www.amnd.org/12.html
A Midwinter Night’s Dream is an annual charity fundraiser held by The Northport High School chapter of the National Honor Society that supports Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease) research. To date they have raised $722,000 for ALS Research and families afflicted with the disease.

Besides raising funds and awareness for ALS, the students have begun their quest to find a cure. In 2006, the student committee hosted a research symposium entitled: “Can nanoscience and technology accelerate our search for a cure for ALS?” This meeting created opportunities for Northport High School students to become active participants of ALS Research in both the clinical and laboratory setting. Due to the success of A Midwinter Night’s Dream, they have been able to support numerous ALS organizations and fund their research.

www.cgfinc.org
Collateral Growth Foundation provides funding, leadership and management services to committed, grass roots organizations that rely heavily on volunteer efforts, where CGF’s support will make a significant difference. Collateral Growth Foundation focuses the majority of its efforts in Southeast Asia, primarily in the Philippines and Thailand. In the Philippines they are helping the local filipino community to develop business skills while operating a real business. They are constructing a business center with concessions available for complimentary businesses. The theme is to be health and wellbeing.
They are working with other environmental groups in the Cordillera mountains to repair and maintain the ancient rice terraces of the Philippines. By using local labor, they help the economic development of the region and encourage the cultural conservation of the area as well. Their policy is to respect the native traditions of organic agriculture.

www.traponline.com
The Rhythmic Arts Project (TRAP) is an educational program for people with disabilities. Employing drums and percussion, the program teaches and enhances basic life skills such as: maintaining focus, using memory, taking turns, developing leadership, using numbers, using prepositional concepts, following instructions, and modeling. Issues of spatial awareness, fine and gross motor skills, and speech are also addressed. Teaching occurs in an environment that is fun and not threatening so participants develop improved confidence and a more positive self-image. The Rhythmic Arts Project was founded in 1997 by professional drummer Eddie Tuduri.

scoolfood.org
The mission of the s’COOL FOOD Initiative is to create a community of healthy children across Santa Barbara County who make educated food choices throughout their lives. s’COOL FOOD is now in the process of creating a county-wide, community-based education campaign designed to heighten awareness of the link between what children eat and how it affects their health, behavior and ability to learn. The s’COOL FOOD education campaign also focuses on the link between our food system and the health of the planet. Our goals include: Creating sustainable “cook from scratch” school food service systems throughout Santa Barbara County; and procuring as many school foods and beverages as practicable from the smallest geographical area possible.

www.mizerochildren.org
Mizero is a talented troupe of Rwandan orphans touring the US and Canada to raise money for the young victims of the genocide and HIV/AIDS. Mizero ( meaning “hope” in Kinyarwanda) has a mission to bring, build and spread Hope to orphans and other vulnerable children affected by the Rwandan genocide. These children are serving as ambassadors, representing the over 1 million orphans in Rwanda. They are symbols of hope. And they are simply unforgettable, once you have experienced them, seen the, perform (song, dance and drumming) and heard their story. Their mission is to provide shelter, nourishment, and education to the homeless, the orphans and those with HIV/Aids in Rwanda. They are working to bring unity between various churches and humanitarian aid groups already in Rwanda. They are also working to build self-sustaining communities through the future Arts Academy in Kigali, Rwanda, which will provide them with a well-rounded, Christ-centered education including both academics and cultural traditions.

www.planethope.org/
Planet Hope was founded in 1992 by Sharon Stone and her sister, Kelly, to help instill hope in the lives of those who need it most, the homeless. Since that time, Planet Hope has helped thousands of families from around the world by offering gratis medical and dental care, new clothes for kids, counseling and image makeovers for homeless women and women that have been victims of domestic violence at their annual summer camp. Planet Hope’s mission of providing hope for a better life has made a tremendous difference to thousands of homeless and abused children and their families.