There are thousands of charities that raise money for the environment, for people, for animals or for research to help any of the three.

Well known charities include Oxfam, Greenpeace, World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), World Wildlife Foundation (WWF), Red Cross, Amnesty International and World Vision. Just to name a handful of international organisations.

Now, you may be wondering why I am talking about charities.

Every year, I support a charity or two. This year, I would like to encourage the members of DeviantArt to get involved in charity. Many of you are generous (some I’m sure already support a charity) and, as they say, every little bit helps.

There are many charities out there that need our money and help for their cause. To help animals wild or domestic, help the environment, find cures for diseases or help people in strife whether poor, starving, sick, homeless or abused.


Recent charity related news articles:

$5 to save a boy's life.
=donttouchfoxy's son is four months old and has a brain tumor and is in desperate need of chemotherapy.

Help fight the Evil
Every year hundreds of thousands of baby seals are killed in Canada, they're brutally bludgeoned to death with sticks, and metal batons with hooks on the end.

Deviant Raising Money For Arthritis Treatment
Canadian deviant Alison Martin aka *ladyarachnia is taking part in the Foresters Big Swim Event on April 21 in Oakville, Ontario Ca. Donations will go towards funding research, treatment and solutions for people currently living with this crippling disease.


I would like to encourage everyone to get involved in a charity or cause in your area.

What can you do? How can you help?

You can volunteer (door knocking, assist administration, host fundraisers, auction your art for charity, care for animals, work in a soup kitchen, etc).

You can donate money.

You donate clothes, food and other things to shelters (whether animal or human)

You can buy from stores whose profits go to the charities.

You can sign petitions either in person or through an organisation’s website (where you can subscribe to newsletters and emails about new online petitions).

From some you can receive a certificate for participation (usually in the case of an event. ie. doorknocking) but mostly the simple satisfaction of having done something for a good cause.
It can also make a positive mark on your resume.


How can you find a charity in your area?

You should have some idea if there are some in your area (They don't hide that well) but if you don't, a search in Google could help you as many successful charities have websites.

Here are some places to start for some of you.

US Charities Index - [link]

Australian Charities and their websites - [link]

UK Charity Library with 3720 listed - [link]


What if there's nothing in your area?

You can donate in most cases via credit card (online or by phone), cheque or money order (by mail).
Many charities also would love it if you bequested money to them in your will.
As I said earlier, you can sign online petitions or you can get involved in online campaigns.

If search for a cause you are interested in supporting, there will likely be a charity.


What I Will Be Doing

For my part, I am hosting a charity fundraiser of sorts (where most or all is funded by myself) between April 1st and April 14th.

This money, dictated by dA members, will be donated to a charity at the end of April or whenever I have the amount dictated (I only earn $133 a week.)

For every of the following, I will donate money to the most voted charity (see further down).

Favourite = 1 cent. (100 = $1)

on this article = 2 cents (100 = $2)

Comment^ on this news article = 2 cents (100 = $2)

Comment^ on my journal = 2 cents (100 = $2)

Watch* = 2 cents. (100 = $2)

Comment^ on my art = 5 cents. (100 = $5)

All profits from any print sales (if any) during this time will also be donated.

^Comments and favs are unlimited per person. Spamming will not be counted.
*If you watch me, I will watch you.

If lower than $60, I will double or triple the amount.

The low values are in case I get the large response I'm hoping for (and so I can still afford this 'promise').

Disclaimer: I estimate some people will attack me for doing this so I would like to say to them to not attack me and go do something constructive and helpful for a charity.
I see this as a way to get people involved and those things are so little compared to what anyone can really do. It doesn't cost anyone a cent.


To reiterate, the response will dictate how much I will donate.


The charity that will receive this donation will be chosen by public poll with 9 charities of my choice (links to their website provided). So you can have a choice of where that money goes.

Vote for a charity here: [link]


Also,
=psivamp is holding a Surreal Awareness Contest.

Objective:
Create a piece to bring awareness to the cause of your choice. It can be diseases, disasters, whatever you want! Make it serious, make it funny, it's all up to you, just bring some awareness!



For more information, see her journal: [link]


Here are some stamps you can add to your journal or shoutbox to show your support for a cause.
They are just a small selection from the many stamps on this site.



If you use a stamp that supports a cause, don’t just use it for a decoration or to show your beliefs.

Take Action
Get Involved
Donate
Make A Difference

EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS.