Spotlight On: Susan G. Komen Foundation

The Susan G. Komen Foundation is dedicated to the elimination of breast cancer. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women and accounts for 25% of all cancers. The foundation operates around the world through research, community outreach, and advocacy.

The Susan G. Komen Foundation began in 1982, in honor of Nancy G. Brinker's sister who died from breast cancer. To date it is the largest source of non-profit funding for awareness of and research about breast cancer. You can find out more on their website and donate here.

Spotlight On: Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontiéres (MSF)

Doctors Without Borders is an organization dedicated to providing medical assistance to those in need regardless of political, economic, or religious situations. It was founded in 1971 with the idea that all people had the right to medical care.

Since its founding, MSF has treated over a hundred million patients and has offices in 28 countries. Eighty-seven cents of every dollar donated to the organization goes to support the various programs that it runs. You can make a one-time donation by clicking here.

Spotlight on: American Diabetes Association

The American Diabetes Association funds research to counter diabetes and also provides information about the disease. They are committed to stopping the disease and are advocates for people who have been diagnosed.

Almost 30 million Americans have been diagnosed with diabetes, and it is in the top ten causes of death. There are many other conditions caused by diabetes, which include heart attack, stroke, blindness, and several others. Diabetes costs Americans billions of dollars from medical costs and reduced productivity. It can affect any age, gender, or ethnicity.

To learn more about the American Diabetes Association or to donate, you can visit their website.

Spotlight on: American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is dedicated to providing education on the prevention of heart disease and stroke and leads research in the field. They are the number one provider for CPR classes and the funding they have generated for research has led to the creation of artificial heart valves and open heart surgery. Since 1924, the American Heart Association has been battling heart disease, which is the number one killer of adults in the US.

Every year, heart disease kills more than 800,000 people in the US, and 1 in 3 adult Americans are affected by the disease. By the year 2020, the American Heart Association hopes to reduce the number of deaths caused by heart disease and stroke by twenty percent. You can help them reach that goal with your donation.

To find out more about the American Heart Association and the work they do, you can visit their website. You can also donate here.

August donation: MS Foundation

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a neurological disease that affects hundreds of thousands Americans. There is no cure for MS and the cause is still unknown.

Thirty years ago, my grandmother was diagnosed with MS. At first, it didn't change her life too drastically. She had to use a lighter ball when bowling and she would use a wheelchair when a large amount of walking was involved. But things started to change a lot about fifteen years ago. It was getting harder for her to walk. She had to drag her right foot because it wouldn't obey her command to walk. The dragging eventually got too difficult, so she began relying on a walker. After a short time, the energy it took to walk with a walker was too much and she ended up in a wheelchair. Honestly though, it's not the wheelchair that's a problem. The bigger problem is the pain. She almost constantly has electrical currents of pain jolting through her. She has also lost feeling in her feet and legs, so she'll sometimes unknowingly cut or bruise herself.

MS is not considered a fatal disease. Most people with MS have a lifespan just slightly shorter than average. However, MS can cause fatal complications and also impairs quality of life.

My August donation will be going to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in honor of my grandmother. If you haven't made a donation this month, please consider this charity.

Are you ready for the #10times12 challenge?

Here's my video for the challenge:

So you want to donate to charity?

The Ice Bucket Challenge has become quite a phenomenon. It has raised over $70 million dollars for ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) research, and that's really fantastic. ALS is a neurological disorder which affects over 12,000 people in the United States.

MS (Multiple Sclerosis) is the most common neurological disease of young adults which has been diagnosed in over 250,000 people in the United States.

As of 2010, over 30 million people around the world were living with HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus).

3.1 million children under the age of 5 die every year from hunger.

These numbers are not meant to detract from the great impact of the Ice Bucket Challenge. Instead, they are meant to cause reflection on charity and giving. If we can dump a bucket of ice water on ourselves and donate $10 to ALS research, surely we can donate $10 to help give clean water to those in need.

So I have a new challenge: #10times12. It's pretty simple. Donate $10 to a different charity each month. It can be a donation to research for ALS, MS or HIV. It can be a donation to feed a family or give a child school supplies. It can be a donation to any organization which is close to your heart. Just take on the challenge, each month say where your donation is going, and don't forget to nominate three (or five or ten) other people to participate in the challenge.

The Ice Bucket Challenge has tapped into a great aspect of human nature: our ability to care. I challenge you to make this a trend.