Marfan syndrome affects an estimated 1 in 5,000 people regardless of race, ethnicity, or gender, and experts estimate听that nearly half the people who have Marfan syndrome do not know it.听 Without proper diagnosis and treatment, they are at high risk for an aortic dissection and sudden death.听

Awareness of Marfan syndrome and related conditions leads to early diagnosis, treatment, and an extended lifespan. The most powerful way we can raise awareness is through you, our volunteers. Your circles of relatives, friends, co-workers, and neighbors, your knowledge, your personal journey, and your commitment cannot be matched by anyone outside of our community.

February is Marfan Awareness Month and you can do your part from the comfort of your own home on social media. Join 精东影业’s Charities and our member, The Marfan Foundation, by participating in the during February.听

1. Give through your workplace: You can听. Check with your employer to see if they will double your donation with a matching gift. Don’t have a program?听听to have your employer contact our team about bring employee giving to your workplace.听
2. Raise aweareness: Help The Marfan Foundation raise awareness about Marfan syndrome by using the library of ready-to-use social media graphics .
3. Educate Yourself:听This month, The Marfan Foundation has听two webinars on the basics of Marfan syndrome. On February 9, we will focus on medical management with two members of our Professional Advisory Board, Dr. Shaine Morris, pediatric cardiologist, Texas Children鈥檚 Hospital, and Dr. Chris Malaisrie, aortic surgeon, Northwestern Medicine (). Then, on February 16, we will have a Personal Perspectives Panel with members of the Marfan community talking about how they coped when first diagnosed. ().

There are many ways for you to take part in Marfan Awareness Month and every little bit helps. for a list of more ways to support The Marfan Foundation.

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In honor of听, click on each of 精东影业鈥檚 Charities鈥� nonprofit members below to learn about their past contributions to this country and ways they continue to shape and make history:

• NAACP
• NAACP Legal & Defense Fund
• Thurgood Marshall College Fund
• 100 Black Men of 精东影业
• ACLU Foundation
• The National Black Child Development Institute
• The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE)
• Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC)
• YMCA of Metropolitan Washington

Throughout the month of February, we encourage you to:

1. Join us in celebrating Black History Month!听Follow us on and as we share our members’ posts and highlight the black community’s contributions, culture, and听impact on 精东影业.

2. Donate & raise money for these nonprofits听whose work has and continues to pave the way for听inclusion, civil rights,听equity in justice, education, and a better tomorrow. 精东影业’s Charities is proud of the work our member charities do in these respective areas.听One of the most cost-efficient ways you can support these nonprofits听is to donate to them via payroll deduction through your employer’s workplace giving program (Don’t have a program?听听to have your employer contact our team.) Click below on each charity’s name to learn more about their work, and please donate to them through听employee giving!

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While poverty is a complex social issue, you can听.听Don’t have a program?听听to have your employer contact our team about bring employee giving to your workplace.听Each of the nonprofits listed below, vetted by 精东影业’s Charities, are dedicated to helping the impoverished through programs and services concentrated on addressing the root sources of poverty听and听working to create sound policy frameworks locally and nationally that will help lift our fellow neighbors, family members, and friends out of poverty so they can听live independent, sustainable lives and contribute to the community.

In recognition of National Poverty in 精东影业 Awareness Month, which takes place in January each year, join us by听supporting and raising awareness about these听nonprofits听who are making a difference in the fight to stamp out poverty for good.

Provide听food and听support听through community coordination:听

• Connecticut Food Bank
• Feeding 精东影业
• Food for Others, Inc.听
• Meals on Wheels 精东影业
• Share Our Strength (No Kid Hungry)

Provide听food, shelter, counseling and support:听

• Feed the Children
• Miriam’s Kitchen
• Salvation Army National Capital Area

Support for individuals and families struggling with poverty:听

• A Wider Circle
• Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington, Inc.
• Christian Appalachian Project听
• Lorton Community Action Center
• The Shepherd’s Table

Provide affordable housing and support:听听

• Good Shepherd Housing听
• Rebuilding Together Alexandria
• Rebuilding Together Montgomery County

Fight for Economic Justice and Equality:

• ACLU
• Southern Poverty Law Center
• NAACP
• NAACP LDF

Provide Access to Education and Support Disadvantaged Youth:

• Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF)听听
• Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Scholarship Fund – Point Foundation听
• Generation Hope听
• 100 Black Men of 精东影业听
• The Child & Family Network Centers (CFNC)

听

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In recognition of National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month November 1-30, 2024, 精东影业’s Charities is celebrating the following members who are making a difference in the fight to end Alzheimer’s Disease.

