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=**Local Community Service/Global Service Opportunities for Sharon Students**=

//**Roots creep underground everywhere and make a firm foundation. Shoots seem very weak, but to reach the light, they ****can break open brick walls. Imagine that the brick walls are all the problems we have inflicted on our planet. Hundreds of ****thousands of roots & shoots, hundreds of thousands of young people around the world, can break through these walls. We ** //**//CAN change the world. // **
 *  - Dr. Jane Goodall **

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Community Health and Well-Being
Arthritis Foundation, MA Chapter" Mission is to improve lives through leadership in the prevention, control, and cure of arthritis and related diseases. Phone: (617) 219-8236 Website: [|Arthritis Foundation]

Ashoka's Youth Venture: Youth Venture's mission is to build a global movement of young people being powerful changemakers. Youth Venture helps teams of people start new youth-led organizations. Website: [] Phone: 617-624-8074

Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America New England: AAFANE is dedicated to the control and cure of asthma and allergies, including food allergies. Phone: (781) 444-7778 Website: [|Asthma and Allergy Foundation]

Avon Walk for Breast Cancer: Fundraising walk to raise money and awareness for the fight against breast cancer. Phone: (617) 722-4140 x18 Website: [|Avon Walk for Breast Cancer]

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC): Trains volunteers to provide quality volunteer service for BIDMC patients. Phone: (617) 667-3026 Website: [|BIDMC]

Boston Bikes: Striving to make Boston a world-class bicycling city by creating safe and inviting conditions for all residents and visitors. Phone: (617) 918-4456 Website: [|Boston Bikes]

Big Sister Association of Greater Boston: Big Sister's mission is to help girls realize their full potential by providing them with positive mentoring relationships with women. Website: [|Big Sister Association] Phone: (617) 236-8060

Birthday Wishes: provides birthday parties to children living in homeles shelters Phone: (866) 388-9474 ext. 12 Website: [|Birthday Wishes]

Bodimojo: Online health and wellness portal for teens. Teen "confidence" ambassadors can write, blog, share health and lifestyle information and tips with other teens. Phone: (617) 333-0441 Website: [|Bodimojo]

Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk: Supports cancer research... Phone: (617) 632-6263 Website: Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk

Gay & Lesbian Advocates and Defenders (GLAD) New England's leading legal rights organization dedicated to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation, HIV status, and gender identity and expression. Phone: (617) 426-1350 Website: [|GLAD]

Girls' Leap Self-Defense: Trains at-risk girls aged 8-18 in verbal and physical safety skills and self-awareness Phone: (617) 514-4285 Website: [|Girls' Leap Self Defense]

Healthworks Community Fitness: Devoted to serving the health and fitness needs of women and children in Boston's lowest income neighborhoods. Phone: (617) 825-2800 Website: [|HealthWorks]

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF): Mission is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research... Phone: (781) 431-0700 Website: [|JDRF]

Massachusetts General Hospital: Phone (617) 726-8540 Website: [|MGH]

Melanoma Education Foundation: The MEF is a non-profit organization devoted to saving lives from melanoma, a common skin cancer that is often deadly unless detected early. Phone: (978) 535-3080 Website: [|MEF]

Melanoma Foundation of New England: The Melanoma foundation of New England is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the public about sun-safe behavior and the importance of prevention and early detection. It also provides patient advocacy and support to those struggling with the disease. Phone: (978) 371-5613 Website: [|MFNE]

MINGA: Mission is to end child sex trade through youth empowerment and education. Phone: (617) 584-1305 Website: [|MINGA]

National Multiple Sclerosis Society: Join the movement to create a world free of MS Phone: (781) 890-6097 Website: [|National MS Society]

Ovations for the Cure: Dedicated to the relentless pursuit of a cure for ovarian cancer. Phone: (508) 655-5412 Website: [|Ovations for the Cure]

Project Bread- The Walk for Hunger Phone: (617) 239-2546 Website: [|Project Bread]

Animal Rights/Rescue
Animal Rescue League of Boston Phone: (617) 426-9170 x 170 Website: [|Animal Rescue League]

Milton Animal League: Volunteers dedicated to the rescue, care and adoption of animals in need Phone: (617) 698-0455 Website: [|Milton Animal League]

