BELONGING TO MANY WORLDS BUT BELONGING TO NONE

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FROM THE MARGINS | BY PATRICK AZADIAN
Los Angeles Times Valley Edition | Glendale News-Press | December 16 2006

Time for thoughtful, committed giving

It doesn't have to be the holiday season for us to consider giving back to the community.

But it's better to give now than never. If it takes all the shining lights to get inspired, so be it.

This year, I did a little research on what type of charities were best suited for donations. I stumbled upon a site called www.charitynavigator.org with a lot of useful information.

Here's what I found.

Be proactive when it comes to giving. Intelligent giving is usually not a knee-jerk reaction, but a conscious decision on which charity to support. And the most suited organizations for giving are not always the first ones knocking on your door. Take time and prioritize what causes are most important to you.

It is also better to give to a charity with a specific mission, rather than a general cause. For example, it makes better sense to support an organization that provides bone marrow transplants to leukemia patients than a generic organization fighting cancer (unless you have unlimited funds).

It is also important to start a dialogue with the organization you intend to support. Although this may take work, if you really want to make an impact it's the only way to go. Before you make a contribution, talk to the charity and learn about their accomplishments and challenges. If you are unable to create this kind of dialogue, then you may look elsewhere.

Be focused in your donations. Diversification in giving is not necessarily a good idea. If you've already identified a cause that you are passionate about, you should channel your contributions there. It makes sense to concentrate your giving to a specific cause, it helps the organization of your choice make an impact.

Making a long-term commitment is also in everyone's interests. If you are serious about making a difference, see yourself as a partner with your favorite charity. It is only with a long-term pledge that the organization can bring about a substantive change. Let the organization know they can count on you for a certain period of time.

Here are a few organizations that may be worth your attention.

First, something for children's rights: The Alliance for Children's Rights was founded in 1992 to protect the rights of abused and impoverished children throughout Los Angeles County. The Alliance strives to create a world in which all children are able to have a safe and permanent family, access to quality health care, education, and all the support and services they deserve.

Through direct legal services, community education, and advocacy, The Alliance helps to create a systemic change that will protect the future of these children. The Alliance's website is www.kids-alliance.org.

How about fighting poverty? We do live in a world where three billion people live on less than $2 a day.

I came across Acción International. The mission of Acción is to give people the tools they need to work their way out of poverty. By providing micro-loans and business training to the poor, Acción helps people start their own businesses, and climb their way up the economic ladder, with dignity and pride. With capital, people grow their own businesses and earn enough to afford basics, like running water, better food and schooling.

The goal of this Boston-based organization is to bring microfinance to millions of people – enough to truly change their world. Acción's website is www.accion.org.

And how about fighting leukemia? The Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry (www.abmdr.am) was established to attend to the unique needs of Armenian children suffering from leukemia.

Some ethnic groups may have a unique genetic makeup, and chances of finding matches within their own group is much higher than in others.

It is nearly impossible to find matches among international registries for Armenian children; because of this, many have already lost their lives.

Hundreds of ethnic Armenians suffer from life-threatening blood diseases and need a bone marrow transplant. Many parents are racing against time to save the life of their children.v One of these children is Biurad Moghadasian from Montrose. Last year, Biurad's family turned to the ABMDR to find a donor match.

In August, hundreds of residents filled an auditorium at Glendale Memorial Hospital to see if they were a match for the 8-year-old boy.

This week, Biurad and his parents found out a match was found from the event in Glendale. The transplant should follow shortly.

Merry Christmas, Biurad. And Happy Holidays, everyone.

Copyright 2006 Glendale News Press