One of the most cost-efficient ways you can support these nonprofits听is to donate to them via payroll deduction through your employer’s workplace giving program (Don’t have a program?听听to have your employer contact our team.) Click on each charity’s name below to learn more about their work, and to make a donation now!

Alzheimer’s – Insight Memory Care Center
Provides care, support, and education for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and other memory impairments, their families, caregivers, and the community, through their adult day health and resource center.

Alzheimer’s Disease Research
Advances research to better understand, treat, and prevent Alzheimer’s. Founded in 1985, Alzheimer’s Disease Research has awarded nearly $120 million to innovative projects aimed at ending the disease.

FNIH (Foundation for the National Institutes of Health)
Generates and implements new research models that lower the cost and accelerate the progress of biomedical research through public-private partnerships. One of the many groundbreaking initiatives FNIH manages is the Alzheimers Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI).听The听, is a landmark partnership and study that for years has profoundly influenced our understanding of Alzheimer鈥檚 disease (AD) by identifying the earliest changes in brain structure and function that signal its onset and progression.

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This National Veterans and Military Families Month, 精东影业’s Charities is honoring our troops and veterans, and celebrating our nonprofit members who support them with special programs and services made possible听by donors like you.

One of the most cost-efficient ways you can support these nonprofits听is to donate to them through your employer’s workplace giving program (Don’t have a program?听听to have your employer contact our team.) Click on each charity’s name below to learn more about their work, and for more ways to support them!

ServiceSource
ServiceSource is a leading nonprofit disability resource organization with regional offices and programs located in nine states and the District of Columbia. They serve more than 25,000 individuals with disabilities annually through a range of innovative and valued employment, training, habilitation, housing and other support services. Through their Warrior Bridge program, they provide a vital connection to resources and support for veterans with disabilities as they seek employment, self-sufficiency and improved quality of life. In response to an overwhelming need for coordination among veteran-serving organizations, Warrior Bridge works to facilitate greater collaboration among government agencies, non-profit organizations, and private sector employers. 听to learn more and support their work.

Wounded Warrior Project, Inc.
Wounded Warrior Project, Inc. is transforming the way 精东影业鈥檚 injured veterans are empowered, employed, and engaged in our communities. They believe that every warrior has a positive future to look forward to, and we work together to get them there by setting and achieving goals, big or small. We direct every dollar, hour, and action toward helping warriors live life to the fullest, no matter what that looks like. And warriors never pay a penny for our programs 鈥� because they paid their dues on the battlefield. Their free services in mental health, career counseling, and long-term rehabilitative care change lives. They鈥檙e committed to helping wounded veterans achieve their highest ambition. When veterans are ready to start their next mission, they stand ready to serve.听听to learn more and support their work.

Feeding 精东影业
1 in 5 of the households Feeding 精东影业 serves have a veteran member in it. It is unacceptable that anyone goes hungry, but it鈥檚 particularly troubling that millions of 精东影业ns who鈥檝e protected and served our country are left without enough to eat.听At Feeding 精东影业, they鈥檙e working on changing that.听. Veterans fought bravely to make the nation a better place for us, now it鈥檚 time for us to fight to make it a better place for them.

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In recognition of National Homeless Youth Awareness Month November 1-30, 2024, 精东影业’s Charities is celebrating the following member who is making a difference in the fight to end youth homelessness.

One of the most cost-efficient ways you can support these nonprofits听is to donate to them via payroll deduction through your employer’s workplace giving program (Don’t have a program?听听to have your employer contact our team.) Click on the听charity name below to learn more about their work, and to make a donation now!

