Charity du jour x4

I've really been slacking on my "daily" charity posts. I'm four behind! So here's a quick quartet of good causes. Donations for all four are tax deductible.

Special Olympics helps disabiled kids get physically fit and compete in 30 differet sports, like judo, skiing, and ice skating. Read about ways to donate, including giving miles to athletes who need to travel to a competition.

The Box Project tries to alleivate rural poverty through matching families up. Sponsor families have direct contact with the folks they are helping (a big difference from most charities) and send a box with supplies about once a month. Boxes can contain food, clothing and supplies. Read about how you can get involved. Donations are tax deductible.

The legacy of the boy who refused to grow up lives on at the Peter Pan Children's Fund. The fund uses the example of Sir James Barrie, who in 1929 gave the Peter Pan copyright to a children's hospital in London, to encourage others to support children's hospitals. Make a donation here.

The LA chapter of United Cerebral Palsy Spastic Children's Foundation is in the Valley. The chapter was founded in 1945 by parents who wanted community-based services for their children with disabilities when there were not a lot of options. Today the chapter helps more than 1,000 children and adults with disabilities. Check their list of resources or donate.