Savvy Auntie recommends the following wonderful children’s charities to the BenevolAunts - when you are feeling like helping many more of the “nieces and nephews” who need you:

Alex's Lemonade Stand
Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation is a unique foundation that has evolved from a young cancer patient's front yard lemonade stand to a nationwide fundraising movement for childhood cancer.
Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation is committed to:
-- Raising money and awareness for pediatric cancer causes, primarily research into new cures and treatments.
-- Encouraging and educating others, especially children, to raise money for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation for childhood cancer.

America's Promise Alliance
Founded in 1997, America's Promise Alliance is the nation's largest multi-sector collaborative dedicated to the well-being of children and youth. Building on the legacy of our founder, General Colin Powell, we are the leader in forging a strong and effective partnership alliance committed to seeing that children experience the fundamental resources they need to succeed - the Five Promises (caring adults, safe places, a healthy start, an effective education and opportunities to help others) - at home, in school and out in the community. Through increasing awareness, advocating for children and engaging in a few powerful initiatives, we use the strength of our partnership network to more effectively and strategically bring the power of the Five Promises to America's children.

Angel Notion
Angel Notion is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds and donations to provide education, medical aid, and opportunities for people of lesser means and special needs.
The Vision of Angel Notion is to provide the disabled children of Playa del Carmen, Mexico with:
    * Customized medical attention and rehabilitation to achieve physical and mental capacities of functioning that could not otherwise be reached
    * Specialized treatment and surgery
    * Seminars on Life Skills to promote independence in day-to-day living
    * Seminars on Work Skills to enhance opportunity for job placement
    * Love, support and guidance as they find their own way in the community and society at large.

Autism Society of America
ASA, the nation’s leading grassroots autism organization, exists to improve the lives of all affected by autism. We do this by increasing public awareness about the day-to-day issues faced by people on the spectrum, advocating for appropriate services for individuals across the lifespan, and providing the latest information regarding treatment, education, research and advocacy.

Autism Speaks
At Autism Speaks, our goal is to change the future for all who struggle with autism spectrum disorders.

We are dedicated to funding global biomedical research into the causes, prevention, treatments, and cure for autism; to raising public awareness about autism and its effects on individuals, families, and society; and to bringing hope to all who deal with the hardships of this disorder. We are committed to raising the funds necessary to support these goals.

Autism Speaks aims to bring the autism community together as one strong voice to urge the government and private sector to listen to our concerns and take action to address this urgent global health crisis. It is our firm belief that, working together, we will find the missing pieces of the puzzle.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
Founded in 1904, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is the oldest and largest youth mentoring organization in the United States. Big Brothers Big Sisters mentors children, ages 6-18, in communities across the country. Our mission is to help children reach their potential through professionally supported, one-to-one relationships with mentors that have a measurable impact on youth. National research has shown that positive relationships between youth and their Big Brothers and Big Sisters mentors have a direct and measurable impact on children's lives. Big Brothers Big Sisters currently operates in all 50 states, and in 12 countries around the world!

Boys & Girls Clubs of America
Formed in 1906, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (B&GCA) is a federation of local Boys & Girls Clubs, led by the national organization, which serves more than 4.6 million youth in more than 3,900 club locations. B&GCA works to enable all young people, especially those who need it most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. B&GCA has a lineup of tested and proven nationally recognized programs that address today's most pressing youth issues, teaching young people the skills they need to succeed in life. More than 25 national programs are available in the areas of education, the environment, health, the arts, careers, alcohol/drug and pregnancy prevention, gang prevention, leadership development and athletics.

Camp ReCreation, Weekend Getaway, & ACE
Camp ReCreation and its affiliate camps are residential camp programs for adults and children with developmental disabilities, offering participants opportunities for fun, social interaction and spiritual growth while providing valuable respite for parents and care givers.

Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation
The Child & Adolescent Bipolar Foundation improves the lives of families raising children and teens living with bipolar disorder and related conditions.

Child's Play
Since 2003, Child's Play has set up and organized this game industry charity dedicated to improving the lives of children with toys and games in their network of over 40 hospitals worldwide. In four short years, the community has answered the call and come together to raise millions of dollars.

Children's Cancer Hospital
At the Children's Cancer Hospital at M. D. Anderson, everything we do is focused on one thing: helping kids beat cancer.

