you do with your life. Maybe that's why it took me so damn long to come around. YMMV.