The news stories that have captured the attention of the world this past week all revolve around Tropical Storm Harvey and the havoc it’s reaped on Texas. Even though the devastation is extreme and widespread, it is feared that the worst is yet to come.

If you’ve been seeing news articles surrounding this tragedy, you’re likely overwhelmed and crushed by the titles you’re reading. Today, the headlining articles state:

“Everything is gone”

“Thousands await as rescue as estimated 30,000 to 40,000 homes destroyed in Houston area”

“Residents warned to ‘get out or die’ as Harvey unleashes new waves of punishing rains and flooding”

“Van carrying family of six washed away by Harvey found in bayou”

“Clinging to her drowning mama, a little girl survives the raging flood”

Our minds reeling as we watch this destruction and ruin, we’re left to ask, “What can we do? How can we help?”

Mr. Rogers, a wise and enlightened man, had a wise and enlightened mother who taught him that altruism always came alive in moments of terror. He said, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'”

Therefore, we will share with you the organizations who are working to help. If you feel called to reach out and lend a hand to those who are suffering in the wake of this disaster, please check out the following organizations.

Help Those Affected by Harvey

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner established a Harvey relief fund at The Greater Houston Community Foundation. The organization connects donors with a network of nonprofits and innovative solutions in the social sector.

GlobalGiving, which calls itself the largest global crowdfunding community, has a goal of raising $2 million for its Harvey relief fund. Funds will be used first for immediate needs of food, water and shelter and then transition to long-term recovery efforts.

United Way of Greater Houston has launched a relief fund for storm-related needs and recovery. The organization says it already maintains a disaster relief fund but anticipates the needs of Harvey will far exceed those existing resources.

The Center for Disaster Philanthropy has also launched a Hurricane Harvey relief fund. The organization says its strategy emphasizes “investing well rather than investing quickly, addressing the greatest needs and gaps in funding that may be yet to emerge.”

GoFundMe, the social fundraising site, has created a landing page that gathers the campaigns on its platform related to Harvey.

The Salvation Army says it is providing food and water to first responders and preparing for massive feeding efforts for residents.

Send Relief and Southern Baptist Disaster Relief says its teams began responding before Harvey made landfall and continues on-the-ground relief work.

Samaritan’s Purse is accepting donations as well as volunteers for Harvey disaster relief for the coming months.

As well as the American Red Cross, local organizations accepting blood donations are Carter BloodCare and the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center.

Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County coordinates the city’s response to homelessness, serving as “a backbone organization” to groups that offer direct service. It has been providing updated information on shelters with available beds.

Airbnb has set up an urgent accommodations site, where people can open their homes to evacuees from the storm or find shelter themselves. Service fees are waived for those who check in by Sept. 1.

A number of food banks will be aiding the affected region. Consider donating money instead of food, as it allows a food bank to use your donation most efficiently.

Feeding Texas is a statewide nonprofit that works alongside state and federal relief efforts. The organization says it steps in during major disasters to “coordinate with the state and other providers so that relief reaches families quickly and the ‘second disaster’ of an unorganized response is avoided.”

Portlight Strategies facilitates projects involving people with disabilities, including post-disaster relief work. The organization says its hotline for Inclusive Disaster Strategies has received urgent requests from people in need.

The Texas Diaper Bank, based in San Antonio, works to meet the basic needs of vulnerable babies, children with disabilities, and seniors. It focuses on providing partner agencies with diapers and goods.

The SPCA of Texas is organizing evacuations of pets in Texas (including 123 cats from a shelter in Corpus Christi) and offers resources on pet-friendly housing for evacuees.

Austin Pets Alive! says it has transported more than 235 animals to its shelter. The organization seeks donations, as well as people who can adopt animals. It says it has received so many donated supplies that it’s running out of storage space, so financial donations are what it needs most.

 

(sources inspired by NPR)

Today’s post is a continuation of the cycling non-profit posts we’ve been sharing lately. We at Hummingbird House are passionate about cycling (our founder runs two popular cycling blogs at barthaynes.com and bartonhaynes.com) and are excited to spread the news when bicycles and good deeds are being combined.

Yield to Life is a charity that we recently discovered that hits close to home for many avid cyclists. Unfortunately, many bicycle riders can attest to the fact that cycling on the street can be a dangerous business. Car drivers and cyclists don’t always have the best relationships. Yield to Life’s goal is to stop this negative attitude and turn it around.

