Donation #3 - Education

Recently I've had a dilemma of trying to keep up with this while on vacation. It's been difficult to be able to scrounge some time between the hours of traveling, and exploring various places. But while on vacation, I finally figured something that struck a chord with me.

Education.

I feel the more educated we become in all areas the more enriching life becomes, and the more we can make logical decisions. That steps in knowledge benefits ourselves and humanity as a whole. That the more we know, the more the world will benefit.

Education is a major life lesson here in the U.S. When I was a child I remember everyday groaning about how I never wanted to go to school. How I hated it, how I hated learning, and grades and teachers and lunches. How I hated everything about it. As an adult I regret never taking my education seriously, even when I was in college. Then it occurred to me.

There are children around the world who don't have the free education that we have. Who don't have the privilege of a free public education. Children who love to learn, who want to learn, who want more from life. But can't attend because of circumstance, and because of this children aren't given the education that they sorely need.

So in this, children are the future of our world, our economy, and our relations to the rest of the world. With education we can open many doors, and that are otherwise shut. With it we fulfill life, and ourselves.

After much debate I finally came down to a group that I feel is making strides in education to impoverished areas of the world.

Room to Read:

They are a diverse team of people working in several countries to ensure that education is had by all. They are a completely transparent group, with links to their Financials and winners for the Charity Navigator's 4 star rating for 7 years in a row.

Room to Read started back in 1998 when a Microsoft Exec named John Wood came across the harsh reality faced by many children around the world. After experiencing this and seeing the lack of books available John and friends started collecting children's books. Within two months they collected over 3,000 books. The following year John and his father returned to the village that he visited with eight book bearing donkeys. In 1999 he quit his job with Microsoft and started Room to Read.

Their mission is simple:

To work with communities and local governments across Asia and Africa to develop literacy and a habit of reading among primary school children, and support girls to complete secondary school with the life skills they'll need to succeed in school and beyond.

They're main focuses are on literacy and gender equality. Why you may ask gender equality? Well the program explains it as such.

Of all the 793 million people across the globe that lack the ability to read and write two-thirds of them are female, and over 90% live in developing countries. Educating girls and women is widely acknowledged as an effective way to address global poverty. If a woman finishes secondary school she will earn more money, have smaller, healthier families and more likely to educate their own children. Thus breaking the cycle of illiteracy in one generation.

Also females are less likely to attend school vs their male counterparts in developing countries. Hence, gender equality.

But Room to Read doesn't just boast about literacy for females. They boast on providing child-friendly books published by local authors, or books written in local language. Helping to unite communities together in the construction of schools and libraries.

So far Room to Read has established:

15,320 - Libraries
1,681 - Schools
13,387,051 - Books
887 - Published Books
22,408 - Girls' Education Participants
7.8 Million children benefitted

They continue to strive with Monitoring and Evaluation, Working with Partners, and Looking Ahead to try to help end world poverty with education.

They are working in many places including:

Bangladesh
Cambodia
India
Laos
Nepal
Sri Lanka
South Africa
Tanzania
Vietnam
Zambia


There are many ways you Can Help.

You can Start a Campaign.
Join your Local Chapter (Seattleites go Here.)
You can Sponsor a Project
Support Students Helping Students
Attend Events
Or even Donate ( Any amount will do)

For this group I donated 50$ in hopes that someday people will see how important education is to the future of our world.

You can match my donation here or donate any amount you see fit.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Room to Read and hope they continue on with their wonderful work.

If you wish to learn more about them Here's their website.

To the rest of the world, let's give these kids a head start.

<3 - Amanda

Donation #2 - Spike

So far in my research and adventures it's been abit overwhelming looking at all the non profits that need help. I've been going over each place and making my own personal connection with each of these places. Which then leads me to the decision of who I am donating to.

There are several things that I know right off the bat that I would throw money at.

1. Children, especially those abused and abandoned.
2. Animals, with the same circumstance as above and also endangered ones.
3. Basic necessities, clean water, clothes, food. Things we take for granted here sometimes.
4. Women, ones trying to better their lives, and ones escaping abuse.
5. Education, because the world is better when you have an educated mind and heart.
6. Veterans, some fought and died for this country. I feel it's the least I can do.

So these are usually what I have the mind to donate to. Things that I feel passionate about and that I feel deserve the money. But I had to make another personal connection to all of these things, so I went digging through my past.

When I lived in Oak Harbor I had a cat, an orange Maine Coon by the name of Spike. He was with me through thick and thin, the good and the bad. Through all the times I moved, loved and was heart broken he was there. I remember telling him once, "Spike, out of all the men in my life you're the only one who's never left me." But he did because of my selfishness.

