Charities - Top Recommended

GiGi’s Playhouse is a one-of-a-kind achievement center for individuals with Down syndrome, their families, and the community. GiGi’s Playhouse offers more than 30 therapeutic and educational programs that advance literacy, math skills, motor skills and more; all of which are free of charge.

Programs are created by professional therapists and teachers who generously donate their time and expertise. All programs are based on best practices for Down syndrome learning styles, and customized to ensure individual success. GiGi’s Playhouse actually serves infants through adults. GiGi’s Playhouse is headquartered in Hoffman Estates, IL; with 17 locations throughout the United States and Mexico, with more opening soon.

GiGi’s Playhouse makes a difference every day. Our unique points of difference empower individuals and their parents to achieve their greatest potential with confidence, independence, and joy. We have a “place”: we will never let location be a barrier to success. We have “programs”: we will never let curriculum be a boundary to achievement. Most importantly, programs are free. We will never let cost deter our families from participation or impede the achievement of our children and adults.

Visit charity page »

« Show Less

Global Kids, Inc. (GK) is the premier nonprofit educational organization for global learning and youth development that works to ensure that youth from underserved areas have the knowledge, skills, experiences and values they need to succeed in school, participate effectively in the democratic process, and achieve leadership in their communities and in the world.

« Show Less

Guiding Eyes for the Blind is dedicated to enriching the lives of blind and visually impaired men and women by providing them with the freedom to travel safely, thereby assuring greater independence, dignity and new horizons of opportunity. Guiding Eyes breeds, raises, and trains guide dogs and trains students to work with guide dogs that have been carefully selected to match their individual needs. Our training programs and life-long follow-up support are completely free of charge. Besides having an outstanding staff of instructors and an internationally admired corps of guide dogs, Guiding Eyes prides itself on small class size (average 12 students per class) allowing for plenty of individual attention, and a casual, friendly, home-like atmosphere throughout the school.

Visit charity page »

« Show Less

“Founded in 1976, Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) is an ecumenical Christian housing ministry. HFHI seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world, and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. Habitat invites people of all backgrounds, races and religions to build houses together in partnership with families in need. Habitat has built more than 300,000 houses around the world, providing more than 1.5 million people in more than 3,000 communities with safe, decent, affordable shelter. Habitat is founded on the conviction that every man, woman and child should have a simple, decent, affordable place to live in dignity and safety.”

Visit charity page »

« Show Less

The JCC on the Hudson is a welcoming, inclusive gathering place where we enrich the greater community by offering social, recreational, educational and cultural opportunities guided by Jewish values.

Founded in Yonkers in 1929, the Jewish Community Center on the Hudson has grown to be a focal point for the Jewish community in the Rivertowns and greater Westchester areas, providing educational, social, cultural and recreational programs for individuals of all ages, faiths and backgrounds.

Adults come to the JCC to work out in our fitness center, take an exercise or Yiddish class, learn to play a musical instrument, watch a film, attend a lecture or participate in a club. Youngsters learn and have fun at our Early Childhood Program, Almost Home, our after-school program, our day camps, enrichment classes and our school of music and performing arts. We continue to expand our offerings to meet the growing needs of all our stakeholders– children, teens, young adults, adults and those with special needs.

Through the purchase of a new building, our vision of creating a full-service campus replete with a pool, gymnasium, fitness center, performance space and cafe, will become reality. The new site will enable us to enhance and expand our Early Childhood Program, after-school care and adult programming. Upon completion, the new JCC will strengthen community life for the Jewish, Rivertown and greater Westchester populations.

We offer both member and non-member programs and provide scholarship opportunities for those requiring assistance.

The JCC is registered through New York State as a 501(c)3, not-for-profit corporation, guided by a dedicated volunteer Board of Governors and an experienced professional staff.

Visit charity page »

« Show Less