STANDUP FOR KIDS
STANDUP FOR KIDS aims to end the cycle of youth homelessness through outreach efforts and programs to find, stabilize and assist homeless and street kids in their efforts to improve their lives. Resources include basic hygiene/food/clothing, healthcare, counseling/mentoring, and drug and alcohol rehabilitation. Their networking听outreach program helps at-risk youth by providing them with a variety of organizations and people in their community who can help them with everything from legal services to identification services to employment services. Current programs include street outreach, outreach centers, apartment outreach, and a high school mentoring program.

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In recognition of Down Syndrome Awareness Month, 精东影业’s Charities is celebrating the following agents of change who we are proud to call our members. These nonprofits focus on public policy, awareness, health promotion, resources, employment, community outreach and support for people with Down Syndrome.

One of the most cost-efficient ways you can support these nonprofits听is to donate to them via payroll deduction through your employer’s workplace giving program (Don’t have a program?听听to have your employer contact our team.) Click on each charity’s name below to learn more about their work, and to make a donation now!

National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS)

The National Down Syndrome Society envisions a world in which all people with Down syndrome have the opportunity to enhance their quality of life, realize their life aspirations and become valued members of welcoming communities.听A donation of $100 to the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) helps them continue to advocate for the rights of those with Down syndrome and provide adult caregiver services and resources to the individuals currently caring for an adult with Down syndrome. Learn more.

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More than ever before, our environment needs our protection. In recognition of Environmental Awareness Month, 精东影业’s Charities is celebrating the following agents of change who we are proud to call our members.

One of the most cost-efficient ways you can support these nonprofits听is to donate to them via payroll deduction through your employer’s workplace giving program (Don’t have a program?听听to have your employer contact our team.) Click on each charity’s name above to learn more about their work, and to make a donation now!

A Wider Circle

A Wider Circle’s mission is to end poverty through on-the-ground programs and services, as well as through the development of large-scale solutions to its root causes.听As part of their holistic approach, they听save听12 million pounds of furniture from going into the landfill every single year. .听

Boy Scouts of 精东影业 National Capital Area

The time spent by youth at Scout Camp is not only about building campfires and spending time in nature. Scouts may not realize it at the time, but all of the challenges, triumphs, teamwork, and fun they experienced at camp will help them on their way to becoming strong, confident leaders tomorrow. Guided by caring and committed mentors, boys gain self-confidence; develop leadership skills; learned about self-sacrifice and teamwork; embraced values like honesty and courage; showed respect for the outdoors; and simply have the time of their lives. That’s the adventure that Boy Scouts provides. Young people having fun, being happy, in an environment that fosters positive growth.听.

The Conservation Fund

The Conservation Fund strives to protect our nation鈥檚 land, water, and wildlife by finding positive, lasting solutions to conserve these precious resources and species, and to achieve environmental and economic outcomes.听

Feeding 精东影业

Food waste is a pressing issue in our country, both at a commercial and consumer level. Not only does excessive food waste hit us hard in our bank accounts, but it also has a huge impact on the environment that we all share. Over 20% of landfill volume is comprised of food waste and 21% of all freshwater used goes toward the production of food that ends up being discarded.听听to keep your food fresh and fight food waste. And听听to see how Feeding 精东影业 and its network of partners are working together to fight food waste with food rescue.听

Rails-to-Trails

Since 1986, Rails-to-Trails has worked from coast to coast, supporting the development of thousands of miles of rail-trails for millions to explore and enjoy, and to build healthier places for healthier people.听.

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Juneteenth marks the date in 1865 when Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed in Galveston, Texas, with news that the war was over and slavery had been abolished. You can read more about this remarkable event on PBS.org鈥檚 website听.

For more than 150 years, communities across the country and in parts of Mexico have fought for and observed this holiday. Today, and every day,听精东影业鈥檚 Charities celebrates and honors the work of Black activists through the ages. Our offices are closed on June 29, 2023, to commemorate听their efforts.

