Home > Charity > The Big Hearted Squids help spend $1,000 of the Squidoo Charity Fund

In June the Big Hearted Squids got to nominate their favorite Squidoo charities to receive $100 from the Squidoo Charity Fund and wow did they do a great job!

We picked the 10 most passionate and creative entries and will donate $100 to each of the following Squidoo charities from the Squidoo Charity Fund pool. That’s $1,000.00 in donations! We’re so proud to have such a proactive group of lensmasters who continue to create lenses for the charities that Squidoo supports.

So give a big shout out today to these top notch lensmasters for their generosity, dedication and passion.

#1 Kiva nominated by kab

Kiva provides loans to entrepeneurs worldwide who don’t have access to them through microloans. This builds their local ecomonies, provides jobs, an helps people who work hard to provide their families with a better life. Help others help themselves! – kab

#2 Friends of the Park nominated by OhMe

I have been chairman of Friends of the Park for the last few years and am very passionate about our organization which is filled with the best volunteers ever. We are dedicated to our town’s Veterans Park and want to do all we can to make it the best it can be. We are currently working with the Town of Pendleton and Pendleton Recreation Association on a Step Up To The Plate Fundraising Campaign to renovate the ball fields and erect a Veterans Memorial.  -OhMe

#3 Room to Read nominated by mynameiskate

Books helped shape the person I’ve become. Every child should have the opportunity to relish in a library of amazing stories. -mynameiskate

#4 Dog Tags for Kids nominated by tagsforkids

The Dog Tags for Kids program is one I greatly believe in. While there are many charities to help our military (and they’re all great!), this one is geared to the kids left at home. Being able to receive a small gift from mom or dad can make all of the difference in the world, and after all, isn’t that what we’re trying to do?

Dog Tags for Kids is one charity that truly puts smiles on the faces of kids left behind when mom or dad deploy into harm’s way. It started as a small grass roots drive after 9-11 and I’m proud to say that to date we have shipped over 645,000 tags for parents to send home to their children. Although I’m grateful for all of the charities that help our military men and women, this is one for the kids, and I’m extremely grateful that Squidoo has chosen it as one of their charities. - tagsforkids

#5 BuckHawk Center Animal Rescue nominated by sylvestermouse

Discarded, neglected and abused pets need help and rescue. In addition to love and food, the pets often require medical treatment and a safe haven designed to give continued care during recovery. The true mission of BuckHawk Center is to provide that rescue, that safe haven, that medical treatment and to eventually find a loving home for those precious animals.

The life of an animal rescuer is wrought with challenges that include disappointment and strife, but many rewards at the end of the day when the wounds are healed, when the fear of an animal turns to trust or when the homeless pet finds a home. It is a sad reality that financial difficulties frequently add to their challenges. -sylvestermouse

#6 FIV Cat Rescue nominated by frankster

30 years ago HIV patients were treated as lepers. Today cats testing positive for the feline version of the disease, Feline Immunodeficiency Virus or FIV, are routinely killed by shelters. FIV Cat Rescue’s (FIVCR) mission is to educate vets, animal shelter workers and individuals about FIV and end the myths surrounding this virus. Testing positive for FIV antibodies should not be a death sentence. FIV+ cats can live, long, healthy, happy lives. -frankster

#7 CAER Food Shelf nominated by janices7

In the current economic situation, children and families are going to bed hungry. That shouldn’t happen in America (or anywhere for that matter). The CAER Food Shelf provides food as well as financial assistance for utilities and rent to families in need right here in my local community. They have a number of programs throughout the year that I believe are key in the fight against hunger. One example is Kidz Kitz which is a program targeted specifically at the nearly 30% of children in my community who normally get free or reduced lunches at school. Thanks to CAER, they receive a nutritional lunch in the summer too. Fighting hunger is a cause very near and dear to my heart which is why CAER Food Shelf is tops on my list. -janices7

#8 OneSpirit nominated by BevsPaper

Just about all of my 210 lenses donate a portion of my earnings to OneSpirit the service organization that helps the Lakota (Sioux) people with the basics that they need. They provide food for the Elders and any family in need and hire Natives on the reservation to take the food to the needy. A wood program supplies fuel for the very cold winters to anyone who needs it. Again the money collected also pays for the Natives to cut the wood and deliver it. Last year we raised enough money to build a new Safe House for children and there are plans to try to build more. Not only does this organization help those in need with the basics that we take for granted but they use the money to create much needed jobs to help with self-esteem. Natives are hired as handymen/women to help repair roofs and repair other items in the homes. I love the approach of helping the people learn how to help themselves and the dignity and respect that are shown to the people who are in a situation that they are trying to get out of. - BevsPaper

#9 Save the Children nominated by goldenecho

An issue that burdens my heart is the exploitation of Children, and by providing for the needs of Children and by programs it supports Save the Children is helping fight this problem. -goldenecho

#10 The Salvation Army nominated by Romaxx

The Salvation Army does so much around the world that sometimes they go it goes unnoticed. In our city, when there are fires or emergencies the Salvation Army is always there to feed the poor and people that just lost their jobs in this recession. No one is ever turned away. Besides donating clothing and household articles, Squidoo gave me the opportunity to create lenses that all donate to the Salvation Army. My husband has always been very grateful for the Salvation Army. When he was a young boy, he and his family lost everything in their home to a fire, including their two dogs. He remembers the hopelessness and sadness he felt on that cold autumn day and he will always remember the warm smile, the blankets and the chocolates when the Salvation Army was there for him and all the families that were displaced that day. -Romaxx