What inspires you to give?
For me, it started with my dad. When I was a kid he taught me to tithe at least 10% of my twenty five cent allowance each week.
That early lesson stayed with me, and it continues to shape NICABM’s finances.
So in 2020, we gave away $550,713 to organizations doing great work locally, in the US, and around the world.
We funded gender-equal schools in Pakistan, international refugee assistance, direct cash transfers to low-income families in the US, and food assistance here in eastern Connecticut.
We were also happy to start supporting some organizations that run randomized controlled trials to uncover high-impact poverty interventions (things that make a big difference but don’t usually get much attention, like deworming for children in rural Africa).
You can see the full list right here.
The World – $282,813
Save the Children – $98,000
$78,000 was designated for famine relief in Yemen
International Rescue Committee – $35,000
The Citizens Foundation (Building gender-equal schools in Pakistan) – $35,000
Partners In Health – $25,000
Doctors Without Borders – $20,000
Evidence Action – $20,000
Amnesty International – $10,000
Direct Relief – $10,000
Innovations for Poverty Action – $8,000
American Near East Refugee Aid – $6,000
NSW Rural Fire Service (Australian Wildfire Relief)- $5,000
Human Rights Watch – $5,000
WIRES Wildlife Rescue (Australian Wildfire Relief) – $3,453
World Wildlife Foundation – $2,000
Charity Water – $360
The United States – $103,400
Partners In Health – $20,000
Designated for COVID-19 relief in the Navajo Nation
Family Independence Initiative – $10,000
The Bowery Mission – $10,000
GiveDirectly Covid Fund – $10,000
Cash transfers to low-income Americans
OXFAM America – $8,000
National Coalition for the Homeless – $6,000
Brooklyn Community Bail Fund – $5,000
Chicago Community Bond Fund – $5,000
Philadelphia Community Bail Fund – $5,000
GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders) – $5,000
Human Rights Campaign – $5,000
Insight Meditation Community of Washington, DC – $2,000
Barre Center for Buddhist Studies – $2,000
Sierra Club -$2,000
Provincetown Art Association and Museum – $1,000
Massachusetts General Hospital Fund – $1,000
NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Health) – $1,000
Taylor University – $1,000
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention – $1,000
Michigan State University – $1,000
Alzheimers Association – $1,000
ASPCA – $1,000
Wikimedia Foundation (Wikipedia) – $200
Oasis Legal Services – $200
Local – $164,500
Windham Area Interfaith Ministry – $30,000
Connecticut Food Bank – $22,000
Access Community Action Agency – $13,000
Covenant Soup Kitchen – $20,000
Holy Family Home & Shelter – $10,000
Windham No Freeze Shelter – $10,000
Foodshare, Inc. – $10,000
Louis Goffinet – $8,000
A local middle school teacher who used his time during the pandemic to grocery shop for families struggling financially.
UCONN Foundation – $6,000
Community Foundation – Windham Women and Girls Fund – $5,000
Center for Medicare Advocacy – $5,000
Connecticut Public Broadcasting Network – $5,000
Joshua’s Trust – $5,000
New England Public Radio – $5,000
Salvation Army – $5,000
Benton Art Museum – $2,000
Mansfield Downtown Partnership – $2,000
Mansfield Holiday Fund – $1,000
Our Companions (Animal Shelter) – $500
Total (World, USA, Local): $550,713
This is the most we’ve ever given away in a single year, and next year we hope to donate even more.
Now whether you give your time, money, skills (or all of these), please let us know how you like to give back with a comment below.
Well done, Ruth and NICABM!
Dear Ruth,
I’ve been a student and a follower of your good work, since early 2000. I thank you for all the good you do, and continue to do, to bring opportunities of life, love, and wellbeing to all populations.
Thank you so much!
