Brining back FADE was Jay's dream. Help us honor our late friend's final wish by donating to this campaign. 

Town Bizness is doing all the things we all say we want to do, and people need to do... but they *really* do it! Thank you!! 

 I know first hand how Lily Pads helps those that so dearly need some uplifting.

Without knowing it, this sister/brotherhood has given me hope and joy. Semper Fi
Major J.E. Sargent USMCR (ret)

No little life should be thrown away because it is too much time, money, and/or trouble to save it. As long as there are people who are willing and skilled to take the time and trouble to help, I want to do my part by helping with the money to get the job done. I wish I could give so much more.

I just made my donation once a month. It's not that hard to give a few dollars, I don't even notice it's gone. If I can help the angels helping needy animals, then it's worth every cent!

OPEN DOORS NYC invests in the creativity and leadership of Black and brown wheelchair users. 

**Led by the Reality Poets, OPEN DOORS** **NYC** is a collective of disabled artists, nursing home residents, advocates, and allies. We make art, perform, and host workshops, conversations, and events around community-building and disability justice. We are a fiscally sponsored project of the Center for Transformative Action, an independent 501c3 organization. 

OPEN DOORS NYC

Organized volunteers providing outreach to unhoused folks with urgent relief: warmth, food, humanity, and  connection to services.

Town Bizness exists to bring the necessities of a dignified human life to the unhoused population of Oakland and Berkeley, CA. 
These necessities include good food, reliable shelter, clothing, toiletries, bedding, and basic creature comforts such as safe propane stoves and heaters, radios, and more, depending on each client’s needs. 

We also assist with housing, and keeping folks connected to service providers by supplying telephones and monthly service. 

The majority of folks we serve were born where they now live in tents, and once had property ownership in their families here in the bay area, but no longer do. Most are seniors, and many of them are now sick and/or disabled. 

Town Bizness

LilyPads Housing provides free lodging, meals, and comfort to families caring for children at UVA Children’s Hospital.

About LilyPads Housing

Every child deserves a caregiver by their side — especially when they’re in the hospital. But for far too many families, the cost of meals, lodging, and daily essentials can become an overwhelming burden during an already devastating time.

At **LilyPads**, we believe no family should have to choose between financial strain and staying close to their child.

That’s why we provide **free lodging, warm meals, essential supplies, comfort items, and community support** to families with children receiving medical care at UVA Children’s Hospital in Charlottesville, VA.

Our Mission

To offer **comfort and care** to every family navigating the unthinkable — so they can focus on what matters most: their child’s healing.

We do this through:

- **Free overnight lodging** with volunteer host families 
- **Meal assistance** via grocery cards, meals, and snack bags
- **Our Care Cart**, delivering daily essential and comfort items to inpatient families — from toothpaste to cozy socks to sibling activity kits
- **Connection and community**, offering emotional support, resources, and dignity during crisis
- **Hope in action**, creating moments of joy like holiday surprises, birthday boxes, and craft kits

Everything we do is powered by the kindness of volunteers, donors, host families, and partner organizations who believe that love can change lives — one family at a time.

Your Impact

- $25 provides snacks and comfort items for one hospital room
- $50 covers a week’s worth of grocery support for a parent bedside
- $100 houses a family for a night near the hospital
- $500 stocks the Care Cart for a full day of visits
- $1,000 covers a **week of care** for multiple families in crisis

Every donation — big or small — sends a powerful message: *you matter, and you’re not alone.* 

Why LilyPads Was Started

Our founder's family has spent much time at UVA Children’s Hospital (and Boston Children's Hospital) when their daughter, Lily, was little and fighting for her life. The medical care was excellent — but the days were long, the nights were sleepless, and the costs piled up fast. They often felt like they were alone and drowning.

That’s where the seed for LilyPads was planted.

They wondered, *what if there was a better way?*
What if families had a soft place to land — a real bed, a warm meal, someone to say, “Hey, you’re not alone”?

LilyPads was born out of that question. Out of the memory of sleeping upright in a hospital chair. Out of the hope that no parent would ever again have to choose between being with their child and affording a place to sleep.

The name LilyPads comes from the way lily pads float in stillness, giving aquatic life a place to rest, above the water. That’s what we offer families: a soft place to land, full of love and care.

Join Our Village

At LilyPads, we believe care is a community effort — a village built on kindness, compassion, and the belief that no one should face crisis alone.

