Immune Deficiency Foundation’s Post

Human trafficking is a devastating crime that affects millions of lives every year, even in our own communities. It’s time to take action and be the voice for those who cannot speak for themselves. Together, we can raise awareness, protect the vulnerable, and work towards a world where no one has to live in fear of exploitation. We are dedicated to fighting human trafficking through education, advocacy, and direct support for survivors. But we can’t do it alone—we need your help. Here’s how you can get involved: Donate: Your contributions help us fund critical programs that support survivors and prevent trafficking. Volunteer: Lend your time and skills to our cause. Whether it’s through community outreach, events, or advocacy, your involvement makes a huge impact. Spread the Word: Share this post, talk to your friends and family, and help us raise awareness about the reality of human trafficking. Every action counts, and together, we can create a ripple effect of change. Visit our website https://lnkd.in/g_hh4n7w to learn more about how you can support our mission or to make a donation today. #Endhumantrafficking #Stophumantrafficking #Humantrafficking #Sexualtrafficking #donation #volunteer #fosteryouth #Magdalenasdaughters

Outside of altruism, there are several reasons corporations should team up with non-profits to help them achieve their goals. Here are 4 good reasons to consider partnering with a charitable organization. At MIS, we’ve partnered with the Georgia Center for Child Advocacy to help with its mission of helping children heal from the trauma of sexual abuse and trafficking. Learn more at https://hubs.li/Q02LTzmD0 #missolutions #GCCA #benefitsforbusiness

Why celebrate #WorldBloodDonorDay? WBDD is a special occasion to honor heroes like you who selflessly #donateblood. Your generosity helps bridge gaps in healthcare, ensuring every patient receives the life-saving blood they need. Access to #safeblood is critical for saving lives. Your donation isn't just about blood, it's about giving hope and second chances to those in need. This #WorldBloodDonorDay, let's come together to empower communities and transform lives through #awareness, #policy #advocacy, and organizing #blooddrives. Let's make donating blood a #norm, not just a tradition on World Blood Donor Day. Coalition of Blood for Africa - CoBA

I just had the unfortunate opportunity to watch Donate Life America latest video—a piece so appallingly tone-deaf that it left me feeling truly repulsed. Seeing it for the first time, I’m struck by how anyone could think this was the right way to promote organ donation. It doesn’t inspire hope or compassion. It alienates. It disgusts. This is among the worst examples of “awareness” propaganda I’ve ever seen. The leadership at Donate Life America—G. David Fleming, Alexandra Glazier Jennifer Milton George Herrera, Ronda Horstman, and others—should seriously question their judgment. This video reflects a staggering lack of empathy for patients, donors, and families, and a profound misunderstanding of real advocacy. Instead of honoring the life-saving power of organ donation, this video makes a mockery of it, leaving viewers feeling disconnected and disheartened. It’s shocking that these leaders, tasked with representing such a crucial cause, would approve a campaign this careless and offensive. This isn’t just an oversight; it’s a grotesque failure of judgment. They should feel deep shame, not pride, for this crude attempt at awareness that serves only to embarrass and alienate the very community they claim to support. If Donate Life America truly understood their mission, they’d focus on respectful ways to engage the public—ways that honor the journeys of donors, patients, and families. Publicly calling this out is necessary to prevent another massive misstep. What they’ve produced here doesn’t just miss the mark; it’s a black stain on their reputation, showing a disturbing detachment from the cause they’re supposed to champion. 💔 How This Alienates Patients and Recipients:    •   Tone-deaf portrayal    •   Absurd stereotypes    •   Insulting narrative    •   Mockery of experiences    •   Disconnection from reality 💔 How It Damages Public Perception:    •   Turns off potential donors    •   Discourages families    •   Reinforces harmful myths    •   Shows lack of empathy    •   Undermines trust 💔 How It Shows Leadership’s Failure:    •   Neglect of community    •   Outdated tactics    •   Detached priorities    •   Careless approval    •   No accountability Donate Life America, if this is the best you can offer, it’s time to step back and reassess. Real awareness demands integrity, respect, and understanding—not the cheap shock value of a poorly conceived video campaign.

