St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Founded by Danny Thomas, the mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. No child served through St. Jude is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family's ability to pay. St. Jude seeks to cure and enhance the quality of life for an increasing proportion of children who come to us for treatment, and by expanding and sharing knowledge, to advance treatment of children with catastrophic diseases worldwide, while developing strategies to prevent catastrophic diseases in children. For more information visit their website at www.stjude.org.
Share Our Strength
Share Our Strength
Share Our Strength supports food banks and emergency-relief organizations, and works to address hunger's root causes. It teaches low-income families about nutrition and budgeting, helps enroll poor children in federal nutrition programs, and funds groups that teach job and life skills to impoverished families. For more information about Share Our Strength visit their website at www.strength.org.
Operation Smile
Operation Smile
Operation Smile is a nonprofit organization that mobilizes a world of generous hearts to heal children's smiles and transform lives across the globe. They believe that all children deserve to live their lives with dignity. For those suffering from cleft lip, cleft palate or other facial deformities, dignity begins with a smile. Operation Smile works worldwide to repair childhood facial deformities by delivering safe, effective surgical care directly to patients. For more information about Operation Smile visit their website at www.operationsmile.org.
World Vision
World Vision
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. Motivated by their faith in Jesus Christ, World Vision volunteers and staff serve nearly 1 million people in 100 offices around the world working alongside the poor and oppressed. Their efforts include: providing for daily needs, working to build peace and promote justice, and partnering with churches and individuals to encourage spiritual transformation. For more information about World Vision visit their website at www.worldvision.org.
Speedway Children’s Charities
Speedway Children’s Charities
Founded in 1982 by Bruton Smith, Chairman of Speedway Motorsports and Sonic Automotive as a memoriam and legacy to his son who passed away at a very young age, Speedway Children’s Charities is a nonprofit organization that provides funding for hundreds of nonprofits throughout the nation that meet the direct needs of children. The mission of Speedway Children’s Charities is to care for children in educational, financial, social and medical need allowing them to lead productive lives. Their desire is that every child has the same opportunities no matter what obstacles they are facing. For more information about Speedway Children’s Charities visit their website at www.speedwaycharities.org.
Ronald McDonald House Charities
Ronald McDonald House Charities
The mission of Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) is to create, find and support programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children. RMHC makes an immediate, positive impact on children’s lives through their global network of Chapters in 54 countries and regions and through our three core programs: Ronald McDonald House, Ronald McDonald Family Room and Ronald McDonald Care Mobile. RMHC believes that when you change a child’s life, you change a family’s, which can change a community, and ultimately the world. For more information visit www.rmch.org .
Camp Kesem
Camp Kesem
Camp Kesem is a college student run summer camp for kids with a parent who has (or has had) cancer. Their one-week sleep away camps are a chance for kids ages 6-13 to have a fun-filled week and just be kids. Everything they do at Camp Kesem focuses on their goal of giving campers the most fun week possible, while providing the extra support and attention that they need. Learn more about their program at www.campkesem.org .
Compassion International
Compassion International
Founded by the Reverend Everett Swanson in 1953, Compassion International began providing Korean War orphans with food, shelter, education, health care and Christian training. Today, CI exists as a Christian child advocacy ministry that releases children from spiritual, economic, social and physical poverty and enables them to become responsible, fulfilled Christian adults. Services are now provided to more than 1.2 million children in 26 countries around the world through four programs: the Child Sponsorship Program, the Child Survival Program, the Leadership Development Program and Complementary Interventions. For more information on Compassion International visit their website at www.compassion.com.
The Make-a-Wish-Foundation
The Make-a-Wish-Foundation
The Make-A-Wish Foundation was founded in 1980 after a little boy named Chris Greicius realized his heartfelt wish to become a police officer. Since its beginning, the organization has blossomed into a worldwide phenomenon, reaching more than 250,000 children around the world. It is through a network of nearly 25,000 dedicated volunteers the Make-A-Wish Foundation is able to serve children with life-threatening medical conditions. Volunteers serve as wish granters, fundraisers, special events assistants and in numerous other capacities. Since 1980, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has given hope, strength and joy to children with life-threatening medical conditions now granting wishes in the United States, every 40 minutes. For more information visit their website at www.wish.org.
UNICEF
UNICEF
With a presence in more than 150 countries worldwide, UNICEF is one of the largest international humanitarian organizations in the world. Focusing on health care, immunizations, clean water, nutrition, education, and emergency relief to children across the globe, UNICEF’s goal is to eliminate childhood deaths from preventable causes. Despite extraordinary progress, 21,000 children still die each day and for that reason, UNICEF continues in their mission to do whatever it takes to make that number zero by giving children the essentials for a safe and healthy childhood. For more information on this organization visit their website at www.unicefusa.org.
