Erol Onel

An organization dedicated to supporting individuals who have been injured while serving in the armed forces, the Wounded Warrior Project includes a community of veterans and military servicemembers who many of us would consider heroes. In its continued efforts to lift up combat-wounded servicemen and women, the organization partnered with Marvel Entertainment to launch a program called Marvel Make Me a Hero.

The Show

A weekly show that first aired in 2018, Marvel Make Me a Hero began as a way to feature comic book fans who dreamt up new superheroes. The initial episodes included a variety of original superheroes, like a geologist who gained power over fire from a volcanic god, as well as a man with a magical beard. More recently, episodes have highlighted real people who do heroic things, such as essential workers.

The Partnership

In partnering with the Wounded Warrior Project, Marvel Make Me a Hero will shift to honor combat-wounded military servicemembers and veterans. Each episode will focus on how a Wounded Warrior is making a positive impact on their community while a Marvel artist drafts a comic book superhero inspired by their story.

The Mission

The Wounded Warrior Project-themed episodes aim to drive awareness about the organization and its many programs to support our country’s wounded veterans and military servicemembers, as well as their families and caregivers. These initiatives assist eligible Wounded Warriors with recovery and provide other services at no cost to them. Since it started in 2003, the Wounded Warrior Project has managed to invest $1.7 billion into its efforts and hopes to continue its mission with help from generous Marvel fans.

The Purple Heart Foundation originated in 1957 as a way to fund the Military Order of the Purple Heart, an organization made up of individuals who’ve earned the Purple Heart. This medal recognizes those who have been injured or killed while serving in the U.S. military. Through fundraising efforts, the foundation generates money that supports programs to help combat-wounded veterans and their families. 

Purple Heart Day takes place every August 7 to honor Purple Heart recipients, thank them for their service, and educate the public. First celebrated in 2014, Purple Heart Day offers an opportunity to acknowledge the sacrifices made by veterans and active military who’ve received the Purple Heart. 

The Medal and Award

Fashioned after a medal that George Washington gave to three men who served under him in battle during the Revolutionary War, the Purple Heart is a heart-shaped medal with a purple center and the profile of the country’s first president emblazoned on it. An engraving on the back of the medal reads, “For Military Merit.”

The medal became a standard award for military personnel who have been injured during battle when President Herbert Hoover authorized it on Washington’s 200th birthday. Since then, more than 1.8 million of the medals have been awarded. The Purple Heart is one of the few military medals awarded to servicemembers of any rank. 

How to Celebrate Purple Heart Day

Purple Heart Day is not a recognized federal holiday, but it is still observed around the country in a variety of a ways. Major League Baseball teams honor local Purple Heart recipients during pre-game ceremonies, and military and veterans organizations host remembrance meetings. The Purple Heart Foundation asks those who wish to observe the holiday to donate time or money to the organization to support the Military Order of the Purple Heart. 

Since 1902, Goodwill Industries International, Inc. has sought to help people reach their potential. The organization provides people with the opportunity to learn and find meaningful work in order to achieve their goals. In support of that mission, Goodwill oversees a network of thrift shops, with upwards of 3,300 stores nationwide managed through local affiliates. 

Regional Affiliates

The retail locations operate under the guidance of 156 regional affiliates, each of which manages its own independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The regional affiliates also maintain a certain amount of autonomy with their own board, and pay a membership fee to the international organization to continue functioning under the name of Goodwill.  

Thrift Store Operations

The thrift stores generate funding for training and job placement programs by selling items donated locally. Each location accepts clothing, furniture, and other gently used household goods. In turn, the money raised through sales goes toward programs for the local community served by the store’s regional affiliate. Every time a Goodwill store sells an item, it sets aside upwards of 90 percent of that sale for local programs. 

Shopping Online for Goodwill

The same is true of the organization’s online store, ShopGoodwill.com. This e-commerce site began in 1999 as an extension of Goodwill of Orange County, when the local organization chose to sell items from its stores online and drive more funding for programs in the Orange County area. Today, the online store represents 129 Goodwill thrift stores located all over the country.

As thrifting and resale become more popular with a younger generation, Goodwill thrift stores are growing in popularity. They continue to drive revenue that can be reinvested into their surrounding communities every day.

Since its founding in 1860, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America has sought to provide opportunities to young people who otherwise don’t have access to the resources they need to succeed. To achieve this, the organization set up a network of Clubs across the country where boys and girls can participate in programs that promote education, sports, and leadership. Additionally, the Clubs have offered kids a safe place where they can escape from dangers often found in their communities.

