Please make sure you designate where your donation should go in order to ensure that the charity's program directly benefits from your generosity. See our notes below for specifics.

Pregnancy Aid Center, Greenbelt, MD
Designation: diabetes and cardiovascular health education program
Why: Over the summer, Jackie interned, and is still volunteering, at this Center to create a sustainable education program for patients who have diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol. Most of these low-income women are Latin American and African immigrants who need the reproductive and sexual health care this Center provides--it's the only one of its kind in the community.

Arlington Street People Assistance Network (A-SPAN), Arlington, VA
Designation: Food and supplies for the homeless
Why: George and Jackie met helping feed the homeless in Arlington. A-SPAN not only needs volunteers (hint hint, you locals) but also a great deal in contributions to keep its shelter running.

Habitat for Humanity for Greater Miami
Designation: Building supplies
Why: Because Miami gets hit with a lot of hurricanes, that's why! In spite of having a reputation of being a rather posh city, Miami has several poverty-stricken areas that are most in need when hurricanes wreak havoc.

NativeEnergy
Designation: Offset your carbon emissions
Why: Reducing the amount of energy we use is critically important in the effort to stop global warming, and you can help finance and build new clean and renewable energy projects that help Native Americans and Alaska Natives create sustainable economic benefits, and that help America’s family farmers compete with agribusiness. These projects will displace electricity from fossil fuels and reduce other greenhouse gas emissions on your behalf, making up for the CO2 emissions you can’t avoid.

American Liver Foundation
Designation: National Capital Area Chapter liver disease research
Why: As a woman living with Autoimmune Hepatitis for 11 years, Jackie feels passionately about finding safer lifelong treatment for others affected by this chronic disorder. Unfortunately, the medications used to treat her disorder can cause cancer and diabetes, suppress the immune system, and leach cells of calcium, vitamin B, and other nutrients. You can help support research in finding viable new treatments.

If you would prefer to give us something special for our honeymoon, visit our Honeymoon Registry! We need all the help we can get in enjoying the honeymoon of our dreams.

Although we haven't quite planned all the details, we are planning on visiting South America next summer before moving cross-country to San Diego. We're considering spending three weeks in Argentina, followed by visiting a friend in Peru and then on to Venezuela.

If you absolutely want to give us a traditional gift instead, please go to our registery at I Do Foundation, which donates a percentage of your purchase from our Amazon.com registry to charity.

If you do choose to give us a present, please send it to our home address, which is indicated on our Amazon.com registry. Not only will it save us the expense of shipping it home from Miami, but it'll certainly help you from carrying an extra box in the airport!