Category: Uncategorized

5 Educational Charities to Support

On February 17, 2021

In Blog, James Lustig, Jimmy Lustig, Philanthropy, Uncategorized

Children are the future. They will grow up to be the innovators of society. It is important we properly invest in their education to become members of an informed population.

We’ve compiled a list of 5 educational charities that commit themselves to help better children worldwide.

Pebbles Project

The Pebbles Project assists disadvantaged children in the West Cape of South Africa. Their website boasts that their primary focus is education, health, nutrition, community, and protection.
Support for this charity helps pregnant mothers and goes well into taking care of the children until they enter the workforce, prepping them for success.

Lightyear Foundation

This charity places heavy emphasis on teaching and educating children on STEM wonders in the United Kingdom. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
The Lightyear Foundation emphasizes children with disabilities. Many of their programs and activities cater to the disabled. The Lightyear Foundation encourages them to consider STEM as a career path.

Mobile Education Partnerships

Mobile Education Partnerships, or MEP, is a charity based out of Myanmar. Many of the displaced communities in South East Asia rely on their support. MEP produces textbooks, trains teachers, and runs many projects to bring education to children in refugee camps and other war-torn areas.

The Turing Trust

Focused in Africa, the Turing Trust is a charity that teaches information technology to students in the countries of Ghana and Malawi. Their educational efforts have successfully reached over 55,000 students. They have also provided over 5,700 computers across many African classrooms.
Their efforts also target teachers to enable them to incorporate technology in their lessons as a teaching aid.
Recently, this charity has also extended its efforts into the United Kingdom to support students living through the pandemic with laptops.

Life Skills Educational Charity

The Life Skills Educational Charity is out of the United Kingdom. Their objective is to help children become socially conscious and aware of knife crimes, drugs, and the practice of cyberbullying.
Studies conducted by Nottingham University show that children who go through the program are more likely to seek help. They also yielded greater results in communication and listening compared to other control groups.

Conclusion

Children are a wonderful investment, and these fantastic organizations are working hard to enrichen young lives across the globe.

Robert Downey Jr.’s Latest Philanthropic Investment

By Jimmy Lustig

On February 17, 2021

In Blog, James Lustig, Jimmy Lustig, Philanthropy, Uncategorized

Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr. has been covertly making headways into the world of environmental research the last few years. In 2019, Downey Jr. founded the Footprint Coalition, an organization geared toward supporting scientific research and sustainability technologies. Earlier this week, Downey Jr. revealed a new arm of the Footprint Coalition at the Davos Agenda of the World Economic Forum: Footprint Coalition Ventures. Downey Jr. explains that Footprint Coalition Ventures will be the investment branch of the organization and that its mission will be seeking out and supporting companies that research sustainability.

Downey Jr. went into further detail on the goals of Footprint Coalition Ventures in an interview with reporters from Fast Company. Downey Jr. explains that creating Footprint Coalition Ventures will put the Footprint Coalition in a better position to help answer vital sustainability questions. Continuing, Downey Jr. says that Footprint Coalition Ventures have two types of funds, one for preliminary investments and the other for subsequent investment opportunities. Furthermore, the company follows a rolling fund investment schedule. In this manner, investors will be able transfer funds to companies on a quarterly basis, making Footprint Coalition Ventures more accessible to different kinds of investors. Downey Jr. adds that such a schedule opens the company to as wide a pool of investors as possible.

Footprint Coalition Ventures focuses on funding companies that research in six areas, including food and agriculture, energy, education, and advanced environmental solutions. Thus far, five companies, including Arcadia Earth and Cloud Paper, have received funds from Footprint Coalition Ventures.

Looking to the future, Downey Jr. says that he plans on using his status as a celebrity to raise awareness on the Footprint Coalition and sustainability ventures in general. While many other celebrities who are involved in similar organizations tend to keep a low public profile, Downey Jr. feels that it is his responsibility to use his platform to influence others. Jonathan Schulhof, who runs the day-to-day business of Footprint Coalition Ventures, points out that the company has used a YouTube video of Downey Jr. detailing the differences between plastic and polyhydroxyalkanoate, a new type of sustainable polymer invented by RWDC Industries, to help woo investors. Schulhof continues that such content can inspire audiences by making something extraordinary seem commonplace.

