Cycling for charity is a good way to raise money for worthy causes. There are several approaches to getting started.

Popular international social websites have cycling-for- charity pages where it is possible to find upcoming events and sponsors (赞助商). Many international organizations can also be located online that organize regular cycling for charity events. An example of this is Best Buddies International, founded in 1989 and existing in all 50 US states and in 50 countries around the world. Best Buddies International sponsors cycling events to raise money for people with developmental disabilities.

Research organizations mainly dedicated to curing diseases and groups like the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in the US, with similar MS associations in Canada and Australia, arrange cycling for-charity events on a frequent basis. Other common diseases and medical conditions, such as heart disease, Parkinson’s, and cancer, also have national and international organizations that regularly arrange cycling for-charity events. Social movement nonprofits also are involved in cycling for charity, based around such issues as poverty and regional disasters, like earthquakes and hurricanes, which inspire cycling fundraisers around the globe.

Local community groups are another avenue towards forming a cycling group and sponsoring charity rides and charity races. Bicycle clubs and retailers (零售商) are often connected to community outreach groups that arrange such events, and are a good source of information on how to get involved in one. Some of these groups go beyond traditional street cycling and sponsor cross country trail courses. Indoor cycling-for- charity events have also become popular in areas where the weather and season or urban environment may not lend itself to outdoor cycling activities.

Arranging your own cycling-for-charity event is also a possibility. Finding ways to publicize the event and gain sponsors can be done through various local or regional cycling clubs, through employers, local churches, and other groups interested in promoting charitable activities.

Claude and Louris are “giraffes”. So are police officers Hankins and Pearson. These men and women don’t look like giraffes; they look like you and me. Then, why do people call them “giraffes”?

A giraffe, they say, is an animal that sticks its neck out, can see places far away and has a large heart. It lives a quiet life and moves about in an easy and beautiful way. In the same way, a “giraffe” can be a person who likes to “stick his or her neck out” for other people, always watches for future happenings, has a warm heart for people around, and at the same time lives a quiet and beautiful life himself or herself.

“The Giraffe Project” is a 10-year-old group which finds and honors “giraffes” in the US and in the world. The group wants to teach people to do something to build a better world. The group members believe that a person shouldn’t draw his or her head back; instead, they tell people to “stick their neck out” and help others. Claude and Louris, Hankins and Pearson are only a few of the nearly 1,000 “giraffes” that the group found and honored.

Claude and Louris were getting old and they left their work with some money that they saved for future use. One day, however, they saw a homeless man looking for a place to keep warm and they decided that they should “stick their neck out” and give him some help. Today, they lived in Friends’ House, where they invite twelve homeless people to stay every night.

Police officers Hankins and Pearson work in a large city. They see crimes every day and their work is sometimes dangerous. They work hard for their money. However, these two men put their savings together and even borrowed money to start an educational center to teach young people in a poor part of the city. Hankins and Pearson are certainly “giraffes”.

Do you want to help the less fortunate around the world? Here are some charities that can help you do that.

K. I. D. S.

This large organization improves the lives of children living in poverty around the world. They provide new clothes, toys, books and other products, as well as shelter and medical care. They're also extremely well-­run (运转良好的), spending 99.5% of their money on programs that aim at helping children.

Contact Phone: 212­279­5493

Concern Worldwide US

This non­governmental organization has been working towards reducing extreme poverty since its founding in 1968. Work is mostly focused on countries ranked in the bottom 40 according to the UN Human Development Report.

Contact Phone: 353­1­417­7700

International Childcare

The Christian health development organization is working to reduce many of the causes of poverty in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. By providing important medical care for children and their families, ICC allows them to lead happier and healthier lives in less danger of falling into poverty.

Contact Phone: 800­722­4453

Village Reach

Since 2000, this organization has worked to improve the developing world's access to health care by working together with businesses, governments, non­profits, and other organizations. They aim   to improve local infrastructure (基础设施) in poor rural areas. This effort especially helps fight poverty by allowing far­away communities to lead better and more fruitful lives.

Contact Phone: 206­512­1530

ACF­-USA

This organization's efforts are mainly aimed at ending hunger worldwide. Their work saves lives by fighting malnutrition (营养不良), especially in times of crisis. Programs try to ensure long­term solutions for that purpose.

Contact Phone: 952­854­9000