Charitees: Focus on Causes

Awareness ribbons are short pieces of ribbon folded into a loop, or representations of such, which are used in the United States, Canada, Australia, UK and other parts of the world as a way for the wearer to make a subtle statement of support for a cause or issue.

The meaning behind the awareness ribbon depends on its color. Many groups have adopted ribbons as symbols of support or awareness, and as a result, many causes often share each color. Some causes may also be represented by more than one color. Red or teal may represent substance abuse, and purple or white may represent Alzheimer's disease.

Awareness ribbons are frequently pinned to clothing or tied around objects such as car antennas. When a more pronounced statement is being made, larger ribbons may be tied around objects such as trees and poles. Representations of awareness ribbons may also take the form of stickers, bumper stickers or magnets and are frequently affixed to vehicles.

Source: Wikipedia

We all expect blood to be there for us, but barely a fraction of those who can give do. Yet sooner or later, virtually all of us will face a time of great vulnerability in which we will need blood. And that time is all too often unexpected.

From its beginning, the American Red Cross has formed a community of service, of generous, strong and decent people bound by beliefs beyond themselves. The honor, spirit and resources of the American people comes forth with neighbors helping neighbors in need - during earthquakes, floods, fires, storms - and also for the deeply personal and often quiet disasters that require a gift of blood.

To find out where you can donate, visit www.givelife.org or call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3543). If you live out of the U.S., please contact your local organization.

Want to know if you're able to give blood? Review the donor eligibility guidelines

If you have never donated blood before, here are some information videos about it. Just remember, when you donate blood, you are giving life!

Blood Donation Process

What to expect after donating blood

The American Cancer Society (ACS) is a nationwide, community-based voluntary health organization, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, and has more than 3,400 local offices. They are dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer through research, education, advocacy, and service. With more than two million volunteers nationwide, the American Cancer Society is one of the oldest and largest voluntary health agencies in the United States.

The aim of the Society's research program is to determine the causes of cancer and to support efforts to prevent and cure the disease. The American Cancer Society is the largest source of private, nonprofit cancer research funds in the United States, second only to the federal government in total dollars spent.

The Society offers programs to help educate the public about cancer risks, early detection methods, and prevention. Knowing the facts about cancer can save lives. What you eat and drink, how you live, where you work . . . all these factors can affect your risk for cancer.

Primary cancer prevention means taking the necessary precautions to prevent the occurrence of cancer. Prevention programs are designed to help adults and children make healthy lifestyle choices that continue throughout life.

To learn more about this organization, their various programs or to find out ways that you can help in fighting the life taking disease of cancer, please visit the American Cancer Society official site.

Organ Donation, while a wonderful part of modern medicine, is sometimes misunderstood. Each day, about 77 people receive organ transplants. However, 18 people die each day waiting for transplants that can't take place because of the shortage of donated organs. The number of people needing a transplant continues to rise faster than the number of donors.

About 3,700 transplant candidates are added to the national waiting list each month. There are now more than 92,000 people on the waiting list. Experts suggest that each of us could save or help as many as 50 people by being an organ and tissue donor.

There are no age limits on who can donate. Newborns as well as senior citizens have been organ donors. If you are under age 18, you must have a parent's or guardian's consent. If you are 18 years or older, you can show you want to be an organ and tissue donor by signing a donor card. Carry the card in your wallet. In some states, you can state your intent to be an organ donor on your driver's license. Even if you sign a donor card and/or state your intent on your driver's license, make sure your family knows your wishes! Your family may be asked to sign a consent form in order for your donation to occur. You may also want to tell your family health care provider, lawyer, and your religious leader that you would like to be a donor.

What organs and tissues can I donate?
Kidney
Heart
Liver
Lung
Pancreas
Intestines
Cornea
Skin
Bone
Bone marrow

For more information about organ donation and how to become an organ donor please visit OrganDonor.gov's official site. For those outside the U.S. please visit livingdonorsonline for links to international organizations. And remember, you can't take it with you!

Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can affect various parts of the body, including the skin, joints, heart, lungs, blood, kidneys and brain. Normally the body's immune system makes proteins called antibodies, to protect the body against viruses, bacteria, and other foreign materials. These foreign materials are called antigens.

In an autoimmune disorder like lupus, the immune system cannot tell the difference between foreign substances and its own cells and tissues. The immune system then makes antibodies directed against itself. These antibodies -- called "auto-antibodies" (auto means 'self') -- cause inflammation, pain and damage in various parts of the body.

Inflammation is considered the primary feature of lupus. Inflammation, which in Latin means "set on fire," is characterized by pain, heat, redness, swelling and loss of function, either on the inside or on the outside of the body (or both).

For most people, lupus is a mild disease affecting only a few organs. For others, it may cause serious and even life-threatening problems. Although epidemiological data on lupus is limited, studies suggest that more than 16,000 Americans develop lupus each year.

The Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) estimates between 1.5 - 2 million Americans have a form of lupus, but the actual number may be higher. More than 90 percent of people with lupus are women. Symptoms and diagnosis occur most often when women are in their child-bearing years, between the ages of 15 and 45.

In the United States, lupus is more common in African Americans, Latinos, Asians, and Native Americans than in Caucasians.

For more information please visit Lupus Foundation of America's official site.

Today, there are more than 54 million Americans living with a disability, representing a full 20 percent of the U.S. population. Almost half of these individuals have a severe disability affecting their ability to see, hear, walk or perform other basic functions of life. In addition, there are more than 25 million family caregivers and millions more who provide aid and assistance to people with disabilities.

On February 1, 2001, as part of a nationwide effort to remove barriers to community living for people with disabilities, President Bush announced the New Freedom Initiative. This is a comprehensive plan that represents an important step in working to ensure that all Americans have the opportunity to learn and develop skills, engage in productive work, make choices about their daily lives and participate fully in community life. The Initiative's goals are to:

-Increase access to assistive and universally designed technologies;
-Expand educational opportunities;
-Promote homeownership;
-Integrate Americans with disabilities into the workforce;
-Expand transportation options; and
-Promote full access to community life.

Although progress has been made over the years to improve access to employment, public accommodations, commercial facilities, information technology, telecommunications services, housing, schools, and polling places, significant challenges remain for Americans with disabilities in realizing the dream of equal access to full participation in American society.

For more information about the New Freedom Initiative please visit www.hhs.gov and remember, disability does not mean no ability!