‘Organizations’ Archives
YWCA
It doesn't have a fancy 70's song, but this organization does a ton of good. The YWCA is the oldest and largest multicultural women's organization in the world. Woah. That's pretty awesome. With 25 million members in 106 countries around the world, the YW has a mission of: eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, [...]
Center for Investigating Healthy Minds
The Center for Investigating Healthy Minds is a uniquely awesome organization. It's a scientific research center that studies healthy qualities of mind such as kindness, compassion, forgiveness and mindfulness. One of their projects is teaching mediation to 5th graders, focusing on charitable thoughts toward loved ones, strangers, even enemies. [...]
New Zealand Department of Conservation
The DOC, as it's called, does a bunch of things. It manages campgrounds, and books treks through the mountains for visitors. It staffs gift shops and tends to miles and miles of rugged trails. The DOC has a simple vision: New Zealand is the greatest living space on Earth. And the DOC is there to protect it for future generations. [...]
Portland Store Fixtures
There are so many awesome organizations out there. Portland Store Fixtures is one of them. It's kind of like a resale shop for store fixtures, but they also carry new items, as well. Because they recycle so much--not only other stores' fixtures, but also their own stuff right down to their stationary--and they resale, they're both [...]
Pachamama Explorers
Meaning "Mother Earth," Pachamama Explorers run a tour company that, among other things, hikes the Inka Trail. There are a lot of companies that hike the trail. Pachamama is the company I used for the 4-day trek to Machu Picchu. To me they are awesome. Awesome because they kept me safe. Awesome because of the amazing meals they fed [...]
Hire Just One
Philadelphia philanthropist Gene Epstein wanted to help put Americans back to work, so he started an organization called Hire Just One that encourages businesses to hire even just one currently unemployed person with the promise that it will lead to a donation to charity if the company keeps the employee for six months or more. From their [...]
Third Wednesday PDX
Food carts are a big deal in Portland. So is community giving. Third Wednesday PDX combines the two. On the third Wednesday of each month, a group of Portland food carts donates a portion of proceeds to a local charity. Tasty. And awesome.
Community Warehouse
Sometimes people just need a little help to get them back on their feet. Community Warehouse is a non-profit that collects donations of gently used furnishings and works with social service agencies to give those household items to people who qualify for their assistance. They have been known to outfit entire apartments for people. On average [...]
Portland Women’s Crisis Line
One of the first five sexual violence crisis lines in the country, the Portland Women's Crisis Line provides 24 hour support survivors of sexual and domestic violence. The Crisis Line services include support for non-offending family and friends as well, every hour of every day. In addition, the organization has an innovative outreach program [...]
Ig Nobel awards
The Ig Nobel Prize is not quite like the Nobel Prize. It's awarded from Improbable Research--research that makes people laugh, and then think. How awesome is that? The 2010 Igs were given on September 30. The Medicine Prize went to psychologists who discovered that breathing difficulties brought on by asthma can be alleviated by repeated [...]