On Yield to Life’s About Us page, they share their mission:

Yield to Life will engage in a vigorous awareness campaign to promote positive attitudes toward cyclists and replace any hostility that exists between motorists and cyclists with understanding, respect, and appreciation for all life on the road. Safety for every cyclist is the top priority of Yield to Life.

The mission statement goes on to say, “Cycling is a healthy, life-affirming, environmentally-sound activity that adds value to anyone’s life. Since cyclists’ lives are often in motorists’ hands, motorists must understand the vital role they play in a cyclist’s safety.”

The founder of Yield to Life, David Zabriskie, has been a professional cyclist since 2001. In the 2005 Tour de France, Zabriskie rode the fastest time trial in Tour de France history beating Lance Armstrong and wearing the highly coveted yellow jersey during the first few days of the race.

When asked why Zabriskie started Yield to Life, he shared his story:

As a professional cyclist I have ridden my bike all over the world, but, sadly, each of the three times that I have been hit by a car has been in the United States; the worst of the accidents was in 2003. I had just flown back to Salt Lake after my most successful season to date when, on May 23, I was in Millcreek Canyon in Salt Lake City. I was enjoying one of my favorite rides when I was hit by an SUV on the way down. The SUV made a left hand turn directly into me. I flew through the air and landed on the ground, unable to move the left side of my body. After spending a week in the hospital, I left with pins in my wrist and my leg, and some cadaver bone in my knee. The doctors did not think I would ride again.

Due to a great deal of hard work, Zabriskie recovered and was able to ride again. His experiences being hit while cycling drove him to make road conditions better and safer for bicycle enthusiasts.

“It is my mission to humanize and personalize cyclists to help motorists to always be aware that we are life and that we deserve a safe space on the road,” Zabriskie explains on the website. “Yield to Life is a non-profit organization devoted to creating a safer environment for cyclists and, by so doing, encouraging more people to ride for their own health, the good of the environment and the well being of society. By making cycling safer and promoting the activity as a responsible means of transportation and a healthy means of recreation, Yield to Life can contribute to tackling some of today’s major concerns—from such issues as pollution and global warming to obesity and diabetes. In this way, Yield to Life can play a role in increasing the quality of life not only for cyclists, but for everyone—for our generation and those to come.”A helpful feature of the Yield to Life website includes their Safety Tips for Cyclists and Motorists page. One tip shared for cyclists is: Make sure you are always aware of your surroundings. Know what is behind you and watch out for what is in front of you. Always be on the lookout for road hazards; sand and gravel, glass, railroad tracks, parked cars, snow and slush can wreak havoc on you and your bike. One tip for motorists is: Watch out for cyclists when you are turning right. A bicyclist may well be to the right of you and planning to go straight at the same intersection. Do not speed ahead of the bicyclist thinking you can negotiate the turn before they reach your car.

If you find yourself being drawn to this non-profit, you can sponsor this charity by sending an email to yieldtolife@gmail.com. You can also donate to Yield to Life on their Donation page.

Today, we’re changing up the pace of the blog a bit by sharing some inspiration that will hopefully stimulate our readers to help and give to those who they interact with directly in their own lives. Furthermore, we wanted to share some ideas with you that didn’t necessarily involve donating funds to an established organization. There are many ways to be charitable without sending money to a charity.

On our Hummingbird House Foundation Pinterest page, we dedicate an entire board to collecting ideas about Random Acts of Kindness. This is where we are drawing our influence from today.

What exactly is a Random Act of Kindness?

According to makeadiff.wordpress.org, it is “…a selfless act performed by kind people to either help or cheer up a random stranger, for no reason other than to make people happier. Either spontaneous or planned in advance, RAoKs are encouraged by various online and offline communities.”

The idea to perform random acts of kindness became more widespread about twenty years ago. After the movie “Pay It Forward” came out, the notion of doing good deeds for others randomly and unexpectedly spread like wildfire.

Now, there are stories all over the Internet about people who have peformed extraordinary and not-so-extraordinary acts of kindness. These random acts can range in simplicity from giving a compliment or paying for someone’s coffee to something greater, like purchasing a plane ticket for someone who can’t afford to see a loved one or taking someone lonely into your family.

Today, we’ll share 25 random acts of kindness that impressed us. Our hope is that they will impress you, too.