Pauline Faulkner
I tried to call you directly but was told he could not take my call. I called to acknowledge you for the highly successful and effective clinical content and obviously highly successful marketing machine and strategy which is produced the resources for these donations. I also wanted to speak with you directly about the importance of supporting CPA. I would’ve loved to seen the organization on your list of donations. I would’ve loved to least been able to confirm your support through the exercise of the basic franchise of your membership and voting participation. Congratulations on everything you’ve done and will continue to do and I look forward to future interaction in the context of our professional community. Stephen D. Sarfaty PsyD
I am so glad that I have chosen NICABM as a resource for continuing education. I try to affiliate myself with vendors, etc. who believe in giving back. It is so great to see what NICABM is doing for therapists and others with your seminars and your charity. Mike Wallace, LPC
A deep acknowledgement to your organisation for giving far and wide. Thank you. You asked us to comment on what we were doing locally – I have been consulting for an NPO called Adonis Musati project which has worked for years with refugees in SA, first food and relief and then trauma counselling and Peer counselling support programmes. I work too for Hope House, a counselling service offered to those who can’t afford the regular pyshcological routes. South Africa is besieged with trauma so these services go a small way to stem some of the sea of suffering here. During covid times, my husban and I started our own personal Survival Fund, where friends and family have helped us to directly work with those we know at great risk.. little food or in danger of losing their shelter. The govt here has mismanaged the funding for those so vulnerable, so often they are getting no support. I am eternally grateful to be able to train on some of your courses to sharpen my understanding of complex trauma and to be guided through by all the heavyweights in the field. Many thanks to you
My church comes first, ( Palm Valley Church) a place “Where People Matter!” And then I like to share with Habitat for Humanity, Smile Train, Streetlight USA, New Life Center for DV victims, Wounded Warriors, IRTA Foundation, Doctors Without Borders, Avondale, AZ Shop with a Cop, my alumni foundation, to name a few in no particular order.
Great to hear about NICABM giving back!!!
Kudos to you and your organization
With heartfelt greetings and Best wishes
Srishti Nigam , Dr.
You and your Organization deserves Kudos for for wonderful Humanitarian Work.
I thank you for it
At a personal level I noticed amounts gifted to Australian Fire Relief and that erased any dark feeling I had about subscribing for points that, in fact, I do not need and for which I did not qualify because my professional category is not covered in the psychology universe in which you operate. Initially, I wrote to you to complain about that. That said, as I am now included and connected with you all those little grievances are nullified because I sense the oneness that is bigger than those old devisions and labels that remain within the bureaucracy. Much has changed in me in my long life time!
I am so please to see this. At a person al level I noticed amounts gifted to Australian Fire Relief and that erased any dark feeling I had about subscribing for points that in fact I do not need and for which I did not qualify because my professional category is not covered in the psychology universe in which you operate. Initially, I wrote to you to complain about that. That said, as I am now included and connected with you all those little grievances are nullified because I sense the oneness that is bigger than those old devisions and labels that remain within the bureaucracy. Much has changed in me in my long life time!
This list is lovely! Thank you for managing all the decisions and distribution of the donations!
I do give somewhat small but ongoing monthly donations to environmental, social justice, and poverty/hunger/water relief globally and in the US, as well as to our two local NPR stations. I rarely donate on impulse, and never in response to the paper waste of snail mail. Instead I prefer to research the organizations on a variety of factors and consider their relative weight in relationship to my values and concerns (and budget of course). I also give donations as Christmas and birthday presents to close loved ones who will appreciate those and don’t need more physical objects in their lives.
At the same time, my primary contribution has always been time participating in local coalitions & collaboratives where I feel I can make a difference in the community. For several years my focus has been on substance abuse prevention and on a big-picture local ACES & Resiliency initiative that networks with similar groups in our state and across the country. That involvement also benefits me in keeping me up to date on that research and connected with other individuals and organizations in the area who may be of help to my clients in addition to my services. I’ve also developed good friendships with some great people who care about the same things I do.
I have always appreciated how NICABM has helped me to enrich my practice skill, but seeing the generosity and diversity of giving is heart warming. Keep up the good work!
Tina Fernandez, LPC-S Houston
It is great to see this compassionate work in numbers. We only get more and more connected.
