5 Charities with a Presidential Seal of Approval

After tax season ends, it’s always fun to take a peek at the returns of our elected officials, finding out how much money they made and how much (if any) they gave away to those less fortunate than themselves. Though he spent much of 2008 campaigning, our newest President, Barack Obama, and his wife Michelle found the time to donate $172,050 to an array of Chicago-area and nationally based charity groups. Here are five of the top groups from his list—are they worth the presidential seal of approval? You be the judge.

1.    CARE . President Obama donated $25,000 to CARE last year. This Atlanta-based humanitarian group has been focused on fighting poverty in developing countries for over 64 years. The organization focuses on the needs of impoverished women, providing them and their families with education, health services, clean water, and other necessities, as well as opportunities to become financially independent through microfinance projects. In a single year, CARE’s work helps to relieve the poverty of more than 55 million people around the world. Raise money for this nonprofit and other nonprofits.
2.     United Negro College Fund. The Obamas also gave $25,000 to the United Negro College Fund, a consortium of 39 historically black colleges in the United States that’s dedicated to providing financial assistance so that promising low-income black students will have the opportunity to obtain higher education. Since the organization’s founding in 1944, the United Negro College Fund has provided support and assistance to more than 300,000 students.
3.    Christopher House . The Obamas made many smaller $5,000 contibutions to a variety of local and national organizations. Among them is Christopher House, a family resource center providing early childhood development programs, tutoring, literacy services, emergency funds, and other necessities to families living on Chicago’s North Side. Founded in 1905 by the First Presbyterian Church of Evanston, Christopher House provides aid to more than 3,500 children and adults each year.
4.    Bread for the City . During his time in the Senate, President Obama became aware of how many of Washington, DC’s residents were deeply in need of help and support. Last year, he made a $5,000 donation to Bread for the City, a nonprofit working to help DC’s impoverished residents through providing food, medical care, clothing, social services, and legal assistance.
5.    Mujeres Latinas en Accion . Faced with both language and economic barriers, Latina women are often at a steep disadvantage when attempting to find work and support their families. The Obamas donated $5,000 to this Chicago-based organization, which works to empower Latina women by offering support through counseling, child care programs, leadership training, and other programs designed to help Latina women advance in American society.

By Kathryn Hawkins