5️⃣  5 For The Fight | Badge of the Month | May 2025

​@KelliPolk I could not love this more! Libraries do so much to shape the lives of so many; and, as you said, are truly a lifeline in so many ways. I am so very happy to read that this is also a cause close to your heart! 

​@KelliPolk I can’t agree with you more, not just working for a national library that is an essential resource for patients, clinicians, medical researchers, and historical researchers, but also in my teaching experience. In an earlier iteration of my course, we focused on data describing the city of Baltimore. One of my students created an outstanding visualization that related access to libraries to outcomes like educational attainment which was incredibly insightful. The value of libraries, and peoples’ access to them, can’t be overstated.

Education is critically important, especially during early childhood. It's essential that we support young children not only in their academic development but also in their overall well-being—they truly are the future of our community. I’ve been a strong advocate for early childhood education and have dedicated my time to volunteering at local schools whenever possible. Small efforts can lead to meaningful, lasting change.

One of the causes I’m most passionate about is animal protection, especially for those without a home in my city or even across the country. Whenever I can, I try to donate shelters or initiatives that aim to give them a better quality of life. I also enjoy participating in donation drives, such as collecting clothes or food, for people experiencing homelessness. These are causes that deeply move me, and I truly believe that every small action can make a big difference.

Love coming back from vacation to read such inspiring stories! Like many who responded, access to quality education is really important to me particularly international/intercultural experiences. I previously worked to provide students virtual global experiences who otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity because study abroad was cost prohibitive, etc. I strongly believe these experiences help to open students’ perceptions of others/self and have long-lasting effects to build a global community. 

I volunteer for different social events which includes my role sometimes as a mentor, teacher, cook, baker and i remember once we assembled cycles for school kids.  :)

To me, those big smiles on kids face motivated me to continue the work i am doing and also donate as much as possible.

One nonprofit I am involved with is Rescue Me, an animal rescue in Texas. They primarily focus on animal welfare efforts and saving cats from unsafe situations. Throughout my life, having pets has been such a source of joy and peace for me and I love that Rescue Me provides this experience for others and gives animals safe homes. 💗

To be honest, I am not very active in performing social causes, but I have contributed in the past by making donations to orphans for their education. Nowadays, education is a basic necessity for humankind. This post serves as a reminder for me to start working on social causes again. Thank you, Qualtrics community!

Working in public education for a Pre-K through 12th grade school districts, all elements of children and having their needs met are so important.  Through food offerings, school supplies, tutoring, housing, clothing, etc. it is so important to help those that are not equipped to help themselves.   Watching our students show up knowing their backgrounds and circumstances can be so challenging to experience.  Ours kids are incredibly strong and resilient and sometimes school is the only safe and support environment that they have.

As someone passionate about environment, sustainability and conscious consumption, one social cause that’s especially important to me is reducing waste, starting with plastic and textile. That passion led me to help my girlfriend who started Kakawi (www.kakawi.ca ), an eco-conscious brand that creates unique caps crafted from recycled fabrics and repurposed materials—including yogurt pots that are transformed into durable cap brims.

What began as a personal effort to lessen my environmental footprint has grown into a larger mission: showing that style and sustainability can go hand-in-hand. While Kakawi is a business, it’s also my way of contributing to a circular economy—one cap at a time. I continue to seek out new ways to innovate, collaborate, and educate others on the importance of upcycling and sustainable fashion.

​@AlexandreLeduc I’ve checked out Kakawi -- what a fantastic idea and I’d love to pick up a piece or two!

I volunteer with a number of nonprofits but my favorite may be Headcount.org. They are a non-partisan non-profit focused on making the registration process for voting easy and and accessible. The fun part of working with them is that they work events like concerts and conventions to get face time with potential voters. Everyone I worked with at HC has taken a course to become a VDR (Volunteer Deputy Registrar) so we can legally assist someone with registering to vote and then deliver registration cards to our local elections office. I think voting is a fundamental right in this country and it should be as accessible as possible for every eligible voter so I truly do believe in this cause. It doesn’t hurt that you also get to go to concerts and conventions for free :)

I agree with ​@AdamK12, what an incredible and stylish initiative!

I'm raising the flag for the Tibetan people & culture and their right to self determination. Current events unfolding in Ukraine and Gaza are particularly poignant reminders for us to reflect on the value of living in a democracy and to appreciate the freedom which all (most?) of us have.
Having travelled the world I've developed a deep appreciation for cultural diversity illustrating the varied richness of humankind. I'm therefore a firm believer in the principle of self-determination which allows people of a similar cultural identity and heritage to determine their own future. 
My grandmother survived the internment of Japanese concentration camps following their invasion of Indonesia in World War 2. Following the war she became a pacifist and found her salvation in Tibetan Buddhism. China's 1951 invasion and subsequent annexation of Tibet not only affected my grandmother deeply but runs counter to the principle of self determination which many of us enjoy and value.

​@SteveBelgraver Your grandmother’s story is extraordinary -- I hope that your family can document it in some way because there are so many amazing narratives about the scope of how families dealt with the war, and where they ended up. And I’m glad to hear it’s inspired you so much.