I appreciate knowing about the above humanitarian efforts ‘on the ground’. So many people cannot access necessary services of all kinds. I try to do 10% of my therapy practice ‘pro bono’ but it’s good also to be reminded about tithing. Thank you,
Blessings on all your good works.
Really appreciate your organization. It has helped me immensely. I donate to several charities I admire. Also, what I learn from Nicabm I let others know of the value and lessons I get from it. I try to act from my values and principles so those around me can see me walk the talk.
I am inspired to give my time and joyful attitude by my Aunt Mary. She made sure that every day she did something to help someone else. I asked her when she was 97 what she did during the day. “I drive old people to their appointments.” She lived joyfully to age 102. Yesterday I helped an old friend from years ago, who is now disabled, to do her shopping/errands and Aunt Mary was right there beside me.
I know its very modest but I give away two free treatments each month to someone in need. I have done this pretty much my whole career. Thank you all for being such an inspiration and for your generosity.
I would like to settle down in Scotland, bring my family over here and take care of them to break the vicious circle of psychological damage. I think I managed it already to some extent by looking after my niece, she grew to a, perhaps a bit self-conscious but a responsible adult, so a bog chance next generations in the family line will better off. Still, there’s a lot fix with the current one and I would like to give them some happiness in their remaining years of life.
I would also get more involved in community help once I eventually have some more time after I qualify. Some voluntary work, helping out elderly or those with limited mobilty nearby. I have always wanted to be of significant help to someone in the future. Make someone life’s better, help them to achieve their goals that are out of reach due to limited finances or whatever other reason. I promised that to myself years ago when I was in such situation that one day, when I can afford it, I’ll change someone’s life for better like I wanted it to happen to me back then. I think it’s achievable 🙂
It would be good to have someone to rely on myself, though as it’s difficult to be a support to everyone all your life while not getting any yourself (I don’t want to burden my family with my problems, they can’t cope with their own) while definitely needing it! That’s another goal 😉
Oh, And I would like to continue to make sure niece and her future family are well 🙂
My passion is invested in traumatized children who have been removed from their biological parents. I have worked with this population for much of my 20 years in practice. I am currently embarking on a mission to advocate for children who are in foster care for extended periods of time and, at great detriment to their attachment process, finally returned or moved to new placements. I feel there is a systemic disregard for the mental health component in state agencies and am diligently working to be heard on this issues.
I’m a kind of a person who tends to get bigger ideas and aims for ideals. When I was younger, I could tackle things considered impossible, but now older and came to know the world differently, I do things that are more personal and small such as taking trash out for an elderly and sick neighbor, making a connection with a homeless person who asked some help, collecting and spreading wild seeds in areas devastated by wildfires, and taking care of myself.
I am so impressed with this dedication and commitment to extending the benefits of healing and so many different levels. Thank you for sharing this powerful list and for this deep commitment in which we all get to participate
A truly selfless act always sparks another… it is so heart warming to see the tireless efforts and generosity of the helping field. My mentor Elder Little Brown Bear has been the best role model for me to really understand that it is in giving that we receive the greatest fulfillment of our purpose here on Mother Earth. The Elder lives his life around giving to those in need, and I have had the great privledge of being able to accompany him to help out on various projects, seeing first hand how far reaching the impact a single persons choice to give whole heartedly of themselves can make is so very humbling. I would encourage anyone to give of your gifts where ever you can, the greatest gift we can give ourselves is to devote our time to our brothers and sisters in need. To make the shift to living a giving life, it starts small, slow down, take the time to connect with the people we interact with on a daily basis, look people in the eye, acknowledge thier humanity, be the person who acts from a place of caring, no matter what others say or do, giving in small ways makes a big difference.
I like to offer my time either in soup kitchens, crisis hotlines or other acts of service.
Beautiful…it seems like your generosity is being multiplied as the blessing goes out!
Thank you for sharing this Ruth
Truly inspiring. As for me, my way of giving back has been returning to my homeland/ Former Yugoslavia- now Serbia, Montenegro & Bosnia/ few times a year and working towards raising awareness about child sexual abuse. I initiated a project, sponsored by UNICEF in 2015. I keep my fingers crossed the work will continue once we transition to better times.