Why Safety Is Important

According to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, when students have a safe option for refuge, they can escape bullying as well as violence in their neighborhoods. In the security of a Club, those young people gain a secure space where they can focus on their studies, character development, and the other lessons and values that will allow them to reach their potential. To reinforce Club members’ sense of safety, the organization also hosts events and programs that spread awareness of safety in the broader community.

Safety Through Advocacy

In 2018, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America met with leaders from youth-focused nonprofits to determine a plan for increasing members’ safety in light of recent violent events, such as the shooting that occurred at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. During the event, the organization and youth leaders determined ways to boost both physical and emotional safety among young people. The discussion also resulted in ideas for how young people may act as advocates for change and how the organization can help facilitate that.

Safety From Bullying

Additionally, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America teamed up with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) to create a program to prevent bullying among young people. Wrestler Kofi Kingston starred in a video for the program and discussed his own experience with bullying and how young people who speak up can help put an end to the behavior.

Upon the founding of the American Heart Association (AHA) in 1924, one of its six founders, Dr. Paul Dudley White, suggested that the medical profession had “almost unbelievable ignorance” on the topic of heart disease. Since then, the organization has worked to improve awareness and knowledge around the disease, and has identified new causes and related conditions through ongoing research. 

As part of these efforts, AHA launched the National Hypertension Control Initiative to address hypertension, which can lead to heart disease. The initiative will spread awareness and promote prevention and treatment.

Why Is Hypertension an Issue?

Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, impacts nearly half of the adult population in the United States. The condition disproportionately affects Black and Latinx individuals almost twice as much as people in other communities, due to genetics, health concerns, environmental issues, and socioeconomic factors that can affect health. 

How Can the Initiative Address Hypertension?

In response to the prevalence of the condition, the initiative aims to reach impacted communities with a strategy that includes a few approaches. The program aims to provide resources directly to the public with information on how to stay healthy, detect hypertension, and seek treatment. Additionally, AHA will partner with community organizations to set up locations where residents can receive screenings and learn about the disease. Finally, the initiative recruits healthcare providers working in underserved communities to promote healthy practices and treatments.

What Is the Initiative’s Goal?

Ultimately, the initiative seeks to reduce the number of people in need of treatment for hypertension. This will have the spillover effect of reducing heart disease, including heart attack and stroke. It will also improve the health of individuals living in communities with higher risk. 

Disclaimer: This website contains general information about medical conditions and treatments. This information is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. No guarantee is given regarding the accuracy or validity of any statements or information provided on this website. Do not rely on this information as an alternative to medical advice from your doctor or another professional health-care provider. You should seek immediate medical attention if you think you are suffering from a medical condition. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or discontinue medical treatment because of information on this website.

In its nearly 120-year existence, Goodwill Industries International, Inc. has sought to break down barriers and provide job opportunities to people across the country and around the world. Through its initiatives, the organization helped nearly 22 million people in 2020. The year before, the group announced a partnership with the online job search engine Indeed in order to boost their efforts to help individuals find work, with additional cooperation from major employers like JPMorgan Chase.

The Partnership

Both Goodwill and Indeed share the same goals in that both hope to connect job seekers with sustainable employment. In teaming up, the two organizations set a goal of placing one million workers in secure jobs by 2024. To reach this goal, Indeed’s job-seeking tools and resources have been implemented throughout Goodwill’s 156 locations in the United States and Canada.

Skills Assessments

First, Goodwill applied an assessment tool available online through Indeed in order to help job seekers better understand their skills. A combination of tests that assess aptitude, personality, and skills gives job seekers the knowledge they need to strengthen their expertise and find roles that are a good match for their specific abilities.

Hiring Events

In addition to giving people more access to personal assessments, Goodwill and Indeed partnered with a number of hiring companies, including JPMorgan Chase. As it emphasizes diversity in hiring, the financial services giant chose to work with Goodwill by organizing Indeed Hiring Events at various locations. By participating in the program, the company accesses a diverse pool of candidates, including veterans and neurodiverse individuals.

Training

Finally, Goodwill’s partnership with Indeed also opened the door to more training opportunities for job seekers. Those who go to Goodwill to search for employment have the option to use Indeed’s training tools and build on their existing skill sets to improve their job options.

As part of Goodwill International Industries, Inc. initiative to assist individuals with finding sustainable employment, the organization has teamed up with the Anthem Foundation, a philanthropic division of health benefits company Anthem, Inc. Together, the two companies hope to provide services to female healthcare professionals that will allow them to claim jobs in the healthcare industry.