September is Suicide Awareness Month, and every year on September 10th, world suicide prevention day is observed. I will ALWAYS be an advocate for mental health, and suicide awareness. This is a topic I will forever hold close to my heart. In honor of Suicide Awareness Day and Month, here are a few ways you can help someone who may be struggling: • Don’t minimize or invalidate their feelings. • Listen. Really listen, without judgement. • Be an advocate. • Help them get help. • Encourage true self care. This is more than encouraging them to take a bath, or drink a coffee. • Be present. • Let them know they are not a burden to you. • Ask them what they need most from you. Do that. • Point them in the direction of helpful resources. • Be to them, the person you would want them to be for you in a crisis situation. Above all else, BE KIND. We don’t know the struggles others may face on a daily basis. Be the light in someone else’s darkness. You could help save a life, and not even know it. 🦋

As an individual who has spent more days struggling with suicidality than not, it is essential that we provide funding to expand research on suicidality so that we can mitigate this devastating brain disease. It is also imperative for individuals to be able to talk about their suicidal thoughts and feelings without judgement so that they can learn to close the door on suicide. #mentalhealthawareness

On this World Suicide Prevention Day, we pause to reflect on the importance of connection, compassion, and support. Suicide is a global crisis, and behind every statistic is a story. A person who was struggling, often in silence. Every life is precious, and it's critical that we foster environments where people feel safe to talk about their struggles and seek help without stigma. But awareness is only part of the equation. We need to ensure that everyone; (not just those in crisis) has access to the right resources, and we must also prioritize the wellbeing of those providing support. If you or someone you know is struggling, you’re not alone. There is help. Resources like the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline are available 24/7 to offer support. And let’s remember that it’s okay not to be okay. What matters is knowing where to turn when you need help 💙

Join Us for a Cause: The AFSP Out of the Darkness Walks Date & Location: October 6th in NYC October 27th in Long Island Stand Together, Walk Together As we mark Suicide Prevention Month this September, let's come together in a show of solidarity and support for those affected by suicide. Join Carelon Behavioral Health and the AFSP for the Out of the Darkness Walks. These events are more than just walks—they're powerful gatherings where we bring hope to communities and honor loved ones lost. Why Your Participation Matters Raise Awareness: Help shed light on the importance of mental health and the realities of suicide. Show Support: Stand with survivors, families, and friends who have been affected by suicide. Build a Community: Strengthen the bonds in our community by walking together toward a common goal. The Power of Your Donation Your contributions have a tangible impact: Access to Care: Ensure New Yorkers receive the necessary care and support. Vital Resources: Fund programs, hotlines, and resources crucial for mental health and suicide prevention. Community Impact: Extend support and hope where it’s needed most. Participate and Make a Difference How to Join: Register: Sign up for the NYC or Long Island walk online. Donate: Every contribution, big or small, makes a difference. Share: Spread the word on social media using #OutOfTheDarkness. A Walk to Remember and Inspire Come walk with us. Let’s commemorate those we’ve lost, support those in need, and shine a light out of the darkness. Together, we can make a profound impact. Register Now! https://lnkd.in/e95H3fBz Thank you in advance! 💚

For many families, a diaper is not just a diaper. It's a crucial necessity that can determine whether a child can attend early childhood programs or not. Unfortunately, diaper insecurity is a harsh reality for far too many caregivers in our state. Listen to Brightpoint’s Policy Manager, Eric Mayo, talk about diaper need and policy solutions that will help families throughout Illinois. Read more about Diaper Insecurity here, https://lnkd.in/gzi-f5Hv. For $10 a month, you will support our efforts to eliminate diaper insecurity for Illinois infants and young children! Together, we can make a lasting impact and ensure that no child in Illinois suffers from diaper insecurity. Donate using this link: https://lnkd.in/g-9pp4Bh. #Brightpoint #EndDiaperInsecurity #ChildWellbeing #LegislativeAction

I did not think about suicide much prior to 2017. Of course, I knew about it but up until that point it had not touched me or my inner circle. Then it did touch me. From that moment on suicide has taken up a spot in my mind, and I think about it more than I would like. The impact of losing someone close to you to suicide is something I was not prepared for. I was on a course personally and professionally, and after that loss I was thrown off trajectory. I questioned my path, I started to believe the worst things in life could indeed happen, hyper vigilance went through the roof. So many of my relationships changed because people did not know how to talk to me about the loss I just had. Not only was I dealing with the loss of someone close to me, but there was this extra layer there that 7 years later I am still digging through. And then…there is the fact that someone I loved felt such despair that they thought the only way through was out of this plane of existence. Could I have done something different, something more? To be honest I am not sure, and I try not to dwell on that. What I do know is that I am open and honest about what happened in my family so that I can hopefully change one outcome, save one life, let one more person stay on this planet to find what they were meant for. September 10th each year is World Suicide Prevention Day. I am not sure about the language around prevention, but what I am sure is that the only way we can move the needle around this topic is to bring it into the light. To talk about the act. To talk about the pain that brings someone to that point. To talk about the pain the people left behind feel. To talk, really talk to each other. One last thought. As you navigate the professional world you likely interact with people struggling. You have the choice to be kind, to support people, to just be human in the workplace. I ask each of you to do just that, be human to another human.  Work is important, but our collective wellbeing is the key to it all. #stay  #suicideprevention #mentalhealth #suicideawareness