Give to the Max

Today is "Give to the Max" day in Minnesota, a terrific initiative led by GiveMN to encourage giving to your favorite causes and organizations. The biggest challenge about the day is seeing plugs to give to so many great organizations. It makes me think about how much fun it would be to be rich and give so much to so many. But did you know what on average, lower income people give a higher percentage of their incomes to charity than do rich people? You don't have to rich to give.

So this year I decided to contribute a little more to two organizations than a small amount to several. 

I chose the Minnesota Citizen's Council on Crime and Justice (CCJ). Here's why:

A message from CCJ's president Pamela Alexander:

Frederick Douglas said, “Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails. . . neither persons nor property will be safe.” While these words are more than 100 years old, they resonate against all the complexities of the 21st century American legal system. The Council on Crime and Justice stands as a bulwark at the crossroad of law and justice.We work to address the racial disparities in Minnesota's criminal justice system, improve school performance among at-risk students, and explore how restorative justice works within families where domestic abuse is present.

CCJ continues its comprehensive advocacy efforts to improve employment opportunities for people with criminal records, address the urgent and increasing need for victims’ services with particular focus on children exposed to domestic violence.  By helping to keep incarcerated fathers connected to their families and children CCJ can prepare these fathers for a successful release.  Our continuing legislative efforts focus on shaping the public and legislative debate on issues of import to both victims and offenders. Through these efforts and with your help we can demonstrate the value of action-oriented research, effective demonstration models and outcome based programs that make a positive difference in people's lives. You can help to make the difference between recidivism and reintegration, between childhood and child horrors, between a handout and a hand up. Your support is critical to the success of these programs and projects. Thank you for your interest, consideration and continued support.

In other words, a place that cares about and advocates for people most others could care less about: the disenfranchised and those who love them. Like my son. Like my family. To donate go here. 

I also chose the Minneapolis YWCA Early Childhood Programs. Here's why:

The YWCA of Minneapolis believes all children deserve a high quality early childhood education. This belief is backed with over 30 years of proven excellence and measurable results.

100% of YWCA preschoolers test ready for kindergarten surpassing the state average of 60%. And 96% of children, infant through kindergarten, are on-track with age appropriate development.

Last year the three urban YWCA Children’s Centers served:

• 435 children from 307 households

• 67% of families were low-income households

• 60% of all households are at or below poverty level

• 56% were single parent households, primarily lead by mothers

• 79% were children of color

(And they have cared for my grandchild since she was a toddler, providing safe, affordable, loving care, and the preschool program she needed to be ready for kindergarten this fall.)

To donate go here.