Charities | Charity Banners

Doctors Without Borders are helping with Ebola victims

Ebola outbreak in the Western African countries of Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leon in the recent past brought in many volunteer organizations to help with the humanitarian disaster. Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres) is one of many volunteer organizations that are doing outstanding work in Ebola impacted West Africa at this time. Volunteer medical professionals who worked with the organization and acquired Ebola were treated in hospitals in the United States and were cured of the virus.

When a disaster strikes, the organization immediately go into action to save lives. Founded in 1971 by a small group of French doctors, MSF is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. The organization provides humanitarian aid mainly in developing countries and war-torn part of the world. More than 34,100 doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals as well as engineers volunteer their work under the banner of MSF. In addition to emergency medical care, they also provide relief for natural and man-made disasters, and fight deadly epidemics. They are engaged in more than 60 countries worldwide at any given time. More than 80 percent of funding for its operation comes from private donors. The annual budget of the organization is estimated at more than $400 million a year.

Charities jump to fight killer Ebola

Since the latest Ebola outbreak in Western Africa in July 2014, more and more charities are donating and campaigning for more funds to fight the deadly disease. Since its outbreak in July, condition is getting worse by every passing day. Even though it started in Western African nations of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, it is also spreading over to neighboring Nigeria and others. Chances are high for it to jump overseas. At this writing, the current outbreak has claimed more than 1,000 lives and continues to worry all countries around the world. Ebola virus is contagious and often deadly and spreads through contact with bodily fluids of infected people and animals, even the death will not stop the spread of the disease, and there is no known vaccine, cure or treatment.

Among charities dealing with the current Ebola outbreak, the American Red Cross, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Doctors Without Borders, Samaritan’s Purse, GlobalGiving, MAP International, American Jewish World Service, Direct Relief and many others are out in the front. Save the Children is also working to stop spreading the virus, training healthcare workers, teaching people and communities how to limit the risks, distribute protective gear, and provide medical equipment.

Who donates to charities in the United States?

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the largest in the US, is donating millions to end polio, to improve the education system in the US and many causes at home and abroad. Billionaire Warren Buffet directs his billions of dollars through Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Art lover Alice Walton, heiress to the Wal-Mart retail stores, built a world class museum in a small-town in Arkansas. The Intel co-founder Gordon Moore is donating more than $250 million to build the world’s largest telescope in Hawaii. These are only few notable donations and foundations that are giving for worthy causes. Don’t forget the millions of others who are donating to various other causes at home and abroad. Then there are wealthy donors who take careful cover not to reveal their identity or the size of their donations. Many wealthy donors who want to be anonymous create several layers of legal entities to hide their identity from reporters and others.

Charitable giving is tax deductible in the United States. A Congressional panel estimates that the Department of the Treasury losses more than $43.6 billion in revenue every year due to charitable giving deduction. You can easily find a charity that caters to your special cause.

A charity behemoth for arthritis research

Many including the online Charity Navigator believe that the Arthritis National Research Foundation (ANRF) is the best charity when it comes to arthritis research, fiscal management, and unwavering commitment for transparency and accountability. The Long Beach, California based charity allocates more than 91 percent of proceeds to research programs and has been in operation for more than 40 years. It also funds arthritis education through scholarships for promising young to be doctors’ studying human immunology and arthritis.

The Charity Navigator finds that ANRF performs 97 percent more effectively than other similar charities they review. Since organization does not receive any funding from the government, it solely depends on private donations. Their research concentrates on juvenile arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout, lupus and other related subjects. More than 300,000 kids in the United States suffer from juvenile arthritis and arthritis related medical cost is over $128 billion a year in the U.S. More than 50 million Americans suffer from the condition and it is the nation’s number one disability. More than 9,000 a year die from worsening condition and many with arthritis also suffers from diabetes and heart disease. Managing arthritis is the best way to overcome the pain caused by the disease.

Who benefits from a charitable event?

Planning a worthy cause gives immense pleasure to organizers and as well as participants. Charitable events can be as simple as a bake sale to a much more complex event such as musical shows. Many may opt to participate while others may donate their time and effort to conduct a successful event.

Vast number of organizations and people can benefit from a charitable event. Participation in charity event carries many benefits. Volunteers donate their time, talent and even resources to successfully conduct an event. It generates much needed funds and other assets to the charity while providing a venue for many to socialize. Volunteers who help at the event get experience as well as a huge satisfaction. Many can claim their time, expenses and other related expenses on their annual Federal Tax Return. Students can enhance their resume by participating and helping at a charity event. Those who are building their professional carriers may benefit by meeting new contacts as well as friends. Non-profit organizations are consistently searching for volunteers and in turn may provide additional help for volunteers when they need a pay back. So, benefits of a charitable event are enormous and at the end everyone wins.