We’d like to pick your brains and ask you what your favorite charity is in metro Birmingham (and why).
Please post your answers in the comments section. There is a method to our madness… Depending on the answers that we get we’ll be letting you know why in a couple of days. (at least what the next step will be – if we need it).
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Ike Pigott on 
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ScottW on 
what a great question – it’s heartening to read how many worthy nonprofits birmingham has.
as the founder of MUSE, i’m not sure we qualify as a charity, though we are at times a charity CASE.
we’re just glad to be new in town, working alongside several other delish and long-standing theatre groups who have already made great strides in creating a professional theatre scene.
as for worthy charities, my vote goes for the new ronald mcdonald house downtown – great digs, great location, great folks, and a great cause.
and nothing says “worthy” like a grown man in a big red wig.
I second Cherie’s heart-felt (non)non-profit of Sharrif Simmons. Raising a 12 year old takes a lot of hard work and I can’t imagine being robbed AND shot. That’s really scary.
But if I have to pick a non-profit then of course I pick MUSE OF FIRE: Shakespeare at Sloss. MUSE OF FIRE will be beginning their second year this fall and it’s going to be an exciting ride (what else would you expect from MUSE?). A few of MUSE’s long term goals include creating a professional scene for thespians so Birmingham isn’t so littered with starving artists, reaching out to school systems that lack a healthy theater program and a traveling theater program (MUSE-on-Wheels if you will). MUSE also fulfills almost every criteria and goal of the Cultural Alliance of Greater Birmingham’s Master Plan (it’s a wonderful bed-time read). SO VOTE MUSE OF FIRE! We all could use a little more grudgy (yet innovative) Shakespeare in our life.
ZM
There’s so many to choose from… ACS is great, I think the Vulcan Park Foundation is important and the list could go on. But I personally spend most of my time with Better Basics, a literacy organization with several programs in schools with a high need. It’s important to me not only as a woman who LOVES to read (and in fact, makes her living because other people read, as well) but also because literacy is such a valuable tool for success in life.
Birmingham is home to several wonderful nonprofits. My husband and I are involved with a number of them. But, lately, my heart has turned to a very special cause that does not involve a nonprofit organization. It centers around local performance artist, Sharrif Simmons, who was shot and robbed in May. Like many artists, Sharrif does not have insurance. With more than $80,000 in medical bills plus a 12 year old son to raise, Sharrif is going through a tough time right now. Yet, his spirits remain very high and positive. Many individuals in the community have thrown benefits to help Sharrif out. From concerts at WorkPlay and the Nick to art auctions at Rojo, people have really been showing their support for Sharrif. It is this grassroots spirit of giving that makes Birmingham special to me. However, Sharrif has a long road of surgery and recovery ahead and the medical expenses continue to rise. I pray that the community will continue to pull together to help him. Recently, the Kickball All-Stars announced that they will be playing against Rojo Restaurant for their “causes of choice” on Monday, August 13 at Avondale Park at 7 pm. The Kickball All-Stars will be playing for the Greater Birmingham Humane Society and the Rojo Tastemakers will be playing for Sharrif. Both are wonderful causes. Gotta love it!
I second Ruffner Mountain. Ruffner allows people to experience nature and learn about local wildlife without having to leave the city or pay any admission. It is definitely an asset to Birmingham.
Ruffner Mountain Nature Center: No where else has what Ruffner has. Peace, nature, education, recreation, no-fee’s. Ruffner is a diamond emerging in a city made from coal.
Andre, thanks for that clarification. I do appreciate it.
Given my family history of cancer, I will always support the American Cancer society and the Relay for Life. But I don’t know how much gets returned to this community, so another charity supporting cancer research is the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation and their Ride for Kids. I know that a good percentage of the money raised locally stays here for cancer research.
I also support the Greater Birmingham Humane Society. There are a lot of things that animals do for us to help us. Unfortunately when people neglect or mistreat animals, they need our help. We are fortunate to have a good resource here.
I work with two volunteer organizations in town, both worthy of a mention.
The first, Hands on Birmingham is part of the national Hands On Network, matching volunteers with service projects in the community. They do a fantastic job of addressing needs with helpers, supplies and more in a timely fashion.
The second is Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Birmingham. Their mission pairs children with adult role models in the metro area, volunteers who make a lasting impact in young lives.
I love working with both organization, but I encourage anyone out there to jump in with a good cause now. It’s fun, it’s rewarding, and it’s vital to give back to the community.
This is a tough one. For a local charity (or at least a non-profit) I don’t think you can go wrong with Children’s Hospital. We have a nationally renowned program, and all children are helped regardless of ability to pay.
Magic Moments is a wonderful charity base here in Alabama that helps poverty stricken children. Another charity that may be more tech related is Hopeline which gives cell phones to women and children who are victims of domestic violence.
Thanks for the question.
We’re considering the first two: local charities or those that are not based locally but do work locally.
I have a request for clarification, please.
Do you want only local charities, ones that are not based locally but do work locally, or anything with a 501C3 designation?
I support a number of different charities for different reasons. Some are local, some work locally and some are national or international. It depends on the work that charity does, and where the need is located.
I know, I’m being picky here. I’ll give you a better answer when I have a better feel for what you are looking for. I think I already know what I’m going to say, but the request for clarification isn’t facetious. Thanks.
The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham has been working since 1959 to make this city and its surrounding communities a wonderful place to live and work. Most recently, CFGB has been a major convenor bringing the Three Parks Project to reality working with the boards and supporters of Railroad, Red Mountain, and Ruffner Mountain (alpha order!) as well as many other public and private funders. This project has incredible potential not only to immediately give our citizens tremendous access to open spaces but also has economic development and neighborhood revitalization implications.
Additionally, the Community Foundation has been active on a state and local level through the Alabama School Readiness Alliance and the Blueprint for School Readiness (respectively) to give all children in our region and state high-quality, affordable, voluntary pre-kindergarten opportunities. As a result of ASRA’s early efforts, the State Office for School Readiness’s budget has doubled, but there is still much more work to be done. As a convening partner as well as funder for both the state and local movements, the Community Foundation is working diligently to strengthen the educational opportunities for ALL children to go to school ready to learn and succeed.
These are only 2 examples of the transformational work the Community Foundation has participated in on behalf of this community in its 50-year history. Since 1959, the Foundation has made grants to more than 500 local nonprofit organizations across all areas of impact. Check out the website for more information!
OK, I’ll bite — and I choose the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham, not just because I work here but because this public endowment supports every nonprofit in our five-county area. Even before I came to work here, I saw what the Community Foundation had done to put together partnerships, spark initiatives and provide leadership on important issues. When unemployment hit Birmingham hard in the 1980s, we were the ones United Way came to for the first grant to create their Food Bank. In the mid-1960s, we were the ones who led the push to provide organized, across-the-system funding for school lunches for every child who needed assistance. Over the past 10 years, the Community Foundation has been an important catalyst in the creation of the Nonprofit Resource Center of Alabama, Region 2020 and the Cultural Alliance of Central Alabama, to name a few.
We couldn’t do what we do without all the great nonprofits who offer direct programs and services, but our community would be much poorer without the leadership and grants the Community Foundation has provided over almost 50 years.