Rising Together

The partnership between Goodwill and the Anthem Foundation established the Rising Together coalition and its offshoot, Goodwill Healthcare CareerLaunch. Through these initiatives, the companies expect to train 1,700 job seekers, primarily women, and assist them in finding work over the next two years.

The Anthem Foundation’s Contribution

An organization dedicated to advancing communities and enhancing lives, the Anthem Foundation invests in social programs that promote equity among citizens around the country. Anthem plans to contribute $750,000 to Rising Together, which will go toward retaining resources and funding training for participating job seekers. 

Goodwill’s Services

For its part, Goodwill intends to host job training specific to the healthcare industry. Eight Goodwill organizations across the country will be a part of the initial cohort, including locations in Georgia, California, and Tennessee. The training will focus on providing job seekers the tools they need to pursue careers as phlebotomists, nursing assistants, and other healthcare positions that pay up to $19 per hour.

Additionally, Goodwill seeks to assist those in need of additional services, such as child care, housing, and transportation. Primarily, these services benefit women, who disproportionately carry the responsibility for family and child care. 

More about Rising Together

Other organizations involved in the Rising Together coalition include Google, Indeed, Lyft, and Coursera. They will award scholarships to qualifying job seekers, looking to boost skilled employment across a variety of industries, including health care.

In 1924 six cardiologists established the American Heart Association (AHA) to find new ways to treat heart disease and stroke. Since its inception, the organization has developed several programs to educate and spread the word about heart disease and related conditions, including cardiac arrest, which results in 475,000 deaths each year. As part of its efforts, the AHA offers training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) through its Emergency Cardiovascular Care program. 

Occurring over 12 weeks, Project Odyssey invites veterans to take part in a program that focuses on their mental health. The program employs adventure-based learning to empower veterans, strengthen their skills to remain resilient, and help them overcome any emotional wounds incurred during their military service.

Veterans who take part in Project Odyssey start with a mental health workshop lasting five days. During the workshop, participants remove themselves from their everyday routines, taking a step outside of their comfort zones. The experience includes therapy and rehabilitation with professionals who can help veterans strengthen their communication and coping skills.

The skills veterans learn during the initial five-day workshop are reinforced and enhanced over the following 11 weeks of the program. After completing Project Odyssey, veterans are encouraged to stay engaged with WWP to continue receiving ongoing support.

Project Odyssey and the many mental health programs offered by WWP seek to help veterans experiencing a wide range of conditions. According to the organization, one in three veterans experiences post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), while others live with traumatic brain injury or other brain-related syndromes. At the same time, one in three veterans also feel they do not have access to the mental health care they need.

WWP, with support from donors, has stepped in to fill this gap: the organization has provided more than 42,000 hours of outpatient care and therapy sessions to help our country’s wounded warriors.

Disclaimer: This website contains general information about medical conditions and treatments. This information is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. No guarantee is given regarding the accuracy or validity of any statements or information provided on this website. Do not rely on this information as an alternative to medical advice from your doctor or another professional healthcare provider. You should seek immediate medical attention if you think you are suffering from a medical condition. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or discontinue medical treatment because of information on this website.

With the objective of teaching lessons that promote healthy living, BGCA partnered with Anthem Foundation, the philanthropic division of Anthem, Inc., in 2005. Together, the organizations designed Triple Play as a way to deliver comprehensive wellness education to young people in three parts. 

Mind: Healthy Habits

The first component of the Triple Play curriculum covers healthy habits. This section covers the psychological elements involved in making healthy choices, such as eating well and being active. The course incorporates positive modeling that shows students how to make better choices. It also introduces nutrition education and exercises that help students understand how to follow healthy behaviors.

Body: Physical Activity

Next, Triple Play encourages physical activity through daily challenges. As part of this component of the program, students not only take part in physical activities, but earn a level of physical literacy as well. This includes strengthening their abilities in basic fitness and movement, building confidence in sporting skills, and motivating them to stay active throughout their lives.

Soul: Healthy Relationships 

Finally, the Triple Play initiative focuses on what it calls “social recreation.” Kids who participate in the program learn how to create and keep healthy relationships with others and with themselves, while also discovering how to make responsible decisions and regulate their emotions. The activities and materials intend to help students develop the social, emotional, and behavioral skills they need to live healthy, productive lives and get along with their peers. 

Disclaimer: This website contains general information about medical conditions and treatments. This information is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. No guarantee is given regarding the accuracy or validity of any statements or information provided on this website. Do not rely on this information as an alternative to medical advice from your doctor or another professional healthcare provider. You should seek immediate medical attention if you think you are suffering from a medical condition. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or discontinue medical treatment because of information on this website.

