Ann M. Martin

I provide financial support to lots of organizations that appeal to me. I also head up two organizations that I founded in 1990. The Ann M. Martin Foundation supports various charitable organizations benefiting children, animal rescue groups, and literacy programs. The Lisa Libraries is an organization dedicated to building or supplementing small libraries for kids in under-served areas, and to providing new books to kids who may never have owned a book of their own.

In my community, there is a small animal rescue organization called AWAN (Animal Welfare and Adoption Network). AWAN finds permanent homes for stray, abandoned, and neglected animals. Because we don't have a shelter, volunteers act as foster caregivers for cats and dogs while they await permanent homes.

I like the phrase "think globally, act locally." Volunteering at a soup kitchen in your community is something the entire family can do together. Also, animal rescue organizations are always in need of volunteers. Even younger children can volunteer. Sometimes you don't need to look any further than next door. Ask your parents and teachers for other good ideas. Good luck!