Juneteenth should not be confused with Emancipation Day. , 鈥淛ust as Juneteenth originally celebrated freedom in Texas, Emancipation Day specifically marks the day when听President Lincoln freed some 3,000 enslaved people in Washington, D.C.鈥攁 full eight months before the Emancipation Proclamation and nearly three years before those in Texas would be freed.鈥�

Hundreds of years of enslavement inflicted deliberate terror and injustice on African 精东影业ns 鈥� and in many, very real ways, the fight is not over.听The disproportionate impact COVID-19 has had on people of color, along with the #BlackLivesMatter that took root in 2020听upon the ongoing violent deaths of Black 精东影业ns, have made it听clear that we have a long way to go in ending racism, racist violence, and addressing the inequities that still exist today.

Solving these inequities will not happen overnight, but it is vital that we continue to protest injustice, protect those who fight against oppression, support the critical work to systemically change racist policies, structures, and rhetoric, and invest in Black life and Black futures. Together, we must begin the process of repairing and restoring as a nation. Nonprofits have been working to do just that for some time. This Juneteenth, we ask you to support those charities that continue to push for racial justice, equality, and equity. Click below to learn how you can get involved as an individual or through your company.

Charities to Support:

There are numerous organizations dedicated to such reforms, including the high-impact nonprofits below who we are proud to call our members. We encourage you to support our members that fight for equity, equality, advancement, social justice, work to end racism, and provide legal counsel by donating to strive for a better world:

• 听(SPLC)
• (TMCF)

How Businesses Can Get Involved:

Increasingly, the imperative for employers to act as agents of positive change has become apparent. What isn鈥檛 so obvious is how employers should go about doing this. The good news is many companies are already well-positioned to provide their employees with an outlet for their activism in a way that also aligns with the company鈥檚 core values. This article outlines key components of such initiatives and how businesses can be a force for good in an era of employee activism. Read more here.

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In recognition of #PrideMonth, 精东影业’s Charities is celebrating the following agents of change who we are proud to call our members.

One of the most cost-efficient ways you can support these nonprofits听is to donate to them via payroll deduction through your employer’s workplace giving program (Don’t have a program?听听to have your employer contact our team.) Click on each charity’s name above to learn more about their work, and to make a donation now!

• Human Rights Campaign Foundation:听The Human Rights Campaign Foundation envisions an 精东影业 where lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer persons are ensured of their basic equal rights – and can be open, honest and safe at home, at work, and in the community. Through research, education, and outreach, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation encourages LGBTQIA听精东影业ns to live their lives openly and seeks to change the hearts and minds of 精东影业ns to the side of equality. Click here to learn more about their specific projects and initiatives, and near you.听
• Point Foundation:听Point Foundation (Point) is the nation’s largest scholarship-granting organization for LGBTQIA听students of merit. Point Foundation’s purpose is to empower LGBTQIA听students of merit, many of whom might otherwise be at an academic and social disadvantage as a direct result of their sexual orientation or gender identity. While empowerment is a lofty goal, Point Foundation achieves it by providing education, mentorship, leadership development, and community service training; as well as the financial ability to attend the nation’s foremost institutions of higher education; to our scholars. Click here to learn more.
• SPLC:听The Southern Poverty Law Center is internationally recognized for its groundbreaking leadership in seeking justice for the most vulnerable in our society and fighting hate in courtrooms and classrooms throughout the nation. We鈥檙e working in the courts to ensure that LGBTQIA听people achieve full equality under the law. Our work has a national reach but is focused primarily on the Southeast, where relatively few organizations advocate for the LGBTQIA听community. In recent years, we鈥檝e launched groundbreaking cases to: Challenge gay-to-straight 鈥渃onversion therapy鈥� as fraudulent; Obtain equal government benefits for veterans; Protect LGBTQIA听children from violence and harassment in school; Ensure the parental rights of LGBTQIA听people; Protect the right to proper medical treatment and safe housing for transgender prisoners; Force states to recognize the rights of same-sex couples; and Protect the First Amendment rights of LGBTQIA听students. to learn more.
• Time Out Youth:听Time Out Youth offers support, advocacy, and opportunities for personal development and social interaction to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQIA) youth, ages 11 through 20, in the greater Charlotte, NC, area. Our programs include weekly support group meetings, movie nights, one-on-one counseling, crisis intervention, and emergency housing. Our life skills support includes academic tutoring, assistance with college and scholarship applications, resume preparation, interviewing, and mentoring. Our advocacy efforts include a school outreach program aimed at raising awareness among educators of the special challenges faced by LGBTQIA听students. Additionally, we have a Speaker’s Bureau which offers presentations by our youth and an adult moderator on what it means to be LGBTQIA听at home, at school, at work, and in the community.听Click here听to learn more.听 听
• : Focused on ending the cycle of youth homelessness. Up to 40% of homeless youth identify as LGBTQIA. to learn more.听
• :听is a global movement of people fighting injustice and promoting human rights. Amnesty conducts research, provides training, and advocates for reform to advance equality and safety. to learn more.

