Tampa Bay Charities

Below is a listing of area charities. We recommend that before you offer assistance to any of these organizations you thoroughly research them. You can also log on to CharityNavigator.org to view objective ratings of 5000 of America's best-known charities. (CBS Radio is not responsible for any of the below charities)

America’s Second Harvest of Tampa Bay

America’s Second Harvest of Tampa Bay is a food bank servicing 10 counties in west central Florida. Since they began in 1982, they have processed and distributed 100 million pounds of safe and nutritious surplus food to those who need it most. Through their combined efforts with over 350 partner charities and churches, America’s Second Harvest of Tampa Bay currently distributes enough food in a single week to provide over 100,000 meals.

The Angelus

The Angelus is a Pasco County home for severely handicapped persons who are not able to care for themselves. All of the residents and students have cerebral palsy and all use wheelchairs. Some are non-verbal, some are blind, some are deaf, some are mentally retarded, some have normal intelligence, but all understand kindness and love.

Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Tampa Bay

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay, Inc. (serving Hillsborough, Pasco and Polk), is a non profit social service organization that exists to establish, support, and supervise caring one-to-one relationships between appropriate adult volunteers and children from primarily single famliy homes. Through the match relationships and suportive casework services, Big Brothers Big Sisters strives to provide the children with wholesome growth experiences and to positively impact their families.

Birdies For The Brave

Since 2005, Birdies for the Brave has raised dollars for military homefront groups that directly serve military men, women and families of those who have been lost or seriously injured in the performance of their duty. This year’s event will benefit Homes for the Troops, Wounded Warrior Project, Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, Naval Special Warfare Foundation, Operation Homefront and Special Operations Warrior Foundation. General information, Car Raffle Tickets, Sunday Night Party Tickets, Silent Auction, Challenge Coin Sales and other information can be found on the Tampa Birdies for the Brave website.

Children’s Cancer Center

The Children's Cancer Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing children who have cancer or chronic blood disorders and their families with the educational, emotional, and financial assistance necessary to cope with their life-threatening illnesses.

The Children’s Home

The Children's Home is a child- and family-centered organization that is positioned to care for struggling families and children seeking the comfort of a loving family. Since 1892 the organization has helped more than 6,000 children realize their dream of a family, and we have cared for more than 25,000 children in the community.

Derrick Brooks Foundation

Through his foundation, Derrick Brooks Charities, Inc., Derrick Brooks has made it his life's mission to positively impact the lives of youth in the Tampa Bay area. His Brooks Bunch is a program that incorporates a classroom element, a panel presentation, and behavior and grade assessments, all while leading up to trips around the country and around the globe. His "First and Goal" program prepares first generation college attendees for their next step in life - post secondary education, something that never looked like a reality to them. In August of 2007, Derrick realized one of his lifelong goals with the opening of the Brooks-DeBartolo Collegiate High School; a Hillsborough County sponsored Charter High School. Brooks-DeBartolo's mission is to provide a rigorous and relevant academic environment where both students and teachers achieve excellence through high expectations, collaboration, and support.

Foreclosure Prevention

If you’re on the verge of foreclosing on your home there’s quality counseling and financial advice available free of charge at 1-888-995-HOPE. You’ll be able to speak with a HUD approved housing counselor on ways to avoid foreclosure.

The Hillsborough Education Foundation

The Hillsborough Education Foundation works to enhance the learning experience in Hillsborough County Public Schools by providing funding and extra resources to help our students, teachers, and schools achieve academic success. Since it began in 1988, the Foundation has invested approximately $69 million towards public education. The Foundation implements multiple programs focusing on all aspects of education, including: scholarships, mentoring, literacy, classroom grants, career & technical education, recognition for academic excellence, and distribution of school supplies to at-risk students. Community support is vital for the success of these programs, individuals and organizations are encouraged to contribute however they can. For more information on the Hillsborough Education Foundation and how to make a difference in Hillsborough County Public Schools, visit www.educationfoundation.com.

The Mike Alstott Family Foundation

The foundation was formed to allow the Alstotts to assist others in uplifting the minds, hearts and spirits of families and children on their way to realizing their full potential through various events, assistance programs, and celebrations.

Quantum Leap Farm

For ten years, Quantum Leap Farm in Odessa has provided equestrian activities for people with disabilities. Quantum Leap now offers the “Warriors in Transition” and “At EASE” programs that help veterans and their family members move from service in Iraq or Afghanistan to a successful, fulfilling civilian life. For details log on to.

Ryan Nece Foundation

The Ryan Nece Foundation has launched the Good Samaritan Awards Program to recognize exceptional Hillsborough and Pinellas County high school students in the areas of academics and community service. The program will honor student winners monthly, and at the end of the school year the first of two annual scholarships will be awarded.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis is unlike any other pediatric treatment and research facility anywhere. Discoveries made there have completely changed how the world treats children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. St. Jude is where some of today's most gifted researchers are able to do more science, more quickly. Where doctors across the world send their toughest cases and most vulnerable patients. The money you donate will help St. Jude help kids from all over the world who have cancer, AIDS, sickle cell and other catastrophic diseases. At St. Jude, no family ever pays for treatments not covered by insurance, and families without insurance are never asked to pay. Thanks to people like you, St. Jude is also able to pay for transportation for its patients and their families and give them a place to live while they are at St. Jude. Since opening in 1962, St. Jude has treated patients from all 50 states and more than 70 foreign countries.

Warrick Dunn Foundation

The Warrick Dunn Foundation is dedicated to providing opportunities for economically-disadvantaged single parents and children who have demonstrated a commitment to achieve financial independence and stability. His “Homes for the Holidays” program currently exists in Atlanta, Tampa, Baton Rouge and Tallahassee. As of May 2009, the program has assisted 86 single parents and 233 dependents to achieve first-time homeownership.

The Ophelia Project and Boys Initiative

The Ophelia Project and Boys Initiative (OPBI) is local non-profit organization dedicated to promoting a safe culture for the healthy social and emotional development of girls and boys. We accomplish this through youth programs in schools and community sites, as well as community education and professional training for adults who work with youth. We provide the tools to prevent bullying and violence, enhance self-esteem, maintain positive peer relationships, and develop leadership skills. We are proud to have a strong team of passionate and dedicated staff and board members working closely with our community to best serve the youth of Tampa Bay. For more information please check out our website www.opbi.org.