I let the one thing that loved me regardless of how my day went, or how sad I was go. I let that single love leave me for another that wasn't anywhere as deep felt and connected as I was with Spike. To this day I regret it horribly, and miss him every time I think of his purr next to my ear.

In my mind and in my heart I know Spike was a little tiger. He'd meow outside my door at night and demand I let him sleep in my bed with me. He had all those little markings on his face, loved to hunt and stalk around my  apartment and sit at my table with me when I ate dinner. So these donations, are in honor of my lost love, and best friend for over 3 years Spike.

Through Razoo I was able to find many big cat organizations that needed donations, and only a few caught my eye. So, here are the places that I donated to.

The first place that I donated to was The Wildcat Sanctuary, a Wildcat sanctuary located in MN. This group provides a permanent and final home to over 125 wildcats. Everything from bobcats, to Tigers are provided with large free roaming habitats equipped with pools, dens and perches. This group is giving their inhabitants something that so few have ever had, free space to roam. Ensuring that each cat lives a happy, stress free life in their permanent home.

Aside from placing animals in their sanctuary they also assist in immobilizing, transporting, housing and veterinary care of illegally owned Wildcats. They also facilitate rescues across states, and transport to reputable sanctuaries. They generate statewide public education and awareness, educating the public on safety regarding wildlife and why big cats aren't appropriate pets.

The Wildcat Sanctuary has a number of goals, like:

- Provide a safe solution for the public and a humane alternative for the residents.
- Provide free-roaming and natural habitats to the wildcats in our care.
- Minimize the number of dangerous, wild animals kept as pets through education, legislation and rescue.
- Provide a sanctuary in Minnesota that can provide more services to the state and surrounding areas through increased capacity, education center and training opportunities for future large animal veterinaries.

These goals I feel are admirable, especially for a non-profit that isn't open to the public. Unlike most sanctuaries where you can see the animals up close and personal. TWS feels that these animals have experienced enough in their lives (Read about the residents Here) and that to ensure they live stress free and happy they should be exposed to minimal amounts of people.

But if you love big cats, small cats, hybrids, and domestics then The Wildcat Sanctuary is the place for you.

How can you help:

- You can Donate any amount you see fit, and look at the many donation types available.
- You can donate to a specific Program of your choice. Each program ranges in price.
- You can Sponsor a Wild One. Starts at 150$ to 600$ to sponsor a specific cat.
- If you live in MN You can Volunteer.
- Don't patron traveling 'zoos' where photos with cubs are allowed and research animal exhibits to ensure they don't breed, buy or trade animals.



For this company I donated 25$ to the 'In memory' section of donations. I dedicated my donation to Spike, where ever he may be..




The next company that I donated to is Safe Haven Rescue Zoo located in Imlay, NV. They are a sprawling 160+ acre area that has a number of animals that call it home. There are foxes, tigers, coyotes, lions, and cougars; a whole smorgasbord if you will of animals.

They provide many kinds of services in the Nevada area. They are a rehabilitation program for animals eligible to be released back into the wild.  They have an educational outreach program, with a number of presentations available on-site and off-site for students, adults and students in under-served communities. This programs reaches across four counties with over 15,000 students engaged.

Safe Haven is also looking to expand from their current 160 acres to 320 acres, providing more homes for more animals.

Safe Haven's mission is simple:

- Provide lifelong care for as many animals as we can accommodate, decreasing the number that are euthanized in the U.S. each year simply because there is insufficient space in sanctuaries such as ours.
- To rescue and rehabilitate indigenous wildlife .
- To provide education and outreach services to youth groups, adult groups, and schools in under-served communities.
- To develop a 'green' solar-powered facility that makes environmentally-responsible use of energy and other resources.

These goals are good, especially for so many animals that lose their homes due to urban expansion. Safe Haven provides these animals with a permanent home, and all the enrichment they could ever need. To allow them to live a long and happy life.

If you love animals of all kinds, and wish to see a place expand to allow more of these creatures to live happily then Safe Haven is the best means.

How you can help:

- You can 'adopt' an animal. Each animal is an annual fee starting at 25$.
- You can Donate any amount that you see fit.
- And if you live in NV you can Volunteer.

For this company I donated 25$ in their Donation section. Because I love tigers and I hope to see this group expand further to 320 acres.

I donated a total of 50$ to both organizations, if you wish to match my donation, or make any donation to Wildcat Sanctuary, donate here. If you with to make a donation to Safe Haven, donation link is here. Both these organizations are good causes to donate to for any animal lover.

If you have any questions, comments, concerns feel free to send a message or leave a comment below.