25 Random Acts of Kindness

1. Put a surprise note or sketch in with your spouse’s or kid’s lunch.
2. Write a love note and hide it in a magazine your partner is reading or somewhere else he/she will find it.
3. Call a parent or grandparent to say hello, give them thanks, or simply to tell them you love them.
4. Tell someone the truth. Sometimes it’s really hard, but it’s what friends do.
5. Send a letter just to “let you know how much I care about you.”
6. Keep an extra umbrella at work, so you can lend it out when it rains.
7. Sincerely compliment your boss, who probably doesn’t often get feedback from his or her reports.
8. When people are gossiping about someone, be the person to chime in with something nice.
9. Learn the names of your office security guard, the person at the front desk and other people you see every day. Greet them by name. Also say “hello” to strangers and smile.
10. Invite someone to dinner – especially at the holidays, when it is difficult for some people to be alone.
11. When making dinner, get ingredients for one more helping. Then, put the extra portion in a spare container and give it to a neighbor, drop it by a friend’s house, or pass it on to a homeless man or woman.
12. Leave your neighbors a note that tells them how much joy you find in admiring their garden.
13. Let another car merge in front of you, or stop to let a pedestrian cross the street.
14. Carry around a $5 gift card so you can give it to someone who does something awesome.
15. Purchase some extra dog or cat food and drop it off at an animal shelter.
16. Donate your vacation or sick days to a person at work who is struggling with an illness.
17. Give someone a book you think they’d like.
18. If you are in a long line, invite the person behind you to go first.
19. Offer to return a shopping cart to the store for someone loading groceries in their car.
20. To melt away his or her blues, send a friend a funny video from YouTube.
21. Hang a sign on a bulletin board that says “Take What You Need” — with tear-off tabs at the bottom for Love, Hope, Faith, and Courage.
22. Help a friend see today in a wondrous new light: Hand him or her a kaleidoscope.
23. Leave a bouquet at the hospital — the nurses will know who needs it the most.
24. Forgive someone. Repeat as necessary.
25. Ask others — sincerely — what you can do to help.

Following up from last week’s post all about the bicycle non-profit called People for Bikes, we’re going to share another bike-related organization with you today called the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA). Yet again, this charity weighed in with perfect scores across the board on Charity Navigator to earn a place on the Hummingbird House list.

The International Mountain Bicycling Association is a 501(c)3 non-profit educational association. According to their About page, their mission is:

To create, enhance, and protect great places to ride mountain bikes.

Their vision is to engage a million riders to stand up to cultivate and protect mountain biking trails. To achieve this, IMBA hopes to create a powerful voice for trails, public lands, and management policies that welcome bikes. They advocate for mountain bike access and acceptance in addition to building sustainable trails and bike facilities to make mountain biking more accessible. Furthermore, they teach environmentally responsible trail building and etiquette practices. By doing all of this, IMBA is working to inspire people to experience the great outdoors on the saddles of mountain bikes. Currently, the organization includes over 40,000 bike lovers. Members live across the globe and are helping to make mountain biking better at their local areas.

IMBA was founded in 1988 by a group of California mountain bike clubs concerned about the closure of trails to cyclists. This group had a belief that education programs geared towards mountain bikers should be developed and promoted in order to preserve access to trails. To read more about the journey of IMBA, check out their History page for a detailed timeline of the organization’s first 20 years.

IMBA currently keep their headquarters in Boulder, Colorado. The non-profit has over 50 full-time staff members including region directors spanning the United States. Their staff is continuing to grow as the non-profit experiences more success and attention. To view a full list of IMBA’s departments and staff, see their Staff Directory.

An important aspect of IMBA’s work worthy of sharing is their Chapter Program. According to their website, “The chapter program is IMBA’s initiative to create a unified voice for mountain bikers. Simply put, the mountain bike movement is stronger when local and national organizations work in tandem to create great trail experiences. IMBA has the professional full-time staff, the database capabilities and the institutional knowledge to make an impact, while local clubs have the relationships and (most importantly) the trails. Together, we can increase access and bring more people to the ride!”

