Does your Mom volunteer for charity events? Does she well up with tears when she sees commercials for children's organizations or animal rights associations?

Consider donating in her name to a group like Save the Children, Child Find, or PETA. A one-time donation can be made online or over the phone.

If you leave it until the last minute, you can pick out a beautiful Mother's Day card and include a note to let her know about the donation. Make a few printouts from the association's website - perhaps an 'about us' page and information about their programs (with photos, of course)

The following is a list (in random order) of organizations with contact information. They all have websites with contact forms. Most have branches in several countries.

*Christian Children's Fund (CCF):

2821 Emerywood Parkway,

Richmond VA 23294,

Telephone 1-804-756-2700 or 1-800-776-6767,

CHRISTIANCHILDRENSFUND ORG

You can make a one-time donation or sponsor a child. Do not choose the 'sponsor a child' option unless you plan to make the monthly payments yourself. Otherwise, discuss it in advance with Mom, to see if she is willing to do so.

*Plan International Headquarters:

(formerly Foster Parents Plan),

Chobham House, Christchurch Way,

Woking, Surrey GU21 6JG, UK,

Telephone 44-1483-755-155,

Fax 44-1483-756-505,

PLAN-INTERNATIONAL ORG

Plan works worldwide to achieve lasting improvements for children living in poverty in developing countries.

*Save the Children:

54 Wilton Road,

Westport, CT 06880,

Telephone 1-203-221-4030 ,

Toll Free 1-800-SAVETHECHILDREN (1-800-728-3843),

SAVETHECHILDREN ORG

Save the Children is the leading independent organization creating lasting change in the lives of needy children.

*The Leprosy Mission International:

80 Windmill Road, Brentford,

Middlesex, TW8 0QH, UK,

Telephone 44-(0)20-83266767,

Fax 44-(0)20-83266777,

LEPROSYMISSION ORG

The Leprosy Mission International is an international non-denominational Christian organization, with over 130 years of experience in leprosy work.

*Child Find of America, Inc.:

P.O. Box 277,

New Paltz, NY 12561-0277,

Telephone 1-845-691-4666,

Fax 1-845-691-7766,

CHILDFINDOFAMERICA ORG

Child Find offers America's families several free programs: investigation and location assistance, kidnapping prevention, referral and support services, and mediation for parental abduction cases.

*National Center for Missing and Exploited Children:

Charles B. Wang International Children's Building,

699 Prince Street,

Alexandria, Virginia 22314-3175,

Telephone 1-703-274-3900,

Fax 1-703-274-2200,

24-hour hotline 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678),

MISSINGKIDS COM

Make a donation and/or register for Amber Alerts via cell phone text messaging.

*Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA):

P.O. Box 0965,

Wilton, NH 03086-9905,

Telephone 1-866-494-7722,

SPCA COM

The mission of SPCA International is to raise the awareness of the abuse of animals to a global level, to eradicate the euthanasia of healthy and adoptable companion animals, and to mount efforts to enhance animal welfare throughout the world.

*People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA):

501 Front St.,

Norfolk, VA 23510,

Telephone 1-757-622-7382,

PETA ORG

PETA focuses its attention on the four areas in which the largest numbers of animals suffer most intensely for the longest periods of time: on factory farms, in laboratories, in the clothing trade, and in the entertainment industry. They also work on a variety of other issues, including the cruel killing of beavers, birds and other 'pests,' as well as the abuse of backyard dogs.

This list is just the tip of the iceberg. If you don't find the perfect charity above, use your favorite search engine to locate just the right match for your Mom.

?Copyright Kathy Steinemann: This article is free to publish only if this copyright notice, the byline, and the author's note below (with active links) are included.