I give to the Southern Poverty Law Center and to Amnesty International. I think that before we can solve major problems like starvation, we need to get people to be better to one another. One way to do this is to prevent and squelch racism and other forms of discrimination.

Heifer, because they work to adress may of the major problems facing out world today and they try to help the impoversed by giving them a means of income and a job with the start of one livestock whereas many other charties simpley approach the needy with money when Heifer gives them a life. This company works by giving impoverised peoples various livestock (such as Heifers, Water Buffalo, Rabbits, Llamas, etc) and the recipiets pass on the offspring of the animals to other similarly disadvantaged people. http://www.heifer.org/

Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Very near and dear to me. It is something my mom (a breast cancer survivor) and I can support together. When my mom had breast cancer, when I was a teenager, I helped round up all the children of the women in her support group to form igts own support group--this was really helpful to those of us that had single moms and were fulfilling the role of caregiver. I support others, but this is a very important one for me.

Doctors Without Borders: Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an independent international medical humanitarian organization that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural or man-made disasters, or exclusion from health care in more than 70 countries. Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund: The Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund is made possible by contributions received from donors throughout the nation and the world in response to Hurricanes Katrina. The Fund was set up to provide grants for medium to long-term recovery needs in the affected areas. Autism National Committee: This is the only autism advocacy organization dedicated to "Social Justice for All Citizens with Autism" through a shared vision and a commitment to positive approaches. Our organization was founded in 1990 to protect and advance the human rights and civil rights of all persons with autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, and related differences of communication and behavior. In the face of social policies of devaluation, which are expressed in the practices of segregation, medicalization, and aversive conditioning, we assert that all individuals are created equal and endowed with certain inalienable rights, and that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

There are many great charities, some of which are mentioned here, such as Medicins Sans Frontieres. The main point is to choose a good one and support it to the best of your ability. I contribute to my church (which does great work locally and internationally), and support orphanages in Bali. As well, I give one offs to other good causes, In Australia, there is a site called Tribes and Nations, run by two former missionaries, which is attempting to help people in Africa and Asia by giving them an outlet and a fair price for their products. There is also Opportunity International, which funds 1 million small businesses a year in poor nations, through microloans. They were the first to do this, and are still the best. They also have outlets for products from these countries. International Friends of Compassion, located in Indonesia, are also a magnificent organisation, having worked in the Maluku Islands and North Sulawesi following the jihad that went through in the 90s and in Aceh after the tsunami (they were first on the ground), as well as in Central Java. Care International, World Vision, Medicins Sans Frontieres, TEAR Fund are all tried and true, well-run organisations making a difference. I said at the start, to choose one charity, but, it is good to choose two charities to support, one international and one local. With regards to the animal charities: it would be wise to support one human and one animal. Without improving the lot of poor humans, wildlife will be affected adversely. And resist the guilt factor whenever someone rings or stops you. WHen you have determined that you are seriously supporting all that you can, you can firmly and with a smile say "I appreciate what you are doing, but I am already supporting X and Y, and have allocated funds to them. I do hope and pray that you can find others who are as yet uncommitted, to support you." My motto: I cannot change the world, but I can make a difference in a small part of it. cheers

Yes i give to charity. I particularly support Children's Hospital, because i think that there is no greater cause than helping children to have better lives, and to live.

I support charities that have low administrative costs. If I am going to donate my money I want to know that a large majority of the donation is going to help the people they claim to be helping.