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In 2007, the Playing for Change Foundation was established as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization created to inspire, connect, and bring peace to the world through music. Our mission is to create positive change through music and arts education. 15 music programs have been created in Bangladesh, Brazil, Ghana, Mali, Nepal, Rwanda, South Africa, Morocco, Mexico, Argentina and Thailand. More than 2,000 young people attend free classes in dance, instruments, languages and musical theory, all taught by qualified local teachers. Learning music has been shown to increase self-esteem and foster resilience, which is critically important to children who are vulnerable due to poverty, conflict, drugs, and neglect.

The ACLU Foundation of Southern California's (ACLU SoCal) mission is to ensure that all persons are afforded the equality, liberty, and justice guaranteed to them in the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Through our integrated approach of community education, advocacy, and litigation, we challenge unconstitutional and unjust policies and practices. We most often serve those whose rights are consistently denied or compromised including students, women, prisoners, immigrants, communities of color, LGBTQ people, members of minority religions, people with disabilities, individuals experiencing homelessness, and economically disadvantaged people. With offices in Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire, ACLU SoCal has been serving Southern California since 1923.

The Adaptive Sports Foundation's mission is to provides profound and life changing experiences for individuals with physical and cognitive disabilities through outdoor physical activity, education, support, and community.

The Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation (or Rush) was founded in 1995 by three brothers, media mogul Russell Simmons, artist and activist Danny Simmons and Joseph "Rev. Run" Simmons of Run-DMC fame. Rush is dedicated to overcoming the barriers of access between disenfranchised communities and people of color and the diverse art and culture resources of New York City and its surrounding region. Our interrelated range of programs include free, hands-on arts education for underserved youth ages 2-20 in New York and New Jersey, both in our own spaces during out-of-school time and through weekly residencies in five partner public schools; the goal of these programs is deep learning grounded in art, to build resiliency, life skills and academic performance in at-risk youth. Our Gallery Program maintains two professional galleries, one in Manhattan and the other in Brooklyn, that provide career support, exhibition opportunities and residencies to emerging artists and curators, mostly those of color. Rush Education programs directly serve over 3,000 students annually, and the Rush Gallery program exhibits the work of over 100 artists every year, welcomes over 10,000 gallery visitors annually and serves as a classroom and inspiration source for our students.

The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation helps build character and teach critical life lessons to disadvantaged young people living in America's most distressed communities through baseball and softball themed programs.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism and Grantmaking Foundations

Sweet Relief provides assistance to all types of career musicians who are struggling to make ends meet while facing illness, disability, or age-related problems.

Established in 1959 as the charitable arm of the Television Academy, the Television Academy Foundation was created to engage and educate the next generation of television professionals. The Foundation has helped thousands of talented students find their voices, refine their skills and forge rewarding careers in every area of the television industry. They include prominent writers, producers, documentarians, creative executives, network presidents and more. Understanding the critical role of both educators and students, the Television Academy Foundation nurtures future leaders and storytellers by providing opportunities through our prominent programs.

The Drama League advances the American theater by providing a life-long artistic home for directors and a platform for dialogue with, and between, audiences.The Drama League is one of the nation’s oldest continuously-operating, nonprofit arts advocacy and education organizations. Through its programs, initiatives and events, the Drama League indelibly transforms the lives of artists and audiences by harnessing the unique social and creative dynamism of theater.

NAMI is the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. NAMI advocates for access to services, treatment, supports and research and is steadfast in its commitment to raise awareness and build a community of hope for all of those in need. We value hope, inclusion, empowerment, compassion and fairness. NAMI envisions a world where all people affected by mental illness live healthy, fulfilling lives supported by a community that cares.

Our mission is to advance change in America by ensuring equitable access to nutritious food for all in partnership with food banks, policymakers, supporters, and the communities we serve. Through a network of more than 200 food banks, 21 statewide food bank associations, and over 60,000 partner agencies, food pantries and meal programs, we helped provide 6.6 billion meals to tens of millions of people in need last year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people we serve; brings attention to the social and systemic barriers that contribute to food insecurity in our nation; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Metro New York and Western New York grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy. As a chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, we are determined to fulfill the mission set at the national headquarters of the foundation in our locale.