Drum roll please…

Here they are! The 2008 Health observances for the month of August (quite a few more than July’s). Click on each for more information on the cause and to learn why it needs the public’s attention. I have also provided possible non-profits to fundraise for or donate to. Happy August everyone!

CATARACT AWARENESS MONTH 
     – Himalayan Cataract Project Inc: An international organization working towards the eradication of preventable and treatable blindness in the high altitude regions of Nepal, India, China, Tibet and Bhutan

CHILDREN’S EYE HEALTH AND SAFETY MONTH
     – Eye Birth Defect Research Foundation: Funds and supports medical research and treatment for patients with blinding eye diseases

NATIONAL HEALTH CENTER WEEK (August 10-16)
     – National Health Care for the Homeless, Inc.: Aims to reform of the health care system to best serve the needs of the homeless, work in alliance with those trying to to eliminate homelessness, and provide support to Council members.

HEALTH UNIT COORDINATOR DAY (August 23)
     – National Association of Health Coordinators: A Health Unit Coordinator is a vital position in a ward, allowing nurses to attend to their patients without being interrupted by desk job responsibilities, such as transcribing physicians orders, answering phone calls, and ordering new supplies. Honor a Health Unit Coordinator you know! 

NATIONAL IMMUNIZATION AWARENESS MONTH
    - National Foundation for Infectious Diseases: A nonprofit organization dedicated to public and professional education about infectious diseases, infectious disease prevention, and the support of infectious disease research

MEDIC ALERT MONTH
     – Medic Alert Foundation United States: Saves lives by providing a 24-hour manned emergency telephone and fax service for those who wear Medic Alert emblems

NATIONAL MINORITY DONOR AWARENESS DAY (August 1)
     – Transplant House, Inc: The heart of the transplant support process: provides safe, convenient, and affordable housing for pre- and post-transplant patients

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT: AMERICA’S NIGHT OUT AGAINST CRIME (August 5)
     – National Association of Town Watch: This NPO sponsors the National Night Out: a unique drug/crime prevention event that involves communities in fun activities to raise awareness about crime and to send a message to criminals that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back  

PSORIASIS AWARENESS MONTH
     – National Psoriasis Foundation: The NSF informs and empowers patients with this life-long skin disease and funds research for better treatments and, ultimately, a cure. This month of awareness also aims to inform the public that Psoriasis is not a contagious condition, in hopes of lowering the level of discrimination shown to people who have it

SPINAL MUSCULAR ATROPHY AWARENESS MONTH
     – Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy: The largest private funder of SMA research and the leader in the quest to find a cure. SMA is a relatively common genetic disease and is the leading genetic cause of death in infants and toddlers. The disease is caused by the absence/defect of the Survival Motor Neuron Gene, inhibiting the ability of the brain to control muscles. With less control and use, muscles weaken and waste away.

WORLD BREASTFEEDING WEEK
     – La Leche League Breast Feeding Peer Counselor Program: To help mothers worldwide to breastfeed through mother-to-mother support, encouragement, information and education about the MANY advantages to breastfeeding an infant

Find any other non-profit by entering a key word into our Guidestar Search engine, it’s as easy as that!