Happy Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day!
This day honors the late civil rights activist and clergyman for his work and accomplishments in the United States. Dr. King led many demonstrations and protests in the name of equality for all.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, or MLK Day as it is commonly known, is traditionally known as a day where people volunteer their time and participate in community service projects. We are no strangers to giving back to the communities we serve. In the past, we have supported Climb For The Kids, the Bataan Memorial Death March, and other charitable activities.
If you’re looking for a charity where you can volunteer some of your time on MLK Day, and you either live in or are visiting the St. Louis area, here are a few organizations we have worked with in the past that could use a good helping hand:
Friends of Kids With Cancer
Friends of Kids with Cancer was founded in 1992 by Jill Turec, a Developmental Specialist, along with Molly Henry and Suzie Snowden, who were parents of children in treatment. Molly and Suzie witnessed their kids’ struggles and saw the need for diversions in their lives. Friends of Kids with Cancer has a 28-year history of helping kids with cancer just be kids in St. Louis.
St. Patrick’s Center
St. Patrick Center provides opportunities for self-sufficiency and dignity to people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Individuals and families build permanent, positive change in their lives through safe and affordable housing, sound mental and physical health, and employment and financial stability.
Catherine Cares
Catherine Cares donates their services to our hospital, maternal and fetal center, and doctor office partners. These partners give the items to the families on behalf of Catherine Cares. Since their launch on December 20, 2014, they have given hospitals over $11,000 worth of restaurant, fuel and grocery gift cards to our hospital partners. Catherine Cares offers many fun and unique ways for individuals to support our mission and the families we serve.
Girls On The Run
Girls on the Run is a physical activity-based positive youth development program (PA-PYD) designed to develop and enhance girls’ social, psychological and physical competencies to successfully navigate life experiences. The mission of Girls on the Run St. Louis is to empower girls for a lifetime of healthy living. Their program for girls in the third through eighth grades inspires girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running.
FightDMD
Currently, FightDMD is raising money to initiate the research to find a cure for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. If their foundation is a success, the foundation will be eliminated and DMD kids will live a long and healthy life. FightDMD is supporting Vanderbilt in their efforts to improve care, advance cardiomyopathy research, and educate the primary care physicians and patients about Duchenne. In 2018, they pledged $40,000 towards research. So far, they have committed $250,000 to research at Vanderbilt with plans to continue working towards $500,000.
Sydney’s Soldiers Always
The Sydney’s Soldiers Always Foundation believes that children are the greatest resource and treasure, who deserve more than 4% of federal funding for cancer research. No child or family should fight alone. The wishes, needs, and rights of clients (pediatric cancer patients and their families) are to be given consideration before that of board members or other representative of the foundation.
We hope you take some time today to think about what ways you can give back and the great future that lies ahead. It takes all of us to make a lasting change; we hope you’re as inspired as we are to make this world better for everyone.
The Home Loan Expert