Save a Dog: Primary focus is rescuing and rehoming abandoned dogs Phone: (978) 443-7282 Website: http://www.saveadog.org

Community Resources
American Red Cross of Massachusetts Bay: Relief during times of disaster-and training in first aid and other life-saving skills. Phone: (617) 274-5320 Website: [|Boston Red Cross]

Catholic Charities of Boston: Building a just and compassionate society rooted in the dignity of all people. As one of the largest providers of social services in Massachusetts, CCAB offers nearly 100 programs and services in 33 locations around Eastern Massachusetts. Phone: (617) 451-7958 Website: [|CCAB]

Close to Home: Mission- to foster community-wide responsibility to prevent and reduce the impact of domestic violence. Phone: (617) 929-5151 Website: [|Close to Home]

Community Servings: A not-for-profit food and nutrition program providing services throughout Massachusetts to individuals and families living with critical and chronic illnesses. Phone: (617) 522-7777 x228 Website: [|Community Servings]

DARE Family Services: Dare provides mentor homes for children who have been removed from their biological families. Phone: (617) 427-6500 Website: [|DARE Family Services]

Ellis Memorial & Eldridge House, Inc.: Boston's first settlement house has been caring for children, disabled adults, and families in South End neighborhoods since 1885! They offer high quality educational, social and health support services to individuals and families in need. Phone: (617) 695-9307 Website: [|Ellis Memorial & Eldridge House, Inc.]

Families for Depression Awareness: National non-profit organization helping families recognize and cope with depressive disorders, get well, and prevent suicides. Phone: (781) 890-0220 Website: [|Families for Depression Awareness]

iStartup Community Centers: Supports startups within an inspirational and innovative environment. Phone: (617) 874-6923 Website: [|iStartup Community Centers]

Samaritans, Inc.: Dedicated to reducing the incidence of suicide by befriending individuals in crisis. Phone: (617) 536-2460 Website: [|Samaritans, Inc.]

Social Capital Inc.: Strengthens communities by connecting diverse individuals and organizations through civic engagement initiatives. They envision a nation where individuals are strongly connected to their neighbors and play an active role in shaping the destiny of their communities. Phone: (781) 935-2244 Website: [|Social Capital Inc.]

United Way of Massachusetts Bay & Merrimack Valley: Helps improve people's lives and strengthen neighborhoods. Phone: (617) 624-8000 Website: [|United Way]

The Women's Center: The Women's Center provides women with the resources and support they need to emerge from conditions of domestic violence, sexual abuse, poverty, discrimination, soical isolation, and degradation. Phone: (617) 354-6394 Website: [|The Women's Center]

Cultural Organizations
American Jewish Historical Society: AJHS was founded in 1892 to foster awareness and appreciation of the American Jewish heritage in Boston. Phone: (617) 226-1245 Website: [|AJHS]

ArtsBoston: Promotes the arts in Greater Boston by making the arts accessible and integral to our communities. Phone: (617) 262-8632 x225 Website: [|ArtsBoston]

Boston Jewish Film Festival: Presents the best contemporary films from around the world on Jewish themes at its annual Festival and throughout the year.

Website: [|Boston Jewish Film Festival]
Decordova School Summer Program: Phone: (781) 259-3604 Website: [|Decordova School Summer Program]

Institute of Contemporary Art: The Institute of Contemporary Art strives to share the pleasures of reflection, inspiration, provocation, and imagination that contemporary art offers through public access to art, artists and the creative process. Phone: (617) 478-3136 Website: [|ICA]

Museum of Fine Arts: Phone: (617) 369-4359 Website: [|MFA]

Environment
Appalachian Mountain Club: Promotes the protection, enjoyment and understanding of the mountains, forests, waters and trails of the Appalachian region. Phone: (617) 391-6637 x6631 Website: [|AMC]

Blue Hills Trailside Museum: Promotes awareness, appreciation and active concern for the environment among people of all ages. Phone: (617) 333-0690 x223 Website: [|Blue Hills Trailside Museum]

Boston Greenfest: Aims to model and teach sustainability in exciting ways through annual outdoor events Phone: (617) 477-4840 Website: [|Boston Greenfest]

Charles River Boat Clean-Up: Dedicated to removing floating trash from the Charles River Phone: (508) 877-3624 Website: [|Charles River Boat Clean-Up]