We have the most experienced team of specialists in the country, innovative technologies and treatments, and an environment that lets kids keep being kids.

For the best cancer care for your child, come to the No. 1 hospital for cancer care in the nation. We're here to answer your questions, suggest options or simply listen.

Children's Defense Fund
The Children's Defense Fund's (CDF) mission is to leave no child behind and to ensure every child a healthy start, a head start, a fair start, a safe start, and a moral start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities. Founded in 1973, CDF provides a strong, effective voice for all the children of America who cannot vote, lobby, or speak for themselves. We pay particular attention to the needs of poor and minority children and those with disabilities. CDF encourages preventive investment before they get sick, into trouble, drop out of school, or suffer family breakdown. We work with elected officials, government agencies, faith groups, and individual activists to build a nation of families where all children have the support they need to thrive.

The Children's Health Fund
The Children's Health Fund (CHF) is committed to providing health care to the nation's most medically underserved children and their families through the development and support of innovative primary care medical programs, response to public health crises, and the promotion of guaranteed access to appropriate health care for all children. CHF is dedicated to meeting the complex and challenging health needs of underserved children. We partner with major academic medical centers to deliver care to disadvantaged children in rural and urban areas. We also use our unique experience and insights to be a voice for children in need, advocating for policies and public programs that remove roadblocks to quality health care for all children.

Children’s National Medical Center
Children’s National Medical Center is the only exclusive provider of pediatric care in the metropolitan Washington area and is the only freestanding children’s hospital between Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Norfolk, and Atlanta. Serving the nation’s children for more than 130 years, Children’s National is a proven leader in the development and application of innovative new treatments for childhood illness and injury..

Children's Scholarship Fund
Founded in 1998, the Children's Scholarship Fund (CSF) provides partial tuition assistance for low-income families to send their children to private schools. Currently, more than 25,000 children nationwide are using CSF scholarships. These children are attending private school through the generosity of our donors, the efforts of 38 scholarship programs, and the sacrifices made by the families themselves, who pay on average 50% of their children's tuition. CSF provides scholarships for children grades Kindergarten - 8th grade. The Fund focuses on elementary education because the earlier a child receives sound schooling, the better. Scholarships are awarded to all eligible children in a family to attend the school or schools of their choice.

Children's Tumor Foundation
The Children's Tumor Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) medical foundation, dedicated to improving the health and well being of individuals and families affected by the neurofibromatoses (NF). The mission of The Children's Tumor Foundation, is to:

    * Encourage and support research and the development of treatments and cures for neurofibromatosis types 1 and 2, schwannomatosis and related disorders (hereafter collectively referred to as "NF");
    * Support persons with NF, their families and caregivers by providing thorough, accurate, current and readily accessible information;
    * Assist in the development of clinical centers, best practices and other patient support mechanisms (but not including direct medical care) to create better access to quality healthcare for affected individuals; and,
    * Expand public awareness of NF to promote earlier and accurate diagnoses by the medical community, increase the non-affected population's understanding of the challenges facing persons with NF, and encourage financial and other forms of support from public and private sources.

Cradles to Crayons
Our mission is to provide, free of charge, low-income and homeless children from birth to pre-teen the basic essentials they need to be safe, warm, ready to learn, and valued. We also set a foundation for lasting change through the meaningful, tangible volunteer opportunities we provide to thousands of youth and adults each year.

CurePMD
Pilazaeus-Merzbacher Disease (PMD) is a rare myelin disorder in same family of diseases as Canavan's Disease. Unfortunately, there are no known treatments for PMD

CureSearch National Childhood Cancer Foundation
CureSearch National Childhood Cancer Foundation (NCCF) and Children's Oncology Group (COG) are partners in the search to cure childhood cancer, each with vital responsibilities concerning research, care, public awareness and fundraising. Our mission is to cure and prevent childhood and adolescent cancer through scientific discovery and compassionate care. At more than 200 COG member institutions worldwide, our dedicated physicians, nurses and scientists are conducting clinical trials and performing research to identify cancer causes and pioneer treatments and cures. CureSearch NCCF supports this lifesaving research by raising public awareness and funds through awareness, legislative and fundraising programs, which directly contribute to increasing survival rates.

Darkness to Light
Our mission is to diminish the incidence and impact of child sexual abuse, so that more children will grow up healthy and whole. Our programs will raise awareness of the prevalence and consequences of child sexual abuse by educating adults about the steps they can take to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to the reality of child sexual abuse.