To understand more about IMBA’s Chapter Program, watch the video below:

By taking a look at IMBA’s event calendar, you can see that the organization works hard to put together outreach programs that furthers the sustainment of mountain biking trails. A notable event that the non-profit runs is called Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day. This event, occurring this year on October 7th, strives to encourage communities across the country and around the world to join together and ride mountain bikes with kids. The theme of the year is based on IMBA’s four tenants: speak, build, respect, and ride. Last year, 0ver 15,000 kids and families participated in local events inspired by Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day. To read more about this event or to see photos from years past, check out IMBA’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages.

Clearly, IMBA is doing loads of good on the mountain biking frontier. They are inspiring communities worldwide to become more active and make trails safer and more accessible. If this non-profit is tugging on your heartstrings, there are multiple ways to get involved and support IMBA. You can Become a Member, Donate to IMBA, or Shop at the IMBA E-Store. To find out more, read specific articles on the IMBA blog and discover more on their Resources page.

 

The tagline on the People for Bikes website says it all:

Uniting millions to make riding better for everyone.

Our non-profit feature of the week was chosen, once again, for making the perfect score list on Charity Navigator. People for Bikes, sometimes listed as one word in social media (PeopleForBikes), collaborates with millions of bike riders, businesses, community leaders, and individuals in office to create a united voice for bicycling and its benefits.

“Our work focuses on making every kind of bike ride better – whether that ride takes you on trails, down to the grocery store, or all the way across town. Why? Because when people ride bikes, great things happen for our bodies and our minds, and our local and global communities,” the foundation states on their About Us page.

The organization identifies its golds in a fourfold mission. First, they aim to connect bicycle riders across the globe. Next, they spread the word by alerting riders to cycling issues in specific locations and letting people know how to take action. Third, they work with city, state, and country to encourage cost-effective investments in bicycling that benefit everyone. Last, they advocate building relationships, growing bicycling knowledge within communities, and formulating the keys to success by bringing reinforcements, money, inspiration, and positive publicity.

The non-profit was launched in 1999. The group was composed of bike suppliers and retailers as well as those who ran the charitable foundation wing. People For Bikes says, “Our foundation is where we house our major programs and engage individual members, affiliate organizations, and corporate sponsors.”

The work People for Bikes has accomplished and is continuing to accomplish is extensive. On their page titled “Our Work,” their projects span a long and impressive list. From political work being accomplished on Capitol Hill in Washington to collaborations like the Better Bike Share Partnership which seeks to build equitable and replicable bike share systems, People for Bikes is making waves.

Another notable project that People for Bikes has supported is called the Big Jump Project. This project is helping 10 cities reimagine their bicycling infrastructure. It also aims to help propel communities into a better future for biking. “Over the course of the next three years,” states People for Bikes, “The combination of quickly connected biking networks and the use of smart outreach encouraging people to ride more will illustrate the ways in which U.S. cities and towns can tap into bicycles to improve then health and vitality of their communities.”

People for Bikes is a unique non-profit in that there are dozens of ways to connect. The organization encourages people to “Get Local” and see what’s going on in your neighborhood. For example, if we click on “California” to find out about our state, we can quickly and clearly see stats, local shops, grants, protected bike lanes, events, local groups, and so on. Just by doing this, we at Hummingbird House found several associations nearby that we weren’t aware of and are likely to check out.

To donate to this wonderful cause, you can visit their donation page and select an amount to give. If you just want to connect without donating, you can do so on their “Join” page by submitting your information. On this page, People for Bikes asserts:

“PeopleForBikes is making riding better for everyone. Add your name in support of better bicycling. Let’s show the world that millions are for bikes!”

Almost everyone knows someone who either has Alzheimer’s Disease or someone who’s life is affected by it. Unanimously, all people can agree on the fact that Alzheimer’s is unwanted, damaging, and destructive. Today on the HHF blog, we’re featuring another perfect score non-profit organization (as rated by charitynavigator.com) that’s working to fund research with the highest probability of preventing Alzheimer’s Disease. Cure Alzheimer’s Fund is doing its part to provide the necessary means to accelerate the research that can hopefully one day eliminate this terrible disease.

Before we share the organization, we thought it prudent to answer the question:

What exactly is Alzheimer’s Disease?

According to this non-profit’s website, Alzheimer’s is a progressive brain disease that causes problems with memory, reasoning, behavior and motor skills. Symptoms of Alzheimer’s slowly worsen over time, and the disease is ultimately fatal. Commonly presented in the form of dementia, it’s more likely to materialize with age. Currently, there is no cure for this disease. Medication can help lessen symptoms, there’s no real relief available to treat the overall cognitive decline.