 Aiming to provide the training and support people need to earn and keep good jobs, Goodwill Industries International partners with companies to reach these goals. In 2017, Google collaborated with Goodwill to launch the Goodwill Digital Career Accelerator. 

Part of the Grow with Google initiative, established the same year, the Goodwill Digital Career Accelerator aimed to help Google reach its goal of training and providing resources to Americans to give them the digital tools and resources they need to find jobs. The initiative awarded a $10.3 million grant to Goodwill to start a digital training program. Goodwill also received support in the form of Google’s resources, talent, and tools. 

With a goal to reach over one million job seekers and teach them the digital skills they need to get a job, the Goodwill Digital Career Accelerator identified five levels of digital skills and set about creating training programs for each. 

The program’s digital skill levels include: 

• Digital skills awareness for individuals needing an introduction to computers and other digital topics; 
• Basic digital skills training, targeted at those who have some knowledge of computers but need help with email, social media, and keyboarding; 
• Productivity software skills, courses that provide instruction on using spreadsheets, word processing software, and similar tools; 
• Entry-level digital skills for those looking to gain basic programing or computer support skills; 
• Mid-level and occupation-specific digital skills, created for people looking to work with technology in specific fields, such as healthcare or marketing. 

Google also pledged to send more than 1,000 volunteers, including seven Google.org Fellows who worked full-time with Goodwill at one of the organization’s nationwide locations.

 Fundraising is vital to organizations like the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), which relies on community contributions to provide life-changing services to America’s veterans. Recently, the organization made headlines for a few fundraising efforts that saw dedicated supporters using some truly creative methods.  

Let’s look at two of the most inspiring WWP fundraising stories:

Stormtrooper 10k ruck

One Navy hospital corpsman put his own spin on WWP’s virtual Carry Forward event this past year by gearing up with a full set of Star Wars stormtrooper armor for his own 10-kilometer ruck (a fast march carrying weight). The man, Jeffrey Priela, walked along Highway 101 in Carlsbad, California, in late August 2020 to raise money for WWP in a year when veteran demand has risen sharply due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Priela has been wearing stormtrooper armor during fundraisers since 2016 and says that the outfit always garners smiles and attention from passersby. Though the armor is unforgiving, he says it’s well worth it to raise money for the causes he supports.

A veteran’s walk across the country

In 2019, Air Force veteran and Minnesota resident Jerry Meadows set off on a cross-country journey to raise money for WWP. He selected the organization because of its focus on the needs of both veterans and their families. Meadows, who recently underwent triple bypass surgery and brought an oxygen tank along for the journey, aimed to walk more than 1,200 miles from Minnesota to WWP headquarters in Florida for the fundraiser. His wife, Virginia, followed behind him in the family van to make sure he was safe and keep him supplied with his medication. 

Meadows said the journey was challenging, both physically and mentally, but the enthusiasm of passersby kept him going—that, and the worthy cause he was raising money to support.

 As of 2018, there were nearly 1.6 million nonprofits registered in the United States. Wonderful though it may be for all the causes these organizations support, the sheer number of available charities can make it difficult for the average American to choose which to align with. If you’re looking for a nonprofit to support, the following tips can help you make a decision. 

1. Outline your philanthropic goals. 

The first and most important step in selecting a charity to support is to determine your goals for donating or volunteering. Start by looking at your values and interests. Are you passionate about animal welfare? The arts? Helping veterans? Write out a brief mission statement—this can help you narrow down your focus and make it easier to find an organization that not only aligns with your goals, but also has the biggest impact on your favorite cause.

2. Get to know its mission. 

Once you start to research potential charities, you should look closely at each of their missions. Pay close attention to the way they present their values and goals. You should be able to understand exactly what they are trying to accomplish and how their programming and policies are helping them achieve that end. 

3. Research potential choices.

At some point, you should narrow your choices down to a few nonprofits. Now is the time to conduct more in-depth research about each organization. Your due diligence will ensure that your money will make the greatest impact possible, and that there isn’t anything fishy going on with the organization you choose to support. To this end, look into the nonprofit’s finances, governance, and history. You can also use popular charity vetting sites like Charity Navigator and GuideStar to help with your research.

1. Connecting patients with educational resources.

The AHA has built a comprehensive COVID-19 resource center for both heart patients and the general population. These resources not only help keep individuals informed on how to take the right precautions against the disease, but also outline which heart patients are most at risk for developing serious symptoms. The organization also has resource sections that help educate the public about staying healthy, active, and stress free during these difficult times.

