| There are thousands of charities in the world that | | | | The people who are the most emotionally connected |
| have great intentions and work toward a goal of a | | | | to each would give of themselves to ensure that |
| better tomorrow. As much as we would like to be a | | | | progress is being made. Personal experiences and |
| part of all these causes, it is simply not possible. | | | | beliefs shape our decisions when it comes to which |
| Choosing which charity to support can be a difficult | | | | charity should receive our support. |
| decision. But if you find the charity with a cause that | | | | Understanding that you, personally, cannot support |
| is near and dear to your heart, your support will be | | | | every charity will allow you narrow down your |
| effortless and rewarding. | | | | choices of charitable organizations that you should |
| Charities that offer support, care and advocacy of | | | | join. Not all charities do the same things with their |
| humans or animals are ones that many people | | | | resources, so be sure you research where each dollar |
| gravitate towards because of the emotional | | | | goes and find exactly who benefits from your |
| connection they feel with the recipients of the | | | | donations of time and money. If you wanted to |
| support. Children's charities are often regarded as | | | | sponsor a child, find out exactly what your |
| some of the most important charitable organizations | | | | sponsorship means and the benefits your sponsored |
| because of the potential that is held in every child to | | | | child is receiving rather than sending a charity an |
| grow up and be a successful member of society. | | | | unspecific monetary donation once every couple of |
| Mentoring and sponsoring a child as they grow can | | | | months. With child sponsorship, you should be able to |
| give them the support they need to be healthy, be | | | | interact with the child - write letters, send pictures, |
| educated and make a difference in their own | | | | etc. You should have this type of personal connection |
| community. | | | | with any charity you choose. If you support a charity |
| Of course, it would be much easier if there were one | | | | for women affected by domestic violence, you |
| donation fund that we could invest our resources and | | | | should feel a strong bond for the women for which |
| money into and that one fund would spread it out to | | | | you are supporting and advocating. |
| the places, people and animals that needed it most. | | | | When you are choosing your charity, remember to |
| But that's not how it works - and for good reason. | | | | consider their level of need. When you find one that |
| Different people are emotionally connected to | | | | you feel an emotional connection with, determine |
| different things. A child's plight for clean water in | | | | how much they need your support and the amount |
| Ethiopia may not resonate as much with one person | | | | of good you can do with your time and donations. |
| as it does for another. Conversely, rescuing and | | | | When you find the right charitable organization, you |
| cleaning wildlife affected by an oil spill may not be a | | | | will know that your money is going to a cause that |
| charitable choice for another person. Of course, both | | | | truly needs it and will help - in some small way - |
| of these situations need donations and volunteerism. | | | | make the world a better place. |