Cure Alzheimer’s Fund was started in 2004 by founders Henry McCance, Phyllis Rappaport, and Jacqui and Jeff Morby. After coming together, they decided to build a research fund designed to dramatically accelerate research. All four of these individuals decided that this cause was more important than their personal careers in venture capital and corporate start-ups. Since getting together, the founders have created an organization that has contributed more than $50,000,000 in research. These efforts have paved the way for discovering several key breakthroughs including a potential treatment recently selected by the National Institutes of Health for its “Blueprint” drug discovery program. You can read more about this research in Cure Alzheimer’s Fund’s News article titled “Steve Wagner Receives NIH ‘Blueprint’ Grant.” Additionally, the money raised has also helped fund the “Alzheimer’s in a Dish” study which promises to greatly accelerate drug testing.

On the non-profit’s page that details their story, they say, “Cure Alzheimer’s Fund supports some of the best scientific minds in the field of Alzheimer’s research, and it does so without any financial gain for its founders or donors. Fully 100 percent of funds raised by Cure Alzheimer’s Fund go directly to research—the Board of Directors covers all overhead expenses.Our Research Consortium is an all-star team of scientists working at premier research institutions across the country, regularly conferring with one another on the progress and impediments in their research and constantly sharing their data.”

The goal of Cure Alzheimer Fund is to stop Alzheimer’s disease through early prediction, prevention and effective intervention in those patients who have become symptomatic.

More specifically, Cure Alzheimer’s Fund seeks to end the disease by identifying all risk genes, using those genes to reveal underlying disease mechanisms, and aggressively pursue potential therapies based on the knowledge gained from Alzheimer’s genes. Cure Alzheimer Fund seeks to move forward with its next initiative, Genes to Therapies, which will develop more effective interventions. (Read more on Cure Alzheimer Fund’s Research page.)

If you’d like to read on about the Focus Areas of Cure Alzheimer’s Fund to delve specifically into the organization’s process and the research that’s going on, click on the links below to discover more:

• Genes to Therapies Drug Screening
• Identification and Early Detection
• Innate Immunity
• Microbiome
• Pathological Pathways and Systems
• Stem Cell Models
• Therapeutic Strategies
• Whole Genome Sequencing & Epigenetics 
• Individual Projects & Other

If you’re feeling called to give to this incredible non-profit, visit their donation page. Again, 100% of what you donate will go directly to the incredible research being done. Many thanks for considering this organization as you learn more about the amazing work being done by these good samaritans helping those in need.

Like our last feature (Puppies Behind Bars), today’s post caught our attention due to its perfect rating on Charity Navigator. Because of the reputation, transparency, and the incredible contributions being made by this organization, we at Hummingbird House thought it pertinent to share the good work being accomplished by Rainforest Trust.

The mission statement of Rainforest Trust as stated on their website is as follows:

Rainforest Trust helps protect threatened tropical forests and endangered wildlife by partnering with local and community organizations in and around vulnerable areas.

The team at Rainforest Trust have effectively protected the ecosystem for over 25 years. They have done this by establishing partnerships with passionate conservationists who possess a deep-rooted knowledge in certain habitats. When this partnership is formed, the teams collaborate together to form a conversation plan including help from national governments and local communities. Once the plan is set in place, Rainforest Trust raises the funds to turn the plan into a reality.

Rainforest Trust states, “We are committed to providing lasting, on-the-ground protection, which requires the ongoing support and participation of local communities. These communities are engaged through the creation of sustainable economic opportunities for local men and women, including training as forest guards, wildlife monitors and ecotourism guides.”

Unfortunately, many threats posed by parties such as loggers, miners, and ranchers are destroying ecosystems around the globe. These ecosystems are unfortunately often habitats of endangered species. Rainforest Trust’s wide network of conservation organizations such as BirdLife International, the Global Wildlife Conservation, and the International Conservation Fund of Canada allows them to move quickly and act fast in order to protect these areas before they’re completely destroyed.

Specifically, the organization preserves these threatened areas by establishing public and private nature reserves managed by these conservation organizations. These government owned areas are declared national parks and are protected by plans set in place by local conservationists and honored by indigenous communities. Additionally, Rainforest Trust helps to establish sustainable income activities for local communities such as ecotourism.

