March 2012 Featured Charity: Bottom Line

My mother worked so hard to ensure my five sisters and I attended college. She knew that obtaining a college degree would be an important step in our careers and improve our placement in life. Taking a cue from my mother’s wisdom, I believe in the power of education to improve our future. This is one of motivating factors for much of my philanthropic work, from the literacy programs at 826CHI and Literacy Works, to the school building and scholarship programs of Foundation Escalera to this month’s feautured charity Bottom Line, you can begin to see a pattern in my giving. Education is power.

This month marks the 12th featured charity of the Living Philanthropic Year 2, at the end of this month it will mark 2 years of Living Philanthropic, which begs the question what shall we do for Year 3?

Bottom Line is dedicated to helping disadvantaged students get in to college, graduate from college, and go far in life. They achieve this mission by providing low-income and first-generation students with one-on-one guidance through the application process and during college. Since 1997, 74% of Bottom Line college students have graduated within 6 years. Currently, Bottom Line is providing mentoring and support to more than 1,900 students from our offices in Boston, MA; Worcester, MA; and New York City, NY.

Please join Team Living Philanthropic with a contribution and help us meet the $1,000 match from LiveNation, please visit: http://www.crowdrise.com/lp-mar12

Want to be a guest blogger on Living Philanthropic?
Join the team and donate on this page & submit your blog post about why you made a contribution here: http://bit.ly/lp-blogger

Living Philanthropic was founded in April 2010 as one man’s mission to give to charity everyday for a year. This mission is built on a belief that you don’t have to be rich in dollars to make a difference; you only need to be rich in spirit. After completing his 365 day mission, the spirit of giving everyday carries on through his friends and in his mission to continue his micro-philanthropy for a second year. For more information, please visit: www.livingphilanthropic.com

Day 120: Children Uniting Nations

Friday. Payday. It comes and goes every 2 weeks, I’m blessed to be so fortunate. After paying off some bills, I had a few extra dollars so I thought I would make a bigger donation today. It’s time for back to school, so I wanted to support another great mentoring organization targeting at-risk and foster youth and hopefully help a kid to get this school year off to a good start. So, I today I am showing my support for Children Uniting Nations.

Children Uniting Nations is a proactive non-profit organization created to bring attention to the plight of at-risk and foster youth. Their goal is to reach as many children in out-of-home care by offering role-model support, guidance, a sense of community and promoting the importance of an education.  They match participants with highly trained mentors that are compassionate, steadfast and have an unconditional desire to give of themselves in order to make a positive difference in the lives of their most vulnerable children.

Pioneered in Los Angeles in 1999 by their Founder and Chair, Daphna Ziman, their mission is to create loving, tolerant, and capable world citizens and they are dedicated to help children find their way to fulfill their dreams.  Sadly, children are the main victims of adult difficulties-whether it’s financial or political problems, war, lack of education, malnutrition, or carelessness. We must break the cycle and help EVERY child find a way out of cruelty, neglect and anger and strengthen our leaders of the next generations.  We have the ability to make the change now and create compassionate and loving children for the future.

Children Uniting Nations provides two types of local mentoring programs to at-risk and foster youth: a School Based Program and a Community Based Program.  They work closely with local foster agencies, foster families, teachers, counselors, and Extended Learning (ELA) staff to assess students’ levels of academic achievement and self-esteem and to develop individual mentoring plans with specific goals.

Amount Donated: $25 (pays for one backpack of school supplies for one child)

To support Children Uniting Nations, please visit: http://www.childrenunitingnations.org