Freelance Writer
Drink Coke. Chew gum. Wear a condom. To Kate Roberts, the British-born mastermind behind the AIDS-awareness organization YouthAIDS, there should be no difference in the way these messages are presented. If consumer products can be sold to the masses, why can’t social responsibility? “It’s the same strategy,” she says. “You have to make something desirable, available, and affordable.”
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On the narrow, sun-dappled sidewalk, businessmen in Brooks Brothers suits brush past women wearing colorful head wraps and African dresses. The morning’s breeze is rich with the aromas of fresh biscotti and Italian bread from the nearby bakery, roses and lavender from the small flower stand on the corner, and spiced lamb meat roasting at the kebab shop across the street. You can visit a fish market, an antique store, an Asian grocery and an old-fashioned ice cream shop, all on the same city block. Everywhere you look, the neighborhood is full of life, vibrant color, motion and flavor.
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Even if you write out a check to every charity that sends you a handwritten letter and a photo of a pleading child each Christmas, you can’t help thinking that it’s never enough – with the money you’ve got left over after paying for all your bills and basic necessities, you’ll never be able to fund a school in Africa, or to give a family enough food to keep their bellies full for even a single week. Your paltry donation might buy a few extra pens and stamps for the nonprofit organization you sent it to, but that’s about it.
But don’t worry – even if you’re not in Donald Trump territory, you can still donate to a variety of great causes every day without spending a single penny. All you need is an Internet connection, and you’re good to go. Here are a few of our favorite free ways to give.
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The world of rock and roll is known for decadence, indulgence, and destruction. Think Van Halen and their “no brown M ‘n Ms” rule, Led Zeppelin’s countless trashed hotel rooms, and all the other sordid tales we’ve seen a thousand times on Behind the Music.
Counting Crows, who’ve been topping the charts for nearly 15 years, should fall right into that category – but instead of spending their millions on drugs, alcohol, and blinged-out mansions, they’ve done something far more radical: Quietly, with little acclaim, they’ve spent much of their career focused on community service, finding ways to provide support and a voice to those in need.
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A corned beef sandwich caused quite a bit of trouble for astronaut John W. Young at the 1965 Gemini 3 launch. Before takeoff, Young had bought the sandwich from a Florida delicatessen and stuffed it into his flight suit. In orbit, he pulled it out of his pocket and began to chow down—not a great idea. The sandwich sparked a congressional investigation into who had brought the contraband on board, resulting in a formal reprimand for the astronaut. Government officials claimed that the sandwich’s crumbs could have damaged the shuttle’s equipment.
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