Adriana Gascoigne

Philanthropic and non-profit volunteer work have always played a big role in my life. Well, I won’t lie, at one point, while attending a Catholic all-girls school it was a mandatory part of our curriculum to volunteer about eight hours per week to a local non-profit or philanthropy. I chose to become a candy-striper at a hospital walking distance from my house. My experience volunteering at the hospital was a lot more depressing than philanthropic, however, at the end of the day, the daily stories I read to the elderly, the special apple sauce runs I would make for the sick, or the comfort and attention I would provide the premature babies were all special moments and experiences for me that would change my life forever.

Since my candy-striper days, I’ve volunteered for organizations such as Future Leaders of America, The Woodland Mentorship Program, Enterprise for High school Students (EHSS), Habitat for Humanity, Miami Children’s Hospital, The Red Cross, Green Peace, and the Mexico City earthquake disaster relief program. Each providing a deep, humbling and educational experience, I feel that volunteering for non-profits fulfills and enriches my soul and day-to-day life. It has become an important part of my daily schedule, even a priority, to give back to under-developed communities, the environment, to those less fortunate than I, and helping provide immediate assistance to victims devastated by a natural disaster.

Below are a few virtual philanthropies that I suggest you check out. They are creating massive, global change by bridging the gap between technology and non-profit efforts. These organizations are making it seamless to provide awareness, assistance, and fund raising on an accessible, scalable and social level. Become a part of the Virtual Change Movement!

TechSoup.com

Powered by CompuMentor, one of the nation’s oldest and largest nonprofit technology assistance agencies, TechSoup.org offers nonprofits a one-stop resource for technology needs by providing free information, resources, and support. In addition to online information and resources, we offer a product philanthropy service called TechSoup Stock. Here, nonprofits can access donated and discounted technology products, generously provided by corporate and nonprofit technology partners.

Kiva.org

Kiva’s mission is to connect people through lending for the sake of alleviating poverty. Kiva is the world’s first person-to-person micro-lending website, empowering individuals to lend directly to unique entrepreneurs in the developing world.

Change.org

Change.org aims to transform social activism by serving as the central platform that connects likeminded people, whatever their interests, and enables them to exchange information, share ideas, and collectively act to address the issues they care about.

DonorsChoose.org

DonorsChoose.org is dedicated to addressing the scarcity and inequitable distribution of learning materials and experiences in our public schools. We believe this inequity is rooted in the following factors:

1. Shortages of learning materials prevent thorough, engaging instruction;
2. Top-down distribution of materials stifles our best teachers and discourages them from developing targeted solutions for their students; and
3. Small, directed contributions have gone un-tapped as a source of funding.

DonorsChoose.org will improve public education by engaging citizens in an online marketplace where teachers describe and individuals can fund specific student projects. We envision a nation where students in every community have the resources they need to learn.

WorldofGood.com

Our mission is to provide a trusted platform where individuals can create positive change through commerce, as part of a global community. We believe that a growing number of individuals want to understand how the choices they make impact people and the planet. There is an important need for trusted information, and a need for transparency into how and where products are made. Our goal is to provide our community with the resources needed to make good choices and connect with others who share the same passion.

http://www.squidoo.com/org20