By joining our village, you help create a world where:

- Parents can stay close to their child without worrying about where they’ll sleep.
- Hospital rooms feel less like waiting spaces and more like places of comfort.
- Siblings are remembered, caregivers are supported, and families feel the warmth of community.

Your generosity — whether it’s $10, $100, or simply sharing our story — becomes a lifeline. A reminder that behind every hospital door, there’s a village surrounding them with love.

**Give comfort. Share hope. Be part of our village.**
With you, we can make sure every family has a soft place to land.

LilyPads Housing

We empower veterans to cultivate purpose and belonging by growing food, community and each other. Your generosity fuels us!

Discover options for [business sponsorship](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5fdbb1fec6c9177edb013647/t/67545979206d694fab82eb7e/1733581183202/GV+Sponsor+Tiers.pdf) and contact us to learn more.

Consider a [recurring "Give Monthly" donation](https://www.every.org/growing-veterans?suggestedAmounts=10%2C20%2C40%2C100%2C400&frequency=MONTHLY&utm_campaign=donate-link#/donate) to sustainably support us! Or, [start an online fundraiser](https://www.every.org/growing-veterans/fundraiser) for us!

[Learn more here](https://growingveterans.org/donations) about other meaningful ways to give.

Growing Veterans

Lil BUB is a one of a kind space cat. Since landing on Earth, she's raised over $1,000,000 for homeless pets nationwide.

Lil BUB’s Big Fund exists to advocate for special needs companion animals and build a community that celebrates and fosters the human-animal bond. With a focus on animals that are the most difficult to adopt, the most expensive to care for, and are at a high risk of euthanasia. 

Lil BUB’s Big Fund provides access to care for special needs pets nationwide. We work with community leaders, shelters, and rescues nationwide to create special needs focused frameworks. We visit schools to promote kindness and inclusion. Through our work, we share BUB’s message of overcoming adversity and the knowledge that the things that make us different are worthy of being seen and appreciated.

Lil BUB's Big Fund

CHOW’s mission is to support wellness within the food/beverage/hospitality industry and to improve the lives of our community.

Anyone who’s dined in a restaurant has experienced hospitality. From servers and bartenders to dishwashers and chefs, each person working in a restaurant gives their all to make guests feel welcome, cared for and nourished.

Our mission is to return the favor. To care for the people who take such good care of us. To provide a place for restaurant staff to feel supported, heard and appreciated. To facilitate gatherings where we can build meaningful connections with folks who “get it.” To lift each other up so we don’t lose anyone else to suicide, addiction or struggles surrounding mental health.

CHOW was created by individuals in the food and beverage industry to bridge the gap between personal and clinical care. Everyone in the food/beverage/hospitality industry needs community and wellness resources. For those in recovery, CHOW recognizes that long term recovery needs connection and CHOW provides opportunities for that connection.

We do this by:

- Providing mental health support for food/beverage/hospitality teams through our community-building discussion groups
- Collaborating with owners and operators to provide information and guidance on best practices for resilient workplaces
- Connecting people in crisis with comprehensive supportive services.

Culinary Hospitality Outreach And Wellness Inc

Help us in providing early intervention programs and projects to children who are deaf and deafblind. 


Help us in providing early intervention programs and projects to children who are deaf and deafblind. 
 
Assistance Center for Deaf and Deafblind Children, or CABBS, offers early intervention programs to deaf and deafblind children between the ages of 0 to 6. All activities are carried out in the CABSS Multisensory Laboratory, an environment that is responsive to the needs of deaf and deafblind children. The laboratory is equipped with multisensory materials and communication tools. The early intervention programs for deaf and deafblind children include: visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory stimulation; proprioceptive and vestibular stimulation; working on fine and gross motor skills; techniques that maximize the cognitive potential of each child; activities that favor the understanding of self, others and the environment; activities that promote the affective-emotional and relational skills in children.  A huge emphasis is placed on communication and linguistic development.  

CABSS also:

- Provides support to parents in raising their children
- Promotes inclusion through the implementation of bilingual (Italian Sign Language and Italian) and psycho-educational projects, at school
- Creates apps based on the latest research on visual learning and bilingualism (Sign Language and Written Language) that respects the rights of children to have accessible educational materials

Assistance Center for Deaf and Deafblind Children 

Autism Empowerment is a neurodivergent-led nonprofit devoted to helping youth and adults  worldwide lead awesome meaningful lives!