​@XM_JoshB I’ll definitely check out Headcount.org -- the most important way to fix our politics right now is to encourage people of all ages to see voting as both an essential right and a huge responsibility. Thanks for all you do!

When it comes to supporting non-profits and social causes, I try to focus locally--especially our local food bank and our no-kill humane society.  My grandmother grew up during the Great Depression and did not want to see people go hungry.  She had a particular affinity for donating to the local food bank and would often ask us to do so in lieu of buying her birthday or Christmas gifts.  Even after she passed away, this tradition lives on in my family.  Also, not only have we adopted several dogs from our local humane society, but we also support them by sponsoring animals (which helps pay for their upkeep and medical attention).  I’ve found that this makes an incredible gift for the person in your life who has everything--sponsor an animal in their honor instead!

I'm raising the flag for the Tibetan people & culture and their right to self determination. Current events unfolding in Ukraine and Gaza are particularly poignant reminders for us to reflect on the value of living in a democracy and to appreciate the freedom which all (most?) of us have.
Having travelled the world I've developed a deep appreciation for cultural diversity illustrating the varied richness of humankind. I'm therefore a firm believer in the principle of self-determination which allows people of a similar cultural identity and heritage to determine their own future. 
My grandmother survived the internment of Japanese concentration camps following their invasion of Indonesia in World War 2. Following the war she became a pacifist and found her salvation in Tibetan Buddhism. China's 1951 invasion and subsequent annexation of Tibet not only affected my grandmother deeply but runs counter to the principle of self determination which many of us enjoy and value.

 

​@SteveBelgraver, thank you for sharing this personal story and pointing out the value of cultural diversity!

​@VirginiaM, I love that you shared the importance of supporting one’s local food bank! I’ve volunteered at a few and the value that it has on the community is immense particularly during holiday season where every family deserve a meal. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!

The most important thing to me has always been the cause of Christ - love God and our neighbor. So I donate 10% of my income to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Its purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ, whose disciples seek to lift and serve those around them. The church also facilitates direct humanitarian efforts throughout the world. For example, it spent $1.45 billion on humanitarian aid, welfare, and other relief in 2024 (third consecutive year over $1B). In the same year it also facilitated 6.6 million volunteer hours, a tiny portion of which were mine.

Those interested can read more here: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/serve/caring/annual-summary?lang=eng

“The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ takes the slums out of people, and then they take themselves out of the slums. The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature.” - Ezra Taft Benson, 1985

My best friend has a heart condition and was supported by Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) for many years so I’ve done a few fundraising and awareness raising events for them (she can’t run a marathon so I do it on her behalf). Unfortunately most people come across CRY because they’ve lost someone. There are far too many people at these events running “in memory of” rather than the fortunate position I’m in with “in support of”. I’m passionate about getting young people scanned for hidden heart problems to try and tip the balance and have more people in my group.

So many amazing stories and causes raised by the community on here! Thanks for sharing all.

I previously worked in the Aged-care sector, and it’s something that I learnt soo much from, and I carry with me as I move forward in life. I am particularly passionate about supporting local community run centres, and the support for the staff and residents of such critical facilities. 

Such an under appreciated sector (In many countries, but particular here in Australia).

I am very passionate about equitable access to healthcare and supporting research at learning health organizations. Many people don’t realize that hospital systems with academic affiliations have research programs that work to inform the field and the clinical practice within said organization. As such, supporting research or specific programs within these types of hospital systems goes a very long way! Research participation opportunities can also provide screening, testing, and health feedback that people may not otherwise be able to afford (e.g., instead of paying for a full autism assessment out of pocket because insurance doesn’t cover it, a family could opt to participate in an autism-related study that includes a more robust autism assessment for the cost of their participation). Often times, research study services can be even more individualized and comprehensive when compared to the clinical equivalent. All that to say, checkout academic hospital systems in your area to learn about ways you can support research -- participation or donation can go a very long way in improving outcomes for so many!

​@JonesE ...and I’d be remiss if I didn’t note here that for academic and nonprofit hospitals, especially teaching hospitals, NIH and other federal grants are their lifeblood that allows them to train doctors, offer innovative treatments, and serve the public both in the United States and overseas with essential cures and support. Cuts to HHS, USAID, the VA, the National Science Foundation, and other agencies are literally destroying these invaluable institutions, so please stand up for them. What is happening in Washington directly affects them, and you. Thanks for all that you do!

I'm raising the flag for the Tibetan people & culture and their right to self determination. Current events unfolding in Ukraine and Gaza are particularly poignant reminders for us to reflect on the value of living in a democracy and to appreciate the freedom which all (most?) of us have.
Having travelled the world I've developed a deep appreciation for cultural diversity illustrating the varied richness of humankind. I'm therefore a firm believer in the principle of self-determination which allows people of a similar cultural identity and heritage to determine their own future. 
My grandmother survived the internment of Japanese concentration camps following their invasion of Indonesia in World War 2. Following the war she became a pacifist and found her salvation in Tibetan Buddhism. China's 1951 invasion and subsequent annexation of Tibet not only affected my grandmother deeply but runs counter to the principle of self determination which many of us enjoy and value.

 

​@SteveBelgraver Thank you for sharing this personal and important story!