During this day of thanks, take some time with your child to do a little giving.  Together, pick a charity of your choice or give to one of the children's charities listed below.  It doesn't have to be much, just as long as you give.

As the song goes...

It's just like a Magic Penny
Hold it tight, and you won't have any.
Lend it . . . Spend it . . . Give it away
It will come right back to you.
     -Magic Penny (Temple Judea version)
      Words and music by Melvin Reynolds, 1955



I Have A Dream Foundation
The "I Have a Dream"® Program helps children from low-income areas reach their education and career goals by providing a long-term program of mentoring, tutoring, and enrichment with an assured opportunity for higher education.
www.ihad.org


Silver Lining Foundation
The Silver Lining Foundation, is a magical world created for children with cancer. The Foundation was founded in 1990 when a shoulder injury ended professional tennis career of Andrea Jaeger. Since then Andrea has devoted all of her energy to developing custom-made programs for these special kids. The vision involves engaging children in inspirational opportunities that develop hope and courage in order to battle their illnesses. Participants exchange a sterile hospital environment and rigid medical schedule for white-water rafting, horseback riding, gondola rides up Aspen Mountain, skiing and making lifetime friends.
www.silverliningfoundation.org


DonorsChoose
DonorsChoose is a simple way to provide students in need with resources that our public schools often lack. At this not-for-profit web site, teachers submit project proposals for materials or experiences their students need to learn. These ideas become classroom reality when concerned individuals, whom we call Citizen Philanthropists, choose projects to fund.
www.donorschoose.org


Young Storytellers Foundation
The Young Storytellers Foundation is dedicated to developing literacy, self-expression and self-esteem through the art of storytelling. Through their program children discover their innate talent as storytellers.  By expressing and celebrating that talent and imagination, each child develops a unique and special voice, and a confidence and pride that will last a lifetime.
www.youngstorytellers.com


Autism Speaks
Autism Speaks aims to raise public awareness about autism and its effects on individuals, families, and society, and to give hope to all who deal with the hardships of this disorder. They also seek to raise funds to facilitate effective treatment and research on autism.
www.autismspeaks.org


CHPHP-Children Helping Poor and Homeless People
CHPHP community service and service learning activities involve young people and adults in direct hands-on projects which help children, women and men in need in California, Oregon and expanding into Arizona. The goal of CHPHP is to help end hunger, poverty and homelessness through education.
www.chphp.com


United In Harmony
United in Harmony’s mission is to provide homeless children with hope and opportunities to develop positive self-esteem through interactions with teenage and adult role models.  United in Harmony has a variety of programs, but Camp Harmony is the cornerstone of the charity. For many children, The Harmony Sports Clinic is their first opportunity to be coached in a variety of sports. Another program, the Harmony Holiday Party is an annual event that gives homeless children access to the love and attention that is so needed at this time of year. Each child leaves with a bag of new toys and clothing.
www.unitedinharmony.org


Ronald McDonald House
The three core programs of RMHC - the Ronald McDonald House, Ronald McDonald Family Room and Ronald McDonald Care Mobile - are focused on helping families in need. Their cornerstone Ronald McDonald House program began in 1974 based on a simple idea: Provide a "home away from home" for families of seriously ill children receiving treatment at nearby hospitals.
www.rmhc.org


826
826 is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting students ages 6 to 18 with their creative and expository writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write. Their services are structured around their belief that great leaps in learning can happen with one-on-one attention and that strong writing skills are fundamental to future success.
www.826nyc.org  
www.826la.org
www.826seattle.org  
www.826valencia.org  
www.826michigan.org  
www.826chicago.org    


Special Olympics
Special Olympics is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities to become physically fit, productive and respected members of society through sports training and competition. Special Olympics offers children and adults with intellectual disabilities year-round training and competition in 26 Olympic-type summer and winter sports.
www.specialolympics.org


St. Jude
St. Jude is unlike any other pediatric treatment and research facility anywhere. Discoveries made here have completely changed how the world treats children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. All patients accepted for treatment at St. Jude are treated without regard to the family's ability to pay.
www.stjude.org


Youth Law Center
The Youth Law Center is a non-profit, public interest law office that has worked to protect abused and at-risk children since 1978. With offices in San Francisco and Washington, D.C., the Center works nationally to serve children, focusing particularly upon the problems of children living apart from their families in child welfare and juvenile justice systems. The goal of the Youth Law Center's work is to ensure that vulnerable children are provided with the conditions and services they need to grow into healthy, productive adults.
www.ylc.org


The Jimmy Fund
Since its founding in 1948, the Jimmy fund has supported the fight against cancer in children and adult at Boston's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, helping to raise the chances of survival for cancer patients around the.  One of the world's premier centers for pediatric cancer treatment and research, the clinic is also a warm, welcoming place for children and their families.
www.jimmyfund.org