When I was growing up, my Mother and Father always taught us the Biblical principle of tithing. Not only that, we were taught that as a child of God, we should give an offering on top of our tithe.
So as a 7-year-old, each week I gave 10¢ of my 25¢ allowance as my tithe and offering.
So later on, at NICABM, we made it a cornerstone of our organization that we would give back and do what we can to make this world a better place . . .
. . . and each year, I appreciate more and more how rewarding it is to support the good work that so many people and organizations are doing.
I’m sharing that list here in the hope that it will inspire others.
Here’s what we’ve given this year:
- $50,000 – Support for Syrian Refugees via Save the Children
- $46,000 – Cyclone Relief in Mozambique via Save the Children
- $20,000 – The Citizens Foundation
- $20,000 – Women and Girls fund at Save the Children
- $10,000 – Amnesty International
- $10,000 – Covenant Soup Kitchen
- $10,000 – Holy Family Home & Shelter
- $10,000 – International Rescue Committee
- $10,000 – Windham Area Interfaith Ministry
- $10,000 – Windham No Freeze Shelter
- $6,000 – American Near East Refugee Aid
- $6,000 – Direct Relief
- $5,035 – Community Foundation – Windham Women and Girls Fund
- $5,000 – Center for Medicare Advocacy
- $5,000 – Connecticut Public Broadcasting Network
- $5,000 – GLAD (Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders)
- $5,000 – Habitat for Humanity
- $5,000 – Human Rights Campaign
- $5,000 – Human Rights Watch
- $5,000 – Joshua’s Trust
- $5,000 – New England Public Radio
- $5,000 – OXFAM America
- $5,000 – Provincetown Film Society
- $5,000 – Salvation Army
- $5,000 – Smile Train
- $4,000 – UCONN Foundation – Jorgensen
- $3,500 – Willimantic Athletic Club – Frogtoberfest Run
- $2,000 – Barre Center for Buddhist Studies
- $2,000 – Benton Art Museum
- $2,000 – Insight Meditation Community of Washington, DC
- $2,000 – Sierra Club
- $2,000 – Windham Area Interfaith Ministry
- $2,000 – World Wildlife Foundation
- $1,100 – Mansfield Downtown Partnership
- $1,000 – Alzheimers Association
- $1,000 – American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
- $1,000 – E.O. Smith High School Robotics Team
- $1,000 – Mansfield Holiday Fund
- $1,000 – Massachusetts General Hospital Fund
- $1,000 – Michigan State University
- $1,000 – NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Health)
- $1,000 – Preemptive Love Coalition
- $1,000 – Provincetown Art Association and Museum
- $1,000 – Taylor University
- $1,000 – The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp
- $500 – Our Companions
- $360 – Charity Water
- $200 – Integrated Day Charter School
- $200 – Oasis Legal Services
- $200 – Wikimedia Foundation (Wikipedia)
Total: $306,095
As I look over this list, I already hope to exceed this next year.
That’s why we’ll be announcing our Holiday Special very shortly.
It’s a favorite tradition at NICABM to lower the price of one of our programs and more importantly, to give half of the proceeds to charity.
I’ll have more to say about that soon.
But in the meantime, I’d love to hear about the good work that you support during this season of giving. Please tell me about it in the comments below.
Great job! I’ve been a follower since inception and am always learning something. Thank you for your generosity to those organizations listed and keep up the good work.
Harriet Porto
Thank you for showing care to the one in need. There is so much more to do and it can’t just be all done here. Much appreciated.
This list is a great proof of how much our community can bring out the best in us. Unfortunately, I have been on disability and can contribute very little for this year. Your example gives so much hope and encouragement for strength to bring forth help. I know that this support and services that you provide is invaluable even if it looks very little and for very few, this list shows that it is a whole different and very optimistic vision for this coming year. Beautiful job>
Amazing work.
Thank you for your inspirational list of organizations that you support. It feels good to be a small part of your generosity through tuition paid.
I am an art teacher for low income public schools, so my income is on the poverty level. At the end of the year I gave my “widow’s mite” (one to two digit donations) to the Audubon Society, Sierra Club, ACLU, Planned Parenthood, Poor People’s Campaign, and a couple of women candidates. I also volunteer through the year at my church and on a Low Income Housing Board (which has a history of support for people with Hansen’s disease). Our Board also helps fund a Catholic Worker house, a refugee/immigrant Center in Mexico, and a Women’s Empowerment Center in a favela in Brazil.
One of the best ways to feel better about our own difficult situations (and about the world) is to help those who are less fortunate than ourselves.
Wishing all a peaceful, healthy and loving New Year,
Alyce Dodge