Epic Change
Epic Change amplifies the voices and impact of grassroots changemakers and social entrepreneurs.  We share their stories in ways that raise visibility and funds to support their extraordinary efforts to create hope in our world.

Epic Change believes that people's stories are assets that can be used as resources to improve their lives. We help people in need share their "epic" true stories in innovative, creative and profitable ways to help them acquire the financial resources they need to create positive "change" in their communities.

The Friendship Circle
The Friendship Circle provides assistance and support to the families of children with special needs as well as to individuals and families struggling with addiction, isolation, and other crises.

In addition to helping those in need, the Friendship Circle empowers and enriches its network of volunteers, the majority of whom are teenagers, by enabling them to reap the vast rewards of giving of themselves.

Girls Educational and Mentoring Services
Girls Educational and Mentoring Services' (GEMS ) mission is to empower young women, ages12-21, who have experienced sexual exploitation and domestic trafficking to exit the commercial sex industry and develop to their full potential. GEMS is committed to ending commercial sexual exploitation and domestic trafficking of children by changing individual lives, transforming public perception, and revolutionizing the systems and policies that impact sexually exploited youth.

Give Kids The World
Give Kids The World Village (GKTW) is a 70-acre resort in Central Florida that creates magical memories for children with life- threatening illnesses and their families. GKTW exists only to fulfill the wishes of all children with life-threatening illnesses and their families from around the world to experience a memorable, joyful, visit to the Central Florida attractions, and to enjoy the magic of Give Kids The World Village for as long as there is a need. GKTW provides accommodations at its whimsical resort, donated attractions tickets, meals and more for a week-long, cost-free fantasy vacation. Give Kids The World has welcomed more than 75,000 families from all 50 states and over 50 countries.

Happy Hill Farm
Happy Hill Farm Academy/Home is a licensed, accredited, residential school that provides very specialized help to children who need another chance in life. Happy Hill Farm is not a correctional institution nor a prep school for the privileged. The program does not simply “lock up” children and postpone the estimated $94-billion secondary tax burden on society. Happy Hill Farm’s program changes the lives and direction of at-risk children, so that they will become productive citizens rather than an ongoing burden on society. A variety of staff professionals (including psychology, medical, social work, therapy, educational, nursing, vocational, and athletic) work in concert to address the overall needs of each student. More than 100 children live at the Farm and attend a fully-accredited (K-12) private academy.

HollyRod4Kids Initiative / HollyRod Foundation
HollyRod4Kids was the brainchild of Holly Robinson Peete and Rodney Peete's children who wanted to ensure the HollyRod foundation embraced children’s causes. HollyRod4Kids raises funds to help children with Autism and their families access and afford crucial treatments and therapies.

Hope International
Hope International, a Hague Accredited agency, has been successfully facilitating the many details of international adoption for more than 15 years.

Hope International is committed to providing services to orphaned children across the global. Services include facilitating adoption with a "forever family," and humanitarian aid programs that serve immediate needs while providing long term solutions.

Experienced staff members will guide you through your individual circumstances with professionalism, confidence and compassion. Hope International is based in Dallas, Texas.

Jacob's Heart
Children's Cancer Support Services
Our mission is to improve the quality of life for children with cancer and support their families in  the challenges they face.

The Jimmy Fund
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Since its founding in 1948, the Jimmy Fund has supported the fight against cancer in children and adults at Boston's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, helping to raise the chances of survival for cancer patients around the world.

The Joyful Child
The Joyful Child is dedicated to protecting our nation's children from sexual abuse and abduction through programs that unite and uplift communities.

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
DRIVEN by the needs of people with diabetes, the mission of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research. We work to accomplish this by finding and funding the best and most relevant research to help achieve a cure for this devastating disease through

• Restoration of normal blood sugar levels
• Avoidance and reversal of complications
• Prevention of diabetes and its recurrence

Kids and Cars
KIDS AND CARS' mission is to assure no child dies or is injured in a non-traffic, motor vehicle related event.

It is difficult to think of anything more tragic than the needless (preventable) death of a child. Every one of these deaths is a tragedy, especially to family and friends; and each one serves as a powerful warning that other children are at risk.

K.I.D.S
K.I.D.S. is a global charity dedicated to improving the lives of children and families who are ill, live in poverty or are victims of natural disasters.