Charles River Conservancy: Phone: (617) 300-8173 Website: [|Charles River Conservancy]

The Farm Institute: The mission of the FARM Institute is to operate a teaching farm that educates and engages children and adults in agriculture through the operations of a diverse working farm. Phone: (508) 627-7007 x104 Website: [|The Farm Institute]

The Food Project- Summer Youth Program: Working together to build sustainable food systems Phone: (781) 259-8621 x23 Website: [|The Food Project]

Friends of the Blue Hills: Seeking to protect and preserve the Blue Hills Reservation Phone: (781) 828-1805 Website: [|Friends of the Blue Hills]

Greenschools: Creates greener learning environments through education and awareness Phone: (508) 272-9653 Website: [|GreenSchools]

Hale Reservation: Mission- to provide stewardship of its land and resources and to offer educational experiences that foster responsibility, leadership, and appreciation for the natural environment. Phone: (781) 326-1770 x 15 Website: [|Hale Reservation]

Massachusetts Audubon Society: Phone: (781) 259-2205 Website: [|Massachusetts Audubon Society]

New England Aquarium: Combines education, entertainment and action to address challenging problems facing the ocean Phone (617) 226-2243 Website: [|New England Aquarium]

Homelessness & Hunger
Boston Rescue Mission (BRM): transforming lives by empowering people at risk to achieve healthy and self-sufficient lives. Phone: (617) 338-9000 ext. 1227 Website: [|BRM]

Cradles to Crayons: Provides children with the basic essentials they need to be safe, ready to learn, and feel valued Phone: (617) 779-4723 Website: [|Cradles to Crayons]

Father Bill's and Mainspring (FBMS): Mission- to help those struggling with homelessness obtain a home by giving temporary shelter and food, finding safe and affordable housing, providing permanent housing with supportive services, and developing their work skills. Phone: (617) 770-3314 x229 Website: [|FBMS]

The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB): Mission- to end hunger in eastern Massachusetts, GBFB is the largest hunger-relief organization in New England and one of the largest food banks in the country. By 2013, GBFB hopes to distribute enough food to provide at least one meal a day to those in need. Phone: (617) 427-5200 Website: [|GBFB]

Habitat for Humanity Greater Boston: Dedicated to building low-cost homes by forming partnerships with low-income families in need. Phone: (617) 423-2223 Website: [|Habitat for Humanity]

Heifer International- Northeast Office: Works with communities to end hunger and poverty Phone: (617) 365-5600 Website: [|Heifer]

Horizons for Homeless Children: Mission- to improve the lives of homeless children and their families Phone: (617) 553-5483 Website: [|Horizons for Homeless Children]

On the Rise, Inc.: Supports the initiative and strength of women living in crisis or homelessness Phone: (617) 497-7968 x36 Website: [|On the Rise, Inc.]

Pine Street Inn: Mission-to be a community of respect and hope for each guest it serves; to be a resource through which neighbors and friends can help meet the basic needs of others; and to serve as a national leader in the fight to end homelessness. Phone: (617) 892-9186 Website: [|Pine Street Inn]

Rosie's Place: The mission of Rosie's Place is to provide a safe and nurturing environment for poor and homeless women to maintain their dignity, seek opportunity, and find security in their lives. Phone: (617) 442-9322 Website: [|Rosie's Place]

Roots & Shoots New England: Mission- to foster respect and compassion for all living things Phone: (617) 439-9090 Website: [|Roots & Shoots New England]

Salvation Army: Goal is to meet human needs without discrimination. Phone: (339) 502-5853 Website: [|Salvation Army]

Standup for Kids-Boston: Mission-To end the cycle of youth homelessness. Volunteers take to the streets in order to find, stabilize and help homeless and street kids Phone: (617) 869-5094 Website: [|Victory Programs Revision Urban Farm]

=International Relief=

The Colored Pencil Project: Seeks to increase access to art supplies to children in developing countries by distributing colored pencils and paper, and providing art lessons to children in various orphanages, schools, and rural villages. Phone: (617) 877-4089 Website: [|The Colored Pencil Project]

Partners in Development, Inc. (PID) PID is committed to the education and economic advancement of the developing world and serves the poorest of the poor in developing countries. Phone: (978) 380-6132 Website: [|Partners in Development]