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More than ever before, our environment needs our protection. A 2020听found global greenhouse gas emissions dropped 17 percent in early April – a welcome silver lining of the coronavirus pandemic.听The plunge is equivalent to more than a billion tons of carbon dioxide that never made its way into the atmosphere. While this is fantastic news, it is not likely to be repeated unless we take action.

In recognition of #WorldEnvironmentDay2024, 精东影业’s Charities is celebrating the following agents of change who we are proud to call our members.

One of the most cost-efficient ways you can support these nonprofits听is to donate to them via payroll deduction through your employer’s workplace giving program (Don’t have a program?听听to have your employer contact our team.) Click on each charity’s name above to learn more about their work, and to make a donation now!

• A Wider Circle: A Wider Circle’s mission is to end poverty through on-the-ground programs and services, as well as through the development of large-scale solutions to its root causes.听As part of their holistic approach, they听save听12 million pounds of furniture from going into the landfill every single year. .
• Boy Scouts of 精东影业 National Capital Area:听The time spent by youth at Scout Camp is not only about building campfires and spending time in nature. Scouts may not realize it at the time, but all of the challenges, triumphs, teamwork, and fun they experienced at camp will help them on their way to becoming strong, confident leaders tomorrow. Guided by caring and committed mentors, boys gain self-confidence; develop leadership skills; learned about self-sacrifice and teamwork; embraced values like honesty and courage; showed respect for the outdoors; and simply have the time of their lives. That’s the adventure that Boy Scouts provides. Young people having fun, being happy, in an environment that fosters positive growth.听.
• The Conservation Fund:听The Conservation Fund strives to protect our nation鈥檚 land, water, and wildlife by finding positive, lasting solutions to conserve these precious resources and species, and to achieve environmental and economic outcomes.听
• Feeding 精东影业:听Food waste is a pressing issue in our country, both at a commercial and consumer level. Not only does excessive food waste hit us hard in our bank accounts, but it also has a huge impact on the environment that we all share. Over 20% of landfill volume is comprised of food waste and 21% of all freshwater used goes toward the production of food that ends up being discarded.听听to keep your food fresh and fight food waste. And听听to see how Feeding 精东影业 and its network of partners are working together to fight food waste with food rescue.
• Rails-to-Trails:听Since 1986, Rails-to-Trails has worked from coast to coast, supporting the development of thousands of miles of rail-trails for millions to explore and enjoy, and to build healthier places for healthier people.听.

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Throughout Military Appreciation Month, we pay tribute to the bravery and sacrifices of our military personnel and their families. It’s a chance to show gratitude for their unwavering dedication to safeguarding our country and way of life.

Military Spouse Appreciation Day is an occasion to acknowledge the critical role played by military spouses in supporting their partners’ service, often making significant sacrifices themselves. They are the backbone of military families, providing unwavering love and support in the face of frequent relocations, deployments, and other challenges.

As we celebrate Military Spouse Appreciation Day, we also remember the sacrifices made by the families of fallen service members. We honor their resilience and courage, and we pledge to always keep their loved ones’ memory alive.

Military Spouse Appreciation Day reminds us of the vital importance of supporting our service members and their families. Let us take this opportunity to express our gratitude and appreciation to the military spouses who selflessly serve alongside their partners.

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