The Kingdom of Squidoo

This lens is dedicated to Charity Navigator.

It is a free service that will make your giving more efficient. Charity Navigator tracks charities and shares the gathered info, so that you can make informed decisions.

This should be the first stop when donating money.

Decorate in red, white and blue and add some yellow ribbons; raise your drink in a toast to our troops and create care packages to send overseas to our troops with items you and your party guests assemble.

Great fun for Christmas, 4th of July, Memorial Day...or ANY day; get together with some friends, your knitting group, Sunday School class or classroom for a "Support Our Troops" party.

The story of how a small community raised $180,000 in 6 months to build a playground in 5 days with 1500 volunteers in 2005. This wonderful playground is located at Veterans Park in Pendleton South Carolina, a town of approximately 3,000 citizens.

One of the best things you can do to relax during the summer months is read a good book. How can YOU read for charity?...easy. Whether you click on a banner or ad, or choose to buy something from the lens, the proceeds will go to Save The Children. We will help create lasting change for children in the United States and around the world.

Every huge endeavor started with a little grassroots idea. But it's impossible to know how many life-changing ideas never got off the ground because of a lack of funds. It's a sad thing to have an incredible opportunity, but lack the funds to pursue it. You have the chance to be part of something bigger than yourself -- something that could change the world -- and it requires so little to make a big difference.

You've heard of the earthquake & devastation in Haiti. You're probably following the
story in the news and paying attention to the humanitarian efforts going on, possibly
even considering how you can offer help for Haiti. But it's hard to imagine what the
Haitian people are actually going through . . . unless it's personal to you. For my
friend and colleague, Heidi, and her husband, Brady, it's personal. This lens is for
them.

In September, 2007, I began the month-long Basic Academy for the Coconino County, Arizona, Sheriff's Search and Rescue Team. In October, I completed the training and was given my pager. And no sooner than it was placed in my hand, the thing went off.

There are so many homeless people in our world . . . in our own communities . . . who, for various reasons, don't have the experience of that huge Thanksgiving feast or those much-anticipated Christmas gifts or that warm home atmosphere. And there are some simple ways that we can all get involved. I highlight three simple ways that you and your family can feed the homeless and help them have that holiday experience.

Why, you might ask, would I want to write a letter to Tippi Hedren, that actress who was in Alfred Hitchcock's, The Birds?
Why? Well, I'll tell you why?

Tippi Hedren is the founder of the Roar Foundation and the Shambala Preserve. She has been caring for big cats, that had been discarded or mistreated in captivity, since 1983. Shambala is located in Acton, California and currently houses 70big cats. The preserve operates solely on donations.

Professor Muhammad Yunus, A Great Humanitarian

I have a tremendous admiration for Professor Yunus, "the banker of the poor". Actually he is on my list of heroes along with Dr.Paul Farmer.