To decide on which charities to support, we used Charity Navigator, a site that provides information on over five thousand charities and evaluates their financial health. Charity Navigator is a non-profit organization and does not accept any contributions from the charities they evaluate. We chose the three following, four star rated organizations:

The National Resources Defense Council is the nation's most effective environmental action group, combining the grassroots power of 1.3 million members and online activists with the courtroom clout and expertise of more than 350 lawyers, scientists and other professionals. Their goal is to restore the integrity of the elements that sustain life - air, land and water - and to defend endangered natural places.

Families Forward is a non-profit agency dedicated to helping low income and homeless families in need. Two parents working at minimum wage can hardly cover the rent for a two-bedroom apartment, and families are often faced with the decision to pay for shelter, transportation or food. As a community partner, Families Forward is dedicated to helping struggling families not have to choose between feeding their children and paying for rent. Families Forward provides a broad spectrum of services, including: housing, counseling, food, education, case management, life-skills training and rent or utility assistance.

Help The Children is a nonprofit Christian humanitarian relief organization dedicated to help alleviate the suffering of children and their families throughout the United States and around the world. Help the Children’s mission is to increase self sufficiency by providing food, clothing, personal care items and medical supplies without regard to political affiliation, religious belief, or ethnic identity.