2. Helping frontline health workers.

As COVID-19 began to spread across the US, the AHA responded quickly in an effort to provide training and resources to the nation’s healthcare workers. The organization has begun offering free educational courses on oxygenation and ventilation and has launched a new podcast series on COVID-19 Clinical Guidance. Moreover, the AHA has collaborated with other organizations to improve remote-patient monitoring systems and help ease the burden on hospital workers. 

3. Conducting important research.

This year, the AHA is pledging at least $2.5 million to the research of COVID-19 and its effects on patients with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular conditions. This money is helping fund research grants that seek to enhance our understanding of COVID-19 and its effect on these diseases, with a focus on preventing and treating the virus. The AHA is also setting aside money for its Health Technologies and Innovation Strategically Focused Research Centers, which are creating solutions to help those in the medical field get a better handle on the pandemic.

Disclaimer: This website contains general information about medical conditions and treatments. This information is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. No guarantee is given regarding the accuracy or validity of any statements or information provided on this website. Do not rely on this information as an alternative to medical advice from your doctor or another professional healthcare provider. You should seek immediate medical attention if you think you are suffering from a medical condition. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or discontinue medical treatment because of information on this website.

To this end, BGCA operates several programs aimed at keeping youths fit, minimizing their stress, and bonding with their peers:  

1. ALL STARS

With support from sponsor Buffalo Wild Wings, BGCA runs the ALL STARS sports league. It encourages kids between the ages of 6 and 18 to play flag football, soccer, and basketball.

Over a quarter of a million Club members played on ALL STARS teams in 2018, building teamwork skills and learning about good sportsmanship along the way. These teams also give kids a structured environment in which they can make friends and stay active.

2. Triple Play

Marketed as “a game plan for the mind, body and soul,” Triple Play has advocated for good nutrition and physical activity among its Club youth since 2005. This program takes a multi-faceted approach to its mission.

By emphasizing health habits, Triple Play helps kids cultivate better health behaviors and teaches them about nutrition. The program also focuses on social recreation as a way of fostering both behavioral development among Club youth. Lastly, Triple Play uses daily challenges to motivate kids to get active and enhance their physical abilities.

3. PLAY BALL

In partnership with the MLB, BGCA’s PLAY BALL program gets Club youth involved in baseball and softball. Whether they play in a league or just for fun, members learn the basics of these sports while participating in a fun, new physical activity.

Disclaimer: This website contains general information about medical conditions and treatments. This information is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. No guarantee is given regarding the accuracy or validity of any statements or information provided on this website. Do not rely on this information as an alternative to medical advice from your doctor or another professional healthcare provider. You should seek immediate medical attention if you think you are suffering from a medical condition. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or discontinue medical treatment because of information on this website.

This would not be possible without the support of the wider community, whose contributions help fund the organization’s life-changing work. Here are three ways in which you can give back to military veterans through WWP:

1. Become a Corporate Sponsor

Corporate sponsorships are an essential resource for WWP. The organization currently works with more than a dozen sponsors, including Under Armour, AmazonSmile, and the NFL. By pledging an annual donation to WWP, your company can join this list and help contribute to the recovery of veterans from across the US.

The organization also has a special sponsorship program for those who give between $2,500 and $99,999 per year. These “corporate champions” receive access to WWP assets in return for their generous support.

2. Participate in a Soldier Ride

Every year, WWP hosts the Soldier Ride event as a way of encouraging residents of Long Island to support veterans who sustained injuries in combat. Participants have the opportunity to set their own fundraising goals. Friends and family can support participants by donating while they complete their 25-mile rides. In 2020, WWP moved the Soldier Ride online but encouraged participants to organize their own rides and ask their loved ones to donate.

3. Run in a Carry Forward 5K

You can support the work of the WWP by participating in one of the Carry Forward 5K events that the organization hosts across the country throughout the year. Most runners use these events as a way to raise money, but there are other unique ways to support veterans. For instance, WWP encourages participants to carry weights or people on their backs as they run to honor veterans and the burdens that they bear for our country. 

Disclaimer: This website contains general information about medical conditions and treatments. This information is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. No guarantee is given regarding the accuracy or validity of any statements or information provided on this website. Do not rely on this information as an alternative to medical advice from your doctor or another professional healthcare provider. You should seek immediate medical attention if you think you are suffering from a medical condition. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or discontinue medical treatment because of information on this website.