Humanitarian supplies collected by the Red Cross and General Consulate of Chile in Hamburg lands in Chile at 10:30 p.m., March 9; LAN Airlines facilitates local logistics in Santiago In response to the devastating earthquake that struck Chile February 27, Airbus coordinated with Brazilian-based TAM Airlines and Chilean-based LAN Airlines to send three tons of aid to Santiago. The TAM A319 ferry flight filled with humanitarian supplies landed in Sao Paulo on March 9. TAM then transferred the aid to a Santiago-bound A320 flight. Over the weekend, an Airbus team in Hamburg loaded TAM’s A319 ferry flight with hygienic supplies, blankets and plastic water canisters (for storing and transporting fresh water) collected by the Red Cross and ... Read More

African art and decor has been quickly rising in popularity in the last few years, with many homeowners and renters alike choosing to adorn their walls with African masks, African art paintings and African tribal art. Authentic African art made from local artists in Africa can be found online, but how can buyers be sure these artists are being compensated fairly? Global African Art, a leading African art and crafts dealer, is helping to combat poverty in Africa by ensuring all of the artists in their network are paid above and beyond their asking price. “Artists in Africa are often taken advantage of because they are in such dire need of money, and art dealers know that. These dealers offer to buy art at well below the ... Read More

Now in its fourth year, the UNICEF Tap Project, a grassroots initiative from the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, returns to cities nationwide during World Water Week 2010 (March 21-27). The UNICEF Tap Project invites individuals to donate $1 or more for tap water at participating restaurants or online at tapproject.org to provide clean water to children around the world. Musician/entrepreneur and social philanthropist Pete Wentz will serve as this year’s campaign spokesperson. Wentz will be the face and voice of the campaign, offering his support to raise awareness of the global water crisis and its impact on children. Since its inception in 2007, the UNICEF Tap Project has raised nearly $1.5 million in the U.S. to help provide clean water ... Read More

A first-ever IASP Facebook Fan-Raising Weekend will be held on March 13th and 14th, 2010. The purpose of this event is to honour the achievements of this esteemed organization and to increase suicide prevention awareness locally and worldwide. On the weekend of March 13th and 14th, participants will use the official 50th IASP image as their personal Facebook profile image and will also encourage their friends to become IASP Facebook Fans. The goal of this event is to tap into the 300 million active Facebook users and to encourage .00016% or 50,000 fans to support the work of the IASP. Each year as many as 1,000,000 people are estimated to die by suicide across the globe; many, many more make nonfatal attempts. We cannot underestimate ... Read More

Russo and Steele’s 10th Anniversary Charity Gala, held on January 20th, 2010, raised over $150,000 in support of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona. The sold out event’s layout was dramatically altered with a hip new lounge theme that created the most dynamic environment ever seen at a charity gala. Tim Reister, Chairman of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona board, described the night as an “exquisite evening that resulted in helping us provide life-changing mentors for more children in Arizona. We are so appreciative of Drew and Josephine Alcazar for including Big Brothers Big Sisters as the beneficiary of Russo & Steele’s Gala.” The Groove Merchants music kept the dance floor filled, while ... Read More

Sir Elton John and David Furnish hosted the 18th Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) Academy Awards® Viewing Party and raised $3.7 Million for the fight against AIDS. Presented by Chopard, Jo and Raffy Manoukian and Neuro Drinks, the EJAF Viewing Party continues to be the leading fundraiser on Oscar night in Hollywood. The evening began with a cocktail reception, dinner and viewing of the 82nd Annual Academy Awards, followed by a very exciting live auction and high voltage performance by the iconic Grace Jones. Throughout its 18 years, the event has hosted some of the biggest stars in film, television and music. This year was no exception with celebrities such as Adam Levine, Alan Cumming, Allison Iraheta (American Idol), Apolo Ohno, ... Read More

Christian aid organization World Vision today opened a new children’s center in Dichato, Chile, which was devastated by last week’s deadly earthquake and tsunamis. The children’s centers, called Child-Friendly-Spaces, are areas set up in tents, schools, churches and other structures where children can enjoy activities such as arts, crafts, music and drama, which provide them with some of the structure and safety that they lose following disasters. In addition, there are opportunities for them to talk to peers and psychologists to begin emotional healing after their frightening experiences. “I get scared at night,” said 7-year-old Millaray. “At night I dream only bad things,” said 10-year-old ... Read More