**Autism Empowerment** is a passionate nonprofit organization led by individuals with lived experience. We are devoted to enriching and empowering the lives of autistic and neurodivergent youth, adults, and their families. We promote a culture of Autism Acceptance and believe every one of us has gifts and strengths to share with the world.

Through our enriching and empowering service-oriented programs like [Spectrum Life Magazine](https://www.spectrumlife.org), Autism Serves: Helping Hands, Autism Empowerment Cares and AWEtism We Embrace, we promote Autism Acceptance, Inclusion, and Advocacy for today's world and the future.

Come join us as an Ambassador for Acceptance of All Abilities! Be a meaningful part of helping create a world where people of all abilities are embraced! Your donations directly support programs that inspire and uplift our community members.

Thank you for your generosity and for being a part of positively changing our world!

Autism Empowerment

Headquartered in New York City, Aspies For Social Success, AFSS is a peer-run organization that provides support and social groups, as well as cultural events, to adults 18...

Headquartered in New York City, Aspies For Social Success, AFSS is a peer-run organization that provides support and social groups, as well as cultural events, to adults 18 and over who have either been diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome or an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), believe they might be on the Autism Spectrum, or who for other reason have difficulty with social communication, sensory processing, or executive functioning. AFSS is working to build a more inclusive community for individuals who otherwise may not have many opportunities or be able to find others with whom to socialize. We do not charge our members any fees, and our income comes exclusively from fundraising.

**The Problem**

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), approximately 1 in 68 individuals in the U.S. is somewhere on the autism spectrum. Because adulthood constitutes most of the human lifespan, the majority of these individuals are adults. In New York City, where AFSS is based, this corresponds to a population of nearly 100,000, with closer to 200,000 in the Greater New York area, most of which have not yet been identified. A common misconception is that individuals with autism prefer to be isolated and are not interested in either friendships or romantic relationships; in fact, for most adults, nothing could be farther from the truth. Consequently, there is a need for venues where adults on the spectrum can meet others who live with the same challenges, discuss and share the difficulties that they face in various aspects of their lives in a supportive environment, and be able to simply socialize with people who perceive and interact with the world in a manner similar to their own. Also, even though unemployment statistics for autistic adults are greatly overestimated (roughly half of AFSS group members are employed at some level), they are still higher than for any other disability. As such, many will not be able to afford the kinds of group and cultural activities that AFSS is working to provide. These costs can only be met through outside contributions and donations.
 
**Our Approach**

AFSS support groups, currently held in rented venues, allow members to discuss issues of concern to them in a group setting among other adults living with similar challenges. Each meeting starts with a specific theme chosen by the group. Past themes have included community, relationships, dating, isolation, and employment-related difficulties. For example, we have had discussions on what it means to be part of a community and on what an ideal community would be like. We then allow the conversation to evolve during the session, allowing members to relate their own personal stories to the group.
  
AFSS social groups encourage members to go out in public with others like them and to feel more a part of and accepted in a community, and meet at different restaurants and locations throughout the New York City area. This also provides an opportunity for the greater community to see that we are no different from anyone else and fully capable of participating in society in spite of our minor differences. These groups provide a sense of community for individuals who otherwise may not have many suitable opportunities to socialize, as well as somewhere to go, on a regular basis, with a relaxed, comfortable, judgment-free atmosphere where people can be themselves amongst others sharing similar difficulties and interests. 
  
AFSS cultural events provide opportunities for our groups to attend a variety of artistic, scientific, and cultural events. These take place in museums, galleries, exhibitions, theaters, and other venues throughout the NYC area.
 
**Our team**

**AFSS Leadership**
  
**Stephen Katz**, Program Director AFSS
  
*Stephen Katz facilitates a variety of support, social and cultural groups for adults with Asperger’s syndrome, along with those who are on the autism spectrum. In the past, this has included the GRASP Manhattan support group in New York City. He has also worked on a variety of projects for GRASP; including, “Persons on the Autism Spectrum in Their Communities of Faith”, a ground breaking seminar, moderated by GRASP founder, Michael John Carley.*
  
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
  
**AFSS Advisory Board**
  
 

- Karl Wittig, P.E. 
- Irma Jacqueline Ozer, Ph.D./ J.D. 
- Brian R. C. Kinghorn, M. Phil. 
- Jonas, Arnaldo, Founder of AFSS 
- Tim Itschner
 
**Contact information** 

Stephen Katz
[aspiesforsocialsuccess@gmail.com](mailto:aspiesforsocialsuccess@gmail.com) 
(917) 842-4984

Aspies For Social Success, AFSS

An SF Queer Theater Company, fiscally sponsored project of Intersection for the Arts

Eye Zen Presents illuminates and preserves hidden LGBTQ+ histories through interdisciplinary performance, archival activation, and intergenerational exchange. We create immersive public art rooted in place, memory, and accessibility that connects queer elders, artists, and audiences. Our practice pairs hands-on archival preservation with new creative works so that endangered legacies are safeguarded and shared as living culture. 


