PHILANTHROPIES I SUPPORT

I believe very strongly that our world is one big community, and we need to look out for one another. To help my fellow globe-dwellers, I support several philanthropies by donating my time, energy, or money -- and sometimes, I donate all of those things.

Here are some philanthropies I support and encourage others to support as well.

Special Olympics of Southern California
Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and competition to developmentally and physically disabled people, impacting and empowering millions of athletes worldwide. My brother has participated in Special Olympics for many years and is a Global Messenger for the organization.

College Summit
"So all students who can make it IN college make it TO college." College Summit supports bright, low-income students in applying to colleges and universities. This program is absolutely amazing and changes lives. I volunteer with College Summit during the summer as a writing coach and during the school year as my time away from teaching allows.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure
The Susan G. Komen Foundation raises money to fund breast cancer research and provides information to the public about this disease. Several women in my family are survivors, and some of my friends have lost mothers to breast cancer, so I have a special personal interest in this philanthropy.

Alpha Phi Foundation
The Foundation supports cardiac care, recognizes superior scholarship, and funds leadership and educational development programs.

The ONE Campaign
The ONE Campaign fights AIDS and poverty around the world.

United States Figure Skating Association Memorial Fund
The Memorial Fund provides monetary support to figure skaters in need of financial assistance for their training. It also gives academic scholarships to skaters.