INSPIRATION - Princess Diana - Help the Vulnerable

“Nothing brings me more happiness than trying to help the most vulnerable people in society. It is a goal and an essential part of my life - a kind of destiny. Whoever is in distress can call on me. I will come running wherever they are.”
 ~Princess Diana

In honor of Princess Diana’s remarkably altruistic spirit, Merriment wants to encourage you to find the volunteer and giving opportunities that best match up with your own passions and talents. Equipped with the right information and guided by a sense of direction, we can all find the courage to put ourselves out there and help others in their times of need. The following websites provide you with this very information and direction, so that you can feel confident when stepping out to make a difference.

Need a little more substance in your life? There is no better way to remedy your own blues and connect with others than service.

VolunteerMatch
VolunteerMatch strengthens communities by making it easier for good people and good causes to connect. The organization offers a variety of online services to support a community of nonprofit, volunteer and business leaders committed to civic engagement. 

Idealist.org
Idealist connects people, organizations, and resources to help build a world where all people can live free and dignified lives. Their work is guided by the common desire of their members and supporters to find practical solutions to social and environmental problems, in a spirit of generosity and mutual respect.

DoSomething.org
DoSomething.org is one of the largest organizations in the U.S. that helps young people rock causes they care about. A driving force in creating a culture of volunteerism, DoSomething.org is on track to activate two million young people in 2011.

DonorsChoose.org
Here's how it works: public school teachers from every corner of America post classroom project requests on DonorsChoose.org. Then, you can browse project requests and give any amount to the one that inspires you. Once a project reaches its funding goal, they deliver the materials to the school. You'll get photos of your project taking place, a thank-you letter from the teacher, and a cost report showing how each dollar was spent.

GiveBack
The Give Back Foundation was established to allow any person to join GiveBack and set up their personal foundation account. The funds that accumulate in that account are part of the Give Back Foundation. Each member has the ability to direct the funds from their account to any charity in good standing with the United States Internal Revenue Service.

Network for Good
They make it as easy to donate and volunteer online as it is to shop online, and they make it simple and affordable for all nonprofits, of any size, to recruit donors and volunteers via the Internet.

GOOD
GOOD is the integrated media platform for people who want to live well and do good. They are a company and community for the people, businesses, and NGOs moving the world forward. GOOD's mission is to provide content, experiences, and utilities to serve this community.           

(All site descriptions quoted from respective sites)