One story that showcased the impact that Rainforest Trust is making came from an article shared on Rainforest Trust’s News page. This article, titled “Haven for the Hirola: Protecting Vital Habitat for the World’s Rarest Antelope” documented the case of Dr. Abdullahi Ali and his team at the Hirola Conservation Programme working in Kenya to protect the critically endangered Hirola. Hirola are medium-sized antelope vulnerable to poaching, drought, and disease. Their population has declined almost 90% since 1980. Ali, a forerunner in the mission to protect these endangered animals, was born to a pastoral Somali family in Kenya and later attended the University of Nairobi and continued on to earn a M.A. in conservation biology and a Ph.D. in ecology from the University of Wyoming. In 2005, he was asked to join the national Hirola management committee and began the task of protecting the antelope.

Rainforest Trust teamed with Ali’s team to create two new wildlife conservancies that will protect over 1.2 million acres. This is the largest conservation area in northeastern Kenya. This land will safeguard the Hirolas and reestablish free-ranging populations between protected areas. Many other animal species will also benefit from this protected land. Furthermore, Rainforest Trust helped the Hirola protection team create a network of herders who receive training on basic conservation practices, ecology, security, and community outreach.

Many more stories of the work Rainforest Trust is supporting, such as tales of protecting Brazilian Parrots and the creation of new refuges for the critically endangered Brown-Headed Spider Monkeys of Ecuador, can be read on Rainforest Trust’s News page.

If the mission of this incredible organization speaks to you, there are multiple ways to get involved. There are many ways to donate online in addition to other ways to give including Adopting an Acre, Supporting a Forest Guard, and Donating your Car.

A donation to Rainforest Trust is a donation wisely spent. In fact, 100% of your donation goes directly toward conservation. Rainforest Trust assures, “Donations to Rainforest Trust are not symbolic. Thanks to the support of our board members who cover the majority of our operating expenses, Rainforest Trust is able to allocate 100% of your project donation directly to conservation action. Each project donation protects real rainforest acres and saves endangered species. We focus on tangible results. Your contribution does not support lobbying, political activities, or special interests. Our conservation actions focus on the purchase and permanent protection of critical habitat for the most endangered species across the tropics. We do this efficiently and most effectively by supporting experienced in-country, community-based organizations that have a track record of achievement. We also undertake rainforest conservation outreach to raise public awareness.”

Thank you for considering lending a hand to this wonderful cause. By supporting this organization, we can come together to protect the last remaining ecosystems and sustain life on Earth.

The charity we at Hummingbird House are sharing today is one we’re proud to brag about due to its perfect score on Charity Navigator. Yes, you read right: perfect score. Charity Navigator, an independent charity watchdog organization, evaluates organizations in the United States using publicly available tax returns filed with the IRS. They also evaluate charity websites. By analyzing these, they make their evaluation based mainly on the financial health and accountability and transparency of the organization.

Puppies Behind Bars first caught our attention because of its outstanding review on Charity Navigator. Upon further investigation, we learned about the incredible work being done by the individuals who run the program and became even more enthusiastic to share their story.

The mission of Puppies Behind Bars (PBB) as stated on their website is to “train prison inmates to raise service dogs for wounded war veterans and explosive detection canines for law enforcement.” In this program, puppies are introduced to inmates at 8 weeks old and live with them for 2 years. Clearly, the goal of this relationship is twofold: the puppy gets constant attention and training in a rigorous and regimented program while the inmate learns how to positively contribute to society.

Puppies Behind Bars began in 1997 and is still continuing strong today. The program maintains a high “graduation rate” of dogs; 75% of the puppies raised go on to operate as working dogs while the rest are released for adoption.

A touching story titled “Inmates Train Puppies to Help Wounded Veterans” released by News10 shares the tale of Glenn Rodriguez and Dixon, the puppy he trained. Rodriguez, a convicted murderer serving 26-years to life in prison, talked about the dog he trained with fondness. A softer side of this prisoner came out as he said, “I know the time is coming when [Dixon’s] going to be serving a greater purpose.”

The fact that inmates are getting the opportunity to contribute to a greater purpose makes PBB a very unique and special charity. If you’re feeling called to help support this organization, you have the option of making a donation on their support page of their website.