So much loves and misses for my beloved Spike. As well as much love to all the Tigers and wildcats out there. I hope someday we can all live to see these wonderful creatures in full stride.

- Amanda

My First Donation.

While sitting in this apartment looking at the lightning outside I'm in a state of wonder to the whole world. Seattle has been getting wonderful weather compared to the other states and It's surprising all of the locals.

Even though life has been peachy all around. I have been wrestling with the conundrum of who I'd make my first donation to. I spent almost a week researching places and looking at non profits and what they support. In the long run I had decided that I wanted to help animals.

Animals have been apart of my life for along time. I loved cats, dogs, pigs, chickens, and deeply feared horses. Still to this day I fear being behind them, or near them, or on them. But doesn't mean I don't respect, love or be willing to support them. But after mulling this over I narrowed the idea down even further to a recent event.

I went to the zoo for the first time in my life.

Age 24 and this was my first time at a zoo, a wonderful and life altering experience.

It narrowed down my field to one thing. Wolves.

I scoured through Razoo ( A wonderful online fundraising site.) In hopes of finding a Wolf Sanctuary. These were what I found.

Wolf Haven International - A local Washington based Wolf Sanctuary in Tenino, WA. A few hours south of Seattle, this group's mission plan is this.

- Providing sanctuary for captive-born wolves.
- Educating the value of all wildlife.
- Promoting wolf restoration.
- Protecting our remaining wild wolves and their habitat.

They have aided in the recovery of the Mexican Wolf population. Being only One of Three pre-release breeding facilities. This is a group that I'm very much behind. In my life I've come across Coyotes, Bears and even heard of a Cougar or two in my area up North. But I've learned from this group is that support is needed, Wolves should be respected, and they ARE necessary.

The ways you can help Wolf Haven:

- You can Become a member with memberships starting at 35$.
- Adopt a wolf at 25$ or more.
- Volunteer.
- Or you can Donate any amount you see fit.

With this company I donated 25$, which covers preventative medicines for a wolf. If you wish to match my donation or just make one, hit the donate button above.

The second group that I donated to:

The International Wolf Center an education based group, IWC's mission is to:

- Advance the survival of wolf populations by; teaching about wolves.
- Their relationship to the wildlands.
- And the human role in their future.

This group's main focus is on education, with programs like Wolfology, Wolf speak and learning about the relationship between wolves and deer in "Oh deer." This group has wolves in the exhibit that are used as learning tools and ambassadors to us. With a large viewing area people are able to watch the wolves interact while learning about biology and adaptations.

If you wish to help International Wolf Center:

- Become a member These start at 15$ just for a magazine subscription.
- You can Volunteer (If you live in MN)
- Or you can Donate any amount that you see fit.

With the IWC I donated 15$, enough to provide 3 beaver carcasses for the wolves in retirement. Again if you wish to donate to the IWC feel free to hit the donate button above.

After much debate, much muddling, and much milling about I finally got around to supporting a local non profit. As well as another one several states over.

So far it has felt good to be donating. To give something back to the world and to see it slowly come to fruition. I hope to continue my pattern of donations, and will be taking this time to research another Non profit.

I hope this has been insightful as it has been for me.

Much <3 for the Wolves.

- Amanda.

Introduction

Hi, my name is Amanda Watts, and this is my blog.

Whether you're stumbled upon here by accident or you've gained interest in what I have to say, all I have to say is thank you for your time.

So, let's get down to the important bits; who I am. As I said before my name is Amanda Watts, I'm a 24 year old living in Seattle and have no real direction in life. Like most 24 year old's I feel I have an opinion, like most Seattleites I will put those opinions online. But these opinions aren't for attention, or for me to sell you something. These opinions are what this blog is based upon; Donations.

These donations don't go to me. Not in the slightest, I feel in my life that there has been an inequality between all the good and all the bad that I've done. This blog is to help remedy the good, and to bring into light and attention the great kinds of non profits out there that need YOUR help. Whether it means volunteering or just donating alittle money, in the end all I ask is you look at these places yourself.I will provide a link to each place and let you know what their mission is and what they support. I will try to donate any means per paycheck towards a specific cause and then put my findings and amounts on here. If you feel like you're up for it and wish to match my donation then by all means. If you wish to only read about my findings and hear about the things I'm supporting then equally supportive.

What I hope to accomplish here is just people having an open mind and empathy towards the things I support. I want people to ask questions, to think for themselves and hopefully find something they care about.

So while we're at it I'll give you an easy introduction:

- My name is Amanda.
- I'm 24 years old.
- Classic Gemini.
- Tomboy.
- Iffy on dresses.
- Favorite color's Blue.
- And I LOVE Pandas.
- And I LOVE Spaghetti.