Lil MDGs
Lil MDGs a 501C3 nonprofit that was founded in 2004 by a then 9 year-old CEO (now 13), Dylan Mahalingam, with the mission of leveraging the power of the Internet  and digital media to educate, engage, inspire, and empower youth in all corners of the world to work together to meet the Millennium Development Goals.

Make-A-Wish Foundation of America
The Make-A-Wish Foundation of America grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy. Since 1980, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has enriched the lives of children with life-threatening medical conditions through its wish-granting work. Since its creation, the Foundation has granted the wishes of more than 150,000 children. A wish is granted every 41 minutes. The 69 Make-A-Wish chapters in the United States and the U.S. territories of Guam and Puerto Rico enable the Foundation to serve children in every U.S. community.

March of Dimes
The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. We're dedicated to improving the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.

Marine Toys for Tots Foundation
Marine Toys for Tots Foundation (MTFTF) is the fund raising, funding and support organization for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program. From 1991-2005, MTFTF supplemented local toy collections with 64.5 million toys valued at $344 million. Concurrently, the Foundation provided over $3.9 million worth of promotion and support materials, which enable local Toys for Tots coordinators to conduct more effective local campaigns. The primary goal of the Foundation is the same as that of the overall Toys for Tots program: to deliver, through a shiny new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to needy youngsters that will motivate them to grow into responsible, productive, patriotic citizens and community leaders.

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) was established in 1984 to help prevent child abduction and sexual exploitation; help find missing children; and assist victims of child abduction and sexual exploitation, their families, and the professionals who serve them. Pursuant to its mission, NCMEC serves as a clearinghouse of information, operates a CyberTipline, provides technical assistance to individuals and law-enforcement agencies, assists the U.S. Department of State in certain cases of international child abduction, offers training programs, distributes photographs and descriptions, coordinates child-protection efforts with the private sector, networks with nonprofit service providers, and provides information about effective state legislation.

One Laptop Per Child
Our mission is to create educational opportunities for the world's poorest children by providing each child with a rugged, low-cost, low-power, connected laptop with content and software designed for collaborative, joyful, self-empowered learning.

Oscar Litwak Foundation
The mission of the Oscar Litwak Foundation is to improve the quality of life of sick children while receiving long term medical treatment. The Foundation strives to make the child’s stay in the hospital as enjoyable and comfortable as possible by creating fun playroom environments and establishing recreational programs in pediatric clinics in the United States

The Pajama Program
Our mission is to provide a loving environment for children who have lived through a great deal of hurt in their young lives to give them hope for a better tomorrow. The program identifies key institutions in major cities in the U.S. and other countries where children are living temporarily as they wait and hope for adoption.

Project Ladybug
Our Mission at Project Ladybug is to enrich the lives of children with life threatening conditions.

The Fund strives to help families face the financial and the emotional hardships during their child's treatment to help meet the needs of seriously ill and less fortunate patients in our region. Through improving the quality of life for these children and families during treatment, Project Ladybug hopes to improve outcomes for these patients.

Project Sunshine
Project Sunshine is a nonprofit organization that provides free social, educational and recreational programs to children and families affected by medical challenges. Our national programs are run by volunteers who donate their time, energy and skills to help our children and families cope with the stresses of living with a medical difficulty. Project Sunshine volunteers engage children in arts and crafts activities, tutoring, entertainment and special parties. Our volunteers are people of all ages, backgrounds and professions including college students, artists, lawyers, executives  and actors, all donating their time to improving the lives of the children and families we serve.

RandomKid
RandomKid is a 501C3 nonprofit that was co-founded in 2005 after our then 10  year-old CEO, Talia Leman, united kids across the USA to report over $10  million for hurricane Katrina/Rita relief (www.halloweenhelpers.blogspot.com). In doing so, RandomKid created a philanthropic force, voice and entity for America's youth, enabling their giving power to be recognized and ranked with top U.S. corporations.

Randomkid now works to harness the giving power of kids toward other great causes.  We educate, mobilize, unify and empower youth, nationally and internationally, in order to directly impact a broad spectrum of local, national and global needs.

