Dollar Philanthropy

Be Someone: Teaching at Risk Children Life Skills Through Chess

This week I'd like to highlight Be Someone, a nonprofit that uses the game of chess, mentoring and motivation to teach at risk youth to be come engaged in the game of life. Focused on "Making Every Move Count," Be Someone is an organization that encourages disadvantage youth to make the hard choices needed to excel and thrive.

I spoke with Be Someone's founder, Orrin Hudson and he has quite a remarkable story.  Orrin comes from a big family from Birmingham Alabama.  He studied chess and eventually won two championship titles.  For him, chess taught him how to think critically and problem solve, two skills he attributes to his success. And his success has been noted by many people including Larry King from CNN, other major TV networks, and the Atlanta Braves Foundation.

Be Someone uses chess as a metaphor.  They use the game as a way of introducing you to five key characteristics needed for success:  Love, Honesty, Respect, Responsibility, and Patience. When teaching chess, Orrin discovered that kids are hesitant to study chess because they feel they will fail or lose.  He stresses that you simply cannot win unless you are in the game.  This is the philosophy he teaches to kids. Success cannot occur unless you are in the game.  Therefore, youth need to be actively engaged in making life decisions.

Be Someone has served over 16,000 kids and won numerous awards including the National Self Esteem Award in 2004, and Beacon of Hope Award. 

Donations have tricked down over the late spring and early summer.  As school begins, they will need to find space to conduct classes and have afterschool programs. If anyone can help with that, please drop Be Someone a note.

The money from Dollar Philanthropy will be earmarked to sponsor individual children and to provide them the mentoring services they need.

Send your Dollar

You can donate your dollar in several ways:

1. Paypal by using the "Click to Donate" here buttons on this page on Be Someone's site.  Be sure to send a little extra (25 cents or so) to offset the paypal charges to Be Someone.
2. Network for Good:  For donations of $10 or more.
3. Or By Mail: 

Be Someone

7148 Stonebrook Lane

Lithonia, GA  30058

Tags: chess, nonprofit, Orrin Hudson, Be Someone, philanthropy, life skills, at risk youth, self-esteem programs

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Why Small to Medium NonProfits?

First, thanks to everyone who has dropped by Dollar Philanthropy or who forwarded the e-mail I sent out announcing the launch of DP. Please keep coming back and sending your dollar to the causes that touch your heart.

In response to my e-mail, I have gotten a couple of questions about why the focus on small to medium nonprofits.  Well....  I suppose the choice is based on my belief that small & medium nonprofits are more nimble than larger ones.  I think they are more able to mobilize to meet the immediate needs of the community around them.  Also, it is my opinion that a greater percentage of the money goes directly to the cause versus overhead.

I know this is a broad, sweeping generalization and that all nonprofits are not the same. There indeed plenty of schisters out there.  I also understand that big nonprofits do good work too.  However, those folks have more resources at their command to be able to raise funds and make things happen.  I've chosen small and medium organizations because they need the help.

If you know a hard working organization that is worthy of mentioning, please drop me an e-mail. 

Tags: philanthropy, word of mouth marketing, dollar philanthropy, nonprofits

Locker 56 Program: Keith Brooking Children's Foundation

Keith Brooking is a ProBowl Linebacker with the Atlanta Falcons and Georgia Tech Alumni.  He is also an active participant in charity event in Atlanta. While that is really cool and all.... while growing up, Keith's family (he specifically credits his mom) opened their home up and became a foster family for a number of children in need.  His foundation was established in 2004 to help foster children and others children in need across the Metro Atlanta Area.  In 2004 they had a little over $93,000 in disbursements.  I could not find any information available for 2005.  However, I know they have been quite active in the community.

The programs of the Keith Brooking Foundation focus on both scholarship and athletics.  One of the coolest programs that they have established is the Locker 56 program to provide athletic shoes to children who need them. 

As a kid, every spring and summer my family was at the local ballpark.  My dad coached. My mom cheered for every child and dished out copious amounts of gatorade and cupcakes.  I kept score and sometimes played (I'm not such a good athlete) and my brother played and kept the company that makes "Big League Chew (grape flavored)" in business.  I also remember the quiet and stealthy actions of a few parents (my dad, the "sneaky snake" being one) who made sure that any kid who wanted to play registered and had the equipment they needed.    I suppose that is why the Locker 56 program really spoke to my heart.  How incredibly practical and thoughtful. 

Send your Dollar to:

Gina Weathersby, Executive Director

PO Box 73019

Newnan, Georgia 30271

email: [email protected]

The foundation is not on Network For Good.  However, they are a 501(c) (3) organization according to Guidestar.

Technorati Tags:  nonprofit, Philanthropy, dollar philanthropy, good causes

Welcome to Dollar Philanthropy

Dollar Philanthropy is an effort to harness the power of the blogosphere to create a network individuals who will donate a single dollar each week to a reputable nonprofit organization.   

A dollar doesn't seem like much and that is precisely the point. However, when combined, each of our individual dollars can make a huge difference to a local nonprofit that is seeking to serve a need and improve the community around them.

I am challenging readers to commit to giving $52 a year ($1 per week) for this project.  If you want to give more that $1, please feel free. With this in mind, please set us up on your favorite RSS aggregator so you don't miss a post.

My plan is to research and highlight one nonprofit per week.  I will give you all the contact information, important links and information about what they do.  Admittedly, here at the beginning a number of the nonprofits will be based in Georgia (where I live) because I already know about them.  I promise to expand to other states as I begin to get a feel for what this entails.

There are several ways you can donate to an organization.  However, each organization highlighted will have their own methods for donating.  DP will use the methods that are already set up.  The individual post will give you detailed information on the way the organization prefers donations. 

Possible payment methods include:  Check by US Mail,  PayPal, credit card payments directly to organization and Network for Good.  If using a check be sure to make it out to the organization.  Do not make it out to DP.

The US Mail and Paypal will enable you to send any amount.  If you use PayPal to process a credit card, please consider sending a little extra to cover PayPal's charges.  You may also use Network for Good but they require a $10 minimum donation. 

Please note, these donations go directly to the organization. DP does not handle any money.  Whenever possible, please note "Dollar Philanthropy" somewhere on the donation so that the organization can keep track the amounts.

Technorati tags: nonprofit, dollar philanthropy, Charities, Philanthropy