Five Great Books About Philanthropy in 2020

By Jimmy Lustig

On December 15, 2020

In Blog, James Lustig, Jimmy Lustig, Philanthropy, Uncategorized

With so many options out there, how – and why – should people consider giving? The five books below provide many answers to these and other questions, making for fascinating reading, both inspirational and impactful.

One of the best guides to the giving process is the traditional Inspired Philanthropy: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Giving Plan and Leaving a Legacy, by Tracy Gary. Efficient covers everything from the basics of plan making, working with advisors, the right questions to ask non-profits, and much more. The inclusion of worksheets, resource lists, and descriptions of planning tools is beneficial.

The Promise of a Pencil, by Adam Braun, tells the story of how one man’s actions impacted thousands of lives globally. After encountering a begging child and starting with only $25, Braun built an organization that has helped build over 250 schools worldwide. Inspirational and uplifting, if ever there was an argument for the power of giving, this is it.

In The Soul of Money: Reclaiming the Wealth of Our Inner Resources, Lynne Twist offers positive proof that changing our attitudes towards earning and spending money can make our lives more meaningful and fulfilling. Challenging everyday assumptions about society’s views of money, the author illustrates her journey from conspicuous consumer to non-profit activist in an honest, no-punches-pulled way.

Sharna Goldseker and Michael Moody bring a fresh perspective in Generation Impact: How Next Gen Donors Are Revolutionizing Giving. Moving between first-hand accounts and analysis of a new class of doner’s work, the book shows the impact of young rising stars of philanthropy in disrupting traditional giving models and creating entirely fresh approaches to the field.

Another disruptive approach to giving is Impact Investing: Transforming How We Make Money While Making a Difference by Antony Bugg-Levine and Jed Emerson. The new field of impact investing is thoroughly explained, showing how it’s possible to “blend” investment success with positive change.

This year, perhaps more than in most, it’s essential to consider how a charitable contribution can positively impact peoples’ lives. The wisdom and practical advice that abound in the five volumes discussed will hopefully inspire and energize in equal measure.

How to Help Others During Natural Disasters

By Jimmy Lustig

On December 15, 2020

In Blog, James Lustig, Jimmy Lustig, Philanthropy, Uncategorized

Natural disasters happen around the world over and over again. Natural disasters, such as tsunamis, hurricanes, tornados, and earthquakes, leave people, land, businesses, and animals completely devastated. You may be wondering just what you can do to help people who are dealing with the aftereffects of a natural disaster. While you may not be able to fly overseas and help one-on-one physically, you can help through several charities and organizations. Read on to learn more.

Help with safe water and sanitation needs.

You can donate to a company known as Oxfam to help people receive safe water and sanitation services. For example, Hurricane Irma destroyed crops and homes throughout Haiti and the Dominican Republic, leaving many people without clean water. When you donate to Oxfam, you are helping people get the clean water they so desperately need as well as access to basic sanitation.

Look for a Go Fund Me campaign.

We all can’t jump on the next airplane to help people in need, but you can donate to many charities that will make sure your money is well spent! Fund Me is an excellent online crowdfunding group that has raised money for hundreds of national disasters. Jump on and search for the natural disaster you are looking for. You will see organizations that will welcome your help.

Donate your blood

Donating blood is a simple yet effective way to help people who have been victims of natural disasters. All blood types are always needed, but there is currently an urgent need for O negative blood and platelet donations. Check the Red Cross website to find a location near you. You may also want to check with One Blood to learn how Hurricane Irma has impacted Florida’s blood supply and what you can do to help.

Donate time and energy

If you want to be hands-on, then you will like to donate your own time to help after a natural disaster. United Way Miami is an organization that is now accepting new volunteer applications. Hop on their website and fill out their form. Even if you can’t help right now, United Way will keep your application on file and may call you for help in the future.