ThelmaSays – Spreading the Spirit of Philanthropy

Since Thelma isn’t able to cover every worthy cause in her weekly posts, we created Reader Picks to highlight causes and organizations that are near and dear to the hearts of our readers. Here’s our first installment for 2011. Thank you for your contributions – keep them coming!

_________ Links We Like  -  Summer 2011 _________

Health & Wellness

Soles4Souls –  A Nashville-based charity collects shoes from warehouses of footwear companies and closets of people like you, and distributes them to people in need, regardless of race, religion, class, or any other criteria. Since 2005, Soles4Souls has given away nearly 12 million pairs of new and gently worn shoes – currently donating one pair every 7 seconds – to people in over 125 countries.  www.soles4souls.org Thanks, John!

ItCanBeDone Africa – is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to finding sustainable solutions for clean water, health, education and economic opportunities in Tanzania, Africa. Funding comes from donations and from Mt. Kilimanjaro Pledge Climbs. We hear one is in the works for January, 2012.  www.itcanbedone.org Thanks, Susie!  

Youth

BlueSky Inn, Bakery & Café – This bustling restaurant in Chicago’s north Lincoln Square neighborhood empowers homeless youth through job training and opportunities for creative expression. There are approximately 26,000 homeless youth in Illinois each year and in Chicago, approximately 12,000 youth will spend at least three nights without shelter. BlueSky helps train and employ youth, opening doors and getting them on a more confident, independent path. www.BlueSkyInn.org Thank you, Josh!

Environment

Trashy Bags - Based in Accra, Ghana, this group makes recycled eco-friendly handbags and gifts from plastic trash.  Since 2007, www.TrashyBags.org has led sustainable development around plastic recycling by collecting 20 million plastic sachets that were drinking water containers, then cleaning and stitching the trash into fashionable products for sale. Thanks, Jamie!

Women

StepUp Women’s Network – a national, nonprofit membership organization located in LA, Chicago and New York dedicated to connecting and advancing young women and teenage girls in the inner cities, helping guide and support them through high school and on to college.  Thanks for telling us about www.suwn.org Shari!