Equal to my excitement however, is my inexperience having had no past experience to speak of I therefore welcome and encourage "the experts" in the area of foundation/charity work, for not only their support with Choose-A-Charity but their guidance as well.

The concept; "Choose-A-Charity" allows for the expansion of one's giving, regardless of the occasion or holiday, gift-giving needs are constant throughout the year. Whether it's the birthday gift, the sympathy basket, a get well, or nice job, or the all too seldom "just because". Choose-A-Charity opens the door and spreads the wealth.$5 of every purchase of $45 or more will be donated to the consumer's charity of choice. Listed below are the first four of what I hope will be many more fund-raising organizations. I am confident this list will grow quickly. While our focus has primarily surrounded our local community, it is my hope that the “Choose-A-Charity” concept is contagious, so much so that it allows for Pancakes & Jelly along with the foundations we support, to expand our efforts on a global level.

They are:

• Kevin J. Hannaford, Sr. Foundation, INC. http://www.kevinhannaford.org/
  Kevin, in his short time on earth, left us fulfilled and enriched. The outpouring of love and support from family, friends and strangers following Kevin's death on September 11, 2001 was amazing. Patrick, Kevin Jr. and Eileen want to give back some of what has been given to them in their time of need. It is with these thoughts that we have formed the Kevin J. Hannaford, Sr. Foundation, Inc. The Foundation will contribute to the educational needs of children who have lost a parent to death. With your help and support, Kevin will live on in our hearts and through our gifts to these children. Together, we can take a tragic event and create something everlasting in his name.
• American Breast Cancer Foundation
  http://www.abcf.com/
  The American Breast Cancer Foundation supports breast cancer research in the areas of Ductal Lavage working to detect breast cancer at the microscopic level even before tumors form; DNA Gene Array Mapping to further map the different sub-classifications of breast cancer to lead to more specific and improved treatments; and a Breast Cancer Vaccine to develop a treatment that will assist patients with metastatic breast cancer. The American Breast Cancer Foundation invites you to, in any way you can, join them in their mission to answer these calls for help and give a fighting chance for every life threatened by breast cancer. Www.abcf.org
• Community Voice Mail
  http://www.cvm.org/
  Community Voice Mail is a non-profit organization operating in 20 states and 40 cities. CVM provides nationwide free, 24-hour toll-free voice mail to people in crisis - connecting them to jobs, housing and hope. The organization was founded in 1991 in Seattle, by two job counselors. Community Voice Mail was honored as the 2005 "Outstanding Philanthropic Organization" of the Year for its local and national impact by the Washington Association of Fund-raising Professionals. Helping over 40,000 people last year including Katrina victims, find jobs, housing, health and hope through this deceptively simple concept with an extraordinary impact; the press has referred to CVM as "the saving and linking grace" for battered women, runaways, the displaced, the homeless and the jobless.
• Foundation For Peace http://www.foundationforpeace.org/
  The Foundation For Peace is a 501(c)(3), not-for-profit organization dedicated to working hand-in-hand with those in need. We believe that access to education, clean water, healthcare, and economic opportunity, in partnership with those who care about them, will be a successful formula to enable their emergence from poverty.
• Hearts For Honduras
  http://Heartsforhonduras@lcpc.org/
  Hearts for Honduras is an organization, who's primary focus is to increase the emphasis on "Giving Back" and helping others, adding more Bible classes and devotions. The organization also focuses on developing ecological awareness among the Honduran citizens, participate in a Natural Science exposition. Hearts for Honduras continues to improve the school's teaching methods, as well as developing economic programs to increase local income for Hearts For Honduras School.
• Homeless Solutions
  http://www.homelesssolutions.org/
  Homeless Solutions, Inc.
  540 West Hanover Ave. - Suite 100
  Morristown, NJ 07960
  973 993 0833
  Homeless Solutions, Inc. is a private, nonprofit organization with over 20 years of experience in meeting the needs of our community's homeless and working poor. Our mission is to offer shelter, services, and supportive housing to homeless and low income people. HSI provides emergency shelter, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing to families and individuals. Each night we shelter 145 people, over half of whom are children.
  
  Our motto is "A hand up, not a hand out." HSI helps people by giving them the tools they need - a safe, stable environment, and linkages to job search assistance, counseling, medical care, childcare, and transportation - to rebuild their lives.
• Katrina Relief; Our Lady of Lourdes
  http://wdcrobcolp01.ed.gov/CFAPPS/disasterrelief/schools/display_school.cfm?id=334
  After hurricane Katrina, Our Lady of Lourdes was destroyed. Please join Immaculata in the rebuilding of this school.
• Kitchen Tours Of Somerset Hills/BD Diabetes Center
  http://www.atlantichealth.org
  Kitchen Tours of Somerset Hills is being held to support the ongoing needs of the BD Diabetes Center at the Goryeb Children’s Hospital at Morristown Memorial. In Somerset Hills alone, there are more than one hundred children with diabetes who are using the services of the BD Diabetes Center. More than 25 families have come together to make this event a reality.
• Make-A-Wish
  http://www.wishnj.org/
  The Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Jersey grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Wish children endure the stress of prolonged medical treatment as well as the pain and fear of their illness. Siblings are sidelined by the necessity to focus on treatment for the sick child. Parents face the stress of hiding their own heartbreak in order to support their family. The wish experience offers a much-needed break from hospitals and treatments. Children with life-threatening medical conditions put their childhood on hold — the wish experience is a revitalizing antidote. The resulting smiles, drawings and letters of thanks speak volumes to the healing effects of a wish come true.
• Somerset Hills Education Foundation
  15 Sycamore Hill Road
  Bernardsville, NJ 07924 908-953-0176
• Summit Supports our Troops
  http://www.ssot.org
  Through generous donations of time, goods, and money, as well as coordination with local schools and organizations, SSOT has and continues to provide; Thousands of R&R bags to troops in all branches of service located at the war fronts in Iraq and Afghanistan and on bases around the globe. Gifts to those who are stateside recognizing that every troop contributes to the mission and strength of our armed forces. Tokens of support and special events to encourage the families of our troops. Support for young military families with small children. Hundreds of school supplies ti Iraqi children. Opportunities for the adults and children to serve our country.
• Susan E. Lusty Foundation
  http://www.fightbraincancer.org
  The Susan E. Lusty Glioblastoma Foundation is a volunteer-based organization, so your financial support goes directly towards helping those in need. Specifically, we provide financial, educational, and emotional support to patients and families at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
• The Goodwill Rescue Mission
  http://www.grmnewark.org/
  The Goodwill Rescue Mission offers help and hope to hungry, poor, and homeless people in Newark, New Jersey. Feeding 150,000 meals per year and providing 100,000 days and nights of shelter annually. Our faith-based recovery program serves an average of 50-60 men at any given time. On major holidays we reach out into public housing projects and the community at large.
• The Resource Center For Women & Their Families (Friends of the Shelter)
  http://www.rcwtf.org
  Friends of the Shelter is a growing organization made up of women who share a common passion and determination to serve the victims of domestic violence. Through fund-raising efforts to aid the Resource Center for Women and Their Families, the Friends strive to raise awareness of the growing problem of domestic violence in the community at large. Funds raised by the Friends help to support the residential program of the Resource Center which include a fifteen bed shelter and two transitional homes which accommodate eight families.

Please feel free to contact me with any ideas or suggestions at info@pancakesandjelly.com

Sincerely,

Lisa Howard
President