Guest post by Dr. Jean C. Griffith
Before January 12, 2010, most Americans didn’t know much about Haiti. Take the cabbie who drove my husband and me from the airport recently: when told where we’d been, he asked, presumably in all seriousness, if Port-au-Prince was in Wisconsin.
By now, he and others know a few things about Haiti: that it’s the poorest country in the hemisphere, that most of the population lives in poverty, that most are illiterate, that Haitians are known for their fortitude, their ability to survive despite enormous obstacles. …

This week, we asked the verb [ICT] writers where they direct their spare change during the holidays.
When I give money, I give to the United Way. Lots of local nonprofit agencies receive help from the United Way, so you get to help out multiple causes with one donation. – Denise Grays
I like to give to our local Red Cross. It’s not just because I worked there for eight and a half years. Well, that does make me biased. But I am biased because I’ve seen the …

Do the deed. No, not THAT deed. The creators of DotheDeed.org are hoping to inspire Wichitans to do something nice for someone else and, in return, ask them only to pay it forward.
Do the Deed is the brainchild of Wichita advertising agency, Greteman Group, which was looking for a holiday project and came up with the idea to promote intentional acts of kindness. Tracking cards for good deeds are customized by the good-deed-doer and handed to the recipient of their kindness. The card tells the recipient about Do …

Are you looking to do more this holiday season than spend money? Think outside the gift box and volunteer for one ofthe more than 260 nonprofit organizations in Wichita, many of which have holiday opportunities. But how can you decide which organization is a good fit for you? The United Way of the Plains Volunteer Center is ready to match you to an opportunity to do good things, this holiday and every day.
According to Volunteer Coordinator Becky Springer, the United Way Volunteer Center has helped match 7,000 …

Social media for social change.
Yes, you heard it right, social media. That includes sites like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Vimeo.  While some might view these sites as a way to procrastinate through the work day, more and more local and national charitable organizations are using them to share information about their missions with the public.
Non-profit organizations are turning to social media sites to get people involved in fundraising efforts, to share information, to find volunteers and to connect with others all around the world. Really, this connection seems logical due …