The Raging Hearts
There are some people who feel such impassioned love that they are not content to sit idly by as suffering or injustice occurs. They must take action. This page is dedicated to all the charities, causes, organizations and those people who fight to make the world a better place.
These are some of my favorites. (For the blog entries about these causes, click here.)
Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
I first heard of this organization as a teenager, because of the actress Nancy Addison. I found her story to be truly inspirational — through her own battle with cancer she still selflessly devoted herself to the children suffering through this illness. Her story is here.
The Roar Foundation and Shambala Preserve
I once read that all cats have similar instincts and temperaments despite their size and anyone who has ever had a house cat can see the similarities they share with their bigger relatives.
I can’t remember how I first heard of Shambala but I am sure it had something to do with Tippi Hedren or Melanie Griffith. I loved the entire concept, and was especially touched by the stories of the elephants that were allowed to live on the ranch. You can read more about the elephants here.
The fight for civil rights is far from over, though we have made huge strides in recent years. The Human Rights Campaign seeks equal rights for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Americans. I support this issue because LGBT people have enhanced my life as much as anyone else.
One Life, Many Voices at RobinStrasser.net
One Life, Many Voices Facebook page
This foundation touched my heart for a variety of reasons — as a viewer of One Life to Live and admirer of the talented cast, as an American who felt a strong emotional need to help victims of Hurricane Katrina and the south, and as an amateur/student musician whose life has been substantially enhanced by music.
Though I’m told the foundation is no longer active and all donations have been distributed, I still wanted to include the links here for posterity, if nothing else. The One Life, Many Voices CD/project and the people involved deserve much appreciation. I was somehow especially touched when I read this letter describing how donations would be used in Hattiesburg.
This is another great charity I learned about through the efforts of people associated with One Life to Live. After I became a One Life to Live Examiner, Denise Balcarcel asked me/allowed me to write an article on the fund and their fundraising projects. The article gained me new readers and new friends, including one especially dear friend whose own life was touched by a special animal.
The Willie-Coppee fund was founded by Hillary B. Smith (OLTL’s Nora) and Lindsay Harrison to benefit pets at Sherman Oaks Veterinary Group whose owners are not able to pay for their treatment. You can read more about their great efforts on their website or in my article.