About the organization
The Fresh Air Fund's mission is for kids in low-income New York City neighborhoods to spend one or two weeks outside the city each summer, in the suburbs, small town or countryside. They arrange host families for over 4,000 kids annually. And I just learned they've been doing this since 1887! That's amazing.
Why does it appeal to me?
I love the mission of the Fresh Air Fund, to expose kids to a new environment and potentially create lasting relationships between the host family and the child. (65% of kids are invited back for a second summer at the same home). When I was a teenager, my family hosted a girl from New York through Fresh Air Fund. I remember being shocked that she had, at 10 years old, never been swimming before. It was a great way to expose us, not just her, to different lifestyles (urban vs suburban) as well as the different opportunities you might get if you were born into a different city or situation.
Want to learn more?
Visit the Fresh Air Fund.
Click here to donate.
Do you live on the east coast and are interested in hosting? Click here.
Follow along with my challenge here on the blog or on Twitter with the hash tag #30daysofcharity. New to the blog? Click here to learn more about my January charity challenge.
Want me to see if your favorite organization accepts microdonations, or want me to feature it? Post a comment below.
Showing posts with label urban. Show all posts
Showing posts with label urban. Show all posts
Friday, January 9, 2015
Monday, January 5, 2015
Day 5: Smart Growth America and a little primer on streets and pedestrian safety
About the organization
Smart Growth America is a coalition of dozens of economic, housing, transportation and housing organizations that works towards "making communities work for everyone." They tackle a large number of issues from improving rural transportation to revitalizing industrial areas. They've been one of the key players in getting "Complete Streets" implemented across the country as well as playing a role behind the scenes in DC, advocating for Federal laws that improve urban and rural quality of life.
Why does it appeal to me?
When we lived in DC I got to see first hand how hard Smart Growth America staff works to get better policies passed into law in Congress. But they also do really amazing work with local governments, advocating for bicyclists, pedestrians, kids, the elderly and disabled. These groups are called "vulnerable road users" because basically they weigh less than a car and are at risk for significant harm if they are hit by a car. If you're interested in why these users are so at risk, check out how street design can actually create danger for vulnerable users, and an in-depth discussion here about why, in many places, it's not illegal to kill a cyclist with your car. If your community has or is thinking of improving sidewalks, roadway designs, or bike lanes, chances are SGA influenced that decision.
Want to learn more?
To learn more about Smart Growth America, click here.
To donate, click here.
To check out Urbanful, the urban-focused blog and shop that features crafters in cities around the countries, click here.
Follow along with my challenge here on the blog or on Twitter with the hash tag #30daysofcharity. New to the blog and want to learn about the challenge? Click here.
Want me to see if your favorite organization accepts microdonations, or want me to feature it? Post a comment below.
Smart Growth America is a coalition of dozens of economic, housing, transportation and housing organizations that works towards "making communities work for everyone." They tackle a large number of issues from improving rural transportation to revitalizing industrial areas. They've been one of the key players in getting "Complete Streets" implemented across the country as well as playing a role behind the scenes in DC, advocating for Federal laws that improve urban and rural quality of life.
Why does it appeal to me?
When we lived in DC I got to see first hand how hard Smart Growth America staff works to get better policies passed into law in Congress. But they also do really amazing work with local governments, advocating for bicyclists, pedestrians, kids, the elderly and disabled. These groups are called "vulnerable road users" because basically they weigh less than a car and are at risk for significant harm if they are hit by a car. If you're interested in why these users are so at risk, check out how street design can actually create danger for vulnerable users, and an in-depth discussion here about why, in many places, it's not illegal to kill a cyclist with your car. If your community has or is thinking of improving sidewalks, roadway designs, or bike lanes, chances are SGA influenced that decision.
Want to learn more?
To learn more about Smart Growth America, click here.
To donate, click here.
To check out Urbanful, the urban-focused blog and shop that features crafters in cities around the countries, click here.
Follow along with my challenge here on the blog or on Twitter with the hash tag #30daysofcharity. New to the blog and want to learn about the challenge? Click here.
Want me to see if your favorite organization accepts microdonations, or want me to feature it? Post a comment below.
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