March is National Red Cross month, National Irish-Heritage Month, National Nutrition Month and National Noodle but what women around the world are celebrating is the 30th anniversary of National Women’s History Month. In 1980, National Women’s History Project was founded in Santa Rosa, California by Molly Murphy MacGregor, Mary Ruthsdotter, Maria Cuevas, Paula Hammett and Bette Morgan to broadcast women’s historical achievements. The NWHP started by leading a coalition that successfully lobbied Congress to designate March as National Women’s History Month, now celebrated across the land. Today, the NWHP is known nationally as the only clearinghouse providing information and training in multicultural women’s ... Read More

The Riverside Humane Society Pet Adoption Center is now the Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center. Teresa Rhyne, a director of the Center, made the announcement to more than 100 supporters attending a reception honoring the family of Duane Roberts held at the Historic Mission Inn in Riverside. Mary S. Roberts was the mother of Duane Roberts, owner of the Historic Mission Inn and also a food company and real estate businessman, and philanthropist. The Riverside Humane Society was established in 1897. In 1995 it was renamed the Riverside Humane Society Pet Adoption Center when the organization turned over all animal-control services to the Riverside County Dept. of Animal Services. The Pet Adoption Center will remain a non-profit 501 (c)(3) ... Read More

NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) recently celebrated the third anniversary of the NAMI Connection Recovery Support Group, a free support group for adults living with mental illness. NAMI offers nearly 500 Connection support groups in 45 states. NAMI Connection support groups meet weekly for 90 minutes and are led by peer facilitators who are experienced in living well with mental illness. Connection participants meet across the country in casual, but confidential groups to discuss their personal challenges with recovery, share coping strategies and offer one another support and understanding. “We know that the current economic crisis has taken a toll on the mental health of Americans and NAMI is here to help,” ... Read More

The top thirty “thon” fundraising programs generated more than $1.62 billion in gross revenue for charity last year, down from $1.76 billion in 2008, the council™s fourth annual “Run Walk Ride Thirty” study reports. The collective $133.9 million drop was the first overall decrease in revenue ever recorded by the company, which held its annual conference in Dallas today. “Getting people to take part in fundraising runs, walks and rides was not a major problem in 2009, but many participants found it more difficult to raise as much as they had in the past,” said RWRFC president David Hessekiel. “Due to the economic downturn many people had to reduce the amount they gave to friends or colleagues ... Read More

The Getty Conservation Institute (GCI) and the Disney Animation Research Library (ARL) are teaming up in an effort to better understand deterioration that can occur in plastics, a material increasingly used by artists over the last fifty to sixty years. The collaboration is being undertaken as part of a long-term project already underway at the GCI to develop conservation strategies for objects made with plastics. Plastics research is one of the key components in the GCI’s major initiative into the conservation issues of modern and contemporary art. “Knowledge of how best to treat and stabilize artwork containing plastic is relatively new territory for the conservation profession,” said Tom Learner, GCI senior scientist. “The ... Read More

The Caffeine Awareness Association, a non-profit organization, has created a new website that addresses the concerns and issues regarding caffeine addiction. The website is where visitors can share their experience, hope, courage, and strength with each other to solve their common problem and help others to recover from caffeinism. The only requirement for participation is a desire to stop consuming caffeine. There are no registration fees or dues. “We received many thanks from individuals who are grateful to finally have an outlet to voice their opinion about this ubiquitous drug” said Marina Kushner, founder of the Caffeine Awareness Association. “Since National Caffeine Awareness Month began March 1 the site has ... Read More

The Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Southern Florida is proud to accept the generosity of Tri-Town Construction as they hold their 2nd Annual Tri-Town Classic Fishing Tournament, with all proceeds to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Southern Florida. At 7:00 A.M. on Saturday, May 1, 2010, the tournament begins, with teams competing for recognition and the cash prizes of $1,500, $2,500, and $4,000, respectively, which will be awarded to the top three winners. Immediately following the tournament at 4:00 P.M., the Weigh-In Luau Party will begin, featuring live music, a pig roast, games, raffle tickets, and a silent auction. The Captain’s meeting will be held on April 30th at 6:30 P.M. at T.G.I. Friday’s at Coconut Point. A member ... Read More

A devastating earthquake struck Chile early Saturday, toppling homes, collapsing bridges and plunging trucks into the fractured earth. The region and surrounding areas continue to experience aftershocks and the devastation continues to unfold as rescuers work to save as many as possible. By texting a keyword to a designated short code via a mobile phone, a micro-donation of $5 or $10 can be made to aid the people affected by this tragedy. 100% of your donation goes to the recipient charity, and the donation appears as a charge on your carrier bill, standard rates may apply. There are several organizations that are responding to this urgent need with mobile-giving efforts, including the following: Text the word “CHILE” to ... Read More