Charity Giving in May

Charity giving in May

6 May 2017

Julianne Shenk

JBS Nonprofit Consulting

While researching for this month’s blog, I went through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. and noticed so many different events and causes being mentioned. I Googled “the month of May and charity awareness” and found this chart.

As always, I encourage you to research and find an organization that suits you. Go to their website, follow links, look for reviews/references/testimonials. If you have any questions, find their contact information and ask away! And remember, you don’t have to only donate money. Donating your time is just as important and so satisfying!

Awareness Months For May 2017[1]

Awareness Event	Organization
ALS Awareness Month	ALS Association
Arthritis Awareness Month	Arthritis Foundation
Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month	Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
Better Hearing and Speech Month	ASHA
Better Sleep Month	Better Sleep Council
Celiac Awareness Month	National Foundation for Celiac Awareness
Clean Air Month	American Lung Association
Correct Posture Month	American Chiropractic Association
Cystic Fibrosis Month	Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Hepatitis Awareness Month	Hepatitis Foundation International
Huntington's Disease Awareness Month	Huntington's Disease Society Of America
Lyme Disease Awareness Month	Lyme Disease Foundation
Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month	Multiple Sclerosis Society Of Canada
National Cancer Research Month	American Association for Cancer Research
National Crohn's and Colitis Awareness Month	Crohn's & Colitis Australia
National High Blood Pressure Education Month	Center for Disease Control and Prevention
National Lupus Awareness Month	Lupus Foundation of America
National Melanoma Skin Cancer Awareness Month	American Academy of Dermatology
National Mental Health Month	Mental Health America
National Neurofibromatosis Month	Children's Tumor Foundation
National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month	National Osteoporosis Society
National Physiotherapy Month	Canadian Physiotherapy Association
National Stroke Awareness Month	National Stroke Association
Vision Health Month	Canadian National Institute for the Blind

Awareness Days For May 2017

Awareness Event	Date	Organization
Melanoma Monday	Mon 1st May 2017	American Academy of Dermatology
World Asthma Day	Tue 2nd May 2017	Global Initiative Asthma
World Red Cross Red Crescent Day	Mon 8th May 2017	International Committee of the Red Cross
World Lupus Day	Wed 10th May 2017	Lupus Foundation of America
International CFS/ME Awareness Day	Fri 12th May 2017	CFIDS Association of America
World Autoimmune Arthritis Day	Sat 20th May 2017	IAA Movement
World No Tobacco Day	Wed 31st May 2017	World Health Organization

---

[1] http://www.whathealth.com/awareness/may.html

Sports and Charities: Legit?

Sports and Charities: Legit?

Julianne Shenk

April 3, 2017

JBS Nonprofit Consulting

Chances are if you have been to a sporting event lately you have been asked to donate to the home team’s charity. Some folks know about the organization, but many wonder what it is about, where does the money go, and if it is legit.  Does the money go to the team? Who does it help? There are a lot of questions.

I donate regularly to our local NHL and AHL team foundations as well as those in my hometown. Plenty of sports teams and athletes participate in charitable giving. My advice to you is to google your favorite team/athlete with the word charity to get started. For example, Google “Mario Lemieux Charity”. The first two results are for the Mario Lemieux Foundation. It is a very comprehensive website. Most of these sites will state somewhere in the text that they are a 501 (c)(3) organization.  If you cannot find that specific information, email the organization directly. If legitimate, they will answer you and provide the information to you. Research is your best tool. Research where the money goes. Again, if legitimate, there will be plenty of press, and perhaps testimonials from those that have been helped. Research, research, research.

I worked with the Texas Stars Foundation. I know exactly where the money goes. The team began operations in 2009 in Cedar Park, Texas. The foundation was formed in the summer of 2010 before the start of the second season. The organization has distributed over $800,000 during the 2010-16 seasons in cash donations to more than 500 different local nonprofits. The players, some as young as 18 or 19 years old, get very involved by making appearances at local school and hospitals. I have seen firsthand the dedication and support these players provide.

The NHL participates in Hockey Fights Cancer and has raised more than $20 million. P.K. Subban, formerly of the Montreal Canadiens and currently the Nashville Predators donated $10 million dollars to the local hospital in Montreal and continues his support despite being traded to a different team, in a different country. He has also become involved in local charities in Nashville.

Your favorite player may not have their own individual charity, but is most likely partnered with or acts as the face of an organization. Take the time to research and find the right fit. Any valid organization will provide you the details of the organization and the answers to your questions.

Also, keep in mind, many organizations are looking for volunteers, so check out that option!

I have listed some of my personal favorites below.

Texas Stars Foundation: http://www.texasstars.com/foundation

Dallas Stars Foundation: https://www.nhl.com/stars/community

Mario Lemieux Foundation: https://www.mariolemieux.org/

Andy Roddick Foundation: http://www.arfoundation.org/

Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation: http://pittsburghpenguinsfoundation.org/

Michael Phelps Foundation: http://michaelphelpsfoundation.org/

NHL Hockey Fights Cancer: https://www.nhl.com/community/hockey-fights-cancer

P.K. Subban Philanthropy: http://www.pksubban.com/philanthropy/

Pittsburgh Pirates Charities: http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/pit/community/charities.jsp

Jerome Bettis Foundation: http://thebusstopsherefoundation.org/