Eye Zen Presents

We fund bold, high-risk research to silence tinnitus—building a ‘quiet revolution’ through patient-driven, transparent science.

Tinnitus Quest is **a bold, patient-driven global nonprofit** with a singular, transformative goal: to **silence tinnitus**, the persistent ringing, buzzing, or phantom noises that haunt millions worldwide. The organization unites tinnitus sufferers with leading scientists to **fund rapid, targeted research** aimed at delivering real relief. Central to its identity is a fierce commitment to **full transparency**, from how funds are allocated to the progress of funded research.

An estimated **700 million people** globally are afflicted by relentless phantom sounds. Many endure chronic, severe forms that significantly impair sleep, mental health, and quality of life. **William Shatner**, who personally lives with permanent tinnitus and has endorsed Tinnitus Quest, emphasizes the urgency, highlighting that roughly 1%–2% of the population suffer from debilitating, chronic tinnitus for which there are currently no effective treatments.

Despite its prevalence, tinnitus remains dramatically **underfunded and underrecognized,** lagging far behind in both public awareness and research investment. Traditional funding agencies often opt for safe, incremental projects, leaving bold, high-risk ideas ignored. Tinnitus Quest seeks to change that by acting as a much-needed catalyst, energizing research through daring, focused investments.

Tinnitus Quest is the first international organization dedicated exclusively to **high-risk, high-gain tinnitus research**. Instead of playing it safe, the nonprofit focuses on experimental therapeutic approaches, stepping beyond conventional methods. Their research strategy zeroes in on three key domains: basic research into the mechanisms of tinnitus, objective measurement techniques, and experimental treatment testing. Tinnitus Quest deliberately emphasizes the third domain—clinical testing of new therapies—where leverage for rapid, patient-centered breakthroughs is greatest.

**Commitment to openness is foundational:** at least 80% of the budget is funneled directly into research, while overhead remains minimal. Funded projects must provide quarterly public progress reports, enabling real-time visibility into both successes and setbacks, fostering trust and accelerating learning.

**Tinnitus Quest isn’t a typical research institution.** Instead, it operates like a community-powered movement, with governance that includes both patients and researchers. Patients aren’t just beneficiaries—they play active roles in guiding strategy, ensuring that research remains aligned with lived needs and experiences.

**Through live Q&A sessions and webinars,** Tinnitus Quest fosters direct dialogue between patients and top researchers. These forums demystify science and empower patients while helping researchers understand the real challenges faced by those with tinnitus.

**In under a year, Tinnitus Quest has achieved remarkable momentum:** raised over $1M, attracted top researchers like Dr. Daniel Polley (Harvard Medical School) to chair their Innovation Board, gained support from William Shatner, produced awareness videos featuring artists and patients, participated in key conferences such as TRI and ARO to uplift the patient voice, and hosted live Q&A webinars to deepen patient–researcher engagement.

**Whether you’re a patient, researcher, donor, or ally,** there are ways to join the “Quiet Revolution”: donate to fuel vital research, submit ideas for treatments or approaches, volunteer your skills from communications to tech, share your story, or attend live events like webinars and Q&As. Every contribution, financial, intellectual, or emotional, strengthens the movement to silence tinnitus for good.

Tinnitus Quest is more than a nonprofit—it’s a **transparent, patient-led movement pushing the boundaries of tinnitus research and care**. With a focus on impact, openness, and innovation, it has set the stage for real, meaningful change, offering hope to millions afflicted by tinnitus who crave not just treatment, but a cure.

Tinnitus Quest Foundation

We support women with disabilities to lead boldly, break barriers, and shape a more inclusive world — in line with the 2030 SDGs



**AHADI Foundation – Empowering Women with Disabilities Through Leadership**

Founded in 2023 by Deza Nguembock—a disabled woman, social entrepreneur, and changemaker originally from Cameroon and now based in France—the AHADI Foundation is committed to transforming the leadership landscape for women with disabilities around the world.

