
Where Does $100 to the ASPCA Go?
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) works to ensure the safety and protection of animals through a variety of programs. With enormous public support – The ASPCA raises approximately $200 million annually – the ASPCA provides community outreach, public education, communication, and animal care services throughout the United States.
The ASPCA is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) which means the organization primarily relies on public financial support and therefore has to file and make publicly available an IRS Form 990 annually. This “form” is actually a tax return that provides detailed financial information on revenue, expenses, fundraising, executive compensation, assets, liabilities and more. In 2015, the 94-page ASPCA reported the following key pieces of information: Read more

Caveman Cookies
Caveman Cookies are not for cavemen or women but for people who want a gluten-free, all-natural cookie made without refined sugar or white flour, dairy products, eggs, and salt. Made with nuts (almonds, cashews, walnuts, pecans, brazil, coconut, macadamia, hazelnuts), seeds (pumpkin, chia), dried unsulfured fruit (raisins, cherries, cranberries), honey, maple syrup, carob (a legume), cacao, pure vanilla extract, pure peppermint extract, and spices like cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, chili powder, pumpkin pie spice, cardamom, cayenne pepper, Caveman Cookies are a healthy alternative to most cookies sold in the cookie aisle of grocery stores. Read more

The Most Magnificent Thing
Reading a children’s book can be magical even if you’re reading the book to yourself because the story can take you back to a time when you thought extraordinary things were still possible.
Reading James and The Giant Peach when I was 9 years old filled me with morbid fear of Aunt Spiker and Aunt Sponge who were terribly cruel to little James. But, the story also filled me with great joy when James prevailed despite the odds. And, who could forget Charlotte’s Web where the love of a little girl and the devotion of a spider saved Wilbur from a terrible fate? Read more

Executive Salaries at the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association (AHA) is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) that primarily relies on public and government funds for funding and is therefore required to submit an IRS Form 990 – the tax return that provides details about the organization including how much revenue was raised and spent, the amount the organization has in net fund assets, and the compensation packages of the executives. Read more

Lupa’s Tropical Paradise Sprouted Trail Mix
Lupa’s Tropical Paradise Sprouted Trail Mix is paradise in a packet. Made of all organic ingredients: currants, cashews, pumpkin seeds, pecans, brazil nuts, dehydrated mango slices, maple cinnamon walnuts (made with organic walnuts, organic Grade A 100% pure maple syrup, and organic Saigon cinnamon) and walnuts, Lupa’s Tropical Paradise Sprouted Trail Mix is the trail mix to take along to the beach or when you just want a wholesome, delicious healthy snack. Read more

Where Does $100 to The Boys and Girls Club of America Go?
The Boys and Girls Club of America, Inc. (“The Boys and Girls Club“) is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) that offers programs – primarily after school – for young people. Based in Atlanta, the national office of The Boys and Girls Club also has regional offices in Atlanta, New York City, Chicago, Dallas, and Los Angeles. In addition there are more than a thousand local chartered offices throughout the country targeting disadvantaged youths to help them “reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.” Funding for the organization is primarily from both the public and the government. Read more

The Splendid Things We Planned
Blake Bailey is best known for his biographies of very talented but troubled writers (Yates, Cheever, and Jackson) so when The Splendid Things We Planned – a personal family memoir – was published in 2014, readers took note because it’s one thing to write about other people’s lives but quite another to open the flood gates on your own family. Read more

Why The Big Picture Matters
Several years ago I started making donations to sanctuaries specializing in the rescue of animals from slaughter houses and abused “homes.” The stories were heartbreaking and I knew my dollars were primarily going to the veterinary care of the animals, food, shelter, and the selfless staff devoted to taking care of these animals.
When a cow escapes from a slaughter house in Brooklyn, I cheer for the cow (and curse the people chasing the petrified animal) and often send a donation to the kind person who rescued the terrified animal. So, before I go further, I want to unequivocally say these charities deserve our support because they spotlight the abuse and horrific way people treat most animals. They make us think twice about our choices. Read more