Reach Out and Read
Founded in 1989, Reach Out and Read (ROR) promotes early literacy by making books a routine part of pediatric care. ROR trains doctors and nurses to advise parents about the importance of reading aloud and to give books to children at pediatric check-ups from six months to five years of age, with a special focus on children growing up in poverty. By building on the unique relationship between parents and medical providers, Reach Out and Read helps families and communities encourage early literacy skills so children enter school prepared for success in reading. Currently, there are over 3,100 ROR programs based on the ROR model, all located at clinics, hospitals, and health centers. ROR serves 2.6 million children annually and distributes over 4.3 million books each year.

Ronald McDonald House Charities
Ronald McDonald House Charities, a non-profit 501 © (3) corporation, creates, finds and supports programs that directly improve the health and well being of children. RMHC programs are grassroots-driven to enable us to offer help where children need it most — right in their own communities. RMHC makes an immediate, positive impact on children’s lives through our global network of local Chapters in 52 countries and regions and our three core programs: Ronald McDonald House®, Ronald McDonald Family Room® and Ronald McDonald Care Mobile®. RMHC and our global network of local Chapters have awarded hundreds of millions of dollars in grants and program services to children’s programs around the world.

Room To Dream Foundation
The mission of the Room to Dream Foundation is to create healing environments in hospitals, communities, and homes for children and adolescents who are facing chronic illnesses. As they recuperate and recover, our hope is that their renovated spaces will improve their quality of life, promote strength, imagination, self-worth, and aid in their recovery processes.

The Room to Dream Foundation focuses its services on children and families living in low- and moderate-income urban and suburban areas. In order to complete each renovation, we purchase all of the furnishings and supplies. Every purchase is tailored to the specific needs of a child or family. Through a caring staff of professional and amateur artists, interior decorators, and volunteers, we design and transform living spaces that give children and adolescents room to dream of a healthier future.

Room to Grow
The mission of Room to Grow is to enrich the lives of babies born into poverty throughout their critical first three years of development.

Room to Grow's program provides parents raising babies in poverty with one-on-one parenting support and essential baby items throughout their children's critical first three years of life. Parents expecting a baby are referred to Room to Grow by selected prenatal programs assisting low-income families. Upon their referral, parents visit Room to Grow's warm and inviting space once every three months from just before the birth of the baby until their child turns three. During their one-on-one appointments with our staff clinicians, typically lasting two hours, parents receive developmental information, customized support, and all of the needed baby items to ensure a healthy and secure start for their child.

Soaring Words
Soaringwords‘ mission is to empower communities to support and inspire chronically ill children and their families to “Never give up!”

ALSAC - St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
The American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities (ALSAC) raises funds for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The mission of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital was founded by entertainer Danny Thomas and opened in 1962. It is supported primarily by funds from volunteer contributions raised by ALSAC. Research efforts are directed at understanding the molecular, genetic and chemical bases of catastrophic diseases in children, identifying cures for such diseases and promoting their prevention. Research is focused specifically on cancers, acquired and inherited immunodeficiencies, infectious diseases and genetic disorders

Tiger Woods Foundation
The Tiger Woods Foundation (TWF) was established in 1996 by Tiger Woods and his father Earl to empower young people to reach their highest potential by initiating and supporting community-based programs that promote the health, education and welfare of all of America's children. TWF started reaching out to young people primarily through junior golf clinics and a national grant program. From these efforts evolved fundraising events such as the Target World Challenge and Tiger Jam. Tiger and Earl started the Foundation based on the belief that we all have the responsibility to help young people achieve their dreams. With the help of many friends and supporters, the Foundation has reached out to millions of children across the country.

Trinity Kids, Inc
Trinity Kids, Inc. is a faith-based non-profit organization, 501 (C) (3), dedicated to providing week-long residence camps, single-day and weekend long activities for abused, neglected and abandoned children and teenagers.

Zaks Promise
Established in January of 2006, Zak’s Promise: Progress with Support, Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) charitable foundation founded by Jamie and Jacqueline Bassel in honor of their son, Zakary (3) who has Prader –Willi Syndrome (PWS).  Prader-Willi Syndrome is a rare and complex genetic disorder caused by a deficiency in a small region of the 15th chromosome. The 15th chromosome is a region vital to regulating appetite, metabolism, cognitive function and behavioral patterns. Recent medical studies have suggested that those afflicted with Autism and Autistic Disorders are also caused by genetic abnormalities on the same chromosome. Characterized at birth by extreme hypotonia, failure to thrive and severe developmental delays, Prader-Willi Syndrome is ironically the most commonly known cause of life-threatening obesity.