=People with Disabilities:=

Arc of East Middlesex: Provides support and helps children and adults with developmental disabilities Phone: (781) 942-4888 x 4032 Website: [|Arc]

Best Buddies Massachusetts: Dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities Phone: (617) 778-0522 Website: [|Best Buddies]

Charles River Center Phone: (617) 972-1058 Website: [|Charles River Center]

Easter Seals Massachusetts: Provides services to ensure that children and adults with disabilities have equal opportunities to live, learn, work and play Phone: (617) 226-2635 Website: [|Easter Seals]

The Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired: Assists those with sight loss in Greater Boston area Phone: (617) 972-9119 Website: [|MDSC]

National Alliance on Mental Illness of Massachusetts (NAMI): Seeks to improve the quality of life both for people with mental illnesses and for their families. Phone: (781) 938-4048 Website: [|NAMI]

Outdoor Explorations: Makes the outdoors a welcoming place for people with disabilities. Phone: (781) 395=5999 Website: [|Outdoor Explorations]

Special Olympics Massachusetts: Provides sports training for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Phone: (508) 485-0986 x219 Website: [|Special Olympics Massachusetts]

Tennis Serves: Strives to bring the sport of tennis to the visually impaired Phone: (617) 620-9000 Website: [|Tennis Serves]

Triangle: Through support, challenge and opportunity, Triangle empowers people with disabilities and their families to enjoy rich, fulfilling lives. They are committed to helping the world realize that we are all people with ability. Phone: (781) 388-4357 Website: [|Triangle]

Windrush Farm Therapeutic Equitation, Inc.: Horses used to expand the personal, emotional and physical boundaries of all who ride and work Phone: (978) 682-7855 Website: [|Windrush Farm Therapeutic Equitation, Inc.]

=Global Service Learning Opportunities:= [|Roots & Shoots: The Power of Youth is Global] The Roots & Shoots program is about making positive change happen—for people, for animals and for the environment. With tens of thousands of young people in more than 120 countries, the Roots & Shoots network connects youth of all ages who share a desire to create a better world. Young people identify problems in their communities and take action. Through service projects, youth-led campaigns and an interactive website, Roots & Shoots members are making a difference across the globe.

[|Peace Jam Foundation] The mission of the PeaceJam Foundation is to create young leaders committed to positive change in themselves, their communities and the world through the inspiration of Nobel Peace Laureates who pass on the spirit, skills, and wisdom they embody.

[|People to People International] Aims to enhance international understanding and friendship through educational, cultural and humanitarian activities involving the exchange of ideas and experiences directly among peoples of different countries and diverse cultures. Student chapters are at the heart of PTPI, increasing international understanding and education in local and global communities.

[|One World Youth Project] Links middle/high school classrooms with partner-classrooms abroad. Trained university student mentors facilitate the exchange, ensuring high quality partnerships as well as youth-to-youth mentorship opportunities. Through a collaborative learning curriculum, OWYP creates global communities while strengthening local communities. The program is offered free of charge to middle/high schools.

[|Student News Action Network] Write it, film it, make it happen! Allows students to work collaboratively on a global level to create an interactive, multimedia-rich, student-driven online newspaper.

[|Taking IT Global] Empowers youth to understand and act on global issues. Check out the "Music for Social Change," interactive section: awesome!

[|Global Citizen Year Program] Gap year program that allows high school students to defer college for one year to immerse themselves deeply in another culture.

[|Global Issues Network] Resources and inspiring action projects/ideas related to global awareness for young people

[|Peace Corps' Coverdell World Wise Schools Correspondence Match] Pairs Peace Corps volunteers in the field with U.S. classroom teachers. Resources include a Peace Corps' Classroom Guide to Cross-Cultural Understanding; Lesson plan database searchable by age, issue, and region of the world.

[|iEarn (International Education and Resource Network)] Web-based exchange for teachers, providing online forums for sharing and involvement in projects with classrooms around the world.

[|Sister Cities International] A citizen diplomacy network fostering partnerships between the U.S. and communities abroad

[|Sister Schools] Offers collaborative, global projects

[|Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs] Programs focus primarily on secondary schools and promote mutual understanding, leadership development, educational transformation, and democratic ideals.

[|ePals] Collaborative technology for project-based learning