Actors for Autism caught the attention of us here at the Hummingbird House Foundation due to the fact that it combines two causes we’re passionate about: theater and the special needs community. After reading about Actors for Autism through www.backstage.com, we thought that we’d share a summary of the incredible work this community is doing with our readers today.

Actors for Autism, established in 2004, states on their website that the organization “formed on the belief that all children need to be able to obtain the supports and services needed so that they can live as integrated members of society.” They go on to say that currently, “Actors for Autism is comprised of thousands of families worldwide who have had their children participate in [their] programs.”

This non-profit offers a variety of programs for young adults with autism including a film making program, a video game design program, a customized employment program, and a social skills program. Each of these not only allows individuals with autism to make friends and become involved in a community, but it allows them the chance to explore their passions in the filmmaking and theater industry. Actors for Autism has four locations based in Westlake, Beverly Hills, the NoHoArts District, and Glendale. Young adults on the autistic spectrum have the opportunity to come and experience the highly competitive world of Hollywood on a track that’s designed and paced for them.

Collins, a parent of a young man who participated Actors for Autism, said, “My son is a different person now that he has been in AFA’s social skills program. We are so grateful that Travis now has friends!”

Another parent, P. Steinberg, commented, “Our daughter was never able to attend her school dances. Now she goes to every dance and actually dances the entire night. Actors for Autism has made this possible.”

Currently, Actors for Autism is hosting a Hollywood Filmmaking Academy for Teens, a Voice Over Program, and an Employability Skills Workshop in addition to their regular programs. The organization also supports the Robby Slomann Scholarship Fund wherein individuals who cannot afford the program might have a chance to participate.

If Actors for Autism is a cause that you find yourself resonating with, there are several ways to get involved. First, they accept volunteers. Those who are able to commit to at least one four-hour shift each week for six months are welcome to apply. Also, Actors for Autism gladly accepts helpers who are willing to host an event such as silent auctions or 5K runs and walks. Finally, if you’re feeling called to donate, you can access their donation page at https://www.actorsforautism.org/donate-afa.

If you’re interested in reading more about the work accomplished at Actors for Autism, check out their website gallery, subscribe to their Youtube channel, or visit one of their social media sites on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest.

With all that’s been in the news lately surrounding immigration and refugees, we at Hummingbird House thought it pertinent to share an organization making a difference by serving those who are displaced. On the American Refugee Committee (ARC) website, they say, “Refugees share with us what they need, and we work together to create programs that make the most sense for that particular community.”

ARC, around for over 35 years, provides assistance to refugee communities. Started in 1979 by Neal Ball in the wake of atrocities occurring in Southeast Asia, the committee began by opening refugee camps in Thailand offering medical and public health services. Since then, the ARC has grown to support worldwide projects in areas such as agriculture, gender-based violence, HIV/AIDS treatment, small business and vocational training, and sanitation services. Currently, the ARC is working in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Jordan, Myanmar, Pakistan, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Thailand, and Uganda.

Historically, the ARC has been active in Pakistan since the 1980s. Pakistan has been an epicenter for civil unrest for decades. Many Pakistani citizens fled their homes after the Soviet invasion and the oppression of the Taliban. In addition to invasions, Pakistanis living in northern Pakistan were subject to a massive earthquake in October of 2005 and monsoon flooding in July 2010. Because of these disasters, millions of people from this area have only known life in camps for years. In response, the ARC traveled to the Middle East to provide primary health care to tens of thousands of displaced individuals. In addition to providing clean water, food, and shelter, members of the ARC work to dig wells and latrines, provide mobile health clinics, educate about AIDS/HIV, and even organize youth clubs and activities to prevent frustration in the camps.

Another notable accomplishment of the ARC in recent years has been attempting to understand the effect they’ve been having in measurable ways. On their “Breakthroughs” page on their website, they state that they are working on case studies to gain a “deeper understanding of co-creating with new people and experimenting with new solutions.”

The ultimate vision of the ARC is to ensure that “every person who participates in an ARC program or project will have a better chance to take control of their life and achieve self sufficiency.” As a charity that rates highly (96.46 out of 100) on Charity Navigator, the committee is trustworthy, legitimate, and worthy of attention and donations. (The ARC has also received high ratings from Reader’s Digest, Money Magazine, GiveSpot.com, and Charitywatch.org.) If providing assistance to refugees is on your heart, consider donating to the ARC by giving at http://arcrelief.org/ways-of-giving/.