Best regards to all
Jelisaveta Sanja Rolović, Ph.D.
Congratulations and continue your incredible work.
It is very inspiring.
Michel Lemieux
Seeing all the different organieations the money was donated to, i am happy to see the variety of themes and problems reached.
Thank you.
As for me, i’ve always given a lot of my time and attention to those near me. I’m learning to do that for my self as well, so i can keep sharing constructive things around me. I share lots of information to those who spend less time being curious, i give my time to take care of nature by the choices i make on a daily basis, and i chose to work in public child welfare to be there for kids who don’t have parents that can or would pay for therapy. I did plenty of volunteer work whenever i could. And i am commited to raise my own child in a respectful and kind manner, so as to break the chain of violence starting from my own little self. I try to “give'”… a sense of dignity and respect to those who are struggling, not looking down, or with pity, also giving the opportunity for them to give what is possible and aknowledge their particular “richness”. I am careful to not make people feel on the bottom of the balance
This is incredible thank you so much for supporting the whole in all the ways Ruth
Makes me feel so good being a part of this community. I pray that in this new chapter of life here on earth all of these programs listed will be fully supported by government and the people with no human left behind
In right relationship with all life on earth.
Wonderful organization. Thank you for all your great works.
As for how I give back , I do my best to learn how to merge my brain parts so that I can show others with similar problems, that it is possible to heal a shattered brain.
With all that I have accumulated over the years in regards to brain wellness knowledge,I have not only Survived my discombobulated sense of existence but have managed to share and help others seek out alternative sources of knowledge to better understand their particular disorganization.
I find that by understanding that it is brain wiring not Personality (disorder) or any of those degrading labels, a person can learn to differentiate between responses and who we actually ARE.
I am not a professional other than I have sought out answers for over forty years and have had a gamut of MEDICATIONS,ECT,CBT,DBT,LIFE SKILLS PROGRAMS,ALCOHOL/DRUG COUNSELLING, AND AT LEAST 8 HOSPITAL STAYS FOR SUICIDAL BEHAVIOUR. This is only the mental part. My body has had it as bad with surgeries and major health issues. My goal is to help those who have not yet finished brain development , pre ( 25 ) yrs. Because once you are locked into your pattern it is so much more difficult to retrain.
As much as you give back in financial aid, I want to take this opportunity to give a HUGE THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO.
I am eternally Grateful for your persistence in getting to change how we (patients) are being treated and taking away so much stigma.
We are not broken, perhaps somewhat mal-adapted .
Sincerely, Suzanne Bigras
So lovely to know about NICABM’s wonderful donations to the different charity organisations in the US and internationally.
Yes, totally agree with your thoughts about giving, monetary and physically, to help others in need.
As a child, my mum has taught me to give, and as a young adult through my Christian faith the need to share, to give and help others in need. Over the years, I have been giving financially to different charity organisations as well as my time; providing free counselling locally. In helping others, it has given me great joy knowing I am able to do so. God bless you Ruth and all NICABM professionals for your continuous generosity in sharing your knowledge with us all over the world. ??
Hadn’t heard of tithing before. I give to homeless locally, have sponsored some assistance dogs, volunteered in Cambodia and now as times are harder personally keep therapy spaces at very low cost for as many clients as I can afford to. Would also love to return to Cambodia to help post covid impact. Love to all from UK
So good to hear about all that has been donated. We also live by the same values. Many blessings on the year ahead.
Thank you for everything you do
Truly impressive and great causes. I’m giving time to support older people and donating to Jewish/Palestinian organisation working for peace.
Are you giving to Musalaha? Great organization, and I support them as well. They have wonderful testimonies of bridge and peace-building between those typically ostracized from one another’s stories.
This giving is so good.
Your support of charities/causes is great! Tithing is a biblical principle which I too follow. Often my 10% goes to 2 charities Freedom Firm USA (works to free sex trafficked children and gives them a home, counselling and teaches a trade) and the International Justice to (the biggest anti slavery organisation in the world). ??