Born from Deza’s lived experience of facing ableism, racism, and sexism, AHADI envisions a world where women with disabilities are seen, heard, and empowered to lead. Our mission: to break the cycle of invisibility by equipping 1,000 women with disabilities to rise as leaders and to build a global network of 20,000 emerging changemakers by 2030, in alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

💬 Why Your Support Matters

AHADI is not just a foundation—it’s a **movement** reshaping inclusion through leadership and visibility for women with disabilities around the world. An area that is still largely underfunded. Too often, organizations focus solely on inclusion without progressing to leadership, which is a crucial step for the empowerment of women with disabilities. We are now launching our **first fundraising campaign**, **your support is essential**.

💛 Every donation helps us fund:

- AHADI Leadership 
- AHADI Community 
- AHADI Data & Research
- AHADI Art for Change

You're not just giving—you’re **investing in a future** where every woman with a disability can lead with pride, power, and purpose.

🔍 Why This Matters

Women with disabilities face *systemic, compounded barriers* every day:

- **2 to 3 times** more likely to experience violence than non-disabled women
- **3 times** more likely to be illiterate than non-disabled men
- **2 times** more likely to be unemployed
- Almost invisible in decision-making roles—only **2.3%** held positions as legislators, senior executives, or managers in 19 countries (UN Women, 2017)

They are *routinely excluded* from economic and political life due to overlapping gender and disability discrimination. At AHADI, we are actively changing this—through leadership training, advocacy, visibility campaigns, and a strong, global sisterhood.

🎯 Our Key Programs

**💼 Leadership Program**
A 10-month hybrid initiative combining 4 months of intensive training with 6 months of personalized coaching. It empowers established women leaders with disabilities to lead advocacy efforts, claim media space, and mentor the next generation.

**🤝 Community Program**
Guides women at the start of their leadership journey by offering personal development tools, well-being sessions, and inspiring encounters—co-facilitated by alumnae of the Leadership Program.

**🎨 AHADI Arts & Culture**
Through immersive art installations and exhibitions, we challenge stereotypes and amplify the voices and visibility of women with disabilities.

**📊 AHADI Data & Research**
We collect and share key data to inform public policies and measure impact. Our upcoming **2030 Observatory** will track government commitments to four key articles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

✨ Key achievements

- **March 2024**: Launched our first pan-European study on the visibility of people with disabilities in social, professional, media, and political spheres.
- **2024–2025**: Our **leadership pilot program** launched in France and expanded to Africa. To date, **77 remarkable women from 15 countries** have joined the movement.
- **March 2025**: Launched **"Les Objets"**, our first global awareness campaign—aired *in prime time* on CNN in North America and EMEA. Coming soon on France Télévisions and in **500+ cinemas** across France.
- **2025 (in progress)**: Our first art installation, *Aparté. Confidences. Liberté*, explores the intersection of perception, desire, and societal imagination surrounding disabled women.

AHADI Foundation

Ensures that all eligible immigrants understand and have access to the path to citizenship.

With a singular focus on increasing the naturalization rate in Massachusetts and beyond, Project Citizenship transforms the lives and futures of immigrants in the U.S.!  Our free legal services have enabled over 10,000 permanent residents to achieve U.S. citizenship since 2014.  By accepting the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, our new citizens achieve expanded opportunities, greater economic stability, family reunification, a voice in our democracy, and a deeper sense of belonging in this country.  We all benefit when immigrant groups are not isolated but are full participants in our social and civic life, creating more cohesive communities.

Project Citizenship focuses on those who would not be able to naturalize without assistance through the complex and lengthy process. We coach, we encourage, we inform, and we advocate for each client with the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Service (USCIS) - from application to Oath of Allegiance.  We submit requests for waivers of the USCIS application fee and for special consideration for clients who are older or who have a disability. The Project Citizenship community includes over 1,000 attorney volunteers and many local organizations who partner with us. Our clients have a remarkable 95% success rate in achieving citizenship.  Our work is at the intersection of economic vitality, civic engagement, and social justice.

Project Citizenship

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We are a nonprofit, so we rely on the generosity of donors like you.

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OPEN DOORS NYC

Growing Veterans

Town Bizness

Lil BUB's Big Fund

LilyPads Housing

Lil BUB's Big Fund

Disabilities