The scale and range of the project and intended benificaries are indeed wide and targetted. Congratulations on being in such a priviledged position that so many can benefit. I was taught by my grandmother a slightly differnt lesso, one which has stayed me these past 60 years. She showed how not to judge another. To realise whilst poverty, illhealth (phyisical, psychological, emotional and spiritual) can affect erveryone. It is for reasons I chose to share my contact, attention and compassion to people living in my area. Offering interpersonal interactaction to share, care and support each other. Since Feb 2020 more than 150 people have come into my life enriching it and challengeing me.
lets start to examine the real causes of why charity is needed at all?
Tinka, you are correct to raise this question.
Exactly, but while we work on it, parallelwise it’s good to know there is help coming from those who have more of anything to those who have less of whatever (money protection education access health etc). Hopefully someday we will have truly learned how to really share in a fair way which would mean we all care about one another’s well being. Less greed and more empathy.
Maybe the answer is simply to give others the opportunity to give and feel the joy that comes from lifting others. The joy is always two-fold: Ye lift me and I’ll lift thee, and we’ll ascend together.
This list moved me hugely and gives me even greater hope in our humanity.
I bow to and feel inspired by you, your philosophy and actions.
I will continue to support you and to be supported by you.
Thank you
I serve on the board of the Wilhelm Reich Infant Trust who preserves and furthers the influence of Reich in so many different fields. I contribute as much of my time as possible donating a major piece of work that we do called The Human Element to high school young adults here in Maine in the school district where my deceased brother dedicated much of his 45 years in education.
I garden for my elderly neighbour my dad and two daughters . Last autumn just gone 2020 I planted snowdrops and daffodils for them so that they could see them pushing through with hope for spring. I also purchased bags of slate for my elderly dad so we can look forward to laying them in the spring.
I purchased a bird table for my dad so he can put seed out for the birds and provide a focus.
I feed and nourish two cats one was a stray who moved in he was abandoned.
I cleared a huge garden area of rubbish etc for my daughter who recently moved home and I repotted her plants with fresh plants and cleared weeds etc and cemented between the cracks to prevent re weed so she could sit outside after work as she is an NHS worker during Covid. Last week we lost our pet dog I bought peace lillies for my daughters to bring some peace.
I guess I love nature. Encouraging all of the people in my life to connect with nature.
I do very simple things like smiling and saying “good morning” as I pass people in the street in my community on way to buy daily newspaper. More interactive than just reading it online.
Also whenever I go on a ramble in local countryside I take a carrier bag to litter pick as I go.
I also support some charities financially.
Those who have children give away far more than a 10% of whatever they have. And this fact has some wonderful blooming effect in the long run as well as in the short.
….And I so appreciate this initiative! Everyone should give at least 10% of their assets and we would have a better world.
Hi,
I would like to highlight two issues that truly need support – and its importance being worldwide:
Amazon Watch to stop the burning of the Amazons and support the indigenous groups fighting for their land and culture. (There are massive missions fighting in the opposite direction to be able to exploit the land with devastating consequenses for the whole planet).
Support of the rights of
poor farmers in India. The strikes against new laws issued by Narendra Mody have received very little attention in the US. There was a general strike with 250 million people this last fall. The laws open up India for the big exploits of big companies leaving the farmers without say (not allowed to protest legally) in their life and enterprise. Already more than 100.000 farmers have comitted suicide due to indeptedness and growing dependence on expensive seeds and pesticides. We need to fight for the little person and individual sovereignty.
Eva Nyström
Wonderful. I appreciated the hyper link as I didn’t recognize some of the organizations and was able to quickly see what they are about. Keep up the good work, it is so needed.
What good news!
Wow I wish Amazon would do that!
This makes your already valuable programs also feel good donations. A double donor.
I have had no regular monthly income and was so far not able to pay for your programs. Despite of it I have benefited on the free offers. I highly appreciate this sharing.
When my son went to the Waldorf school the higher income parents paid for the ones which could not afford. At the time we were the high income parents. Our values need to shift from money to equality.
Thank you very much